Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine First Affiliated Hospital Publicity Department

Planning: Yu Tiecheng, Writing: Su Xiaohua, Zhou Yuping, Han Li

Those who have undergone acupuncture in the acupuncture department of traditional Chinese medicine hospitals have seen the “silver needles” used for needling, usually about two to three inches long, hence called “small silver needles”. Few have likely seen needles as long as three feet. Forty years ago, there was an acupuncturist at the First Affiliated Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine who used a needle as long as three feet to treat chronic diseases, repeatedly saving critically ill patients from the brink of death, leaving behind a legendary tale. This person is the founder of Mángzhēn therapy – Shen Jinshan. This needle, being as fine as wheat awns, is called Mángzhēn, and this therapy is referred to as “Shen’s Mángzhēn”.

Master Shen Jinshan

Although over 40 years have passed, Tianjin Traditional Chinese Medicine has grown stronger. Looking back at that dusty history and exploring the magical tale of Mángzhēn, we cannot help but feel a surge of emotions: Mángzhēn therapy has treated countless patients and saved numerous lives in nearly 100 years since its inception, and people have not forgotten its founder, the master of Mángzhēn, Shen Jinshan.

In his medical practice, Shen Jinshan devoted himself to research, reforming acupuncture instruments, and adopting unique operational techniques, saving countless lives; he continuously enriched the theory, transitioning from a folk doctor to a university lecturer, educating students; he declined several invitations to move to Beijing, dedicating his passion to the land of Tianjin he loved. His Mángzhēn has added a vibrant chapter to the history of Chinese acupuncture, and his Mángzhēn is a treasure of our hospital, a wealth of Tianjin Traditional Chinese Medicine, and an important contribution of our hospital to the development of traditional Chinese medicine in the country.

1. A Folk Doctor from the Countryside: Shen Jinshan was born on December 24, 1895, in Hongdi Village, Wujin, Jiangsu Province (now Wujin County, Changzhou City, Jiangsu Province). The Shen family has a long history of traditional Chinese medicine, with acupuncture passed down through several generations; both Shen Jinshan’s grandfather and father were village doctors. From a young age, Shen Jinshan was strong and gifted, and at the age of 15, he began practicing medicine with his father, quickly mastering acupuncture techniques.

In the old China of that era, plagued by wars and suffering, the vast majority of laborers lived in dire conditions. Shen Jinshan’s family barely made ends meet through their medical practice. The lower social classes, engaged in heavy physical labor, faced various joint diseases due to the harsh conditions. When these conditions flared up, the pain was unbearable. However, through Shen Jinshan’s Mángzhēn treatment, many patients found relief or even complete resolution of their suffering. Shen Jinshan quickly gained a high reputation among the lower social classes, yet to the ruling authorities, he was merely a village doctor with some skills.

Traditional acupuncture has nine types of needles, most of which are made of iron, short and thick. These needles could only reach the surface acupoints of patients due to their limited length, making it difficult to reach the actual disease site, thus limiting their efficacy. Inspired by the long needle among the nine needles, Shen Jinshan discovered that the long needle had significant effects during treatment. He wondered if a longer needle would yield even better results. Shen Jinshan secretly reformed the long needle, lengthening it for patient treatment, achieving good results, which further strengthened his confidence in reforming traditional acupuncture instruments. However, due to the isolated rural environment, Shen Jinshan could no longer satisfy his desire to showcase his medical skills in a small place; he needed a larger and more complex environment to hone his craft. In 1912, at the age of 17, Shen Jinshan moved to Changzhou to practice medicine. By this time, his Mángzhēn skills had matured, and a few years later, he moved with his family to Tangshan. By chance, he cured the mother of a powerful figure, quickly obtaining a medical license. Thus, Shen Jinshan transitioned from a village doctor to a folk physician.

