Meridian (Chinese medicine)

The meridian system (simplified Chinese: 经 络 ; traditional

Chinese: 經絡; pinyin: jīngluò, also called channel network) is a
concept in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) about a path
through which the life-energy known as "qi" flows.[1]

Despite ongoing research into the existence of meridians, no

convincing scientific evidence has been put forward for their
existence. Major proponents of their existence have also not
come to any consensus as to how they might work or be tested in
a scientific context.

Contents
Main concepts
12 standard meridians
Eight extraordinary meridians
History
See also
References
External links Meridian system

Main concepts
The meridian network is typically divided into two categories, the jingmai (經脈) or meridian channels and the luomai (絡脈) or
associated vessels (sometimes called "collaterals"). The jingmai contain the 12 tendinomuscular meridians, the 12 divergent
meridians, the 12 principal meridians, the eight extraordinary vessels as well as the Huato channel, a set of bilateral points on the
lower back whose discovery is attributed to the ancient physician Hua Tuo. The collaterals contain 15 major arteries that connect
the 12 principal meridians in various ways, in addition to the interaction with their associated internal organs and other related
internal structures. The collateral system also incorporates a branching expanse of capillary-like vessels which spread throughout
the body, namely in the 12 cutaneous regions as well as emanating from each point on the principal meridians. If one counts the
number of unique points on each meridian, the total comes to 361, which matches the number of days in a year, in the moon
calendar system. Note that this method ignores the fact that the bulk of acupoints are bilateral, making the actual total 670.

There are about 400 acupuncture points (not counting bilateral points twice) most of which are situated along the major 20
pathways (i.e. 12 primary and eight extraordinary channels). However, by the second Century AD, 649 acupuncture points were
recognized in China (reckoned by counting bilateral points twice).[2][3] There are "12 Principal Meridians" where each meridian
corresponds to either a hollow or solid organ; interacting with it and extending along a particular extremity (i.e. arm or leg). There
are also "Eight Extraordinary Channels", two of which have their own sets of points, and the remaining ones connecting points on
other channels.

12 standard meridians
The 12 standard meridians, also called Principal Meridians, are divided into Yin and Yang groups. The Yin meridians of the arm
are Lung, Heart, and Pericardium. The Yang meridians of the arm are Large Intestine, Small Intestine, and Triple Burner. The Yin
Meridians of the leg are Spleen, Kidney, and Liver. The Yang meridians of the leg are Stomach, Bladder, and Gall Bladder.[4]

The table below gives a more systematic list of the 12 standard meridians:[5]

Quality of Five
Meridian name (Chinese) Extremity Organ Time of Day
Yin or Yang Elements

Taiyin Lung Channel of Hand Greater Yin

(手太阴肺经) or Hand's Major (taiyin, 太 Hand (手) Metal (金) Lung (肺) 寅 [yín] 3 a.m. to 5 a.m.
Yin Lung Meridian 阴)

Shaoyin Heart Channel of Lesser Yin

(shaoyin, 少 午 [wǔ] 11 a.m. to 1
Hand (手少阴心经) or Hand's Hand (手) Fire (火) Heart (心)
p.m.
Minor Yin Heart Meridian 阴)

Jueyin Pericardium Channel of Faint Yin

Hand (手厥阴心包经) or Pericardium
(jueyin - 厥 Hand (手) Fire (火) 戌 [xū] 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Hand's Absolute Yin Heart (心包)
阴)
Protector Meridian
Shaoyang Sanjiao Channel of Triple
Lesser Yang
Hand (手少阳三焦经) or (shaoyang, Burner (三 亥 [hài] 9 p.m. to 11
Hand (手) Fire (火)
Hand's Minor Yang Triple 少阳) p.m.
焦)
Burner Meridian
Taiyang Small Intestine Greater
Yang Small
Channel of Hand (手太阳小肠 未 [wèi] 1 p.m. to 3
Hand (手) Fire (火) Intestine
经) or Hand's Major Yang (taiyang, 太 p.m.
(小肠)
Small Intestine Meridian 阳)

Yangming Large Intestine

Yang Bright Large
Channel of Hand (手阳明大肠 卯 [mǎo] 5 a.m. to 7
(yangming, Hand (手) Metal (金) Intestine
经) or Hand's Yang Supreme 阳明) (大腸) a.m.
Large Intestine Meridian

Taiyin Spleen Channel of Foot Greater Yin

(足太阴脾经) or Foot's Major (taiyin, 太 Foot (足) Earth (土) Spleen (脾) 巳 [sì] 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Yin Spleen Meridian 阴)

Shaoyin Kidney Channel of Lesser Yin

Water 酉 [yǒu] 5 p.m. to 7
Foot (足少阴肾经) or Foot's (shaoyin, 少 Foot (足) Kidney (腎)
(水) p.m.
Minor Yin Kidney Meridian 阴)

