The Loss of a Hero and a Man of Heart

Christine Recours-Nguyen, MD

[In 1998, Dr. Van Nghi brought me issue # 180 (November-December) of the revue française. He pointed out, with some urgency, this article by his daughter, Christine. He let me know in very clear terms it was quite important to him that this article be translated and published in English. It honors and recognizes the passing of Doctor Nguyen Van Huong. Van Nghi's excitement to see this article translated and published was so typical of his general demeanor, to constantly point the spotlight away from himself. Van Nghi said much of what he has brought to us in the west was ultimately made possible by this doctor, and yet another remarkable man. -Sean]

(from 1998, #180, 313-314, translation by Norbert Goode 11-2-98)

An innocuous article in a major Vietnamese newspaper announced the sad news: "Doctor Nguyen Van Huong expired at the age of 92 on the 4th of August, 1998 in Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam)". In France, his death passed completely unnoticed. You might say: "who was this man?" For the Vietnamese, he was a hero of the resistance movement, a forceful partisan for independence, loyal companion of Ho Chi Minh, courageous fighter from the very beginning, steadfast defender of moral values, a true humanist who able to give back to his country the sense of national pride. But of what significance is his life to acupuncturists? Unfortunately many are not aware (probably due to his legendary modesty) of the outstanding role he played in the rediscovery and advancement of Classical Chinese medicine in western countries. He began his study of Medicine in Paris and graduated from medical school in 1932. In 1934, he gained employment at the prestigious Pasteur Institute in Saigon. It is there that he became known for his advanced research on a strain of typhus, as well as publishing articles in French medical journals which drew considerable acclaim. In 1935, he intended to continue his work and intensify his research at the Pasteur Institute of Paris. But he was harshly rebuffed as unworthy of this venerable institution, where research was deemed the domain of native Frenchmen and not lowly immigrants. This denigrating reaction to his efforts made him realize how poorly he was being treated for the simple fact that he was a citizen of a colonized nation. He therefore joined forces with Ho Chi Minh for whom he became one of the best and most active fighters for national sovereignty. Once his country gained independence, he was named Vice President of the National Assembly and most importantly he became Health Minister in Pham Van Dong's government.

Nguyen Van Huong - Nguyen Van Nghi

As for us acupuncturists it is for his capacity as Health Minister that we owe him a debt of gratitude. Remaining all the while very francophile, he had the presence of mind and the immense merit of authorizing the release of important documents on the subject of acupuncture being performed in war-time. He also made available historically significant books on Traditional Chinese Medicine. Thanks to him and with the assistance of Doctor Tran Quang He, Doctor Nguyen Van Nghi was able to access a considerable amount of information, documentation and basic knowledge. The outcome, after a lengthy period of research, was the publication, in 1966, by Dr. Van Nghi, in collaboration with Dr. Chamfrault, of the first western treatise on acupuncture; "Human Energetics." This really was in fact the very first piece of work revealing the important notion of energy or Qi, which up to that point in time had gone totally ignored. The only information available at the time was misleading and inaccurate information produced by a "student" of Chinese history and civilization, a sinologist, who, in all respects, should be commended for bringing out the information and making it available, although, as a layman, he was not qualified to decipher it. This "referring" sinologist was considered taboo and was reviled; the information and notion be brought to light caused hostile and vociferous reactions based on and mixed with ignorance, malevolence, racist undertones as well as personal and political relations and sanctions.

At the present time, acupuncture, far removed from these debates of another era, must take a good look at itself without partisanship nor prejudice. Unencumbered forever, let us hope, of the undue influence of "sinologists" and of metaphysical considerations, it's only objective is to continue and to put the finishing touches on the work initiated by Dr. Nguyen Van Huong, with the aim of revealing this science and making it available in it's entirety.

However at the present time, we can consider that only one third of this knowledge has been uncovered or divulged. It is therefore our duty to relentlessly continue the work of discovery and interpretation of the basic knowledge and notions of energetic acupuncture made available by Dr. Nguyen Van Huong. With that in mind, acupuncturists should be grateful to this great man for having been the initial instrument for the dissemination of the fundamental notions of Classical Chinese Medicine. May you pay him due homage and may you do justice to his legacy. Our entire staff wishes his family and those close to him our saddened and heartfelt condolences.

(front) Nguyen Van Huong - Nguyen Van Nghi (rear) Nguyen Trong Khanh

(right front) Nguyen Van Huong - Nguyen Van Nghi - Tran Viet Dzung Truong Tan Trung, Phan Van Hieu, Habib Daniel Henry

Pictures also courtesy of revue français © 1998