冲为经脉之海，又曰血海，其脉与任脉，皆起于少腹之内胞中。其浮而外者，起于气冲。（一名气街，在
少腹毛中两旁各二寸，横骨两端，动脉宛宛中，足阳明穴也）并足阳明、少阴二经之间，循腹上行至横骨。（足
阳明去腹中行二寸，少阴去腹中行五分，冲脉行于二经之间也。横骨在阴上横骨中，宛如偃月，去腹中行一寸半）
挟脐左右各五分，上行历大赫、（横骨上一寸，去腹中行一寸半）气穴、（即胞门一名子户、大赫上一寸，去腹中
行一寸半，少阴、冲脉之会）四满、（气穴上一寸）中注、（四满上一寸）肓 、（中注上一寸）商曲、（肓
上二寸）石关、（商曲上一寸）阴都、（石关上一寸）通谷、（阴都上一寸）幽门，（通谷上一寸，夹巨阙两旁，
各五分陷中）至胸中而散，凡二十四穴。
灵枢经曰∶冲、任皆起于胞中，上循背里，为经络之海。其浮而外者，循腹右上行，会于咽喉，别而
络唇口。血气盛则充肤热肉，血独盛则淡渗皮肤，生毫毛。妇人有余于气，不足于血，月下数脱血，任冲
并伤，脉不荣其口唇，故髭须不生。宦者去其宗筋，
伤其冲任，血泻不复，皮肤内结，唇口不荣，故须亦不生。天宦不脱于血，而任冲不盛，宗筋不强，有气
无血，唇口不荣，故须亦不生。
素问水热穴论曰∶三阴之所交，结于脚也。踝上各一行者，此肾脉之下行也。名曰太冲。
王启玄曰∶肾脉与冲脉并下行循足，合而盛大，故曰太冲。一云冲脉起于气冲，冲直而通，故谓之冲。
素问阴阳离合论曰∶圣人南面而立，前曰广明，后曰太冲。太冲之地，名曰少阴，其冲在下，名曰太阴。
启玄曰∶心脏在南，故前曰广明，冲脉在北，故后曰太冲。足少阴肾脉与冲脉合而盛大，故曰太冲。两脉
相合为表里也。冲脉在脾之下，故曰其冲在下，名曰太阴。
灵枢经曰∶帝曰∶少阴之脉独下行。何也？岐伯曰∶不然。夫冲脉者，五脏六腑之海也。其上者出于
颃颡，渗诸阳，灌诸精。其下者注于少阴之大络，起于肾下，出于气街，循阴股内廉，斜入 中，伏行
骨内廉，并少阴之经，下入内踝之后，入足下；其别者并于少阴，渗三阴，斜入踝，伏行出属跗，属下，
循跗上，入大指之间，渗诸络而温足胫肌肉。故其脉常动，别络结则跗上不动，不动则厥，厥则寒矣。
王海脏曰∶手少阳三焦相火为一腑，右肾命门为
相火，心包主亦名相火，其脉同诊。肾为生气之门，出而治脐下，分三歧，上冲夹脐过天枢，上至膻中两
乳间，元气所系焉。又足太阳之别，并足太阳正路入络膀胱，约下焉。三焦者，从头至心、心至脐、脐至
足，为上中下三焦，其实真元一气也。故曰有脏无腑。脉诀云∶三焦无状空有名，寄在胸中膈相应。一
云∶其腑在气街中。上焦在胃上口，治在膻中；中焦在胃管，治在脐旁；下焦在脐下膀胱上口，治在脐。
经曰∶原气者，三焦之别使也。肾间动气者，真元一气，分为三路，人之生命也，十二经之根本也。
李濒湖曰∶三焦即命门之用。与冲、任、督相通者，故附着于此。
Chong Mai (Penetrating Vessel) is the Sea of the Twelve Meridians, also known as the Sea of Blood. Its vessel originates within the Bao Zhong (uterus/womb) inside the lower abdomen. The branch that floats outwardly originates at Qichong (ST30). (Qichong, also called Qijie, is located two cun lateral to the midline of the lower abdomen in the pubic hair region, between the ends of the Henggu (SI8) bone, in the depression where the artery beats; it is an acupoint of the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian.) It runs between the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian and the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian, ascending along the abdomen to Henggu (KI12). (The Foot-Yangming meridian is two cun from the abdominal midline, the Foot-Shaoyin meridian is five fen from the abdominal midline, and the Chong Mai runs between these two meridians. Henggu is located in the transverse bone above the genitalia, resembling a crescent moon, one and a half cun from the abdominal midline.) It flanks the umbilicus, five fen on each side, ascending through Dahé (KI13), (one cun above Henggu, one and a half cun from the midline) Qixué (KI14), (also known as Baomen or Zihu, one cun above Qixué, one and a half cun from the midline, intersection of Foot-Shaoyin and Chong Mai) Siman (KI15), (one cun above Qixué) Zhongzhu (KI16), (one cun above Siman) Huangshu (KI17), (one cun above Zhongzhu) Shangqu (KI18), (two cun above Huangshu) Shiguan (KI19), (one cun above Shangqu) Yindu (KI20), (one cun above Shiguan) Tonggu (KI21), (one cun above Yindu) Youmen (KI22), (one cun above Tonggu, five fen lateral to Juque (CV14) in the depression), dispersing in the chest. There are twenty-four acupoints in total.
