Lingshu · The Channels

The text

Lei Gong asked the Yellow Emperor: The words of the Forbidden Vessels say: in all the pattern of piercing, the channel vessels come first. Circulate where they travel; settle their measures. Within, take the five zang in order; without, set the six fu apart. I wish to hear their Dao to the end. The Yellow Emperor said: When a person first is born, jing is first completed. When jing is completed, brain and marrow are born. Bone is the stem; the vessels are the encircling; the sinews are the hard; the flesh is the wall. When the skin is firm and the hair grows, grain enters the stomach, the vessel-roads open, and blood and qi then travel. Lei Gong said: I wish to hear to the end the first birth of the channel vessels. The Yellow Emperor said: The channel vessels are that by which one can decide death and life, settle the hundred illnesses, and attune vacant and replete. One cannot but understand them. The vessel of the lung, hand taiyin, starts at the middle jiao, descends and networks the large intestine, returns and follows the stomach-opening, rises the diaphragm, and belongs to the lung. From the lung-tether it issues sideways below the armpit, descends following the inner upper arm, travels in front of shaoyin and the heart-governor, descends through the elbow, follows the inner arm along the lower edge of the upper bone, enters the inch-opening, rises the thenar, follows Yuji, and issues at the tip of the thumb. Its branch, from behind the wrist, goes straight out the inner edge of the next finger and issues at its tip. When this moves, there is illness: the lung swells and fills; there is a blowing fullness, panting and coughing; pain in the empty basin; in the extreme the two hands cross and there is dimness — this is arm-reversal. What it governs of illnesses born of the lung: cough, rising qi, panting and gasping, vexation of the heart, fullness of the chest; pain and reversal along the inner front edge of the upper arm and arm; heat in the palm. If qi is abundant and has a remainder: pain in the shoulder and back, wind and cold, sweat going out, struck by wind, frequent and scant urine. If qi is vacant: pain and cold in the shoulder and back, little qi not enough to breathe, the color of the urine changed. For all these illnesses: when full, drain it; when vacant, replenish it; when hot, take it swiftly; when cold, leave the needle; when sunken, moxa it; when neither full nor vacant, take it by the channel. When full, the inch-opening is three times larger than the man's-welcome; when vacant, the inch-opening is instead smaller than the man's-welcome. The vessel of the large intestine, hand yangming, starts at the tip of the next finger after the thumb, follows the upper edge of the finger, issues between the two bones of Hegu, rises and enters between the two sinews, follows the upper edge of the arm, enters the outer edge of the elbow, rises the outer front edge of the upper arm, rises the shoulder, issues at the front edge of the shoulder bone, rises and issues at the meeting above the pillar bone, descends and enters the empty basin, networks the lung, descends the diaphragm, and belongs to the large intestine. Its branch, from the empty basin, rises the neck, pierces the cheek, enters the lower teeth, returns and issues flanking the mouth, crosses at Renzhong — the left going to the right, the right going to the left — and rises flanking the nostrils. When this moves, there is illness: toothache, swelling of the neck. What it governs of illnesses born of the fluids: yellow eyes, dry mouth, snivel and nosebleed, throat impediment, pain in the front of the shoulder and the upper arm, pain and disuse of the next finger after the thumb. If qi has a remainder: heat and swelling wherever the vessel passes. If vacant: cold shivering that will not recover. For all these illnesses: when full, drain it; when vacant, replenish it; when hot, take it swiftly; when cold, leave the needle; when sunken, moxa it; when neither full nor vacant, take it by the channel. When full, the man's-welcome is three times larger than the inch-opening; when vacant, the man's-welcome is instead smaller than the inch-opening. The vessel of the stomach, foot yangming, starts at the nose, crosses in the bridge, flanks the vessel of taiyang, descends following the outer nose, enters the upper teeth, returns and issues flanking the mouth, rings the lips, descends and crosses at Chengjiang, withdraws and follows the lower edge behind the jaw, issues at Daying, follows the jaw-cart, rises in front of the ear, passes Kezhuren, follows the hairline, and reaches the forehead-skull. Its branch, from in front of Daying, descends