冲脉侠脐起横骨,大气四注肓俞同,商石阴通幽门穴,至胸散布任流行。
冲脉分寸同少阴,起于横骨至幽门,上行每穴皆一寸,穴开中行各五分。
【注】冲脉起于足阳明,并于足少阴腹气之街,侠脐中行左右五分,而上行自少腹下
尖阴上横骨穴,从横骨穴上行大赫、气穴、四满、中注、肓俞、商曲、石关、阴都、通谷、
幽门等共十一穴,每穴上行相去各一寸,中行左右各五分。
\r冲脉穴图\p06-d43a88.bmp\r
【按】任、督、冲三脉,《素问·骨空论》曰∶任脉起于中极之下,毛际以上。是
外指少腹之分也。循腹里,是内指胞中也。督
脉起于少腹以下骨中央,女子廷孔,男子阴器,合篡贯脊属肾,亦是外指少腹,内指胞
中也。冲脉起于气街,并少阴之经,亦是指于胞中也。虽未明言胞中,而实未尝不起于
胞中也。是以知任、督、冲三脉,皆起于胞中。然三脉皆后天水谷所化,胃气出于气街,
会于胞中,与先天肾间动之真气,并行而充身者也。由此观之,三脉同出一源无疑矣。故
王冰《内经注》、《甲乙经》、《针灸图经》以任脉循背者谓之督脉;自少腹上谓之任脉,亦
谓之督脉,则是以背腹阴阳,别为名目耳。然冲脉亦起于胞中,并足少阴而上行。是任脉、
督脉、冲脉乃一源而三岐者。故人身之有腹背,犹天地之有子午;任督之有前后,犹二
陆之分阴阳也。胞中者,谓男女丹田之通称也。在女子谓之女子胞,在男子即精室也。
The Chong Mai (Penetrating Vessel) originates at Henggu (CV12), runs alongside the navel, and its vast qi (Zong Qi, Pectoral Qi) distributes to Huangshu (KI16). It passes through Shangqu (KI15), Shiguan (KI14), Yindu (KI13), Tonggu (KI12), and Youmen (KI14), reaching the chest where it spreads and flows in parallel with the Ren Mai (Conception Vessel).
The measurement of acupoints on the Chong Mai is identical to that of the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian. Starting from Henggu (CV12) up to Youmen (KI14), each successive acupoint is spaced one cun apart vertically, and located five fen laterally from the midline.
[Note] The Chong Mai originates from the Qichong area of the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian and runs parallel to the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian at the "Street of Qi" in the abdomen. It is located five fen lateral to the midline of the navel and ascends. Starting from the Henggu (CV12) acupoint at the lower abdomen near the pubic symphysis, it ascends sequentially through Dahe (KI12), Qixue (KI13), Siman (KI14), Zhongzhu (KI15), Huangshu (KI16), Shangqu (KI15), Shiguan (KI14), Yindu (KI13), Tonggu (KI12), and Youmen (KI14), totaling eleven acupoints. Each acupoint is spaced one cun apart vertically, and five fen lateral to the midline.
[Commentary] Regarding the Ren Mai (Conception Vessel), Du Mai (Governor Vessel), and Chong Mai (Penetrating Vessel), the *Suwen: Gu Kong Lun* states: "The Ren Mai originates below Zhongji (CV3) and above the pubic hair line." This externally refers to the hypogastric region. "It follows inside the abdomen," this internally refers to the Baogong (Uterus/Essence Chamber). The Du Mai originates from the central bone below the hypogastric region; in women, it is the Tingkong (urethral opening); in men, it is the Yinqi (genitals). They converge at the Cuanyuan (perianal region), penetrate the spine, and connect to the Kidneys. This also externally refers to the hypogastric region and internally to the Baogong. The Chong Mai originates from the Qichong area and runs with the Foot-Shaoyin Meridian, also referring to the Baogong. Although not explicitly stated as originating from the Baogong, it indeed originates there. Thus, it is known that the Ren, Du, and Chong Mai all originate from the Baogong. However, these three meridians are transformed from postnatal water and grain essence. Stomach Qi emerges from the Qichong area, converges in the Baogong, and runs in parallel with the primordial true Qi moving between the kidneys to nourish the whole body. From this perspective, it is undeniable that the three meridians share a common source. Therefore, Wang Bing in his *Neijing Zhu*, the *Jiayi Jing*, and the *Zhenjiu Tujing* referred to the portion running along the back as the Du Mai; the portion ascending from the lower abdomen as the Ren Mai, also called the Du Mai. This is merely distinguishing names based on the yin-yang attributes of the back and abdomen. However, since the Chong Mai also originates from the Baogong and ascends with the Foot-Shaoyin Meridian, the Ren, Du, and Chong Mai are one source branching into three. Thus, the human body's distinction between front and back is like the heaven and earth's distinction between Zi and Wu (North-South axis); the front-back distinction of the Ren and Du Mai is like the division of Yin and Yang by the Two Solids (Taiji). The Baogong is a general term for the Dantian in both men and women. In women, it is called the Nüzibao (Female Uterus); in men, it is the Jingshi (Essence Chamber).