The *Ling Shu* states: "Both the Chong and Ren vessels originate in the Bao Zhong, ascending along the interior of the back, serving as the Sea of the Meridians. The branch floating outwardly ascends along the right side of the abdomen, meets at the throat, and branches to connect with the lips and mouth. When blood and qi are abundant, they fill the skin and warm the flesh; when blood is particularly abundant, it渗 (seeps/permeates) into the skin, generating body hair. Women have excess qi but deficient blood, losing blood frequently during menstruation, injuring both the Ren and Chong vessels. The vessels fail to nourish the lips and mouth, hence facial hair does not grow. Eunuchs have their Zongjin (genitals/tendons) removed, injuring the Chong and Ren vessels; blood is lost and cannot recover, internal结 (knots/condenses) in the skin, and the lips and mouth are not nourished, hence beard does not grow. Tianhuan (congenital eunuchs) do not lose blood, but the Ren and Chong vessels are not vigorous, the Zongjin is not strong, having qi but lacking blood, the lips and mouth are not nourished, hence beard does not grow."
The *Su Wen: Shui Re Xue Lun* states: "The three Yin meridians intersect and knot at the foot. The rows of vessels above each ankle are the downward path of the Kidney Meridian, named Taichong."
Wang Qixuan states: "The Kidney Meridian and Chong Mai descend together along the foot, merging to become vigorous, thus named Taichong. Another view holds that the Chong Mai originates at Qichong; because it is straight and unobstructed, it is called 'Chong' (penetrating)."
The *Su Wen: Yin Yang Li He Lun* states: "When the sage stands facing south, the front is called Guangming, and the back is called Taichong. The area of Taichong is named Shaoyin; its Chong is below, named Taiyin."
Wang Qixuan states: "The Heart is in the south, so the front is called Guangming; the Chong Mai is in the north, so the back is called Taichong. The Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian and Chong Mai merge to become vigorous, thus named Taichong. These two vessels combine as exterior and interior. The Chong Mai is below the Spleen, so its Chong is below, named Taiyin."
The *Ling Shu* states: "The Yellow Emperor asked: Why does the Shaoyin vessel descend alone? Qibo replied: Not so. The Chong Mai is the Sea of the Five Zang and Six Fu organs. Its ascending part emerges from the Hangsang (nasopharynx), seeps into the Yang meridians, and irrigates the essences. Its descending part pours into the large collateral of the Shaoyin, originating below the kidney, emerging from Qijie, following the medial aspect of the thigh, obliquely entering the popliteal fossa, running deep along the medial edge of the bone, parallel to the Shaoyin meridian, descending behind the medial malleolus, and entering the sole of the foot; its branch runs parallel with the Shaoyin, seeps into the three Yin meridians, obliquely enters the ankle, runs deep emerging to connect with the dorsum of the foot, descends, follows the dorsum upward, enters between the great toe, seeps into the collaterals to warm the muscles of the lower leg and foot. Therefore, this vessel usually pulsates; if the branch collateral is blocked, the pulse on the dorsum of the foot will not move; if it does not move, Jue (reversal cold) occurs, leading to coldness."
Wang Haizheng states: "The Hand-Shaoyang Sanjiao (Triple Burner) Xianghuo (Ministerial Fire) constitutes one Fu organ; the Right Kidney Mingmen (Gate of Life) is also Ministerial Fire; the Pericardium governs and is also named Ministerial Fire; their pulses are diagnosed similarly. The Kidney is the gate of generating Qi. Qi emerges below the umbilicus, dividing into three branches. The Chong Mai ascends flanking the umbilicus passing Tianshu (ST25), reaching up to Danzhong (CV17) between the breasts, where Yuanqi (Original Qi) is anchored. Additionally, the branch of the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian runs parallel with the main path of the Foot-Taiyang, entering and connecting to the Bladder, constraining the lower part. The Sanjiao extends from head to heart, heart to umbilicus, and umbilicus to foot, forming the Upper, Middle, and Lower Sanjiao, but its essence is the True Primal Qi. Thus, it is said to have Zang but no Fu. The *Mai Jue* says: 'Sanjiao has no form, empty name only, lodged in the chest corresponding to the diaphragm.' Another view states: 'Its Fu organ is in Qijie.' The Upper Sanjiao is at the upper opening of the stomach, treated at Danzhong; the Middle Sanjiao is in the stomach tube, treated at the side of the umbilicus; the Lower Sanjiao is below the umbilicus at the upper opening of the bladder, treated at the umbilicus. The classics state: 'Yuanqi is the special envoy of the Sanjiao.' The Dongqi (moving Qi) in the kidneys is the True Primal Qi, divided into three paths, being the root of human life and the foundation of the twelve meridians."
Li Shizhen states: "The Sanjiao is the function of the Mingmen. Because it connects with the Chong, Ren, and Du vessels, it is attached here."