MESSAGE FROM THE FOUNDER

I am a native of Shang Ching, Lung Hu Shan, Mountain of Dragon and Tiger, Jiangxi.  At the age of six I began Taoist training with Master Chang En Pu, whom I spent all my time with training in the Six Secret Taoist Teachings. My training included healing through Chi Kung; herbal medicine; herbal formulas using natural herbs from the mountains; special processing methods for herbs (including making the immortality pill of "Tsin Dan"); acupuncture; ceremonies; secret Taoist magic arts; magic language with complicated Tiger form; meditation; charm language writing; palmistry; Taoist feng shui; astrology; Chinese brush calligraphy; painting; vegetarian nutrition; Taoist chanting; the study of the I Ching (Book of Changes), Lao Tse's Tao Te Ching, and Chuang Tzu's Nam Hua Ching; and the holistic method of Taoist Complimentary medicine using the philosophy of enlightenment through the art of Taoist contemplation.  Along my travels I have collected many medical classics of diagnosis through pulse and five element theory; an original inherited copy of a classical acupuncture medical text book from the Sung dynasty; wood statues of the Taoist Immortals; and over five tons of valuable Chinese books.

Not only was I born and educated in a very blessed land, but I also grew up surrounded by fields of herbal plants, used for healing arts, culture, spirituality and understanding.  During my childhood I learned a lot about herbal medicine!  I lived in a big house with a huge garden. There were fruit trees, flowers, vegetables and many medicinal plants, such as Dalbergia Hancei Benth, a very spiritual tree that aids in meditation and the practice of Chi Kung.  It is a warm analgesic that relaxes muscles and promotes blood circulation. It is used in the treatment of pain, especially chest pain and stomach aches. As children we often collected Antidesmaburius sprays, a good neutral and sour tasting berry that look like baby grapes. It is used to quench thirst, to treat inflammation and cough, to prevent colds, or externally (when made into an herbal pouch) for traumatic injuries, boils, and abscesses.  At other times, such as at day break, I would collect banyan leaves that fell in our court yard, picking seven leaves at a time and using only those leaves that naturally fell upside down, not the leaves that were already on the ground or that blew over. This herb was specifically collected to treat asthma. It can be either used alone or with sophora root and ginseng to make a tonic.

Sometimes before daybreak I would collect a fragrant Chinese flower called Yu Lan, literally translated as "Jade Orchid."  The flowers were steamed and preserved in rice wine with honey or rock candy and used for pediatric stomach flu and digestive disorders.  Ginger root was added for stomach cold and chronic diarrhea.  We also had honeysuckle hedges growing alone or with Hypericum Chinense.  We would collect a seven inch branch of honeysuckle and a seven inch root of hypericum and prepare them with mung beans and sugar cane to clear heat for symptoms such as acute pharengytis, conjunctivitis, hepatitis, hepatosplenomegaly with painful cramps, rheumatic joint pains, insect sting, or traumatic injury.

What was especially fun as children was collecting Aristochiatagula Cham. et Sch. and then popping them like fire crackers. They would climb all over, growing up beyond our reach and hiding in corners. Medically, it is an anti-inflammatory good for urinary tract infections and gastric ulcer pain. There are hundreds of other herbs that I could mention here as well.  When I take students to the mountains in Hawai'i, it is amazing how many plants with medicinal properties grow here.  Many I remember from my childhood, like Alpinia Calcarata rose, a family of medicinal ginger used for stomach disorders.  Others found here are Alpina Japonica (mountain ginger), alpina katsumadai hageta, hedgchium coronarium koen (white flower ginger), and zingiber zerumbet (red flower ginger). The list goes on and on. This family of plants is not only used medicinally for joint pain and stomach disorders, but also as a shampoo to wash your hair. This ginger was made famous by the Paul Mitchell Systems hair products. In the College's herbal program, all of the above-mentioned herbs are taught during my herbal field trips.

