Topic 2
12 Meridians and 14 Meridians
1.The ebb-flow of the 12 meridians and 14 meridians
■ 1.1 The ebb-flow of the 12 meridians
The Meridians of The Spiritual Pivot : The hand Taiyin vessel of the lung...The hand Yangming vessel of the large intestine...The foot Yangming vessel of the stomach...The foot Taiyin vessel of the spleen...The hand Shaoyin vessel of the heart...The hand Taiyang vessel of the small intestine...The foot Taiyang vessel of the bladder...The foot Shaoyin vessel of the kidney...The hand Jueyin pericardium-collateral vessel of the heart master...The hand Shaoyang vessel of the triple energizer...The foot Shaoyang vessel of the gallbladder...The foot Jueyin vessel of the liver...
The Normal and the Adverse, The Fat and the Thin of The Spiritual Pivot ( Líng Shū·Nì Shùn Féi Shòu , 灵枢·逆顺肥瘦): The three yin meridians of the hand run from the zang organs to the hands; the three yang meridians of the hand run from the hands to the head; the three yang meridians of the foot run from the head to the feet; and the three yin meridians of the foot run from the feet to the abdomen.
Ying Qi of The Spiritual Pivot ( Líng Shū·Yíng Qì , 灵枢·营气): Qi begins at the Taiyin and infuses into the hand Yangming.Then it flows upward to infuse into the foot Yangming.Proceeding downward, it travels to the dorsum of the foot and infuses into the big toe, merging with the Taiyin.From there, it ascends to the hip and infuses into the heart from the spleen.It flows along the Shaoyin, exits transversely from the armpit, runs downward along the arm,infuses into the little finger, and merges with the hand Taiyang.From this point, it redirects to flow over the armpit and then ascends to the medial side of the orbit and infuses into the inner canthus.Turning upward, it ascends to the vertex and then descends to the nape of the neck to merge with the foot Taiyang.Following the spine, it descends to the buttocks and flows into the tip of the little toe.From the sole, it infuses into the foot Shaoyin.It then ascends to infuse into the kidney.From the kidney, it infuses into the heart and externally spreads into the chest.Along the pericardium vessel, it emerges from the armpit and descends along the arm.From between the two tendons, it enters the palm, emerges at the tip of the middle finger, and returns to infuse into the tip of the fourth finger.Merging with the hand Shaoyang, it flows upward into the region between the breasts and spreads throughout the Sanjiao.From the Sanjiao, it infuses into the gallbladder, exits from the hypochondrium, and then infuses into the foot Shaoyang.It continues downward to the dorsum of the foot.From there, it infuses into the big toe, merges with the foot Jueyin, and ascends to the liver.From the liver, it infuses into the lung...
The theory of the twelve meridians was first introduced in The Inner Classic and is also known as the twelve vessels or twelve channels.In The Meridians of The Spiritual Pivot , the components of the twelve meridians and the path of each meridian are described, establishing the circulation pattern characterized by “adverse and normal running directions of vessels”.This concept was further summarized in The Normal and the Adverse, The Fat and the Thin of The Spiritual Pivot , and later came to be known as “ebb-flow”.
The twelve meridians regulate the circulation of qi and blood.Since the ying qi is contained within the vessels, its circulation follows the ebb-flow pattern of the twelve meridians.Typically, the meridians are organized according to their ebb-flow sequence rather than by the three yin and three yang categories.This sequence forms the structural basis for the continuous, circular flow of qi and blood within the human body. Ying Qi of The Spiritual Pivot provides a detailed description of this circular pathway.
KNOWLEDGE DATABASE: LITERATURE
The Normal and the Adverse, The Fat and the Thin of The Spiritual Pivot ( Líng Shū·Nì Shùn Féi Shòu , 灵枢·逆顺肥瘦): The 38th chapter of the Ling Shu .It introduces needling techniques tailored to individuals with diferent physiological characteristics, illustrating their application in acupuncture.It also discusses the pathways of the 12 regular meridians.
Ying Qi of The Spiritual Pivot ( Líng Shū·Yíng Qì , 灵枢·营气): The 16th chapter of the Ling Shu .It mainly focuses on the formation and circulation of ying qi, also known as nutrient qi.
