Modern Korean Acupuncture (K-Acupuncture) [Part 1] From the Classics to the Modern Era

    CALee Acupuncture

Modern Korean Acupuncture (K-Acupuncture): A Journey to Understanding Myself

 [Part 1] From the Classics to the Modern Era

Hello, and welcome.
You’ve joined a journey toward balance—of health, of life, and of understanding.

In previous blog posts, we explored how the foundational principles of acupuncture are explained through both philosophical and scientific frameworks. [Related Link]

Now, based on those essential principles, we’ll trace how acupuncture developed through Korea’s modern history and evolved into what we now know as “Eight Constitutions Medicine.” It’s a fascinating journey, and I look forward to sharing it with you.

✨ [Series Overview – All 10 Parts]
This blog series consists of 10 parts, covering everything from the classical roots of acupuncture to the refined theories of Eight Constitutions, including clinical principles for acupuncture treatments tailored by body type.

• [Part 1] Modern Korean Acupuncture (K-Acupuncture) : From the Classics to the Modern Era

• [Part 2] Modern Korean Acupuncture (K-Acupuncture) : Exploring the Blueprint of the Body 

• [Part 3] Modern Korean Acupuncture (K-Acupuncture) : The Hidden Secret of Eight Bodies

• [Part 4] Modern Korean Acupuncture (K-Acupuncture) : Core Principles of Eight-Constitution Acupuncture

• [Part 5] Modern Korean Acupuncture (K-Acupuncture) : Acupuncture for Taeyang Types

• [Part 6] Modern Korean Acupuncture (K-Acupuncture) : Acupuncture for Soyang Types

• [Part 7] Modern Korean Acupuncture (K-Acupuncture) : Acupuncture for Taeeum Types

• [Part 8] Modern Korean Acupuncture (K-Acupuncture) : Acupuncture for Soeum Types

• [Part 9] Modern Korean Acupuncture (K-Acupuncture) : The Core of Eight-Constitution Acupuncture

• [Part 10] Modern Korean Acupuncture (K-Acupuncture) : Acupoint Selection and the Central Element

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Acupuncture: Where Philosophy Meets Clinical Practice

Acupuncture is not merely a technique to treat disease.
Rather, it is the culmination of deep philosophical insight into the harmony between the human body and nature—enriched by centuries of clinical inquiry and refinement.

The classical foundation of acupuncture stems from a diverse array of thought systems, such as:

• The structure of physiology based on Yin-Yang and the Five Elements

• The I Ching (Book of Changes) and binary logic

• Meridian theory, especially as seen in the Nan Jing (Classic of Difficult Issues)

• And modern reinterpretations of "qi" as the flow of energy

Among these, the Nan Jing (難經) stands out as a key classical text that lays both the philosophical groundwork and the clinical principles for Five-Element acupuncture. It plays a crucial role in understanding the true nature of acupuncture.

• Difficulty 64: Distinguishing the Five Element attributes of the Five Shu Points

• Difficulty 65: The relationship between the Five Shu Points and seasonal changes

• Difficulty 69: The principles of tonifying deficiency and reducing excess

• Difficulty 75: Treatment strategies using mutual control among the Five Elements

These theories were not merely abstract—they were applied, refined, and passed down through thousands of years of diagnostic and therapeutic practice.

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The Path of Acupuncture Amidst Modern Upheaval

After the compilation of Donguibogam in the late Joseon period, acupuncture began to move beyond its roots in folk medicine and underwent scholarly development.

• Scholar-physicians (儒醫) practiced acupuncture with a Confucian intellectual foundation

• Folk acupuncturists approached it with pragmatic, hands-on techniques

These two streams—academic and practical—coexisted and influenced each other from the late Joseon era through the Japanese colonial period.

However, during the colonial era, state control over the medical system intensified. Acupuncture underwent suppression, regulation, and transformation.

After Korea’s liberation, under the U.S. military administration, debates ensued over the separation or integration of acupuncture and traditional medicine. Eventually, acupuncture was institutionalized and began to reclaim its place within the medical system through legal recognition and systematization.

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The Rise of Constitution-Based Treatment

Amid this turbulence, a new movement emerged—Sasang Medicine by Lee Je-ma, and later, the Eight Constitutions Theory developed by Dr. Kwon Do-won.

Departing from the generalized treatment approach of classical acupuncture, these thinkers proposed a radically different view:

“Each person is born with a different constitution.”

Based on this perspective, they structured both diagnosis and treatment around the individual's inborn characteristics.

This marked a turning point in the field—toward personalized acupuncture—and can be seen as a modern reinterpretation of traditional wisdom within the Korean context.

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Coming Next ✨

In Part 2, we’ll take a deeper look into the constitution-centered medical system envisioned by Lee Je-ma, the founder of Sasang Medicine.
It will be an intriguing exploration of the blueprint of our bodies.
Stay with us as we continue this journey together.

👉 [Next: Exploring the Blueprint of the Body – Lee Je-ma and Sasang Medicine]

Reference: DAOM LAc Hanok Lee, South Baylo University, Lecture of Eight Constitution Medicine

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