The “Ukiyo” of Moxibustion Reflected in the Ukiyo-e : Chinese Medicine and Culture

1 Introduction Moxibustion is a type of therapy conducted on the skin that is often combined with acupuncture in traditional Chinese medicine. According to medical history, moxibustion was used much earlier than needling.1 It implies that there is a difference in technical difficulty and theoretical complication between the two treatments. The rise and fall of acupuncture and moxibustion in later generations has always been affected by factors such as effectiveness, safety, and simplicity. In general, needling penetrates deeper into the skin than moxibustion, and thus has higher technical requirements and is practiced by a specific group of practitioners. Despite the considerable long history of the using of moxibustion, it is often regarded as a therapy that blurs the line between proper medical treatment and daily health care. This perception can also be seen in other countries within the Han-Chinese cultural sphere. In the 23rd year of Emperor Kinmei (钦明天皇, 562 AD), a person nam...