14
“Body Energetics” – Energetic structure of the body
B
This gives us the twelve expressions defining the
Twelve Primary Channels:
Shou
(Hand)
Taiyang
Small
Intestine
(SI)
with
Zu
(Foot)
Taiyang
Bladder
(BL)
Shou
(Hand)
Shaoyang
Triple
Warmer
(TW)
with
Zu
(Foot)
Shaoyang
Gallblad-
der (GB)
Shou
(Hand)
Yangming
Large
Intestine
(LI)
with
Zu
(Foot)
Yangming
Stomach
(ST)
Shou
(Hand)
Taiyin
Lung
(LU)
with
Zu
(Foot)
Taiyin
Spleen/
Pancreas
(SP)
Shou
(Hand)
Shaoyin
Heart
(HE)
with
Zu
(Foot)
Shaoyin
Kidney
(KI)
Shou
(Hand)
Jueyin
Pericard
(PE)
with
Zu
(Foot)
Jueyin
Liver
(LR)
Again it is essential to stress the importance of nam-
ing the primary channels according to their energetic
classifications rather than the simplified westernized
manner of naming them according to their
Zang-Fu
connections. Hence
Zu Taiyang
channel, informs us
about its polarity: Yang; its intensity:
Tai
; its connec-
tion to the lower limbs:
Zu.
Its position on the body:
the most Yang regions. That it is connected to
Shou
Taiyang;
and that all
Taiyang
phenomena will resonate
on it etc. Instead all of this information is lost when
we call it the Bladder channel, retaining only its con-
nection to the related
Fu
≈
Bowel.
The Six Energy Axes or vectors in relation to the
channels
The channels are first defined by their connection
to the hand or the foot, then their energetic level or
axis/ intensity. Hence Small Intestine would be
Shou
Taiyang
≈
Hand greater Yang.
The above order follows the intensity of Yang from
greater to weaker Yang and from greater to weaker
Yin. In reality the channels on the body have been
described with a slight difference*: The
Shaoyin
level
has been placed as the deepest level.The
Shaoyin
being
the vital axis of the body, it makes sense that it should
also be the most protected. Several texts explain this
point by stressing that
Shaoyin
is the deepest level; or
that
Shaoyin
cannot be attacked by external pathogenic
factors directly as it is protected by the
Jueyin.
Hence the disposition of the six energy vectors as re-
lated to the body, from the surface towards the depth,
would be:
Taiyang
➙
Shaoyang
➙
Yangming
➙
Taiyin
➙
Jueyin
➙
Shaoyin
Shou
≈
Hand
Level/intensity
Zu
≈
Foot
Small Intestine
(SI)
Taiyang
Bladder
(BL)
Triple Warmer
(TW)
Shaoyang
Gallbladder
(GB)
Large Intestine
(LI)
Yangming
Stomach
(ST)
Lung
(LU)
Taiyin
Spleen/Pancreas
(SP)
Heart Protector
(PE)
Jueyin
Liver
(LR)
Heart
(HE)
Shaoyin
Kidney
(KI)
The channel order as described in the Shanghanlun,
Suwen and Jiayujing are:
Taiyang
➙
Yangming
➙
Shaoyang
➙
Taiyin
➙
Shaoyin
➙
Jueyin
This probably is putting the emphasis on the circula-
tion of Wei Qi in the
Biao
≈
Exterior (the Sinew chan-
nels).
But in considering the
Li
≈
Interior,
Wei
≈
Defensive Qi
transforms into
Ying
≈
Nourishing Qi,
therefore the
order changes to:
Taiyang
➙
Shaoyang
➙
Yangming
➙
Taiyin
➙
Jueyin
➙
Shaoyin
This order represents the location of the primary chan-
nels from above to below and from the side towards
the centre, as they have been represented classically
on the body.
1.5
Organization and
circulation of the channels
The sequence of descriptions of the Primary and
Secondary channels in the classical texts differs from
one channel group to another. The order in which
each channel system is described is signifying and
emphasising its main functions.
1.5.1 Zheng Jing
≈
Primary Channels
正經
They are described as a continuum in the following
order:
LU
(Shou Taiyin)
= Metal
➙
LI
(Shou Yangming)
= Metal
➙
ST
(Zu Yangming)
= Earth
➙
SP
(Zu
Taiyin)
= Earth
➙
HE
(Shou Shaoyin)
= Fire
➙
SI
(Shou Taiyang)
= Fire
➙
BL
(Zu Taiyang)
= Water
