"Wuxia” means martial hero. In this book Dr. Lou, a Chinese American doctor, expands the term to include additional ways a hero thinks and behaves. Otherwise unassuming, his ancestral roots force him into the web of an international crime ring. Their main interest seem to focus on gold and the reparation of bones of those born in China who have died in the USA. A governmental team forms to solve the cases. Dr. Lou proves vital to the investigation. A profound significance emerges from the story.
"Wuxia” means martial hero. In this book Dr. Lou, a Chinese American doctor, expands the term to include additional ways a hero thinks and behaves. Otherwise unassuming, his ancestral roots force him into the web of an international crime ring. Their main interest seem to focus on gold and the reparation of bones of those born in China who have died in the USA. A governmental team forms to solve the cases. Dr. Lou proves vital to the investigation. A profound significance emerges from the story.
The chief editor of the Sacramento Bee clears his throat. It’s a call to attention. He rises from his desk and adjusts his tan cardigan. The sweater isn’t needed for warmth on this mid-April day but is worn more as part of his job description. The elbow patches are showing wear. He’s been here a while. He still exudes ink from a bygone publishing era. Chief Shawn Barber knows what he’s doing. All the staff writers respect him and raise their heads in expectation for the day’s directives, and I await mine.
“Rory Griffin! Here’s your next assignment.”
I get up from my desk to grab the printout detailing what is expected of me. Others gawk at me, and I wonder if it is because of their being inquisitive of my assignment or just to stare in awe of my natural orange hair and cluster of ample facial freckles. I’m low on the totem pole here because I only arrived from Boston just over a year ago. Although I have more than twenty years’ experience as a wordsmith, being hired by a newspaper founded in 1857 and winner of six Pulitzer Prizes assumes only the highest writing standards of all reporters. An Irish-born news-paperman founded the paper after heading West during the gold-rush frenzy.
I’ve been given a task for the features section. It’s for an in-depth interview with one of the top traditional Chinese medical doctors in the country, Jason Lou. Hmm, this sounds interesting, but others may be much more qualified for this particular job. Back east, I had visited Chinatown and frequented some restaurants, but what I know about Chinese history and culture can fit in a grain of rice. I approached Mr. Barber’s desk to explain my situation.
“Yes. For sure, you don’t know squat about this topic. You’re perfect for the piece.”
Good lord, I prayed to myself. Does this guy want to make a fool of me?
“Since you’re unfamiliar with this topic, you can ask the appropriate questions that will fully color the feature story. Dr. Lou is a national treasure, and we’re fortunate he lives in our state, in our city. All our features are important, but I expect this one will result in a masterpiece. You have the kind of mind to pull it together. I’m confident the result will be a highlight for the newspaper’s reputation, particularly as a tribute to the longstanding Chinese contributions to California.”
I sense the significance of this task. I feel a growing pressure on my lungs, like I’m in limbo under thirty feet of water. What can I say?
“I’ll get right on it.”
Our secretary has already set an appointment for the interview. I have a week to prepare. I immediately contact the California Research Bureau and the state librarian, and I dive into newspaper sources. I must get a good overview of what traditional Chinese medicine entails and learn what I can about Dr. Lou.
What I discover over the week is nothing short of amazing. The doc’s family history goes back to the earliest decades of Chinese immigration to the state in the mid-nineteenth century. Lou seems to be the epitome of the ideal Chinese medical doctor. I systematically organize my notes and formulate a questionnaire that will stimulate conversation.
Date: Wednesday, April 20, 2022
Appointment: Dr. Jason Lou
Time: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Today’s the day. I drive to work and review my notes and list of questions for Dr. Lou. I check Google Maps and locate his office. Geez, it’s only a fifteen-minute walk from our office building at 1601 Alhambra Boulevard. He’s on H Street, just across from the Memorial Rose Garden, a part of McKinley Park with its quaint biodiverse Lake Kiesel, and lovely array of pines, cypresses, and acacias. On such a wonderful day, I decide to walk to Dr. Lou’s office.
