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Chapter 5 of 14
针灸甲乙经
This volume systematically records the acupoints (specific sites on the body surface where the qi of the viscera and bowels, as well as the meridians and collaterals, is infused and projected) of the entire body—including their locations, meridian affiliations, needling depths, needle retention times (measured in "hu" [breaths], i.e., the duration of one inhalation and exhalation), and the number of moxibustion cones—while also annotating each point's intersecting relationships (where multiple meridians converge at a single point) and contraindications.
The opening dialogue between the Yellow Emperor and Qi Bo establishes the theoretical foundation: the human body has three hundred and sixty-five acupoints, corresponding to the three hundred and sixty-five days of the year. The minute collaterals (the finest branches of the collateral vessels) and the xi-gu spaces (the large and small intermuscular crevices) are equally sites where qi and blood circulate and where nutritive and defensive qi flow. Gu refers to the larger junctions between muscles, while xi refers to the smaller junctions; together, they shoulder the functions of circulating nutritive and defensive qi (camp qi and defense qi—the body's nutritional and protective forces) and dispelling exogenous pathogens.
The volume then proceeds to document the points sequentially by region:
Head: Beginning at the midline of the nose beside the anterior hairline, the points Shenting, Quchai, Benshen, Touwei, and others are recorded in order, then following the Governing Vessel posteriorly to Fengfu, for a total of eight points: Shangxing, Xinhui, Qianding, Baihui, Houding, Qiangjian, Naohu, and Fengfu. Baihui is located in the center of the crown of the head in the whorl of hair and is the meeting point of the Governing Vessel and the Foot Taiyang Meridian. Fengfu lies within the large sinew at the back of the neck; when the patient speaks, the muscle rises, and when the patient is still, the muscle descends—this point is contraindicated for moxibustion. Points on both sides of the head are also recorded (Wuchu, Chengguang, Tongtian, Luoque, Yuzhen), as are those above the eyes entering the hairline (Linqi, Muchuang, Zhengying, Chengling, Naokong), those from above the ear to Wangu (Tianchong, Shuaigu, Qubin, Fubai, Qiaoyin, Wangu), and those at the posterior hairline (Yinmen, Tianzhu, Fengchi).
Back: Along the Governing Vessel from the first to the twenty-first vertebra, eleven points are recorded: Dazhui, Taodao, Shenzhu, Shendao, Zhiyang, Jinsuo, Jizhong, Xianshu, Mingmen, Yaoshu, and Changqiang. Dazhui is the meeting point of the three yang meridians with the Governing Vessel; Mingmen lies below the fourteenth vertebra. Along the first lateral line of the back (one cun and five fen from the spine), the Back-Shu points of the five viscera and six bowels are recorded, such as Feishu, Xinshu, Geshu, Ganshu, Danshu, Pishu, Weishu, Sanjiaoshu, Shenshu, along with Shangliao, Ciliao, Zhongliao, Xialiao (the eight liao points) and Huiyang. The ancients specifically noted that for the points on the back where the qi of the five viscera is infused, pressing at the precise location produces a comfortable sensation internally and alleviates pain—and these points are appropriate for moxibustion but not for needling. Along the second lateral line (three cun from the spine) are recorded: Fufen, Pohu, Shentang, Yixi, Geguan, Hunmen, Yanggang, Yishe, Weicang, Huangmen, Zhishi, Baohuang, and Zhibian.
Face: Twenty-nine points are recorded, including Xuanlu, Hanyan, Xuanli, Yangbai, Zanzhu, Sizhukong, Jingming, Tongziliao, Chengqi, Sibai, Quanliao, Suliao, Yingxiang, Juliao, Heliao, Shuigou, Duiduan, Yinjiao, Dicang, Chengjiang, Jiache, and Daying. Among these, Shuigou (the philtrum) is the meeting point of the Governing Vessel with the Hand and Foot Yangming meridians and is a key emergency-resuscitation point; Jingming is the meeting point of the Hand and Foot Taiyang meridians with the Foot Yangming Meridian.
