For the people of Hsinchu, in the north of Taiwan, knife massage is very popular. Traditional Chinese healing culture is diverse with many unique forms. Among them, knife massage (Dao Liao) is a traditional healing technique used more than 2,000 years ago. This method has been passed down to the present day thanks to Chinese Buddhist monks. When the monks went on missionary trips and brought knife massage culture to Japan more than 1,000 years ago, Japanese samurai also transformed it into using swords.
The method is very simple. The person preparing to perform the treatment will sharpen a knife on a wet stone. The knife used is a large cleaver.
The type of knife used for massage is a large knife.Photo: CNN.
The client sits upright in a chair or lies face down on a bed. A towel is placed on the back, and a lubricant or tiger balm is applied to the shoulders while the client is gently massaged to relax. The therapist then gently taps the knife handle or runs the handle along the client’s sore body parts, helping to improve blood circulation, release static energy in the body, and eliminate harmful substances. Moving the sharp knife handle with just enough pressure will make the client’s aches and pains disappear.
Each massage session usually lasts about 30 minutes and costs up to 15 USD/session (about 300,000 VND). At famous knife massage shops, customers have to wait in long lines to get their “cut”.
In a knife massage shop in TaipeiPhoto: magovine.
According to Pan Wen Hsiung, 51, owner of a famous knife massage shop on Sungkiang Road, customers who come here are usually between the ages of 30 and 70. They suffer from chronic diseases such as joint pain, spinal pain, insomnia, hyperthyroidism or stomach or intestinal problems. It is believed that knife massage not only relieves pain but also cures these diseases. A few use this therapy to lose weight. Many of the customers are foreigners who come here for tourism and are curious to experience this unique service.
Explaining the mechanism of knife massage, Mr. Pan said: “Knife massage is based on the principle of lightning rod. Knife massage will transfer pain out of the body through the knife. When the knife touches the skin, neutrons from the edge of the metal will interact with protons from the problem point on the body, helping the patient feel a flow of air passing through, relieving the pain.”
He added that knife massage is also related to acupuncture. Although the knife functions similarly to acupuncture needles, it does not actually penetrate the skin. There is no danger from this service, even though the knife is rubbed vertically into the skin, but the person being treated must lie completely still.
Tourists can find massage shops at Taipei Main Station, near Exit Z8. They offer cheap knife massage services (only equivalent to 190,000 VND/session). In addition, this massage service also appears in many night markets in the city.
