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The *Gu Kong Lun* (Treatise on Bone Labyrinths) states: The Ren Mai (Conception Vessel, 任脉) originates below the Zhongji point (CV3), ascends to the pubic hair margin, follows the interior of the abdomen, passes through the Guanyuan point (CV4), reaches the throat, ascends to the chin, follows the face, and enters the eyes.
(This describes the origin and termination of the Qi of the Ren Mai. The Ren Mai is one of the Eight Extraordinary Vessels. The Zhongji point is located four cun below the umbilicus; saying it originates below Zhongji actually begins at the Huiyin point (CV1).
Between the two yin organs, the vessel travels from Huiyin along the abdomen, while the Du Mai (Governing Vessel, 督脉) travels from Huiyin along the back. From above Huiyin to the pubic hair margin at the Qugu point (CV2), in the depression one cun above the Henggu point (CV2) and below Zhongji, the pulse beats under the fingers. It then follows the interior of the abdomen through Zhongji, ascending through Guanyuan, Qihai (CV6), Xiawan (CV10), Zhongwan (CV12), Shangwan (CV13), Juque (CV14), Tanzhong (CV17), reaching Chengjiang (CV24) before the Lianquan point (CV23), then ascending through the throat. Its pulse qi ascends to the chin, follows the head and face, and enters the eyes.) The Chong Mai (Penetrating Vessel, 冲脉) originates at the Qichong point (ST30), runs parallel with the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian, ascends flanking both sides of the umbilicus, and disperses in the chest.
(This describes the origin and termination of the Chong Mai. The Chong Mai is also one of the Eight Extraordinary Vessels. The Ren Mai ascends along the center of the umbilicus, while the Chong Mai ascends flanking both sides of the umbilicus, originating at the Qichong point, merging with the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian, ascending flanking the umbilicus to disperse in the chest. Qichong is an acupoint name, located one cun above the inguinal region (shuxi) on both sides of the pubic hair margin. Saying the Chong Mai originates at Qichong also refers to traveling from within the lower abdomen, running parallel with the Ren Mai until this point, following the abdomen. It is also stated that the Chong Mai and Ren Mai both originate in the Baozhong (Uterus/Womb, 胞中), ascend along the interior of the spine, serving as the Sea of the Collaterals; their branches floating outward follow the abdomen separately, converge at the throat, and diverge to connect with the lips and mouth. From this, it is clear that the Ren Mai and Chong Mai ascend from within the lower abdomen, passing below the Zhongji point and within the Qichong point.) When the Ren Mai is diseased, men develop seven types of internal hernias (Qishen, 七疝), and women develop leukorrhea and Jiaju (abdominal masses, 瘕聚).
(This describes pathology of the Ren Mai. "Internal" refers to the abdomen. The central Qi of the abdomen is the pathway of the Ren Mai; thus, when diseased, it manifests as such: in men as seven types of hernias, in women as Jiaju. Regarding the seven hernias, according to various chapters of the *Neijing*, there are Hu hernia, Feng hernia, Lung hernia, Spleen-Feng hernia, Heart-Feng hernia, Heart hernia, Liver-Feng hernia, Kidney-Feng hernia, as well as female hernia, male hernia, Jue hernia, Tui hernia, and Shenqi hernia. I have counted them, including Five-Organ hernias, as well as Hu hernia and Tui hernia. Their main principles are found in the respective chapters. Later, Zhu Danxi's seven hernias are categorized as Cold, Water, Sinew, Blood, Qi, Fox, and Tui. The *Xiuzhen Fang* categorizes seven hernias as Jue, Tui, Cold, Qi, Pan, Fu, and Yelang. It seems Danxi's classification aligns with the classic intent; although names vary, do they not fall within the scope of the *Neijing*! However, people only know diseases in the lower part as hernias, not realizing all five organs can have hernias! Nor do they know women can have hernias! This is likely due to a failure to examine the *Neijing*. Jiaju refers to accumulation. The *Da Qi Lun* states: Urgency in the Three Yang vessels leads to Jia. Later generations introduced the concept of Eight Jia, derived from the name of Seven Hernias. These include Snake Jia, Fat Jia, Green Jia, Yellow Jia, Dry Jia, Blood Jia, Fox Jia, and Turtle Jia. These are not mentioned in the *Neijing*.) When the Chong Mai is diseased, there is rebellious Qi and tension/pain in the interior.
(This describes pathology of the Chong Mai. The Chong Mai originates at Qichong, merges with the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian, ascends flanking the umbilicus, and disperses in the chest. Thus, "interior" refers to its meridian pathway. When diseased, Qi rebels and cannot ascend, how can it reach the chest to disperse? Qi gathers in the abdomen and cannot disperse, how can it avoid the tension of the Ren Mai's abdominal pathway?) When the Du Mai is diseased, there is stiffness of the spine and opisthotonos (body bent backward, 反折).
(The Du Mai is also an extraordinary vessel. The Ren, Chong, and Du Mai share one source but branch into three; thus, the *Classic* sometimes refers to the Chong Mai as the Du Mai. How is this proven? Current texts like the *Jia Yi Jing* and ancient *Jingmai Liutu Zhu Jing* refer to the pathway along the back as the Du Mai, and the straight pathway from the lower abdomen as the Ren Mai, also calling it Du Mai. This naming distinguishes based on the yin-yang of back and front. The Ren Mai passes through the Baozhong, and the Dai Mai passes over the umbilicus upward. Thus, men's disease manifests as internal seven hernias, women's disease as leukorrhea and Jiaju; the Chong Mai ascends flanking the umbilicus, merging with the Shaoyin Meridian to the chest, so Chong Mai disease manifests as rebellious Qi and interior tension. Because the Du Mai ascends along the spinal interior, Du Mai disease manifests as spinal stiffness and opisthotonos.) The Du Mai originates from the central bone below the lower abdomen. In women, it enters and connects to the Tingkong (urethral opening/vaginal opening, 廷孔).