Shen Jinshan’s acupuncture skills continued to mature. Through long-term exploration, he made breakthroughs in needle instrument reform, technique innovation, and needle depth, opening up previously forbidden acupoints and deep needling areas that were previously inaccessible due to the limitations of short and thick needles. Around 1928, he discovered that imported fine steel wire from Germany was the best material for making needles, and he began using 29-31 gauge steel wire to create needles ranging from 5 inches to 3 feet long. Because these needles were fine and long, resembling wheat awns, he named them Mángzhēn. Shen Jinshan also innovated his techniques; due to the fine and long nature of Mángzhēn, traditional acupuncture techniques were not suitable, leading him to invent a unique method of holding the needle with both hands, gently twisting and slowly inserting it, which became a significant characteristic distinguishing Mángzhēn from other acupuncture techniques.

Due to frequent interactions with patients traveling to and from Tianjin, Shen Jinshan gradually developed an understanding of this city with a 600-year history. At that time, Tianjin was bustling with merchants and diverse cultures, making it an excellent place to showcase his talents. In 1939, Shen Jinshan moved his family to Tianjin, where he remained for the rest of his life.

During the Japanese occupation of Tianjin, Shen Jinshan’s Mángzhēn quickly attracted the attention of the Japanese, who were eager to learn about its remarkable effects. Faced with threats and temptations, he cleverly refused invitations to teach in Japan. Later, a Japanese individual came to request instruction in Mángzhēn techniques. Shen Jinshan challenged him to pierce three grains of rice in a bag with the Mángzhēn needle before he could learn. The Japanese man, skeptical, watched as Shen Jinshan pierced the bag, and upon opening it, found that the needle had indeed pierced through three grains of rice. This incident showcased Shen Jinshan’s noble national spirit, and the reputation of “Shen’s Mángzhēn” soared in Tianjin.

Shen Jinshan initially explored acupoints on the limbs before gradually expanding to internal organs. Due to the unique penetrating nature of Mángzhēn, he could stimulate deep nerves and acupoints through certain tissues and organs, restoring the functional disorders of tissues and organs that had lost their nerve supply and regulation. On this basis, Shen Jinshan also opened up many previously forbidden acupoints, inventing penetrating therapy, which was previously attempted by few due to the life-threatening nature of these acupoints. Shen Jinshan, however, was able to handle these acupoints with ease, establishing a new milestone in the history of traditional Chinese medicine in Tianjin.

“Shen’s Mángzhēn” formed its own school in Tianjin, and Shen Jinshan’s three unique skills became a topic of admiration. The first skill: “Shen’s Mángzhēn” is characterized by its length, with the longest reaching 3 feet, allowing for different needle lengths based on the acupoint, with the shortest being no less than 5 inches, which became a major distinguishing feature of Mángzhēn compared to acupuncture. The second skill: “Nail Observation” – while traditional Chinese doctors diagnose through observation, listening, questioning, and pulse-taking, Shen Jinshan could determine the disease location merely by examining the patient’s nails, a level of accuracy that astonished many. The third skill: how did Shen Jinshan carry such a long 3-foot needle, which cannot be bent or folded? He liked to carry a cane, within which the long Mángzhēn needle was hidden. When needed, he would unscrew the cane, retrieve the already sterilized needle, and immediately treat the patient. Shen Jinshan’s exceptional Mángzhēn skills earned him widespread acclaim. At that time, he had become a renowned figure in Tianjin’s traditional Chinese medicine community, and whenever patients with difficult conditions were on the brink of death, many would say, “Go find Shen Jinshan,” as he became the last hope for many patients.

2. From Folk Doctor to University Lecturer

Mángzhēn therapy is a brilliant star in the treasure trove of traditional Chinese medicine, an important component of acupuncture. It is based on the meridian theory of the Neijing (内经), guided by the clinical practices of various medical practitioners throughout history, and combines the characteristics of filiform needles and long needles from the ancient nine needles, developed through years of exploration and reform by Shen Jinshan.

