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Huangdi Neijing · The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon
Lingshu 10 · Channel Vessels
Read in English. Switch to Original for word notes, or select text to ask a question.
Lei Gong asked the Yellow Emperor: “The Teaching on Restricted Vessels says that the principles of needling begin with channel vessels: follow their circulation, establish their measures, order the five zang within and distinguish the six fu outside. I wish to hear the Way fully.”
The Yellow Emperor said: “At the beginning of human life, essence forms first. Once essence forms, brain and marrow arise. Bones become the framework, vessels the circulating network, sinews the firmness and flesh the wall. Skin becomes firm and hair grows. Grain enters the Stomach, vessel pathways open, and blood and qi circulate.”
Lei Gong said: “I wish to hear fully how the channel vessels first arise.”
The Yellow Emperor said: “Through channel vessels, life and death are determined, the many illnesses addressed and emptiness and repletion regulated. They must be understood.”
“The Hand Taiyin Lung vessel begins in the middle burner, descends to network with the Large Intestine, returns along the Stomach opening, rises through the diaphragm and belongs to the Lung. From the Lung connection it crosses out beneath the armpit, descends the inner upper arm before Shaoyin and the Heart Ruler, passes through the elbow and follows the lower edge of the upper bone inside the forearm. It enters Cunkou, rises to the fish-like hand eminence, follows Yuji and emerges at the thumb’s tip. Its branch runs straight from behind the wrist to the inner edge and tip of the next finger.
“When this vessel stirs abnormally, the Lung becomes distended and full, with resounding panting and cough and pain in the hollow above the collarbone. Severe cases cross both hands and become clouded: this is arm counterflow. The Lung illnesses it governs include cough, rising qi, noisy panting, a vexed Heart, chest fullness, pain and counterflow along the front inner upper arm and forearm, and heat in the palm. Excess qi brings shoulder and back pain, Wind and cold, sweating with Wind exposure, frequent urination and yawning. Empty qi brings cold pain in shoulders and back, scant qi insufficient for breathing and changed urine color.
“For these illnesses, drain abundance, supplement emptiness, act swiftly for heat, retain for cold, and apply moxibustion to sinking. If neither abundant nor empty, address the channel. In abundance, Cunkou exceeds Renying by the stated threefold measure; in emptiness, Cunkou is instead smaller than Renying.”
The source’s multiplier is retained without recalculating a modern pulse ratio.
“The Hand Yangming Large Intestine vessel begins at the tip of the finger next to the thumb, follows its upper edge, emerges at Hegu between two bones, rises between two sinews and follows the forearm’s upper edge into the outer elbow. It ascends the front outer upper arm and shoulder, emerges before the shoulder bone, rises above the meeting of the pillar bone, descends into the collarbone hollow, networks with the Lung, crosses the diaphragm and belongs to the Large Intestine. Its branch rises from the collarbone hollow along the neck, passes through the cheek into the lower teeth, returns beside the mouth and crosses at Renzhong: left goes right, right goes left, then rises beside the nostrils.
“Abnormal stirring brings toothache and neck swelling. The fluid illnesses it governs include yellow eyes, dry mouth, nasal discharge and bleeding, throat obstruction, pain in the front shoulder and upper arm, and a painful, unusable finger next to the thumb. Excess brings heat and swelling along its course; emptiness unrecovering cold shivers.
“Drain abundance, supplement emptiness, act swiftly for heat, retain for cold, and apply moxibustion to sinking. If neither abundant nor empty, address the channel. In abundance, Renying exceeds Cunkou by the stated threefold measure; in emptiness, Renying is instead smaller.”
“The Foot Yangming Stomach vessel begins at the nose and meets in the bridge, receiving the Taiyang vessel at the side. It descends beside the nose, enters the upper teeth, returns beside the mouth, circles the lips and crosses below at Chengjiang. It follows behind the chin’s lower edge, emerges at Daying, follows Jiache, rises before the ear, passes Kezhuren and follows the hairline to forehead and skull.