■ 1.2 The ebb-flow of 14 meridians
Ying Qi of The Spiritual Pivot : ...It ascends along the throat, enters the inner orifice of the nose, and runs deeper into the nasal cavity leading to the brain.One branch flows towards the forehead and vertex before descending to the nape of the neck.Along the spine, it travels to the sacrum, which is the pathway of the governor vessel.It circles around the genitalia, passes through the pubic hair, and enters the navel.From there, it travels upward along the interior of the abdomen to the supraclavicular fossa.It then descends, infuses into the lung, and remerges from the Taiyin.
Volume 9: Fifteen collaterals of Grand Simplicity of “Huangdi’s Inner Classic” ( Huáng Dì Nèi Jīng Tài Sù·Juàn Jiǔ·Shí Wǔ Luò Mài , 黄帝内经太素·卷九·十五络脉): The branch of the hand Taiyin is known as Lieque. The twelve regular meridians and the eight extraordinary vessels total twenty vessels, collectively referred to as meridians.Among these twenty vessels, there are twelve meridians,along with the governor vessel, the conception vessel, and the thoroughfare vessel, making up the fourteen meridians...
Explanatory Notes of Elucidation on Fourteen Channels ( Shí Sì Jīng Fā Huī·FánLlì , 十四经发挥·凡例): The twelve meridians are listed in the order of their ebb and flow.Included are the two extraordinary vessels, the governor vessel and the conception vessel each with their own points.Together, they’re referred to as the fourteen meridians.
Volume 6 : Illustrated Explanations of the Measurement of Point Location of The Complete Compendium of Ancient and Modern Medical Works ( Gǔ Jīn Yī Tǒng Dà Quán·Juàn Liù·Qǔ Xué Chǐ Cùn Tú Shuō , 古今医统大全·卷六·取穴尺寸图说): The length of the fourteen meridians: The six yang meridians of the hand...The six yin meridians of the hand...The six yang meridians of the foot...The six yin meridians of the foot...The governor vessel and the conception vessel...The two heel vessels...Together, the fourteen meridians measure sixteen zhang and two chi in length.This represents the great passageway of qi.
The concept of the fourteen meridians is thought to originate from The Inner Classic .After describing the circular pathway of the 12 meridians, such as “from the liver, it infuses into the lung”, Ying Qi of The Spiritual Pivot further introduces the subsequent circulation pattern of the ying qi.The text “passes through the pubic hair, and enters the navel...travels upward along the interior of the abdomen” describes the course of the conception vessel in Discussion on the Bone Holes of Basic Questions ( Sù Wèn·Gǔ Kōng Lùn , 素问·骨空论).That is to say, the circulation of ying qi starts from the hand Taiyin, travels through the twelve meridians, then the governor vessel and the conception vessel and finally returns to the hand Taiyin.
The term “fourteen meridians” first appeared in Yang Shangshan’s Grand Simplicity of “Huangdi’s Inner Classic” .The fourteen meridians referred to in this context include the twelve meridians as well as the three extraordinary vessels: the governor vessel, the conception vessel, and the thoroughfare vessel.As a result, the meaning of the term is relatively vague.Judging from Yang Shangshan’s annotations on the thoroughfare vessel and the conception vessel in Volume 10 of Grand Simplicity of “Huangdi’s Inner Classic” , Yang combined the conception vessel and the thoroughfare vessel into one.This synthesis was based on discussions of these two vessels in The Inner Classic and The Classic of Questioning , as well as references in other literature, such as The Systematic Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion ( Zhēn Jiǔ Jiǔ Yǐ Jīng , 针灸甲乙经).This is why the term “fourteen meridians” was used.
Hua Shou’s Elucidation on Fourteen Channels ( Shí Sì Jīng Fā Huī , 十四经发挥) combines the conception vessel and the governor vessel with the twelve meridians to discuss the “fourteen meridians”.This classification is based on the concept that both the conception vessel and the governor vessel have their own points, similar to the twelve regular meridians.Since Hua Shou’s work was based on the lost text Illustrated Point Location along Meridians from the Gold - Orchid Chamber ( Jīn Lán Xún Jīng Qǔ Xué Tú Jiě , 金兰循经取穴图解), the theory of the “fourteen meridians” may have existed even before Hua Shou’s time.