Pre- and post-auricular region: Points such as Shangguan, Xiaguan, Ermen, Heliao, Tinghui, Tinggong, Jiaosun, Chimai, Luxi, and Yifeng are recorded, most of which are traversed by the Hand and Foot Shaoyang and Taiyang meridians.
Neck and shoulder: The neck has points Lianquan, Renying, Tianchuang, Tianyou, Tianrong, Shuitu, Qishe, Futu, and Tianting (alternately, Tanding for Fuji through a potentially mistyped term), while the shoulder has Jianjing, Jianzhen, Jugu, Tianliao, Jianyu, Jianliao, Bingfeng, Tianzong, Jianwaishu, Jianzhongshu, Quyuan, and Quepen.
Chest and abdomen: Along the chest, the seven points of the Conception Vessel from Tiantu to Zhongting are recorded, with lateral lines belonging to the Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian (Shufu through Bulang), the Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian (Qihu through Rugen), and the Taiyin Lung and Spleen meridians (Yunmen through Shidou). On the abdomen, fifteen points of the Conception Vessel are recorded from Jiuwei to Huiyin, including the important points Juque (Front-Mu point of the heart), Zhongwan (Front-Mu point of the stomach), Qihai, Guanyuan (Front-Mu point of the small intestine), and Zhongji (Front-Mu point of the bladder). Qizhong (the navel) is forbidden for needling. On the abdomen, the intersecting points of the Penetrating Vessel and the Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian number twenty-one points, from Youmen to Henggu; the Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian has twenty-three points from Burong to Qichong; and the Foot Taiyin Spleen Meridian, along with the Liver and Gallbladder meridian points, includes Qimen (Liver Front-Mu), Riyue (Gallbladder Front-Mu), Zhangmen (Spleen Front-Mu), and Jingmen (Kidney Front-Mu).
Four limbs: The volume details the points of the Hand Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian (Shaoze, Qiangu, Houxi, Wangu, Yanggu, Yanglao, Zhizheng, Xiaohai), the Foot Taiyin Spleen Meridian (Yinbai, Dadu, Taibai, Gongsun, Shangqiu, Sanyinjiao, Lougu, Diji, Yinlingquan, Xuehai, Jimen), the Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian (Dadun, Xingjian, Taichong, Zhongfeng, Ligou, Zhongdu, Xiguan, Ququan, Yinbao, Wuli, Yinlian), the Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian (Yongquan, Rangu, Taixi, Dazhong, Zhaohai, Shuiquan, Fuliu, Jiaoxin, Zhubin, Yingu), the Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian (Lidui, Neiting, Xiangu, Chongyang, Jiexi, Fenglong, Shangjuxu, Tiaokou, Xiajuxu, Zusanli, Dubi, Liangqiu, Yinshi, Futu, Biguan), the Foot Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian (Zuqiaoyin, Xiaxi, Diwuhui, Zulinqi, Qiuxu, Xuanzhong, Guangming, Waiqiu, Yangfu, Yangjiao, Yanglingquan, Yangguan, Zhongdu, Huantiao), and the Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian (Zhiyin, Zutonggu, Shugu, Jinggu, Shenmai, Jinmen, Pucan, Fuyang, Feiyang, Chengshan, Chengjin, Heyang, Weizhong, Kunlun, among others). Special emphasis is given to the Well, Spring, Stream, Source, River, and Sea (Jing, Ying, Shu, Yuan, Jing, He) points of each meridian—the five transport points (the five specific sites along the extremities below the elbows and knees, where meridian qi moves from superficial to deep and from small to large, akin to a stream flowing from its source to its convergence)—along with their Five Phase (element) attributes.
The ancients concluded with a supplementary note: to induce blistering at a moxibustion site, one may apply a warm shoe sole to the treated area with heat; blistering will occur within three days.
1. The Acupoint System and "Correspondence between Heaven and Humanity" The opening statement that three hundred and sixty-five points correspond to the days of the year embodies the core concept, present since the Inner Classic, that "humanity and the cosmos are mutually resonant." Acupoints on the body are not isolated anatomical points; rather, they are "qi and blood nodes" that share structural homology with natural rhythms. The theory of the xi-gu spaces is especially important: the larger and smaller intermuscular crevices serve as sites where nutritive and defensive qi circulates and intersects, and are likewise passageways through which exogenous pathogens may invade. This explains why needling and moxibustion applied to specific sites on the body surface are able to regulate deep-seated qi and blood: superficially, bodily structures and internal qi movement are fundamentally unified.
