HISTORY

The historical origins of the Tai Hsuan Foundation extend back over two thousand years in Chinese history to the Han Dynasty. The first Heavenly Master of Taoism, Chang Tao Ling, established the first formal practice of Taoism at Lung Hu Shan, the Mountain of the Dragon and Tiger, in Jiangxi Province during that Dynasty.  The Heavenly Masters and Taoists of Lung Hu Shan are renowned throughout China for their expertise in the Six Taoist Arts of the Chou Dynasty.

During the Han Dynasty, Heavenly Master Chang Tao Ling visited many mountains and rivers in China before selecting Mount Lung Hu as the place where, for the next thirty-six years, he would make immortality pills called Chiu Tien, or the "Nine Heaven Spiritual Elixir."  In China, Lung Hu Shan is considered the birthplace of Taoism, and has remained a sacred Taoist location in China, as evidenced by the current 65^th generation descendants of Chang Tao Ling.  Historical records document 230 palaces, temples and pavilions that have been built throughout history at Lung Hu Shan.  The Taoist skill of creating immortality pills has played an important role in the origins and development of ancient Chinese chemistry and herbal medicine.  In addition, Taoist medicine has made significant contributions to Chinese medicine and the treatment of many complex and difficult illnesses.

The sacred traditions of Taoism have endured throughout the centuries at Lung Hu Shan.   Today, Taoism continues to blossom and flourish in the paradise that is Hawai'i.  Tai Hsuan Foundation and the College of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine were founded by Taoist Master Chang Yi Hsiang, Ph. D., who holds a 64^th generation lineage to the Heavenly Taoist Masters of Lung Hu Shan.  Raised in the Lung Hu Shan monasteries from the age of six, Dr. Chang is a direct descendant of the 63^rd Taoist Heavenly Master Chang En Pu.  Dr. Chang was especially trained for the role of a ‘living bridge’ between East and West.

The School of the Six Chinese Arts opened in 1970 and was formally registered with the State in 1972. The focus of the school teaching has been, and continues to be into the present, focused on chi kung, acupuncture, herbal medicine, Taoist philosophy, and disciple training in relation to ancient Taoist heritage.  Before accreditation, each area had its own voluminous quantity of knowledge and, consequently, each area has its own formal training program. With intensive study it took four years to complete the Masters degree program in acupuncture and herbal medicine; Taoist philosophy took six years to complete; and the disciple program took ten years.

In 1974, a group comprised of many Foundation supporters helped mold a legislative package establishing a State Acupuncture Board with high standards, strong regulations and a comprehensive examination to test graduates. On June 4, 1974, the package was passed by the Hawai'i State Legislature as the Acupuncture Bill.  Because of this event, Hawai'i became the second state to legally recognize and license acupuncture practitioners.  Dr. Chang served from 1974 to 1978 as a Commissioner on the first Hawaii State Board of Acupuncture.  

In 1982, Dr. Chang shifted her life's emphasis to the changing mission of the Foundation and focused on her role as a spiritual leader, teacher, resource, and acupuncture and Oriental medicine practitioner.  In 1984, the College's Masters degree program was approved by the Hawai'i State Board of Acupuncture and, in order to accommodate the shift in academic focus, facilities and student body were down-sized to become more in harmony with the idea of a hands-on learning environment.   The College also began participating in a research project with the Beijing Medical University.

In 1987, the College submitted its application for candidacy to the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM, then known as the National Accreditation Commission for Schools and Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, NACSCAOM) and also joined the Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (CCAOM, then known as the National Council of Acupuncture Schools and Colleges).  The College’s administration and faculty dilligently worked together to create an educational program, based on the ancient Taoist heritage, which fulfilled the requirements of national accreditation.  In 1989, the College achieved candidacy and, on April 21 1991, the program was granted full accreditation, with re-accreditation granted in 1996 and a re-affirmation of accreditation in 2002.