Cite For My Source
Yu, GZ. "Scattered Health" in Chinese Cities of the Middle Imperial Period." Chinese Studies In History 47, no. 4 (n.d.): 7-37. Arts & Humanities Citation Index, EBSCOhost (accessed October 23, 2016).
Pg. 3
Disease was attributed to the mystical energy of Qi." The ancient Chinese understanding of disease naturally lacked the concept of bacteria and viruses, but qi (气 air or energy) is a factor worth exploring, especially with regards to infectious or epidemic diseases. Qi was regarded as a vehicle for disease: it has passed through many interpretations and can be used to patch the holes in many theories, while its characteristics led people to believe that it could be avoided or resisted but could not be eradicated through public methods."
Pg: 6
Upper-Middle Class Were Served By PhysiciansMost people worked with shamans and those who practiced witchcraft.
"many people believed in witches and not in doctors"
" The prevalent practice of moxibustion is one example. The government also encouraged the people to practice self-care: thus, when facing the threat of disease, doctors were never the only force of resistance. Moreover, doctors in ancient China lacked support from religious groups, instead relying completely on the market. As a result, they had only to meet the needs of the “class served by physicians” (primarily the upper-middle class)."
Pg. 7
Doctors didn't actively work to help the populace. Most people didn't trust doctors."“Many doctors have adopted this trade in name but not in substance; yet they cultivate an empty reputation in pursuit of material benefit.”9 Arguably, both the elite physicians, who held discursive power, and the lower-class physicians, who constituted the majority in the trade, lacked the motivation to consider the health of the entire populace. According to the doctor–patient relationship of that era, doctors were accustomed to simply wait passively for patients to summon them and lacked the motivation to participate actively in public affairs. For this reason, when facing a large-scale epidemic event, doctors did not necessarily believe that they were the primary line of defense. They had no lack of social responsibility, but they did not elevate this sense of responsibility to the motivation and capacity to take “health measures.”"
General Notes #1
This makes sense because their beliefs were focused around the manipulation of Qi, they believed disease was caused by supernatural entities. Who would you trust to combat negative, supernatural entities? Would you prefer an uneducated doctor attempt to use random medicine to help you, that you don't understand, or would you rather someone who understands the supernatural, help you overcome the supernatural. Even with people trusting shamans more than doctors, the government encouraged self-care, people were motivated to help themselves overcome illness. There are even fatalists who believed that everything is fate, and didn't even fight illness.General Notes #2
Nicholas Benson: Imagine you are living in Han Dynasty, China. You believe that all disease is caused by a mystical energy, known as Qi. Most doctors are doctor by name alone, and aren't very intelligent. Religious groups don't support the practices of these doctors, and the most elitist doctors are more focused on achieving personal immortality, rather than on public health. Speaking of public health, there is no word for 'health'. The government encourages you take care of yourself, and your friend down the street is a fatalist, so he believes getting sick is simply fate. He's probably going to die soon. Your other neighbor is a shaman, who claims to understand how to manipulate Qi, and help people overcome illness. What is the point of you visiting an uninformed doctor, or a doctor that is more motivated by personal gain, when you can take care of yourself, or visit a shaman down the road who truly understands your troubles?! If you are a member of the lower class, the cheapest option is to take care of yourself, after all, your government thinks its a good idea. If you are middle class, more than likely you don't trust doctors due to their negative reputation. More than likely you'll see a shaman. If you were Upper-Middle Class, more than likely you actually went to see a doctor. Upper-middle class citizens can afford the services of elitist doctors.Image Citations
2016. Image. http://archive.artsmia.org/art-of-asia/history/images/maps/china-han-large.gif.
2016. Image. https://pixabay.com/static/uploads/photo/2016/02/21/09/33/buddha-1213332_960_720.jpg.
2016. Image. https://pixabay.com/static/uploads/photo/2014/03/20/04/53/martial-arts-291046_960_720.jpg.
2016. Image. https://pixabay.com/static/uploads/photo/2016/04/20/15/36/yin-1341378_960_720.png.
2016. Image. https://pixabay.com/static/uploads/photo/2015/04/12/07/35/hands-718560_960_720.jpg.
Han Dynasty Map. 2016. Image. http://www.nationsonline.org/maps/chinese_dynasty_maps/Han_Dynasty_Map.jpg.
Image Citations for All Group Images
- 2016. Image. http://archive.artsmia.org/art-of-asia/history/images/maps/china-han-large.gif.
- 2016. Image. https://pixabay.com/static/uploads/photo/2016/02/21/09/33/buddha-1213332_960_720.jpg.
- 2016. Image. https://pixabay.com/static/uploads/photo/2014/03/20/04/53/martial-arts-291046_960_720.jpg.
