Shiatsu therapy is a development of Chinese acupuncture. It’s origins stretch back into the very mists of Chinese antiquity. During the unification of Northern and Southern China in the fifth century B.C. the science of Oriental Bodywork Therapy had evolved to such a level that mastery of oriental bodywork was required of every oriental medical physician, in order to help them develop the refined palpation skills necessary for the competent practice of acupuncture. In the sixth century A.D. a Buddhist monk, Gan Jin Osho brought to Japan the medicine of Imperial China, which included Oriental Bodywork, Tao-yin and Anma. These physical therapies reached a peak in Japan during the Edo period (1603-1867). As in China hundreds of years before, a ruling was made that every physician was required to master oriental bodywork before being allowed to diagnose or use needles. In 1919, Tamai Tempaku, (later to be regarded as the founder of the Shiatsu School of Bodywork) published his second book, “Shiatsu Ho” (Finger Pressure Therapy). Tempaku had thoroughly studied European anatomy, physiology, massage and the oriental bodywork therapies. As well as practicing from this base he wrote several works related to Shiatsu and Ampuku (Hara) therapy and diagnoses. This marrying of eastern and western traditional medical practice was revolutionary at the time. Among his students were Katsusuke Serizawa, Tokujiro Namikoshi and the mother of Shizuto Masunaga. These students developed a number of differing approaches. They each founded schools, which still exert a major influence on the study and practice of Shiatsu today.
Posted on: Sun, 01 Sep 2013 13:28:33 +0000
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