Renying, follows the throat, enters the empty basin, descends the diaphragm, belongs to the stomach, and networks the spleen. Its straight path, from the empty basin, descends the inner edge of the breast, descends flanking the navel, and enters the qi-street. Its branch starts at the stomach-opening, descends following the inner belly, descends to the qi-street and joins, then descends the thigh-gate, reaches the crouching rabbit, descends through the kneecap, descends following the outer edge of the shin, descends the instep, and enters. Its branch parts three cun below Xialian and descends, entering the outer space of the middle toe. Its branch parts on the instep, enters between the big toes, and issues at the tip. When this moves, there is illness: shivering and shaking with cold, a tendency to groan, frequent yawning, a black face. When the illness arrives one hates people and fire; hearing the sound of wood, one is startled as if in fright; the heart wishes to move; one alone closes the door, stops the window, and dwells. In the extreme one wishes to climb high and sing, throw off clothes and run; there is rushing sound and swelling of the belly — this is shin-reversal. What it governs of illnesses born of blood: mania, intermittent heat, warm overflow, sweat going out, snivel and nosebleed, the mouth awry, sores of the lips, swelling of the neck, throat impediment, great swelling of the belly as water, swelling and pain of the kneecap; pain following the breast, the nipple, the qi-street, the thigh, the crouching rabbit, the outer edge of the shin, and the instep; the middle toe of no use. If qi is abundant, all that is in front of the body is hot; if it has a remainder in the stomach, grain melts and there is a tendency to hunger, the color of the urine yellow. If qi is insufficient, all that is in front of the body is cold and shivering; if the stomach is cold, there is swelling and fullness. For all these illnesses: when full, drain it; when vacant, replenish it; when hot, take it swiftly; when cold, leave the needle; when sunken, moxa it; when neither full nor vacant, take it by the channel. When full, the man's-welcome is three times larger than the inch-opening; when vacant, the man's-welcome is instead smaller than the inch-opening. The vessel of the spleen, foot taiyin, starts at the tip of the big toe, follows the white-flesh border on the inner side of the toe, passes behind the kernel-bone, rises the front edge of the inner ankle, rises the inner, follows behind the shin-bone, crosses out in front of jueyin, rises the inner front edge of the knee and thigh, enters the belly, belongs to the spleen, networks the stomach, rises the diaphragm, flanks the throat, joins the root of the tongue, and scatters under the tongue. Its branch, again from the stomach, parts and rises the diaphragm, pouring into the heart. When this moves, there is illness: the root of the tongue is stiff; eating, one vomits; the stomach duct aches; the belly swells, a tendency to belch; when one obtains stool and qi, there is ease as if it were declining; the whole body is heavy. What it governs of illnesses born of the spleen: pain at the root of the tongue; the body cannot be shaken and moved; food does not descend; vexation of the heart; urgent pain below the heart; thin stools, jia, and discharge; water closed, jaundice; inability to lie down; standing by force; swelling and reversal of the inner thigh and knee; the big toe of no use. For all these illnesses: when full, drain it; when vacant, replenish it; when hot, take it swiftly; when cold, leave the needle; when sunken, moxa it; when neither full nor vacant, take it by the channel. When full, the inch-opening is three times larger than the man's-welcome; when vacant, the inch-opening is instead smaller than the man's-welcome. The vessel of the heart, hand shaoyin, starts in the heart, issues and belongs to the heart-tether, descends the diaphragm, and networks the small intestine. Its branch, from the heart-tether, rises flanking the throat and ties to the eye-tether. Its straight path, again from the heart-tether, withdraws and rises the lung, descends and issues below the armpit, descends following the rear inner edge of the upper arm, travels behind hand taiyin and the heart-governor, descends inside the elbow, follows the rear inner edge of the arm, reaches the tip of the sharp bone behind the palm, enters the rear inner edge of the palm, follows the inner side of the little finger, and issues at its tip. When this moves, there is illness: the throat is dry, the heart aches, thirst and a wish to drink — this is arm-reversal. What it governs of illnesses born of the heart: yellow