Atlas of Acupuncture

1.2 The 12 Primary Channels (jing zheng)

Connections among the primary channels

In order to ensure the continuous circulation (also see ➞1.1.4)

within the primary channel system, there need to be connections

among the individual primary channels. Fig. 1.5 illustrates these

in a schematic graphic overview.

According to some schools, the connections among the primary

channels are facilitated by so-called entry/exit points. Various

authors (for example Worsley, Jarrett, Pirog, Hicks et al., for

more detail ➞8.1.16) describe these as the shunting points

between successive channels according to the Organ clock. The

exit point marks the point on a channel from which the (internal)

flow moves to a point (the entry point) on the channel that

succeeds it on the Organ clock. There are some discrepancies

regarding the location of the connections as described by the

above authors and those described by Solinas et al. (1998), which

are marked below as appropriate.

Yin–Yang connections

The connections – anastomoses – between the Yin and Yang

channels are located on the hands and feet. The channels are most

commonly connected at their respective final points, but some-

times also by branches separating from the main channel. These

Yin–Yang connections are places where the Qi can change its

polarity: Yin Qi becomes Yang Qi, and Yang Qi becomes Yin Qi.

This creates a dynamic balance and allows for a better circulation

of the Qi. The Yin–Yang connections follow the order of the

basic structure of the circadian rhythm (24-hour cycle).

Hand Yin–Yang connections (➞Fig. 1.14)

The hand Yin channelsare in most cases connected to the hand

Yang channelsat the tips of the fingers; sometimes they are

connected on the hand by a branch that separates from the pri-

mary Yin channel and runs to the hand Yang channel:

FIRST CIRCUIT

LU channel (shou taiyin) ➡L.I. channel (shou yangming)

LU-7(lieque) ➡L.I.-1(shangyang)

A branch separates from the primary LU channel at ➞LU-

(lieque) and travels to the primary L.I. channel at ➞L.I.-

(shangyang).

Note:According to Hicks et al. (2004, ➞8.1.16) L.I.-4(hegu) is

considered to be an entry point.

SECOND CIRCUIT

HE channel (shou shaoyin) ➡S.I. channel (shou taiyang)

HE-9(shaoyang) ➡S.I.-1(shaoze)

THIRD CIRCUIT

P channel (shou jueyin) ➡T.B. channel (shou shaoyang)

P-8(laogong) ➡T.B.-1(guanchong)

a

LU L.I. HE S.I. P T.B.

taiyin yangming shaoyin taiyang jueyin shaoyang

b

SP

ST

KID

BL c

LIV

G.B.

Fig. 1.13 Overview of the channel circuits

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