This paper systematically reviews the development trajectory of acupuncture-moxibustion classics in higher education over the past 40 years from a historical research perspective

employing literature analysis and comparative research methods to reveal the evolution patterns and underlying contradictions of textbook curricula. The construction of modern textbook curricula for acupuncture-moxibustion classics has gone through 3 stages: the initial stage of multiple explorations (1980-1987)

the trial stage of path differentiation (1984-2002)

and the integration and re-differentiation stage of innovative breakthrough (2003-2024). It started from

Zhenjiu Yiji Xuan

(

Selected Medical Texts on Acupuncture and Moxibustion

)

the triple frame

"classics-treatises-poetries" and

Gejia Zhenjiu Xueshuo

(

Diverse Theories on Acupuncture and Moxibustion

)

and it was differentiated to be textbooks with "classics" and "treatises" separated each other. Followed by this

the structures of textbook were merged by the beginning of the 21st century to be a quadrant frame

"classics-treatises-poetries-medical cases" and

Gejia Zhenjiu Xueshu

in which

the innovation was advanced with classics and medical cases presenting independently. The curriculum textbooks for undergraduate and postgraduate influence each other and also affect the intermediate and college-level correspondence curricula. The source of core problems

such as cognitive discrepancies in acupuncture-moxibustion classics and controversies over textbook models

lies in the secondary positioning of acupuncture-moxibustion discipline. It is proposed that the objective laws and scie

ntific connotations of non-pharmacological therapies in acupuncture-moxibustion discipline should be respected

and the curriculum system of acupuncture-moxibustion classics and medical history literature should be reconstructed from the perspective of the upgrade of acupuncture-moxibustion discipline. Such system can be estabilished by integrating education with research to establish four dimensions (history

intangible cultural heritage

four classics and masterpieces) of acupuncture and moxibustion

and to build up two-tier (undergraduate and postgraduate) higher education curricula; and emphasizing the fountainhead of centrality of

Lingshu

(

Miraculous Pivot

)

the status of subjectivity of

Huangdi Neijing

(

The Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic

) in acupuncture-moxibustion theories

and the classical standing of

Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing

(

The Systematic Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion

). The industry-education integration is advocated for the active development of artificial intelligence (AI) curricula for acupuncture-moxibustion classics. The foundation of the curricula of acupuncture-moxibustion classics and theories should be consolidated for talent development to address the suzerain of acupuncture and moxibustion

international discourse power

and the crisis of international research challenges.