(This is similar to the Ren and Chong Mai originating in the Baozhong. Actually, it originates below the kidney, reaches the lower abdomen, and descends to the center surrounded by the transverse bone of the waist. "Connecting to Tingkong" refers to the Yaolou (vaginal opening), near the anterior orifice. Because it is connected to the anterior yin and belongs to the middle, it is named so.) That orifice is the end of the Niao Kong (urinary meatus, 溺孔).
(The orifice is the Yaolou. Within the Yaolou, above it is the Niao Kong. "End" refers to the Yin Ting, at the upper end of this urinary meatus. And the Du Mai extends downward from the center of the bone surround.) Its collateral follows the external genitalia, converges at the Zuanjian (space between anus and genitals, 纂间), and winds around the posterior Zuan,
(The collateral of the Du Mai diverges from the end of the urinary meatus, travels down along the external genitalia, and converges at the Zuanjian. "Jian" refers to the space between the anterior and posterior yin. From behind these two spaces, it diverges again and winds around the posterior Zuan.) diverges to wind around the buttocks, reaches the Foot-Shaoyin, and merges with the Middle Collateral of the Great Yang (Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian, 巨阳中络), ascending along the inner posterior aspect of the thigh, piercing the spine, and connecting to the Kidney,
("Diverge" refers to the collateral, traveling separately. The collateral of the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian ascends from the inner posterior thigh, pierces the spine, and connects to the Kidney; the outer-running collateral of the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian follows the hip pivot and lateral thigh downward, while its middle runner descends through the buttocks to the pharynx, merging with the outer-running collateral. Hence, it says "reaches Shaoyin and merges with the Middle Collateral of Great Yang," ascending along the inner posterior thigh, piercing the spine, and connecting to the Kidney.) and starts with the Taiyang at the inner canthus of the eye, ascends to the forehead, crosses the vertex, enters and connects to the brain, exits, diverges, and descends down the neck, follows the medial shoulder blade, flanks the spine to the middle of the waist, enters and follows the paraspinal muscles to connect to the Kidney;
(Continues winding up from the buttocks.) In men, it follows the penis down to the Zuan, identical to women. Its straight pathway ascends directly from the lower abdomen, pierces the center of the umbilicus, ascends through the Heart, enters the throat, ascends to the chin, circles the lips, and ascends to connect to the center below the two eyes.
(From starting at the inner canthus with the Taiyang, descending to be identical in women, including the collateral of the Du Mai. Its straight pathway ascends from the coccyx along the spinal interior to the Renzhong. From the lower abdomen upward to the center below the eyes, including the pathway of the Ren Mai, yet described as connected to the Du Mai. From this, we see the Ren, Chong, and Du Mai have different names but the same substance.) Diseases arising here involve Qi rushing from the lower abdomen to the heart causing pain, and inability to pass urine or stool, called Chongshan (Chong Hernia, 冲疝).
(Investigating this pathology, it is precisely a disease of the Ren Mai. The *Classic* calls it Chongshan to distinguish the Du Mai's primary pathology by a different name.) In women, infertility, strangury, hemorrhoids, enuresis, and dryness of the throat.
(Because the Chong and Ren Mai ascend from the lower abdomen to the throat, and the Du Mai follows the genitalia, converges at the Zuanjian, winds around the posterior Zuan, and diverges around the buttocks, symptoms include infertility, strangury, hemorrhoids, enuresis, and dry throat. It is called the Ren Mai because women rely on it for nourishment. Hence the *Classic* says: this disease causes infertility in women. It is called the Chong Mai because its Qi rushes upward. Hence the *Classic* says: this disease involves Qi rushing from the lower abdomen to the heart causing pain. It is called the Du Mai because it supervises and leads the Sea of the Meridians. Do these three Yin meridians perhaps interconnect? However, the Ren, Chong, and Du Mai share one source and rise in three branches. The Du Mai travels from Huiyin along the back, the Ren Mai from Huiyin along the abdomen, and the Chong Mai from Qichong along the Foot-Shaoyin. Only the Du Mai originates from Huiyin, which is below the lower abdomen, in the center of the transverse bone. Women enter/connect to the Tingkong, follow the genitalia, converge at the Zuanjian, and from behind the two yins, have collaterals that diverge, wind around the buttock flesh, internally connect to the spine, and belong to the Kidney. The collateral of the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian, from the outer runner, follows the hip pivot and lateral thigh, while its middle runner descends through the buttocks to the pharynx, merging with the outer runner. The Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian ascends from the inner posterior thigh, pierces the spine, and belongs to the Kidney, and together with the Foot-Taiyang starts at the inner canthus, ascends to the forehead, crosses the vertex, enters the brain, exits, descends the neck, follows the shoulder blades, flanks the spine, reaches the waist, enters the paraspinal muscles, and connects to the Kidney, exactly as the Foot-Taiyang meridian travels. Yet, although the Du Mai and Ren Mai have different names, their Qi and pulses are indistinguishable. The pathway traveled by the Du Mai is exactly like the Ren Mai; thus, from the lower abdomen upward, it pierces the umbilicus, ascends through the Heart, enters the throat, ascends to the chin, circles the lips, and connects to the center below the eyes. Pathology of the Du Mai is also like pathology of the Ren Mai: Qi rushing from the lower abdomen to the heart causing pain, inability to pass urine/stool called Chongsan. Diseases occurring in women are exactly like those of the Ren and Chong Mai. Therefore, these meridians intersect and induce disease, using mutual names.)