Jueyin Liver Channel of Foot Faint Yin

Wood 丑 [chǒu] 1 a.m. to 3
(足厥阴肝经) or Foot's (jueyin, 厥 Foot (足) Liver (肝)
(木) a.m.
Absolute Yin Liver Meridian 阴)

Shaoyang Gallbladder
Lesser Yang Gall
Channel of Foot (足少阳胆经) Wood
(shaoyang, Foot (足) Bladder 子 [zǐ] 11 p.m. to 1 a.m.
or Foot's Minor Yang (木)
少阳) (膽)
Gallbladder Meridian

Taiyang Bladder Channel of Greater

Urinary
Foot (足太阳膀胱经) or Foot's Yang Water 申 [shēn] 3 p.m. to 5
Foot (足) bladder (膀
Major Yang Urinary Bladder (taiyang, 太 (水) p.m.
胱)
Meridian 阳)

Yangming Stomach Channel

Yang Bright
of Foot (足阳明胃经) or Foot's Stomach 辰 [chén] 7 a.m. to 9
(yangming, Foot (足) Earth (土)
Yang Supreme Stomach (胃) a.m.
阳明)
Meridian
Eight extraordinary meridians
The eight extraordinary meridians are of pivotal importance in the study of Qigong, T'ai chi ch'uan and Chinese alchemy.[6]
These eight extra meridians differ from the standard twelve organ meridians in that they are considered to be storage vessels or
reservoirs of energy and are not associated directly with the Zang Fu, i.e. internal organs. These channels were first systematically
referred to in the "Spiritual Axis" chapters 17, 21 and 62, the "Classic of Difficulties" chapters 27, 28 and 29 and the "Study of
the 8 Extraordinary vessels" (Qi Jing Ba Mai Kao) by Li Shi Zhen 1578.

The eight extraordinary vessels are (奇經八脈; qí jīng bā mài):[7]

1. Conception Vessel (Ren Mai) - 任脈 [rèn mài]

2. Governing Vessel (Du Mai) - 督脈 [dū mài]
3. Penetrating Vessel (Chong Mai) - 衝脈 [chōng mài]
4. Girdle Vessel (Dai Mai) - 帶脈 [dài mài]
5. Yin linking vessel (Yin Wei Mai) - 陰維脈 [yīn wéi mài]
6. Yang linking vessel (Yang Wei Mai) - 陽維脈 [yáng wéi mài]
7. Yin Heel Vessel (Yin Qiao Mai) - 陰蹻脈 [yīn qiāo mài]
8. Yang Heel Vessel (Yang Qiao Mai) - 陽蹻脈 [yáng qiāo mài]

History
The concept of meridians are first attested in two works recovered from the Mawangdui and Zhangjiashan tombs of the Han-era
Changsha Kingdom, the Cauterization Canon of the Eleven Foot and Arm Channels (足臂十一脈灸經, Zúbì Shíyī Mài Jiǔjīng)
and the Cauterization Canon of the Eleven Yin and Yang Channels (陰陽十一脈灸經, Yīnyáng Shíyī Mài Jiǔjīng). In the texts,
the meridians are referenced as mài (脈) rather than jīngmài.

See also
Acupuncture point
Chakra
List of acupuncture points
Marma adi
Nadi (yoga)
Pressure points
Glossary of alternative medicine

References
1. Novella, Steven (25 January 2012). "What Is Traditional Chinese Medicine?" (https://www.sciencebasedmedicin
e.org/what-is-traditional-chinese-medicine/). sciencebasedmedicine.org. Society for Science-Based Medicine.
Retrieved 13 May 2015.
2. Standard Acupuncture Nomenclature (http://www.wpro.who.int/publications/pub_9290611057.htm) Archived (http
s://web.archive.org/web/20060318223754/http://www.wpro.who.int/publications/pub_9290611057.htm) 2006-03-
18 at the Wayback Machine, World Health Organization
3. Needham, Joseph; Lu Gwei-Djen (1980). Celestial Lancets. Cambridge University Press. p. 100. ISBN 0-521-
21513-7.
4. Dillman, George and Chris, Thomas. Advanced Pressute Point Fighting of Ryukyu Kempo. A Dillman Karate
International Book, 1994. ISBN 0-9631996-3-3
5. Peter Deadman and Mazin Al-Khafaji with Kevin Baker. "A Manuel of Acupuncture" Journal of Chinese Medicine,
2007. ISBN 978-0-9510546-5-9
 6. T'ai Chi Ch'uan and Meditation by Da Liu, pages 35-41 - Routledge and Keegan Paul 1987 ISBN 0-14-019217-4
7. The foundations of Chinese Medicine by Giovanni Maciocia, pages 355-365 - Churchill Livingstone 1989.
ISBN 0-443-03980-1

External links
Images of the 12 main meridians (http://www.acupuncture.com.au/education/meridians/meridians.html)

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