eyes, pain in the flanks, pain and reversal along the rear inner edge of the upper arm and arm, heat and pain in the palm. For all these illnesses: when full, drain it; when vacant, replenish it; when hot, take it swiftly; when cold, leave the needle; when sunken, moxa it; when neither full nor vacant, take it by the channel. When full, the inch-opening is twice as large as the man's-welcome; when vacant, the inch-opening is instead smaller than the man's-welcome. The vessel of the small intestine, hand taiyang, starts at the tip of the little finger, follows the outer side of the hand, rises the wrist, issues in the ankle, goes straight up following the lower edge of the arm-bone, issues between the two sinews on the inner side of the elbow, rises following the rear outer edge of the upper arm, issues at the shoulder-joint, winds around the shoulder blade, crosses above the shoulder, enters the empty basin, networks the heart, follows the throat, descends the diaphragm, reaches the stomach, and belongs to the small intestine. Its branch, from the empty basin, follows the neck, rises the cheek, reaches the outer canthus, and withdraws into the ear. Its branch parts at the cheek, rises the cheekbone, reaches the nose, reaches the inner canthus, and networks slantwise at the cheekbone. When this moves, there is illness: pain in the throat, swelling of the jaw, inability to look back; the shoulder as if pulled out, the upper arm as if broken. What it governs of illnesses born of the juices: deafness, yellow eyes, swelling of the cheek, pain along the outer rear edge of the neck, jaw, shoulder, upper arm, elbow, and arm. For all these illnesses: when full, drain it; when vacant, replenish it; when hot, take it swiftly; when cold, leave the needle; when sunken, moxa it; when neither full nor vacant, take it by the channel. When full, the man's-welcome is twice as large as the inch-opening; when vacant, the man's-welcome is instead smaller than the inch-opening. The vessel of the bladder, foot taiyang, starts at the inner canthus, rises the forehead, and crosses at the crown. Its branch, from the crown, reaches the upper corner of the ear. Its straight path, from the crown, enters and networks the brain, returns, issues, parts, and descends the nape, follows the inner shoulder-blade, flanks the spine, reaches the lumbar, enters following the muscles beside the spine, networks the kidney, and belongs to the bladder. Its branch, from the lumbar, descends flanking the spine, pierces the buttock, and enters the hollow of the knee. Its branch, from within the shoulder-blade, parts left and right, descends piercing the scapula, flanks the inner spine, passes the pivot of the thigh, follows the outer thigh, descends from the rear edge and joins in the hollow of the knee, then descends piercing the inner calf, issues behind the outer ankle, follows the capital bone, and reaches the outer side of the little toe. When this moves, there is illness: rushing headache; the eyes as if they would leave; the nape as if pulled out; pain in the spine; the lumbar as if broken; the thigh cannot bend; the hollow of the knee as if knotted; the calf as if split — this is ankle-reversal. What it governs of illnesses born of the sinews: hemorrhoid, intermittent heat, mania and withdrawal; pain of the head, fontanel, and nape; yellow eyes, tears going out, snivel and nosebleed; pain of the nape, back, lumbar, sacrum, hollow of the knee, calf, and foot; the little toe of no use. For all these illnesses: when full, drain it; when vacant, replenish it; when hot, take it swiftly; when cold, leave the needle; when sunken, moxa it; when neither full nor vacant, take it by the channel. When full, the man's-welcome is twice as large as the inch-opening; when vacant, the man's-welcome is instead smaller than the inch-opening. The vessel of the kidney, foot shaoyin, starts below the little toe, runs slantwise across the heart of the foot, issues below Rangu, follows behind the inner ankle, parts and enters the heel, rises the inner calf, issues at the inner edge of the hollow of the knee, rises the rear inner edge of the thigh, pierces the spine, belongs to the kidney, and networks the bladder. Its straight path, from the kidney, rises piercing liver and diaphragm, enters the lung, follows the throat, and flanks the root of the tongue. Its branch, from the lung, issues and networks the heart, pouring into the chest. When this moves, there is illness: hunger and no wish to eat; the face as lacquered firewood; coughing and spitting, then there is blood; gasping and panting; sitting and wishing to rise; the eyes dim-dim as if there were nothing to see; the heart as if