In the early 1970’s, Father Claude
Larre met Dr. Jean Schatz, a physician acupuncturist with a special interest in
the classical medical texts and well-developed clinical skills. Since George
Soulie de Morant’s massive work appeared in 1959, Dr. Schatz, as well as other
French physicians, had been applying acupuncture in their clinical
settings. Dr. Schatz, convinced of the
value of acupuncture and wanting to know more, continued his education in
Taiwan with Wu Wei Ping in the early 1960s.
Father Larre had returned from 20
years in Asia. From 1947 to 1952 he studied the Chinese language while
finishing his theological studies to become a Jesuit priest. He was ordained in
1952. He then lived in Vietnam (1956-1966), after short stays in Japan and the
Philippines. In Paris in 1966 he completed his PhD in Chinese philosophy
at La Sorbonne with his translation and interpretation of Chapter Seven of the Huainanzi, “On the Vital Spirit of a Human.”
Father Larre gathered people who were
interested in learning and sharing knowledge. In particular, a more accurate
grasp of Chinese culture and civilization. Isabelle Robinet and Sister Ina
Bergeron joined. Elisabeth Rochat de la Vallée, then an advanced language and
philosophy student, was introduced to this small group very early on. It was
called the “Jade Circle,” and was the forerunner of the Paris Ricci Institute. Elisabeth,
Dr. Schatz and Father Larre, met weekly at the hone of sinologist Alice
Fano. This was the first group to translate
and study the classical medical texts in Paris. At the time very few Chinese medical texts had
been translated at all, few of these were solid translations.
By the third year of their study, they
were more secure in their interpretation of the text. Elisabeth left in 1974 to spend a year in
Taiwan to improve her spoken Chinese (the Cultural Revolution blocked access to
Mainland China). When she returned in 1975, Father Larre, Dr. Schatz and
Elisabeth decided to start teaching what they learned in their reading of the
texts. After a year of teaching, they decided to give a formal frame to this work
and founded the European School of Acupuncture in Paris in 1976.
The European School of Acupuncture is aimed at people who already have a basic training in Chinese medicine, people interested in China and its vision of life, and those who wish to work with traditional texts. Its originality lies in three aspects:
- The rigorous approach to classic medical
texts and their accurate study, which methodically investigates theoretical
and clinical questions by relying on an overall vision of the Chinese
medical literature.
- The medical questions studied are
developed in connection with the great texts of traditional medical
thinking, whether they be Confucian, Taoist or other, particularly those
that are contemporary with the development of medical theory in the few
centuries around the beginning of the Common Era.
- An opening onto practice and experience.
This research is part of a dialogue and experience of sharing with the
participants, which continues in workshops offering a real application of
a traditional discipline (for instance, calligraphy).
From this common work, Father Larre,
Dr. Schatz and Dr. Rochat co-authored A Survey of Chinese Medicine, published
in 1979 (English translation published in 1986). It is a philosophical overview
of Traditional Chinese Medicine. its roots in the Chinese language, and the way
of Chinese thought which created the Chinese healing arts. This text emphasizes
the critical importance of examining ancient Chinese texts which are the basis
for Traditional Acupuncture.
