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Foundations
Module 8 (A)
Primary Channels

Required Reading: Deadman pg.7-16, 29-38 and intro. Ling Shu

Ch.10 (first half).
Optional: The Web Ch.4
https://archive.org/details/WorldHealthOrganizationWHOStandard
AcupuncturePointLocationsInTheWesternPacificRegion/mode/2up

COURSE SUMMARY & OBJECTIVES

Competency 1. Patient Care Domain 1: Foundational Knowledge. The student must demonstrate the ability to acquire and utilize the
knowledge of AOM basic principles, modes of diagnosis, and treatment strategies in the care of patients.
Competency 2. Patient Care Domain 4: AOM Diagnosis. The student must demonstrate the ability to collect and organize relevant
information to facilitate the development of an AOM diagnosis.
Upon completion of this course, the students should be able to:
• L1. Understand the basics of Chinese language and characters, as underlying the core concepts of Chinese traditional understanding
of the world and especially the theories of medicine.
• L2. Match the historical time periods of China with the primary theories of Chinese Medicine and summarize the impact Chinese
philosophy had on the medicine.
• L3. Define and summarize basic concepts of Chinese Medicine such as Yīn/Yáng theory Wǔ-Xíng correspondences, Three Treasures:
Qì, Jīng and Shén
• L4. Illustrate Wǔ-Xíng relationships.
• L5. Understand the substances in Chinese physiology: Jīng, Qì, Shén, Jin-Yeh, Xue (Blood) etc.
• L6. Summarize the functions of zàng-Fǔ (organs/bowels) and the curious organs.
• L7. Define Sān Jiāo energetics and how the other zàng-Fǔ are involved in this process.
• L8. Summarize the causes of disease and their basic effects on the human physiology.
• L9. Demonstrate basic understanding of the four diagnostic methods of Chinese Medicine.
• L10. Discuss the basic functions of the Channel Systems of Chinese Medicine.
• L11. Identify the Channel Systems of Chinese Medicine including Primary Channels, Sinew Channels, Luo Vessels, Channel
Divergences, and the 8 Curious Vessels.
• L12. Identify the five flavors of Chinese Food Therapy and apply their basic uses for maintaining health.

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Module 8(A)
Part 1
Channel (Meridian) System Introduction
Homework due Mar-May: Primary and Secondary
Channel Charts
Homework due June: Channel and Zang-Fu Project

Jing-Luo / Jing-Mai
• Jing-Luo: Channels (Conduits) and Collaterals
• Jing-Mai: Channel Vessels (Meridians)

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12 and 14 Meridians
• There are 12 Primary (Regular) Meridians plus two
Curious Vessels (Extraordinary Meridians) with
their own acupoints and so we speak of 14
meridians also:
• Twelve Jing, Twelve Regular Jing, Twelve Jing-Mai
• Fourteen Jing, Fourteen Jing-Mai

Functions of Channels (Meridians)

1 Transporting qi and blood throughout the body and
rendering the body an integrated whole (Deadman)
2 Protecting the body
3 Responding to dysfunction in the body
i. Disease of the channels themselves
ii. Disease of the zangfu reflecting onto the channels
iii. Disease transmitting via the channels
iv. Visibly showing disease (see cutaneous regions, and
Luo-Mai)
Deadman p.12-13

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Overview of Channel System

• 8 Qi Jing Ba Mai Curious / Extraordinary (Conduits) (Eight)
Vessels (only 2 of which have their own points)
• 12 Jing-Mai: Primary Channels / Meridians (superficial and
deep)
• 12 Jing-Bie: Channel Divergences (divergences of the
channels, Divergent Channels)
• 15 Luo-Mai: Luo (Network, Collateral) Vessels
• 12 Primary Channels
• 2 Du Mai (GV) & Ren Mai (CV)
• 1 Great Luo of the Spleen (1)
+ Sun Luo – ‘grandchild luo’ / tertiary Luo
• 12 Cutaneous Regions (Skin Zones / Dermatomes)
• 12 Jing-Jin: Channel Sinews (Sinew Channel)