Most employees are leaving work at 5:00. I leave too and can arrive early at the doctor’s office with extra time to stroll through the Rose Garden. The homes facing the park are all nice. Lou’s is a charming traditional design for this area with high palm trees along the curbside. The horizontal wooden planked exterior is painted a dark gold, which sets off a cherry-red front door as well as lawn, shrubbery, and blooming flowers. The overall aesthetic is natural and inviting. It’s 5:25. A small sign on the door says to enter.
A kindly looking lady behind a reception desk looks over her shoulder.
“Ah,” she says, “Mr. Griffin from the newspaper?”
I smile and nod in affirmation. Her name is Rosa. She looks very professional in her white uniform, her long walnut-tone hair in a single braid, tailing down mid back.
“The doctor will soon be free to meet with you. His last patient for the day is about ready to leave. Please have a seat.”
I hear a door open down a hallway and hear a lady thanking and praising Dr. Lou for all he’s done. His response I can barely hear. She then turns to walk to the front desk for a brief chat with Rosa. She moves with aristocratic elegance. I see absolutely no indication of any health issue from this robust lady, whom I guess is about sixty years of age.
As the woman readies to leave, Rosa says, “I’m so happy Dr. Lou got you up walking again and out of pain!”
“Ahh, thanks, Rosa,” the woman replies. “Two weeks ago, I arrived in a wheelchair, and after this fourth visit, I feel ready to go jogging.”
“Dr. Lou said you’ll be fine,” Rosa says.
“Sure,” the lady affirms. While reaching to open the door, she gives a sideways glance at me, and says with a raised eyebrow, “Now I’m ready to find a jogging partner who can keep up with me.”
The departing image of the lady lingers, her fitting emerald skirt and flesh-colored silk nylons transfixing my brain cells, leaving me oblivious as to why I’m at the office.
Rosa’s voice brings me back to reality: “Mister Griffin, you can meet with Dr. Lou now.”
I arise from my stupor and follow Rosa to Dr. Lou’s office.
“Welcome, Mr. Griffin! Come in. Come in.” Dr. Lou continues with a friendly smile, “Make yourself comfor-table and we’ll discuss whatever you wish.”
I provide a few details about myself and ideas about writing the feature.
“How about we start with your personal background, family history, medical education, and how you came to settle in Sacramento? Then we can focus on your medical work. OK?”
“That sounds fine, Mr. Griffin. I’ll give a general overview, but feel fine to break in anytime if you have any questions or would like more details.”
Just then, Rosa enters the room with a burnt-sienna-colored clay pot of tea for us. Through the steaming spout spreads a wonderful flowery aroma around the room.
“I hope you like this golden lily tea from the high mountains of central Taiwan,” she says. “I’ll bring another pot later if you wish.”
While Dr. Lou reads over some family records, I notice just how healthy he appears. He must practice what he preaches. For a man of fifty-five years, I don’t see one gray hair. His skin is smooth with a glowing flesh tone, probably due to good blood circulation. Being thin and perhaps only five-feet-six in height, Doc could easily pass for a thirty-five-year-old. Under a white medical coat, he wears a light blue dress shirt and subtly colored tie. Very Western, I think. Such are the superficial things.
What speaks most about the man comes from his facial features. Without the need for words, there is con-fidence in his overall demeanor. Clear brown eyes seem to express only sincerity, compassion, and knowledge. The slightly high cheekbones exhibit an inner strength, perhaps exposing a quality that is not so apparent from his relatively small physical frame.
Dr. Lou busily retrieves some items from desk drawers and wall shelves around the room. He reaches, not just with his hands and arms, but somehow with total body coordination. Smooth. Accurate. When around my own desk, I embody the definition of the word clumsy—fumbling, stumbling, and dropping items. This is probably why I notice how agile he is. He finishes placing a few items on the desk, returns to his seat, and starts to read a paper.
“Ah, yes, it says here that the earliest Chinese immigrants to the US arrived around 1815. There were only a few then, but by 1852 there were over twenty-five thousand, mainly enticed by news of the gold rush. My great-great-grandfather arrived in 1863. As a well-known doctor in Kwangtung Province, his skills were needed by the immigrants who were doing extremely dangerous work and faced an array of illnesses. Just for labor on the transcontinental railroad, over twenty thousand Chinese were hired. The Chinese population grew rapidly. By 1889 the Chinese population was over a hundred thousand, about a tenth of California’s population. So, my great-great-grandfather was busy every day of his life here.”
