Beyond Miracles: How Traditional Chinese Medicine Establishes Professional Legitimacy in Post-colonial Macau

In Macau, the legitimacy of Chinese medicine is not built upon miracle making. Instead, it is achieved through a celebration of cultural tradition rejuvenated with discourses of nationalism and modernity, and through the mutual constructions of medical references between doctors and patients. In the TCM circle, the term “science” was used synonymously with ‘modern’—and being “modern” is considered a good thing. The shared cultural references used in TCM also make it possible for both parties to contribute to the conceptualization of health and illnesses. The knowledge of Chinese medicine in Macau is thus owned not only by the doctors but also by the patients.