In practice, Shen Jinshan developed Mángzhēn to lengths of 5 inches to 3 feet, forming a unique set of treatment methods from diagnosis to acupoint application and technique implementation. He explored and identified over 24 effective acupoints, utilizing several key acupoints from meridian theory and special acupoints, forming a unique treatment method. For example, the TianTuo acupoint is treated with a needle length of 8–12 inches, and the DaiMai (带脉) acupoint with 1.2–2.5 feet. This method can treat conditions suitable for filiform needles while compensating for the shortcomings of long needles, especially effective for digestive, musculoskeletal, and nervous system disorders, gaining widespread popularity. The reputation of “Shen’s Mángzhēn” spread throughout Tianjin and Beijing.

Shen Jinshan moved from Changzhou to Tangshan and then to Tianjin, experiencing instability in his life. When he first arrived in Tianjin, he had no fixed residence, but after several twists and turns, he finally settled in Songyue West Lane in the Heping District. At this time, his ex-wife and daughter were still by his side. His daughter helped him with patient care, while his wife managed household chores, and they lived a relatively peaceful life. However, Shen Jinshan always had a lingering concern; as the fame of Mángzhēn grew in Tianjin, he was nearing 50 years old and had no son to inherit his legacy, which left him feeling somewhat disappointed.

In 1945, Shen Jinshan was invited by Zhou Yaoting, a lawyer at the French consulate, to treat his wife. Shen Jinshan gladly accepted, and this visit led to a romantic story akin to a Chinese version of Romeo and Juliet. Soon after, Shen Jinshan reached an agreement with his ex-wife for divorce and held a grand wedding ceremony with Zhou Peijuan at the French consulate.

Zhou Peijuan, born in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, graduated from Qinzhen Primary School in Shanghai in 1926. Her father, Zhou Yaoting, was hired as a lawyer by the consul of the French consulate in Tianjin, and she moved with her parents from Shanghai to Tianjin. Zhou Peijuan was very filial, and her mother’s illness worried her greatly. Shen Jinshan’s miraculous needle cured her mother, and Zhou Peijuan was deeply moved by the charm of Mángzhēn, eager to marry Shen Jinshan to learn the magical technique. Zhou Peijuan was the daughter of a lawyer, and despite the significant differences in age and social status, the two remained loving and supportive through life’s storms.

In 1949, the People’s Republic of China was established, and Shen Jinshan relied on his Mángzhēn skills to support his family, experiencing a rebirth in his previously difficult life. He loved the Communist Party and the new socialist China, actively participating in health work and treating numerous patients.

In 1952, Shen Jinshan opened the “Jinshan Clinic” on Xingan Road. As the number of patients increased, he could no longer manage alone, so he began teaching Zhou Peijuan the Mángzhēn techniques. Zhou Peijuan’s sister, Zhou Huijuan, soon became Shen Jinshan’s student, and the team of Mángzhēn practitioners began to grow.

Shen Jinshan’s miraculous medical skills left a deep impression on many patients. His use of Mángzhēn to treat ascites was particularly remarkable. At that time, a 39-year-old patient with liver cirrhosis and ascites was hospitalized at a certain PLA hospital, suffering greatly. Shen Jinshan was invited to consult, and after a few needles, within 20 minutes, the patient expelled a large amount of fluid through the gastrointestinal and urinary tracts, miraculously recovering. This technique remains unmatched to this day. After the opening of the “Jinshan Clinic”, due to his advanced age, Shen Jinshan could only see patients in the morning, limiting his consultations to 20 patients. To secure one of these slots, many would queue overnight, leading to a situation similar to today’s “scalpers”, where a consultation slot costing 0.5 yuan was resold for 8 or 9 yuan. At that time, “Shen’s Mángzhēn” was indeed in high demand.

Only in the new socialist China could Shen Jinshan fully showcase his skills, treating a wide range of patients with his acupuncture techniques, earning widespread social acclaim for his exceptional skills.

At that time, Mr. Li Zhuchen, the founder of the Tianjin Federation of Industry and Commerce and former Minister of the Ministry of Light Industry, also sought out Shen Jinshan. The two quickly became close friends. As Mr. Li aged, Shen Jinshan often personally visited his residence at 102 Machang Road to treat him. In 1958, Mr. Li moved to Beijing to serve as Minister of the Ministry of Light Industry, where the heavy responsibilities of state affairs took a toll on his health. Despite this, Mr. Li remained deeply appreciative of Shen Jinshan’s Mángzhēn techniques, frequently inviting him to treat him in Zhongnanhai, making Shen Jinshan the first generation of health care providers in Zhongnanhai.