“Its branch descends from before Daying to Renying, follows the throat into the collarbone hollow, crosses the diaphragm, belongs to the Stomach and networks with the Spleen. Its straight course descends from the collarbone hollow along the inner breast, beside the navel and into Qijie. A branch begins at the Stomach opening, descends within the abdomen and joins at Qijie. It descends through Biguan to Futu, the kneecap, the outer shin and instep, entering the inner interval of the middle toe. A branch separates three cun below the lower border and enters the middle toe’s outer interval. Another separates on the instep, enters the great-toe interval and emerges at its tip.
“Abnormal stirring brings shivering cold, frequent groaning and yawning, and a dark face. When illness arrives, there is aversion to people and Fire, alarm at wooden sounds and an unsettled heart. The person closes doors and windows to remain alone. Severe cases climb high and sing, discard clothing and run, with resounding abdominal distension. This is shin counterflow.
“The blood illnesses it governs include frenzy, intermittent fever, warm excess, sweating, nasal discharge and bleeding, crooked mouth, lip eruptions, neck swelling, throat obstruction, water swelling of the enlarged abdomen, painful swollen kneecaps, and pain along chest, breast, Qijie, thigh, Futu, outer shin and instep, with the middle toe unusable. Abundance heats the whole front of the body; Stomach excess rapidly consumes grain and causes frequent hunger and yellow urine. Insufficiency chills the whole front; cold within the Stomach causes distension and fullness.
“Drain abundance, supplement emptiness, act swiftly for heat, retain for cold, and apply moxibustion to sinking. If neither abundant nor empty, address the channel. In abundance, Renying exceeds Cunkou by the stated threefold measure; in emptiness, Renying is smaller.”
The source records “upward” as an alternative in the opening nasal phrase and “binds” for “receives.” At the toe entry it also gives “the second toe’s outer interval” instead of “the middle toe’s inner interval.” These variants are preserved here rather than silently combined into one route.
“The Foot Taiyin Spleen vessel begins at the great toe’s tip, follows its inner white-flesh border, passes behind the rounded bone, rises before the inner ankle and along the inner calf behind the shin bone, crosses before Jueyin and rises along the front inner knee and thigh. It enters the abdomen, belongs to the Spleen, networks with the Stomach, crosses the diaphragm, runs beside the pharynx, connects with the tongue’s root and spreads below the tongue. Its branch separates again from the Stomach, crosses the diaphragm and pours into the Heart.
“Abnormal stirring brings a stiff tongue root, vomiting after eating, stomach-cavity pain, abdominal distension and frequent belching. Passing stool and gas brings relief as if illness has declined; the whole body is heavy. The Spleen illnesses it governs include tongue-root pain, inability to move the body, food not descending, a vexed Heart, urgent pain below the heart, loose stools with abdominal masses and diarrhea, blocked water, yellow discoloration, inability to lie down, forced standing, swollen counterflow in inner thighs and knees, and an unusable great toe.
“Drain abundance, supplement emptiness, act swiftly for heat, retain for cold, and apply moxibustion to sinking. If neither abundant nor empty, address the channel. In abundance, Cunkou exceeds Renying by the stated threefold measure; in emptiness, Cunkou is smaller.”
The displayed alternative calf graph is retained as a textual variant without changing the route.
“The Hand Shaoyin Heart vessel begins within the Heart, emerges into the Heart connection, descends through the diaphragm and networks with the Small Intestine. Its branch rises from the Heart connection beside the pharynx and binds the eye connections. Its straight course returns from the Heart connection up to the Lung, descends out beneath the armpit and follows the rear inner upper arm behind Hand Taiyin and the Heart Ruler. It enters the inner elbow, follows the rear inner forearm to the pointed bone behind the palm, enters the palm’s rear inner edge and follows the little finger inside to its tip.
