Meanwhile, the other bronze figure mysteriously disappeared at this time, its whereabouts unknown. According to unofficial historical records, the other bronze figure appeared in Xiangyang Prefecture, was obtained by Zhao Nanzhong, and presented to the Southern Song court. Later, due to the chaos of war, it also disappeared without a trace.
In 1232 AD, the Yuan dynasty, now powerful, destroyed the Jin dynasty. The bronze figure was acquired by the Yuan and listed as a national treasure, receiving immense esteem. However, after more than two hundred years, it had deteriorated and urgently needed repair. Kublai Khan, the Yuan emperor, summoned skilled craftsmen from across the land and ultimately commissioned the Nepalese craftsman Araniko to restore it. It took four years to restore it to its original condition. Araniko was rewarded and granted an official position, enjoying great prestige. In 1264, the Yuan people moved the acupuncture bronze figure and the stone tablet inscribed with the "Newly Cast Bronze Figure Acupuncture Points Diagram" from Bianjing (Kaifeng) to the Three Emperors Temple in Dadu (Beijing).
Later, Zhu Yuanzhang, a commoner who became emperor, established the Ming Dynasty and destroyed the Yuan Dynasty. He seized the bronze figure from the Yuan people and placed it in the Temple of the Three Emperors. By the end of the Ming Dynasty, the country was in turmoil, and the bronze acupuncture figure, which had changed hands several times, disappeared without a trace, just like another bronze acupuncture figure. There is no trace of it in history.
Song Zihe and Song Hao learned about the history of the "Song Tiansheng Acupuncture Bronze Man" from some acupuncture historical materials. They thought it was a myth that had been lost forever, but now the Tiansheng Acupuncture Bronze Man had reappeared and was right before their eyes. How could the grandfather and grandson not be shocked?
"Grandpa, is this bronze figure really one of the 'Song Tiansheng Acupuncture Bronze Figures'?" Song Hao asked, his surprise and delight mixed with doubt. He couldn't believe it was real; perhaps it was another bronze figure cast by a different acupuncturist from ancient times, as documented in acupuncture historical records. The real Song Tiansheng Acupuncture Bronze Figure had long since disappeared, never to be seen again after the late Ming Dynasty. How could it have been privately kept by the people until now?
In his excitement, Song Zihe said, "I can't be certain that this acupuncture bronze figure is the real Song Tiansheng acupuncture bronze figure, but judging from its superb casting craftsmanship and spirit, it should be pretty close. Didn't Ms. Dou say in her letter to you that this is a sacred object in medicine, and you would know what it is at a glance? She must have been referring to the Song Tiansheng acupuncture bronze figure. How dare an object in medicine be called sacred! It can only be this!"
"Good heavens! It's unbelievable that the Heavenly Saint Acupuncture Bronze Figure has fallen into the hands of Dou Mo's descendants!" Song Hao exclaimed.
“Don’t forget, Dou Mo is a famous acupuncturist. It makes sense that he obtained the Tiansheng Acupuncture Bronze Man and passed it down in secret,” Song Zihe said.
"Hey! There's something else!" Song Hao accidentally discovered that there was a yellow cloth package inside the wooden box, which was under the bronze figure. He hadn't noticed it when he moved the bronze figure out earlier.
Song Hao hurriedly stepped forward and took it out. When he opened it, he was overjoyed to find two ancient books with yellowed and worn pages and some scattered materials inside. One of them was actually the Song Dynasty version of "Illustrated Manual of Acupuncture Points on the Newly Cast Bronze Figure," and the other was "Secret Words of the Bronze Figure Acupuncture Manual."
"The Secret Language of the Bronze Man Acupuncture Manual!" Song Zihe exclaimed in surprise upon seeing it. "This was written by Dou Mo, but the acupuncture techniques have been lost. I never expected that his descendants would preserve it!"
Song Zihe then picked it up and examined it, and exclaimed in surprise, "This bronze figure is indeed the Song Tiansheng Acupuncture Bronze Figure. It turns out that it was passed down to Dou Mo by Li Hao."
"Li Hao!?" Song Hao asked in surprise, "Who is he?"
Song Zihe said, "Li Hao was a famous physician during the Jin and Yuan dynasties. Historical records show that when Dou Mo was traveling in Caizhou, he met the famous physician Li Hao, who taught him the bronze figure acupuncture technique. It seems that he was also taught this Song Dynasty Tiansheng acupuncture bronze figure at that time. It turns out that one of the Tiansheng acupuncture bronze figures was obtained by Li Hao! Heaven has not forsaken this national treasure! It is truly remarkable that it has been preserved to this day despite the vicissitudes of life!"
"Grandpa, take another look at these documents." Song Hao handed the documents in his hand to Song Zihe.
