Masunaga Renaissance Man

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Masunaga - RenaissanceManIntroductionWithinthefieldofOrientalmedicine,shiatsuisnowadaysconsideredtobeanestablishedmodality,especiallywhenviewedfromaWesternperspective,althoughnotnecessarilyfromastrictlyChineseoneitmustbenoted.WithinthefieldofShiatsuitselfthereareoftensaidtobedistinctstylesandonethemosteasilyidentifiableisheldtobeZenShiatsu,createdroughlyhalfacenturyagoinJapanbyMasunagaShizuto.Thisarticlewillpursuethreemainthreads.OneofthemwillbetoprovideahistoricalaccountofthebirthofastyleofShiatsuanddescribetheprocesswithinthelargercontextofJapanesehistoryandculture.IndoingthiswewillalsoexamineMassunaga'screationintermsofbothtraditionandinnovation.Further,wewillattempttoidentifytheattributesofZenwhichgaveititsnameandwhichmightdistinguishthisstylefromothershiatsuforms.Thisarticlemakesnoassumptionsastotheamountofspecialisedknowledgeanindividualreadermighthave.Insteaditisacceptedasagiventhatvariousreaderswillbeinterestedandknowledgableindifferentareasandtovaryingdegrees.Forsometherewillbesuperfluousdetailinplaces,whileforotherscertainbasicconceptswillalreadybeunderstoodandcanbequicklyscannedthrough.TheBirthofZenShiatsuZenShiatsuisarecentlyfoundedtherapeuticstyle.However,duetoitsuseofconceptsandpracticesfromthetraditionsofOrientalmedicinewemayusefullyregarditasayoungandvibrantbranchonanancientandpowerfultree.ThegradualformationofthestylethatcametobeknownasZenShiatsuisprimarilytheworkofoneman:ShizutoMasunaga.BorninKure,Hiroshima,Japanin1925,hisfirstprofessionalfieldwaspsychology,inwhichhegraduatedfromKyotoImperialUniversityin1949.Movingontobodywork,followinghismother'sinfluenceshehostedShiatsuclasseswithmasterTempakuintheMasunagafamilyhomehegraduatedfromthefirsteverclassattheJapanShiatsuSchoolinTokyounderTokujiroNamikoshi.From1959hetaughtclinicalpsychologyfortenyearsattheschool,whichheldatthetime,andstillholdstothisday,theexclusiverighttolicenceshiatsupractitionersinJapan.WecanonlyguessattheexactstagesintheprocessofdevelopmentandseparationthattookplaceinMasunagatheteacherandpractitioner,butby1968hehadestablishedhisownschool:theIokaiShiatsuCentre.Fromhere,andtogetherwithadedicatedgroupofstudents,heproceededtoleadtheprocessofdeconstructionandreconstructionwhichwouldgraduallyleadtothedevelopmentofZenShiatsu.Intermsofdeconstruction,MasunagawenttoextremelengthstodismantlethestylehehadinheritedtheNamikoshishiatsuofhisteacher.Asfarasreconstructiongoes,hewasable,asweshallsee,toputtogetheraholisticmethodwhichintegratedthevital,energetictheoriesoftraditionalOrientalmedicinewithkeyaspectsoftheresultbasedscienceofthewest.ThestoryofMasunaga'seffortsentailsnotonlyhisbringingthe

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spiritualessencebackintoShiatsu,butalsosignificantcontributionstotheevolutionofShiatsuthroughdevelopingtheoriesandpracticesuniquetohissystem.ShizutoMasunagacreatedastyleofshiatsuthatreintegrateditsoriginalcoreofspiritualityandvitalenergy.Followinghisspecialinterestinexploringthemental,emotional,andspiritualcomponentsofthehumanentity,hecraftedasystemthatmergedideasfromwesternpsychologyandphysiology,traditionalChinesemedicineandZenBuddhism.BecauseMasunagawasabletoframetraditionalEasternconceptsinconventional,modernWesternterms,hisstyle,ZenShiatsuattainedawideappealandhasbecomeperhapsthemostpopularformofshiatsuinternationally.TheIokai(EeOhKai)Centrestillexists,eventhoughitsfounderpassedawayin1981.ThenameIokaisaysagreatdealabouttheambitionsofitsleadingfigure.Translatedliterally,itwouldmean:EmperorofMedicineAssociation.ThismaystriketheWesternreaderassomewhatlackinginhumility,andthusthefollowingsetofcontextualreferencesmaybehelpful."Zen"inShiatsuMasunaga'sattentionhadbeenseizedbyacertainpassageinthebuddhistsutraknowninJapaneseaszoagonkyo.Thepassageinquestionexplainstheimportanceofathoroughandspiritual(whatwemighttodaycallholistic)approachtohealing.TheEmperorofmedicineshould,iturged,thoroughlyexaminethenatureofdisease,clearlyidentifyoriginandcause,treatthediseasebutalsocareforandenlightenhimselfastotheconstitutionofhisownbeing.InthisshortpassagewefindaconcisedescriptionofsomeofthekeytenetsoftraditionalOrientalmedicine:theenquiryintothenatureofdisease;itsoriginsandcausesaswellasitseffectivetreatment,butalso,andperhapsaboveallelse,thecaringforofone'sownpersonandthepathtoenlightenmentthroughthecallingofhealing.TheseideasarenotoftenstatedquitethisdirectlybyeithermodernortraditionalpractitionersandteachersofOrientalmedicine,butMasunagaseemstohavebeenveryclearonthispoint:thewayofhealingisawaytoenlightenment.Thisofcoursegoesalongwaytoexplainwhygenerationsofpeoplethroughouttheagesandinallculturesandsituationsinlifehavefeltcompelledtodedicatetheirlivestohealing.Thushealingworkshouldinnowaybemistakenforaselflessgivingoftime,energyandliferesources.Itisawayinitselfwithitsownpromiseofreward.IntheprefacetohisseminalEnglishtextfrom1977,"ZenShiatsu",wefindthefollowinglineswrittenbyMasunaga: "InZenitisimportanttohaveagoodmastertolearnfrom.Inshiatsuyourpatientisyourmaster.Youcanachievesatoribytreatingdiseaseandrestoringhealth."ThisunderscorestheimportanceofthewordZeninthecontextofthenameMasunagagavetohisstyleofshiatsu.Furtheroninthisarticlewewillbetakingacloselookatthe

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practicalaspectsofthestyle,andinparticulartheemphasison"naturalpressure",fluidmovementandergonomicpostures.Oncewehavedonethis,wewillbeabletoconsiderthequestionofwhetherornottheword"tao"mightnothavebeenequallyasfitting,ifnotmoreso,todescribetheessenceofMasunaga'scontributiontoshiatsu.TherearetwointerestingstoriesregardinghowMasunagaeventuallycametonamehisstyleZenShiatsu.Thefirstistheonewithwhichthemajorityofpractitionerstendtoidentify.ThestorygoesthateitherMasunagatreatedaZenmonkorthatamonkwitnessedMasunagagivingatreatmenttoathirdparty.Eitherway,itisrelatedthatthemonkthenlikenedwhathehadexperienced,orseen,asZenpractisedbetweentwopeople.TheotherstoryissomewhatlessappealingtopractitionersofZenShiatsu,butperhapsnolessimportantinthelargercontextofOrientalbodyworktherapiesmakinginroadsintoWesterncultures.ThisstoryrelatesthatduringtheprocessoftranslatingMasunaga'sbook"ShiatsuRyoho"literally"ShiatsuTherapy"intoEnglish,hiscollaborator,WataruOhashi,suggestedthename"ZenShiatsu".OhashiarguedthatsuchanamewouldhaveafargreaterappealamongWesternreaders.Thishasprovedtobeapowerfulinsight,andthestoryisnotlikelytobedismissedoutofhandbythoseawareofOhashi'spenetratingknowledgeofthehumanpsyche,and,onapracticallevel,ofwhatsells.Whatiscertain,however,isthatZenShiatsuhasbecomearecognisedandpopularstyleofshiatsuintheWesternworld,notwithstandingitsrelativeobscurityinJapan.ThisobscurityispartlyexplainedbythecompletemonopolystillenjoyedbytheNamikoshifamilyorganisationovertheissuingoflicencesforshiatsupractitionersinJapan.TheothermajorfactoristhecurrentlowstatusaccordedmostformsoftraditionalJapaneseandOrientalart,withafewnotableexceptions(sumo,kabukiandikebanabeingthemostprominentamongthem).TheTwoSidesofMasunaga1.ThescholarsageThisbringsustothetwoverydifferentsidesofMasunagaslifestory.Ontheonehand,itispossibletoseeMasunagaasamodernexampleofthescholarsage,auniversalfigureknownandreveredthroughoutOrientalhistory.Ontheotherhand,heisverymuchabletoberegardedasaproductofhisownparticulartimeandplace.Ultimatelywewillfindthathecanperhapsbestbeviewedasanexceptionallygiftedindividualwhomanagedtosuccessfullycombinethesetwopolarities.Fromtheparticularsoftimeandplace,butequallyfromtheresourcesoftradition,Masunagacreatedathingoflastingvaluethatoutlivedhisownphysicalexistenceandstillcontinuestogrow.IfwechoosetoregardMasunagaasoneinalonglineofscholarsages,wehavemuchtosupportourview.Asmentionedabove,heinitiallystudiedpsychologytoaprofessionallevel.Augmentingthis,hemovedontoincorporatenotonlytheartofbodywork,butalsothefieldofmovement.Asiftoemphasisetheimportanceofthelatter,hisothertranslatedtextpublishedin1987wascalled:"ZenImageryExercises".

