345
Jing Jin
≈
Sinew Channels
zone specific. Hence any point which becomes reac-
tive, called
Ashi
point, in the territory of a
Jingjin
is
considered a point of that particular channel
·
·
Ling Shu
chapter 5 also describes the relationship
of the
Jing
≈
Well points to
Gen-Jie
≈
Root and ter-
minations
–– Yang sinews terminate at the head and the sensory
organs*.
–– Yin sinews terminate at the throat, chest and ab-
domen*.
* They all travel upwards to meet at four convergence
areas:
– Upper Yang sinews converge at the junction of the
head and the face: the area of ST-8 Touwei or GB-13
Benshen
– Lower Yang sinews converge below the cheek bone,
at the area of SI-18 Quanliao or ST-3 Juliao
– Upper Yin sinews converge at the chest at GB-22
Yuanye
– Lower Yin sinews converge above the pubic bone at
RM-3 Zhongji
Jingjin
≈
Sinew
channels
The four confluent
areas of the
Jing-
jin
≈
Sinew channels
Area of
Arm
Yang
corner of the fore-
head
ST-8
Touwei
or
GB-13
Benshen
Leg
Yang
below the cheek
bone
SI-18
Quanliao
or ST-3
Taibai
Arm
Yin
below the axilla
GB-22
Yuanye
Leg
Yin
above the pubic
bone
RM-3
Zhongji
Sequence
Chapter 13 of Ling Shu describes the
Jingjin
channels
in the following order
·
·
Leg
Taiyang
-BL
➙
leg
Shaoyang
-GB
➙
leg
Yang-
ming
-ST
·
·
Leg
Taiyin
-SP
➙
leg
Shaoyin
-KI
➙
leg
Jueyin
-LR
·
·
Arm
Taiyang
-SI
➙
arm
Shaoyang
-TW
➙
arm
Yangming
-LI
·
·
Arm
Taiyin
-LU
➙
arm
Jueyin
-PE
➙
arm
Shaoyin
-
HE
This sequence is in accordance to the progression of
Shang Han
and
Zhong Feng
-injury due to cold or wind
as described in the Shang Han Lun. Here the order
of description reflects a spatial stratification in terms
of abundance of
Wei Qi
from the surface towards the
interior. This highlights the role of the
Jingjin
≈
Sinew
channels in protection and obviously in mobility and
seems to reflect a solar rhythm. Su Wen chapter 42
states that when Wind enters the body at
Tai Yang,
it diffuses into the flesh and struggles with
Wei Qi
,
1
Jing Jin
(Sinew
Channels)
經筋
1.1 Description
The
Jingjin
≈
Sinew channels are very broad and long
and yet superficial channels, emanating from the
primary channels at the
Jing
≈
Well points. As second-
ary channels the
Jingjin
are the externalisation of the
Primary Channels and share the same qualifications,
that is
Shou
and
Zu Taiyang
,
Shaoyang
,
Yangming
,
Tai-
yin
,
Shaoyin
and
Jueyin
. The Sinew channels circulate
on the surface and do not connect with the internal
organs, the
Zang-Fu
, although the physiology of the
latter does influence the
Jingjin
.
Along their pathway each
Jingjin
sends ramifications
to a group of muscles or tendons, these areas are called
“binding” or “insertion zone”, which often correspond
to major local points.
These channels do not have their own points, and are
grouped in to four groups of Upper Yang and Yin and
Lower Yang and Yin.
·
·
They all originate at the
Jing
≈
Well points, follow
superficially and very broadly the associated pri-
mary channels and the muscle groups. Along their
pathway they transverse and cross over to connect
with each other.This crossing over is of great impor-
tance in physiology and pathology, explaining how a
pathogenic factor spreads across to another channel
·
·
The
Jingjin
narrow down at the main joints, where
they bind or insert with the muscles, tendons, liga-
ments and the fascia. These are areas where Qi can
easily get obstructed, causingmuscle knots or adhe-
sions called
Guo
≈
Fruit (
果
)
·
·
The
Sinew
channels are not point specific, but rather
Jing
≈
Well points
Jingjin
≈
Sinew channels
Fig. 1
The Sinew channels cross over and cover
common territories with the adjacent
Jingjin