“Abnormal stirring brings dry throat, heart pain and thirst seeking drink: arm counterflow. The Heart illnesses it governs include yellow eyes, rib-side pain, painful counterflow in the rear inner upper arm and forearm, and a hot, painful palm.
“Drain abundance, supplement emptiness, act swiftly for heat, retain for cold, and apply moxibustion to sinking. If neither abundant nor empty, address the channel. In abundance, Cunkou exceeds Renying by the stated doubled measure; in emptiness, Cunkou is smaller.”
“The Hand Taiyang Small Intestine vessel begins at the little finger’s tip, follows the hand’s outer side to the wrist, emerges at the wrist prominence and rises along the forearm bone’s lower edge. It emerges between two sinews inside the elbow, follows the rear outer upper arm, emerges at the shoulder joint, circles the shoulder blade, crosses the shoulder and enters the collarbone hollow. It networks with the Heart, follows the pharynx, descends through the diaphragm, reaches the Stomach and belongs to the Small Intestine. One branch follows the neck from the collarbone hollow, rises to the cheek and outer eye corner, then enters the ear. Another separates at the cheek, rises over the cheekbone, reaches the nose and inner eye corner and networks obliquely with the cheekbone.
“Abnormal stirring brings throat pain, swollen jaw, inability to turn the head, a shoulder as if pulled out and upper arm as if broken. The fluid illnesses it governs include deafness, yellow eyes, swollen cheek and pain in neck, jaw, shoulder and the rear outer upper arm, elbow and forearm.
“Drain abundance, supplement emptiness, act swiftly for heat, retain for cold, and apply moxibustion to sinking. If neither abundant nor empty, address the channel. In abundance, Renying exceeds Cunkou by the stated doubled measure; in emptiness, Renying is smaller.”
The cheekbone graph is repeated in the displayed source; it does not introduce another invented structure.
“The Foot Taiyang Bladder vessel begins at the inner eye corner, rises over the forehead and meets at the crown. A branch runs from crown to the upper corner of the ear. Its straight course enters and networks with the brain from the crown, emerges again and descends the nape, follows inside the shoulders beside the spine to the lower back, enters along the spinal muscles, networks with the Kidney and belongs to the Bladder. A branch descends from the lower back beside the spine, through the buttock and into the knee hollow. Another separates on both sides inside the shoulder, passes through the shoulder blades, follows beside the spine and crosses the hip pivot. It follows the outer thigh, descending from its rear edge to join in the knee hollow, then passes through the inner calf, emerges behind the outer ankle, follows Jinggu and reaches the little toe’s outer side.
“Abnormal stirring brings rushing headache, eyes as if coming out, nape as if pulled out, spinal pain, lower back as if broken, hips unable to bend, knee hollows as if knotted and calves as if torn. This is ankle counterflow. The sinew illnesses it governs include hemorrhoids, intermittent fever, frenzy and convulsive illness, pain in head, fontanel and nape, yellow eyes, tears, nasal discharge and bleeding, pain in nape, back, lower back, buttocks, knee hollows, calves and feet, and an unusable little toe.
“Drain abundance, supplement emptiness, act swiftly for heat, retain for cold, and apply moxibustion to sinking. If neither abundant nor empty, address the channel. In abundance, Renying exceeds Cunkou by the stated doubled measure; in emptiness, Renying is smaller.”
“The Foot Shaoyin Kidney vessel begins below the little toe, runs obliquely to the sole, emerges below Rangu, follows behind the inner ankle and branches into the heel. It ascends the inner calf, emerges at the knee hollow’s inner edge, rises along the rear inner thigh, passes through the spine, belongs to the Kidney and networks with the Bladder. Its straight course rises from the Kidney through Liver and diaphragm into the Lung, follows the throat and runs beside the tongue’s root. Its branch emerges from the Lung, networks with the Heart and pours into the chest.
