Abstract: “The history of acupuncture and moxibustion can be traced back to more than two thousand years. The number of current acupoints is 361. However, 1800 years ago, 349 acupoints were listed and used. This means that in the past 1800 years, only 12 acupoints have been added to the commonly used acupoints in acupuncture technology around the whole world. Besides, the insertion depth of acupuncture needles was also formulated more than 1800 years ago. Not until this century do modern acupuncturists use hi-tech methods to fathom the safe and useful insertion depth of acupuncture needles. Since insertion depth is highly concerned with the safety of patient's health, it is of great necessity to see how insertion depth has been discussed in the past centuries. This essay concentrates on the gradual development of both acupoints and insertion depth chronologically by analyzing Chinese medical canons to have a thorough understanding of both developments.”

Keywords: acupuncture, moxibustion, canon, depth of inserting needles