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Acu-moxa point chart, showing the fanwei (regurgitation, stomach reflux) points, from Chuanwu lingji lu (Record of Sovereign Teachings), by Zhang Youheng, a treatise on acu-moxa in two volumes. This work survives only in a manuscript draft, completed in 1869 (8th year of the Tongzhi reign period of the Qing dynasty). It is illustrated with 84 charts, finely executed in colour.
 The text states: The upper fanwei point is located 1 cun below the breast (1 cun [Chinese/proportional inch] = c. 3 cm); the lower fanwei point is located on the lower front part of the inner ankle, on the anterior border of the fibula (sanhengzhi). Moxibustion at the fanwei points can cure stomach reflux, vomiting etc.

C19 Chinese MS moxibustion point chart: Regurgitation points

Chart showing locations on the Kidney channel (meridian) of arm shaoyin where acupuncture is prohibited during the ninth month of pregnancy, from Ishinpo [Chinese: Yi xin fang] (Remedies at the Heart of Medicine), by the Japanese author Yasuyori Tanba.Completed in 984 (2nd year of the Eikan era), this is primarily a classified edition of Chinese medical prescriptions of the Jin (265-420) and Tang (618-907) periods, but it also embraces materia medica, acupuncture and moxibustion, yangsheng ('nourishing life'), mineral elixirs, daoyin (therapeutic movement), dietetic therapy, etc. Juan (volume) 22, Renfu maitu yuejingfa (Channel charts of the pregnant woman with monthly prohibitions), Section 1, contains ten acupuncture prohibition charts, one for each month of gestation.

Acupuncture prohibitions for pregnancy, Chinese/Japanese

Line drawing in ink and brush style from an anonymous manuscript probably dating from the end of the Qing period (1644-1911). Daimai (Belt Vessel) is one of the Eight Extraordinary Channels (Qi jing ba mai). It originates at jixie (a location corresponding to the cartilage of the 11th and 12th ribs). It encircles the body like a belt, hence its name. Acu-moxa points include daimai (Belt Vessel); wushu (Five Pivots) and weidao (Linking Path). Pathological changes in this channel are thought to cause fullness in the abdomen (fuman) and lumbar and dorsal pain.

Acu-moxa chart: daimai (Belt Vessel), Chinese MS, Qing

Lingmen chuanshou Tongren zhimai (Acupuncture Instruction Manual of the Bronze Man) is is an anonymous manuscript treatise on acupuncture, probably written before 1654 (prior to the reign of the Kangxi Emperor of the Qing dynasty, r. 1654-1722). It provides information on the paths of the channels, movement and flow (liuzhu), and acupuncture procedures in relation to the twelve watches of the day, the internal organs, etc. It is illustrated with 36 hand-drawn charts.
 This image illustrates the entry on 'Xinbao' (heart envelope, pericardium) in the 'Sixty-Six Chants of the Flow of the Points'. It appears on the same page as Image L0039525 (Hai Sanjiao) (this illustration is on the right, and Hai Sanjiao on the left).

Chinese MS acu-moxa point chart: Pericardium channel

Woodblock illustration from a work on 'Chinese' medicine by the 18th century Japanese physician Hara Masakatsu, published in 1807 (4th year of the Bunkwa era). The gall bladder channel of foot shaoyang is one of the Twelve Channels. It originates at the tongziliao (Pupil Crevice) point,and terminates at the qiaoyin point. There are 43 acu-moxa locations on this channel on either side of the body, i.e. 86 altogether. For a list of points located in the head and neck, see 'Lettering'.

Acu-moxa chart: Gall bladder channel in the head and nec

Woodcut illustration from an edition of 1763 (28th year of the Qianlong reign period of the Qing dynasty), showing the paths of the channels and distribution of the acu-moxa locations at the side of the head, face, shoulder, throat and neck. The lines represent the bladder channel of foot taiyang, the gall bladder channel of foot shaoyang, the stomach channel of foot yangming, the small intestine channel of hand taiyang, the sanjiao (Triple Burner) channel of hand shaoyang, the large intestine channel of hand yangming, the lung channel of hand taiyin, the Heart Envelope (xinbao, pericardium) channel of hand jueyin, the kidney channel of foot shaoyin, renmai (the the Director Vessel, also translated as Conception Vessel) and dumai (the Governor Vessel).

