The “Ukiyo” of Moxibustion Reflected in the Ukiyo-e

Abstract

Ukiyo-e (浮世絵) was a genre of popular art during the Edo and Meiji periods in Japan. Moxibustion, which was introduced from China at the first place, was also in its heyday and became one of the popular topics for ukiyo-e artists at that time. Using the images as historical evidence perspective, this article focuses on the moxibustion used in daily life in Japan depicted in the ukiyo-e arts. With the perspective of acu-moxa therapy, one may identify some specific issues in the acupoint selection, leading to the discovery of special application of moxibustion used by the group of yūjo (遊女) at that time. The article concludes by exploring gender issues in ukiyo-e arts and the implications of punishment attached to moxibustion treatment.