The Mángzhēn therapy received attention and support from the Party and government. In the spring of 1958, the Ministry of Health held a “National Traditional Chinese Medicine Experience Exchange Conference” in Beijing, where Shen Jinshan introduced the Mángzhēn therapy and its characteristics to traditional Chinese medicine practitioners nationwide, receiving enthusiastic praise from attendees. As a result, the Ministry of Health awarded Shen Jinshan the title of “Pioneer of the Health and Medical Technology Revolution” and presented him with a gold medal for his contributions.

The Party and government placed great importance on Shen Jinshan’s “Shen’s Mángzhēn”, arranging work for him and providing generous conditions and benefits. In 1960, Shen Jinshan, along with Zhou Peijuan, Ding Nailing, and Zhou Huijuan, joined the acupuncture department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (now our hospital). The hospital subsequently established the Mángzhēn outpatient department, making it the first state-owned hospital in China to have a dedicated Mángzhēn specialty outpatient department. Shen Jinshan, at the age of 64, was appointed as the director of the Mángzhēn outpatient department, marking a significant milestone in the history of traditional Chinese medicine.

Simultaneously, Shen Jinshan was invited as a consultant for the acupuncture teaching and research group at Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, where he compiled and organized the theories and case studies of Mángzhēn therapy, officially introducing it into the curriculum of higher education institutions for traditional Chinese medicine. During this period, the Mángzhēn outpatient department trained numerous personnel for major traditional Chinese medicine hospitals and military hospitals across the country.

Shen Jinshan, Zhou Peijuan, Ding Nailing, Zhou Huijuan, and others treated a large number of patients at the Mángzhēn outpatient department. For instance, a patient with acute lumbar sprain was brought in, and after one needle insertion, the patient walked out. Another patient suffering from persistent hiccups was treated with a few needles, and the hiccups ceased immediately. Such cases were numerous. Under the hospital’s arrangement, Shen Jinshan also taught students from Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, such as Yan Li, Fang Guangcai, Sun Lanrong, and Yang Zhaogang, the Mángzhēn techniques. These students remained at the acupuncture department after graduation, becoming successors of Mángzhēn therapy and laying the foundation for its development in China.

During this period, a research group for Mángzhēn therapy was established within the traditional Chinese medicine learning class organized by the Tianjin Health Bureau, where Shen Jinshan reviewed and drafted textbooks on Mángzhēn therapy for nationwide acupuncture practitioners. Thus, Shen Jinshan underwent a second transformation, transitioning from a folk doctor to a state hospital physician and university educator.

Shen Jinshan and his colleagues summarized a complete set of treatment plans from diagnosis to acupoint application and technique implementation, such as using 5-inch needles for limbs and head acupoints, 6 to 8-inch needles for abdominal and stomach acupoints like Guanyuan and Tianshu, and 1.2-foot needles for TianTuo acupoints. For treating abdominal distension and ascites, a 3-foot Mángzhēn needle is used to perform circular needling at the DaiMai acupoint. He identified four characteristics of Mángzhēn therapy: versatility, depth, multi-acupoint application, and pivotal nature. He could even insert two Mángzhēn needles into different acupoints, allowing them to meet within the body, achieving miraculous effects.

3. Leaving Wealth and Regrets for Future Generations

Shen Jinshan treated countless difficult and complicated diseases with Mángzhēn, gaining fame in Tianjin and beyond. It can be said that Shen Jinshan created a peak in the history of traditional Chinese medicine with Mángzhēn, a legendary figure who, despite lacking formal education, forged a remarkable legacy through his intelligence and perseverance.