“Abnormal stirring brings hunger without appetite, a face like black-lacquered wood, blood with coughing and spitting, noisy panting, a seated person wanting to rise, darkened eyes as if unable to see, and a heart feeling suspended as if hungry. Insufficient qi brings frequent fear and a startled heart, as if someone is about to seize the person. This is bone counterflow. The Kidney illnesses it governs include hot mouth, dry tongue, swollen pharynx, rising qi, dry painful throat, vexed Heart, heart pain, yellow discoloration, intestinal flux, pain in the spine and rear inner thigh, wilting counterflow, desire to lie down, and hot painful soles.
“Drain abundance, supplement emptiness, act swiftly for heat, retain for cold, and apply moxibustion to sinking. If neither abundant nor empty, address the channel. The text then describes moxibustion followed by encouraging food to restore flesh, loosening the belt, letting the hair down and walking with a large staff and heavy footwear. In abundance, Cunkou exceeds Renying by the stated doubled measure; in emptiness, Cunkou is smaller.”
The eye graph is supplied with pronunciation/component annotations in the source and is rendered through its dim-vision context. The eating-and-flesh clause has differing older readings, including livestock meat; it is not silently turned into an instruction to eat raw meat.
“The Heart Ruler’s Hand Jueyin Heart Enclosing Network vessel begins in the chest, emerges to belong to that network, descends through the diaphragm and networks in sequence with the three burners. Its branch follows the chest out to the rib-side three cun below the armpit, rises to the armpit, follows the inner upper arm between Taiyin and Shaoyin and enters the elbow. It descends between two forearm sinews into the palm, follows the middle finger and emerges at its tip. Another branch separates in the palm and follows the finger next to the little finger to its tip.
“Abnormal stirring brings hot palms, contracted arms and elbows and swollen armpits. Severe cases have propping fullness in chest and rib-sides, great fluttering of the Heart, red face, yellow eyes and unceasing laughter. The vessel illnesses it governs include vexed Heart, heart pain and hot palms.
“Drain abundance, supplement emptiness, act swiftly for heat, retain for cold, and apply moxibustion to sinking. If neither abundant nor empty, address the channel. In abundance, Cunkou exceeds Renying by the stated onefold measure; in emptiness, Cunkou is smaller.”
“The Hand Shaoyang Triple Burner vessel begins at the tip of the finger next to the little finger, rises between those fingers, follows the back of the hand and wrist and emerges between the two outer forearm bones. It passes through the elbow, follows the outer upper arm, rises to the shoulder and crosses behind Foot Shaoyang. Entering the collarbone hollow, it spreads in the Center of the Chest, networks through the Heart Enclosure, crosses the diaphragm and belongs along its course to the three burners. A branch rises from the Center of the Chest through the collarbone hollow and nape, binds behind the ear, rises to the ear’s upper corner, then bends down the cheek to the cheekbone. Another enters the ear from behind, emerges before it, passes before Kezhuren, crosses the cheek and reaches the outer eye corner.
“Abnormal stirring brings deafness, dull obscurity, swollen pharynx and throat obstruction. The qi illnesses it governs include sweating, outer eye-corner pain, cheek pain and pain behind the ear and along shoulder, upper arm, elbow and outer forearm, with the finger next to the little finger unusable.
“Drain abundance, supplement emptiness, act swiftly for heat, retain for cold, and apply moxibustion to sinking. If neither abundant nor empty, address the channel. In abundance, Renying exceeds Cunkou by the stated onefold measure; in emptiness, Renying is smaller.”
“The Foot Shaoyang Gallbladder vessel begins at the outer eye corner, rises to the head’s corner, descends behind the ear and follows the neck before Hand Shaoyang to the shoulder. It then crosses behind Hand Shaoyang and enters the collarbone hollow. One branch enters the ear from behind, emerges before it and reaches behind the outer eye corner. Another separates at that corner, descends to Daying, joins Hand Shaoyang, reaches the cheekbone, descends over Jiache and the neck and joins at the collarbone hollow. It descends into the chest, crosses the diaphragm, networks with the Liver and belongs to the Gallbladder, following within the rib-sides to Qijie, around the pubic hairline and across into the hip hollow.
