The Spiritual Art of Knife Massage in Ximen, Taipei

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I’m navigating my way though Ximending, a shopping paradise for the young and trendy, to find Light Program Red House.

Olivia Wu, an acquaintance of mine and also certified practitioner of knife massage (dao liao or刀療) and I Ching (yi jing or 易經) divination, has invited me to experience an ancient Chinese knife massage in Taipei, Taiwan.

If you’re wondering what to do in Taipei, you may want to add getting a knife massage to your Taipei travel itinerary after you read this!

*Please note: Light Program Red House used to be called Light Project Ximending. They are now in a different location in Ximending than the one I visited and describe below. The new address is No.13, Lane 10, Chengdu Road, which is right beside the historic Red House in Ximending.

Olivia Wu, master of Chinese knife massage in Taipei, Taiwan
Olivia Wu, master of Chinese knife massage

What might seem like a modern trend, Chinese knife massage actually goes back well over 2000 years to the Spring and Autumn period, when it was performed by Buddhist monks as an alternative form of healing.

The practice died out in China long ago, but knife massage survives in Taiwan and is currently undergoing a resurgence, with nearly 200 centers offering knife massage service across Taiwan.

The World Knife Massage Organization (財團法人中華世界刀療協會) has been working hard to promote knife massage as a legitimate form of physical, mental, and spiritual treatment and healing, and provides certifications to practitioners like Olivia.

Having read up on it, I feel like I know what I’m getting myself into, but the experience is about to defy my expectations.

If you are interested in religion, don’t miss the Museum of World Religions in New Taipei City and my guide to the 30 most fascinating Taipei temples!

Light Program Red House: Spiritual Oasis in a Sea of Consumerism

Light Project Ximending, a center of knife massage in Taiwan

After locating the somewhat concealed entrance to Light Program, I step into a calm sanctuary, in stark contrast to the bustling streets outside.

In a space no larger than my bedroom, Olivia and two other women sit at one side behind tables with yi jing boards and other sacred paraphernalia on them, while a single massage table occupies the other side of the room. There is meditative music playing. The sweet smell of essential oils floats in the air, and I’m offered a cup of bright blue lemongrass tea, colored by the addition of butterfly peas, a natural dying ingredient that has recently caught on at pearl milk tea stalls in Taiwan, and you can also sea in Ximeding tea shops.

Olivia begins the session by outlining the history and theory behind knife massage. Of Taiwanese descent but born and raised in LA, she speaks fluent English, one of the reasons Light Project Ximending is ideal for non-Mandarin speakers looking to experience knife massage in Taiwan.

Olivia first discovered the I Ching or ‘Book of Changes’ (find here on Amazon) at a Barnes and Noble bookshop in the US after her mother advised she read it to find direction in her life. Much like I felt when I bought the same book in high school, she didn’t understand the content or strange hexagrams (bagua or 八卦) and soon put the book down.  

Later, she traveled to Taiwan and got an I Ching reading done. Surprised by the accuracy of the results, she was inspired to take up the practice, later supplementing it with knife massage. For years she worked at Love Boat, the first LGBT physical lifestyle shop in Asia. Operated by the spiritual organization I Buddha Love, the shop is a hub of queer arts, spirituality, and culture, offering  queer Tarot and I Ching readings, holistic healing, aromatherapy, and more.

According to Olivia, “For many, the process of coming out is like a spiritual journey. The path to finding one’s self and place in the world is full of challenges.”

See my related articles on mindful travel, yoga for travelers, and breathing meditation for travelers.

Olivia Wu, master of knife massage and I Ching readings in Ximending, Taipei
Olivia Wu

Chinese Knife Massage: Ancient Cure for Modern Life Problems

In December 2017, Olivia opened Light Project, taking her yi jing and knife massage practice to the next level. She wanted to open her shop in popular Ximending district, where many travelers bed down in Taipei. She feels the service is a great antidote to the pains and hassles that come with travel.