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Inthislaterbook(fluidlytranslatedbyStephenBrown),weseethesecondmajorresultofhislifelonginvestigationintowhathecalled"theechooflife".Themainbodyofthetextconsistsofseveralseriesofexercises.Thepronouncedaimwastointroducethereaderandhopefullypractitionertosimplemovements,whichwouldawakenandkindletherelationshipoftheindividualtohis/herownlifeenergyorki(qi).InthistexthealsodevelopedhisdescriptionsofthemeridiansofOrientalmedicine,anditisherethatweencounteryetanotherareaofendeavourinthisremarkableman'slife.Masunagawasamanwhoseemstohaveceaselesslyanalysed,interpretedandappliedtraditionalaswellasmodernstreamsofknowledge.Hisworkwasoneofreevaluation,reinterpretationandsynthesis.Thissynthesiswasachievedoveralifetimeandthroughthedualprocessesofmentalexertionandpracticalapplication.Wecaninferinhisworkaspirallikeprocessofcontinualreassessment.Bythiswecanunderstandarelentlessinstincttodiscoverandlearn,butalsotothoroughlytestalltheoriesanddiscoveriesintheclinic,thatmostexactingofarenas.Thesevariousattributesandaccomplishments,whentakentogether,bearthehallmarkofthescholarsage:endeavourinseveralparallelandconnectedfields;traditionalknowledgepainstakinglyaccrued;moderntheoriesandpracticesexaminedandtestedand,finally,apersonalsynthesisofthemosteffectiveandrewardingcomponentscontainedwithinasubstantiallynewcreation.2.AManofhisTimeIfwenowtakealookatthereversesideofthedichotomy,wefindamancompletelyinharmonywithhiszeitgeist:thespiritoftheageinpostwarJapan.EversincetheMeijirestorationinthe1800's,Japanhadbeenundergoingarapidtransformation.InarelativelyshortperiodoftimeJapantransformeditselffromahermeticallysealed,feudalculturetoamodern,progressivesociety,openandwillingalmostinasensedesperatetoassimilatethatwhichhadpreviouslybeenstrictlyforbidden:Westernvaluesandpractices,andofparticularinteresttous,naturalscientificmethod.Inmedicalterms,thismeantanatomyandphysiologyandthemodernpracticesofWesternmedicine.ThecrisisforthetraditionalOrientalhealingartsthatthisinevitablyprecipitatedtookmanyforms,rangingfromcompleteabandonmentthroughpartialintegrationtooutrightdenialandentrenchment.Thecrisishad,however,merelybegunandwastobothaccelerateandintensify.BytheendoftheSecondWorldWar,Japanwasutterlydevastated.Inmaterialterms,foodwasscarce,infrastructuredestroyedandnationalhealthdepleted.Themostnakedsymbolsofthiswere,ofcourse,thesoutherncitiesofNagasakiandevenmorenotablyHiroshima,Masunaga'sbirthplace,bothofwhichwereannihilatedbyatomicbombs.Spiritually,theJapanesewerenolessdiminishedatthistime.TheEmperor,havingtraditionallyenjoyedthestatusofagod,hadbeenthoroughlyhumiliatedbythe"cultureless"Americans,andshowntobenomorethananordinarymortal.Itisprobablyimpossibleforamodern,westernreadertoimaginehowthismighthavefeltorgaugetheimpactitmusthaveexertedonanentirepeople.Whathistoryhasobjectivelyandemphaticallyshownushowever,isthattheconsequenceswerefar

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reachinginthecombinedfieldsoftheartsexpressiveandstageartsnolessthanmedicalandmartialarts.Theindepthexaminationwhichhadsteadilyprogressedduringthepastcenturyintensifiedexponentially.Adistinctfeelingoflifeordeathimportanceseemstoinvestthisperiod,togetherwithafierceneedtoreinventandreinvigoratethecultureandidentityofJapan.WecanseetheconsequencesinsuchdiversefieldsasButohdance,ryodorakuacupuncture,aikido,macrobiotics,and,notleast,ZenShiatsu,althoughineachcasetheratioofassimilationtoconservationvariesslightly.WhereasButohdanceisasuperbexampleofdancepioneerssearchingbacktowardstherootsof"Japaneseness"intheirart,Ryodorakuacupunctureis,bycontrast,asystemthatwasdevelopedtoreinterpret,explainandpractiseacupuncturethroughtheapplicationofcertainkeyconceptualtoolsderivedfrommodern,Westernmedicine.Aikidocameintobeingasanurgetoderivethemaximumeffectivenessoutofthetraditionalfightingartsofjujitsuandswordsmanship,whileframingthemovertlyinthelanguageandpracticeofloveandharmony.Aikidobecameamodern,syntheticartsteepedinthetimehonouredtraditionsofJapanesemartialarts.GeorgeOhsawafoundedMacrobioticsinanattempttoredefinetheprinciplesofOrientalphilosophy(primarilyyinandyang)andapplythemtothedailybreadallhumansingest,inthewiderserviceofworldpeaceandharmony.TherearenumerousexamplesofthisprocessrightacrosstheboardinJapaneseculturallifeexamplesofreinvention,reinterpretationandreincorporation.SynthesisofvaryingdegreesisthecommondenominatorandZenshiatsuisaprimeexample.Inshort,wecouldsaythatMasunagareintroducedsomeofthemajorphilosophicalandpracticaltoolsfromtraditionalOrientalmedicineintotheexistingframeworkofshiatsuasitthenwas.Wemightevencontendthatthenewstyle,onceestablished,representedacompleteoverhauloftheexistingtherapy,includingasitdidcertainvitalaspectsderivedfromtheWestsomesuperficialandothersmoreintegral.Masunaga'sCreation:aSynopsisofaSynthesisAsnoted,Masunagamadeseveralstartlingchangestotheshiatsuheinherited.Inthefollowingsectionwewillidentifyandexplorefourkeyareasofinnovationthatdistinguishthenewstyle.EachinitsownwayhelpedtoestablishZenShiatsuasarobustnewcomerwithfirmfoundationsandawilltosurvive,prosperandmakealastingcontributiontotheintegratedfieldofhealthandconsciousness.(1)Hereemphasisedtheimportanceofki,vitalenergy,andreincorporatedthebasicconceptofthemeridiansystem,evenextendingthetraditionalpathwaysforeaseofusebybodyworkers.TheseareusualyreferredtoasMasunaga'sextendedmeridians.(2)Heupdatedtheoldsystemofzonesforabdominal(hara)diagnosis,andalsomappedoutdiagnosticzonesonthebackofthebody.

