Malaysian students begin acupuncture study with Yangzhou masters

Nine students from Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), a prestigious university in Malaysia, began their study on acupuncture therapy with two Yangzhou masters Zhu Xintai and Li Yaoqian on Aug 24.

Enjoying a long-standing history of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Yangzhou has cultivated many experts in the field since the Han Dynasty (202 BC-AD 220).

Zhu Xintai, inheritor of Zhu's acupuncture therapy, one of the intangible cultural heritages in Jiangsu province, studied medicine after his father in his childhood. Zhu combined the practice with modern medicine and has created many unique techniques.

Li Yaoqian is the sixth-generation inheritor of Qian's TCM pediatrics, one of the most representative TCM therapies in Yangzhou.

"For decades, TCM has often been considered as having no scientific basis internationally. Yet with its obvious curative effect being gradually recognized, more and more international students have come to China to study TCM. I hope that TCM can make more of a contribution to the world through our joint efforts," said Li Yaoqian.

Li also mentioned that he used to visit patients in Singapore and now, he sometimes receives international patients in outpatient service.

Before being apprentices of two masters, nine students had gone through a nine-month internship in the Yangzhou Hospital of TCM. They expressed the ambition before their masters to study hard and inherit TCM culture, like previous generations before.

"We will offer our strong support for them and build a well-functioned platform for their future study and to cultivate more talents," said Shen Yuchun, director of the Yangzhou Hospital of TCM.

Nine students from Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) in Malaysia become apprentices of two Yangzhou TCM masters on Aug 24. [Photo/yznews.cn]