The Huangdi Bashiyi Nanjing (黃帝八十一難經 English: "The Huang Emperor's Canon of Eighty-One Difficult Issues"), often referred to simply as the Nan Jing, is one of the classics 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). Written in the late Han dynasty

Han Dynasty

The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...

, the Nan Jing is so named because its 81 chapters seek to clarify enigmatic statements made in the Huangdi Neijing. Among the contributions it makes to TCM are:

• The establishement of pulse diagnosis basic to modern practice, and somewhat different schema to the Ling Shu
• The establishment of the “Qi Jing Ba Mai” (Eight Extraordinary Meridians).
• Establishment of the theory of Back-Shu, Front-Mu and Yuan-source points.
• Development of the Five-Shu Points theory, which is the basis for Five-element Acupuncture
  Acupuncture
  Acupuncture is a type of alternative medicine that treats patients by insertion and manipulation of solid, generally thin needles in the body....
  
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• First mention of deqi, the energetic sensation a practitioner feels when reaching correct placement of an acupuncture needle.