Dr. Wei-Chieh Young and Master Tung's Acupuncture

 

The world's premier doctor and author to have ever expanded on

Master Tung's Acupuncture with theories and clinical experiences.

 

      Master Tung personally left behind only one book, Tung's Regular Meridian and Points.  It was published by Taiwan's Hsin-Ya Publishing Company Ltd. in 1973.  The book was orally dictated by Master Tung and transcribed by a fellow senior apprentice, Guo-Ben Yuan.  Not long after Master Tung's passing in 1975, Hsin-Ya Publishing Company closed down and the book was discontinued.  Master Tung's book briefly introduced some of his most commonly used points.  But its illustrations lacked clarity, and the little information on the location and indication of points made it hard for the average person to accurately locate these points.  It also provided no information on theoretical principles.

 

      Since 1971, through in-depth study of Nei Jing, Nan Jing, Yi Jing, Zhen Jiao Jia Yi Jing, Zhen Jiao Da Cheng, and other classic Traditional Chinese Medicine texts; I successively created and developed "Chien Yin Needling Method", "Zhang Fu Bei Tong Theory", "Master Tung's Acupuncture Corresponding Needling Method", "Body Tissue Corresponding Needling Methods", and other needling techniques and theories.  When applied to Tung's Acupuncture, it increases its effectiveness and widens its applications; explaining Tung's Acupuncture through theory builds a concrete foundation on which to guide practice.  In the past 30 years, through innumerable personal clinical experience and unceasing research, indications for Tung's Points grew from five to averaging more than ten.  Related theories developed from none to ten-plus, making this field of study more or less complete.  Apart from research and making new developments, I spent my energies teaching and making known this discipline.  I am proud to have taught so many excellent students.

 

      This year marks 30 years since Master Tung's passing away.  Tung's Acupuncture can be said to have gained popularity worldwide.  Whether in China, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, or America, it is highly valued and preferred by acupuncturists.  Therefore a surge of people with claims to teach Tung's Acupuncture has also emerged.  Among them those who have actually apprenticed under Master Tung or his direct disciples are very limited.  Without systematic and strict clinical training under a master, it is doubtful that those instructors can accurately pass down Master Tung's Acupuncture.  Even worse, some seminar attendants have plagiarized my work and discoveries calling and teaching them as their own.  To prevent innocent readers from being misled and to protect my own rights, I am presenting a fact sheet of 35 years devoted to Tung's Acupuncture.  It recalls my major research developments, findings, and teaching engagements.

 

      I am grateful that master Tung accepted me as an apprentice all those years ago.  Thinking back, I am even more grateful for his "silent teaching".  He did not talk much, to his patients or to his students.  Every time questions were raised to him, he would say, "Observe for yourself, then think about it."  It was under this learning environment that I was encouraged to think freely and independently.  It deepened the necessity for me to work hard on thinking creatively and towards uncharted territories.  It is thanks to Master Tung that I reached the accomplishments I have today.

 

n   1965-1975    Studied with Master Tung Jing-Chang as a disciple of his by direct line.

n   1971             Invented "Chien Yin (Pulling & Guiding) Needling Method": Contra-lateral needle insertions followed with ipsilateral distal needle insertions to induce Qi to the disease meridians or areas.   This Method effectively combines the applications of Master Tung's Acupuncture and traditional acupuncture.  Chien Yin Needling Method has become one of the most popular, powerful, and effective needling methods.

n   1973             Mirian Lee traveled to Taiwan to learn Tung' Acupuncture from Master Tung Jing-Chang. During the one week of study, she spent the mornings in Master Tung's clinic to observe. Dr. Wei-Chieh Young was assigned to tutor Ms. Lee in the evenings on behalf of Master Tung. Ms. Lee then returned to the U.S. and Started to use Tung's Acupuncture.

n   1973             Developed and applied "Zhang-Fu Bei Tong (Organ Divergent Communications)", a theory originated from Nei Jing, to acupuncture.  This application has become very popular among acupuncture practitioners.

n   1973             Founded the Student Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine at National Chengchi University, Taiwan.   With Master Tung's permission, Dr. Young began to teach Master Tung's Acupuncture formally.