“Was your ancestor from Hong Kong?”
“No. He was from Toisaan, a city farther west. It’s located south of Kwangtung, the city you may know as Canton. This area is famous because of the Pearl River, historically extremely important for trade. Hong Kong is located just east of the river and Toisaan is west of the river. It is because of the coastal location that those in the Pearl River delta came into early contact with Western countries for trade. Most of the Chinese immigrants in the US are from this region . . .. Sorry. Perhaps this history is too boring and getting us off track?”
“Oh no, no!” I stress. “All the details are very interesting, providing just the kind of background necessary for an in-depth feature. I won’t include all the details in the article, but the tidbits of information will help me to be accurate.”
Being considerate, Dr. Lou doesn’t want to burden me with a barrage of trivia. “If I rattle on too much, just let me know,” he says.
“Well,” he continues, “you see that I am part of the fourth generation of my family living in the US. All in the male line were doctors. From our family records, it seems the medical tradition goes back centuries. Our medical knowledge is a family tradition, passed on from generation to generation.”
I ask how the early relatives settled and set up their businesses.
“The first ancestors to arrive in San Francisco had married in Toisaan. They had the same cultural background and dialect. Since the family was prosperous in Toisaan, the couple’s voyage was first class. Soon after arriving in 1863, they purchased land and built a home. The doctor was thirty-five years old, and his wife was only eighteen. My great-grandfather was born in San Francisco in 1865, and four other siblings were born within the next five years.”
With family roots in San Francisco, I wonder why Dr. Lou ended up here in Sacramento. He seems to anticipate the question.
“Sacramento became the state capital in 1879 and had a growing population with many Chinese settling here after the gold rush and completion of the transcontinental railroad. So, my great-grandfather moved here in 1890, when he was only twenty-five. My grandfather was born in Sacramento in 1901 and worked together with his father. When my dad was born in 1934, he followed in their footsteps. All lived and worked in the area where Old Chinatown Square is today, between Fourth and Fifth Streets. I was born here in Sacramento too, in 1967. I decided to purchase a home here for my office to be closer to the UC Davis Medical Center. It’s not like the old days, when my grandfather had primarily Chinese patients.”
I feel some similarities between Dr. Lou’s family story of immigration to the West Coast and that of the European immigrants who settled on the East Coast. Lou’s here now. An American. And I want to focus now on his own family and life today. I try not to get too personal but lead off with questions about his immediate family.
“I couldn’t be more blessed,” Doc says. “My wife Susan is an angel. She’s a wonderful life partner, mother, coworker. She’s teaching Asian cultures at Sacramento State University. We’ve raised two children. Our daughter is married with three children. Our son is also married with one child. Both our offspring have some training in our medical system. Since my wife and I have siblings, our family is really quite large. In addition to the holidays, we are often together as one huge family! We spend leisure time together as well as help and support each other whenever possible.”
From the numerous family photos in Dr. Lou’s office, it is easy to see those of his wife and children, photos taken over the years. Where did Dr. Lou first meet Susan?
“We met at Stanford University. Susan eventually earned a PhD in Asian studies there. From these photos, I’m sure you noticed my wife’s blond hair. She’s of German-Nordic heritage but fell in love with Asian culture. Really, she’s an egg: white on the outside, but yellow inside. I did my undergraduate work at Stanford, also in Asian studies . . . trying to learn something about the culture and history that so influenced my family and medical life. Many of the undergraduate credits were prerequisite for studying Chinese medicine.”
Dr. Lou works long hours during the week and is very involved with family life as well. Such a schedule would burn me out. However, it doesn’t seem to wear on him. It’s after office hours now and he seems like he just arrived and is raring and ready for another eight-hour shift! I ask him about this with hopes his comments may help me in my daily life as well.
“Very good question, Mr. Griffin.”
I jump in with a request: “Please, just call me Rory.”
“OK. Rory it is,” he says. “It is a great question because how one keeps healthy is largely determined by the ability to keep the body functioning well. This means feeling fresh and full of energy to do whatever task at hand, be it for work or not, as when we are at home with family. Most medical guidelines stress a good diet, exercise, and regular sleep. Unfortunately, many do not follow even these basic guidelines.”
