Atlas of Acupuncture

1 Jing luo(Channel and Network Vessel System)

Lung a branch travels to the Heart, where it connects with the

primary HE channel.

Many authors give HE-1(jiquan) as the site of connection.

Deep Yin–Yin connections

These Yin–Yin connections facilitate the circadian cycleaccord-

ing to the Organ clock and mark the transitions of the channel

circuits. They are located deep in the thorax area on the level of

the zang-Organs.

CONNECTION OF THE FIRST AND SECOND CIRCUIT

SP channel (zu taiyin) ➡HE channel (shou shaoyin)

SP➡HE

An internal branch of the primary SP channel spreads in the

Heart and connects with the HE channel. Note: according to

Hicks et al. (2004, ➞entry/exit points, ➞8.1.16) SP-21is con-

sidered to be the exit point of the SP channel and HE-1the entry

point of the HE channel.

CONNECTION OF THE SECOND AND THIRD CIRCUIT

KID channel (zu shaoyin) ➡P channel (shou jueyin)

KID➡P

An internal branch of the primary KID channel travels to the

Kidneys, then to the Liver, penetrates the diaphragm and spreads

into the Lung. From the Lung, an internal branch runs to the

Heart, where it meets the primary P channel and also reaches

➞Ren-17(shanzhong/danzhong). Note: according to Hicks

et al. (2004, ➞entry/exit points ➞8.1.16) KID-22is considered

to be the exit point of the KID channel and P-1the entry point of

the P channel.

CONNECTION OF THE THIRD AND FIRST CIRCUIT

LIV channel (zu jueyin) ➡LU channel (shou taiyin)

LIV➡P

An internal branch of the LIV channel originates in the Liver,

passes the diaphragm, spreads in the Lungs and connects with

the LU channel through a network of branches. Note: according

to Hicks et al. (2004, ➞entry/exit points ➞8.1.16) LIV-14is

considered to be the exit point of the LIV channel and LU-1the

entry point of the LU channel.

1.2.3 The Six Great Channels (liu jing)

Based on the Yang–Yang and Yin–Yin connections (➞1.2.2, ➞

Fig. 1.16, ➞Fig. 1.17), primary channels of the same nature and

quality can be divided into six great channels(liu jing) or

hand–foot pairings (or axes).They represent the three great

Yang channels and the three great Yin channels.

Channels Trajectory Amount of Qi and Blood

Exterior

Yang channels (hand–foot pairings)

taiyang Latero-posterior aspect of the Less Qi, more Blood

(S.I., BL) four extremities, posterior aspect Qi < Blood

of the head and body

shaoyang Lateral aspect of the four More Qi, less Blood

(T.B., G.B.) extremities and torso Qi > Blood

LU+SP

taiyin

P+LIV

jueyin

HE+KID

shaoyin

L.I.+ST

yangming

T.B.+G.B.

shaoyang

S.I. + BL

taiyang

a

Anterior

Middle

Posterior

Interior

Yin

Exterior

Yang

b

Anterior

Middle

Posterior

LUSP

taiyin

PLIV

jueyin

HEKID

shaoyin

L.I.ST

yangming

T.B.G.B.

shaoyang

S.I.BL

taiyang

Interior

Yin

Exterior

Yang

Fig. 1.18 Overview of the six great channels (liu jing)

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