Educational Aspects of Acupuncture and Electro-Therapeutics: The System of Education in Traditional Chinese Medicine for Chinese and Foreign Students

In response to a developing interest in traditional Chinese medicine, many countries have founded institutes for its study. In order to assist those concerned with traditional Chinese medicine, this paper discusses the curriculum offered for undergraduates at the Beijing Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine and also the course in traditional Chinese medicine for doctors trained in Western medicine. The paper also touches on the situation regarding foreign students at this Institute. The viewpoint presented is that of a Japanese doctor who participated in the latter mentioned course.

The undergraduate curriculum concentrates on basic theory and classical texts and has attained a reasonable level in teaching traditional Chinese medicine. However the level of the Western medicine taught is not of an acceptable standard. This situation is perhaps an obstacle to the combining of traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine. This curriculum also exhibits other problems, for example, the lack of basic training in the natural sciences.

Secondly the course on traditional Chinese medicine for Chinese doctors trained in Western medicine systematically examines a range of subjects from basic traditional Chinese medicine theory to clinical studies. This paper argues that this course is ideal for combining traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine.

Finally this paper advises that the most important requirement for foreign students is a competent command of Chinese.