Channels and acupoints of side of head, neck and shoulder

Lingmen chuanshou Tongren zhimai (Acupuncture Instruction Manual of the Bronze Man) is is an anonymous manuscript treatise on acupuncture, probably written before 1654 (prior to the reign of the Kangxi Emperor of the Qing dynasty, r. 1654-1722). It provides information on the paths of the channels, movement and flow (liuzhu), and acupuncture procedures in relation to the twelve watches of the day, the internal organs, etc. It is illustrated with 36 hand-drawn charts.
 This image illustrates the entry on 'Bladder' in the 'Sixty-Six Chants of the Flow of the Points'. It appears on the same page as Image L0039523 (You Kidney) (this illustration is on the right, and You Kidney on the left).

Chinese MS acu-moxa point chart: Bladder channel

Woodblock illustration from a work on 'Chinese' medicine by the 18th century Japanese physician Hara Masakatsu, published in 1807 (4th year of the Bunkwa era). Renmai (the Director Vessel, often translated as Conception Vessel) is one of the Eight Extraordinary Channels (Qi jing ba mai). It originates at the huiyin (Convergence of Yin) point in the perineum and terminates at the chengjiang (Receiving Fluids) point in the lower lip. For a list of point names, see 'Lettering'.

Acu-moxa chart: Renmai (the Director Vessel), Japanese

Lingmen chuanshou Tongren zhimai (Acupuncture Instruction Manual of the Bronze Man) is is an anonymous manuscript treatise on acupuncture, probably written before 1654 (prior to the reign of the Kangxi Emperor of the Qing dynasty, r. 1654-1722). It provides information on the paths of the channels, movement and flow (liuzhu), and acupuncture procedures in relation to the twelve watches of the day, the internal organs, etc. It is illustrated with 36 hand-drawn charts.
 This image illustrates the entry on 'Gall bladder' in the 'Sixty-Six Chants of the Flow of the Points'. It appears on the same page as Image L00395215 (Chou Liver) (this illustration is on the right, and Chou Liver on the left).

Chinese MS acu-moxa point chart: Gall bladder channel

Lingmen chuanshou Tongren zhimai (Acupuncture Instruction Manual of the Bronze Man) is is an anonymous manuscript treatise on acupuncture, probably written before 1654 (prior to the reign of the Kangxi Emperor of the Qing dynasty, r. 1654-1722). It provides information on the paths of the channels, movement and flow (liuzhu), and acupuncture procedures in relation to the twelve watches of the day, the internal organs, etc. It is illustrated with 36 hand-drawn charts.
 This image illustrates the entry on 'Spleen' in the 'Sixty-Six Chants of the Flow of the Points'. It appears on the same page as Image L0039518 (Chen Stomach) (this illustration is on the left, and Chen Stomach on the right).

Chinese MS acu-moxa point chart: Spleen channel

Woodcut illustration showing the path of dumai (Governor Vessel) from Jingmai tu kao (Illustrated Study of the Channels), published in 1878 (4th year of the Guangxu period of the Qing dynasty).

 Dumai is one of the Eight Extraordinary Channels (qi jing ba mai). It starts within the lower abdomen and descends to the perineum. It travels up the spinal column as far as the fengfu (Palace of Wind) point, where it enters the head, ascending as far as the crown, and then follows the midline of the forehead to the bottom of the septum. Pathological changes in this channel are often thought to lead to rigidity of the spinal column (jizhu qiangzhi, tetanus), arching of the back (jiaogong fanzhang, opsithotonos); headache and stiff neck (toutong jingqiang, meningitis), dizziness (xuanyun), urinary incontinence, infertility in women, etc.

Channel chart: dumai (Governor Vessel), Chinese woodcut

Chart showing locations on the Stomach channel of leg yangming where acupuncture is prohibited during the sixth month of pregnancy, from Ishinpo [Chinese: Yi xin fang] (Remedies at the Heart of Medicine), by the Japanese author Yasuyori Tanba.Completed in 984 (2nd year of the Eikan era), this is primarily a classified edition of Chinese medical prescriptions of the Jin (265-420) and Tang (618-907) periods, but it also embraces materia medica, acupuncture and moxibustion, yangsheng ('nourishing life'), mineral elixirs, daoyin (therapeutic movement), dietetic therapy, etc. Juan (volume) 22, Renfu maitu yuejingfa (Channel charts of the pregnant woman with monthly prohibitions), Section 1, contains ten acupuncture prohibition charts, one for each month of gestation.

