This paper introduces the concept of acupuncture-moxibustion historiography and reviews five approaches to acupuncture-moxibustion historiography

namely

biographical and bibliographical tradition

academic history

cultural history

disciplinary history

and intellectual history; and puts forward the characteristics and limitations of each traditional approach. The comprehensive value of intellectual history is emphasized particularly. It is believed that the historiographical approach to intellectual history is capable of transcending the boundaries between internal and external medical histories to comprehensively examine the development of acupuncture-moxibustion knowledge. Additionally

the paper analyzes the theoretical inertia problems in acupuncture-moxibustion historiography

the challenges of historical writing within a global context

as well as the preservation of the autonomy in knowledge production of acupuncture-moxibustion. It proposes deconstructing traditional central narratives

embracing knowledge evolution from cross-cultural perspectives and expecting more diverse approaches to acupuncture-moxibustion historiography