 |
Chinese Medicine became influential throughout the Far East initially via trade routes and more significantly via the transmission of Buddhism.
The history and philosophy of shiatsu is deeply rooted in Oriental medicine so we would like to explain a little of the progression of this in relation to shiatsu’s beginnings.
As Buddhist monks travelled from India throughout Asia they took with them many of the tenets of medical practice as it was practised in China into countries such as Japan where it was integrated with their own traditional health practices.The philosophy underlying Chinese medicine is that ‘Vital Energy’ or Qi, (pronounced Chee and known as Ki in Japanese), flows throughout the body and interlinks to the Internal Organs in a series of channels known as Meridians.
One of the ways to maintain health was recognised to include series of self-exercises called Do-In that opened up channels to facilitate the movement of energy along specific routes through the body and also bodywork called Ankyo. Ankyo means to massage the energy channels and raise the limbs allowing for smooth movement of the joints to balance the flow of Ki. This would be done by one person to another and was attributed to originate from people in the Central plains of China.
Do-In and Ankyo were first encouraged as spiritual practices and later developed alongside Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs, and Nutrition as therapeutic practices.
Today Do-in and Ankyo are generally known as Chi Kung and Tui Na in China, and Do-In and Shiatsu in Japan.
|
 |