- 2016. Image. https://pixabay.com/static/uploads/photo/2016/04/20/15/36/yin-1341378_960_720.png.
- 2016. Image. https://pixabay.com/static/uploads/photo/2015/04/12/07/35/hands-718560_960_720.jpg.
- Han Dynasty Map. 2016. Image. http://www.nationsonline.org/maps/chinese_dynasty_maps/Han_Dynasty_Map.jpg.
- 2016. Image. https://nirc.nanzan-u.ac.jp/nfile/1113.
Script Rough Draft One
Isaac: All classes of Chinese society, except for slaves, had practitioners of medicine. The majority of Chinese citizens were of the lower class. Lower class Chinese citizens, were born into their professions. Medical traditions were passed down from father to son, and even from mother to daughter. Despite the large number of medical practitioners in the lower class, a majority of records only reference the existence of elite physicians. A majority of records may only refer to the existence of elite physicians, due to their ability to read and write.
Lydia: Common folk did not seek doctors, as they often practiced self-care. Those who practiced self-care utilized methods such as moxibustion, acupuncture, massages, gymnastics, and the ingestion of different herbs. Moxibustion is the burning of dried moxa leaves, directly upon one's skin. Acupuncture is the practice of inserting small needles into different points of the body, in order to regulate the flow of Qi, throughout the body. The ingestion of herbs were used as both cures for diseases, as well as a proactive measure to prevent illness.
Derek: Doctors lacked a high reputation among most social classes in Han Dynasty China. Many individuals practiced folk medicine. Folk medicine was heavily derived from the survival practices developed by hunters-gatherers of the Neolithic era. Folk medicine wasn't entirely ineffective, even though many of the practices may sound odd to those of the modern day. For example the licking of wounds may sound strange, but little were those practicing Folk Medicine were aware of, enzymes in one's saliva actually do help to resist disease.
Henry: Upper-class physicians and Folk Medicine used different methods for spreading medical knowledge. Upper-class physicians practiced traditional medicine. Traditional medicine was codified. Folk medicine was spread orally. Traditional medicine was more likely more consistent in practice, as doctors could refer back to the same texts, and use the same methods. Folk medicine practitioners relying on oral records, more than likely contained gradual shifts in methodology, as their practiced are spoken and changing throughout time to new generations.
Jet: Imagine you are living in Han Dynasty, China. You believe that all disease is caused by a mystical energy, known as Qi. Most doctors are doctor by name alone, and aren't very intelligent. Religious groups don't support the practices of these doctors, and the most elitist doctors are more focused on achieving personal immortality, rather than on public health. Speaking of public health, there is no word for 'health'. The government encourages you take care of yourself, and your friend down the street is a fatalist, so he believes getting sick is simply fate. He's probably going to die soon. Your other neighbor is a shaman, who claims to understand how to manipulate Qi, and help people overcome illness. What is the point of you visiting an uninformed doctor, or a doctor that is more motivated by personal gain, when you can take care of yourself, or visit a shaman down the road who truly understands your troubles?! If you are a member of the lower class, the cheapest option is to take care of yourself, after all, your government thinks its a good idea. If you are middle class, more than likely you don't trust doctors due to their negative reputation. More than likely you'll see a shaman. If you were Upper-Middle Class, more than likely you actually went to see a doctor. Upper-middle class citizens can afford the services of elitist doctors.
Script Rough Draft Two
(0:00-1:00) Jet: Imagine you are living in Han Dynasty, China. You believe that all disease is caused by a mystical energy, known as Qi. Most doctors are doctor by name alone, and aren't very intelligent. Religious groups don't support the practices of these doctors, and the most elitist doctors are more focused on achieving personal immortality, rather than on public health. Speaking of public health, there is no word for 'health'. The government encourages you take care of yourself, and your friend down the street is a fatalist, so he believes getting sick is simply fate. He's probably going to die soon. Your other neighbor is a shaman, who claims to understand how to manipulate Qi, and help people overcome illness. What is the point of you visiting an uninformed doctor, or a doctor that is more motivated by personal gain, when you can take care of yourself, or visit a shaman down the road who truly understands your troubles?! If you are a member of the lower class, the cheapest option is to take care of yourself, after all, your government thinks its a good idea. If you are middle class, more than likely you don't trust doctors due to their negative reputation. More than likely you'll see a shaman. If you were Upper-Middle Class, more than likely you actually went to see a doctor. Upper-middle class citizens can afford the services of elitist doctors.
(1:01-2:00) Lydia: Common folk did not seek doctors, as they often practiced self-care (Geng Zhe 2014, 10-17). Those who practiced self-care utilized methods such as moxibustion, acupuncture, massages, gymnastics, and the ingestion of different herbs (Needham 2000, 38-115 ). Moxibustion is the burning of dried moxa leaves, directly upon one's skin. Acupuncture is the practice of inserting small needles into different points of the body, in order to regulate the flow of Qi, throughout the body. The ingestion of herbs were used as both cures for diseases, as well as a proactive measure to prevent illness.
