Solid Silver Shinkans 鍼管

Creating a high-quality silver guide tube for acupuncture requires precision and specialised techniques. Cast-made shinkans often have a seam in the tube, which can catch the delicate acupuncture needles, hindering smooth insertion. To avoid this, a seamless tube is essential. Therefore, a hand-pulled method is often preferred for custom tubes. 

Unfortunately, in Japan, the famous needle manufacturers are no longer making silver or gold Shinkans. This is mainly due to the increasing cost of gold, and also, the craft is not being passed down. It’s a little sad! For several years, I have looked into the manufacturing process and asked several people to see if they can make them. I had a silver Shinkan digitally printed and made a mould for it. However, there was a big issue with the hole inside. It wasn’t smooth enough and would catch the needle halfway when it was inside the tube. 

While machine-made seamless stainless steel tubes exist, they don’t always meet the specific requirements of acupuncture practitioners like myself, who use the guide tube not only for insertion but also to recycle or disperse excess Qi. 

Aside from the basic functional needle insertion aspect of the guide tube is its needle aspect. Although it’s used to insert needles with precision and comfort for the patient, a handcrafted shinkan itself can be thought of as an acupuncture needle. To understand this more, a needle, by all intents and purposes, isn’t always a sharp object that is inserted into the skin. The guide tube can be used to push past the defensive layer of Qi and allow for deeper penetrative manipulation of Qi. This is similar to the En Shn 圓鍼 or round needle, which is used to rub between the connective tissue without harming the flesh. This requires good palpation skills and understanding of the movement of Qi.

Perhaps one of the few practitioners to refine the application of the shinkan 鍼管 into a fine art is Maskasu Ikeda Sensei. As well as myself, he has inspired countless practitioners to think outside the box and use the shinkan more creatively. I should add at this point that it is not just a technique, but has its origins rooted in the classics of acupuncture. For example, the use of both practitioners’ hands for needle insertion while actively palpating the meridians when using the guide tube is essential. The following characters, from chapter 27 of the Su Wen, emphasise the use of palpation when needling.  An 按 ( pressing) Sui 推 (smearing ) Setsu 切 ( scattering ) Mon 捫 ( open/ close ) Sou 抓  ( confirming/ pinpointing )  Dan 彈 ( tapping/ exciting )    **( see more chapt. 21  **A Long Road Volume 5, Edward Obaidey )

I know Andrea Fletcher for her skills in art and jewellery making. I asked her to look at making one. She came up with a great sample and has since developed it even more. 

It feels a lot more organic and alive than a cast version (a shinkan made from a mould and then tidied up post-production). Andreas’s handcrafted shinkan has the feeling of being crafted with dedication and precision. Andrea explained the following

The process involves starting with a thin-walled silver tube and encasing it within a thicker, supportive tube. Then, the combined tubes are meticulously ‘pulled’ through a series of progressively smaller dies. This reduces the diameter and wall thickness of the inner tube, creating a seamless, ultra-thin guide.

The challenge lies in achieving the perfect balance of force. Too little force, and the inner tube won’t reduce sufficiently. Too much, and it risks being crushed or deformed.

Another significant hurdle is preventing the tube from ‘banana-ing’ or bending during the pulling process. Unlike other metals, silver is relatively soft, making it difficult to straighten without compromising the tube’s integrity. Hammering, for instance, could damage the delicate structure.

The invention of the guide tube is attributed to Waichi Sugiyama, a blind acupuncturist during Japan’s Edo period (1603-1867).

Legend has it that Sugiyama’s inspiration came from observing a pine needle within a reed. This led to the development of a tool that significantly improved the precision and comfort of needle insertion.

If you would like a handcrafted shinkan, please contact Andrea directly by email:

No.ordinary.rabbit21@gmail.com