Mángzhēn is a highly challenging technique to master; a single insertion can impact a patient’s life. The length and feel of the needle require the practitioner to have a solid foundation in skills. Shen Jinshan imposed strict and even harsh training requirements on his children regarding Mángzhēn. During this period, many eager students sought to learn from him, including Soviet experts who invited him to teach in the Soviet Union, but he declined all offers. As the master of Mángzhēn, Shen Jinshan was reluctant to easily share his techniques, fearing that poorly trained students might tarnish the reputation of “Shen’s Mángzhēn” and, more importantly, jeopardize patients’ lives.

However, the Party and government provided Shen Jinshan with excellent conditions and support to teach his Mángzhēn techniques. With the open-minded government and favorable social environment, Shen Jinshan’s reluctance to take on students gradually changed. In 1952, as the outpatient volume increased, he accepted Zhou Huijuan as a student, along with Ding Nailing and Zhao Hongqi, later taking on four more students at our hospital.

The efficacy of Mángzhēn therapy was remarkable, yet at that time, the field of Mángzhēn in Beijing was almost non-existent. Shen Jinshan was often invited to consult in Beijing, and local leaders frequently invited him to move his family there. However, Shen Jinshan, nearing his sixties, was deeply rooted in the diverse and inclusive Tianjin and had no intention of leaving, ultimately sending his student Zhao Hongqi to support the Mángzhēn efforts in Beijing.

In 1958, Zhao Hongqi followed Shen Jinshan’s instructions to move to Beijing, and he did not disappoint his master’s expectations, compiling his years of learning into a book titled “Mángzhēn Therapy”, published by the People’s Health Publishing House in December 1959. This book played a significant role in spreading and promoting Mángzhēn therapy nationwide.

In 1966, the Cultural Revolution broke out, a political movement that disrupted all social and economic orders in China, leading to the downfall of many experts and scholars. Shen Jinshan, as a consultant for the teaching and research group at Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and an acupuncture expert, was among the first to be targeted.

Shen Jinshan’s home, located at 10 Xinxing Road in the Heping District, was a three-story building with seven rooms. When the Cultural Revolution erupted, numerous “Red Guards” stormed into Shen Jinshan’s home, destroying furniture and seizing or burning books, forcing the Shen family into a dark room.

Shen Jinshan was denounced, and he and his wife Zhou Peijuan were frequently taken to the streets for public humiliation. Some patients he had previously treated without charge turned against him, physically assaulting him. Shen Jinshan’s body and spirit suffered severe blows. Initially, a Mángzhēn needle had brought Shen Jinshan and Zhou Peijuan together, but now it was the same needle that brought them both to suffering, as they stood together on stage facing unfair accusations and beatings, with Zhou Peijuan even having her hair shaved.

Shen Jinshan could not understand why the “Red Guards” were so intent on targeting him. He had spent years practicing medicine, treating countless patients, contributing to the Party and the people, yet he found himself labeled as a reactionary academic authority and a leader of the bourgeois path. The world had turned upside down!

During this internal turmoil, Mángzhēn therapy became associated with feudalism and capitalism, facing the risk of being eradicated. Shen Jinshan could no longer endure the frequent denunciations, and the immense psychological pressure and severe physical punishment led to his untimely death. In October 1968, at the age of 73, the master of Mángzhēn, Shen Jinshan, suffered a myocardial infarction and passed away, leaving behind the Mángzhēn therapy and a sense of regret.

4. A Valuable Wealth Worth Exploring

The ten years of turmoil drastically changed the fate of Shen Jinshan’s family, and the legendary Mángzhēn techniques suffered severe damage. Shen Jinshan’s unique skill of “Nail Observation” was never passed on, and the 3-foot Mángzhēn needle he used became nearly impossible to find. Only fragments of the miraculous stories of Mángzhēn remain in people’s memories.

The Cultural Revolution caused Shen Jinshan’s early demise, and his wife, Zhou Peijuan, went to the vast grasslands of Inner Mongolia, where she treated local farmers and herdsmen. Having learned Mángzhēn from Shen Jinshan, Zhou Peijuan had started her training later, and since Mángzhēn requires considerable finger strength, her skills were likely inferior to Shen Jinshan’s. Nevertheless, she earned the respect of the local farmers, gaining the title of “Zhou the Immortal” during her time in Inner Mongolia.