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(3)Hedevelopedasimplediagnosticsystem,onebasedonthetraditionalconceptsofkyoandjitsu,comparabletoxuandshiinChinesemedicine,androughlytranslatableas"deficiency"and"excess".(4)Finally,andperhapsmostimportantly,herevolutionisedtheactualpracticeofshiatsu.Thishedidthroughtwomajorcontributions:firstlyheintroducedtheconceptof"naturalpressure".Secondly,hedevelopedanentirelynewkataorform.Thisconsistedoffluidmovementsandergonomicposturesdesignedtocreatepressureandstretchopeningsusingnotonlythumbsbutalsopalms,elbows,kneesandfeet.Wewillexaminethekatainmoredetailfurtheron,butcanusefullysummariseitstotaleffectasfollows:treatingthewholebodyusingthewholebody.ThekataMasunagadevelopedisbothpracticalandpragmatic,offeringasitdoesthepossibilityoftreatinginawaythatenhancestheflowofenergyinthepractitionersownbody.Inallofthis,MasunagacombinedconceptsandpracticesprimarilyfromthestorehousesoftraditionalOrientalmedicine,andalsofromthevariousschoolsandbranchesofWesternmedicine,scienceandphilosophy.Inthefollowingpageswewillexploreeachofthesefourareasofinnovationinturn,eachunderitsownheading.(1)MeridiansinZenShiatsu:LocationandFunctionWhenMasunagalearntshiatsuatNamikoshi'sinstutionitwaswithouttheuseofmeridiansineithertheoryorpractice.Asystemof"points"or"tsubos"didexist,butthesewerepurelysymptomaticallyemployed,andthoughusefulpractically,notarrangedinanyconceptuallyenlighteningmanner.Masunagawasatpainstopointoutthatthemerepressingofpointswouldneverachievelonglastingorsatisfactoryresults,asthisquotefrom"ZenShiatsu"eloquentlytestifies: "Thecommonconceptionthatshiatsuisnomorethantheapplicationofstrongdigitalpressureonsinglepointsonthebodymisrepresentsthetruth.Shiatsuisbasedonafullorientalmedicalsystem,whichexplainsthehumanbodyintermsofanetworkofmeridiansthroughwhichflowsanenergycalledki."Indeed,ZenShiatsuwasapparentlyevenreferredtobyitspioneerpractitionersasMeridianShiatsu.(i)MeridianLocationaccordingtoMasaunagaAparallelandcontemporaneousdevelopmentinJapanwastheMeridianTherapymovementinacupuncture.OrientalmedicineinJapanhadformanyyearsundergoneacrisiswhichhadresultedinalossoftraditionaltactileskillsandaconsequentoverrelianceonpointprescriptions.YanagiyaSorei,hiscolleaguesandfollowersinstigatedavigorousreturntostudyoftheclassicaltextsofOrientalmedicine,especiallytheNanJing.Theirstatedaimwastorevitalizeacupuncturethroughareturntocarefultreatmentofthemeridiansaccordingtotheageoldtheoriesofthefiveelements,paying

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specificandrigorousattentiontopulseandabdominaldiagnosis,aswellasmeridianandpointpalpation.Masunagasubmittedthetraditionalmeridiansystemtoasimilarkindofintensescrutinyinhisclinicalwork,bymeansofpointbypointandzonebyzonepalpationandobservationofmicrofunction.However,notcontentwithutilizingthetraditionalpathwaysofthemeridians,astheMeridianTherapyacupuncturistsdid,Masunagaextendedthemeridians,usingthetraditionalpathwaysashisbasisbutextendingeachmeridiantonewareas.Simplyput,Masunagasinnovationconsistsoftwoparts.Firstly,allmeridianshavetheiroriginintheHaraorabdomen.Secondly,thetraditionalarmmeridianswereprovidedwithpathwaysonthelegs,whilethetraditionalmeridiansofthelegswerenowalsotobefoundonthearms.Inpractice,thislatterinnovationmeansthatabodyworkercanalwaysreachanymeridianatanytime,nomatterwhereonthebodys/hehappenstobeworking.Forexample,apractitionerisworkingwithadiagnosisortreatmentplanthatcallsfortheinclusionofboththeSpleenmeridianandtheSmallIntestinemeridian.Usingthetraditionalmeridiansystem,thiswouldentailworkingwiththechannelandpointsonthelegandtorsofortheSpleenand,separately,onthearmandshoulderfortheSmallIntestine.

Figures1&2ExtendedmeridiansofSpleenandSmallIntestineInMasunagasnew,extendedsystem(seefigures1&2above),thepractitionerisabletoworkonbothmeridiansonthelegsorbothonthearmsatthesametime.Furthermore,itmakesnodifferencewhetherthetreatmentisbeingcarriedoutintheprone,supine,sideorseatedpositionallthemeridiansarealwaysavailabletothebodyworkerschooledintheextendedmeridiansystemofZenShiatsu.

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Figure3Masunaga'sextendedmeridianschartAtfirstglance,Masunaga'smeridianchartcanappearsomewhatintimidating.EvenpractitionersalreadyfamiliarwiththetraditionalmeridiansofChinesemedicinemightexperienceaninitialfeelingofbewilderment.Ausefultechniqueinnavigatingthechartistobeginwiththetraditionalpathwaysandworkfromthere.Forexample,wemightchoosetocharttheLargeIntestinemeridian(solidgreylines).Beingayangmeridian,itretainsitstraditionalpathwayrunningfromindexfingeralongtheradialportionoftheforearmandupperarm,thefrontalareaoftheshoulderandviatheneckandjawtotheoppositenostril.Noneofthisisnewtothestudentorpractitionerfamiliarwithtraditionalmeridianpathways.WhatisnewisthebranchwhichoriginatesintheLargeIntestinezoneinthelowerbackandrunsbetweentheGallBladderandBladdermeridiansalongthelateral,dorsalaspectofthethigh,calfandfoot,endingfinallyinthepadsofthefoottogetherwithitsyinpartner,theLung.Anothernewbutfairlylogicaladdition,isthebranchwhicharises

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intheLungzoneintheupper,lateralareaoftheabdomenandrisestomeetthetraditionalLargeIntestinemeridianontheshoulderatLI15.SimilarconsiderationsapplytotheSmallIntestinemeridian(solid,darkredlines).Itstraditionalpathwayisretained,runningasitdoesfromthelittlefingeralongtheulnaraspectofthearm,viatheelbow,shoulderbladeandposterioraspectofthenecktothecheekandear.Additionally,thereisalogicalextensionfromtheshoulderbladedownthelateralaspectoftheback,shadowingtheBladdermeridian(solidbluelines),itsTaiYangorGreaterYangsixdivision*partner,andenteringtheSmallIntestinezoneinthelumbararea.(*seebelow,p.910andglossaryforabriefexplanationofthesixdivisionsorcombinedmeridianpathwaysconceptintraditionalOrientalmedicine.)ThereisevenasmallbranchoriginatinginthezonefortheovariesinthelowerbackandrunningdownproximallytothetraditionalsiteoftheSmallIntestineandBladderShupointsonthesacrum.Thismicrobranchserves,incidentally,tohighlightthecloseconnectioninZenShiatsutheorybetweentheSmallIntestinemeridianandthefunctionsofthefemalereproductiveorgans.ContinuingwiththeSmallIntestinemeridian,thefinalandmostcontroversialadditionoriginateslogicallyenoughintheSmallIntestinelowerabdominalzone.Ratherlesslogically,itthencontinuesdownthemedialportionofthethighandlowerleg,runningparallelwiththetraditionalSpleenmeridian.ThisSmallIntestineextensionfinallycurvesaroundundertheinsteptounitewithitsyinpartnerintheFireelement,theHeartmeridian(brokendarkredlines).Aninterestingphenomenoninthecurrentcontextofthesetwoyangmeridians,isthatMasunagachosetomakeabundantlyclearsomethingwhichisoftenonlyimplicitintraditionalmeridianchartsalongwithalltheirfellowyangmeridians,theybothmakeasignificantdetourtoconvergeatGV14atthebaseoftheneck,belowtheseventhcervicalvertebrae.Thisservestoemphasizethenodelikenatureofthisareaofthebody,andmarkitoutasakeycentreofyangenergeticactivity,anaspectoftraditionalOrientalmedicaltheoryMasunagachosetomakeexplicitandvisiblyunderline.Ageneralpointofinterestregardingthechestandthroatareaonthechartisthatmanyoftheinternalbranchesfromthetraditionalpathwaysarehereliftedtothesurface.Thisappliesspecificallytotheyinmeridians,especiallyHeartandPericardium(brokenredlines),butalsoKidney(brokenbluelines)andLung(brokengreylines).AnotherpointofinterestformeridianbuffsisthebroadsweepoftheGallBladdermeridian(solidgreenlines)aroundtheposteriorandmedialaspectoftheshoulderblades.ThusdoesMasunagaprovideuswithhispersonalanswertothemysteryoftheexactpathwayoftheGallBladderchannelbetweenGB21and22.AcertainamountofdiscussionhasrevolvedaroundthesimilarityorotherwiseofMasunaga'sextensionstotheancientsixdivisonsorcombinedmeridianpathwaysmentionedabove.Previously,wehavenamedtheTaiYang(BladderandSmallIntestine)combinedchannelfromtheclassicalsixdivisionsmeridianmodel.

