1 Jing luo(Channel and Network Vessel System)Binding points of the three Yang channels
These are the switching pointsof the great Yang channels (hand
to foot) and are located in the cranial region.enter deeper (ru) into the body and, after completing their inter-
nal pathway, they re-emerge close to the surface of the body
(chu). The divergent channel pairs (Yin/Yang) pass together
through the Interior of the body to join (he) their pertaining pri-
mary Yang channel in the occipital or cranial region. It is this
joining of the courses that is referred to as the six confluences
(or reunions) (liu he).Pathways of the divergent Yin channels
After separating from their primary channels, they connect with
their pertaining zang-Organ, then with the Interiorly-Exteriorly
paired fu-Organ. They continue their flow in the upper half of
the body together with their paired divergent Yang channel to
join the paired primary Yang channel. In contrast to the diver-
gent Yang channels, the divergent Yin channels will not return to
their pertaining primary Yin channel after having completed
their internal pathway (➞Fig. 1.25).Pathways of the divergent Yang channels
After separating from their primary channels, the divergent
Yang channels travel to their pertaining fu-Organ, then to the
Interiorly-Exteriorly paired zang-Organ. They connect again with
their pertaining primary channel and also with their Interiorly-
Exteriorly paired divergent Yin channel in the upper half of the
body (➞Fig. 1.25).The divergent channels and the Heart
All divergent channels pass the thoracic region and the Heart,
except for the divergent channels of the LU, L.I. and KID.
According to Shima and Chase (2001), this means that all diver-
gent channels passing the thorax will communicate with the
True Qi (zhen qi), representing the synthesis of the Gathering Qi
(zong qi) and Original Qi (yuan qi) (➞1.1.4). They suggest that
this hypothesis is in accordance with all the information avail-
able about the divergent channels, and explains furthermore why
the divergent channels are so useful in the treatment of deep-
seated Organ disorders as well as for disharmonies of the Defen-
sive Qi (wei qi). It supports the image of a divergent channel as
a fundamental axis between the Interior and the Exterior of the
body. In the opinion of Shima and Chase (2001), the divergent
channels are an invaluable connection to facilitate the return of
the Defensive Qi (wei qi) to the Interior of the body and to trans-
fer the fundamental inner Original Qi (yuan qi) to the periphery.
In that respect the Original Yang (yuan yang) not only touches
upon, but also strengthens the Defensive Yang (wei-yang).taiyang(BL ➡S.I.) BL-1(jingming)
shaoyang(G.B. ➡T.B.) T.B.-21(ermen)*
yangming(ST ➡L.I.) ST-1(chengqi)**Binding points of the three Yin channels
These are the switching pointsof the great Yin channels (foot to
hand) and are located in the thoracic or abdominal region.* According to Nguyen Van Nghi (1996) and Solinas et al. (1998), this is G.B.-2
(tinghui)
** According to Nguyen Van Nghi (1996) and Solinas et al. (1998), this is ST-8
(touwei)taiying(SP ➡LU) Ren-12(zhongwan)
jueyin(LIV ➡P) Ren-18(yutang)
shaoyin(KID ➡H) Ren-23(lianqian)1.3 Divergent Channels (jing bie)
Synonyms: Channel divergence (Wiseman), separate pathways
(Larre and Rochat de la Vallée).
Character: biemeans diverging, separating, branching off. In this
sense, the 12 divergent channels can be seen as branches of the
primary channels.General pathways of the divergent channels
(➞Fig. 1.25)
The 12 bilateral divergent channels, which have no specific points
of their own, are named after and are dependent on their corre-
sponding primary channel.
They can be divided into six great Yin and six great Yang
pairsand have their own system of six confluences (reunions):
BL/KID, G.B./LIV, ST/SP, S.I./H, T.B./P, L.I./LU. According to
Ramakers (course material, 2003) the divergent channels follow
their own (non-cosmic) daily biorhythm:
BL ➡G.B. ➡ST ➡S.I. ➡T.B. ➡L.I. ➡KID ➡LIV ➡SP
➡H ➡P ➡LU.
All divergent channels separate (li) from their corresponding
primary channel on the extremities, except for the divergent T.B.
channel, which branches off on the head. But many authors sus-
pect that their pathways begin before the actual branching off.
Based on this assumption, the divergent channels begin at the
distal ends of the primary channels, running parallel to them, but
as separate entities. The circulation in the divergent channels is
of a centripetal nature (➞1.1.1); in other words, the flow is
always from a distal in a proximal direction, towards the trunk
and the head. After separating from the primary channels, theyCh01-F10028.qxd 2/22/08 2:30 PM Page 20