The Line of Transmission in the Fukaya Style of Moxibustion

Isaburo Fukaya Sensei was a very famous moxibustion master in the 20th Century in Japan. Throughout his career, as a teacher he had many followers and students due to his great pedagogical skills and his extensive clinical experience.

The late Irie Seiji Sensei was recognised as Fukaya Sensei’s best student. To him, we owe the publication of the work ‘Fukayakyu’ that served to name the style and to spread Fukaya Sensei’s knowledge. Also his continuation in the teaching after Fukaya’s passing was very important. In this work, Irie Sensei was supported by Fukaya’s son, Hideo Shinma. Shinma Sensei helped Irie Sensei to maintain the heritage by publishing, reissuing and disseminating his father’s work over the years.

Later appeared the figure of Tetsuya Fukushima. He studied with Irie Sensei and was considered during his years as the highest representative of the style in Japan. Fukushima Sensei optimised the practice, respecting the rules of the style and simplified it without losing effectiveness. Fukushima Sensei passed away in 2022.

Felip Caudet, being a westerner, is an exceptional case. He was accepted by Fukushima Sensei as ‘oshiego’ (student), and in the following years he was recognised in the line of transmission of the Fukaya Style of Moxibustion, for his contributions in the understanding of the style, and the development of aspects related to the search of points such as the Triangle Theory. He is renowned for teaching Fukayakyu internationally.

In a number of Oriental countries, Japan included, it is considered a sign of disrespect to teach a style without the permission of the master. It’s for this reason that we thank you for respecting Fukaya Sensei’s tradition by choosing to study with a teacher from the line of transmission or an authorised teacher.

“Teaching in a line of transmission of a moxibustion style can’t be out of the back of a book- it’s a highly developed skill over time. It comes from years of dedication and hundreds, or even thousands of hours under Masters of the Style, as well as thousands of hours of clinical practice and experience, that is then shared with students.”

Peter Scarselletti
Founder/Director
Qiology

Isaburo Fukaya Sensei (Tokyo, 1900-1974)

Master Fukaya is recognised as a Master of Moxibustion in the Showa period. He was restless, prolific, and possessed great intellectual capacity for reflection and study. Before the outbreak of WWII (Fukaya was in his late 30s) he had already written several books about pedagogy and study. When studying law at Nihon Daigaku Hougaku in Tokyo he fell ill with tuberculosis. He found the solution to his illness in moxibustion. His recovery was an intense and powerful experience. This led him to study, and later develop deeply, the art and practice of moxibustion.

Isaburo Fukaya, formed as a moxibustionist,  built his style through reading and reviewing classical texts [some famous ones such as Meika kyûsen (名家灸選) and some not so famous such as Kôtei Meido Kyu Kei (黄帝明堂灸経)], and through the observation of other practitioners as well as through very extensive and thorough clinical experience.

He visited many temples (traditional moxa hotbeds) and practitioners. He saw that although the moxa being practiced was effective it was also very painful. The cones were large. A very famous proponent of this was Kobonokyu in Asakusa (Tokyo) with cones of the size of a plum (ume). In order to receive the benefits of moxa, the patients had to endure very painful treatments, and it was something that he sought to remedy. He developed his famous bamboo tube (takezutsu) in order to solve this situation.

Fukaya was also inspired, by a classical master called Goto Konzan and some of his ideas, such as the the moxa point forming due to stagnation of the Qi and Blood, and the value of moxibustion as therapy.

Fukaya published several books, such as Kyu ni yoru chiryou ho (1963), Meikyuketsu no kennkyu (1963), Okyu de byouki wo naoshita hanashi (6 volumes from 1966 to 1972), Meikakyûsen siakugi (1973), and his version of Kôtei Meido Kyu Kei (1973), as well as a monthly magazine Shinkyu Zatsushi Chiryou devoted to acupuncture and moxibustion (223 issues published from 1955 to 1964). After the death of the master, other books of Fukaya were published by his son, Hideo Shinma.

Fukaya Sensei always thought that moxibustion should be spread across the globe, as it could be very beneficial to mankind. He made great efforts to carefully record treatment sessions, to record treatment findings (extra points with specific actions) and to review published and classical works on moxibustion.

It is indeed a rich legacy that has been left to us by Isaburo Fukaya Sensei, and the line of transmission continues the teachings to benefit the highly effective and correct practice of Fukaya Style moxibustion around the world.

“Moxibustion doesn’t work, you make it work.”

– Isaburo Fukaya Sensei