I press further, asking if there is anything else one can do to function well, with a good supply of energy.
“I usually add another guideline for my patients, which is to use energy efficiently. If we run the course of a day filled with tension, energy is wasted. For example, we may think that a well-running car will get twenty-five to thirty miles per gallon of gasoline. This is considered normal or average usage. If the car is fine-tuned to get double the mileage, wouldn’t that be better? Same with the body. For the body to burn energy efficiently, it needs to be as calm as possible, even during intense activities. Otherwise, more energy is used to accomplish the same task. The average person tires out before the end of the workday. They run out of gas. Others can work two shifts with ease. Perhaps junk the old gas hog and get an electric car! It’s all about efficient, economical body movement.”
As I ponder Dr. Lou’s words, my vision takes in the tranquil atmosphere of the medical facility. I notice the freshness of plants and floral displays. Wooden shelves, window frames, and furniture emit warmth through their rich hues. The patterns in their grain seem to portray vascular pathways that supported their life and growth. Even stone objects subtly vibrate with life, such as the stone waterfall where smooth streams trickle down into a small pond, home to a number of carp. The fish leisurely waltz in rhythm, creating swirls of red, orange, yellow, gold, and cream colors. Even wall displays of Chinese calligraphy are soothing, with each character made of strokes in harmonious balance, contributing to the overall aesthetic.
Twenty minutes ago, I was sitting as I am now. However, now I am much more relaxed. Nothing else has changed, except the production of tension in my body. Perhaps this is just what Dr. Lou was talking about—the use of one’s energy. There is a physical and mental difference. Regardless of what one is doing, it seems possible to do so with a greater depth of calm. More clarity and awareness.
During this experience of complete tranquility, I’m shaken from my seat by what sounds like a loud explosion! Did a water tank blow up? My nerves are unraveled, but Dr. Lou sits with an innocent smile on his face.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I forgot to tell you that some construction was to begin at 6:00 in the home next door. They’re knocking out a wall to build an addition and can only do it after office hours. Do you want me to get a defibrillator for you?”
As racked as I feel, I have to laugh at his joke.
“I could use a double shot to get my heart back in sync,” I say. “Really, I’m fine, but I may have peed on your floor . . . just a little. I just found my limits for keeping calm.”
Dr. Lou chuckles. I’m glad he has good humor.
“Did you want to discuss my medical practice?”
I first ask about the family tradition and how his studies and practice evolved over the years.
“Most importantly was the time spent with family at work. Right from birth, I was surrounded by the daily medical affairs that patients presented to my father and grandfather. By age ten, I assisted by steeping selected herbal prescriptions, running errands, delivering messages, cleaning medical tools, and handling many little chores. Looking back, it is easy to see that what was most significant—and I’m sure my father knew—was that I observed each patient, the process of diagnostics, and treatments. By age sixteen I was recognized as a competent doctor of Chinese medicine. It was not a hard study. Seems I mostly learned through osmosis.”
Since Dr. Lou has decades of hands-on learning, I suggest that it must have been easy to open his own medical office.
“Oh Rory, my path was not so easy. Anyone with good medical experience can’t just hang up a shingle on the door. I had to be certified by an American institute. I went to the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in San Francisco in 1992. The doctorate degree usually takes eight years, but I managed to finish in six because of my training under my father.”
Usually any medical school includes theory, clinical work, internship, and specialization. I ask Dr. Lou just what his studies entailed. He verifies my guess and tells me of practices I’d never heard about.
“The foundation is based on Chinese medical theory that has developed over the past twenty-five hundred years. Many traditional doctors learn how to make diagnoses by questioning; feeling three different pulses in the wrists; observing physical signs in the eyes, fingernails, and tongue; and using other subtle methods. Depending on the patient, at times we also utilize Western tools, such as X-rays and blood tests. This is one reason my office is close to the hospital. It’s good that doctors, Eastern and Western, discuss together. However, the medical systems in the US are somewhat separated—largely based on securing financial controls imposed by the standard medical governing bodies. This is why there are doctors of osteopathic medicine—DOs—and medical doctors—MDs. Osteopathic theory is more holistic in outlook, like Chinese medical theory.”
