Introduction to the Twelve Meridians

　　The Shí’èr jīngmài (Twelve Meridians) are the main body of the meridian system, characterized by their connection to the corresponding organs and their internal-external relationships. They include the three yin meridians of the hand (Shǒu tàiyīn fèijīng – Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian, Shǒu juéyīn xīnbāo jīng – Hand Jueyin Pericardium Meridian, Shǒu shǎoyīn xīnjīng – Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian), the three yang meridians of the hand (Shǒu yángmíng dàcháng jīng – Hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian, Shǒu shǎoyáng sānjiāo jīng – Hand Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian, Shǒu tàiyáng xiǎocháng jīng – Hand Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian), the three yang meridians of the foot (Zú yángmíng wèi jīng – Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian, Zú shǎoyáng dǎn jīng – Foot Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian, Zú tàiyáng pángguāng jīng – Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian), and the three yin meridians of the foot (Zú tàiyīn pí jīng – Foot Taiyin Spleen Meridian, Zú juéyīn gān jīng – Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian, Zú shǎoyīn shèn jīng – Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian), collectively known as the “zhèng jīng” (regular meridians).

　　The Twelve Meridians refer to the three yin meridians of the hand (Lung, Pericardium, Heart), the three yang meridians of the hand (Large Intestine, Sanjiao, Small Intestine), the three yang meridians of the foot (Stomach, Gallbladder, Bladder), and the three yin meridians of the foot (Spleen, Liver, Kidney). They are the main body of the meridian system, hence also referred to as the regular meridians.

　　Distribution on the Body Surface

　　The Twelve Meridians are symmetrically distributed on the left and right sides of the body, covering the head, trunk, and limbs. The meridians corresponding to the five zang organs are the yin meridians, distributed on the inner sides of the limbs and the chest and abdomen; the meridians corresponding to the six fu organs are the yang meridians, distributed on the outer sides of the limbs and the head, trunk. In the limbs, the positions of the yang meridians are: Yangming in front, Shaoyang in the middle, Taiyang in the back; the positions of the yin meridians are: Taiyin in front, Jueyin in the middle, Shaoyin in the back (with the exception that the three yin meridians of the foot have Jueyin in front and Taiyin in the middle below 8 cun above the inner ankle).

　　Internal-External Relationship

　　Yin meridians belong to the zang organs and govern the interior, while yang meridians belong to the fu organs and govern the exterior. Each zang organ pairs with a fu organ, forming an internal-external relationship. The Shǒu tàiyīn fèijīng (Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian) is paired with the Shǒu yángmíng dàcháng jīng (Hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian), the Zú yángmíng wèi jīng (Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian) is paired with the Zú tàiyīn pí jīng (Foot Taiyin Spleen Meridian), the Shǒu shǎoyīn xīnjīng (Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian) is paired with the Shǒu tàiyáng xiǎocháng jīng (Hand Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian), the Zú tàiyáng pángguāng jīng (Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian) is paired with the Zú shǎoyīn shèn jīng (Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian), the Shǒu juéyīn xīnbāo jīng (Hand Jueyin Pericardium Meridian) is paired with the Shǒu shǎoyáng sānjiāo jīng (Hand Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian), and the Zú shǎoyáng dǎn jīng (Foot Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian) is paired with the Zú juéyīn gān jīng (Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian). The meridians that are mutually internal-external have a close physiological and pathological relationship, influencing each other.

　　Course, Interconnections, and Flow

　　The flow direction of the Twelve Meridians is as follows: the three yin meridians of the hand travel from the chest to the hand, the three yang meridians of the hand travel from the hand to the head, the three yang meridians of the foot travel from the head to the foot, and the three yin meridians of the foot travel from the foot to the abdomen and chest. The internal-external yin and yang meridians connect at the ends of the hands and feet, the two yang meridians with the same name connect at the head and face, and the two yin meridians that are connected meet in the chest.

　　The flow of the Twelve Meridians circulates from the Lung Meridian to the Liver Meridian and back to the Lung Meridian, in a continuous loop.

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