Atlas of Acupuncture

1.2 The 12 Primary Channels (jing zheng)

Yin–Yin connections

The Yin–Yin connections between the primary channels are

located in the thoracic region(Fig. 1.17).

In contrast to the more superficial Yang–Yang connections,

they are located deep inside the body (internal pathways of the

channels).

There are two types of Yin–Yin connection:

● the Yin axes connections or hand–foot pairings (taiyin, jueyin,

shaoyin), which are non-circadian(do not flow according to

the Organ clock) and

● the (deep) Yin–Yin connections, whose Qi flow follows the

circadian rhythm of the Organ clock.

Connections of the Yin axes (hand–foot pairings)

These Yin–Yin connections support the communication between

the hand Yin and the foot Yin channels, which convey Qi of the

same quality (taiyin, jueyin, shaoyin) and serve as a link between

aboveand below. Their Qi flow does not follow the circadian

rhythmof the Organ clock (➞Fig. 1.17).

FIRST CIRCUIT

SP channel (zu taiyin) ➡LU channel (shou taiyin)

SP-20(zhourong) ➡LU-1(zhongfu)

According to Solinas et al. (1998), a superficial branch separates

from the primary SP channel at ➞SP-20and travels to the pri-

mary LU channel at ➞LU-1.

SECOND CIRCUIT

LIV channel (zu jueyin) ➡P channel (shou jueyin)

LIV➡P

An internal branch ascends from the Liver, passes through the

diaphragm, connects with the primary P channel below ➞P-

(tianchi).

THIRD CIRCUIT

KID channel (zu shaoyin) ➡HE channel (shou shaoyin)

KID ➡HE

An internal branch of the primary KID channel runs to the Liver,

penetrates the diaphragm and spreads into the Lungs. From the

S.I.-18 Second circuit BL-

L.I.-20 First circuit ST-

T.B.-23 Third circuit G.B.-

(BL-1)

S.I.-18 L.I.-

BL-

ST-

T.B.-

G.B.-

T.B.-

(variant)

(variant)

T.B.-

Fig. 1.16 Yang–Yang connections of the primary channels

Yin

Yin axes connections/hand–foot pairings

Deep Yin–Yin connections

Thorax

First

circuit

Yang

ST(zu yangming)

Second

circuit

BL(zu taiyang)

P(shou jueyin)

G.B.(zu shaoyang)

Third

circuit

Metal

Fire

Water

Wood

Earth

Fire

HE(shou shaoyin)

L.I.(shou yangming)

SP(zu taiyin)

S.I.(shou taiyang)

KID(zu shaoyin)

T.B.(shou shaoyang)

LIV(zu jueyin)

LU(shou taiyin)

shou = hand

zu = foot

Fig. 1.17 Overview of the Yin–Yin connections (primary

channels)

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