【Twelve Meridians】
1. Classification of Names: The twelve meridians are classified into three yin meridians of the hands, three yang meridians of the hands, three yin meridians of the feet, and three yang meridians of the feet based on their connection to the internal organs’ yin and yang properties and their pathways in the limbs. Yin meridians are associated with the zang (organs) and run along the inner sides of the limbs; yang meridians are associated with the fu (bowels) and run along the outer sides of the limbs. The classification of the twelve meridians is shown in the table below:
2. Pathways and Interconnections: The three yin meridians of the hands originate from the chest and run to the hands; the three yang meridians of the hands run from the hands to the head; the three yang meridians of the feet run from the head to the feet; the three yin meridians of the feet run from the feet to the abdomen (chest). This forms a pathway of circulation that is “interconnected like yin and yang, with no end” (Figures 1 and 2).
Yang governs the exterior, while yin governs the interior. The meridians are interconnected to form a relationship between the exterior and interior. For example: the Taiyin Lung Meridian (手太阴肺经) is exterior-interior related to the Yangming Large Intestine Meridian (手阳明大肠经); the Jueyin Pericardium Meridian (手厥阴心包经) is exterior-interior related to the Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian (手少阳三焦经); the Shaoyin Heart Meridian (手少阴心经) is exterior-interior related to the Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian (手太阳小肠经); the Taiyin Spleen Meridian (足太阴脾经) is exterior-interior related to the Yangming Stomach Meridian (足阳明胃经); the Jueyin Liver Meridian (足厥阴肝经) is exterior-interior related to the Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian (足少阳胆经); the Shaoyin Kidney Meridian (足少阴肾经) is exterior-interior related to the Taiyang Bladder Meridian (足太阳膀胱经).
The circulation of qi and blood in the twelve meridians is endless. It starts from the Taiyin Lung Meridian (手太阴肺经), passes through the Jueyin Liver Meridian (足厥阴肝经), and returns to the Taiyin Lung Meridian, forming a continuous cycle. The flow sequence is shown in Figure 2.
The eight extraordinary vessels include the Governing Vessel (督脉), Conception Vessel (任脉), Penetrating Vessel (冲脉), Girdle Vessel (带脉), Yin Linking Vessel (阴维脉), Yang Linking Vessel (阳维脉), Yin Heel Vessel (阴蹻脉), and Yang Heel Vessel (阳蹻脉). The Conception Vessel is a yin vessel, while the Governing Vessel is a yang vessel, both originating from the perineum and running along the anterior and posterior midlines of the trunk. The yin organs are interconnected with the Conception Vessel, and the yang organs are interconnected with the Governing Vessel. The Governing Vessel and Conception Vessel are closely related to the twelve meridians and the organs, hence they are referred to as the fourteen meridians.
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◆ Pathways of the Twelve Meridians (from “Lingshu: Meridians”)
【Taiyin Lung Meridian】 (图3) “The Lung Meridian of the Hand Taiyin originates in the middle jiao, connects with the Large Intestine, runs through the stomach, ascends to the lung, exits under the armpit, descends along the inner arm, runs before the Heart Meridian, descends at the elbow, follows the inner arm to the wrist, enters the radial pulse. It runs along the thenar and exits at the tip of the thumb; its branch runs from the back of the wrist directly to the inner side of the index finger, exiting at its tip.”
【Yangming Large Intestine Meridian】 (图4) “The Large Intestine Meridian of the Hand Yangming originates at the tip of the index finger, runs along the outer side of the finger, enters between the two bones of the wrist, ascends along the outer side of the arm, enters the elbow, ascends along the outer side of the shoulder, exits at the front of the shoulder, ascends above the clavicle, descends into the thoracic cavity, connects with the lung, and belongs to the Large Intestine; its branch runs from the thoracic cavity to the neck, crosses the cheek, enters the lower teeth, exits at the corner of the mouth, and connects with the philtrum, crossing the midline, and then connects with the opposite side.”
【Yangming Stomach Meridian】 (图5) “The Stomach Meridian of the Foot Yangming originates at the intersection of the nose, descends along the outer side of the nose, enters the upper teeth, exits at the mouth, encircles the lips, descends to the承浆 (Chengjiang), runs along the jaw, exits at the大迎 (Daying), runs along the cheek, ascends in front of the ear, passes the客主人 (Kezhuren), runs along the hairline, reaches the forehead; its branch runs from大迎 (Daying) to人迎 (Renying), runs along the throat, enters the thoracic cavity, belongs to the Stomach and connects with the Spleen; its direct branch runs from the thoracic cavity down to the abdomen; its branch runs from the stomach, descends along the abdomen, enters the气街 (Qijie), and exits at the lower abdomen, reaching the膀胱 (Bladder), descends to the膝 (Knee), runs along the outer side of the leg, enters the middle toe; its branch runs down three inches along the outer side, enters the outer side of the index finger, and exits at its tip.”
【Taiyin Spleen Meridian】 (图6) “The Spleen Meridian of the Foot Taiyin originates at the tip of the big toe, runs along the inner side of the toe, passes behind the navicular bone, ascends along the inner ankle, runs along the back of the tibia, crosses in front of the Jueyin Meridian, ascends along the inner thigh, enters the abdomen, belongs to the Spleen and connects with the Stomach, ascends to the diaphragm, runs along the throat, connects with the root of the tongue, and disperses under the tongue; its branch runs from the Stomach, ascends to the diaphragm, and enters the heart.”