Woodcut illustration, showing the path of yangwei mai (Yang Tie Vessel), from Jingmai tu kao (Illustrated Study of the Channels), published in 1878 (4th year of the Guangxu period of the Qing dynasty).

 Yangwei mai is one of the Eight Extraordinary Channels (qi jing ba mai). It originates at the jinmen (Golden Portal) point on the foot taiyang channel and runs up the outer side of the lower limb, through the hip joint and along the side of the trunk close to the back. From the back of the armpit, it ascends to the shoulder and forehead, and terminates at the back of the neck, where it comes into confluence with dumai (Governor Vessel). Pathological changes in this channel are thought to provoke alternating fever and chills (hanre wanglai).

Channel chart: Yang Tie Vessel, Chinese woodcut

Lingmen chuanshou Tongren zhimai (Acupuncture Instruction Manual of the Bronze Man) is is an anonymous manuscript treatise on acupuncture, probably written before 1654 (prior to the reign of the Kangxi Emperor of the Qing dynasty, r. 1654-1722). It provides information on the paths of the channels, movement and flow (liuzhu), and acupuncture procedures in relation to the twelve watches of the day, the internal organs, etc. It is illustrated with 36 hand-drawn charts.
 This image illustrates the entry on 'Heart' in the 'Sixty-Six Chants of the Flow of the Points'. It appears on the same page as Image L0039521 (Wei Small Intestine) (this illustration is on the right, and Wei Small Intestine on the left). Painting on bamboo paper.

Chinese MS acu-moxa point chart:Heart channel

Acu-moxa point chart, showing the zhong 'e (malign attack) pointpoint, from Chuanwu lingji lu (Record of Sovereign Teachings), by Zhang Youheng, a treatise on acu-moxa in two volumes. This work survives only in a manuscript draft, completed in 1869 (8th year of the Tongzhi reign period of the Qing dynasty). It is illustrated with 84 charts, finely executed in colour.
 The text states: The malign attack (zhong 'e) point is located 3 cun behind the outer edge of the breasts (1 cun [Chinese/proportional inch] = c. 3 cm). Moxibustion can be carried out at this point to treat corpse infection (shizhu) and inimical visitation (kewu), malign attack (zhong 'e) [forms of demonic possession], etc. Moxibustion takes place on the left for male patients and the right for female patients.

C19 Chinese MS moxibustion point chart: Malign attack

Tuzhu nanjing maijue (The 'Classic of Problems' and 'Verses on the Pulses' Annotated and Illustrated) is an illustrated version of two major classics of Chinese medicine - Maijue (Verses on the Pulses) by Wang Shuhe (third century CE) and the anonymous 81 Nanjing (Classic of 81 Difficulties/[Medical] Problems) (first or second century BCE) - made by Zhang Shixian in the Ming period (1368-1644). This edition, published in 1510 (5th year of the Zhengde reign period of the Ming dynasty, Geng Wu year) contains specially engraved illustrations.


 This image illustrates the 27th of the '81 Problems'. Here, Zhang Shixian uses graphic techniques to provide the following information: The Twelve (regular) Internal Channels of the Body (12 jingmai zai li) consist of the Three Yin Channels of the Arm (shou san yin), the Three Yang Channels of the Arm (shou san yang), the Three Yin Channels of the Leg (zu san yin), and the Three Yang Channels of the Leg (zu san yin). There are also Eight Extra channels (qijing bamai), which are extraneous to the regular channels and do not follow the same patterns. These consist of the Yang Link (yangwei) channel, the Yin Link (yinwei) channel, the Yang Heel (yangqiao) channel, the Yin Heel (yinqiao) channel, chongmai (Penetrating Vessel), dumai (Governor Vessel), renmai (Director Vessel, often translated as Conception Vessel) and daimai (Belt Vessel).

Ming Chinese wheel diagram of the channels

The names of the acupoints of yangwei mai (Yang Tie Vessel) are inscribed on a human figure. Yangwei mai is one of the Eight Extraordinary Channels (qi jing ba mai). Originating at the jinmen (Golden Portal) point on the foot taiyang channel, it runs upwards along the outside of the lower limbs, through the hip joint, around the back of the rib cage and behind the armpit to the shoulder. It ascends as far as the forehead, then travels to the back of the neck, where it comes into confluence with dumai (Governor Vessel). Acupoints on this channel include jinmen (Golden Portal), yangjiao (Yang Intersection), naoshu (Upper Arm Conveyor), tianliao (Celestial Crevice), jianjing (Shoulder Well), fengchi (Wind Pool), yamen (Portal of Muteness), fengfu (Palace of Wind), yangbai (Yang White), benshen (Rooting the Spirit) and linqi (Close to Tears).

