Atlas of Acupuncture

1 Jing luo(Channel and Network Vessel System)

1.2 The 12 Primary Channels

(jing zheng)

1.2.1 Background Information

Synonyms: Meridians, regular channels. ‘zheng’can be trans-

lated as ‘mainly’ (primary channels), but also relates to terms

such as ‘straight’ and ‘direct’.

Chinese terms for the channels

Meanings (also ➞1.2.4, the six great channels

(liu jing)

Tai:means greater, highest. The polarised energy (Yang or Yin)

develops and reaches the maximum extent of its activity in the

taiyangand taiyinchannels. Here, the maximum extent of their

respective polarity is reached and begins to fall again.

Shao:means less or younger. The polarised energy (Yang or

Yin) is less in the shaoyangand shaoyinchannels than in the

taiyangor taiyinchannels.

Ming:means clear, bright, radiant, shining (for more detail see

➞1.2.4, the six great channels).

Jue: means ‘absolute’, ‘at the end’, ‘exhausted’, and according

to Wiseman also ‘inverted’. The polarised energy (Yin) in the

jueyinchannel represents the terminal phase of the Yin; here

polarity changes to Yang.

Composition of the channel names

In the Chinese language, the name for each channel comprises

● the nature or polarity of the energy(Yin or Yang) that flows

in the channel

● the qualityor intensity(tai, shao, jue, ming) of the Yin or

Yang energy and

● the extremityat which the channel originates or terminates.

Thus the Yin or Yang channels that begin or terminate at the

hand carry the name of the primary hand channels (shoujing

zheng). The Yin and Yang channels that terminate or begin at the

feet carry the name of the foot primary channels (zujing zheng)

(➞Fig. 1.2).

1.2.2 Communication and

Connections

Principle of the primary channel system

The 12 primary channels cover the body bilaterally. Each chan-

nel has its individual regular coursewith a deep, internaland

a more superficial externalpathway.

One can distinguish between Yin and Yang channels, which are

Interiorly/Exteriorly paired. While each channel is connected

with its pertaining zangor fuOrgan, it is also connected with the

Organ of its Interiorly/Exteriorly coupled channel.

All hand Yin channels begin in the region of the thorax and flow

to the hand. All hand Yang channels start at the hands and travel

to the head, where they meet the foot Yang channels. These

descend down to the toes, where they meet the foot Yin chan-

nels, which ascend to the thorax and there meet the hand Yin

channels.

For a better understanding of this model, imagine a person

standing with his/her hands raised to the sky. In this position,

all Yin channels are ascending(a Yang phenomenon), while

all Yang channels are descending (a Yin phenomenon)

(➞Fig. 1.10).

shou taiyin (LU)

shou yangming (L.I)

zu yangming (ST)

zu taiyin (SP)

shou shaoyin (HE)

zu taiyang (BL)

zu jueyin (LIV)

zu shaoyin (KID)

zu shaoyang (G.B.)

shou shaoyang (T.B.)

shou taiyang (S.I.)

shou jueyin (P)

du

mai

ren

mai

Middle

Burner

(zhong jiao)

Fig. 1.9 First and second circulation of the Nutritive Qi (ying qi)

with the Middle Burner

Descending

yang-

channels

Ascending

yin-

channels

Fig. 1.10 Ascending and descending primary channels

(according to Pirog 1996)

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