n   1975             Completed Zhen Jiao Jing Wei (The Longitude and Latitude of Acupuncture and Moxibustion), documenting Dr. Young's first venture into expanding on Master Tung's Acupuncture. Master Tung highly commended the work and gave his encouragement.  This book has been ranking as the most popular acupuncture book for 30 years in Taiwan since published.  So far, 15 editions have been published.   It is translated into Korean.  Korean acupuncture circle praised it as the best acupuncture book in the twentieth century.   The book's main contents and those relating to Tung's Acupuncture are as follows:

(1)                        Dr. Young's personal insights of applying "Zang-Fu Bei Tong" to acupuncture were made public for the first time.  "Zang-Fu Bei Tong" is that Liver communicates with Large Intestines; Heart communicates with Gall Bladder; Spleen communicates with Small Intestines; Lung communicates with Bladder; Kidney communicates with San Jiao; and Pericardium communicates with Stomach.

(2)                        Master Tung's "Dong Qi (Activating Qi) Needling Method" and "Dao Ma (Serial Needles) Needling Method" plus Dr. Young's application experiences were presented to the public for the first time.

(3)                        Detailed information on "Chien-Yin Needling Method".  Dr. Young also brought forth the term of "Balance Needling Method" as to "needle the lower if the disease is at upper; needle the right if the disease is at left", an idea originated from Nei Jing.  Currently "Dong Qi, Dao Ma, and Chien Yin" are called "Tung's Three Major Needling Methods" or "Tung & Young Three Major Needling Methods."

(4)                        In the chapter of "Bleeding (Bloodletting) Therapy and its applications", detailed information about Master Tung's points for bloodletting and the treatments of bloodletting are presented.

(5)                        In the chapter of "Convergence of Point Combinations for Common Diseases", every disease category contains both traditional acupuncture as well as Master Tung's Acupuncture point selections.  In the section of "Skeletal & Muscular System Diseases", "Xiao Jie (Small Segment)" point and "Ci Bai (Second White or the Next White)" point discovered by Dr. Young were made public for the first time.

(6)                        "Shun Jing (Along the Meridians)", "Biao Li Jing (Paired Meridians)", and "Shou Zhu Tong Ming Jing or Tong Jing (Hand-Foot Same Name Meridians)", their fundamental theories, applications and Dr. Young's personal insights were covered in detail in the book.

(7)                        "Gua Xiang (Divinatory Symbol) Points Selections", "The Amount of Meridians' Qi and Blood and its applications", "Chronoacupuncture", "Zi Wu Liu Zhu (Circadian Acupuncture) Palm Calculating Method", and "Pathological and Morphological Manifestation Acupuncture" were covered in detail in the book.

(8)                        In the revised edition published in 1979, the article "Acupuncture for Acute Conditions and Emergency Situations", and the chapter "Master Tung's Dui Ying Zhen Fa (Correspondence Needling Methods)" were appended.   Dr. Young not only applies Corresponding Methods to Master Tung's Acupuncture but also to Traditional Acupuncture.  "Dui Ying Zhen Fa (Corresponding Needling Method)" includes "Same Level Corresponding", "Hand Along Feet Corresponding",  "Hand Against Feet Corresponding", "Hand Along Torso Corresponding", "Hand Against Torso Corresponding", "Feet Along Torso Corresponding", "Feet Against Torso Corresponding" and "Upper Lower Corresponding (with three Sub-Correspondings: Head-Throat, Head-Sacral, and Head-Feet)", totaling 9 of them.

n   1976            Completed Interpretations of Huang Di Nei Jing Su Wen and Interpretations of Huang Di Nei Jing Ling Shu.  The books are popular in Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, and Taiwan; and have been used as teaching material in many TCM schools.  Up to date, more than 20 editions have been published.   By compiling the above books, Dr. Young gained solid foundation on Nei Jing, which later served as a fundamental background for developing the theories for Master Tung's Acupuncture.

n   1979             In March of the year, Zhen Jio Jing Xue Xue (Acupuncture & Moxibustion: Meridians and Acupoints) was published.  It gives detailed information on every acupoint in the traditional acupuncture system.  For many acupoints, Dr.Young also shared his usage experience and compared those points with the Master Tung's points.    So far, 20 editions have been published.  It has been used as teaching material by many institutes.   Korean Chinese Medicine doctors praised it as the best book on acupoints.  This book also won the "1980 Outstanding Academic Book Prize" awarded by Ministry of Education, ROC.

n   1980             In memory of the late Master Tung for his passing away for 5 years, Dr. Young's Tung Shi Qi Xue Zhen Jiao Fa Hui (An Elucidation of Master Tung's Extra Points) was published in November.  This is the world's first book on Master Tung's Acupuncture with expanded theories and author's usage experiences.  Some of the features are as follows:

(1)   He was the first one to create the point location system for Master Tung's Acupuncture: "Yin Zhang Wu Xien (5 Lines on Palm of Hand), "Yang Zhang San Xien (3 Lines on Dorsal of Hand), and "Si Xiang Fen Dien (4 Ways of Divisions)", which assists the users to locate the points fast and accurately.