hanging, as if hungry. If qi is insufficient there is a tendency to fear; the heart startles as if someone were about to seize one — this is called bone-reversal. What it governs of illnesses born of the kidney: heat in the mouth, the tongue dry; swelling of the throat, rising qi; the throat dry and aching; vexation of the heart, heart pain; jaundice, intestinal flux; pain along the rear inner edge of the spine and thigh; wilting and reversal; a craving to lie down; heat and pain under the foot. For all these illnesses: when full, drain it; when vacant, replenish it; when hot, take it swiftly; when cold, leave the needle; when sunken, moxa it; when neither full nor vacant, take it by the channel. If one moxas, eat well to generate flesh, loosen the belt, let the hair hang free, take a great staff and heavy shoes, and walk. When full, the inch-opening is twice as large as the man's-welcome; when vacant, the inch-opening is instead smaller than the man's-welcome. The vessel of the heart-governor, hand jueyin, the envelope of the heart, starts in the chest, issues and belongs to the envelope of the heart, descends the diaphragm, and in turn networks the sanjiao. Its branch follows the chest, issues at the flanks, descends three cun from the armpit, rises and reaches below the armpit, follows the inner upper arm, travels between taiyin and shaoyin, enters the elbow, descends the arm traveling between the two sinews, enters the palm, follows the middle finger, and issues at its tip. Its branch parts in the palm, follows the next finger after the little finger, and issues at its tip. When this moves, there is illness: heat in the palm of the hand; the arm and elbow cramp and tighten; the armpit swells; in the extreme the chest and flanks prop and fill; in the heart there is a great stirring, washing and washing; the face is red, the eyes yellow; a tendency to laughter that will not rest. What it governs of illnesses born of the vessels: vexation of the heart, heart pain, heat in the palm. For all these illnesses: when full, drain it; when vacant, replenish it; when hot, take it swiftly; when cold, leave the needle; when sunken, moxa it; when neither full nor vacant, take it by the channel. When full, the inch-opening is one-fold larger than the man's-welcome; when vacant, the inch-opening is instead smaller than the man's-welcome. The vessel of the sanjiao, hand shaoyang, starts at the tip of the next finger after the little finger, rises and issues between the two fingers, follows the outer wrist of the hand, issues between the two bones on the outer arm, rises piercing the elbow, follows the outer upper arm, rises the shoulder and crosses out behind foot shaoyang, enters the empty basin, spreads in the chest-center, scatters and networks the envelope of the heart, descends the diaphragm, and follows belonging to the sanjiao. Its branch, from the chest-center, rises and issues at the empty basin, rises the nape, ties behind the ear, goes straight up and issues at the upper corner of the ear, then bends, descends the cheek, and reaches the cheekbone. Its branch, from behind the ear, enters the ear, issues and travels in front of the ear, passes in front of Kezhuren, crosses the cheek, and reaches the outer canthus. When this moves, there is illness: deafness, a muddled roaring, swelling of the throat, throat impediment. What it governs of illnesses born of qi: sweat going out; pain of the outer canthus; pain of the cheek; pain behind the ear and along the outer shoulder, upper arm, elbow, and arm; the next finger after the little finger of no use. For all these illnesses: when full, drain it; when vacant, replenish it; when hot, take it swiftly; when cold, leave the needle; when sunken, moxa it; when neither full nor vacant, take it by the channel. When full, the man's-welcome is one-fold larger than the inch-opening; when vacant, the man's-welcome is instead smaller than the inch-opening. The vessel of the gallbladder, foot shaoyang, starts at the outer canthus, rises and reaches the corner of the head, descends behind the ear, follows the neck, travels in front of hand shaoyang, reaches above the shoulder, withdraws and crosses out behind hand shaoyang, and enters the empty basin. Its branch, from behind the ear, enters the ear, issues and travels in front of the ear, and reaches behind the outer canthus. Its branch parts at the outer canthus, descends Daying, joins hand shaoyang, reaches the cheekbone, descends adding itself to the jaw-cart, descends the neck, joins the empty basin, then descends the chest, pierces the diaphragm, networks the liver, belongs to the gallbladder, follows the inner flanks, issues at the qi-street, winds around