In The Complete Compendium of Ancient and Modern Medical Works , Xu Chunfu quoted the text from The Length of Meridians of The Spiritual Pivot regarding the length of the twelve meridians,the governor vessel and the conception vessel, and the two heel vessels.He also used the term“fourteen meridians” or “fourteen vessels”.This view was later adopted by The Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion ( Zhēn Jiǔ Dà Chéng , 针灸大成).However, the fourteen meridians discussed do not include the yin heel vessel and the yang heel vessel.As a result, in later generations,the concept of “fourteen meridians” generally adhered to Hua Shou’s theory.
KNOWLEDGE DATABASE: LITERATURE
Grand Simplicity of “Huangdi’s Inner Classic” ( Huáng Dì Nèi JīngT ài Sù , 黄帝内经太素)
Grand Simplicity of “Huangdi’s Inner Classic” , often abbreviated as Tai Su (太素), was compiled by Yang Shangshan.In this work, he classified the Ling Shu and Su Wen from the Nei Jing into various topics and provided annotations.This book, dating from the Tang Dynasty, was created to meet the emperor’s requirements, similar to another of his works, The Classified Bright Hall Theory of Huangdi’s Inner Classic (see below).
KNOWLEDGE DATABASE: HISTORY
The Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty (唐朝、唐代) was the ruling dynasty from 618 to 907.
This period is considered a pinnacle of Chinese civilization.The Chinese take great pride in this era and sometimes use the term “Tang” to refer to themselves.For example, in many countries, there’re districts known as Chinatown, where the population is predominantly of Chinese origin.The traditional Chinese translation of Chinatown is Tang Ren Jie, which means “street of Tang people”.
KNOWLEDGE DATABASE: LITERATURE
Elucidation on Fourteen Channels ( Shí SìJīng Fā Huī , 十四经发挥)
Elucidation on Fourteen Channels was written by Hua Shou in 1341 during the Yuan Dynasty,approximately 40 years after Illustrated Point Location along Meridians from the Gold - Orchid Chamber (see below).Hua Shou’s book, which comprises three volumes, includes a note at the end of the second volume stating, “The previous two volumes are the same as Illustrated Point Location along Meridians from the Gold - Orchid Chamber ”.This indicates that Hua Shou copied the content from Hu Tai Bi Lie’s book and added his own material to create a new work.
We can’t judge Hua Shou or other historical figures by modern standards.In ancient times, despite advances in printing technology, the dissemination of knowledge was still challenging.Such coping practices actually contributed to the preservation and spread of knowledge as well as influence of the original authors, provided it was acknowledged in the new book.
The Complete Compendium of Ancient and Modern Medical Works ( Gǔ Jīn YīTǒng Dà Quán, 古今医统大全) Tǒng Dà Quán, 古今医统大全)
The Complete Compendium of Ancient and Modern Medical Works is a comprehensive medical text written by Xu Chunfu in 1556 during the Ming Dynasty.
The book gathered medical materials from previous dynasties and was systematically classified and compiled into 100 volumes.
The Systematic Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion (Zhēn Jiǔ Jiǎ Yǐ Jīng ,针灸甲乙经)
The Systematic Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion , commonly referred to as The Systematic Classic for short, was compiled by Huangfu Mi in 282 . The name “Huangfu Mi” features “Huangfu” as a compound or two-character surname, which is distinct from most Chinese surnames that typically have only one character.
This book gathered information related to acupuncture from The Inner Classic , The Classic of Questioning and The Therapeutic Importance of Acupuncture Points from the Bright Hall (see below), and established the theoretical system of acupuncture and moxibustion.
