Meridian (Chinese medicine)
Encyclopedia
The meridian is a path through which the life-energy known as "qi
" is believed to flow, in traditional Chinese medicine
. There is no physically verifiable anatomical or histological basis for the existence of acupuncture points or meridians.
The table below gives a more systematic list of the twelve standard meridians:
, T'ai chi ch'uan and Chinese alchemy
. These eight extra meridians are different to 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 or 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:
In 1694, during the "quarrel of the Ancients and Moderns", after having seen some meridian diagrams from the Lèi Jīng
and misinterpreting them as anatomical drawings, British Scholar William Wotton
wrote this famous criticism of TCM:
Skeptics of Traditional Chinese Medicine
(TCM) often characterize the system as pseudoscientific
.
Qi
In traditional Chinese culture, qì is an active principle forming part of any living thing. Qi is frequently translated as life energy, lifeforce, or energy flow. Qi is the central underlying principle in traditional Chinese medicine and martial arts...
" is believed to flow, in traditional Chinese medicine
Traditional Chinese medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine refers to a broad range of medicine practices sharing common theoretical concepts which have been developed in China and are based on a tradition of more than 2,000 years, including various forms of herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage , exercise , and dietary therapy...
. There is no physically verifiable anatomical or histological basis for the existence of acupuncture points or meridians.
Main concepts
There are about 400 acupuncture points and 20 meridians connecting most of the points, however by the 2nd Century CE, 649 acupuncture points were recognized in China. These 20 meridians include the "twelve regular channels" or "twelve regular meridians", with each meridian corresponding to each organ; nourishing it and extending to an extremity. There are also "Eight Extraordinary Channels" or meridians, two of which have their own sets of points, and the remaining ones connecting points on other channels.Twelve standard meridians
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 Warmer. The Yin Meridians of the leg are Spleen, Kidney, and Liver. The Yang meridians of the leg are Stomach, Bladder, and Gall Bladder.The table below gives a more systematic list of the twelve standard meridians:
| Meridian name (Chinese) | Yin / Yang | Hand / Foot | 5 elements | Organ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taiyin Lung Channel of Hand (手太阴肺经) or Taiyin Lung Meridian of Hand | Taiyin (greater yin) | Hand (手) | Metal (金) | Lung Lung (Zang) The Lung is one of the zang organs stipulated by Traditional Chinese Medicine. It is a functionally defined entity and not equivalent to the anatomical organ of the same name.-In the context of the zang-fu organs:... (肺) |
| Shaoyin Heart Channel of Hand (手少阴心经) or Shaoyin Heart Meridian of Hand | Shaoyin (lesser yin) | Hand (手) | Fire (火) | Heart Heart (Zang) The Heart is one of the zàng organs stipulated by Traditional Chinese Medicine . It is a functionally defined entity and not equivalent to the anatomical organ of the same name.-In the context of the zang-fu concept:... (心) |
| Jueyin Pericardium Channel of Hand (手厥阴心包经) or Jueyin Pericardium Meridian of Hand | Jueyin (absolute yin) | Hand (手) | Fire (火) | Pericardium Pericardium (Zang) As distinct from the Western medical concept of pericardium, this concept from Traditional Chinese Medicine is more a way of describing a set of interrelated parts than an anatomical organ.... (心包) |
| Shaoyang Sanjiao Channel of Hand (手少阳三焦经) or Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian of Hand | Shaoyang (lesser yang) | Hand (手) | Fire (火) | Triple Heater (三焦) |
| Taiyang Small Intestine Channel of Hand (手太阳小肠经) or Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian of Hand | Taiyang (greater yang) | Hand (手) | Fire (火) | Small Intestine Small Intestine (Fu) In traditional Chinese medicine the Small Intestine is a fu organ described in the Zang-fu theory concept.The small intestine governs the separation of the clear from the turbid. The small intestine further digests food decomposed initially by the stomach... (小肠) |
| Yangming Large Intestine Channel of Hand (手阳明大肠经) or Yangming Large Intestine Meridian of Hand | Yangming (yang brightness) | Hand (手) | Metal (金) | Large Intestine Large Intestine (Fu) The Large Intestine is one of the fu organs stipulated by Traditional Chinese Medicine . As distinct from the Western medical concept of Large Intestine, this concept from TCM is more a way of describing a set of interrelated parts than an anatomical organ... (大腸) |
| Taiyin Spleen Channel of Foot (足太阴脾经) or Taiyin Spleen Meridian of Foot | Taiyin (greater yin) | Foot (足) | Earth (土) | Spleen Spleen (Zang) The Spleen is one of the zàng organs stipulated by Traditional Chinese Medicine . It is a functionally defined entity and not equivalent to the anatomical organ of the same name.-In the context of the zang-fu concept:... (脾) |
| Shaoyin Kidney Channel of Foot (足少阴肾经) or Shaoyin Kidney Meridian of Foot | Shaoyin (lesser yin) | Foot (足) | Water (水) | Kidney Kidney (Zang) According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Kidney refers to either of the two viscera located on the small of the back, one either side of the spine. As distinct from the Western medical definition of kidneys, the TCM concept is more a way of describing a set of interrelated parts than an... (腎) |
