12
“Body Energetics” – Energetic structure of the body
B
between the inherited (pre-heaven) and produced
(post-heaven) energies.
According to Master Yuen the energetic anatomy of
the body can be summarised as:
·
·
The exterior
Wei Qi
layer as the instinctual, au-
tonomic, involuntary, natural, responding to the
climate and external influences
·
·
The interior
Ying Qi
layer, responsible for cogni-
tive choices: emotions, desires, nutrition (choice of
foods), moral choices (obligations) and beliefs
·
·
The constitutional
Jing Qi
level: represents the in-
herited energies and concerns survival as well as
gender and ethnic issues.The Extraordinary vessels,
over-see the transmission of the inherited energies
and thus the unfolding of the predefined destiny
·
·
The Primary channels, linking the surface and the
interior, manifest the original Yin and Yang as post-
natal Qi and Blood, and are considered the “Path of
Life”, in other words how the inherited energies are
actually manifested in life. The channels reflect the
physiology (natural state of human existence) and
convey movement
Pathology is the normal physiology gone astray, a
dysfunction of the movement of
Qi
. In this manner a
repletion (excess) of a channel represents a path, which
is frequently trodden and one is attracted to, the de-
sires and propensities, whereas a vacuity (deficiency),
would represent an area, which is repeatedly avoided.
Outer
Morphology
(physical
appearance)
12
Jing Jin
≈
Sinew
channels
Inner
Processing of the
world: emotion,
temperament
15
Luo Mai
≈-
Connecting
vessels
Both inner
and outer
Path of life
12
Zheng
Jing
≈
Primary
channels
Constitution
8
Qi Jing Ba
Mai
≈
Extraor-
dinary vessels
Bridge between
the constitution
and the rest
Fate, destiny
(genetics)
12
Jingbie
≈
Divergent
channels
The anatomical aspect of the Chinese channel system
may be related to the following structures:
Related to the
Skin
Pi Bu
≈
Skin zones
Muscles
Sinew channels
Blood vessels
Luo
channels
Flesh
Primary channels
Bones
Divergent channels
Marrow
Extraordinary vessels
The Exterior
Yang aspect
Channels
Zang-Fu
connection
Yin aspect
Pi
≈
Skin
Pi Bu
≈
Cutaneous
zones
none
Jin
≈
Sinews
Jingjin
≈
Sinew none
Mai
≈
Vessels
Luo
≈
Connecting none directly
Ji
≈
Flesh
Primary
Jing
Zang-Fu
Gu
≈
Bone
Jingbie
≈
Divergent
Zang-Fu
Sui
≈
Marrow Extraordinary
vessels
Qi Fu
≈
Curious
Fu
Only the Primary and Divergent channels connect
with the
Zang-Fu
(except for the HE and PE
Luo
).
The Extraordinary connect with the Curious
Fu
≈
Organs
.
1.3 The
Pi Bu
≈
Skin Zones
The skin zones are cutaneous territories controlled by
a specific
Jinjin
≈
Sinew channel, which in turn is con-
nected to a Primary channel. In other words, the Skin
zones are cutaneous projections of a Primary channel.
There are therefore twelve skin zones, but most com-
monly they are described as the six zones, and are
classified in the same order as the Primary channels,
that is from the most superficial to the deepest:
Taiyang
➙
Shaoyang
➙
Yangming
➙
Taiyin
➙
Jueyin
➙
Shaoyin
As extensions of the Sinew channels, they are rich in
Wei Qi
and play an important role in protection. This
explains that the Yang skin zones cover the largest
surface of the body.
1.4 Terminology of the Primary
Channels
Terminology
As vertical conduits of energy between Heaven and
Earth, they follow the basic rule:
“… Between Heaven and Earth, there is Qi and the
law.”
In other words, Qi flows according to the law of Yin
and Yang: Yang from above, Yin from below.
Further Yin and Yang manifest in three intensities of
Tai – Shao – Jue
or
Ming
.