Acu-moxa chart: yangwei mai (Yang Tie Vessel), Chinese

Woodblock illustration from a work on 'Chinese' medicine by the 18th century Japanese physician Hara Masakatsu, published in 1807 (4th year of the Bunkwa era). It shows the trajectory of the three hand yin channels and three hand yang channels, with the main acu-moxa locations marked and labelled. The three hand yin channels are the lung channel of hand taiyin, the heart channel of hand shaoyin and the Heart Envelope channel of hand jueyin. Starting within the thorax, they run to the hand along the anterior side of the upper limbs. The three hand yang channels are the large intestine channel of hand yangming, the small intestine channel of hand taiyang and the sanjiao (Triple Burner) channel of hand shaoyang. They run from the hand to the head along the posterior side of the upper limbs.

Acu-moxa chart: points of the hand and arm, Japanese woodcut

Acu-moxa point chart, showing the lieque (Break in the Sequence) point, from Chuanwu lingji lu (Record of Sovereign Teachings), by Zhang Youheng, a treatise on acu-moxa in two volumes. This work survives only in a manuscript draft, completed in 1869 (8th year of the Tongzhi reign period of the Qing dynasty). It is illustrated with 84 charts, finely executed in colour.
 The text states: The lieque point is located on the radial side of the forearm, 1.5 cun above the crease of the wrist (1 cun [Chinese/proportional inch] = c. 3 cm). It can be needled to a depth of 2 fen (1 fen = 0.1 cun) and moxibusted with three moxa cones. It is indicated for one-sided headache; joint pains in the whole body; numbness in the limbs; phlegm-rheum overabundance and congestion (tan xian yongsheng); lockjaw, etc.

C19 Chinese MS moxibustion point chart: Lieque

Woodblock illustration from a work on 'Chinese' medicine by the 18th century Japanese physician Hara Masakatsu, published in 1807 (4th year of the Bunkwa era). The spleen channel of foot taiyin is one of the Twelve Channels. It originates at the yinbai (Concealed White) point and terminates at the dabao (Great Wrapping) point. There are 21 acu-moxa locations on this channel, i.e. 42 altogether on both sides of the body. The points on the lower limbs are: yinbai (Concealed White); dadu (Great Metropolis), taibai (Great White), gongsun (Grandparent and Grandchild), shangqiu (Shang Mound), sanyinjiao (Three Yin Intersection), lougu (Dripping Valley), diji (Earth Pivot), yinlingquan (Yin Mound Spring), xuehai (Sea of Blood) and jimen (Winnowing Portal).

Acu-moxa chart: Spleen channel of foot taiyin in the legs

The names of the acu-moxa locations of yangqiao mai (Yang Heel Vessel) are inscribed on a human figure. Yangqiao mai is one of the Eight Extraordinary Channels (qi jing ba mai). Originating at the shenmai (Extending Vessel) point at the outside of the heel, it runs upwards through the outer ankle and the back of the calf, along the outside of the thigh, through the hips and sides to the outer shoulder, and along the neck to the corner of the mouth. It comes into confluence with the taiyang channel and yinqiao mai (Yin Heel Vessel) in the eye socket, then ascends again to the forehead where it joins the foot shaoyang channel. For a list of point names, see 'Lettering'.

Acu-moxa chart: yangqiao mai, Chinese woodcut

Woodblock illustration from a work on 'Chinese' medicine by the 18th century Japanese physician Hara Masakatsu, published in 1807 (4th year of the Bunkwa era). The acu-moxa locations of the throat and neck are marked and labelled.

Acu-moxa chart: points of the throat and neck, Japanese

The names of the acu-moxa locations of the bladder channel of foot taiyang are inscribed on the figure of a child. The bladder channel of foot taiyang is one of the Twelve Channels. It originates at the jingming (Eye Bright); point, in the canthus of the eye, and terminates at the zhiyin (Reaching Yin) point, on the outside of the little toe. For a list of point names, see 'Lettering'.