These are some modern materials concerning the Song Tiansheng Acupuncture Bronze Figure, clearly collected by Dou Haiqin, which explicitly point out that this acupuncture bronze figure is the legendary Song Tiansheng Acupuncture Bronze Figure.
Chapter Fifteen: Song Tiansheng's Acupuncture Bronze Figure (4)
The Governing Vessel originates in the lower abdomen below the kidneys, descends to the center of the lumbar spine, and connects to the end of the urinary orifice. In men, it follows the penis down to the genitals; in women, it connects to the genitals, joins the genitals, encircles the posterior pelvic floor, separately encircles the buttocks, and connects with the Shaoyin and Taiyang meridians to the inner thigh of the Shaoyin meridian. It then runs through the spine from the Huiyang point and meets at the Changqiang point. At the sacral end, it meets the Shaoyin meridian and ascends along the spine, passing through Yaoshu, Yangguan, Mingmen, Xuanshu, Jizhong, Zhongshu, Jinsuo, Zhiyang, Lingtai, Shendao, Shenzhu, Taodao, and Dazhui, where it meets the three Yang meridians of the hand and foot. It ascends to Yamen, meets the Yangwei meridian, enters the root of the tongue, and ascends to Fengfu, where it meets the Yangwei meridian of the foot. Together, it enters the brain, following Naohu, Qiangjian, and Houding, ascending to the vertex, passing through Baihui, Qianding, Xinhui, Shangxing, and reaching Shenting, where it meets the Du meridian of the foot Taiyang. It follows the middle of the forehead to the nasal column, passing through Suliao and Shuigou, meeting the Yangming meridians of the hand and foot, reaching Duiduan, entering Yinjiao, and finally meeting the Ren meridian and the Yangming meridian of the foot. —Selected from "Examination of the Eight Extraordinary Meridians".
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Other sources indicate that in the 1970s, the Chinese acupuncture community received information that in 1936, Chinese acupuncture scholar Cheng Dan'an discovered an ancient bronze acupuncture figure at the Tokyo Museum in Japan, which he suspected to be the Song Dynasty Tiansheng Bronze Acupuncture Figure. To resolve this mystery, in 1980, an acupuncture investigation team from the China Academy of Acupuncture and Moxibustion traveled to Japan to investigate and verify its authenticity. Later, based on the figure's height and the number of acupoints, the theory that it was the Tiansheng Bronze Acupuncture Figure was ruled out.
Then came news that a museum in St. Petersburg, Russia, also possessed an ancient Chinese acupuncture bronze figure, possibly the Song Dynasty Tiansheng acupuncture bronze figure. However, after verification, this bronze figure was ruled out; it was a "Ming Dynasty Zhengtong acupuncture bronze figure," looted from the Forbidden City by the Russians during the Eight-Nation Alliance's invasion of Beijing. The true Song Dynasty Tiansheng acupuncture bronze figure has become a mystery to the world, yet it has been quietly and mysteriously preserved among the people.
The document also includes a resume, presumably written by Dou Haiqin, regarding Song Tiansheng's acupuncture bronze figure. Its contents are as follows:
"My ancestor, Dou Mo, was renowned for his acupuncture skills. He met Li Hao, a physician from Caizhou, and they became close friends after discussing the principles of acupuncture. Li Hao then taught my ancestor the acupuncture techniques of the Bronze Figure and secretly gifted him a bronze acupuncture figure from the Song Dynasty's Tiansheng era. He explained that this bronze figure was the true form of the two Tiansheng acupuncture bronze figures, a gift from the descendants of Wang Weiyi. Due to their inability to protect it, they entrusted it to be passed down through generations, selecting those with acupuncture talent to enhance their skills and ensure the preservation of this national treasure's wondrous uses, thus honoring Wang Weiyi's painstaking efforts. Originally, after the Jin people forcibly demanded one bronze figure, the Song court, fearing the Jin would return to seize the other true form, entrusted it to the descendants of Wang Weiyi for safekeeping. The nation's strength was weak, and they could not even protect a national treasure; this was a helpless act, and the true form was never seen again. The Wang family poured their life's blood into casting this supreme acupuncture treasure, ultimately creating a divine instrument. Scholars who practice it will find it wondrous to locate acupuncture points at a glance; with prolonged understanding, they will surely master the art of acupuncture."
The true form of the Heavenly Saint Bronze Man is cast from bronze alloy, with its internal organs carved from sandalwood, ensuring its immortality for ten thousand years. It also possesses extraordinary abilities; those who observe it with focused attention will eventually discover its remarkable power, especially in needling. It is truly miraculous. Our ancestors passed down this divine artifact, ensuring the Dou family's acupuncture techniques have thrived for eight hundred years. The secret establishment of the Golden Needle School, dedicated to using acupuncture to benefit the world, is entirely due to this object.
