Sivin on Unschuld and Katpchuck

[Guest guest]

>>>It is Sivin, for example, who states about " The Web That Has

No Weaver " that it is:

 

" An insightful introduction for laymen. The author has some

training in

a proprietary school of traditional medicine on the periphery of

China.

Includes a fair extensive bibliography of Chinese sources, most of

which

the author has obviously never read. " >>>

 

 

In a previous email I've made a few comments about studying with

Kaptchuk, and maintain that he was a good, interesting and intelligent

teacher, who in the 1980s was considering and addressing many of the

issues that have been discussed in this group almost 20 years later.

 

In light of the several comments directed towards (or should I say

against) him in this discussion group and elsewhere, I'd like to say

that, sure, The Web is not one of the classic works of Chinese

medicine. For professionals, it undoubtedly doesn't carry the weight

of some books, such as Bensky and Barolet's Formulas and Strategies.

In almost any area that The Web covers, I can think of books published

in English that supersede it. But my feeling is, so what? The Web was

undoubtedly a very important book for its time, and I can remember the

excitement that attended its publication. It was an impressive work

for a relatively newly qualified practitioner. I haven't seen the new

edition, but I can say that the first edition definitely didn't convey

the scope of Kaptchuk's insights and studies of the mid 1980s, when I

studied with him.

 

The fact that The Web has endured so well must indicate something. I

think it is a good introductory work, and patients of mine who have

read it have learned a lot. Is there really much more to say?

 

I'm reminded of the Stravinsky anecdote. When one of his new works was

given its premiere in Philadelphia, he couldn't attend, so one of his

friends sent the telegram message: `PIECE A GREAT SUCCESS, BUT NEEDS

SOME RE-ORCHESTRATION.' Stravinsky sent a telegram back: `SATISFIED

WITH GREAT SUCCESS.'