The impact of the Chinese medical model on Japan or, how the younger brother comes of age

Abstract

There have been two major paradigmatic shifts in the history of Japanese medicine, one in the 6th century with the introduction of Chinese medicine, a second in the late 19th century when European medicine was adopted as the official medical model. The impact of the Chinese model on historical Japan, the contemporary practice of traditional medicine, and the contemporary practice of biomedicine is examined. Despite constant contact, use of Chinese medical texts, and considerable imitation of the Chinese model at certain historical periods, the Japanese have retained a unique medical system adapted to core cultural values and to their ecological niche. Public health is government controlled in Japan, but clinical medicine is largely administered by the private sector, which severely limits any simple adoption of the Chinese model. The practice of contemporary biomedicine and traditional medicine in Japan share common features and, despite numerous exchanges with China, influence from China at the level of policy is minimal, and in regard to clinical practice and research relatively small.