Illustrated Point Location along Meridians from the Gold-Orchid Chamber ( Jīn LánX únJīng Qǔ XuéT ú Jiě , 金兰循经取穴图解)
Illustrated Point Location along Meridians from the Gold - Orchid Chamber is a book written in 1303 during the Yuan Dynasty by a Mongolian author known as Hu Tai Bi Lie, or sometimes referred to as Hu Gong Tai.The book primarily covers the 14 meridians and their points, which include the 12 regular meridians, the governor vessel, and the conception vessel.All 14 meridians or vessels share a common characteristic: each has its own points.This book is the earliest to integrate the 12 regular meridians with the two of the eight extraordinary vessels.
Although the original book was lost, its content was preserved in Elucidation on Fourteen Channels .
The Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion ( Zhēn Jiǔ Dà Chéng , 针灸大成)
Yang Jizhou was a famous acupuncturist during the Ming Dynasty.He possessed a medical book from his family titled Life - protecting Mysteries and Secrets of Acupuncture and Moxibustion ( Wèi Shēng Zhēn Jiǔ Xuán J ī Mì Yào , 卫生针灸玄机秘要), which served as the foundation for The Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion .
The Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion was written by Jin Xian, a medical official, and published in 1601 during the Ming Dynasty.It was originally compiled to honor Yang Jizhou’s exceptional medical skills by one of his patients.Jin Xian expanded on Yang’s family text by incorporating materials from other medical sources, making him the author of this compilation.However, Yang Jizhou is also considered as an author due to his significant contributions.
KNOWLEDGE DATABASE: LITERATURE
Discussion on the Bone Holes of Basic Questions ( Sù Wèn·Gǔ Kōng Lùn , 素问·骨空论): The 60th chapter of the Su Wen .It mainly introduces point selection and needling techniques for various diseases.The term“bone hole” refers to the space between bones where acupoints are located.
Please note that the Chinese character “空” is typically pronounced as Kōng (the first tone), which means empty.However, in this title, it should be pronounced as Kǒng (the third tone), as it refers to a hole rather than “emptiness”.
KNOWLEDGE DATABASE: CULTURE
Zhang (丈), Chi (尺)
Zhang (丈) and chi (尺) are both units of length, with 1 zhang equal to 10 chi.
There’re also two other commonly used units of length: cun (寸) and fen (分).Specifically, 1 chi equals 10 cun, and 1 cun equals 10 fen.
The weights and measures were standardized when Emperor Qin Shi Huang unified China.However, in diferent periods and reigns, variations in measurement systems still existed.For example, while the names of the units mentioned above have remained the same, their actual lengths can difer.
2.The review of meridian point determination
■ 2.1 The Systematic Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion
The Therapeutic Importance of Acupuncture Points from the Bright Hall ( Míng Táng Kǒng Xué Zhēn Jiǔ Zhì Yào , 明堂孔穴针灸治要) is the earliest known acupoint text.Although it is now lost, its main contents are preserved in The Systematic Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion ,authored by Huangfu Mi of the Jin Dynasty.In The Systematic Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion , the acupoints are organized according to the meridians on the limbs, starting from the tips, as well as by areas on the head, face, chest, and abdomen.This arrangement reflects the characteristics of centripetal single-direction approach in early meridian theories.Subsequently, texts such as Formulas Worth a Thousand Gold Pieces ( Qiān Jīn Fāng , 千金方) , Classic of Nourishing Life with Acupuncture and Moxibustion ( Zhēn Jiǔ Zī Shēng Jīng , 针灸资生经) and some other generally adopted the same method.
KNOWLEDGE DATABASE: HISTORY
The Jin Dynasty
The Jin Dynasty (晋朝、晋代) ruled from 265 to 420.Like the Han Dynasty, it is divided into two periods: the Western Jin, which lasted from the beginning until 315, and the Eastern Jin, which spanned from 317 to the end of the dynasty.
Both dynasties share the name Jin, despite the brief interruption between them.At that time, people didn’t distinguish between Western Jin and Eastern Jin; they simply referred to themselves as Jin.During the Jin Dynasty, the emperor’s rule faltered but was later reestablished by descendants of the earlier emperors.They chose Nanjing, located east of the original capital Luoyang, as the new capital.Consequently, the terms “Western” and “Eastern” were used to differentiate between the two periods.