【Shaoyin Heart Meridian】 (图7) “The Heart Meridian of the Hand Shaoyin originates in the heart, exits from the heart system, descends to connect with the Small Intestine; its branch runs from the heart system, ascends along the throat, connects with the eye system; its direct branch runs from the heart system, ascends to the lung, descends under the armpit, runs along the inner arm, follows the Heart Meridian, descends at the elbow, runs along the inner arm, reaches the tip of the little finger, and exits at its tip.”
【Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian】 (图8) “The Small Intestine Meridian of the Hand Taiyang originates at the tip of the little finger, runs along the outer side of the hand, exits at the wrist, ascends along the arm, enters between the two bones of the elbow, ascends along the outer side of the upper arm, exits at the shoulder, encircles the shoulder blade, enters the thoracic cavity, connects with the heart, runs along the throat, reaches the stomach, and belongs to the Small Intestine; its branch runs from the thoracic cavity along the neck, ascends to the cheek, reaches the eye, and enters the ear; its branch runs from the cheek to the nose, reaches the inner corner of the eye, and connects with the cheek.”
【Taiyang Bladder Meridian】 (图9) “The Bladder Meridian of the Foot Taiyang originates at the inner corner of the eye, ascends to the forehead, crosses the vertex; its branch runs from the vertex to the upper corner of the ear; its direct branch runs from the vertex into the brain, exits at the back of the neck, runs along the inner shoulder, reaches the waist, enters the lumbar region, connects with the kidney, and belongs to the Bladder; its branch runs from the waist down along the spine, enters the buttocks; its branch runs from the shoulder along the sides, enters the shoulder blade, runs along the outer side of the hip, descends to the buttocks, enters the inner ankle, exits at the outer ankle, runs along the tibia, and reaches the outer side of the little toe.”
【Shaoyin Kidney Meridian】 (图10) “The Kidney Meridian of the Foot Shaoyin originates beneath the little toe, runs along the sole of the foot, exits beneath the Yangu (然谷); it runs behind the inner ankle, enters the heel, ascends along the inner side of the leg, enters the lumbar region, connects with the kidney and belongs to the Bladder; its direct branch runs from the kidney, ascends through the liver, enters the lung, runs along the throat, and connects with the root of the tongue; its branch runs from the lung, connects with the heart, and enters the thoracic cavity.”
【Jueyin Pericardium Meridian】 (图 11) “The Pericardium Meridian of the Hand Jueyin originates in the chest, exits from the pericardium, descends to connect with the Sanjiao; its branch runs from the chest along the side, descends three inches below the armpit, ascends to the armpit, descends along the inner arm, runs between the two tendons, enters the palm, runs along the middle finger, and exits at its tip; its branch runs from the palm, runs along the little finger, and exits at its tip.”
【Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian】 (图12) “The Sanjiao Meridian of the Hand Shaoyang originates at the tip of the little finger, ascends between the two fingers, runs along the outer side of the wrist, exits between the two bones of the arm, ascends along the outer side of the upper arm, exits at the shoulder, crosses the shoulder, enters the thoracic cavity, disperses in the middle of the chest, connects with the pericardium, descends to connect with the Sanjiao; its branch runs from the middle of the chest, ascends to the thoracic cavity, runs along the neck, connects with the ear, and exits at the upper corner of the ear; its branch runs from the back of the ear to the ear, exits at the front of the ear, crosses the cheek, and reaches the inner corner of the eye.”
【Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian】 (图13) “The Gallbladder Meridian of the Foot Shaoyang originates at the outer corner of the eye, ascends to the head, descends behind the ear, runs along the neck, runs in front of the Shaoyang, reaches the shoulder, crosses behind the Shaoyang, enters the thoracic cavity; its branch runs from behind the ear to the ear, exits at the front of the ear, reaches the inner corner of the eye; its branch runs from the inner corner of the eye, descends to the Daying, connects with the Hand Shaoyang, reaches the cheek, descends to the neck, enters the thoracic cavity, descends to the chest, connects with the liver, runs along the ribs, exits at the气街 (Qijie), runs along the毛际 (Maoji), and enters the hip; its direct branch runs from the thoracic cavity down to the armpit, runs along the chest, crosses the ribs, descends to the hip, runs along the outer side of the knee, exits at the outer ankle, runs along the foot, and enters between the little toe and the next toe; its branch runs from the foot, enters between the big toe and the second toe, runs along the big toe, and exits at its tip, and connects with the nail.”
【Jueyin Liver Meridian】 (图14) “The Liver Meridian of the Foot Jueyin originates at the junction of the big toe, ascends along the outer side of the foot, goes one inch from the inner ankle, ascends eight inches, crosses behind the Taiyin, ascends along the inner thigh, enters the lower abdomen, connects with the stomach, belongs to the liver, ascends through the diaphragm, spreads along the ribs, runs along the throat, ascends to the head, connects with the eye system, and exits at the vertex; its branch runs from the eye system down the cheek, encircles the lips; its branch runs from the liver, ascends through the diaphragm, and enters the lung.”
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