SUGIYAMA Waichi (1610-1694)
SUGIYAMA Waichi, who is famous as the originator of the unique Japanese acupuncture
insertion method known as “Guide Tube Acupuncture Insertion Technique”, was born as thelegitimate son of a samurai family in Tsu, Iseno-kuni, Japan in 1610. His father,
SUGIYAMA Gon-emon Shigemasa, was a vassal of TŌDŌ IZUMINOKAMI Takatora.
Waichi contracted smallpox when he was very young and lost his sight. In order to establish
himself in acupuncture he entered into study with the blind acupuncturist YAMASE
Takuichi in Edo. However after some years of study it became apparent that his ability tomemorize was not good and his technique showed little improvement, leading to hisdismissal from the master.
According to legend, on his way home, filled with dejection, he got the idea for the guide tube
acupuncture insertion technique when he grabbed a tube filled with pine needles as hestumbled and fell over a big rock called Gagyū-ishi which looked like a lying cow. This
happened after a self-imposed rigorous fast induced mental state of spiritual ecstasy inEnoshima.
Afterwards he went to Kyoto where he learned, under the guidance of IRIE Hōmei, thesecrets of the IRIE style acupuncture. He won fame after returning to Edo and became
known by the shogun family. In 1685 he cured the 5th generation Shogun Tsunayoshi of achronic disease. Later, Waichi served as the court physician to the shogun until his death in1694.
Figure 1
Portrait of Waichi“Ika-sentestu-shōzō-shū”
by FUJINAMI Koichi (“医家先哲肖像集”)

Waichi Reformed “Tōdōza” (Japanese guild for blind people) as its chief officer “Sōkengyō”
During the Edo period, the blind were forced to join a mutual aid society known as “Tōdōza”.
They didn’t have freedom of choice of occupation. Only playing Japanese lute and music
were their sole ways of supporting themselves. This was a period plagued by troubles
related to a money lending business that some of them started with money set aside to paytaxes. Shogun Tsunayoshi appointed Waichi to the highest post “Sōkenkō” in the “Tōdōza”.
Waichi rigorously reformed the organization’s regulations and established a new one called“Shin-shikimoku” (新式目).
Figure 2
Statue of Waichi
The collection of Ejima
Sugiyama Shrine

Theacupuncture

therapy

institute,Shin-chi-gakumon-jo( 鍼 治 学 問 所 ),“Sugiyama-ryū-sanbu-sho” (“杉山流三部書”) and “Sugiyama-shinden-ryū” (“杉山真伝流”)
The path was opened by Waichi for the visually impaired to support themselves and gavehigh priority to technical training of acupuncture, moxibustion and Anma (Japanesemassage.)Heestablishedon

hisestate

theacupuncture

therapy

institute,Shin-chi-gakumon-jo, the world’s first school for the visually impaired. The textbooks usedwere “Sugiyama-san-bu-syo” (“杉山流三部書”).
Many among the capable students served as medical officers to the shogunate and theprefectural government. At a time when local doctors were scarce, these trained
acupuncturists made a great contribution to the medical care for citizens. We see a glimpseofthepracticeofacupunctureandmoxibustion

treatmentof

thedayin“Sugiyama-shinden-ryū”, and can also find a complete explanation of guide tube
acupuncture insertion technique in the book.

Figure 3“Sugiyama-shinden-ryū”(“杉山真伝流”)
The collection ofSugiyama-kenkō-itoku-kenshōkai

Worshipped as the God of Acupuncture in the Ejima Sugiyama Shrine
Ejima Sugiyama Shrine is located on a piece of land in Chitose, Sumida Ward, Tokyo which
Waichi received from Shōgun Tsunayoshi. Tsunayoshi had established a shrine which wasdedicated to the goddess Benzaiten on this land as he felt pity for Waichi, who even after hegrew old, never failed to make a monthly pilgrimage to Enoshima.

Even to this day Waichiis the deity the shrine is dedicated to and local citizens recognize him as the god ofacupuncture.
Figure 4
Ejima Sugiyama Shrine

OURA Jikan
Iyashinomichi Kyokai