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ZA
28 JUN
2025 & ...

Tan Tien by Kiiko Matsumoto: Strategic Defense for the Emperor - diagnosis, pathology and treatment


za 28 juni 2025 en zo 29 juni 2025
Fletcher, Stichtse Rotonde 11, 3818 GV Amersfoort
12:00-18:00 uur
Kiiko Matsumoto
Nederlands
€ 285,00
FAGT, LVNT, NVA (AT), NVST, NWP, VBAG, Zhong (12 NAP - Cat. 1)
TCM therapeut
Hand-out
Deelnamebewijs

PLAATS IN WINKELWAGEN
Please note! Is this your first time with Kiiko as a teacher? Please check the videos below to see if Kiiko’s teaching style fits your expectations.
Video 1, Video 2.

What about the subject: "Tan Tien: diagnosis, pathology and treatment"?

There are very few concepts in Chinese medicine that are more often mentioned than Tan Tien. Protecting and strengthening the Tan Tien is an important practice to maintain good health. But what exactly is Tan Tien and how can we assess it in the clinic? Let’s break it down.

There are three energy centres that make up the body: upper, middle, and lower. Most often these are described as "upper Tan Tien" or spiritual center, "middle Tan Tien" or emotional center, and "lower centre", known as the "true Tan Tien".

Each of the three Tan Tien areas has a specific role and location but they are not independent of one another. One way to understand this relationship is to examine the design of ancient imperial grounds, like those of the Forbidden City.

The Imperial city structure offers protection

The placement of the Emperor’s Palace within the Imperial city is very strategic: it is always in the north because the North Star is the symbol that represents him. In the same way that ancient travellers relied on the North Star for navigation, the role of the Emperor is defined: he serves as the example for the city and its people – you look to him to understand and navigate your way of life.

Given the significance and importance of the Emperor’s role, it’s no wonder that there were several structures built to guard and protect the Emperor’s palace, including expansive grounds and a high perimeter wall with guards surrounding the palace. Similarly, in the body, the three Tan Tien regions play that protective role.

Clinical application of these concepts

The importance of Tan Tien in general is established in the classics of Chinese medicine, specifically chapter eight of the Nan Jing, which lays out a case for this energy centre as the very root of a person. Thanks to this chapter, we understand that a strong Tan Tien is responsible for the well-being of all meridians and organs, protects shen, and is thought to be the "gate" of inhalation and exhalation (a concept that is emphasized in all martial arts practices).
This is very similar to the role of the Emperor, who sets the course for the well-being of the entire community. The health and safety of this leader are of utmost importance and the entire structure of the place in which he resides is designed with protection in mind.

Points along the Ren channel and connection to Tan Tien:
  • Ren-3 is the symbolic place of the Emperor - North Star.
  • Ren-5 character is commonly translated as "stone gate". In the Forbidden City, we see that a series of stone stairs lead to the Palace—possibly serving as a last protective measure to keep the Emperor safe.
  • Ren-16 character can be translated as "middle garden".
  • Du-24 character is upper Tan Tien and the character can be translated as "shen garden".
It’s important to point out that, in ancient times and in the context of the Forbidden City, the character we currently translate as "garden" had a very different meaning. At the time, it was used to refer to a defensive or protective structure and therefore differed greatly from what we picture today when we hear the word. With that in mind, consider that the upper Tan Tien point, Du-24, might represent an army of guardsmen perched on top of a high perimeter wall. Their eyes are toward the Emperor and their role is protection – not unlike the modern-day secret service or similar protective details.

The "middle garden" is a symbolic place of a second line of defence and is under the watchful eye of these guardsmen as well.

Du-24 –the guardsmen or secret service detail

Needling Du-24* has a positive effect on releasing the following reflexes:
  • Tan Tien reflex at Ren-6 to Ren-4 & Ren-9
  • Middle Tan Tien reflex around Ren-16
  • Pressure pain around Ren-12 when patient does not have any stomach symptoms/involvement

The Role of Du-24 in Aligning Protective Forces

Simply put, Du-24 is the central command that allows all the protective forces around the Emperor to align and to function at their optimal level so that the Emperor can remain strong, healthy and calm.
Finally, there is an interesting overlap between the ancient concept of the word “garden” as a protective force for the Tan Tien and the modern Western understanding of the function of the great omentum. In addition to being the largest organ in the body, the great omentum plays an important role in protecting the abdominal cavity from invaders and infections.

“Since the beginning of the twentieth century, abdominal infection control and wound isolation were well-recognized functions of the omentum. The British surgeon Rutherford Morison in his publication ‘Introduction to Surgery’ (1910) called it ‘the policeman of the abdomen’.”

For whom is this workshop?

Acupuncturists that want to work in a palpation-based way. Some background in Kiiko Matsumoto’s Style of acupuncture is recommended, but not mandatory.

What will you be able to do after this workshop?
Kiiko is extraordinary practical in her teaching: she demonstrates on real, live patients what she does in her own clinic in Boston. This is not a theoretical workshop, the focus is on demonstrating real clinical practice. Like many Japanese teachers, Kiiko demands full attention from her students, to follow what she is doing. The reward, however, is that you will go home with treatments that you can apply in your own clinic, and verify that they work.

Can I bring a patient?

You absolutely and bring a patient! Kiiko has an extraordinary knowledge of the classics, but wants to show the application on real patients. So if you bring in a challenging patient for Kiiko to treat, this is most welcome. (A sign up list will be provided).

Why this workshop?

Kiiko’s work is getting more and more attention worldwide, and Qing-Bai has been honoured to host her for years now. Her seminars in Berlin, Offenbach and Zurich are also very popular. We are happy to be part of this growing interest in palpation-based acupuncture. Students that are specialising in Kiiko Matsumoto’s style will want to attend as many seminars as they can to deepen their knowledge. Students that use Kiiko Matsumoto’s approach to strengthen their own approach, are inspired by Kiiko’s practicality, and challenged to get the same results using other methods.

Can you give me some examples of how Kiiko Matsumoto teaches?

A few short clips of past workshops are available on Youtube:
Video 1
Video 2

So is this a course in “Japanese acupuncture”?

Yes and no. Kiiko Matsumoto studied and graduated in Japan, and her main influences are from Japanese teachers. However, she has an extraordinary knowledge of the classics, and has the ability to demonstrate her interpretation of Su Wen, Ling Shu and Nan Jing directly on the patient.

Who is the teacher?

Kiiko Matsumoto is internationally known for her scholarly work on acupuncture and the interpretation of Chinese Classic texts. She is best known for her ability to integrate the work of very important Japanese Masters including Master Nagano, Master Kawaii, and Dr. Manaka. Her clinical practice is based in Newton Highlands, MA but she teaches all over the world.

Can I sign up for the Kiiko Matsumoto Practitioner directory after this workshop?

The directory (kmspractitioners.com) is open to anyone who has taken at least 100 hours of training in Kiiko Matsumoto Style, and this workshop counts towards that.