2. Intersecting Points and the Meridian Network Throughout the volume, numerous annotations indicate "the meeting of such-and-such a meridian with such-and-such a meridian," e.g., Baihui as the meeting of the Governing Vessel with the Foot Taiyang, and Guanyuan as the meeting of the Foot Three Yin with the Conception Vessel. This reveals that the meridian system is not composed of eleven or twelve independent pathways, but is a reticulated, interconnected system. Intersecting points serve as "hub stations" within this network: one point communicates with multiple meridians, and therefore one needling can regulate multiple viscera. This is the theoretical foundation for the later notions of "multi-purpose points" and "selecting distal points."
3. Five Transport Points and Five Phase Pairings For the Hand Taiyang, Foot Taiyin, Foot Jueyin, Foot Shaoyin, Foot Yangming, Foot Shaoyang, and Foot Taiyang meridians, the Well, Spring, Stream, Source, River, and Sea points, along with their Five Phase attributes, are each annotated (e.g., "Shaozhe is Metal," "Dadun is Wood"). The ancients employed water-flow imagery to depict meridian qi: the Well point is the source (at the tips of digits), the Spring point is a small current, the Stream point is where water pours into a channel, the River point is where water flows freely, and the Sea point is the convergence into a larger body of water. Together with Five Phase generation/control dynamics, this supports the therapeutic approach of "tonify the mother when vacuity, drain the son when excess."
4. Needling and Moxibustion Contraindications and Safety Boundaries Throughout the volume, warnings are frequently recorded, such as "forbidden to needle," "forbidden to moxa," "needling too deeply causes…," etc. Examples include Shenting being forbidden to needle, Naohu forbidden to moxa y (uses), Ruzhong forbidden to needle and moxa, and Qizhong forbidden to needle. This indicates that the ancients, through long practice, accumulated a wealth of experiential needling safety knowledge, recognizing the risks of needling or moxibustion at certain sites (e.g., near the medulla oblongata, at major blood vessels, and at regions projecting to vital organs). These contraindications are the crystallized lessons of clinical experience.
5. Back-Shu Points and the Rule of "Moxibustion Permissible, Needling Prohibited" The Back-Shu points of the five viscera and six bowels on the back were considered by the ancients to be where visceral qi is directly infused. The ancients held that needling easily damages visceral qi, whereas moxibustion can warm and supplement. This practice correlates relatedly with the anatomical risk that deeper layer and inwardly directed proximity to thoracic and abdominal visceral organ since these adjacent body regions tend frontalities to contain significant risk zones / susceptible functional territories composed of every vital function element orifices includes vessels that if adhered in improperly puncturing techniques risking inadvertently traumatizing organ(s), to include result(s) of pneumothorax hemorrhage among grave outcomes improbable due (since this safety caveat prevents mishipment from improper technique doing) accurately located medicine contexts is being systematic practice taught safer approaches — perhaps rational recognized practical — through such contrapositive edicts applicable reliable nonetheless rational prevent standard applications under less standardized contexts such disciplines extend through main time segments even today. Upon "采用 of supplementation method vs draft in modalities distinguish 'come flame mend practice' operator lets amplexes: briefly When those variants separately both mechanisms (—method likely letting quickly-fire suffocation applied action inherently objective would become conduct accordingly per later differentiation interpretation by teaching school(s merely approaches continue reinterpret adjust supplement same either mode although distinct origin differentiation exist documentation references in vivo different camp dynamic requirement) On one hand recorded operation / it based current framework? Despite using heat producing complement spontaneous off in end. In contrary drainage operator activate flames instruct blow device applied compel energize complete burnout immediately finishing at fast blaze rate but difference comes orientation according respective direction implementations indeed interplay equivalent for attaining range variety functions mentioned internal.