KNOWLEDGE DATABASE: LITERATURE
The Therapeutic Importance of Acupuncture Points from the Bright Hall ( Míng TángK ǒng Xué Zhēn Jiǔ Zhì Yào , 明堂孔穴针灸治要)
The Therapeutic Importance of Acupuncture Points from the Bright Hall is also referred to as The Classic of Bright Hall Theory of Huangdi ( Huáng Dì Míng Táng Jīng , 黄帝明堂经), or simply Ming Tang Jing .It was completed around 80 to 106 during the Eastern Han Dynasty.
The author is unknown, but the book is regarded as the earliest known acupoint text.Although the original work has long been lost, its content is preserved in other ancient books like The Systematic Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion .
KNOWLEDGE DATABASE: CULTURE
Ming Tang, The bright hall
Ming tang (明堂) means “bright hall” or “bright mall”.This term is quite famous in acupuncture.In ancient books, it often refers to the theory of meridians and acupuncture, especially when featured in the titles of medical books or figures.
Originally, the bright hall was a type of royal architecture where the emperor would conduct ceremonies or issue laws and decrees.
In The Inner Classic , it’s said that Huang Di and Qi Bo discussed medical theories in the Ming Tang, or bright hall, and ultimately developed the theory of acupuncture.Huang Di later passed this theory on to his students in Ming Tang as well.Therefore, Ming Tang became an alternative term for acupuncture or meridian theory.However, it’s important to note that Ming Tang can also refer to the nose or the body in some TCM texts.
KNOWLEDGE DATABASE: LITERATURE
Formulas Worth a Thousand Gold Pieces ( QiānJīnFāng ,千金方)
Important Formulas Worth a Thousand Gold Pieces for Emergency ( Bèi Jí Qiān Jīn Yào Fāng , 备急千金要方) Jīn Yào Fāng , 备急千金要方) Jīn Yào Fāng , 备急千金要方) Jīn Yào Fāng , 备急千金要方)
Supplement to “Important Formulas Worth a Thousand Gold Pieces” ( QiānJīn Yì F āng , 千金翼方) Yì F āng , 千金翼方) Yì F āng , 千金翼方) Yì F āng , 千金翼方)
Formulas Worth a Thousand Gold Pieces can have two meanings.It can be an abbreviated title for Important Formulas Worth a Thousand Gold Pieces for Emergency .Alternatively, it can serve as a collective term for both Important Formulas Worth a Thousand Gold Pieces for Emergency , and Supplement to “Important Formulas Worth a Thousand Gold Pieces” .
Both books are comprehensive medical works in 30 volumes written by Sun Simiao, a scholar and doctor of the Tang Dynasty.He compiled Important Formulas Worth a Thousand Gold Pieces for Emergency around 652.Thirty years later, around 682, he compiled Supplement to “Important Formulas Worth a Thousand Gold Pieces” with the hope that this new work would elaborate the medical theories presented in his earlier book, much like wings to a bird.The Chinese term for “wing” is “Yi” (翼), which is literally translated as “supplement”.According to Sun Simiao’s explanation, the phrase “a thousand gold pieces” in the book’s title doesn’t imply that the formula is worth 1000 gold pieces.Instead, it signifies that life is incredibly precious and more valuable than 1000 gold pieces.
Classic of Nourishing Life with Acupuncture and Moxibustion (Zhēn JiǔZ ī Shēng Jīng, 针灸资生经)
Classic of Nourishing Life with Acupuncture and Moxibustion was written by Wang Zhizhong around 1180 during the Southern Song Dynasty.This book focuses on acupuncture and moxibustion.
In the Book of Changes , there’s a Kun (坤) diagram, also known as Earth Diagram.Some commentaries on this diagram state, “Ultimate is the Kun principal, nourishing the life of all.” As the second name suggests, this diagram represents the earth, which in TCM corresponds to the spleen and stomach.Wang Zhizhong titled his book “Nourishing Life”, which is derived from the Book of Changes , and likely underscored his emphasis on the spleen and stomach.This perspective is evident throughout the book.