“The straight course descends from the collarbone hollow to the armpit, follows the chest past the lowest ribs and joins the hip hollow. It descends the outer thigh, emerges at the knee’s outer edge, descends before the outer supporting bone to the end of the cut-off bone, passes before the outer ankle and follows the instep into the interval by the toe next to the little toe. A branch separates on the instep, enters the great-toe interval, follows within its branching bones to the tip, returns through the nail and emerges at the three hairs.
“Abnormal stirring brings bitter mouth, frequent sighing and heart and rib-side pain preventing turning. Severe cases have a slightly dusty face, a body without oily moisture and heat instead outside the foot: yang counterflow. The bone illnesses it governs include headache, jaw and outer eye-corner pain, painful swelling in the collarbone hollow, swollen armpit, sword-shaped and neck swellings, sweating, shivering and intermittent fever. Pain extends through chest, rib-sides, ribs, outer hip and knee to shin, cut-off bone, front of the outer ankle and all joints; the toe next to the little toe is unusable.
“Drain abundance, supplement emptiness, act swiftly for heat, retain for cold, and apply moxibustion to sinking. If neither abundant nor empty, address the channel. In abundance, Renying exceeds Cunkou by the stated onefold measure; in emptiness, Renying is smaller.”
The source’s hip, supporting-bone and sword-shaped swelling names remain historical labels, without assigning a more specific modern structure or disease.
“The Foot Jueyin Liver vessel begins at the great toe’s cluster of hairs, ascends the instep’s upper edge one cun from the inner ankle, and eight cun above the ankle crosses behind Taiyin. It rises along the knee hollow’s inner edge and inner thigh, enters the pubic hair, passes the genitals and reaches the lower abdomen. It runs beside the Stomach, belongs to the Liver, networks with the Gallbladder, crosses the diaphragm, spreads in the rib-sides, follows behind the throat and enters the upper pharyngeal region. It connects with the eyes, rises over the forehead and meets Du at the crown. One branch descends from the eye connections within the cheeks and circles inside the lips. Another separates again from the Liver, crosses the diaphragm and pours upward into the Lung.
“Abnormal stirring brings lower-back pain preventing bending or straightening, swollen hernial disorder in men and lower abdominal pain in women. Severe cases have dry throat and a dusty, faded face. The Liver illnesses it governs include chest fullness, vomiting with counterflow, diarrhea with undigested food, fox hernia, loss of urinary control and blocked urination.
“Drain abundance, supplement emptiness, act swiftly for heat, retain for cold, and apply moxibustion to sinking. If neither abundant nor empty, address the channel. In abundance, Cunkou exceeds Renying by the stated onefold measure; in emptiness, Cunkou is smaller.”
The source’s component and pronunciation annotation in the hernia term is represented through its swelling sense. Fox hernia remains a historical name rather than a modern diagnosis.
“When Hand Taiyin qi is cut off, skin and hair scorch. Taiyin circulates qi to warm them; without nourishment, they scorch and fluids leave skin and joints. Nails dry and hair breaks: the hair has died first. Illness becomes grave on Bing and death comes on Ding, Fire overcoming Metal.”
The stem labels are retained as the text’s prognostic days without conversion into calendar dates.
“When Hand Shaoyin qi is cut off, the vessels do not pass and blood does not flow. Hair and complexion lack luster. A face black like lacquered wood means blood has died first. Illness becomes grave on Ren and death comes on Gui, Water overcoming Fire.”
“When Foot Taiyin qi is cut off, vessels do not nourish flesh. Lips and tongue are flesh’s root. Unnourished flesh softens, the tongue wilts and Renzhong fills. The filled region turns the lips outward: flesh has died first. Illness becomes grave on Jia and death comes on Yi, Wood overcoming Earth.”