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IfweexaminethelegextensionsoftheLargeIntestineandSmallIntestinemeridians,weobservenosimilaritywhatsoeverwiththedynamicsofthesixdivisions.IndeedtheSmallIntestineextensionislocatedonthemedialaspectofthelegtraditionallytheexclusivedomainoftheyinmeridians!However,ifweinsteadconsidertheTripleHeaterextensionintheleg(solidredlines),wewillfinditrunningimmediatelyparalleltotheGallBladder,itspartnerintheShaoYangdivision.Similarly,thePericardiumsitstightlyparalleltotheLiver,theotherhalfoftheJueYinunit.InthecaseoftheSpleenextensioninthearm(brokenyellowlines),wemaynoteitscloseproximitytotheLung,itsTaiYinsixdivisionpartner.TheHeartextensioninthelegisinthemedialandposteriorportion,exactlywhereitsShaoYinpartnerKidneytraditionallyflows.Theeffectissomewhatspoiledhowever,byMasunaga'snewplacementoftheKidneywherethetraditionalouterBladderlineisusuallytobefound;notentirelyillogicalofcourse,butenoughtospoilanypossibleexactnessofoverlapwiththesixdivisionssystem.Indeed,ifwelookcloselyateachandeveryoneoftheextensionsoftheZenShiatsusystem,wefindthatexactlyhalfareinalocationwhichcouldbesaidtomatchaplausibleSixDivisionssetting.Thequestionthenbecomeswhetherfiftypercentissufficienttosustainsuchaweightycomparison,andistheexercisethus,intheend,afruitfulone?(ii)MeridianFunctionaccordingtoMasaunagaSofar,wehaveconsideredtheinnovationsMasunagamadetothemeridiansystemwithreferencetoanatomicallocationofspecificpathways.Conceptually,Masunagaalsoredefinedthefunctionsofthemeridians,whilealsoreincorporatingtheancientnomenclatureofthemeridiansas"officials."Forexample,herestatedthatthetraditionalofficeoftheHeartmeridianwasthatofEmperor.Hethenhowever,wentontodefineinmoderntermswhatthiswouldimplywithregardtofunction: "theheartmeridianconvertstheinputfromthefivesensesintoappropriateinternalresponsesandthuscontrolsthewholebodyasthecenterofkiandblood."ContrastthiswiththetraditionaldescriptionfromtheNeiJingasrenderedbyWangJuYiandJasonRobertsonintheirtextAppliedChannelTheoryinChineseMedicinefrom2008: TheheartholdstheofficeofemperorandistheissuerofspiritclarityAnotherexamplefromthesametext,"ZenImageryExercises",mayservetoillustratethispointevenmoreclearly: "ThekidneysandbladderfromthestandpointofChinesemedicine,includethefunctionoftheadrenalsandtheautonomicnervoussystem,aswellasthatofthereproductiveorgans."

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Thismaywellbethemostglaringexampleofahelpfulattempttoelucidatethroughupdatedterminology,theeffectofwhich,however,isinsteadtodistortandobscure.ComparewiththedefinitionfirstgivenintheNeiJing,againcourtesyofWangandRobertson: Thekidneyholdstheofficeofforcefulaccomplishmentandistheissuerofwondroustalent.WhatweseeinthesequotesfromMasunagacanbeunderstoodasanattempttomodernisetheancientandarguablyobscuredefinitionsofmeridianfunctionaslaiddownintheancienttexts.Wemay,however,regardtheattemptaslessthanentirelyconvincing,anditmightperhapsbeobservedthattheriskofmodernisingisoftenthatofoversimplification,therebyexcludingthedepthofnuanceembeddedinthemorepoeticandnecessarilydiffuselanguageutilisedbytheancients.Wemightalsoremindourselvesthattotranslatemedicalsystemstoexplainoneintermsofanotherisariskyandambitiousundertaking.Realmsofsubtletymayeasilybeneglectedandgrossoversimplificationsbecomethenorm,notwithstandingthattheexercisemayinitselfbeausefulandenlighteningonefortheindividualpractitioner.(2)DiagnosticZones:FrontandBack(i)TheZonesoftheHara.SystemsofHara(abdominal)diagnosishaveexistedinOrientalmedicinesinceancienttimes.Historicallyspeaking,abdominaldiagnosishasitsrootsinChinesemedicine,butaswithnumerousaspectsofancientChineseculture,itsusageisnowdaysextremelylimitedthere.TheJapanese,ontheotherhand,haveneverdroppedthepracticeofHaradiagnosisandhaveoverthecenturieselevatedittonewheightsandtolevelsofextremesubtlety.TheHarahasaspecialplaceinJapaneselifeandisacknowledgedasacenterofintelligence,powerandvitalityinareasoflifeasdisparateashealing,archeryandbusiness.Itisbelievedtobetheseatofbothhealthandillnessandassuchisregardedasanoptimalplaceto"read"theenergylevelsofthepatientinatreatmentsituation.OnesimpleandmuchutilisedsystemisframedaroundthedynamicsoftheFiveElements(seefigure4,right). Figure4Fiveelementsharadiagnosischart

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Simplystated,thepractitionerusesbothobjectiveandsubjectivesignsinthezonesoftheharatoassesstherelativehealthoftheorgansandmeridiansbelongingtotheFiveElements.Suchsignscouldincludeforexample:pain,lackofsensation,flaccidity,hardness,nodules,stringytextures,cords,discolouration,whitenessandrelativewarmthorcoolness.Themapisstillusedinmanymodalities,especiallythosepertainingtothevariousJapaneseschoolsofacupuncture,shiatsuandacupressure.Arathermoredetailedmapoftheabdomenwasdevelopedduringthelate1600sinMisonoIsaisMubunschool:

Figure5MubunschooldiagnosticchartTheMubunmethodinvolvestappinggoldandsilverneedlesintotheabdomenwithasmallmallet.ItdisregardedotheraspectsofOrientalmedicine,focusingallattentiononthediagnosisandtreatmentoftheabdomen.TodaythischartisusedsolelybypractitionersoftheMubunmethodofacupunctureinJapan.Inhislandmarktextfrom2007:IntheFootstepsoftheYellowEmperor,PeterEckmanarguespersuasivelyhowever,thattheMubunschoolwasresponsiblefortheemphasisofJapanesemedicineonHaradiagnosis,whichwassubsequentlyadoptedbymanyotherschools.Masunaga,truetohisbeliefintheimportanceofclinicaltestingandreevaluation,designedhisown,evenmoredetailedmapoftheabdominaldiagnosticareas:

Figure6Masunaga'sharazones

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Acasualglanceatthesethreemodelswillshowthattherearecommondenominators,butalsokeydifferencesbetweenthem.Letusnowtakeacarefullookatthemtogetherforthepurposesofcomparingandcontrasting.Tothesimilaritiesbelongthisabsolutelycentralandkeyphenomenon: FirerisestothetopEarthsettlesinthemiddleWatersinksdowntothebottom.ThiscentralfeatureisvirtuallyidenticalinallthreeoftheaboveharadiagnosischartsandillustratesafundamentalaspectoftraditionalChinesemedicalphilosophy: Firebelongstotheheavensandstrivesconstantlyupwards.Earthrevolvesonitsaxisandholdsthecentrestable.Waterbelongstothedepthsandflowsinexorablydownward.Masunagahasnotdeviatedfromthismostancientoftouchstones,andweseeclearlyhowhisHeartzonesitsatopthehierarchyasbefittingtheEmperor.DirectlybelowisthePericardiumzone,alsocommonlyassociatedwithFire.CentrallyplacedistheSpleen,representingEarth.Occupyingthelowest,centralareawefindthezonesfortheKidneyandBladder,themeridiansoftheWaterelement.Thisiscertainlythemoststrikingcommondenominator,butthesimilaritiesdonotendthere.WhatwemayalsoobserveisthatMasunagacontinuedtheworkofrefiningtheindividualmeridianzoneswhichfigureprominentlyintheMubunsystem,butwhichareconspicuouslyabsentfromthesimplerFiveElementsmodel.OnereasonforthisisverylikelythelargelyunstatedandthusimplicitattemptbyMasunagato"rebalance"theyinandyangmeridiansofOrientalmedicine.Somebackgroundmaybeusefulhere:traditionallytheyinmeridianswerealsoknownasZang."Zang"inChinesestandsliterallyforanorgancapableofcontainingsomethingprecious.TheHeart,Spleen,Kidney,LiverandLungmeridianswereregardedasthestorehousesforvarioustypesofpureandvitalenergiesandsubstances.(ThesearerespectivelyShen,nutritionalenergy,Jingessence,BloodandQi).Contrastingly,theyangorgans,theFu,wereviewedratheraspassagewaysandrunoffsforimpure,intermediateandevenwasteproducts.ThisinturnhasgivenrisetoatendencyinmanyschoolsofacupuncturetoemphasisetheimportanceintreatmentanddiagnosisoftheyinZangovertheyangFu.Theproblemthispresentsforthebodyworkerisquitesimple:theyinmeridians,bytheirverynature,(i.e.yin)areinvariablylessaccessible,shorterinlengthandhavefarfewerpoints.CompareforexampletheyangBladder(67points)withtheyinKidney(27points).Anotherexample:theyinPericardiumhas9pointswhileitsyangpartner,theTripleHeater,has23.TheGallBladderyanghas44pointswhiletheLiver,itsyinpartnerintheWoodelement,hasonly14.Masunagamadeadefactocasefortheelevationoftheyangmeridiansbothconceptullyandevenmoreimportantlyinpractice,tothesamelevelastheyin.Thisrepresentsa

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kindoflevellingordemocratizationofthemeridiannetwork,whichisconsistentlyreflectedinallaspectsofhissystem:meridianchart,harazonesandbackzones.Intheabsenceofanydetailedwrittenexplanationsregardingthis"levellingout"effect,wemaysurmisethatbothitsderivationandimpactwereprimarilyclinical.AnotherintriguingaspectofMasunaga'sharazonesaretheobviousanatomicalinfluences.IfwelookatthesimplerFiveElementschart,wenoticethatthezonefortheWoodelementisontherightsideaswelookatit.Masunaga'szonesfortheLiverandGallbladderareontheleftaswelookdirectlyunderneaththeactual,physicallocationoftheirrespectiveanatomicalorgans.ThesameanatomicalconsiderationsmaybesaidtoapplytotheStomachzoneand,toacertainextent,thezonesfortheSmallandLargeIntestinesinMasunaga'schart.EvenhisLungzones,symmetricallymatchingtheirmetalelementpartner,theLargeIntestine,areneatlyplacedatthelowertipoftheanatomicallungorgans.ThisprovidesuswithacrystalclearexampleofMasunaga'smethodofincorporatingWesternmedicalknowledge,whilealsophasingoutcertaintraditionalOrientalinsightsandpracticesaspartofhissynthesis.ThesolemysteryinMasunagas'schartoftheabdominalzonesistheadmittedlyalreadyrathermysteriousTripleHeater(alsoknownastheTripleWarmer,TripleBurnerandevenTripleEnergizer).NoclearexplanationhasbeenforthcomingastowhythezoneforthisoverarchingandomnipresentmeridianwasplacedbetweentheStomachandLungzonesandabovetheBladderzone.Intheabsenceofanyexplicitrecordedstatement,wemayperhapsinferthatthiswaseither:(i)theactualzonelocatedthroughclinicalpractice;or(ii)theonlyspaceleft!(ii)TheZonesoftheBackNumerousclassificationsystemsexistfordiagnosingviathedorsalareaofthehumanbodywithinOrientalmedicine.Wecanemploythesamemethodof"compareandcontrast"tounderstandthezonesofthebackasMasunagaenvisagedthem.Tobeginwithwewillexamineasimpleone,againbasedontheFiveElementsmodel(seeright).Inthiscase,weseeMetaloccupyingthehighestpositioninsteadofFire.ThisiseasilyexplainedbyoneofthetraditionalnamesgiventotheLung:"thelidoftheorgans",aswellasitsrelationshiptotheorgansofrespirationintheupperbody:mouth,nose,trachea.ThecentralplaceistakenbyWood,whichwewillseeisduetothepositionoftheShupoints(seebelow,figure14andglossary)oftheLiverandGallbladder,thosebelongingtoEarth(SpleenandStomach)beingslightlylower.Water,masterofthedepths,assumesitsindisputableplaceatthebase,asthelowestofthezones.

Figure7Fiveelementsbackzones

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Themostcommonmethodofmappinganddiagnosingfromthebackis,ofcourse,viatheBackShupoints.BelowandontheleftisamapoftheShupoints,onwhichwewillfindnumeroussimilaritiestotheFiveElementschartabove:

Lu

Pc

Ht

Liv

GB

Sp

St

TH

KidLISI

Bl

Figure8BackShupoints Figure9Masunagabackzones

ThehighestShupointbelongstotheLung(Metal),followedbythoseofthePericardiumandtheHeartitself(Fire).SkippingdiscussionoftheotherwiseinterestingShupointsforDuMaianddiaphragmandpassingbelowtheshoulderblades,wefindtheLiverandGallBladder(Wood),slightlyabovetheSpleenandStomach(Earth).TheyareinturnfollowedbyTripleHeaterandKidney(Water).Arrivinginthelumbararea,weacknowledgebutomitdiscussionoftwohighlyintriguing,buthereirrelevantShupointsbelongingtoQiHai("SeaofQi")andGuanYuan("AncestralGate").InsteadweproceeddirectlytothehighlyrelevantShupointsoftheLargeIntestine,SmallIntestineandfinallytheBladder.ComparethistotheillustrationofMasunaga'sbackzonechartbesideit,wherewewillonceagainwitnessthecurrentoftraditionaswellasthespiritofinnovationinhiswork.Thesimilaritiestothetraditionalchartsare,onceagain,asinterestingasthedifferences.Intermsofsimilarities,wefindseveralcommonthreadsrunningthroughallthreesystems:MetalorLungatthetopandWater(BladderinthecaseoftheShupointandMasunagazonesystems)atthebottom.Wewillalsonoteageneralconvergence

