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(Su Wen, Gu Kong Lun)

The Ren Mai (Conception Vessel) 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. (The following discussions on the Ren, Chong, and Du vessels all belong to the Eight Extraordinary Vessels. Zhongji is the name of an acupoint on the Ren Mai, located one cun above the Qugu point (CV2). "Below Zhongji" refers to the location of the Bao Gong (Uterus). The Ren, Chong, and Du vessels all originate from the Bao Gong and emerge between the Huiyin points. The Ren Mai travels along the abdomen starting from Huiyin; the Du Mai travels along the back starting from Huiyin; the Chong Mai emerges from Huiyin, runs alongside the Shaoyin Kidney Meridian, and disperses in the chest. Therefore, the path described here from the pubic hair margin, through the abdominal interior, Guanyuan, up to the throat and face, constitutes the pathway of the Ren Mai.)

The Chong Mai (Penetrating Vessel) originates at the Qichong point (ST30), runs parallel with the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian, ascends flanking the umbilicus, and disperses in the chest. ("Originates" refers to the starting point of the exterior pathway, not the source of origin. The following text follows this convention. Qichong is an acupoint of the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian, located on both sides of the pubic hair margin. The Chong Mai originates at Qichong and intersects with the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian at eleven acupoints including Henggu (KI11) and Dahe (KI12), ascending flanking the umbilicus to disperse in the chest. This describes the anterior pathway of the Chong Mai. However, the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian ascends along the posterior medial aspect of the thigh, penetrates the spine, and connects to the Kidneys. The Chong Mai also enters the interior of the spine as the Fuchong (Hidden Penetrating) vessel. Thus, the posterior pathway of the Chong Mai must undoubtedly run alongside the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian. The Wu Lun chapter states: The Chong Mai is the Sea of the Twelve Meridians, primarily responsible for permeating and irrigating the muscle valleys. It joins with the Yangming Meridian at the Zongjin (Genital Tendon), where Yin and Yang converge. This convergence occurs at Qichong, with the Yangming Meridian acting as the leader, all belonging to the Dai Mai (Girdle Vessel) and linked to the Du Mai. The Wu Yin Wu Wei chapter states: The Chong and Ren Mai both originate in the Baozhong (Center of the Uterus), ascend along the interior of the back, and serve as the Sea of the Meridians. Those that are superficial and external follow the right side of the abdomen upward, converge at the throat, and branch to link the lips and mouth. The Ni Shun Fei Shu chapter states: The Chong Mai is the Sea of the Five Zang and Six Fu Organs; all Five Zang and Six Fu Organs receive its Qi and Blood. Its ascending branch emerges from the Hangsang (nasopharynx), permeates the Yang meridians, and irrigates the essence; its descending branch pours into the large collateral of the Foot-Shaoyin, emerges at Qichong, follows the medial anterior aspect of the thigh, enters the popliteal fossa, runs deep within the tibia, descends behind the medial malleolus, and branches off; another descending branch runs parallel with the Foot-Shaoyin Meridian, permeating the Three Yin meridians; its anterior branch runs deep emerging at the dorsum of the foot, descends along the dorsum, enters between the great toe, permeates the various collaterals to warm the muscles. Therefore, if the collateral collides, the pulse on the dorsum of the foot becomes inactive; if inactive, Jue (cold reversal) occurs, leading to coldness. The Dong Shu chapter states: The Chong Mai is the Sea of the Twelve Meridians, originating with the large collateral of the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney below the kidney, emerging at Qichong, running with the Foot-Shaoyin Meridian into the sole of the foot; its branch obliquely enters the ankle, emerges at the dorsum of the foot, enters between the great toes, and pours into the various collaterals to warm the lower legs and shins. The Hai Lun chapter states: The Chong Mai is the Sea of the Twelve Meridians; its Shu points are located superiorly at Dazhu (BL11) and inferiorly at the upper and lower edges of Juxu (Stomach Meridian points). According to these chapters, the descending part of the Chong Mai, although converging at the Qichong of the Yangming Meridian, actually runs parallel with the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian. Furthermore, it covers everything from the head down to the feet, from the back to the front, from the interior muscle valleys to the exterior muscles, involving Yin/Yang and Interior/Exterior. Additionally, the Sui Lu chapter states: Entering the interior of the spine, pouring into the Fuchong vessel. The Bai Bing Shi Sheng chapter states: Pathogenic factors lodge in the Fuchong vessel. "Fuchong" is so named because it is the deepest. Thus, the Qi and Blood of all Twelve Meridians are received here to nourish the whole body, hence it is called the Sea of the Five Zang and Six Fu Organs. The meaning of "Chong as the Sea of Blood" is detailed in Section 32 later.)

Disease of the Ren Mai manifests as internal nodulation of the Seven Types of Hernia in men, and leukorrhea with masses in women. (The Ren Mai ascends from the anterior yin through the pubic hair margin and runs in the abdominal interior, hence the diseases manifest thus in both sexes. The meaning of "Seven Hernias" is detailed in Disease Category 70. Leukorrhea refers to red and white vaginal discharge. Jia refers to abdominal masses. Ju refers to accumulation. Jia is pronounced like Jia or Jia.)

Disease of the Chong Mai manifests as rebellious Qi and internal tension. (The Chong Mai ascends flanking the umbilicus to the chest; therefore, if its Qi is unsmooth, it causes obstruction and rebellious Qi; if its Blood is unharmonious, it causes internal tension in the chest and abdomen.)