“When Foot Shaoyin qi is cut off, bones dry. Shaoyin is winter’s vessel, running hidden to moisten bones and marrow. Without moistening, flesh cannot adhere. Bones and flesh no longer support each other; flesh softens and retreats, teeth become long and dirty and hair lacks luster. The bones have died first. Illness becomes grave on Wu and death comes on Ji, Earth overcoming Water.”
“When Foot Jueyin qi is cut off, sinews are cut off. Jueyin is the Liver vessel; the Liver joins the sinews. Sinews gather in yin qi and their vessels network at the tongue’s root. Without nourishment they contract, drawing tongue and testicles. Blue-green lips, curled tongue and retracted testicles mean sinews have died first. Illness becomes grave on Geng and death comes on Xin, Metal overcoming Wood.”
The supplied yin-qi wording is retained rather than silently replaced by the genital wording of another version.
“When all five yin qi are cut off, the eye connections turn and the eyes whirl: will has died first. The text places death no later than a day and a half afterward. When all six yang qi are cut off, yin and yang separate; the interstices open and discharge terminal sweat. Observed at dawn, death is at evening; observed at evening, death is at dawn.”
These times are retained as the source’s prognostic account, not modern predictions.
“The twelve channel vessels run hidden between flesh divisions, deep and unseen. What is regularly visible is Foot Taiyin passing above the outer ankle, because it has no concealment there. All vessels floating visibly at the surface are network vessels. The great networks of Hand Yangming and Shaoyang among the six channels begin between the five fingers and join above at the elbow.
“In drinking wine, defensive qi first travels through the skin and fills network vessels, which become abundant first. Only after defensive qi is settled does nutritive qi fill and the channel vessels become greatly abundant. Suddenly stirring vessels harbor harmful qi at root or tip. Without movement there is heat; without firmness they sink and are empty. Their difference from the others shows which vessel is stirring.”
The displayed Foot Taiyin and outer-ankle labels are retained despite differing older corrections. No hand/foot or inner/outer substitution is made silently.
Lei Gong said: “How can the difference between channel and network vessels be known?”
The Yellow Emperor said: “Channel vessels ordinarily cannot be seen. Their emptiness and repletion are known through Qikou. Visible vessels are all networks.”
Lei Gong said: “I have no means to make this clear.”
The Yellow Emperor said: “Network vessels cannot pass between the great joints. They enter and leave by separate paths and rejoin within the skin; their gatherings are visible outside. Needle their bound places. Where blood is abundant, even without a knot, promptly address it to drain harmful influence and bring out blood. Leaving it produces obstruction.
“In examining networks, blue-green means cold and pain; red means heat. Cold in the Stomach makes many networks on the fish-like hand eminence blue-green; Stomach heat makes Yuji’s networks red. Sudden blackness means longstanding retained obstruction. Red, black and blue-green together mean cold and heat qi. Blue-green and short means scant qi.
“For cold and heat, blood networks are abundant: the text describes addressing them once on alternate days until the blood is exhausted, then regulating emptiness and repletion. Small, short networks have scant qi. Draining them severely causes oppression; severe oppression brings collapse and inability to speak. If oppressed, promptly sit the person up.”
The stated bleeding endpoint and response belong to the historical source; no modern volume or treatment interval is calculated.
“Hand Taiyin’s branch is named Lieque. It begins in the divisions above the wrist, follows Taiyin’s channel straight into the palm and spreads at Yuji. Repletion brings heat at the hand’s edge and palm; emptiness yawning and frequent, uncontrolled urination. Address it half a cun from the wrist; it branches toward Yangming.
“Hand Shaoyin’s branch is Tongli, one and a half cun from the wrist. It branches upward, follows the channel into the Heart, binds the tongue’s root and belongs to the eye connections. Repletion props against the diaphragm; emptiness prevents speech. Address it one cun behind the palm; it branches toward Taiyang.