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betweenthezoneforWood,theShupointsforLiverandGallBladderandMasunaga'sLiverandGallBladderzones.ThesamecanbesaidofthezoneforEarth,theShupointsforSpleenandStomachandMasunaga'sSpleenandStomachzones.Whatbecomesapparent,ofcourse,isthedissimilaritythisimmediatelyreveals:theelementzonesaresimilartotheShupointsbilateralwhereasMasunaga'szonesareunilateral:LiverandGallBladderontheright;SpleenandStomachtotheleft.Onceagain,weseeclearlyhowthismimicstheanatomicallocationoftheWesternorgans,revealingtheinfluenceofWesternideasonMasunaga'sworkofsynthesis.ThesameconsiderationcanbesaidtoapplytothezonesfortheSmallIntestine,heretakingtheplacetraditionallyallotedtoWaterandtheKidneys,whicharenowplacedbothlowerdownandtoeitherside.TheLargeIntestinezonesare,muchliketheirharazones,placedlowdownandsymmetricallytoeitherside,notunliketheLargeIntestineShupoints.Finally,themysteriousTripleHeaterisslottedintoanintriguingthoughunexplainedlocation.ThistimeitissqueezedinbetweentheStomach,Spleen,PericardiumandKidneyzones.DoesthisinitselfrevealsomethingofthenatureoftheTripleHeater?Itis,afterall,understoodtobe"everywhereandnowhere"and"occupyingthespacesbetweeneverything".Itshouldbenotedthatthesezonesontheabdomenandbackarenottoberegardedaspurelydiagnosticinfunction.TheyarealsoofuseastreatmentzonesinpreciselythesamewaythattheShuPointsareusedforbothdiagnosisandtreatmentinacupunctureandotherstylesoftraditionalOrientalbodywork.(3)ASimpleDiagnosticParadigm:KyoandJitsuFromthemyriadofdiagnosticmethodsandmodalitiesavailableintraditionalChinesemedicine,Masunagachoseone.Itmaybesupposedthatwhathewantedwasatoolwiththefollowingkeyqualities:simplicity,practicalityandflexibility.Thenamegiventothissystemis:KyoandJitsu.ThewordsthemselvesaretheJapanesetranslationsoftheterms"xu"and"shi"fromChinesemedicine.Theyarederivationsofthemoreuniversalyinandyang,andhavebeenvariouslytranslated.Ausefulinitialobservationtobearinmindisthatnoorientaltermiscapableofonedefinitive,singleanddirecttranslation.ThusKyoiscommonlyrenderedasdeficiencyordepletion,whileJitsuoftentranslatesasexcessorrepletion.MasunagadescribedtheminthefollowingtermsonthebackcoverofZenShiatsu: "Iftheflowofkithroughthemeridiansissmooth,thepersonishealthy.Iftheflowbecomessluggish,thepersonfallsill.ThenatureoftheflowisanalyzedonthebasisoftheChineseconceptionofthedualityYinandYangintotwostatescalledKyoandJitsu.IntheKyostate,theflowofkiissluggish,andthebody'sfunctionsdulled.IntheJitsustate,theflowistoorapid,andthebodyfunctionsareoveractive."

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Figure10KyoandJitsuportrayedasthemostunevenpointsonacircle.Howeverwechoosetotranslatetheterms,thesystemisgenialinitseaseofapplication.KyoandJitsumaybelocatedthroughtouchinthezonesoftheabdomen,thezonesoftheback,themeridiansthemselvesoreveninthevariousjointsandmuscleswithregardtoleftandrightsidesofthebody.Additionally,thestatesofKyoandJitsumaybeinferredconceptuallythroughsignsandsymptoms.WhatisextremelyimportanttonoteinMasunaga'ssystemistheverystrongemphasisplacedontheKyo.DepletionorhypoactivityisveryoftenregardedinZenShiatsuasthetruecausativefactorindisease.Thisinturnmeansthatintreatment,attentionisoftendirectedawayfromsitesoftension,stiffnessandsharp,superficialpainusuallythoughttoberepresentativeoftheJitsuphenomenon.Attentionisinsteaddirectedtowardsareasofweakness,emptinessanddeep,dullpain,whicharemorecommonlyassociatedwiththeKyostate,andbytheirverynaturesomewhatmoreelusive.Further,itisdeemedadvantageousinZenShiatsutreatmenttobeginbytreatingKyo.Thisisinitselfatraditionalconcept,wherethereasoninghasbeenthatitmaybesafertotonifyorstrengthenan"empty"weaknessthantoriskaggravatinganalreadyoverstretched,"full"tension.Thisideacanbeextendedtoembraceanotherenormouslystrategicdiscovery:ifwesuccessfullynourishaweakKyoarea,pointormeridian,wemayintheveryprocessofdoingsofindthatwehavealready,tosomeextentatleast,drainedawaysomeoftheexcessfromarelated,correspondingornearbyJitsu.TheinitialattentionpaidtotheKyothusrevealsitselftobenotonlyacautiousbutalsoanergonomicchoice,reducingtheamountofstrugglenecessarytocalmtension.IfthegeneraltendencyinZenShiatsutherebyveerstowardstheminimalistic,italsoconfirmsaclosekinshipwiththe"bareminimum"ethosofZenpracticeandthe"barebones"aestheticsofzendesign.ThisconceptualandpracticalminimalismhasgraduallybecomeoneofthehallmarksofZenShiatsu,andhelpstoexplainwhyseeminglypassivetreatments,wherethepractitionerattimesappearstodoverylittle"work",havefarreaching,deepandlonglastingtherapeuticeffects.ItalsoprovidesusefulinsightsintowhyMasunaga'sshiatsucametolookasitdid;gracefulmovements,economicuseofbodyweightandergonomic,elegantposturebecametheoutwardsignsofaZenShiatsupractitioner.

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(4)NaturalPressureandthe"Kata"ofZenShiatsuWhenweusethewordkataweneedtoremainawareofitsinherentsubtletyandflexibility.Wearefamiliarwiththetermfrommartialarts,inparticularthemanyandvariedstylesofkarateyetanotherexampleofaradicallymodernized,traditionalartinthepostwareraofJapan.Werecognizeittomeanform,setorprogramme,andindeed,thetraditionalmartialartsofChinaarecharacterisedbythephrase:"fixedandunchanging".Thisimpliesthattheformsare,notwithstandingpersonalidiosyncraciesandbodytypes,notsubjecttowhimsicalmodification.Theyarehandeddownthroughthegenerationsinaformasclearlydefinedaspossible.Thisthenistheprimaryaimoflineageandtraditiontotransmitpackagesofhardwon,distilled,practicalknowledgeinarelativelyunchangedform.However,"kata"alsomeans"shape"inJapanese:ieverysimplyhowsomethinglooks,theformittakes.WhilethereareschoolsandteachersallovertheworldwhoteachaZenShiatsukataandpassthisontotheirstudentsinarelativelyunchangedformyearbyyear,itisneverthelessthecasethateachandeveryoneoftheseformsisrelativelyspeaking,mutuallydistinct.Thispointcannotbeemphasisedstronglyenough:notwoschoolsandnotwoteachers,indeednotwopractitionersofZenShiatsupractiseexactlythesameform.ThismeansthatinourconsiderationofthekataofZenshiatsu,wecannotsimplycountonthesequenceofmovesbeingthesamefromschooltoschoolandfromcountrytocountry.Rather,themosthelpfulnuancetoguideusinouruseoftheterm"kata"inthepresentcontextbecomesthegeneralshape,lookandstyleofit:itsoutwardappearance.TheoutwardappearanceofZenShiatsuisusuallycharacterisedbyvariouspermutationsofthefollowingcomponents: lackofforce naturalpressure openanduprightposture solidandearthedfoundation useofmanybodypartstodelivertechnique fluid,lightandnaturalmovementaroundthepatientTothismustnecessarilybeaddedthatthepatientisinvariablylyinginrarecasesseatedonafutonmattressonthefloor,andthatthepatientisusuallyfullyclothed.Bothoftheseconsiderationshavetheirimportance.Beingfullyclothedallowsthepatienttoretainbodywarmth,whichotherwisehasatendencytodropduringintenserelaxation.Italsoprovidesasenseofsecurityduringthetreatments,whicharedesignedtopeelawaythelayersofthebodymindtograduallyrevealandeliminateburiedpatternsoftraumaanddistress.Experiencehasshownittobeentirelyunnecessary,infactstrategicallydisadvantageous,tohavethepatientundressedinthepracticeofZenShiatsu.Thefloorisalsoofvitalimportance.Theearthedandrootedpositioninproximitytotheearthitselfisasourceofnourishmentandenergy.Inaddition,thisenablesthe

