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Shiatsu therapy is a development of Chinese
acupuncture. It’s origins stretch back into the very mists
of Chinese antiquity. During the unification of Northern
and Southern China in the fifth century B.C. the science of
Oriental Bodywork Therapy had evolved to such a level that
mastery of oriental bodywork was required of every oriental
medical physician, in order to help them develop the refined
palpation skills necessary for the competent practice of
acupuncture.
In the sixth century A.D. a Buddhist monk,
Gan Jin Osho brought to Japan the medicine of Imperial
China, which included Oriental Bodywork, Tao-yin and Anma.
These physical therapies reached a peak in
Japan during the Edo period
(1603-1867). As in China hundreds of years before, a ruling
was made that every physician was required to master
oriental bodywork before being allowed to diagnose or use
needles.
In the early 19th Century in
Japan, European medical influences were being felt. This
was especially so for the ruling aristocratic class. They
became so impressed with European surgical methods and
efficiency with infectious diseases that they discouraged
and forbade the use of traditional oriental therapies.
In 1919, Tamai Tempaku, (later to be regarded
as the founder of the Shiatsu School of Bodywork) published
his second book, “Shiatsu Ho” (Finger Pressure Therapy).
Tempaku had thoroughly studied European anatomy, physiology,
massage and the oriental bodywork therapies.
As well as practicing from this base he wrote
several works related to Shiatsu and Ampuku (Hara) therapy
and diagnoses. This marrying of eastern and western
traditional medical practice was revolutionary at the time.
Among his students were Katsusuke Serizawa, Tokujiro
Namikoshi and the mother of Shizuto Masunaga. These
students developed a number of differing approaches. They
each founded schools, which still exert a major influence on
the study and practice of Shiatsu today.
In 1925 “The Shiatsu Therapists Association”
was formed in Japan. During the post World War II
reorganisation and allied occupation of Japan, Harikyu
Shiatsu, as Japanese medicine is termed was outlawed by
General McArthur. It was reinstated however because of the
enormous outcry from the Japanese people. In the mid
1985o’s, Shiatsu was recognised as a legitimate form of
therapy by the Japanese government. Bodywork licence
required two full years of schooling, oriental medical
physicians needed three years of medical school and tw3o
years of residency before being allowed to sit for Federal
licensing.
Today in Japan, Shiatsu/Anma is made
available to the workforce free of charge by all major
industries because of the enormous decrease in time lost
from the job by workers who receive regular preventative
Shiatsu Therapy.
In 1950, Toshiko Phipps was the first
qualified Japanese Shiatsu therapist to being teaching in
America. But Shiatsu did not become widely known in the
United Sates and Europe until the 1970’s. In the West the
influence of Namikoshi and Masunaga upon the practice of
shiatsu is far reaching. Different styles and methods of
shiatsu have grown and are growing from these origins.
In the United States, Shiatsu had by the mid
1980’s been classified into the following systems or
‘styles’: -
Acupressure Shiatsu
– which focuses specifically upon acupuncture points and
encompasses a variety of acupressure styles.
Five Element Style Shiatsu
– which relies mainly upon the Five Element theory of
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), especially in relation
to the emotions, and which incorporates some macrobiotic
principles.
Macrobiotic Shiatsu
– which incorporates Classical Acupuncture Channels,
Barefoot Shiatsu techniques and the way of living in harmony
as advocated by George Ojsawa, Michio Kushi and others.
Nippon Style Shiatsu
– which is fundamentally Namikoshi style, and as such places
great emphasis on Western physiology but with the addition
of Chinese medical theory and the classical energy channels.
Zen Shiatsu
– as developed by Shizuto Masunaga, which is characterised
by the application of the Kyo-Jitsu tonification and
sedation principals, an extended energy channel system, and
a condensed synthesis of Traditional Chinese Medicine,
western physiology and psychology.
Ohashiatsu
– an amalgam of Namikoshi style with methods developed by
Wataru Ohashi, aspects of Zen Shiatsu, and the use of
classical acupoints (tsubos) and channels.
Though several styles have been developed,
ultimately the effectiveness of Shiatsu depends more upon
the attitude, proficiency and attunement of the practitioner
than upon a particular style.
Shiatsu is now a popular natural therapy and bodywork throughout the world, including Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Bibliography:
History of Shiatsu/Anma – by Carl
Dubitsky, ABBTA Bulletin: Spring 1991.
Shiatsu: The Complete Guide – by Chris Jarmey,
Gabriel Mojay. Thorsons 1991.
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