■ 2.2 The Classified Bright Hall Theory of Huangdi’s Inner Classic ( Huáng Dì Nèi Jīng Míng Táng Lèi Chéng ,黄帝内经明堂类成)
During the Sui and Tang dynasties, under imperial order, Yang Shangshan compiled The Classifed Bright Hall Theory of Huangdi’s Inner Classic , which serves as an annotation to The Therapeutic Importance of Acupuncture Points from the Bright Hall .Only the first volume of this work has been preserved, including the author’s preface and the content related to the hand Taiyin points.From the contents of the first volume, it’s known that the original The Classifed Bright Hall Theory of Huangdi’s Inner Classic consisted of three volumes.However, in Yang Shangshan’s version, there’s one volume for each of the twelve meridians and one volume for the eight extraordinary vessels, totaling 13 volumes.In the first volume, the hand Taiyin points are arranged according to the ebb and flow of qi and blood within the meridian, establishing a precedent for point arrangement by meridian.
KNOWLEDGE DATABASE: HISTORY
The Sui Dynasty
The Sui Dynasty (隋朝、隋代) was the ruling dynasty from 581 to 618, lasting only 27 years.Despite its brief existence, it established the foundation for the succeeding Tang dynasty.
KNOWLEDGE DATABASE: LITERATURE
The Classified Bright Hall Theory of Huangdi’s Inner Classic ( Huáng Dì Nèi Jīng MíngT ángL èi Chéng , 黄帝内经明堂类成)
The Classifed Bright Hall Theory of Huangdi’s Inner Classic , abbreviated as Classifed Bright Hall , was written by Yang Shangshan during the Sui Dynasty.This book was intended to explain Ming Tang Jing .
According to the preface, Ming Tang Jing was composed of three volumes.Yang Shangshan’s book classified the contents of Ming Tang Jing and organized the acupoints into diferent meridians.Thus, it’s the first book to systemically arrange acupoints by meridians.
This book was also long lost, but at the end of the 19th century, its first volume was found in a temple in Japan.Historically, there were quite a few exchanges between China and Japan, particularly during the Tang Dynasty.During these exchanges, some Japanese monks traveled to China to learn and then returned to Japan, while some Chinese monks went to Japan, primarily to teach Buddhism and other knowledge,including medicine.A notable example is Jian Zhen, a Chinese monk who visited Japan six times and is highly respected in both countries.Since the remaining volume of Classifed Bright Hall was found in a temple of Japan, it’s likely that the book was brought to Japan by these monks.
■ 2.3 Arcane Essentials from the Imperial Library ( Wài Tái Mì Yào , 外台秘要)
In Arcane Essentials from the Imperial Library , written by Wang Tao during the Tang Dynasty, the 39th volume is titled “Moxibustion Techniques from the Bright Hall”.This book organizes the acupoints along the meridians, attributing all points to the 12 meridians.Points on the conception vessel are attached to the part of the foot Shaoyin, while points on the governor vessel are attached to the part of the foot Taiyang.However, the order of the points does not always match the direction of qi and blood flow in the meridians.
KNOWLEDGE DATABASE: LITERATURE
Arcane Essentials from the Imperial Library ( Wài Tái Mì Yào , 外台秘要)
Arcane Essentials from the Imperial Library , or Wai Tai for short, was compiled by Wang Tao.According to his preface, Wang Tao was an oficial who had long been in charge of the royal library.His interest in medicine arose from his own illness and that of his family.Thus, he took the chance to learn medicine in the library.When he was demoted to remote areas, it was his knowledge of medicine that enabled him to treat himself and recover from some serious illness.After this experience, he wrote this book.
However, Wang Tao may have encountered some unreliable acupuncturists, which led him to mistrust acupuncture.Hence, he only included moxibustion in this book, specifically in the 39th volume.