| Jueyin Liver Channel of Foot (足厥阴肝经) or Jueyin Liver Meridian of Foot | Jueyin (absolute yin) | Foot (足) | Wood (木) | Liver Liver (Zang) The Liver is one of the zàng organs stipulated by Traditional Chinese Medicine . It is a functionally defined entity and not equivalent to the anatomical organ of the same name.-In the context of the zang-fu concept:... (肝) |
| Shaoyang Gallbladder Channel of Foot (足少阳胆经) or Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian of Foot | Shaoyang (lesser yang) | Foot (足) | Wood (木) | Gall Bladder Gallbladder (Chinese medicine) Distinct from the Western medical concept of gallbladder, the concept of the Gallbladder in Traditional Chinese Medicine is more a way of describing a set of interrelated parts than an anatomical organ.... (膽) |
| Taiyang Bladder Channel of Foot (足太阳膀胱经) or Taiyang Bladder Meridian of Foot | Taiyang (greater yang) | Foot (足) | Water (水) | Urinary bladder Urinary Bladder (Fu) As distinct from the Western medical concept of Urinary bladder, this concept from Traditional Chinese Medicine is more a way of describing a set of interrelated functions than an anatomical organ.... (膀胱) |
| Yangming Stomach Channel of Foot (足阳明胃经) or Yangming Stomach Meridian of Foot | Yangming (yang brightness) | Foot (足) | Earth (土) | Stomach (胃) |
Eight extraordinary meridians
The eight extraordinary meridians are of pivotal importance in the study of QigongQigong
Qigong or chi kung is a practice of aligning breath, movement, and awareness for exercise, healing, and meditation...
, T'ai chi ch'uan and Chinese alchemy
Chinese alchemy
Chinese alchemy, a part of the larger tradition of Taoism, centers on the tradition of body-spirit cultivation that developed through the Chinese understandings of medicine and the body. These Chinese traditions were developed into a system of energy practices...
. These eight extra meridians are different to 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 or 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:
- Directing Vessel (Ren mai)
- Governing Vessel (Du Mai)
- Penetrating Vessel (Chong Mai)
- Girdle Vessel (Dai Mai)
- Yin linking vessel (Yin Wei Mai)
- Yang linking vessel (Yang Wei Mai)
- Yin Heel Vessel (Yin Qiao Mai)
- Yang Heel Vessel (Yang Qiao Mai)
Criticism of traditional Chinese meridian theory
- See also: Acupuncture: Criticism of TCM theory
In 1694, during the "quarrel of the Ancients and Moderns", after having seen some meridian diagrams from the Lèi Jīng
Nei Jing
The term Neijing is a salient concept in traditional Chinese kung fu . It purports to be the key to unlock the secrets of advanced kung fu in many classic Chinese martial arts training scripts according to Wu Tunan, the expert practitioner of Taijiquan...
and misinterpreting them as anatomical drawings, British Scholar William Wotton
William Wotton
William Wotton was an English scholar, chiefly remembered for his remarkable abilities in learning languages and for his involvement in the Quarrel of the Ancients and the Moderns. In Wales he is remembered as the collector and first translator of the ancient Welsh laws.-Early years:William Wotton...
wrote this famous criticism of TCM:
- It would be tedious to dwell any longer upon such Notions as these, which every page of Cleyer's book is full of. The Anatomical Figures annexed to the Tracts, which also were sent out of China, are so very whimsical, that a Man would almost believe the whole to be a Banter, if these Theories were not agreeable to the occasional hints that may be found in the Travels of the Missionaries. This, however, does no prejudice to their [Medicinal Simples], which may, perhaps, be very admirable, and which a long Experience may have taught the Chineses to apply with great success; and it is possible that they may sometimes give not unhappy Guesses in ordinary Cases, by feeling their Patients Pulses: Still, this is little to Physic, as an Art; and however, the Chineses may be allowed to be excellent Empiricks, as many of the West-Indian Salvages [Savages] are, yet it cannot be believed that they can be tolerable Philosophers; which, in an Enquiry into the Learning of any Nation, is the first Question that is to be considered.
Skeptics of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Traditional Chinese medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine refers to a broad range of medicine practices sharing common theoretical concepts which have been developed in China and are based on a tradition of more than 2,000 years, including various forms of herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage , exercise , and dietary therapy...
(TCM) often characterize the system as pseudoscientific
Pseudoscience
Pseudoscience is a claim, belief, or practice which is presented as scientific, but which does not adhere to a valid scientific method, lacks supporting evidence or plausibility, cannot be reliably tested, or otherwise lacks scientific status...
.
See also
- Acupuncture pointAcupuncture pointAcupuncture points are locations on the body that are the focus of acupuncture, acupressure, sonopuncture and laser acupuncture treatment. Several hundred acupuncture points are considered to be located along meridians...
- List of acupuncture points
- Marmam
- Pressure pointPressure pointA pressure point in the field of martial arts refers to an area on the human body that may produce significant pain or other effects when manipulated in a specific manner...
s - Terms and concepts in alternative medicine