Curious Vessels 1
“…the qi jing ba mai must be seen as the foundation
of life from the very beginning to the very end. They
are active from conception to birth, working within a
state of life which is not so organized. With the
development of the arms and legs, hands and feet,
the number twelve is appropriate and will come into
effect after birth.”
Larre, Claude & Rochat de la Velee, Elizabeth; The
Eight Extraordinary Meridians; Monkey Press, 1997

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Curious Vessels 2
• Two (CV and GV) have points of their own the rest
interconnect with primary channel points
• Four are central in location and path
• Four are bilateral and go to the extremities
The Eight Curious Vessels:
1 act as reservoirs
2 link the twelve primary channels
3 protect the body

Cutaneous Regions
“The twelve cutaneous regions are not channels as such,
but skin regions overlying the broad network of
superficial channels and linked to them. The cutaneous
regions provide the theoretical foundation for the idea of
invasion by exogenous pathogenic factors through the
skin to the deeper layers of the jingluo system.
Cutaneous regions also manifest disorders of the deep-
lying channels, for example by abnormal skin sensations,
skin lesions or discoloration:
• a blue-green (qing) colour indicates pain
• a red colour indicates heat
• a white colour indicates deficiency and cold”
Deadman p.27

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Luo-Mai:Connecting (network,
collateral) Vessels
• 15 Luo-Mai
• 12 primary channels,
• 2 CV/GV, and
• 1 great luo of Spleen
• “The luo-connecting channels strengthen the
connection between internally-externally paired
channels and zangfu. For a full discussion of the
actions of the luo-connecting points, please refer to
the chapter on Point Categories.”
Deadman p.26

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Jing-Bie
Channel Divergences 1
• “The twelve divergent channels branch out from
the twelve primary channels and have no specific
points of their own. It is important, however, to be
familiar with the principal features of the divergent
channels, since their pathways make internal
linkages that may not be made by the primary
channels, and therefore serve to explain the actions
and indications of many points.”
Deadman p.16

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Channel Divergences 2
1 The divergent channels strengthen the yin-yang
relationship between internally-externally paired
channels and zangfu
2 The divergent channels distribute qi and blood to head
and face
3 The divergent channels integrate areas of the body not
supplied or interconnected by the primary channels
4 The divergent channels help explain the clinical action
of some commonly-used acupuncture points
Deadman p.16-17

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Jing-Jin: Channel Sinews (Sinew

Channels)
The twelve channel sinews:
• circulate on the periphery of the body.
• do not penetrate to the zangfu.
• are associated with and take their names from the
twelve primary channels.
• all originate at the extremities (unlike the primary
channels) and ascend to the head and trunk. broadly
follow the course of their associated primary channels
but are wider.
• are more superficial and follow the lines of major
muscles and muscle groups, tendons, ligaments etc.
Deadman p.26

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Levels and Layers

SW Ch.63 繆刺 Misleading Needling
• Describes an evil Qì penetrating levels: skin & hair,
Sūn-Luò, Luò-Mài, Jīng-Mài, Five-Zàng
• Describes the evil Qì diverted into the Luò-Mài to
prevent deeper penetration.
• Sometimes treatment needs to be on the opposite
side to the disease and sometimes the same size

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Centripetal/Centrifugal

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Centripetal &
Centrifugal

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Five-Shu Point Overview

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Wei Qi Circulation
• Wei Qi Circulation (Chart: Felix Mann)

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Ying Qi Circulation
(& Chinese Clock)

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Lìu Jié / Liù Hé

Six Divisions / Six Unions
Inner (Yin) Yin Yang Outer (Yang)
Li Zang Fu Biao

Metal Arm Lung Large-Intestine Arm

Tai Yin Yang Ming
Earth Leg Spleen Stomach Leg

Fire Arm Heart Small-Intestine Arm

Shao Yin Tai Yang
Water Leg Kidney Urinary-Bladder Leg

Fire Arm Xin Bao San Jiao Arm

Jue Yin Shao Yang
Wood Leg Liver Gall-Bladder Leg

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Month 8(A)
Part 2
Surface and Deep sections of the Primary Vessels