More generally, Olivia believes, the ancient arts of yi jing and knife massage have real modern day value. By tapping in to xian tian (先天‭), ‬the source of‭ ‬all things‭, ‬individuals can realign themselves with the energy pervading the universe‭. ‬Our frantic modern day lifestyle is resulting in an increasing number of seemingly untreatable conditions and illnesses‭, ‬which is where yi jing divination and knife massage can play a role‭. ‬

I Ching divination board
I Ching divination board

On Olivia’s table sits a luo pan (羅盤‭), ‬a‭ ‬wooden board with complex circular rows of characters and bagua symbols‭, ‬and a compass at the center‭. ‬She explains how it works‭: ‬

Imagine the luo pan is like a computer that is able to download software or information from the universal data found within you, acting like a GPS for the soul“. By accessing that information, the roots of the problems and imbalances in your life become apparent. Once we uncover those issues, knife massage can serve as a medicine, restoring balance in your life.”

Unlike Western medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, including knife massage, addressing the underlying roots of illness and is not meant to be a one-time fix. Repeated sessions are advised, and Olivia recommends the full session over the 10-minute sessions offered by some centers in Taipei. With so little time, the master can only focus on one part of the body, which is an incomplete treatment and can further contribute to imbalance.       

For some cases, Olivia also recommends another form of treatment: guided art therapy or tianfu yishu ‭(‬天賦藝術‭) ‬‭. ‬During these 1-on-1‭ ‬or group sessions‭, ‬Olivia or another practitioner guides the patient in meditation and the painting of his or her chakras‭, ‬a form of tension release that is particularly suited to those who are suffering from emotional trauma such as a bad breakup‭. ‬

Try these other quirky Taiwan experiences: Get a Massage in Taipei 101 or visit Xitou Monster Village and Rainbow Village

And Out Come the Knives

After the in depth introduction, it’s time for my massage. The 70-minute session begins with a ‘universe exercise,’ in which Olivia guides me in a series of qi gong-like movements while we each hold a pair of qian kun (乾坤‭), ‬named after the first and second hexagrams of the I Ching‭. ‬The purpose is to align my body with energy of the universe and enter a meditative state of mind‭. ‬

Next I get onto the massage table and Olivia brings out a pair of cleavers virtually identical to the ones I use to crush garlic and hack‭ ‬off pineapple tops in my kitchen‭, ‬except that the blades are dull‭. ‬The ensuing massage is a continuous‭, ‬alternating pummeling with the two knives‭. ‬

It feels like someone is rapidly karate chopping me‭, ‬but each blow goes far deeper into my body than a hand‭ ‬ever could‭. ‬

Knife massage in Ximending

She begins on my back and shoulder blades, expertly avoiding my spine and working down to my buttocks, legs, and feet. The pummeling begins soft then increases in intensity, but never to the point of pain. Rather the opposite; it is incredibly relaxing, and I can see why it puts many to sleep.

Next she works the sides of my body and then my front, the strangest feeling being the brief time spends chopping my tummy. The whole time I’m covered with towels, which soften the impact. When she finishes up on my head, I can hear the faint sound of steel as the knives whoosh around my ears.

When the pummeling stops and I sit up, my entire body feels warm, tingling, and vibrant, like every square inch of my skin is pulsating with energy. My mind is clear and body feels like it is floating on a cloud. The knives have untangled both my physical tensions and mental stress.

I Ching Reading: The Part I Wasn’t Ready For

Getting an I Ching reading after my knife massage
Getting my I Ching reading after the knife massage

There were no major surprises during the knife massage; it was about what I had expected, albeit more relaxing than I had envisioned. But I’m not expecting what comes next.

It’s time for Olivia to look into my subconscious with the yi jing board. First, I need to fill out a form with some basic information, including name, age, address, phone number, and family members’ names. She asks me to place my hands on the table with palms facing upward.

She glances over the things I’ve written, then closes her eyes and begins tapping sporadically on the yi jing boad using a thin bamboo stick with a piece of metal on its end called a tian zhu kuai (天竺筷‭). ‬She holds the tian zhu kuai in her right hand‭, ‬while she taps gently and simultaneously on the board with the fingers of her left hand‭.   ‬

She stops intermittently to share the information she is picking up‭. ‬The things she shares are remarkably accurate‭, ‬beginning with describing my personal and spiritual traits‭, ‬aspects of my character that I am subconsciously aware of but have never‭ ‬admitted to myself or voiced to others‭. ‬

She describes imbalances between my natural character and my mental behavior that are leading to stress in my life‭, ‬materialized as tension in certain locations in my body as we have just discovered on the massage table‭. ‬

She goes on to summarize my children’s personalities‭, ‬so vividly and accurately that I am taken aback‭. ‬To be clear‭, ‬I mentioned above that Olivia and I are acquaintances‭, ‬but we’ve only met once several years ago‭, ‬and she’s never met my children‭. (read more here about traveling in Taiwan with kids).