To prevent unforeseen events, the Wang family cast another bronze figure, identical in size and function, merely a resemblance, yet so convincing as to be mistaken for the real thing, also a national treasure. When the Jurchens invaded the south, they coerced and demanded this figure, which was given to them, temporarily averting the calamity of national destruction, thus achieving a remarkable feat. After the Yuan dynasty destroyed the Jin, they recovered this figure. "Over time, it deteriorated," and was repaired, but its quality was not as good as the original, though it could be preserved for ten thousand years. An ancestor once visited the Yuan court and saw the other bronze figure. Upon close inspection, he found that the two were indeed different, and secretly rejoiced to possess the true form, daring not to show it to anyone. The other bronze figure was later altered, and its whereabouts became unknown. Fortunately, the true form was preserved thanks to a secret method passed down in my Dou family.
This national treasure, a miraculous medical artifact, is only beneficial to physicians and should not be displayed to the public to avoid attracting the attention and theft of unscrupulous individuals. Therefore, it has never been offered to the nation. However, it is, after all, a gem of China, and its benefits cannot be fully realized through widespread dissemination. Thus, I wish to choose an appropriate time to offer it to the nation.
At this critical moment, an unexpected turn of events occurred. Li He, a member of the Golden Needle School, offered to show him the true form of the Heavenly Saint Acupuncture Bronze Figure in order to improve his acupuncture skills. However, he later broke his promise and leaked the information to the outside world, sparking a conflict in the martial arts world. Coercion and bribery abounded, and danger lurked everywhere. One member of the Dou family had already been murdered, and another was missing; the Golden Needle School was on the verge of annihilation. To prevent this national treasure from being lost overseas and to honor the ancestors' hard work, they prepared to present this sacred object to the nation for medical practitioners. However, word got out, and someone impersonating a member of the cultural relics department came to discuss the matter. They narrowly escaped being caught; it turned out that there was a traitor within the high-ranking officials of the cultural relics department who wanted to steal the national treasure. Left with no other choice, they hastily moved the treasure to another location for safekeeping.
The bronze figure has been temporarily hidden in the home of an acquaintance in Yantai. Unless I retrieve it myself, I will entrust a trustworthy person to move it elsewhere. Do not hand it over lightly unless a reliable person is found. This matter may bring endless trouble and danger to the person I entrust with this task, but please do your utmost to protect this national treasure. If you are a medical practitioner, this Heavenly Saint Bronze Figure and those two acupuncture books will surely bring you immense benefits; consider it a form of repayment.
Now that the matter has occurred, the outcome is uncertain. For safety reasons, this Tiansheng Acupuncture Bronze Figure may not be able to be returned to the Golden Needle School. The person I entrusted with its care may not be able to contact me in the future, but please keep it safe. If you have the ability to protect it, please pass on this bronze figure to the Dou family to carry on the art of acupuncture.
Dou Haiqin respectfully presents
After reading this article, Song Zihe and his grandson Song Hao were deeply moved.
"It turns out that there was actually a real and a fake one among those two Song Tiansheng acupuncture bronze figures! That's quite unexpected. Wang Weiyi, to guard against unforeseen circumstances, cast two bronze figures together, intending to discard the fake and keep the real one if necessary. He really went to great lengths. The fake one was highly regarded by the Jin, Yuan, and Ming dynasties, which shows that it was so similar to the real one that it was indistinguishable from the real thing. In addition to its medical value, the real and the fake were of equal value and indistinguishable. Song Hao, Ms. Dou Haiqin entrusted this artifact to you in a moment of crisis, allowing us to have the good fortune to see the real Song Tiansheng acupuncture bronze figure. It is truly a blessing for both of us! The Dou family has preserved this bronze figure for over eight hundred years, which is already remarkable, and now they have paid a bloody price. It is truly admirable that Dou Mo has descendants like this! Your responsibility from now on is to ensure the safety of this bronze figure. Whether to keep it for yourself or donate it to the public can be discussed after contacting Ms. Dou. We must respect her opinion." Song Zihe said with emotion.
"Don't worry, Grandpa, I will definitely live up to Aunt Dou's expectations. I will protect this bronze statue even if it costs me my life!" Song Hao said resolutely.
Song Zihe worriedly added, "With the appearance of the Tiansheng Acupuncture Bronze Man, the Golden Needle Sect has reappeared in the martial arts world. In addition to the black and white forces that covet the cultural value of the bronze man, it will also attract the nine sects and eighteen medical schools to compete for this divine artifact."
"Nine sects and eighteen schools!?" Song Hao exclaimed in surprise, "How can there be so many medical sects in the martial arts world?"