(2)   Detailed information on how to locate points. 

(3)   Most points were appended with Dr. Young's personal usage experience, which expanded the treatment scope of Master Tung's points.

(4)   The appended chapter "Therapeutics" covered abundant information on treatments of varies diseases.

n   1980             Dr. Young was invited to Tongji Hospital, the most famous hospital (with more than a century of history) in Singapore, to teach Master Tung's Acupuncture.  This was the first time Dr. Young formally taught Tung's Acupuncture in a foreign country.

n    1981            In Summer, Dr. Young was invited by Tri-Service General Hospital, Taiwan to teach Master Tung's Acupuncture for two months.  In this course, Dr. Young first time revealed his in-depth study in the lecture, "An Exploration into Tung's Extra Points and His Thinking".  He covered the point distributions/locations, the point nomenclature, and doctrines that Master Tung's Acupuncture is based on, such as:  Five elements Theory, Zhang Xiang Doctrine, Spleen and Stomach Theory, and Invigorate Blood to Remove Stasis Doctrine, and Chronobiological Method.   The above contents have been appended into the revised version (1982) of Dr. Young's book of Master Tung's Acupuncture.

n   1981             The end of this year, Dr. Young completed the book Zhen Jiao Wu Shu Xue Ying Yong (The Applications of Five Shu Points).   In this book, he covered detailed information on various usages of Five Shu points, circadian acupuncture, and instant calculation of Gan Zhi (Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches).  "Tong Qi Xiang Qio[1] Method" was especially covered with abundance information.  The theories in this book also served as a foundation for his later published book, Tung's Acupuncture.

n   1983             Dr. Young was invited to Tokyo, Japan to instruct on Master Tung's Bloodletting Method.

n   1984             Dr. Young taught Master Tung's Acupuncture in Chinese Medical University, the exclusive Chinese Medicine School in Taiwan at that time.  The course was taught once a month for a year.

n   1984             In December, Dr. Young gave a two-day seminar on Master Tung's Acupuncture for the doctoral students at Samra University, Los Angeles, California.

n   1984             Also in December, Dr. Young gave a one-day seminar on Master Tung's Acupuncture at San Francisco's College of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.

n   1987-1988    From September 1987 to September 1988, Dr. Young taught Chinese Medicine at American Acupuncture Association in Palo Alto.  The course covered Master Tung's Acupuncture and its point locations, needling methods, and treatments.  He also made public of his new discoveries on the academic theories of Master Tung's Acupuncture. The course was lectured every two weeks.  The attendants included Mariam Lee, Susan Johnson, Esther Su, Frank Chung, and Mason Shen, a former member of the California State Board of Acupuncture.  Some of the contents are as follows.

(1)   The importance of needle depth in Master Tung's Acupuncture.   Needle depth critically affects the treatment effects and scopes.

(2)   The importance of retaining needles.  Generally speaking, needles are retained for 45 minutes in Master Tung's Acupuncture.   Dr. Young referenced two passages from Ling Shu and concluded that it takes average 28 minutes and 48 seconds for energy to circle meridians.   To make it round and to match the fast pace of modern life, needles are retained for 30 minutes in general, unless for chronic or special cases in which needles are retained for 45 minutes or longer.

(3)   The importance of correspondences.  There are 8 correspondences in Master Tung's Acupuncture.

(4)   Master Tung's Acupuncture is in accord with Quan Xi (Bio-Holographic) Theory.  It coincides with Dr. Zhang Ying Qing's 2nd metacarpal bone diagnosis & therapy.

