'Zoufang (mobile)' Doctor and the Equipment
The zoufang doctors travel around the countryside, announcing their arrival to potential patients with their looped bells; therefore, they have the other name, ‘bell doctors’.
The looped bell is in a hollowed circular shape, with metal balls placed inside. Shaking by hand will generate sounds.
The standard equipment of a zoufang doctor also includes a medicine pouch, carrying remedies in forms of plasters, pellets, pills, powders, and implements to perform medical treatments.
‘Huangzi’ is the signboard of a zoufang doctor, stating diseases within the doctor’s speciality or words of self-promotion.
Tweezers/ Equipment/ Medicine Pouch/ ‘Huangzi’ Signboard/ Looped Bell
The bell doctor has a medicine pouch attached to his waist, holding a tool for treatment in hand, and with other appliances secured on the head for timely support. The looped bell and signboard are attended by the assistant on the side.
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‘Aijiu’ Moxibustion
Moxibustion is a therapy that requires burning cones or rolls made of mugwort leaves. The placements sit on specific acupuncture points on the skin to perform stimulations. Benefits include soothing the health meridian, generating circulation and blood flow, dispelling coldness and wetness from the body, and relieving swellings and clots. The direct application of plaster onto the area of moxibustion will cause the wound to fester, forming blisters that will eventually heal; unfortunately, the procedure will leave permanent scars.
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'Nail Head Mouse Tail' Lines
In this type of line, each brushstroke has a thicker, flattened beginning that gradually narrows down into a pointy end. The shape resembles a nail’s head combined with a mouse’s long tail, which has gained the name ‘Nail Head Mouse Tail Line’.
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The Impoverished Zoufang Doctor
The painted zoufang doctor has holes in his pants and many mended patches on his clothes; he is probably a poor doctor struggling to make ends meet. Does his lack of medical skills stop him from earning money? Or does he attempt to help those poor people by only charging a minimal fee? Which scenario do you think was the painter’s intention?
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