(2:01-3:00) Isaac: All classes of Chinese society, except for slaves, had practitioners of medicine(Lloyd and Sivin 2002, 22). The majority of Chinese citizens were of the lower class. Lower class Chinese citizens, were born into their professions. Medical traditions were passed down from father to son, and even from mother to daughter (Lloyd and Sivin 2002, 79). Despite the large number of medical practitioners in the lower class, a majority of records only reference the existence of elite physicians. A majority of records may only refer to the existence of elite physicians, due to their ability to read and write (Lloyd and Sivin 2002, 25).
(1:01-2:00) Lydia: Common folk did not seek doctors, as they often practiced self-care (Geng Zhe 2014, 10-17). Those who practiced self-care utilized methods such as moxibustion, acupuncture, massages, gymnastics, and the ingestion of different herbs (Needham 2000, 38-115 ). Moxibustion is the burning of dried moxa leaves, directly upon one's skin. Acupuncture is the practice of inserting small needles into different points of the body, in order to regulate the flow of Qi, throughout the body. The ingestion of herbs were used as both cures for diseases, as well as a proactive measure to prevent illness.
(2:01-3:00) Isaac: All classes of Chinese society, except for slaves, had practitioners of medicine(Lloyd and Sivin 2002, 22). The majority of Chinese citizens were of the lower class. Lower class Chinese citizens, were born into their professions. Medical traditions were passed down from father to son, and even from mother to daughter (Lloyd and Sivin 2002, 79). Despite the large number of medical practitioners in the lower class, a majority of records only reference the existence of elite physicians. A majority of records may only refer to the existence of elite physicians, due to their ability to read and write (Lloyd and Sivin 2002, 25).
(3:01-4:00) Henry: Upper-class physicians and Folk Medicine used different methods for spreading medical knowledge. Upper-class physicians practiced traditional medicine. Traditional medicine was codified. Folk medicine was spread orally. Traditional medicine was more likely more consistent in practice, as doctors could refer back to the same texts, and use the same methods. Folk medicine practitioners relying on oral records, more than likely contained gradual shifts in methodology, as their practiced are spoken and changing throughout time to new generations (Schiffiler 1980, 48) .
(4:01-5:00) Derek: Doctors lacked a high reputation among most social classes in Han Dynasty China. Many individuals practiced folk medicine. Folk medicine was heavily derived from the survival practices developed by hunters-gatherers of the Neolithic era. Folk medicine wasn't entirely ineffective, even though many of the practices may sound odd to those of the modern day. For example the licking of wounds may sound strange, but little were those practicing Folk Medicine were aware of, enzymes in one's saliva actually do help to resist disease (Schiffiler 1976, 2) .
(4:01-5:00) Derek: Doctors lacked a high reputation among most social classes in Han Dynasty China. Many individuals practiced folk medicine. Folk medicine was heavily derived from the survival practices developed by hunters-gatherers of the Neolithic era. Folk medicine wasn't entirely ineffective, even though many of the practices may sound odd to those of the modern day. For example the licking of wounds may sound strange, but little were those practicing Folk Medicine were aware of, enzymes in one's saliva actually do help to resist disease (Schiffiler 1976, 2) .
Chicago In-Text Citations For Everyone
Isaac: (Lloyd and Sivin 2002, 22-79)
Jet: (Geng Zhe 2014, 10-17)
Lydia: (Needham 2000, 38-115 )
Derek: (Schiffiler 1976, 2)
Henry: (Schiffiler 1980, 48)
Final Project So Far
Video Script
(0:00-1:00) Jet: Today we will discuss whether or not there are any differences in medicine in the Han Dynasty, involving the class system. We want you to understand that people of different classes, in Han Dynasty China, followed different medical practices. Our topic is especially significant because for many years, and even today, class has had an impact on many elements of people’s everyday life. By understanding how class impacted early societies around the world in regard to medicine, we can better understand how class affects today’s society. Imagine you are living in Han Dynasty, China. You believe that all disease is caused by a mystical energy, known as Qi. Most doctors are doctor by name alone, and aren't very intelligent. Religious groups don't support the practices of these doctors, and the most elitist doctors are more focused on achieving personal immortality, rather than on public health. Speaking of public health, there is no word for 'health'. The government encourages you take care of yourself, and your friend down the street is a fatalist, so he believes getting sick is simply fate. He's probably going to die soon. Your other neighbor is a shaman, who claims to understand how to manipulate Qi, and help people overcome illness. What is the point of you visiting an uninformed doctor, or a doctor that is more motivated by personal gain, when you can take care of yourself, or visit a shaman down the road who truly understands your troubles?! If you are a member of the lower class, the cheapest option is to take care of yourself, after all, your government thinks it’s a good idea. If you are middle class, more than likely you don't trust doctors due to their negative reputation. More than likely you'll see a shaman. If you were Upper-Middle Class, more than likely you actually went to see a doctor. Upper-middle class citizens can afford the services of elitist doctors.