(5)   Master Tung's Acupuncture is in accord with orthodox acupuncture (traditional acupuncture).  This includes the application of point selection with "Following the Channel" (along its own meridian), "Biao Li Channel" (exterior/interior channel relationship), and "Tong Ming Channel" (hand and foot same channel name relationship).

n   1989             Dr. Young's article "Young Wei-Chieh on the Essentials of Tung's Extra Points" was published in Strait Traditional Chinese Medicine Journal, first volume, 1990.  In the article, points like Chongzi (Double Sons), Shenguan (Kidney Gate), Muxue (Wood Point), Fuke (Female Point), Wuhu (Five Tigers), Linggu (Magic Pivot), Dabai (Big White), and Xiaojie (Small Segment) were introduced.  Their location and applications were well documented.  Dr. Young also made public of his instant calculation method of Gan Zi (Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches) that he had been using for decades.  The formula is as follows. 

 

5 (X-1) + INT [(X-1)/4]  + 15 +Y/10 = Remainder is Ri Gan (Heavenly Stem of the day)  

5 (X-1) + INT [(X-1)/4]  + 15 +Y/12 = Remainder is Ri Zi (Earthly Branch of the day)

                     

v      X: for years before 2000, take the last two digits, ex: year 1999, X=99; for years after 2000, take the last three digits, ex: year 2001, X=101.

v      Y: number of total days from Jan. 1st until today.

 

n   1991             Completed the book Tung's Acupuncture which was revised and expanded from its previous version An Elucidation of Tung's Extra Points.  In this book, every point includes anatomical information.  Most points were updated with theoretical explanations and new applications.  The treatment section was supplemented and revised as well.  Meanwhile, Master Tung's Bloodletting Therapy was appended to make the Master Tung's Acupuncture System complete.

n   1992             In March of this year, Dr. Young was invited by Shih Qi, Director of the Shanghai Department of Health to lecture on Master Tung's Acupuncture at the Chinese Medicine Association, the Acupuncture Association, as well as Shuguang Hospital and Putuo Hospital affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.  This was the first time Master Tung's Acupuncture was introduced in China.

n   1993             In March, Dr. Young lectured on Treating Pain with Master Tung's Acupuncture at Shanghai Chinese Medical Hospital in China.  He also lectured on Master Tung's Acupuncture in Huang Shi city in Wu Han, China.

n    1994             Dr. Young's Tung's Acupuncture in simplified Chinese was formally published in China. Up to date, five editions have been published.

n   1998             In Summer, Dr. Young went to Tibet to give charity treatments.  He used Tung's Acupuncture to serve the Tibetans living in a mountain area 4000 meters in altitude.  In November, Dr. Young gave charity treatments in a rainforest in Myanmar, and taught local doctors Master Tung's Acupuncture.

n    1999             As the Chairman of the Chinese Medical Theory Association of R.O.C., Dr. Young hosted "The First National Symposium on Master Tung's Acupuncture", which attracted more than four hundred attendants.  More than thirty attendants presented their research and experience on Master Tung's Acupuncture.  Those presentations has been compiled and published into a special edition journal.  Dr. Young presented an article about applying the theories he developed from Nei Jing and his clinical experience to Master Tung's Acupuncture.  The key contents are as follows.

(1)   Applying the theory of six meridians' opening, closing, and pivot to Zhang Fu Bei Tong. Taiyang and Taiyin are opening; Shaoyang and Shaoyin are pivot; Yangming and Jueyin are closing.

(2)   Body Tissue Correspondence Needling Method: Bone to Bone (needling close to bone treat bone problem); Tendon to Tendon; Vessel to Vessel; Muscle to Muscle; Skin to Skin.

(3)   The relationship between Master Tung's Acupuncture and the 14 orthodox meridians (traditional acupuncture).  The area between two meridians could be used to treat a disease related to both meridians; point between two orthodox points will have similar effect.

n   2000             In September, Dr. Young was invited to lecture on Master Tung's Acupuncture at Semyung University, Korea.  He was surprised to learn that his book on Master Tung's Acupuncture had been popular for almost 20 years.  Almost every Korean TCM doctor is familiar with Master Tung's Acupuncture. 

n   2000             In Winter, Beijing Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine established the "Master Tung's Acupuncture Study Program".  Dr. Chang-Pao Zou, a direct disciple of Dr. Young, was appointed and authorized to teach, research, and develop Master Tung's Acupuncture in China.  Since the start of this program, hundreds of doctors have already attended.  As they return to their counties and cities, it will greatly impact the development of Tung's Acupuncture in China.

n   2001             In November, lectured in Hawaii on "Master Tung's Acupuncture" at American Acupuncture Association's annual conference.