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Channel Attributes
• Each Primary Channel connects to two, and
sometimes more than two organs.
• Uniting the paired Zang-viscera and Fu-bowel.
• Yin channel connects to Yin Zang-Viscera and its paired
Fu-Bowel
• Yang channel connects to Yang Fu-Bowel and its paired
Zang-Viscera
• Connects to one or more other organs or structures
• Secondary channels (esp. see Jing-Bie Channel
Divergences and Jing-Luo) connect to other organs also.
• Note: see section 3 of Channel and Zang-Fu project

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Hand Tai-Yin Lung Jing-channel

The Lung channel originates

in the Middle Energizer.
Descends to connect with
the Large Intestine. Ascends
to the stomach, passes the
diaphragm and enters the
lungs. Ascends to the throat.
Emerges at Lu.1. From here,
it descends along the antero-
lateral] aspect of the arm
and reaches the styloid
process of the radius.
Traverses the thenar
eminence and ends at the
radial side of the thumbnail.
A branch separates at Lu.7 to
link to LI.1.

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Hand Tai-Yin
Lung
11 points
Entry Lu.1
Exit Lu.7

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Hand Yang-Ming LI Jing-channel

The Large Intestine channel begins at
the radial side of the tip of the index
finger. It then runs along the radial
side of the index finger and up
postero-lateral aspect of the arm. It
then reaches the shoulder at point
LI.15. From here, it connects with
Du.14 and descends to the
supraclavicular fossa [St.12]. It
ascends along the lateral aspect of
neck to the cheek and enters the gum
at the lower teeth. It then curves
around the upper lip and crosses over
the philtrum to end at the side of the
nose where it links to the Stomach
channel. A branch descends from
supra-clavicular fossa to pass through
lungs, diaphragm and Large Intestine
continuing to descend to St.37

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Hand Yang-Ming
Large-Intestine
20 points
Entry LI.4
Exit LI.20

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Foot Yang Ming St Jing-channel (1)

The Stomach channel starts
from the lateral side of the
ala nasi at LI.20. It ascends
along the nose and meets the
Bladder channel at Bl.1.
Descends laterally along the
infra-orbital ridge to ST-1. It
then enters the upper gums.
It curves around the lips and
links with the Directing Vessel
at Ren.24. It then runs along
the lower jaw and ascends in
front of the ear to reach the
forehead. From St.5 a branch
goes down to the throat and
the supraclavicular fossa. It
then passes through the
diaphragm, enters the
stomach and spleen….

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Foot Yang Ming St Jing-channel (2)

…. From the supraclavicular

fossa, a branch connects to
Du.14, then follows the
superficial channel down to
the breast and abdomen to
pass through ST.30. Another
branch from the stomach
connects to the point St.30.
From this point it follows the
superficial channel to run
along the anterior aspect of
the upper leg and the interior
border of the tibia to end at
the second toe. A branch from
St.42 links with the spleen
channel.

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Foot Yang-
Ming
Stomach’
45 points
Entry 1
Exit 42

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Foot Tai-Yin SP Jing-channel

The Spleen channel starts
from the medial side of tip of
the big toes and runs along
the medial aspect of the foot
to ascend the medial
malleolus. It then follows the
posterior border of the tibia
and passes the knee and
thigh to enter the abdomen.
It then enters the spleen and
stomach from where it
ascends, traversing the
diaphragm and reaching the
oesophagus. It ends at the
centre of the tongue. From
the stomach, a branch goes
through the diaphragm and
links with the heart.

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Foot Tai-Yin
Spleen
21 points
Entry 1
Exit 21

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Hand Shao-Yin He Jing-channel

The Heart channel originates

from the heart. It then emerges,
from the system or blood vessels
and passes through the
diaphragm and connects with
the small-intestine. A branch
from the heart ascends to the
throat and eye.
Another branch from the heart
enters the lung and emerges at
the axilla, from where it joins the
superficial channel running along
the medial aspect of the arm to
end at the radial corner of the
nail of the little finger.

