TCM Unearthed: Yuan Dynasty Jun Ware Cupping Jar

This pea-green glazed ceramic vessel is no ordinary piece of tableware; it is a Yuan Dynasty medical instrument—a cupping jar. Fired at the renowned Jun Kiln in Henan Province during the Song Dynasty, it features a generous shape, a wide mouth, and thick walls, making it highly durable. In use, a physician would place a burning paper twist or cotton ball inside the jar to heat the air, then quickly apply it to the patient's back or other fleshy areas. As the air inside cooled, it created a vacuum, causing the jar to adhere firmly to the skin. This suction was believed to unblock the flow of qi and blood and dispel cold and dampness. This Jun ware cupping jar stands as a tangible testament to the long history of external therapies in TCM. It is now housed in the Shaanxi Medical History Museum.