(1:01-2:00) Lydia: Common folk did not seek doctors, as they often practiced self-care (Geng Zhe 2014, 10-17). Those who practiced self-care utilized methods such as moxibustion, acupuncture, massages, gymnastics, and the ingestion of different herbs (Needham 2000, 38-115 ). Moxibustion is the burning of dried moxa leaves, directly upon one's skin. Acupuncture is the practice of inserting small needles into different points of the body, in order to regulate the flow of Qi, throughout the body. The ingestion of herbs were used as both cures for diseases, as well as a proactive measure to prevent illness.
(2:01-3:00) Isaac: All classes of Chinese society, except for slaves, had practitioners of medicine(Lloyd and Sivin 2002, 22). The majority of Chinese citizens were of the lower class. Lower class Chinese citizens, were born into their professions. Medical traditions were passed down from father to son, and even from mother to daughter (Lloyd and Sivin 2002, 79). Despite the large number of medical practitioners in the lower class, a majority of records only reference the existence of elite physicians. A majority of records may only refer to the existence of elite physicians, due to their ability to read and write (Lloyd and Sivin 2002, 25).
(3:01-4:00) Henry: Upper-class physicians and Folk Medicine used different methods for spreading medical knowledge. Upper-class physicians practiced traditional medicine. Traditional medicine was codified. Folk medicine was spread orally. Traditional medicine was more likely more consistent in practice, as doctors could refer back to the same texts, and use the same methods. Folk medicine practitioners relying on oral records, more than likely contained gradual shifts in methodology, as their practiced are spoken and changing throughout time to new generations (Schiffiler 1980, 48) .
(4:01-5:00) Derek: Doctors lacked a high reputation among most social classes in Han Dynasty China. Many individuals practiced folk medicine. Folk medicine was heavily derived from the survival practices developed by hunters-gatherers of the Neolithic era. Folk medicine wasn't entirely ineffective, even though many of the practices may sound odd to those of the modern day. For example the licking of wounds may sound strange, but little were those practicing Folk Medicine were aware of, enzymes in one's saliva actually do help to resist disease (Schiffiler 1976, 2) . Medical practices between different social classes varied, illustrating the impact of the class system on the Han Dynasty.
Storyboard
(0:00-0:30): An image of a map of the Han Dynasty is shown.
(0:30-1:00): An image of two statues representing two dancing shamans is shown.
(1:00-1:30): An image of a jade shaman statue, is shown.
(1:30-2:00): An image of people walking in a forest.
(2:00-2:30): An image of two buddha statues around ornate pillows.
(2:30-3:00): An image of trees in the sunlight.
(3:00-3:30): An image of a yin-yang symbol held in a person’s hands.
(3:30-4:00): An image of a man performing Qigong.
(4:00-4:30): An image of a yin-yang symbol.
(4:30-5:00): An image of a map of the Han Dynasty is shown.
Bibliography
Gengzhe, Yu. 2014. ""Scattered Health" In Chinese Cities Of The Middle Imperial Period". Chinese Studies In History 47 (4): 7-37. doi:10.2753/csh0009-4633470401.
Schiffeler, John Wm. 1976. "The Origin Of Chinese Folk Medicine". Asian Folklore Studies 35 (1): 17. doi:10.2307/1177648.
Schiffeler, John Wm. 1980. "Chinese Folk Medicine A Study Of The Shan-Hai Ching". Asian Folklore Studies 39 (2): 41. doi:10.2307/1178070.
Image Bibliography
2016. Image. http://archive.artsmia.org/art-of-asia/history/images/maps/china-han-large.gif.
2016. Image. https://pixabay.com/static/uploads/photo/2016/02/21/09/33/buddha-1213332_960_720.jpg.
2016. Image. https://pixabay.com/static/uploads/photo/2014/03/20/04/53/martial-arts-291046_960_720.jpg.
2016. Image. https://pixabay.com/static/uploads/photo/2016/04/20/15/36/yin-1341378_960_720.png.
2016. Image. https://pixabay.com/static/uploads/photo/2015/04/12/07/35/hands-718560_960_720.jpg.
Han Dynasty Map. 2016. Image. http://www.nationsonline.org/maps/chinese_dynasty_maps/Han_Dynasty_Map.jpg.
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