WRITINGS OF LING HANZHANG - FAMOUS ACUPUNCTURIST IN MING DYNASTY

Li Ding

(Shanghai College of TCM, Shanghai)

Ling Hanzhang, alias Yun or Woyan, a native of Gui'an County, Zhejiang Province, in the Ming Dynasty (16th century), was a famous acupuncturist. His offspring succeeded in the skill of acupuncture and moxibustion. Mr.Ling left no complete works on acupuncture and a few of his survival copies on acupuncture and moxibustion are as follows:

(1) "Complete Works on the Picks of Acupuncture" (also known as "Ling Han-zhang's Complete Works on Acupuncture and Moxibustion") in 4 volumes, 2 of which has been lost.

(2) "Secret Book on Acupuncture and Moxibustion", edited by Ling Shengcheng.

(3) "A Compilation of Meridianal (Point?) Theory", compiled by Ling Zhenhu.

(4) "The Bronze Statue Showing Points" with illustrations, edited by the Lings, which was later published in "Essential Songs Showing Points on Bronze Statue" and cited by Gao Wu in his book "The Collection of the Picks in Acupuncture and Moxibustion".

(5) "Verse of Cutting River Current", see "The Collection of the Picks in Acupuncture and Moxibustion" by Gao Wu.

(6) "Songs for Effective Needling Points", contents of which were based on the ilems on adjunct points from "Essentials for Comprehension of Secrets" by Don Hanqing, and accompanied by notes of "Effective Points".

(7) "Illustrations of Ziwu theory" by Ling Yun; also "Explanation of Ziwu Theory" in one volume, which has been lost. The extracts from the later book may be found in the copy of "Brief Textual Research of Meridian and Collaterals".