I follow what the doctor is saying, but I’m inquisitive just how he treats patients with traditional Chinese methods. Is acupuncture the only thing needed to treat the variety of maladies patients present?
“Chinese medical theory is the foundation used to diagnose and treat ailments. Acupuncture is certainly a primary modality, as well as prescribing herbal remedies. Other practices can be used to support these two modalities or can be used on their own. These include acupressure, massage, moxibustion, cupping, and bonesetting. With moxibustion we usually put a little moxa —dried leaves from a type of mugwort—directly on the skin or on the top of a needle to gently heat specific points. Cupping involves heat too. Rather than moxa, heated glass cups are set on the skin, at points on the body’s meridians. Moxibustion and cupping induce energy flow. Bonesetting entails more than what you may think of as chiropractic. It involves treatments for injuries such as fractured bones, joint dislocations, concussions, and sprains. It’s very hands-on, manipulating the muscles and sinews, repositioning and aligning. Some doctors include qigong, or energy therapies.”
Dr. Lou picks up a doll from the shelf on the side wall. He points to dots on its surface that represent all the major acupuncture points and lines, which indicate the energetic pathways in the body. He says his family’s list of acupoints include more than the number shown on these dolls. He has male and female dolls. The goal of treatments is to balance the internal energy that permeates the body. Any imbalance causes ailments, minor to severe. The yin-yang concept is the key principle for understanding Chinese medical theory. Dr. Lou briefly discusses the Five Element theory too, which is more complex, but stems from interactions between yin and yang. The human body can be visualized as composed of five systems, with each governed by a primary element—wood, fire, earth, metal, or water. The interchange among the elements needs to function harmoniously, in a balance that ensures good health. The goal in traditional Chinese medicine is to bring any imbalance of internal energies into equilibrium. I have an overview of this basic theory and ask about actual treatments.
“Treatments are determined by the problem or problems, and the most suitable methods are chosen. In most cases, acupuncture is enough. As you see from the dolls, we must know what points to stimulate, which kind of needle to use—they differ in size and shape, as you see in this case.”
I lift the box for a closer look. There seem to be some big differences! Some needles are very short, while other seem overly long. Thin. Thick. Pointed tips, some sharp, others rounded. Most of stainless steel and a few of gold. Some shaped like miniature spades and swords.
“Like any tool, the appropriate needle is selected for the job. How deep should the needle be inserted? Acupoints can be at the skin’s surface or vary in depth. Plus, the movement of energy through the meridians changes with the hours of the day. For example, if you want to board bus number 21 at a stop in front of the Bee, you don’t expect it to leave whenever you arrive. There is a departure time. An hour later, that same bus is at a different stop. So, acupuncturists shoot at moving targets!”
I ask about a general acupuncture treatment and what it entails.
“It depends on the condition to be treated, but for most common ailments, between five and twenty needles may be inserted. These are gently moved or slightly twirled back and forth, which helps to stimulate the energy at each point. Instead of manual manipulation of the needles, many doctors apply heat or attach small electrodes to the needles. No need to fear getting shocked! The electrical impulse is very small but provides good stimulation to activate energy at specific points and meridians. The patient can relax sitting or lying down for ten, fifteen, or twenty minutes to allow enough time for the internal energies to nurture the body and restore health. Then the needles are removed to end the treatment.”
Now I think of the lady who left the office earlier, the last patient for the day, Miss Jogger. Her problem seemed pretty severe. I’ve read that acupuncture is used to treat many types of musculoskeletal problems, such as back pain, neck pain, and even dental pain. But it is also used to treat nausea, migraines, anxiety, depression, insomnia, infertility, osteoarthritis, menstrual cramps, and respi-ratory disorders. The actual list of treatments is much longer. Some of the more gifted acupuncturists can successfully treat problematic ailments that others can’t. Dr. Lou is famous for getting results much quicker than the average acupuncturist and curing problems even Western medical professionals dismiss as impossible to treat.