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practitionertomakemaximumuseofhisowninfiniteresourcebodyweight.Byusingbodyweight,thepractitioneravoidstheneedtopush,pressorotherwiseexertmuscularforceagainstthepatient.Thisinturnmeansthatthetendencytoreactbacktowardsthepressureissidesteppedtoaverysignificantextent.Thissavestimeandenergyforbothpractitionerandpatient.Energyandawarenesscaninsteadbedirectedtowardstheotherwiseelusive,subtleinnerprocesses,whicharetheessentialmainstayofaZenShiatsutreatment.NaturalPressureDefinedMasunagadefinedtheterm"naturalpressure"withthehelpofthreeprinciples.ThesethreepriciplesarguablyconstitutethemajorcharacteristicsofZenShiatsutothisday:1)Verticalpressure:morepreciselyperpendicularpressure,deliveredfirmlybutgentlycanbeabsorbedandacceptedintothepatientsbodywithaminimumofresistance.2)Stationarypressure:iepressurewhichdoesnotoscillate,vibrateormove.Thistypeofpressureemphasizesstillness,andisalsoveryeasyforthebodytoaccept.AccordingtoMasunaga'sobservations,ithastheeffectofrapidlyactivatingtheparasympatheticnervoussystem(PNS),thatpartoftheautonomicnervesystem(ANS)responsibleforactivatingthedeeprelaxationresponse.3)Supportedpressure:thisintroducestheallimportantconceptofthe"motherhand".Consistentwiththeprinciplesofyinandyang,Masunagafounditefficienttomaintainequalpressurebetweenthetwohands.InpracticethismeansthatthemotherhandoftheZenShiatsupractitionerlearnstoabsorbpressuremomentarilyfromtheactivehandduringtransitionmovements.Inthisway"nothingislost",andtheeffectoftheperpendicularandstationarypressureisnotremoved,butremainstoasignificantextentconstantthroughoutthetreatment.Thecombinedeffectofthesethreeprinciples,whenpractisedinafluidmanner,canbelikenedtotheeffectofwhitenoiseonaninsomniac.Theverysecurityprovidedbytheconstant,perpendicularandsupportedpressurerapidlyeasesthebodymindintoastatewhereitcanletgo,ceasequestioningandstopspinninginmeaninglesscircles.The"dropdown"intotheparasympatheticmodeofactivityisthoughttobetheprerequisitefordeeprelaxation,selfhealingandreparationatthecellularlevel.Ithasbeennoted,andisworthemphasizing,thatusingthisapproach,thepractitionerisleftfreetoconcentrateonlisteningtothesignalsofthereceiver.Whatthismeansinpracticeisthatbyfreeingupvaluablelisteningresources,thepractitionerisabletodeliveratreatmentappropriatetothepresentneedsandrequirementsofeachindividualpatientinthemoment.TaoShiatsuorZenShiatsu?ThisbringsusbacktotheperhapsacademicbutnonethelessintriguingquestionofwhetherthewordZen,orperhapsrathertheoldertermTao,mightmorefittinglydescribetheessenceofMasunaga'sstyle.WehavealreadyidentifiedandelaboratedontheaspectswhichderivefromorreflectaZeninfluence.Itmayhowever,beequallyrelevanttoapplythedescriptiveepithetTaotothestyle,especiallynowthatwehavelookedcloselyatthemannerinwhichitispractised.

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Theemphasisisclearlyonflow,involvingasitdoeslisteningtoandrespondingtothenaturalandspontaneousrhythmsofenergyinthe"hereandnow",andonutilisingthetoolsthathappentobeimmediatelyavailable,iethevariouspartsofthepractitioner'sbody.TheseattributesareconsiderablymorereminiscentofTaoistthanZenpractices.ThepointmayofcoursebeconsideredmootinthelightoftheenormousinfluenceTaoismexertedonBuddismasitenteredChina,whereitbecameknownasCh'an.BythetimeBuddhismtravelledviaKoreatoJapan,whereitfinallymetamorphosedintoZen,itwouldbefairtosaythataprofoundcrossfertilizationbetweenBuddhismandTaoismhadoccurred.Interestingly,EndoRyokyu,astudentofMasunaga,laternamedhisownstyleonehighlyderivativeofhisteacher'sexactlythis:TaoShiatsu.ReadersinterestedinthedevelopmentofZenShiatsuaredirectedtothetextpublishedbyEndounderthetitle:"TaoShiatsu:LifeMedicineforthe21stCentury".TreatmentandDiagnosisinZenShiatsuInconcluding,thereadershouldbearinmind,asstatedearlier,thattreatmentstylesvarysomewhatwithinZenShiatsu.Inplainterms:thereareaprofusionofapproachesto,interpretationsofandapplicationsfortheextensiveZenShiatsuvocabulary.TheshapeandpatternofaZenShiatsutreatmentisgenerallyinfluencedbythediagnosisformedbythepractitioneratthebeginningofthesession,andmodifiedbytheinformationforthcomingduringthecourseofthetreatment.Inotherwords,itisfluid,constantlyinflowandalwayschanging.ThisbringsustoanotherofMasunaga'sandthusZenShiatsu'sguidingprinciples:"diagnosisistreatment,andtreatmentisdiagnosis".ThisisacentralanduniversalmaximwithintraditionalOrientalmedicineandimpliesthatdiagnosisandtreatmentaresointertwinedastobeinseparable:itisimpossibletodiagnoseapersonatadeeplevelwithoutsimultaneouslytreatingthem.Itisequallyimpossibletotreatatadeeplevelwithoutspontaneouslygleaningdiagnosticinformation.Thetruesignificanceofthephrasethen,isthatevenwhilediagnosing,weshouldbeawarethateverythingweaspractitionersdoandsay,eventhemannerinwhichweobserve,hasapotentiallytherapeuticorotherwise!effectonthereceiver.Conversely,everynuanceofinformationwhicharisesduringthecourseofthetreatment,isusefultomodify,complementorupdatetheinitialdiagnosis.Thispointsusinthedirectionofaspirallikephenomenon,whereadiagnosisneverreachesafixedstate,andatreatmentplancanneverwithcertaintybemappedoutbeforehand.InZenShiatsu,asinlifeitself,everythingisconnected,andeachpartoftheprocessorganicallyandsymbioticallyinfluenceseveryotherpartofthewhole.Ceaselessly.

ChrisMcAlister2014

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Timeline:MasunagaShizuto1925BorninHiroshimaPrefecture,Japan.1949GraduatedfromKyotoImperialUniversitywithadegreeinpsychology,andenteredintothepracticeofshiatsu.GraduatedfromthefirstclassoftheJapanShiatsuSchoolfoundedbyNamikoshiTokujiro.1959BeganteachingattheJapanShiatsuSchool(clinicalpsychology),wherehetaughtfor10years.1968FoundedtheIokaiShiatsucenter.1977PublicationofhisseminalEnglishtextZenShiatsu.1981ChosenasaboardmemberoftheJapanOrientalMedicineAssociation.1981Deathfromcoloncancer.1987PosthumouspublicationofhissecondEnglishtextZenImageryExercises.

GlossaryAikido:literally"thewayofharmonyandki".MethodcreatedbyUeshibainthepostwarperiodinJapan.Saidtobeafusionoftraditionalswordandgrapplingtechniques.Popularworldwidetodayasthe"peaceful"martialart.Buddhistsutra:teachingtextintheBuddhisttradition.Oftenchantedoutloud.Butohdance:aJapanesestageartincorporatingaspectsoftraditionalJapanesedancemethodsandaesthetics,butalsoinfluencedbysurrealismandothermoderncurrentsinartandphilisophyfrombothEastandWest.Combinedmeridianpathways:amodernnamefortheSixDivisionmeridiansandtheirpathways.Thesixcombinedpathwaysarenamedasfollows:TaiYang,YangMing,ShaoYang,TaiYin,JueYinandShaoYin.ShaoYinforexample,incorporatesbothHeart(Fireelement)andKidney(Waterelement)meridians.ThisnomenclatureenablesustoseevitalrelationshipsexistingoutsideoftheFiveElementssystemoforganisation.ThecombinedpathwayofShaoYinstretchesfromthesoleofthefootouttothetipofthelittlefingerviatheabdominalandthoraxregions.Muchofthiscombinedpathwayishiddenfromsightunderordinarycircumstances;thusShaoYinmeaning"lesser"yin,thoughnotintermsoffunctionbutintermsofvisibilityandaccessibilit.Seealso:thesixdivisions.Diagnosticzonesoftheback:areasonthebackusedinpalpationtoassessthestateofaperson'senergeticresources.Expressiveandstagearts:thoseartswhichhaveanovertlyexpressiveandcreativeaspect,frompaintingandsculpturethroughpoetryandliteraturetotheatreandopera.

