TCM Unearthed: Pottery Bian

Bian (stone therapy) is one of the oldest medical treatments in ancient China, ranking first among the four major TCM techniques—Bian, Acupuncture, Moxibustion, and Herbal Medicine—recorded in The Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic. This set of gray pottery Bian from the Warring States period comes in various exquisite shapes, such as turtles, frogs, fish, and snakes. They weren't used for piercing the skin but were tools for applying pressure to wounds, massaging acupuncture points, or performing Gua Sha (scraping). Before use, they could be heated to retain warmth for a long time. This soothing heat helped relax muscles and expel cold pathogens from the body. They are now housed in the Beijing Yushengtang Museum of TCM. 

Portions of this article were adapted from research materials originally published on National Museum of Traditional Chinese Medicine.