In 1969 I was honored by the 63rd Heavenly Master Chang En Pu to become the 64th generation Taoist lineage holder of a 2000 year old tradition inherited from the Han dynasty. My academic, research and professional achievements include a medical doctoral degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine.  During my internship, I specialized in treating children with disabilities. I was also awarded Ph. D.'s in Chinese Philosophy and integrated medicine in China and the U.S.  The Beijing Medical University appointed me to the position of Visiting Professor in the Department of Immunology as a research fellow for the Department research team, which has published numerous medical journals and books.  I was once again re-appointed to this position in 1998.  I was appointed as an assistant professor in the CAM department at the John A. Burns School of Medicine at the University of Hawaii from 2003 to present.  In 1974 Governor George Ariyoshi appointed me to serve as a Commissioner on the first Hawaii State Board of Acupuncture for four years; I was selected President of the Chinese Acupuncturist and Herbalist Association of America for eight years.  I was also chosen as an outstanding young woman of America during the American 1976 Bicentennial Celebration and the 12^th State Legislature of Hawaii honored me with a lifetime achievement designation as a "Living Treasure of Hawaii."  I have been teaching Chi Kung, Taoist philosophy, acupuncture and herbal medicine in Hawaii, Hong Kong, China, and the Pacific Coast of the United States for over thirty years.  At the College, I take care of student and disciple inquiries, lead herbal field trips, perform Taoist ceremonial rituals, and perform some clinical Chi Kung, acupuncture, and Oriental medicine.  I also teach treatment and needling technique and point location classes from time to time.  The difference between our program and all others is twofold: 

• While you are learning you can enjoy the beautiful blue sky and natural environment of our Hawai'ian paradise.

• You have direct participation in an unbroken 2000-year-old lineage of healing tradition and the wealth of knowledge it has accumulated.

As the 64th generation Taoist lineage holder, I bring to the Tai Hsuan Foundation College of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine the accumulated knowledge of this 2000-year-old tradition inherited from the Han Dynasty.  Classes are taught in the presence of all sixty-four historical Heavenly Masters. You may not initially see them, but the school is home to their spirits and teachings. If you spend some time developing your inner eye over the course of your studies here, they may reveal themselves to you.  You need to spend enough time at the College for them to become familiar with you and recognize you as an old friend. Their spirit permeates the school. The staffs at the school are the embodiment of the arms and legs of the Heavenly Masters. If fact, you could easily be the reincarnation of one of these masters who have passed on the accumulation of wisdom, knowledge, traditions and culture.  Let me give you an example of a simple Taoist healing formula to refine your self-discipline when searching for the true self:

• Begin at the Celestial Root, located in the center of the forehead below the Hair's Well, called Ni Wan;

• Use your eyes to look at the tip of your nose;

• Use the mind to visualize the nose looking down at the tip of the tongue;

• Visualize the tongue looking at the center of the Chest's Hall, called Chiang Kung, the Ordering Palace;

• Chiang Kung then looks down at the lower center, Ming Men, located between the belly button and the kidneys (3.5" behind the belly button, in the peritoneal cavity);

• Lastly, Ming Men looks down at Tan Tien (3.5" below Ming Men), the core root and center of gravity;

• This central tree, from top to bottom, reaches out to the universe along four lines.

As our energy journeys from celestial root to core root, it branches out along paths called meridians. Along these paths are the gates to the cave of our core, called acupuncture points.  All the pulsing breath movements measure the balance of one's energy for good health. The ancient Taoist approach views our composition as coming from that of our predecessor, the primordial Dragon. Our extremities, limbs terminating with hands and feet, are our roots that ground us to the earth. Since we have taken to walking on two legs, we have great difficulty maintaining our balance because we are only half grounded. Our root acupuncture points are in our extremities; the elbows, knees, ankles, feet and hands. These roots reach out to the Universe as leaves in order to obtain food, air, and chi.

The skilled Taoist practitioner observes the color, shape and texture of a patient's "leaves" to make a diagnosis. Observe above and treat below. Treating below nourishes above. Treating below strengthens the internal core. This profound Taoist wisdom is the basis for the holistic approach to treating the root by knowing how the symptoms manifest on the surface. The chi color provides a basis for diagnosis. Each of the Six Taoist Arts are used to examine the "leaves" in order to fully understand an individual's state of balance. The treatments to influence this balance are called Classical Medicine.

Chinese doctors must study Chinese Classical Medicine textbooks, including the Medical I Ching (the popular edition, named the Chou I, has a strong flavor of Taoism and Confucianism). Other texts must also be studied, including the Nei Ching (Medical Classic of Commentary), which includes questions and answers between the Yellow Emperor and his minister, and the Yin Convergence Classic, which discusses the spirituality of strategy in life. This classical Taoist science of balancing the Yin and Yang cures ailments with its medicine. Some Taoist Arts that demonstrate this science are: Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine, Chi Kung, Astrology, Palmistry, Feng Shui, Mystical Martial Art of (death touch) Key Gate - Diam Mei, Ceremony, Five Element Theory, Charm Calligraphy, and Charm Healing Language.  These examples show the wide range of knowledge one must study in order to truly become a good healer.  The goal of the very best healers is to use few or no needles and a few simple herbs, if any at all.

Dr. Chang Yi Hsiang, Ph. D.

Taoist Master and Founder