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Hand Shao-
yin Heart-
Mind
9 points
Entry 1
Exit 9

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Hand Tai-Yang SI Jing-channel (1)

The Small Intestine channel
starts at the ulnar side of the
tip of the little finger.
Following the ulnar side of
the dorsum of the hand it
reaches the wrist and ascends
along the posterior aspect of
the arm to the shoulder joint.
Zigzags from inf. fossa to sup.
fossa of scapula. Connects
with Du.14 and goes forward
to the supraclavicular fossa
[ST.12] to connect with the
heart. From here it descends
the oesophagus and connects
with small intestine. From
here it continues to St.39…

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Hand Tai-Yang SI Jing-channel (2)

…. The superficial
pathway of the
channel from the
supraclavicular fossa
ascends to the neck
and the cheek to enter
the ear. From the
cheek a branch goes
to the infraorbital
region to link with the
Bladder Channel at
the inner canthus Bl.1.

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Arm Tai-Yang
Small-Intestine
19 points
Entry 1
Exit 19 (18)

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Foot Tai-Yang UB Jing-channel (1)

The Bladder Channel starts at the
inner canthus of the eye. It
ascends the forehead and joins
the Governing Vessel at the point
Du.20. From here a branch goes
to the temple. From the vertex,
the channel enters the brain to
re-emerge at the nape of the
neck. From here it flows down
the occiput and all the way to
down the back. From the lumbar
area, it enters the kidney and
bladder….

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Foot Tai-Yang UB Jing-channel (2)

Another branch from the
occiput runs down the back
along the medial aspect of the
scapula, down the back to the
gluteus and the popliteal fossa.
Here it meets the previous
branch and runs along the
posterior aspect of leg to end
at the lateral aspect of the fifth
toe where it links with the
kidney channel.

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Foot Tai –Yang

Urinary Bladder
67 points
Entry 1
Exit 67

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Foot Shao Yin Ki Jing-channel

The Kidney Channel starts under the
fifth toe and runs to the sole of the
foot (at Ki.1 Yongquan) . Running
under the navicular bone and
behind the medial malleolus, it
ascends the medial side of the leg
up the inner aspect of thigh. It then
goes towards the sacrum at Du.1 . It
ascends along the lumbar spine and
enters the kidney and urinary
bladder. It then goes forward to
enter the liver, pass through the
diaphragm and enter the lung. From
here it ascends to the throat and
terminates at the root of the
tongue. The superficial pathway
continues up the abdomen and
chest to terminate at Ki.27 below
the clavicle.

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Foot Shao-Yin
Kidney
27 points
Entry 1
Exit 22

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Hand Jue-Yin Xin-Zhu (Xin-Bao(-Luo)) Jing

The Pericardium Channel

originates from the chest and
enters the pericardium. It then
descends through the diaphragm
to the abdomen to communicate
with the Upper, Middle and Lower
Burner. [Ren.17, 12, 6)
A branch from the center of the
chest emerges laterally from the
nipple to run along the superficial
channel to the axilla and down
the antero-medial aspect of the
arm to the radial side of the
middle finger [alt. tip of middle
finger].
A branch from P.8 links with the
San Jiao channel at the point
TB.1.

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Hand Jue-Yin
Xin Bao
9 points
Entry 1
Exit 8

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Hand Shao-Yang SJ Jing-channel (1)

The Triple Burner Channel
starts at the ulnar aspect of
tip of the ring finger. Running
between the fourth and fifth
metarcarpal bones. It flows to
the wrist and up the lateral
aspect of the arm between
the radius and ulnar. It then
reaches the shoulder joint
and the supraclavicular
fossa[St.12] from where it
goes down to the chest to
connect with the
pericardium. It then descends
through the diaphragm to the
abdomen to join the middle
and lower burners, continues
to connect to Bl.39.

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Hand Shao-Yang SJ Jing-channel (2)

…. From the chest, a
branch goes up to the
supraclavicular fossa
from where it ascends to
the neck and the region
behind the ear. It then
turns downwards to the
cheek and terminates in
the infraorbital region.
From behind the ear, a
branch enters the ear, re-
emerges in front of the
ear and links with the
Gall-Bladder Channel.

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Hand Shao Yang San-Jiao

• Notes:
• The San Jiao channel
sends an anastomoses
from SJ.17 to SI.19
• Thus the Channel(s)
make a connection
represented by the
correspondence of Ear
‘orifice’ to Fire Phase.

