Communications in Humanities Research ISSN: 2753-7072
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Research Article

A Study on the Reception History of Acupuncture and Moxibustion in the Tang and Song Dynasties: From Body–Cosmos Connection to Social Governance Technique

Shujian WangMinzu University of China*

* Corresponding author: [email protected]

Abstract

The Tang and Song dynasties were a critical stage in the transformation of Chinese society from the worldview of "interaction between heaven and humanity" to rationalism centered on Neo-Confucianism. This transformation also left a distinct imprint in the medical field, especially in the history of acupuncture acceptance. From the interactive perspective of body concepts and governance technologies, it can be found that the acceptance of acupuncture in the Tang Dynasty was rooted in the divine cognition of the connection between the body and the universe. Its practice was full of time taboos and witchcraft rituals, and the public's acceptance was based on awe of supernatural forces. By the Song Dynasty, driven by multiple factors such as state power discipline, Confucian knowledge penetration, the printing revolution, and medical marketization, acupuncture was redefined as a low-cost social welfare and body governance technology emphasizing "convenience, low cost, and effectiveness". The public's acceptance shifted to a utilitarian approach based on economic rationality and efficacy expectations. This transformation simultaneously presented a complex picture of the coexistence of the hollowing out of official education and the folk "supremacy of moxibustion alone", as well as elite rationalization and the mystification of popular beliefs.

Keywords: Acupuncture and moxibustion; Body concepts; Social history of medicine; Interaction between heaven and humanity; Body governance
Published: June 15, 2026
DOI: 10.54254/2753-7064/2026.NS34415
Volume: CHR Vol.109
pp. 78-92
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