Abstract
Buddhist monasteries played a vital part in the institutionalization of medicine.The monks were already healing each other from diseases in Buddhas lifetime. Soon they were also the ones who took care of the diseases of the general public.
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It is said, that the origins of Thai massage came to Thailand together with Buddhism. The temples and monasteries of Thailand are considered as the cradle of Thai massage in the form as we know it today. Buddhist monasteries in Asia, just like Christian monasteries in Europe, played a vital part in the institutionalization of medicine.[1] The monks in Asia, just like in Europe, have for a long time been the central element in safeguarding written knowledge.[2] The monks were already healing each other from diseases in Buddhas lifetime. Soon they were also the ones who took care of the diseases of the general public.[3] In Thailand the monasteries have alway, until today, been seen as the most important source of knowledge about traditional Thai medicine.[4]
Until nowadays Thai massage is practiced and taught in numerous monasteries of Thailand, e.g. in Wat Phra Chetuphon (Wat Pho), the oldest monastery of Bangkok, which is also the biggest in Thailand.[5] It was build in the late 17th century by the founder of the current Thai dynasty, Rama I.[6] Temples, even now, sometimes serve the common people, who can not afford expensive sanatoriums or hospitals, as health centres.[7]
In 1832, or corresponding to other sources in 1836, the principle elements of Thai massage where engraved in 60 stone tables in the Wat Pho temple by king Rama III.[8] On the south side of the temple grounds 82 statues of Indian hermits, made from molten zinc and tin, where set up by Rama III. They illustrate various yoga positions and handholds for self massage.[9] Verses on the temple walls explain the postures of these yogis.[10] Here the close relationship of Thai massage to Indian yoga becomes evident. In the Wat Pho temple Thai massage classes are nowadays also offered in English.[11] The Wat Pho school for traditional medizin, which was opened in 1957 as the first of by now numerous and sometimes rivalling schools for traditional medizin,[12] is an important publisher of works about traditional Thai medizin.[13] Today the prime competitor of the Wat Pho school about the best method to heal people is the school of traditional medizin at Wat Mahathat. Thereby it is to be emphasized, that practical exercises take place directly next to the class rooms.[14]
Besides the Wat Pho temple in Bangkok, the buddhist centre of Thailand and simultaneous the most important school for Thai massage in the south of Thailand,[15] also the Nong Yah Nang temple in Uthai Thani province in central Thailand became famous, because the combination of Thai massage and herbal medical sauna is practiced here.[16]
In the north especially the Old Medical Hospital in Chang Mai resp. Chiang Mai is significant, which is teaching and practicing the northern form of Thai massage.[17] Today it is the centre of the art of Nuad.[18]
© 2006 Thailin Thai Massage Berlin- Cf. Zysk (1998), p. 6
- Cf. Brun (2003), p. 116
- Cf. Zysk (1998), p. 41
- Cf. Mulholland (1979), p. 85
- Cf. Stürner (2001), p. 10f
- Cf. Salguero (2003), p. 8
- Cf. Chow (2005), p. 13
- Cf. Chow (2005), p. 13; Mulholland (1979), p. 83; Salguero (2003), p. 8; Stürner (2001), p. 11f
- Cf. Stürner (2001), p. 12
- Cf. Mulholland (1979), p. 83
- Cf. Salguero (2003), p. 9
- Cf. Brun / Schumacher (1994), p. 9
- Cf. Mulholland (1988), p. 174
- Cf. Mulholland (1979), p. 85
- Cf. Chow (2005), p. 13f
- Cf. Stürner (2001), p. 17
- Cf. Chow (2005), p. 14
- Cf. Stürner (2001), p. 17
Bibliography
Brun, V. (2003): Traditional Thai Medicine. In: Selin, H. / Shapiro, H. (Hrsg.): Medicine Across Cultures. History and Practice of Medicine in Non-Western Cultures. Boston / London 2003. P. 115-132.
Brun, V. / Schumacher, T. (1994): Traditional Herbal Medicine in Northern Thailand. Bangkok 1994
Chow, K. T. (2005): Thai-Yoga-Massage. Eine dynamische Therapie für körperliches Wohlbefinden und geistige Energie. Baden / München 2005.
Mulholland, J. (1979): Thai Traditional Medicine: Ancient Thought and Practice in a Thai Context. In: Journal of the Siam Society 2/1979. P. 80-115.
Mulholland, J. (1988): Ayurveda, Congenital Disease and Birthdays in Thai Traditional Medicine. In: Journal of the Siam 1998. P. 174-182.
Salguero, C. P. (2003): A Thai Herbal. Traditional Recipes for Health and Harmony. Forres 2003.
Stürner, E. (2001): Nuad. Die traditionelle Thai Massage. München 2001.
Zysk, K. G. (1998): Asceticism and healing in Ancient India. Medicine in the Buddhist Monastery. Indian Medical Tradition Vol. 2. 2. Ed. Delhi 1998.