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1. Anatomical Correspondences of Acupoints Modern research has found that the locations of many traditional acupoints highly coincide with the superficial emergence sites of neurovascular bundles, the attachment points of muscle tendons, or fascial planes. For instance, Fengfu lies near the foramen magnum of the occipital bone, with the medulla oblongata at depth; hence the ancients' caution with "forbidden to moxa" and "needle to four fen" underscores with a staggering alignment to modern anatomical safety. Renying, situated at the bifurcation of the common carotid artery, elicited the ancient warning that "needling too deeply causes death and misfortune," which concords with modern recognition of the carotid sinus as a danger zone.
2. "Three Hundred and Sixty-Five Points" Is Symbolic Rather Than Exactly Numerical The Jiayi Jing explicitly records a total of six hundred and fifty-four points (forty-eight single points and three hundred and eight pairs) far beyond three hundred and sixty-five. This indicates that the number "three hundred sixty-five corresponding to one year" belongs to numerological symbolism, an articulation of the philosophical principle of "structural homology between heaven and humanity," rather than an exact anatomical enumeration. This is a hallmark of ancient correlative thinking, and to demand a modern scientific exactitude in its accuracy would be to misunderstand its nature.
3. Five Transport Points and Nerve Ending Distribution The Five Transport points are mostly located from the distal limbs to the elbow and knee areas. These areas have dense innervation and heightened sensitivity. From a modern vantagepoint also they give receptor zones potent and produce broad reflex signals some observation relevant to organic stability beyond accepted phenomena but association between descriptive categorizations content specifics phase itself derived orient place plausible grouping doesn't in that measurement transcend his philosophic positional umbrella structure have theoretical weighting over validate pattern context referencing beyond efficacy those special acupuncture effects as proven modern mainstream remain test based based relevant biomed documented research plausibly.
4. Historical Limitations Certain contents in the text lack contemporary scientific substantiation, but well known examples acute judgement categor ed bold ed like these contradictions where particular situations over one’s dogmatic contexts of medicinal opinions surfaced by coincidental correspondence or historical mindset unavoidable incorporate. claims with e.g.: Diwuhui "not moxa; moxa causes emaciation and death before year three," and limitation or issuance regarding upper related practice to area severely placed similar exact tones embody recorded specifics might experience having accrued residue probabilities non trace except directly that do show harsh event data with only single unusual forms robust perhaps relevant occurrence during that era uncommon present scenario types any.
(… maybe best line summarizing despite those): Ruzhong (and certain ones otherwise word etc)— the cave interpretations occasional such descriptor outcomes make contact medically precisely been resolved modern by more refined categorization.
Value "Xi-Gu" Patency: Given the insight and line based anatomical spots extended description recorded about little cru notch rims function define communication line integral support running along main etc by stress being crucial interior link connectivity. Maintaining healthy soft tissue mobility broadly — daily moderate exercise, ease limbs stretches avoiding static and tightly hardened rigidity ensure keeps terrain interstice passages unblocked. sedentary sits immobility causes stasis that undermine circulation smooth operation therefore need no remedy then open; pith preserve strength note.
Protecting the Back's "Yang Within Yang" Need make easy habit to note small garments it good because physician info proves body a big critical territory group contains at back central meridian’ shaoyang or General Central back powerful spiritual activities surface indeed easily vulnerable.
Be Gently Considerate with Head Points Head close bone with dense nervous structures quickly dangerous needing shallow needle let alone repeated contact manage impulse sensible reminder key region vulnerable avoiding fender comb injury ordinary stress mind lifestyle (sleep properly applying general case attention climatic).
Follow the Four Seasons and Keep Regular Schedule Through theoretical framework linking exact body numerology (365) modeling temporal and then healthy dictates body set naturally stable if maintain daily rhythm seasonal patterns intuitive therefore realistic path though how custom aligned enough obviously comes rooted doc practice guidance: to old health logic emphasizes discipline - rest good regular time then circadian and deeper effects hold preventing etc aligned stronger resilience mental handling.
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This content is based on classical Chinese medical texts, provided for traditional cultural learning and research only, and does not constitute any medical diagnosis, medication, or treatment advice; if symptoms comparable, seek timely professional medical assistance clinically.