Song Zihe said, “The world is vast, and the martial arts world is wide. There are many sects that modern people are unaware of, but they exist among the people. Taking medical sects as an example, before the liberation, there was a saying of nine sects and eighteen schools, and the Golden Needle Sect was one of them. Some sects have continued for hundreds of years, each inheriting unique medical skills, traveling among the people. Some are there to help the world, while others are there to amass wealth. They are a mixed bag, and it is difficult to distinguish between good and bad. Most of them are not known to the authorities. Now that the Tiansheng Acupuncture Bronze Man has appeared, whoever obtains it can strengthen their sect's strength and improve their medical skills. Therefore, everyone will risk their lives to grab it. The tragic changes that have occurred in the Golden Needle Sect show just how fierce the competition was.”
Upon hearing this, Song Hao shuddered. He then laughed and said, "Fortunately, we handled this matter discreetly, and no one can find out. This treasure has already arrived in Penglai. The bronze figure was stored at Wang Yu's house in Yantai for many days without any problems, and now that we have secretly moved it, no one will know about it. Moreover, we even changed vehicles along the way. If we don't say anything, those people will search the whole world and still not find it."
Song Zihe sighed, "I hope so! But the strength and abilities of those martial arts sects are beyond our imagination. I hope they don't find this place."
Upon hearing this, Song Hao's heart sank. This matter was of utmost importance; a slight misstep could not only endanger the bronze statue, but also potentially cost him and his grandfather their lives. He was especially worried about Dou Haiqin, wondering if she had escaped danger. If he couldn't contact her in the future, he would have to rely on his own strength to protect the bronze statue. This was an invisible responsibility and pressure, and also a mission.
Song Hao looked up at the Tiansheng Acupuncture Bronze Figure. The soft, lustrous pale yellow luster emanating from the bronze figure, coupled with the captivating charm accentuated by its graceful and flowing form, made the acupoints covering its entire body seem to pulsate with life.
Instantly, the acupuncture bronze figure gave Song Hao an unparalleled sense of familiarity, and he couldn't help but reach out and touch it. The bronze alloy had a smooth, jade-like feel to it; the craftsmen of the Song Dynasty truly possessed unparalleled casting skills. It was not merely an acupuncture mold, but a magnificent work of art. Faced with such a rare treasure, anyone would experience a powerful sense of awe. Song Hao stood there, stunned, completely mesmerized.
Chapter Sixteen: The Secret of the Bronze Man
The Ren Meridian originates below Zhongji (CV3), within the lower abdomen, at the perineum. It ascends and exits, following Qugu (CV2), the upper pubic hairline, to Zhongji (CV3), where it runs parallel to the Foot Jueyin, Taiyin, and Shaoyin Meridians within the abdomen. It then follows Guanyuan (CV4), passes Shimen (CV3), meets the Foot Shaoyang and Chong Meridians at Yinjiao (CV6), follows Shenque (CV8) and Shuifen (CV9), meets the Foot Taiyin at Xiawan (CV1), passes Jianli (CV15), meets the Hand Taiyang, Shaoyang, and Foot Yangming Meridians at Zhongwan (CV12), ascends to Shangwan (CV13), Juque (CV14), Jiuwei (CV15), Zhongting (CV12), Tanzhong (CV17), Yutang (CV16), Zigong (CV12), Huagai (CV12), Xuanji (CV12), ascends to the throat, meets the Yinwei Meridian at Tiantu (CV22) and Lianquan (CV23), ascends to the chin, follows Chengjiang (CV22) to meet the Hand and Foot Yangming Meridians and the Du Meridian, circles the lips to the lower gum, then branches off again, running along the face to the center below the eyes, ending at Chengqi (CV1). —Selected from *Examination of the Eight Extraordinary Meridians*.
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What Song Zihe and his grandson Song Hao never expected was that the wooden box contained the true form of the "Song Tiansheng Acupuncture Bronze Figure," a Chinese treasure lost for nearly a thousand years and enough to astound the world. This unparalleled treasure had finally reappeared in modern society a thousand years later.
While excited, Song Hao said with concern, "Grandpa, it won't do to leave the bronze figure here; it's too conspicuous. We also can't put it back in the wooden box. I still need it to practice my needlework technique. In the future, clansmen will come to visit you, and it will be troublesome if they find out and word gets out."
Song Zihe said, "It's fine. We can move it to the back of the house. There's a secret room there that no one else knows about. Your great-grandfather told me about it when I came back with him when I was young. It's the safest place to hide this acupuncture bronze figure. You can also go in and observe the bronze figure and learn from it at any time."
Upon hearing this, Song Hao exclaimed with delight, "That's wonderful!" Then he hesitated, "This bronze figure is too heavy, and it's inconvenient to ask others for help. The two of us can't lift it."
Song Zihe laughed and said, "Historical records show that the Tiansheng Acupuncture Bronze Figure can be disassembled and reassembled, which is one of its most ingenious features!"
As he spoke, Song Zihe stepped forward, grasped the bronze figure's left arm, tried to move it a few times, and then gently twisted it, causing it to detach itself.