Ishinpou(医心方) is one of the oldest medical book in Japan written by Yasuyori Tamba (丹波康頼) at A.D. 982. He collected various ancient Chinese medical books and edited this. The contents are medical theories, clinical medicines, pharmacy, acupuncture, moxibustion, pathology, prevention, rigimen etc. He referred acupuncture points in this book; in contrast, he did not emphasize meridians. The meridians he referred is only these pregnant woman’s one.1
Why did he paint these meridians red? There were no pigments except black and red? No, at this age, pigments have many varieties; there are many works of art with much color. Were other inks expensive for writing medical book? No, this book was offered to Enyu Tenno (Emperor of Japan). There were no budgetary reasons. He, probably, thought considerably and concluded that meridians were blood vessels. On the other hand, unborn baby and bronchial tubes are painted red. It is not strange that the baby is red, however, How about this red bronchial tubes. When he had dissected her, he could have recognized that it was not red. If it was a pulmonary artery, this shape might be strange.
In Japan, first medical anatomy was held at A.D.1754 by Touyo Yamawaki(山脇東洋). There was no evidence that Yasuyori anatomized human and wrote this book. Did he just only figure these pictures from character information in Chinese medical books? In any case, circumstantial evidence is not enough for reasoning.
He referred ten meridians here because the gestation period is ten months. He described that these meridians have relation to the months.
1st. Liver-Meridian
2nd. Gallbladder-Meridian
3rd. Pericardium-Meridian
4th. Triple Energizer-Meridian
5th. Spleen-Meridian
6th. Stomach-Meridian
7th. Lung-Meridian
8th. Large Intestine-Meridian
9th. Kidney-Meridian
10th. Bladder-Meridian
You will find that there are no Small Intestine-Meridian and Heart-Meridian here or Kidney-Meridian’s figure is drawn from back on the contrary present most of it is drawn from front. This, however, is not special. Such as Bananhou(万安方) and Ihouruijyu(医方類聚) have the meridian’s figure from back.
These meridians are important and interesting materials for considering present acupuncture and meridians.
Ishinpou.
Bananpou.
Ihouruijyu.
WHO.
1：『医心方』巻第二十二 丹波康頼
2：『蔵志』 山脇東洋
