Paper short abstract:

My case study, based on a comparative approach between a clinic and a university, focuses on highlighting the different processes of learning and teaching Chinese medicine in Taiwan. I aim to understand the processes behind the different ways of interpreting Chinese medicine in a globalised world.

Paper long abstract:

Chinese medicine (CM) is one of the oldest medical systems in the world. Its origins date back more than 2,000 years. In Taiwan, CM was taught from master to disciple until the second half of the 1900s, when it began to be taught at university. These two systems of teaching and learning continued to coexist until 2011 when it became necessary to attend university to become a licensed doctor. Does the transmission of knowledge from master to apprentice still exist in contemporary Taiwan? If so, what is the difference between studying Chinese medicine inside or outside universities? In general, what is the teaching and learning process of Chinese medicine in modern-day Taiwan?

In this paper, I argue not only that there are still unofficial methods of learning CM in Taiwan, but also that they are widely used. Based on my case study, I will try to show how these formal and informal systems are linked to a different interpretation of Chinese medicine and, therefore, to a diverse educational approach. Methodologically, this study draws on nine months of ethnographic research in a private clinic in Taipei and at China Medical University in Taizhong. I observed Chinese medicine classes and medical practices, conducted semi-structured interviews with physicians and practitioners, and carried out participant-observations, both in the clinic and at the university. By analysing the different ways of transmitting CM knowledge, I aim to investigate, in a broad sense, what forms Chinese medicine takes in a global context.