‬She describes Sage as a carbon copy of me‭, ‬my soul twin‭ (‬absolutely true‭!) ‬and Lavender as my polar opposite‭ (‬again spot on‭), ‬and describes how my failure to identify with‭ ‬Lavender’s personality and deal with her behavior in certain circumstances is creating stress to my life and tension in my throat chakra‭. ‬

There are far more details than I’ve glossed over here and don’t really care to share‭, ‬but what really surprises me is how with just a few superfluous details about myself provided‭, ‬Olivia is able to tap in to my deeper self‭, ‬and I find myself freely conversing with her about things that I’ve never discussed with anyone before‭. ‬It is both liberating and overwhelming‭, ‬having a light shined on my innermost imbalances‭, ‬tensions that I bury deep inside of me and allow to fester unresolved‭.

It’s More Than Just Knives

No matter what one’s spiritual leanings may be, I think that everyone can enjoy benefits from yi jing and knife massage. The only requirement is that you go in with an open mind and a willingness to face aspects of yourself that you may or may not be ready to.

Personally, I would recommend getting the I Ching reading to complement the knife massage. You may come for the knife massage, but it was the combination of the massage and reading that truly made the session powerful for me.

According to Olivia, “10 years ago when knife massage starting appearing in Taiwan again, people saw it is something exotic to try so that you can say you’ve done it. But this is changing quickly. People are beginning to take it more seriously and recognize its value as a holistic treatment.”

Perhaps it won’t be long before knife massage is just as common and respected as acupuncture and other widely accepted forms of alternative medicine around the world.

Olivia Wu and Nick Kembel
Olivia and I
Services available at Light Project Ximending
Services available at Light Project Ximending (now called: Light Program Red House)

To experience an I Ching reading or knife massage in Ximending, Taipei contact the Light Program Red House or email them at [email protected]. Advance reservations are recommended.

Ximending is also included in my article on the top 50 things to do in Taiwan.

10 thoughts on “The Spiritual Art of Knife Massage in Ximen, Taipei”

  1. I must say…THANK YOU …. but for real. Thank to you that take the time to write all this I have found Light Proyect and Alice Wu… Today I met personally her… I will coment!
    I am Sonia from Spain …

    Reply
  2. Hi Nick! I’m writing a blog article on Taipei and am wondering if I could use your pictures with credits due back to you? Let me know if it’s alright. Thank you!

    Reply
  3. Excellent report. I am very interested to contact Olivia in March when I come to Taiwan for a week. Eager to learn also about the I Ching and how to divine for other people, something I really want to learn now. Thank you very much, Nick and Olivia!

    Best regards,
    Peter Fritz Walter
    Phnom Penh, Cambodia

    Reply
  4. Hi Nick,

    Thanks so much for sharing. May I ask based on your experience, would a one off massage and iching session benefit tourists who are only able to visit her once? ie no follow up possible since we don’t stay in Taiwan.

    Also, is there a way to request for Olivia instead of the other therapists?

    Thank you for your help!

    Reply
    • For me the knife massage was more of a thing to experience one time juch because it’s unique, but it’s not really something I’d do repeatedly for actual bodily injuries/aches, as it wasn’t a very deep massage (which is what I usually prefer). It was more of a soothing massage. Same thing for the I-Ching reading – it was kind of like a fortune telling experience that I feel was cool to try once, but I didn’t see it as a kind of therapy that I would like to return to do again and again. But I would suggest just contacting Olivia directly with any questions you have, including about whether you can request her specifically (it may even be just her there right now as they had a big downturn during COVID). She is very receptive, speaks native English, and would likely be happy to answer any questions you may have about both services.

      Reply

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