“You can guess, Rory, that the depth of my family medical system is extensive, a font of centuries of knowledge. I attended college mainly to receive certifi-cation and formal recognition to practice in the US. The actual studies only slightly added to my skills. We do have modern equipment to help in stimulating acupoints with electricity, sterilizers, and more. But our family methods hold profound knowledge that is never taught openly. You will never see or learn about it in schools.”
Dr. Lou’s statement puzzles me. If such knowledge is so beneficial, why not share it with all practitioners, teach it in medical schools, and spread it through publications?
“Well, Rory, many think that way. It’s tempting, because many would benefit, and the financial rewards could be tremendous. But then there would be many negative results as well. The secrecy one finds surrounding Chinese family medical traditions also is a longstanding tradition. Why? The answer is very simple. It is because the knowledge and skills so useful for healing can also be used to harm. Nuclear energy, flights to space, laser beams, and other high-tech developments certainly provide wonderful benefits for the world. But the knowledge to make these contributions is well guarded. When used with malintent, there is potential for great destruction and death. So, my family, as many other Chinese medical families, provides beneficial treatment and teaching without disclosing the most profound secrets. There are many stories—some true and many fictional—of the use of medical knowledge by the dark side, such as for political assassinations.”
There seems to be a thin line between healing and harming, so I can understand the doctor’s concern. He has a strong sense of moral responsibility.
I glimpse the time and see it’s well over the scheduled hour for the interview. I have gathered much information. I may have enough to write the feature article, but I ask if it may be possible to meet again this coming Saturday morning.”
“Sorry, I can’t,” he says. “I spend time with relatives every Saturday morning. We can meet during the week, after work hours if you wish. Just give me a call or e-mail. OK?”
I’m thrilled to work on this piece about such an interesting person, one who helps so many people maintain or regain their health. The historical and cultural background is also interesting for me. It’s different than living on the East Coast for sure.
I thank Dr. Lou for being so gracious, and he walks me to the door. As I cross over to McKinley Park, I have a feeling that much more will come out of this first meeting than only a published feature article.
Is a soft-spoken, unassuming doctor a new kind of hero? Join author Michael DeMarco for this and much more as he takes readers on an adrenalin-pumping ride in his masterful mystery/crime novella, Wuxia America.
Why are the California homes of Chinese residents be broken into? Why is a senior living facility invaded, but only the rooms of Chinese residents are ransacked? Why are Chinese cemeteries being desecrated? Why are masked men invading a college of traditional Chinese medicine looking for historical records? The intruders are looking for information related to Chinese history. Also, all the suspects in the invasions and break-ins are from China or of Chinese descent. What are the criminals looking for, and why?
That’s key in this fast-paced and nimble mystery/crime novella. It’s a clever blend of history and mystery. Readers join Sacramento Bee reporter Rory Griffin as he searches for clues. It seems that the publication of a feature story he did on Chinese traditional medicine featuring Dr. Jason Lou has opened a veritable “Pandora’s Box” of bad guys.
But there’s more to the good doctor than meets the eye. Much more.
As this taut and engaging plot thickens, readers join Rory and his main squeeze, Debbie, in Sacramento and San Francisco, the rugged beauty of the Sierra Nevadas and Yosemite National Park, and Washington, D.C. as they look for answers. Pretty soon the FBI, CIA, and Homeland Security also want in. Did Rory's feature story on Dr. Lou start an ongoing saga? Is an international crime syndicate making a move?
What exactly has Rory stumbled upon? Who is after Dr. Lou (incidentally, you so do not want to mess with Dr. Lou)? Why? Do martial arts and medicine mix? How? And what’s that about gold and a new kind of hero?
Strong writing, robust characters, and plenty of action animate this fascinating blend of history and mystery. It’s clever, entertaining, and eminently engaging. (Don't read this if you're hungry. The descriptions of food will have you drooling!) Martial arts are interwoven throughout this compelling story, but you don’t have to be an expert to follow the action. It’s explained in a way that’s straight-forward and easy to understand. ("Wuxia" means martial arts hero.) A generous assortment of pertinent photographs is included.
Occasional typos occur, such as the “Chinese were digging oar in California.” But these are minor and do not detract from the overall read.
Highly enjoyable!
My Rating: 3.5