the hairline, and enters sideways into the thigh-hollow. Its straight path, from the empty basin, descends the armpit, follows the chest, passes the lowest ribs, descends and joins in the thigh-hollow, then descends following the yang of the thigh, issues at the outer edge of the knee, descends in front of the outer supporting bone, goes straight down and reaches the tip of the severed bone, descends and issues in front of the outer ankle, follows the instep, and enters between the little toe and the next toe. Its branch parts on the instep, enters between the big toes, follows the inner forked bone of the big toe and issues at its tip, returns piercing the nail, and issues at the three hairs. When this moves, there is illness: bitterness in the mouth, a tendency to great sighs; pain of the heart and flanks, inability to turn from side to side; in the extreme the face has a faint dust, the body has no grease or luster; the outer foot is instead hot — this is yang-reversal. What it governs of illnesses born of the bone: headache, pain of the jaw; pain of the outer canthus; swelling and pain in the empty basin; swelling below the armpit; horse-knife and flanking goiter; sweat going out, shaking with cold; intermittent heat; pain of the chest, flanks, ribs, thigh, and outer knee, as far as the shin, the severed bone, the front of the outer ankle, and all the joints; the next toe after the little toe of no use. For all these illnesses: when full, drain it; when vacant, replenish it; when hot, take it swiftly; when cold, leave the needle; when sunken, moxa it; when neither full nor vacant, take it by the channel. When full, the man's-welcome is one-fold larger than the inch-opening; when vacant, the man's-welcome is instead smaller than the inch-opening. The vessel of the liver, foot jueyin, starts at the border of the clustered hairs of the big toe, rises following the upper edge of the instep, leaves the inner ankle by one cun, rises eight cun from the ankle, crosses out behind taiyin, rises the inner edge of the hollow of the knee, follows the yin of the thigh, enters the hair, passes the yin organs, reaches the lower belly, flanks the stomach, belongs to the liver, networks the gallbladder, rises piercing the diaphragm, spreads over the flanks and ribs, follows behind the throat, rises and enters the nasopharynx, joins the eye-tether, rises and issues at the forehead, and meets the governor vessel at the crown. Its branch, from the eye-tether, descends the inner cheek and rings the inner lips. Its branch, again from the liver, parts, pierces the diaphragm, and pours upward into the lung. When this moves, there is illness: lumbar pain, inability to bow or look up; in a man, tui-shan; in a woman, pain of the lower belly; in the extreme the throat is dry, the face dusty, the color gone. What it governs of illnesses born of the liver: fullness of the chest, vomiting against the current, undigested discharge, fox-shan, leftover urine, closure and dribbling. For all these illnesses: when full, drain it; when vacant, replenish it; when hot, take it swiftly; when cold, leave the needle; when sunken, moxa it; when neither full nor vacant, take it by the channel. When full, the inch-opening is one-fold larger than the man's-welcome; when vacant, the inch-opening is instead smaller than the man's-welcome. If the qi of hand taiyin is cut off, the skin and hair are scorched. Taiyin is what travels qi and warms the skin and hair. Therefore if qi does not flourish, the skin and hair are scorched; if the skin and hair are scorched, the fluids leave the skin and joints; if the fluids leave the skin and joints, the nails wither and the hair snaps; if the hair snaps, the hair has died first. Critical on bing, death on ding — fire overcomes metal. If the qi of hand shaoyin is cut off, the vessels will not open; if the vessels will not open, blood will not flow; if blood will not flow, the color of the hair has no luster. Therefore a face black as lacquered firewood: the blood has died first. Critical on ren, death on gui — water overcomes fire. If the qi of foot taiyin is cut off, the vessels do not flourish in the flesh. The lips and tongue are the root of the flesh. If the vessels do not flourish, the flesh is soft; if the flesh is soft, the tongue wilts and Renzhong fills; if Renzhong fills, the lips turn out; if the lips turn out, the flesh has died first. Critical on jia, death on yi — wood overcomes earth. If the qi of foot shaoyin is cut off, the bones wither. Shaoyin is the winter vessel; it travels hidden and moistens bone and marrow. Therefore if the bones are not moistened, the flesh cannot attach; if bone and flesh are not close to one