A Set of Acupuncture Needles in the Late Qing Dynasty Collected by George Soulié de Morant

Abstract

Abstract. In the early 20th century, French vice-consul George Soulié de Morant encountered acupuncture during his visit to China, and then brought it back to France. After more than a century, his collection was transported from Paris, France to Kunming, China, and later recognized as a Chinese national third-class precious cultural heritage. Currently housed in the Museum of Western Studies on Chinese Medicine at Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, this set of instruments includes one needle holder converted from a fan-shaped holder, ten acupuncture needles, and eleven paper tags handwritten in English with names of diseases and body parts. This article attempts to present the foundational information and historical significance of this collection of this set of late Qing dynasty acupuncture instruments by reviewing the collection and related research on acupuncture instruments, consulting acupuncture professionals, measuring the detailed information of the set of instruments, and employing a method of translating and summarizing the content of the attached tags.