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The secrets behind the art of mixing Chinese herbal remedies have been passed to chosen disciples for thousands of years and have not been made public. (Amal Chen/The Epoch Times)
In Chinese medicine, the tradition of passing knowledge down from master to disciple has lasted for thousands of years.
In 1999, two years after Hong Kong’s sovereignty was transferred, the Chinese Communist Party promulgated the “Regulations of Chinese Medicine,” which made it very difficult to continue this style of teaching Chinese medicine. Once the ordinance has widespread effect, the “from master to disciple” tradition will be gone.
The Chinese medicine legislation will destroy Chinese medicine, according to Mr. Yu Hong Chao, president of the Association of Preserving Chinese Ancient Medicine and heir to the ancient treatments of bone injuries. “This is the main reason why the real Chinese medicine is gradually disappearing,” he said.
For thousands of years, Chinese medicine has been passed down to disciples from masters like Li Shi Zhen and Hua Tuo, renowned physicians in history. A master would pass on the knowledge he gained from his experiences accumulated for decades. He would also pass on secret formulas to his disciples or his own children.
What is in the books are only formulas with no effect or slight effect, but my master’s hand-written formulas are very effective.
— Yu Hong Chao
“What is in the books are only formulas with no effect or slight effect, but my master’s hand-written formulas are very effective,” Yu said.
These formulas could not be understood without a master’s verbal instructions. “These prescriptions are written separately. In order to be effective, one has to add one formula to the other. And the master only imparts the information to qualified disciples,” he said.
There is a predestined relationship between a teacher and a student. “Before my master accepted me as his disciple, he observed my behavior for many years. In the end, he decided that he wanted to teach me,” Yu explained.
Before the master died, he told Yu, “You must accept a few good disciples and do not let this knowledge be lost. … ”
“However, I cannot fulfill my responsibility as his disciple,” Yu said, expressing sadness and frustration.
After “The Chinese Medicine Ordinance” became effective in 1999, in order to be a registered Chinese medicine practitioner and practice legally, Chinese medicine practitioners must first pass qualifying examinations. In addition, one also has to complete all the undergraduate courses or equivalent trainings approved by the Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong.
In a eulogy to his master, Yu wrote: “Master, before you died, you could take anyone as your disciple. But now, this is impossible. This person has to be a graduate of the Chinese medicine college with a certificate. Otherwise, it is useless. I can teach him, but he cannot practice medicine because it is illegal.”
Yu has tried to take on apprentices and recruit academic or registered Chinese medicine practitioners, but in vain. “They considered themselves as students of professors and thought that they are the orthodox medicine practitioners. Why should they take me as a master?” he said. Watching the art of ancient treatments of bone injuries about to disappear, Yu expressed a sense of helplessness.
“When I die, if [the principle of] ‘from master to disciple’ is still illegal, I will burn all my medical books,” Yu said. “The British government always respected our cultural heritage and respected our medical system. However, two years after Hong Kong returned to China, its regulations are forcing the ancient system of imparting knowledge to disappear.”Source: en.kanzhongguo.com
Next week, Part 2, Preserving genuine Chinese medicine in Hong Kong
