1750 Keiraku Ningyo (The Meridian Doll)

Keiraku Ningyo  (The Meridian Doll) Image1
Material Name Keiraku Ningyo (The Meridian Doll)
Year(Japanes Era Name) Edo
Year 1750
Description The Meridian Doll is an anatomical model showing the meridians (arteries and veins) and acupuncture points of the human body.In 11th-century China, these models were cast from copper; in Japan they were made of paper or wood and were used in Chinese medicine from the mid-Edo period.They are also known as Do Ningyo (Copper Dolls).This doll was discovered in Showa year 56 (1981) in a corner of the anatomy library. "The doll was found in a corner while the anatomy library was being rearranged in September, Showa year 56 (1981).When shown the doll by Professor HOSHINO Takeshi, I noticed that it looked like a figure used to demonstrate the meridians of the body.Dolls for showing the meridians were made during the Edo period and used in Chinese medicine; we have seen them here and there in museums and reference libraries in other areas, but those dolls all had the meridians drawn on.This doll, however, does not have any meridians drawn on it, and there is nothing written on the doll itself or on its container to indicate when it was made. There was also the possibility that it could be a fake made at a later time, and so, wanting to know more about its origins and hoping to get some kind of information on it, on March 20, Showa year 57 (1982) I took the doll to the Japanese Society for the History of Medicine. Professors OGAWA Teizo (1901-1984) and SAKAI Shizu (1935-), upon examining the doll, judged that, although its origins were unclear, it was probably made during the Edo period, in an initial condition prior to meridians being drawn on; and that the fact that it has no meridians makes it a rarity.SAKAI Hiroshi (1928-2008)
Physical Description Doll height(with seat) 72cm
Material Type Medical appliance

The Dawn of Modern Medical Science Digital Archive