Disease of the Du Mai (Governing Vessel) manifests as stiffness of the spine and opisthotonos (backward bending). (The Du Mai penetrates the center of the spine, thus causing spinal stiffness, opisthotonos, and limited flexion and extension.)

The Du Mai originates from the central bone below the lower abdomen, and in women, connects internally to the Ting Kong. (The following text discusses the Du Mai. Lower abdomen refers to the small abdomen, the residence of the Bao Gong. Central bone refers to the center near the outside of the lower edge of the pubic bone. Ting means straight/upright. Ting Kong refers to the straight hole in the center, i.e., the urethral opening.)

This orifice is the end of the urethral opening. (This explains that Ting Kong is the urethral opening. In women, the urethral opening is located below the pubic bone in the anterior yin. The upper edge of the orifice is called the duan (end), which is the external starting point of the Du Mai. Although this description uses women as an example, the male urethral opening is also in the center below the pubic bone, but it is covered by the Zongjin, so it is not visible. Niao is pronounced niang diao qie.)

Its collateral follows the genitalia, converges at the Cu (perineum), and winds around the posterior Cu. (The collateral of the Du Mai starts from the end of the urethral opening, follows the genitalia branching backward, converges at the Cu, then splits again from the Cu to wind around the posterior aspect. Cu implies intersection, referring to the area between the two yins where urination and defecation occur, i.e., between the anterior and posterior orifices. Cu is pronounced chu huan qie.)

A branch winds around the buttocks to reach the Shaoyin, merging with the middle collateral of the Taiyang, joining the Shaoyin to ascend along the posterior medial aspect of the thigh, penetrating the spine and connecting to the Kidneys. (The Foot-Shaoyin Meridian ascends along the posterior medial aspect of the thigh. The Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian, its lateral branch, passes through the hip pivot, and its medial branch flanks the spine and penetrates the buttocks. Thus, the collateral of the Du Mai, winding around the buttocks from behind the perineum, reaches the boundary of the Shaoyin at the posterior medial thigh, merges with the middle collateral of the Taiyang, joins the Shaoyin Meridian to run parallel, penetrates the spine, and connects to the Kidneys. Tun is pronounced tun.)

It meets the Taiyang at the inner canthus of the eye, ascends to the forehead, crosses the vertex, enters to network the brain, re-emerges to descend separately down the neck, follows the medial shoulder blade, flanks the spine to reach the middle of the waist, enters to follow the paraspinal muscles and networks the Kidneys. (This is also a collateral of the Du Mai, running with the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian to the head and neck, flanking the spine to reach the middle of the waist, and reconnecting to the Kidneys. If referring to the direct pathway, it ascends from the coccyx along the interior of the spine to the head, passes through the nose to the Renzhong point. Zi is pronounced zi. Bo is pronounced bo. Lv is pronounced lv.)

In men, it follows the penis down to the perineum, equal to the situation in women. (Jing is pronounced ying or xing, referring to the penis.)

The portion rising directly from the lower abdomen penetrates 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. (According to this, the path rising directly from the lower abdomen belongs to the Ren Mai, yet this section lists it under the Du Mai. The Wu Yin Wu Wei chapter states: The Ren and [Chong] Mai both originate in the Baozhong, ascend along the interior of the back to become the Sea of the Meridians. If so, the front is also Du, and the back is also Ren. Therefore, Qixuanzi cited ancient classics stating: The Ren Mai running along the back is called the Du Mai; that rising directly from the lower abdomen is called the Ren Mai, also referred to as the Du Mai. From this perspective, Ren and Du are distinguished by Back/Front representing Yin/Yang. Regarding these three vessels, although their names differ, their substance is one. Hence, it is said that the Ren, Chong, and Du Mai share one source and branch into three.)

Diseases of the Du Mai manifest as Qi rushing from the lower abdomen to the heart causing pain, and inability to pass urine or stool, known as Chong Hernia. (This is because the Du Mai penetrates the Heart from above the umbilicus, hence the disease manifests thus. Named Chong Hernia, it likely involves pathology of both the Chong and Ren Mai.)

In women, it manifests as infertility, strangury, hemorrhoids, urinary incontinence, and dryness of the throat. (These symptoms in women—infertility, strangury, hemorrhoids, urinary incontinence, and dry throat—are generated by the Du Mai, but are essentially diseases of the Ren and Chong Mai. Wang Bing stated: The Ren Mai allows women to conceive and nurture. The Chong Mai is characterized by its Qi rushing upward. The Du Mai governs and leads the Sea of the Meridians. Moreover, since these three vessels ascend from the yin region, their pathological manifestations are thus. Long is pronounced liang zhong qie. Zhi is pronounced zhi. Yi is pronounced yi.)

For diseases of the Du Mai, treat the Du Mai. Acupuncture points are located on the bone above (Qugu), and in severe cases, at the Ying camp below the umbilicus (Yinjiao). ("Bone above" refers to the Qugu point (CV2) in the pubic hair margin above the pubic bone. "Ying below the umbilicus" refers to the Yinjiao point (CV11), one cun below the umbilicus. These are acupoints of the Ren Mai used to treat Du Mai diseases. This illustrates the principle elucidated in this chapter: although the three vessels are discussed separately, the treatment principles only mention the Du Mai, not the Ren or Chong. Thus, Ren Mai points are used to treat Du Mai diseases, demonstrating that the three vessels are fundamentally one entity. The Du Mai is the guideline for the Ren and Chong, while the Ren and Chong are aliases of the Du Mai.)