吉田流鍼穴法

Yoshida-ryū Shinketsu Hō

(Yoshida Style Acupoint Method)

I would like to explain about the secret family manuscript from the Yoshida-ryu titled: Yoshida-ryū Shinketsu Hō 吉田流鍼穴法 (Yoshida Style Acupoint Method). This secret manuscript (Kudensho 口伝書) explains/decodes their Kahi Shinketsu 家秘鍼穴 (Family Secret Acupoints) and explains their Keiraku Kogi 経絡考義 (thoughts on the meridians). Besides being one of the most important schools of Anma (Japanese massage) the Yoshida-ryu also has their own family styles of Shinkyū 鍼灸 (acupuncture and moxibustion). You had to study their style of Anma for 3 years before you were allowed to begin the study of Shinkyū. Which consisted of 7 more years of study.

BRIEF HISTORY:
Yoshida-ryu’s style of acupuncture started in the Sengoku Jidai (Warring States period), flourished in the early Edo period, and continued until the Meiji period. The founder, Yoshida Ikkyū 吉田意休, was a priest of the Izumo Taisha Shrine. He went to Eiroku in 1558 to study acupuncture under Kyo Takushu for seven years.

The acupuncture style of Takushu was introduced to Japan by Ikkyū. This system was summarized in the secret manuscript: Kahi Shinketsu 家秘鍼穴 (Family Secret Acupoints) written by the founder Yoshida Ikkyū 吉田意休, with notes by Yoshida Kiyasu 吉田喜安, his son, and a supplement by Yoshida Kazusada 吉田一貞続攷, his grandson.

The Yoshida-ryu concealed their family style of acupuncture by creating unique acupoint names that were completely different from the usual point names. The is known as Yoshida-ryū Shinketsu Hō 吉田流鍼穴法. This secret family manuscript contains diagrams and text explaining 115 acupoints that are divided into three diagrams: front, back, and side. The secret acupoints are also vital to the application of the family’s style of Anma which I have also written about for the first time in English.

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