Traditional Tibetan Medicine： A Wider Field

By special correspondent SHI WEIJING

Traditional Tibetan Medicine： A Wider Field

By special correspondent SHI WEIJING

TTM theories on Thangka scrolls，a traditional way of disseminating medical knowledge.

TRADITIONAL Tibetan Medicine （TTM），with a history of 3，800 years，is one of the world's four major traditional medicines. Throughout history，it has always been regarded a sacred profession. In 1989，the Tibetan Traditional Medicine College was established in Lhasa. Though small in scale，the college focuses on systematically conserving and developing the ancient medical practice of TTM，marking a transition from individual master-disciple teaching to wider college education.

An Extensive and Profound Theory

The Tibetan Traditional Medicine College is the only public college specializing in TTM research and practice in China； its founding ushered in a new “academic” era for the profession. As early as the 17th century，the Fifth Dalai Lama，giving priority to TTM，ordered the setting up of several medical schools - Drepung Monastery and the Potala Palace were among the institutions to have in-house colleges of this kind. His disciple Sangye Gyatso established a school in Chokpori Hill in 1969，which gave it a popular nickname，“The Hill of the Medicine God.” The Fifth Dalai Lama and his disciples wrote books to disseminate TTM theories，thereby advancing the science to a higher level.

The Tibetan Traditional Medicine College aims to train students with modern equipment while revering the tradition. On entering the school，visitors will see the statue of Yuthok Yonten Gonpo （708-833），founder of TTM theory. He wrote Four Medical Tantras，which laid the foundation of this medical system.

Professor Mima，vice president of the Tibetan Traditional Medicine College，believes that it is its rich content that has allowed TTM to be learned and practiced for millennia. Thus far，Professor Mima said，TTM remains one of China's most complete and influential medical heritage，boasting a unique theoretical foundation，a complete scientifc system and long-term clinical accumulation. TTM is based on the “three essence” theory - breath，heat，and saliva/mucus - accompanying tree-like pictures illustrating the circulation of the three essences，and an advanced embryo theory that was put forward far earlier than modern medicine.

Mima is of the first generation of TTM undergraduates since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949. Continuous study honed his skills and gave him an understanding of the profoundness of this ancient medicine. For example，he said，TTM illustrates internal organs and acupuncture pointsof the body in the form of Thangka，a traditional painting known for its complicated composition and bright colors. The weekly changes of an embryo are equally accurately presented and tally with modern medicine despite appearing hundreds of years earlier. “It is incredible. We don't know how our ancestors did it.”

This is just part of the phenomena that remain under debate for contemporary researchers. And the development of the medicine has raised new questions. “There are so many things worth researching，” said Mima. He holds firmly that this air of mystery is the reason TTM continues to attract students. “Students find that exploration in this subject is never-ending. And the things they have learned are very useful. These two factors generate interest in continuing to study TTM.”

New Generation of an Ancient Profession

To date，1，146 students are studying at the Tibetan Traditional Medicine College. The majority come from farmers' and herdsmen's families across Tibet. In their hometowns，medicine is commonly regarded a sacred profession and a much sought-after career path for children in the eyes of their parents.

After five years of studying，graduates will go on to serve in cities and rural areas. “I can say proudly that our graduates are the mainstay of the medical and health care provision of Tibet，” said Mima.

For students and their families，a place at the Tibetan Traditional Medicine College is a precious opportunity. Throughout the campus，students can be seen clutching the thick volume of Four Medical Tantras and solemnly reciting it，even after class. This classical medicine literature，called “an unparalleled classic，” is appreciated as the canon for all TTM practitioners. Every student must be able to recite it in time for acute scrutiny and testing each semester.

To date，1，146 students are studying at the Tibetan Traditional Medicine College. The majority come from farmers' and herdsmen's families across Tibet.

Professor Mima congratulates a new group of graduates.

Professor Mima explains the process of compiling a TTM prescription.

Go Nationwide and Worldwide

“Previously，our students were all Tibetans，without exception，” said Mima，“but this had a negative effect on the promotion of the profession.” In 2012，the college for the first time offered a marketing major，which took up an enrollment of Han people from all over the country. Mima believes that as well as expanding the majors on offer at the college，the move encouraged the meeting of minds among students. Even more importantly，it assembled a pool of talents for TTM to go countrywide and even worldwide. Mima called it “a visionary action.”

Students enrolled in the marketingcourse will spend the first two years studying basic TTM knowledge and Tibetan history and culture，and the following two years on marketing theory at Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the eastern province of Jiangxi. They will then head back to Tibet for the fnal year，which comprises an internship at a TTM hospital or pharmaceutical company. Mima believes that the mode combines theory and practice well，and will foster inter-disciplinary graduates.

The year 2014 saw the second session of the marketing major at the college. The 29 students were initially not familiar with TTM. “At the beginning，I assumed the major was about selling drugs，” Ma Zhe admitted. He is from Heze in the eastern province of Shandong. But one year of studying equipped him with sound knowledge of the theories and ethics of TTM，somatology，the history of TTM pharmacy，and the history and culture of Tibet. Ma and his classmates were aware of the importance of understanding Tibetan history and culture in carrying forward TTM. “How can you propel the development of Tibetan medicine and pharmacy without knowing the historical and cultural background of the region？” said He Qingxiu from Yibin，Sichuan Province. She is very proud of being part of the efforts to promote TTM，“We study this major to spread TTM，” she said.

Its high success rate in curing ailments has won TTM a good reputation in the students' hometowns by word of mouth. “We have completed rounds of successful marketing among relatives and friends，” students quipped.

The statue of TTM founder Yuthok Yonten Gonpo at the campus entrance.

Literature Conservation

In 2014，the Tibetan Traditional Medicine College compiled and published a series called Photocopies of Rare Books on China's Traditional Tibetan Medicine and Pharmacy，one of the largest undertakings in TTM literature protection since 1949. The college has initiated a 10-year project that aims to set up a world-level research center. It is expected to have the most complete body of TTM literature and the best research staff in Tibetan medicine as well as astronomy and calendar.

Last March，the Four Medical Tantras （golden-ink version and 16th-18th century woodblock printing version）officially entered the list of national archival literature heritage. This ambitious project was applied jointly by the Tibetan Medicine Hospital of Tibet，Tibetan Autonomous Region Archives，and Tibetan Traditional Medicine College，with strong support from relevent departments of the regional government. “The development and inheritance of Tibetan medicine have a bright future，”Mima concluded.