As an elder physician in our acupuncture department, Zhou Peijuan later returned to Tianjin, continuing her work in Mángzhēn until retirement. She was humble and dedicated to her work, using the skills passed down from Shen Jinshan to treat patients, innovating and reflecting on her understanding of Mángzhēn, ultimately compiling her thoughts into a book titled “Mángzhēn Therapy”.

Our hospital sent Yan Li, Fang Guangcai, Yang Zhaogang, and Sun Lanrong to learn from Shen Jinshan. They studied diligently and respected him greatly. As the founder of Mángzhēn therapy, Shen Jinshan was reluctant to easily share his techniques, requiring consideration of a person’s character before teaching. These four students were all excellent in both character and academics, and after a few years of learning from Shen Jinshan, the Cultural Revolution broke out, forcing them to go to the countryside, where they practiced Mángzhēn in their communities. As time has passed, most of them have retired, but only Yang Zhaogang continues to work in the field of Mángzhēn.

In 1980, Yang Zhaogang published the previously unpublished “Mángzhēn Therapy” based on the foundations laid by Shen Jinshan and Zhou Peijuan. This work systematically and comprehensively presented the scientific theories of Mángzhēn therapy, filling a gap in the field and generating significant responses in the acupuncture community both domestically and internationally. Yang Zhaogang has been invited to lecture and demonstrate his unique Mángzhēn techniques worldwide, transforming the once folk skill into a shared treasure of humanity, shining on the international stage. To date, Yang Zhaogang has published numerous theoretical works on Mángzhēn, totaling hundreds of thousands of words, contributing to the inheritance and development of Mángzhēn. Currently, most published works related to Mángzhēn are authored by Yang Zhaogang and his students, and he is currently involved in drafting standardized practices for Mángzhēn therapy, leading it to new heights in its inheritance and development.

It is regrettable that none of Shen Jinshan’s children pursued a career in Mángzhēn. His two sons and one daughter, who had learned from their parents, saw their fates altered by the Cultural Revolution. In 1968, his eldest son went to Inner Mongolia to work in the countryside, later moving to Cangzhou, Hebei, where he served as a barefoot doctor for eight years. In the 1970s, he returned to Tianjin and was assigned to work in a landscaping enterprise. Shen Jinshan’s daughter went to the Heilongjiang Production and Construction Corps in 1968 and later worked in a medical office at a state-owned enterprise in Taiyuan, Shanxi, until retirement. Shen Jinshan’s youngest son was assigned to work in a factory after his father passed away, and he did not pursue a career in Mángzhēn.

After the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the Communist Party, Mángzhēn therapy received attention from the Party and the state. It was included in the large acupuncture anthology “Chinese Acupuncture Collection” published by the state, and Mángzhēn therapy was also included in the current “Encyclopedia of Chinese Medicine”. The published works such as “Collection of Acupuncture Techniques” and “History of Chinese Acupuncture” provide detailed introductions to Mángzhēn therapy. As a unique and distinctive flower in the treasure trove of traditional Chinese medicine, Mángzhēn therapy has been included in various acupuncture textbooks published by national higher education institutions for traditional Chinese medicine. The Tianjin Health Bureau compiled the experiences of renowned traditional Chinese medicine practitioners to promote traditional Chinese medicine, and Mángzhēn therapy was included, further promoting its development.

From the early 20th century to the early 21st century, Mángzhēn therapy has traversed a century, filled with numerous joys and sorrows. Although the passing of Master Shen Jinshan has brought losses, the flame of inheritance continues to burn brightly. Our hospital has played a significant role in the inheritance of Mángzhēn therapy, with its theories continuously innovating and reforming, and its influence growing both domestically and internationally. Our hospital has become an important base for Mángzhēn therapy, leading to even greater development. If Master Shen Jinshan were still alive, he would surely feel gratified. We have reason to believe that in today’s rapidly advancing technological and informational age, Mángzhēn therapy will shine even more brilliantly.