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Extendedmeridians:Masunaga'ssystemofmeridians,wherethetraditionalmeridiansformthebasisandareextendedintonontraditionalareasofthebody.UsedalmostexclusivelyinZenShiatsuandderivativestyles.Haradiagnosis:thetechniqueofusingabdominalpalpationtoassessthestateofaperson'senergeticresources.Ikebana:literally"livingflowers"theartofJapaneseflowerarranging.Traditionallyaveryspartanaesthetic.Caninvolvetheuseofforeignobjectsbothnaturalandartificial.Kabuki:heavilystylisedformofJapanesetheatre.CertainkabukiactorsattaincultstatusinJapan,thoughnowadaysmainlyamongtheelderlypopulation.Karate:literally"emptyhand".AgroupofJapanesemartialartsstyleswithacommonrootinOkinawan,andgoingfurtherbackintime,southernChinesemartialartsstyles.Kata:form,shape,programme.Ki:atermusuallytranslatedaslifeenergy.Alsounderstoodtobethecommonmatrixwhichallthings,materialandimmaterialaremadeupofanddissolvebackinto.InChinese:Qi.Kyoandjitsu:derivedfromtheChinesediagnosticparameters"xu"and"shi".Inthiscontexttheyaresynonymouswithnegative,pathologicalphenomena,andindicatethestatesofscarcityandoverabundancerespectively.Inothercontextstheyhavequitedifferentmeanings.Kyo/xudenoteaphilosophicalstateofemptiness,whichhasverypositiveconnotationsintraditionalspiritualphilosophy.Jitsu/shicanalsomeantruth.Macrobiotics:takenfromtheGreekwordsmeaning"great"and"life".SchoolofthoughtfoundedbyGeorgeOhsawa,wherefoodisclassifiedintoasomewhatidiosyncraticallydefinedsystemofyinandyangthathasaninternationalfollowing.Medicalandmartialarts:thoseartswhichhavetheaimofhealingillnessand/orpromotinghealth,andthosedevotedtocultivatinglifeforcethroughthedisciplineofmartialartstudy.Meridianfunctions:thegroupoffunctionstraditionallyassignedtothenetworkofmeridians.Meridiantherapy:movementinitiatedinearly20thcenturyJapantorevitaliseacupuncture,throughstudyoftheclassicsandintenselydetailedanalysisofsimpleprotocol.BasedlargelyonthedynamicsoftheFiveElements,andhighlyclinical/empiricalinapproach.Keyfigure:YanagiyaSorei.Meridianandpointpalpation:thetechniqueofgatheringdiagnosticinformationthroughpalpatoryexaminationofthemeridiansandacupointsonthebody.Oftenperformedontheforearmsandlowerlegs,butalsoonsuchpointgroupsastheBackShuandFrontMupoints.

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Motherhand:inZenShiatsuthisdenotesthehandwhichhasthemorepassive,supportiverole.Itiswidelyheldthatthemotherhandisinfactthemostinfluentialinitsroleofgroundingandprovidingcontinuity.Thesignofamaturepractitioneristheautomatic,reflexlikenatureofthemotherhandinpractice.Byprovidingcalmsolidityandreassuranceitkeepspatientscomfortablyanchoredinthemoment,holdingthemsteadythroughpotentiallychallengingenergeticexperiences.NanJing:the"ClassicofDifficultQuestions".AclassictextfromtheearlyChinesedynasticperiod(probablyaround100200AD)ofuncertainauthorship.Itdiscusses81controversialissuesarisingfromtheearliertextknownastheNeiJing,theYellowEmperorsClassicofInternalMedicine,itselfinalllikelihoodacompilationofwritingsfromvariousscholarsduringtheearlyHandynastyperiod.Naturalpressure:thenamegiventothetypeofpressuredefinedandtaughtbyMasunaga.Hasthreemaincriteria:perpendicular,supportedandcontinual.PostwarJapan:theeraimmediatelyfollowingtheJapanesesurrendertothealliedforcesafterWW2.Ryodorakuacupuncture:astyleofacupuncturefoundedbyNakataniinthe60's,andtodaypracticedequallybymedicalandnonmedicalpractitioners,bothinJapanandinternationally.Seekstoprovideanaturalscientificrationaleandmethodologyforthepracticeoftraditionalacupuncture.StrongtheoreticalrelianceontheANS(See:theautonomicnervoussystem),andpracticallyonrefinedtechniquesofelectroacupunctureinbothtreatmentanddiagnosis.Satori:"awakening".TheultimategoalofZenBuddhistpractice.Seiza:literally"correctsitting"inJapanese.OneoftheclassicposturesfromZazenandShiatsu,aswellasTeaCeremonyandmanyotherJapanesearts.Thebackiseasilyheldstraightasthekneesarefoldedunderneaththebody.Thestraightbackallowsthediafragmtomovefreelyandthekitodecendtothehara.InJapanesecultureitistraditionallyheldthatseizaisoneoftheonlytruly(iedeeply)relaxingpostures.ShuPointsorBackShuPoints:providethemostcommonmethodofmappinganddiagnosingfromtheback.TheshupointslieontheBladderchannelbutrelatealsotoindividualmeridianswithinthenetworkofthe12mainmeridians.TheShupointsaslocatedonthebackfromtop(Lung)tobottom(Bladder)alsorepresentapictorialmapoftheTripleHeaterenergeticsystemasawhole.Theshupointsareusedequallyfordiagnosisandtreatmentofthetwelvemainmeridians.Sumo:Japanesewrestling.SteepedintraditionalShintoritualandceremony.Todayamultimilliondollarbusiness,andimmenselypopularbothinJapanandoverseas.Tao:literally"TheWay".AtermusedtodescribeawidegroupofteachingsandpracticesfromancientChina,includingthefamousTaoTeChing(orDaoDeJing)ofLaoZi,butalsoavastnumberofotherteachingsbothwrittenandoral.Therearedifferentstreams

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oftaoismincludingthesocalledreligiousbranch,butalsosectsmoredevotedtolongevitypracticessuchasmeditation,qigongandtaijichuan.Theautonomicnervoussystem(ANS):oftencalledthevegetativenervoussysteminthatitisnotsubjecttoconsciouswill.Influencesallautonomicfunctionsinthebodyincludingheartrate,bloodpressureandrespirationaswellasendocrineandimmunesystemfunction.Theparasympatheticnervoussystem(PNS):thatbranchoftheautonomicnervoussystem(ANS)responsiblefordirectingattentioninwardsandthusactivatingthedeeprelaxationresponse.Oftencontrastedwithitssisterbranch,thesympatheticnervoussystem(SNS),whichtendsinsteadtodirectattentionoutwardsandintotheexternalworld.Thesixdivisions:ancientsystemofnomenclatureandenergeticorganisationofthemeridiansystem.EverymeridianhasaSixDivisionnameindicating:(i)whichisitspartnermeridian,(ii)whereonthebodyitistobefound,and(iii)whatkindofgeneralfunctionsitisresponsiblefor.Seealso:Combinedmeridianpathwaysabove.Thetwelveofficials:atermusedparticularlyintheschoolofacupuncturefoundedbyJ.R.Worsley.Denotesthemeridians,orZangFuastheyareknowninTCM.Thisterminologyassignsatitleandroletoeachofthemeridians.TheHeartforexample,hastraditionallyoccupiedtheroleofEmperor.Itsroleistofilltheseatofawarenessorconsciousness.Tsubo:literally"pot".TheJapanesetermforacupoint.Addsauseful,threedimensionalperspectivetotheotherwisetwodimensionalimagesuggestedbytheEnglishterm.Westernmedicine:thebodyofmedicalknowledgebasedgenerallyonhippocraticandmorespecificallyonpostenlightenment,naturalscientificmethod.Zeitgeist:thespiritofthetime,generaltrendofthoughtorfeelingofaparticularperiodoftime.ZenBuddhism:styleofBuddhisminJapan,derivedfromtheChinesestyleCh'an.MainpracticeisZazenmeditation:sittingZen.