n   2002             In February, lectured on the one-day seminar "Master Tung's Acupuncture" at American College of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, Houston, Texas.

n   2002             In May, lectured in a one-day seminar on "Commonly used Master Tung's points" for California Acupuncture Medical Association.

n   2002             In October, lectured on the three-day seminar "Commonly used Master Tung's points" at Emperor College of TCM, Los Angeles.

n   2002             In November, lectured on the one-day seminar "The Theory and Master Tung's Acupuncture" at the American Association of Oriental medicine in Washington D.C.

n   2003             In February, lectured on the one-day seminar "The Applications of Five Shu Points" at American College of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine in Houston, Texas.  Dr. Young introduced personal application insights on the Five Shu Points and the close relationship between the application of Master Tung's Acupuncture and Wu Xing (Five Elements).

n   2003             March 4th, lectured on the six-day seminar "Master Tung's Acupuncture: its locations, principles, theories, and applications."  This was by far the most complete and detailed seminar on Master Tung's Acupuncture in US.  Attendants included Susan Johnson, Wei-Ci Zhong, and Ming-Chen Shen.

n   2003             In late May to June, lectured on "Treatments with Master Tung's Acupuncture" at Kyung Hee University, Korea.  The locations, needling methods, and theoretical principles were covered.  The lecture contents were compiled into two books "The Lectures of Master Tung's Acupuncture, Volumes I & II" in Korean and published by Dae-Sung Publisher in August, 2003.  It is the most detailed and complete books on Master Tung's Acupuncture of the last 30 years. 

n   2003             In August, Dr. Young presented his article "Body Tissue Corresponding Needling Method: Theoretical Principles and Applications" at the California Acupuncture Medical Association.  The article covered the origins of Body Tissue Corresponding Needling Method and Nai Jing's needling Methods.  Treating body tissue problems with corresponding tissue needling methods (as stated in the previous paragraph).  Treating organ problems with corresponding tissue needling methods (needling close to skin is to treat Lung problems; needling close to muscle is to treat Spleen problems; needling close to vessel is to treat Heart problems; needling close to tendon is to treat Liver problems; and needling close to bone is to treat Kidney problems).  Those needling methods are applied not only to Master Tung's Acupuncture, but also to the orthodox acupuncture system (the 14 meridians).

n    2003            In September, Dr. Young presented his article "Yi-Jing and the Directions and Circulations of Meridians'" at the California Acupuncture Medical Association.  This article explains the positions, directions, and sequences of meridians with the theory of Yi-Jing.  It also covered "Zhang Fu Bei Tong", a core theoretical principle of Master Tung's Acupuncture, and its relationship with Yi-Jing.

n   2004             In May, Dr. Young was invited by Chicago's Asian American Acupuncture Association to lecture on "Dr. Tung's Most Useful Special Points", and "Yi Jing Theory and Acupuncture"

n   2004             In October, Dr. Young was invited to speak on the topics of the "Top Ten Acupuncture Points of the 14 Meridians" and the "Top Ten Master Tung's Points" at American Liberty University (ALU) of Los Angeles.  He also covered a sub-topic of "Treatment of Pain with a Single Point", introducing the treatment of many diseases using a single Master Tung's point.  The seminar was attended by 180 audience members.  According to Mr. Kim, the Vice President of ALU, Dr. Young's seminar set the record where none of the audience left early or complained.

n   2005             In late February, Dr. Young lectured on "Master Tung's Acupuncture: Theoretical Principles and Expanded Applications".  This was the first time in 30 years Dr. Young expounded on Master Tung's theories with the most comprehensive information.  The planned outline included eight items and 29 sub-items. 

n   2005             On March 5th and 6th, Dr. Young lectured on "Treatment of Pain with Master Tung's Acupuncture" to doctoral students at Oregon College of Oriental Medicine, Portland.  Other than the unique applications of Master Tung's Acupuncture on pain treatment, Dr. Young also explained the principles and the reasons behind their effectiveness.  He led treatment demonstrations on more than 30 cases.  The students all expressed that they greatly benefited from the class.

 

     

※ There are only three direct disciples of Master Tung in the US.  They are Guo-Jing Chen, Wei-Chieh Young, and Chuan-Min Wang.  There is only one disciple, Deschen Palden, in Canada.


[1] "Tong Qi Xiang Qio" is a term adapted from Yi Jing (Theory of Changes).  It literally means creatures that have similar affinity in their natures seek one another.