■ 2.4 Illustrated Classic of Acupoints on the Bronze Figure ( Tóng Rén Shù Xué Zhēn Jiǔ TúJīng ,铜人腧穴针灸图经)
During the Song Dynasty, under the emperor’s order, Wang Weiyi compiled the Illustrated Classic of Acupoints on the Bronze Figure .This book features two types of point arrangements: One follows the system used in The Systematic Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion , while the other categorizes all points to 14 meridians and elaborates on the points according to their respective meridians.In the latter arrangement, the points of the 12 meridians begin at the tips of the extremities and progress towards the center.This method of arrangement was inherited from Yang Shangshan and also served as the basis for the Illustrated Point Location along Meridians from the Gold - Orchid Chamber written by Hu Tai Bi Lie(also called Hu Gong Tai) during the Yuan Dynasty.
KNOWLEDGE DATABASE: HISTORY
The Song Dynasty
The Song Dynasty (宋朝、宋代) ruled from 960 to 1279.It can be divided into two periods: the Northern Song, from its beginning until 1127, and the Southern Song, from 1127 to the end of the dynasty.The Southern Song period began when the empire lost control of northern China, had to relocate south, and established Lin’an, now part of Hangzhuo City in Zhejiang Province, as its capital.
The Song Dynasty was a prosperous era, vividly depicted in the famous painting Along the River during the Qingming Festival (清明上河图).However, from a knowledge perspective, the most significant development of this period was the enhancement of literature and knowledge due to the rapid expansion of woodblock printing, especially movable-type printing, which was invented in the 11th century.
KNOWLEDGE DATABASE: LITERATURE
Illustrated Classic of Acupoints on the Bronze Figure ( Tóng Rén Shù Xué Zhēn Jiǔ Tú Jīng ,铜人腧穴针灸图经)
Illustrated Classic of Acupoints on the Bronze Figure was written by Wang Weiyi in 1026 during the Song Dynasty.Wang Weiyi, a medical oficial, compiled this work at the behest of the emperor.
In addition to the book, Wang Weiyi also cast two bronze figures to aid in the visual learning of acupoints.Although these original statues were lost over time, a bronze replica was made during the Ming Dynasty,and it’s now housed in a museum in Russia.
■ 2.5 Elucidation on Fourteen Channels
In Hua Shou’s Elucidation on Fourteen Channels , the twelve meridians and their points are arranged according to the ebb-flow of qi and blood first, followed by the two vessels, the governor vessel and the conception vessel, and their points.From the perspective of acupoints, the points included in the fourteen meridians are more comprehensive.However, the positioning of the conception and governor vessels alongside the twelve meridians somewhat obscures the original ebb-flow concept of the twelve meridians, making the original meaning of the meridian theory more dificult to understand.
KNOWLEDGE DATABASE: HISTORY
The Yuan Dynasty
The Yuan Dynasty (元朝、元代) ruled China from 1271 to 1368.It followed the Song Dynasty and preceded the Ming Dynasty.This dynasty was established by the successor of Genghis Khan in China.
3.Note
From the single-direction flow to the center of the 11 vessels in the silk books to the ebb-flow of the twelve/fourteen meridians described in The Meridians of The Spiritual Pivot , the theory of meridians evolves from its original simple and straightforward form into a more complex and comprehensive system.Theoretically, the ebb and flow of qi and blood is central to the diagnosis and treatment of diseases in acupuncture and moxibustion.However, the qi and blood ebb-flow theory of the twelve or fourteen meridians can’t explain all clinical phenomena, as it is neither the most comprehensive nor the only representative theory within the broader meridian system.On the contrary, it contradicts several other meridian theories in various aspects.For example, the theory that qi and blood become stronger from the extremities to the center, as represented by the five transport points (Jing-well, Xing-spring,Shu-stream, Jing-river, He-sea), and the theory of connections between the four limbs and the head,chest, and abdomen, represented by the branch-root and origin-terminal concepts, all present conflicting views.The theory of qi and blood ebb-flow in the twelve or fourteen meridians differs significantly from the initial concepts of meridian formation and provides limited practical guidance for acupuncture practice.
■ Reflections
What are the similarities and differences among the sequence of the 14 meridians, the point arrangement of these meridians, and the course of the ying qi?
Terms and Synonyms
(1) History, culture and people
(2) Meridians and points
(3) Book names
(continued)
(4) Chapters of The Inner Classic
The Spiritual Pivot
Basic Questions