“The Hand Heart Ruler’s branch is Neiguan, two cun from the wrist between two sinews. It ascends along the channel and binds the Heart Enclosing Network. Repletion of the Heart connection causes heart pain; emptiness stiffness of the head. Address it between the two sinews.”
Tongli’s one-and-a-half-cun course label and one-cun addressing label are both retained as supplied, without normalization.
“Hand Taiyang’s branch is Zhizheng, five cun above the wrist, pouring inward into Shaoyin. A branch rises to the elbow and networks with the shoulder. Repletion loosens joints and disables the elbow; emptiness produces warts, small ones like finger scabs and scabies. Address where it branches.
“Hand Yangming’s branch is Pianli, three cun from the wrist, branching into Taiyin. Its branch ascends the arm, mounts the shoulder and rises to the curved jaw and teeth. Another enters the ear and joins the gathering vessel. Repletion brings tooth decay and deafness; emptiness cold teeth and diaphragm obstruction. Address where it branches.
“Hand Shaoyang’s branch is Waiguan, two cun from the wrist. It winds outside the arm, pours into the chest and joins the Heart Ruler. Repletion contracts the elbow; emptiness prevents drawing it in. Address where it branches.”
“Foot Taiyang’s branch is Feiyang, seven cun from the ankle, branching toward Shaoyin. Repletion blocks the nose and causes head and back pain; emptiness brings nasal discharge and bleeding. Address where it branches.
“Foot Shaoyang’s branch is Guangming, five cun from the ankle, branching toward Jueyin and networking down to the instep. Repletion brings counterflow; emptiness wilting and inability to walk or rise from sitting. Address where it branches.
“Foot Yangming’s branch is Fenglong, eight cun from the ankle, branching toward Taiyin. Its branch follows the shin bone’s outer edge, networks upward with head and nape, joins the channels’ qi and networks downward with the throat. Counterflow qi causes throat obstruction and loss of voice; repletion frenzy and convulsive illness; emptiness feet unable to draw in and withered shins. Address where it branches.”
“Foot Taiyin’s branch is Gongsun, one cun behind the root joint, branching toward Yangming. A branch enters and networks with intestines and stomach. Upward counterflow causes sudden vomiting and diarrhea. Repletion brings cutting intestinal pain; emptiness drum-like distension. Address where it branches.
“Foot Shaoyin’s branch is Dazhong, behind the ankle and around the heel, branching toward Taiyang. Its branch follows the channel upward to the Heart Enclosure and passes down outside through lower back and spine. Counterflow qi causes vexed oppression; repletion blocked urination; emptiness lower-back pain. Address where it branches.
“Foot Jueyin’s branch is Ligou, five cun from the inner ankle, branching toward Shaoyang. Its branch passes the shin, rises to the testicles and binds at the penis. Counterflow causes testicular swelling and sudden hernial disorder; repletion prolonged erection; emptiness sudden itching. Address where it branches.”
“Ren’s branch is Weiyi, below Jiuwei, spreading in the abdomen. Repletion brings abdominal skin pain; emptiness itching and scratching. Address where it branches.
“Du’s branch is Changqiang, rising beside the spinal muscles to the nape and spreading over the head. It descends on both sides toward the shoulder blades, branches toward Taiyang and enters through the spinal muscles. Repletion brings spinal stiffness; emptiness a heavy head that shakes high up. Where there is disorder beside the spine, address the branch.
“The Spleen’s great network is Dabao, emerging three cun below Yuanye and spreading through chest and rib-sides. Repletion causes pain throughout the body; emptiness loosens all the joints. Where this vessel gathers blood like a net, address the Spleen’s great network.”
The supplied high-shaking phrase remains general rather than being turned into a new maneuver.
“These fifteen networks must be visible when replete and must sink when empty. If inspection does not show them, seek above and below. People’s channel courses differ, and network branches occupy differing places.”
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