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Hand Shao-Yang
San Jiao
23 points
Entry 1
Exit 23 (alt.22)

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Foot Shao-Yang GB Jing-channel (1)

The Gall Bladder Channel starts at the
outer canthus of the eye. It ascends
the forehead and curves downwards
to the region behind the ear GB.20.
From where it runs down the neck to
the supraclavicular fossa [St.12].
A branch from the region behind the
ear enters the ear. Another branch
from the outer canthus meets the
Triple Burner Channel in the
infraorbital region. It then descends to
the neck and the supraclavicular fossa
where it meets the main branch. From
here it descends to the chest and,
passing through the diaphragm, it
enter the liver and gall bladder. It then
runs down the hypochondriac region
and the lateral side of the abdomen to
reach the point Gb.30….

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Foot Shao-Yang GB Jing-channel (2)

…. The main portion of the
channel from the
supraclavicular fossa goes
to the axilla and the lateral
side of the chest to the
ribs and hip where it
meets the previous
branch. It then descends
along the lateral aspect of
the thigh and leg to end at
the lateral side of the
fourth toe.
From GB.41 a branch goes
to Liv.1 Dadun.
Maciocia p.1041

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Let Shao-Yang
Gall-Bladder
44 points
Entry 1
Exit 41

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Foot Jue-Yin Liv Jing

The Liver channel starts at lateral
aspect of the big toe and runs
upwards on the dorsum of the foot
and medial malleolus and then up
the medial aspect of the leg. It then
reaches the genital region, curves
around the genitalia and goes up to
the lower abdomen. Proceeding
further up, it curves around the
stomach and enters the liver and
gall-bladder. It then continues to
ascend, passes through the
diaphragm and branches out in the
hypochondriac and costal region.
From here it ascends to the throat
and reaches the eye. Running
further upwards it goes to the top of
the head to meet the Governing
Vessel.

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Foot Jue-Yin
Liver
14 points
Entry 1
Exit 14

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Controller & Governor Vessels

• Are counted among the Extraordinary (Curious)
Vessels
• Most of the curious vessels do not have points of
their own
• CV and GV Like the primary channels they have
points of their own

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Controller Vessel (Rèn Mài):

Deep Pathway
The Directing Vessel originates
from the uterus (or deep in the
lower abdomen in men) and
emerges at the perineum. It runs
anteriorly to the pubic region and
all the way to the throat along the
midline of the body. From the
throat it ascends to curve around
the lips, and up to the eyes to
meet the Stomach channel at the
points St.1 Chengqi.
Maciocia p.1071
A branch arises in the pelvic
cavity, enters the spine and
ascends along the back. {see
Chōng Mài }
Deadman p.495

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Controller Vessel (Rèn Mài)

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Controller
Vessel
Ren Mai
24 point
Entry 1
Exit 24

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Governor Vessel (Dū Mài)

First Branch
The Governing vessel
originates from the
uterus (or deep inside the
lower abdomen in men)
and goes to the perineum
where it emerges. [Ren.1]
It then ascends the
midline all the way up the
back and neck to Du-16
Fengfu from where it
enters the brain. It then
ascends to the vertex and
down the front of the
face to the upper lip.
Maciocia p.1089

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Governor Vessel (Dū Mài)

Second Branch
• originates in the lower
abdomen,
• winds around the external
genitalia,
• ascends to the middle of the
umbilicus,
• passes through the Heart,
• ascends to the throat,
• winds around the mouth,
• ascends to below the middle
of the eyes.

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Governor Vessel (Dū Mài)

Third Branch
• emerges at Jingming BL-1,
• follows the Bladder channel
bilaterally along the forehead,
• the bilateral branches converge
at the vertex and enter the
brain,
• the single channel emerges at
Fengfu DU-16,
• then divides again, descending
through Fengmen BL-12 along
either side of the spine to the
Kidneys.

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Governor
Vessel
Du Mai
27 points
Entry 1
Exit 27

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Bibliography
Deadman, Peter & Al-Khajifi with Kevin Baker; A
Manual of Acupuncture; Eastland Press; 1998
Wang Ju-Yi & Robertson, Jason D.; Applied Channel
Theory in Chinese Medicine; Eastland Press;
Seattle; 2008
Woollerton, Henry & McLean, Colleen; Acupuncture
Energy in Health and Disease; Thorsons; 1979

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