Bian Stone Plates: Fish-Shaped and Kidney-Shaped Tools for Gua Sha and Acupressure

Bian stone therapy is a cornerstone of traditional Chinese medicine, and among the most versatile tools are bian stone plates. These smooth, polished stones are designed for specific techniques, most notably scraping (gua sha) and rubbing (fa). Two common shapes are the fish-shaped and kidney-shaped plates, each with unique properties.

The most commonly used bian plates include the fish-shaped plate and the kidney-shaped plate. The fish-shaped plate resembles a short bian sickle but differs in edge thickness: the fish-shaped plate has a thinner convex edge and a thicker concave edge, while the short sickle is the opposite. The kidney-shaped plate is naturally shaped like a kidney.

The size and weight of a bian plate affect its application. Below are typical measurements:

Bian plates are primarily used for scraping (gua sha) and rubbing (fa) techniques. The fish-shaped plate is also suitable for pressing (dian) and tracing (hua) along meridians or acupoints. The kidney-shaped plate is ideal for smaller areas and precise rubbing.

In the classic text Bian Jing (The Canon of Bian Stone), the Daoist master Bian Daoren described the three fundamental shapes of bian stone based on the principle of 'making implements by imitating forms' (制器尚象):

These three forms—round, flat, and straight—guided the development of the fish-shaped and kidney-shaped plates we use today. The fish-shaped plate embodies the 'straight' form, while the kidney-shaped plate exemplifies the 'round' form.

References

1. Bian Daoren. Bian Jing (The Canon of Bian Stone). Ancient text on bian stone therapy.
2. Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic). Discusses the use of bian stone for treating diseases.
3. Li Shizhen. Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica). Describes the properties of stone tools in medicine.
4. Zhang, Y. (2020). Bian Stone Therapy: A Practical Guide. Beijing: Traditional Chinese Medicine Press.