Abstract
Yōkai (妖怪) are supernatural entities imagined in Japanese folklore. They can encompass the spirits of plants, animals, and even inanimate objects, as well as various strange and abnormal phenomena. In an English context, yōkai shares some similarities with “monster” or “ghost”, but they are not entirely equivalent. This rich cultural imagination gave rise to a wealth of interesting stories and legends in the Edo period (1603-1868).
Moxa refers to the material used in a traditional external therapy called moxibustion, often paired with acupuncture (acu-moxa). The primary method involves igniting moxa floss, made from the mugwort, on or above the surface of the skin to achieve a therapeutic effect. Originating in China, the practice was introduced to Japan in the 6th century and continues to be used today.
In the Edo period, the two popular things, yōkai and moxa, converged, giving rise to a unique visual culture, a new type of stories, and new folk customs. This study explores central questions that arise from this phenomenon: Why did these two cultural spheres merge? What does this fusion reveal about people's understanding of illness and healing at the time? What kinds of hidden beliefs relevant to health were manifested in this convergence? What role do fictional narratives play in shaping historical understandings of medicine?
About the speaker
Dr. Shan Jiang is an Assistant Researcher at Peking Union Medical College. She holds a doctorate in Medical Sciences from the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences. Her research interests include the history of circulation of medicine between China and Japan with a focus on imagination and material culture.
She has published a book, Needle and Qi: A Micro-Investigation of Acupuncture Qi Theory in the Classics, and recent articles such as “The ‘Ukiyo’ of Moxibustion Reflected in the Ukiyo-e” (2024) and “The Return of the ‘Ashi Point’ from its Journey East and its Modern Theoretical Reconstruction” (2022).
Currently, she is leading a National Social Science Fund of China project on “A Study of the Circulation of Chinese Medicine to Japan and the Transformation of Medicine in the Edo Period from the Perspective of Material Culture” (2023-2026)