another, the flesh is soft and withdraws; the flesh soft and withdrawing, the teeth grow long and are fouled, the hair has no luster; if the hair has no luster, the bone has died first. Critical on wu, death on ji — earth overcomes water. If the qi of foot jueyin is cut off, the sinews are cut off. Jueyin is the liver vessel; the liver is the pairing of the sinews; the sinews gather at yin qi, and the vessels network the root of the tongue. Therefore if the vessels do not flourish, the sinews tighten; if the sinews tighten, they draw the tongue and the eggs. Thus if the lips are green-blue, the tongue rolls, and the eggs shrink — the sinews have died first. Critical on geng, death on xin — metal overcomes wood. If the qi of the five yin is all cut off, the eye-tether turns; if it turns, the eyes whirl; if the eyes whirl, the will has died first; if the will has died first, death is not farther than a day and a half. If the qi of the six yang is cut off, yin and yang part from one another; if they part, the interstices let go, and cutting-off sweat then goes out. Therefore if one reads it at dawn, death is at dusk; if one reads it at dusk, death is at dawn. The twelve channel vessels travel hidden between the divided flesh, deep and not seen. What is commonly seen: foot taiyin passing above the outer ankle — there is nothing by which it is hidden. All vessels that float and are commonly seen are collateral vessels. The great collaterals of the six channel networks of hand yangming and shaoyang start between the five fingers and join above in the elbow. In those who drink wine, wei qi first travels the skin, first fills the collateral vessels; the collateral vessels are first abundant; therefore when wei qi is already level, ying qi is then full, and the channel vessels are greatly abundant. Vessels that suddenly move: pathogenic qi dwells in them all, remaining at root and end. If they do not move there is heat; if they are not firm they sink and are empty; they are not the same as the rest — thereby one knows which vessel is moving. Lei Gong said: How does one know the channel vessels and the collateral vessels are different? The Yellow Emperor said: The channel vessels are ordinarily not to be seen. Their vacant and replete are known by the qi-opening. What of the vessels is seen is all collateral vessels. Lei Gong said: This lesser one has nothing by which to make this clear. The Yellow Emperor said: All the collateral vessels cannot pass between the great joints; they must travel abandoned roads, going out and coming in, and join again in the skin; their meetings are all seen without. Therefore in all piercing of the collateral vessels, one must pierce above the knot. Where there is much blood, even if there is no knot, take it at once to drain the pathogen and let the blood go out; if it remains, it arises as impediment. In all examining of the collateral vessels: if the vessel-color is green-blue, there is cold and also pain; if red, there is heat. If the stomach is cold, the collaterals of the thenar of the hand are mostly green-blue. If the stomach has heat, the collaterals of Yuji are red. Those suddenly black: lingering impediment of long sitting. Those that have red, have black, have green-blue: the qi of cold and heat. Those green-blue and short: little qi. In all piercing of cold and heat: there are many blood collaterals; one must take them once on alternate days; when the blood is exhausted, stop; then attune the vacant and the replete. Those small and short have little qi; if extreme and one drains them, there is oppression; if oppression is extreme, one falls and cannot speak. If there is oppression, have them sit at once. The divergence of hand taiyin is named Lieque. It starts in the space of the divisions above the wrist, travels with the channel of taiyin, goes straight into the palm, and scatters into Yuji. In illness: if replete, the sharp of the hand and the palm are hot; if vacant, there is yawning and gaping, leftover urine, frequent. Take it half a cun from the wrist. It parts and runs to yangming. The divergence of hand shaoyin is named Tongli. It leaves the wrist by one and a half cun, parts and rises, follows the channel into the heart, ties to the root of the tongue, and belongs to the eye-tether. If replete, it props the diaphragm; if vacant, one cannot speak. Take it one cun behind the palm. It parts and runs to taiyang. The divergence of the hand heart-governor is named Neiguan. It leaves the wrist by two cun, issues between the two sinews, follows the channel upward, and ties to the envelope of the heart. If the heart-tether is replete, the heart aches; if vacant, the head is stiff. Take it between