Acu-moxa chart: bladder channel of foot taiyang, Chines

Woodblock illustration from a work on 'Chinese' medicine by the 18th century Japanese physician Hara Masakatsu, published in 1807 (4th year of the Bunkwa era). The liver channel of foot jueyin is one of the Twelve Channels. This channel ascends via the inner thigh. One section runs through the pubic region into the lower abdomen and continues upwards through the diaphragm; another section terminates in the costal region. For a list of points located in the thorax and abdomen, see 'Lettering'.

Acu-moxa chart: Liver channel in the thorax and abdomen

Lingmen chuanshou Tongren zhimai (Acupuncture Instruction Manual of the Bronze Man) is is an anonymous manuscript treatise on acupuncture, probably written before 1654 (prior to the reign of the Kangxi Emperor of the Qing dynasty, r. 1654-1722). It provides information on the paths of the channels, movement and flow (liuzhu), and acupuncture procedures in relation to the twelve watches of the day, the internal organs, etc. It is illustrated with 36 hand-drawn charts.
 This image illustrates the entry on 'Lung' in the 'Sixty-Six Chants of the Flow of the Points'. It appears on the same page as Image L0039517 (Mao Large Intestine) (this illustration is on the right, and Mao Large Intestine on the left).

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C19 Chinese MS moxibustion point chart: Regurgitation points

Acupuncture prohibitions for pregnancy, Chinese/Japanese

Acu-moxa chart: daimai (Belt Vessel), Chinese MS, Qing

Chinese MS acu-moxa point chart: Pericardium channel

Acu-moxa chart: Gall bladder channel in the head and nec

Channels and acupoints of side of head, neck and shoulder

Chinese MS acu-moxa point chart: Bladder channel

Acu-moxa chart: Renmai (the Director Vessel), Japanese

Chinese MS acu-moxa point chart: Gall bladder channel

Chinese MS acu-moxa point chart: Spleen channel

Channel chart: dumai (Governor Vessel), Chinese woodcut

Acupuncture prohibitions for pregnancy, Chinese/Japanese

Channel chart: Yang Tie Vessel, Chinese woodcut

Chinese MS acu-moxa point chart:Heart channel

C19 Chinese MS moxibustion point chart: Malign attack

Ming Chinese wheel diagram of the channels

Acu-moxa chart: yangwei mai (Yang Tie Vessel), Chinese

Acu-moxa chart: points of the hand and arm, Japanese woodcut

C19 Chinese MS moxibustion point chart: Lieque

Acu-moxa chart: Spleen channel of foot taiyin in the legs

Acu-moxa chart: yangqiao mai, Chinese woodcut

Acu-moxa chart: points of the throat and neck, Japanese

Acu-moxa chart: bladder channel of foot taiyang, Chines

Acu-moxa chart: Liver channel in the thorax and abdomen

Chinese MS acu-moxa point chart: Lung channel

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C19 Chinese MS moxibustion point chart: Regurgitation points

Acupuncture prohibitions for pregnancy, Chinese/Japanese

Acu-moxa chart: daimai (Belt Vessel), Chinese MS, Qing

Chinese MS acu-moxa point chart: Pericardium channel

Acu-moxa chart: Gall bladder channel in the head and nec

Channels and acupoints of side of head, neck and shoulder

Chinese MS acu-moxa point chart: Bladder channel

Acu-moxa chart: Renmai (the Director Vessel), Japanese

Chinese MS acu-moxa point chart: Gall bladder channel

Chinese MS acu-moxa point chart: Spleen channel

Channel chart: dumai (Governor Vessel), Chinese woodcut

Acupuncture prohibitions for pregnancy, Chinese/Japanese

Channel chart: Yang Tie Vessel, Chinese woodcut

Chinese MS acu-moxa point chart:Heart channel

C19 Chinese MS moxibustion point chart: Malign attack

Ming Chinese wheel diagram of the channels

Acu-moxa chart: yangwei mai (Yang Tie Vessel), Chinese

Acu-moxa chart: points of the hand and arm, Japanese woodcut

C19 Chinese MS moxibustion point chart: Lieque

Acu-moxa chart: Spleen channel of foot taiyin in the legs

Acu-moxa chart: yangqiao mai, Chinese woodcut

Acu-moxa chart: points of the throat and neck, Japanese

Acu-moxa chart: bladder channel of foot taiyang, Chines

Acu-moxa chart: Liver channel in the thorax and abdomen

Chinese MS acu-moxa point chart: Lung channel

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