11
The Channels of Acupuncture
Secondary Channels
include:
·
·
Twelve
Jing Jin
≈
Sinew or Tendino-muscular chan-
nels
·
·
Twelve
Jingbie
≈
Divergent or Distinct channels
·
·
Eight
Qi Jing
≈
Extra ordinary vessels
·
·
Luo Mai
/ Connecting
vessels, further subdivided
in to:
–– Minute
Luo: Sun Luo
,
Fu Luo
and
Xue Luo
–– Twelve Connecting or Transversal*
Luo
·
·
16
Luo Bie
≈
Diverging or Longitudinal*
Luo
·
·
Twelve
Pi Bou
≈
Cutaneous zones
, are not really chan-
nels but territories attached to a primary channel
* terminology given by the French-Vietnamese
School
Amongst the secondary channels all, except for the
Eight Extraordinary and theminute
Luo
, are referred to
by the name of the primary channel they are related to.
The Primary Channels describe the fundamental en-
ergetic structure, the framework of the body, on which
all phenomena, be it internal or external, resonate.The
Secondary channels supplement and further specify
the functions of the primary channels. It can be said
that secondary channels are the externalization of the
primary channels. In this manner each group, primary
with its secondary channels, has its own preferential
roles and functions.
The Primary channels connect the
Zang-Fu
≈
Organs
to the head and the outside. The Secondary channels
complement the Primary channels and protect them.
The Secondary Channels complement and protect the
Primary Channels.
1.2 The Domain of the Channels
The Channels as conveyers of
Qi
≈
Energy
and of
Xue
≈
Blood,
link not only the depth and the surface,
the
Zang-Fu
≈
Organs and bowels with the anatomical
structures, but also the inner with the outer world
as well as the post-natal (Posterior Heaven) with the
pre-natal (Anterior Heaven).
The three energies:
Wei
≈
Defensive
,
Ying
≈
Nourishing
and
Jing
≈
Essence
, define the three energetic levels of
the human being (fig. 2):
·
·
The
Wei Q
i, abundant on the surface, deals with
contact with the outer world and helps adapt to the
external changes. The
Jing Jin
≈
Sinew channels are
the main vehicles for the
Wei Qi
, and as the most
superficial organized channel system, deal with the
outer world, acting as a defensive layer against ex-
ternal influences and climatic changes. As they are
also controlling the muscles and sinews, the
Jing
Jin
are responsible for the physical appearance, the
morphology and movement
·
·
The
Ying Qi,
is responsible for the inner nourish-
ment, and is mainly carried via
Xue
≈
Blood to the
physical structures, as well as via the primary chan-
nels. Therefore the
Luo
≈
Network channels,
appear
to help the processing of the outer influences, acting
as a buffer systemand dealingmore specifically with
the emotional responses
·
·
The Primary channels constitute the bridge between
the outer changes and the inherited energies
·
·
The
Jing Qi
≈
Constitutional energy, sometimes
equalled with the genetic inheritance, which ac-
cording to the Daoist belief, also defines, our fate
and destiny, is managed and carried by the Eight
Extraordinary vessels
Additionally, the
Jingbie
≈
Divergent channels consti-
tute the buffer system for the Jing, and act as a link
Zang-Fu
Primary channel
Divergent
channel
Luo vessel
Sinew channel
Fig. 2
The secondary channels complement and protect
the Primary channels in a stratified manner
Exterior
Wei Qi:
Jing Jin
Interior
Ying Qi:
Luo Mai
Constitution
Yuan Qi:
Qi Jing Ba Mai
Primary Channels
Fig. 3
The three energetic layers:
Wei-Ying-Yuan,
in
relation to the channel systems