the two sinews. The divergence of hand taiyang is named Zhizheng. Five cun above the wrist it pours inward into shaoyin. Its divergence rises and runs to the elbow, networking the shoulder bone. If replete, the joints slacken and the elbow is ruined; if vacant, warts are born — the small like finger-scabs. Take it where it parts. The divergence of hand yangming is named Pianli. It leaves the wrist by three cun and parts, entering taiyin. Its divergence rises following the arm, mounts the shoulder bone, rises the curved cheek, and slants to the teeth. Its divergence enters the ear and joins the ancestral vessel. If replete, there is tooth-decay and deafness; if vacant, the teeth are cold, impediment of the diaphragm. Take it where it parts. The divergence of hand shaoyang is named Waiguan. It leaves the wrist by two cun, winds without around the arm, pours into the chest, and joins the heart-governor. In illness: if replete, the elbow cramps; if vacant, it will not gather. Take it where it parts. The divergence of foot taiyang is named Feiyang. It leaves the ankle by seven cun and parts, running to shaoyin. If replete, the nose is stopped, the head and back ache; if vacant, there is snivel and nosebleed. Take it where it parts. The divergence of foot shaoyang is named Guangming. It leaves the ankle by five cun and parts, running to jueyin, descending and networking the instep. If replete, there is reversal; if vacant, there is wilting and a dragging gait, sitting and unable to rise. Take it where it parts. The divergence of foot yangming is named Fenglong. It leaves the ankle by eight cun and parts, running to taiyin. Its divergence follows the outer edge of the shin-bone, rises and networks the head and nape, joins the qi of the various channels, and descends networking the throat. In its illness: if qi is against, there is throat impediment and sudden loss of voice; if replete, mania and withdrawal; if vacant, the foot will not gather, the shin withers. Take it where it parts. The divergence of foot taiyin is named Gongsun. It leaves the place one cun behind the base joint and parts, running to yangming. Its divergence enters and networks the intestines and stomach. If reversal-qi rises against the current, there is sudden turmoil. If replete, there is cutting pain in the intestines; if vacant, drum-swelling. Take it where it parts. The divergence of foot shaoyin is named Dazhong. At the place behind the ankle it winds around the heel and parts, running to taiyang. Its divergence travels with the channel, rises to the envelope of the heart, and below pierces outward through the lumbar and spine. In its illness: if qi is against, there is vexation and oppression; if replete, closure and dribbling; if vacant, lumbar pain. Take it where it parts. The divergence of foot jueyin is named Ligou. It leaves the inner ankle by five cun and parts, running to shaoyang. Its divergence follows the shin, rises to the testicles, and knots at the stem. In its illness: if qi is against, the testicles swell, sudden shan; if replete, the stem stands long; if vacant, sudden itching. Take it where it parts. The divergence of the ren vessel is named Weiqi. It descends Jiuwei and scatters over the belly. If replete, the skin of the belly aches; if vacant, there is itching and scratching. Take it where it parts. The divergence of the governor vessel is named Changqiang. It flanks the muscles beside the spine, rises the nape, scatters over the head, descends level with the shoulder blades left and right, parts and runs to taiyang, and enters piercing the muscles beside the spine. If replete, the spine is stiff; if vacant, the head is heavy — shake it high. Where there is a passing beside the spine, take it where it parts. The great collateral of the spleen is named Dabao. It issues three cun below Yuanye and spreads over the chest and flanks. If replete, the whole body aches; if vacant, the hundred joints all slacken. If this vessel is as if netted with the blood of the collaterals, take them all at the great collateral vessel of the spleen. In all these fifteen collaterals: if replete they must be seen; if vacant they must be sunken. If one looks and does not see them, seek them above and below. People's channels are not the same; the collateral vessels differ in where they part.

The line

The Yellow Emperor said: The channel vessels are that by which one can decide death and life, settle the hundred illnesses, and attune vacant and replete. One cannot but understand them.

The note

The channel vessels decide death and life. This chapter is a map. To read it is not to memorize the roads. It is to see whether blood and qi are still walking the roads.