(跷,捷也。两跷脉,各长八尺)《难经》曰∶阳跷脉,起于根中(根,足跟也),循外踝
(申脉穴也,属足太阳膀胱经),上行入风池(穴名,在项后发际陷中)。为病阴缓而阳急(阴,曰里。阳,
曰表。阴缓而阳急,里和而表病也,宜汗之)。滑伯仁曰∶阳跷本足太阳之别,合于太阳,其气上行,与足少
阴会于章门之下,又与手阳明会于肩端,又与手、足太阳、阳维会于肩 ,从胛骨上廉又与手、足阳明会于口
吻,及鼻两旁,又与任脉、足阳明会于目下。
娄全善曰∶经独言阴跷而不及阳跷,脱简故也。凡阳跷所会二十二穴∶〔申脉〕(足太阳外踝下),〔附
阳〕(足太阳外踝上),〔仆参〕(足太阳跟骨上),〔居 〕(足少阳章门下),〔肩 〕(手阳明肩端),
〔巨骨〕(手阳明肩上),〔 俞〕(手太阳肩胛上),〔地仓〕(足阳明口吻旁),〔巨 〕(足阳明鼻旁),
〔承泣〕(足阳明目下),〔睛明〕(足太阳目内 )。
《难经》曰∶阴跷脉亦起于跟中,循内踝(照海穴也,属足少阴肾经)上行,至咽喉,交贯、
冲脉(与冲脉之浮于外者,会于咽喉也)。为病阳缓而阴急。《灵枢》曰∶跷脉者,少阴之别(足少阴也),起
于然骨之后(然骨,俗呼孤拐骨),上内踝之上,直上循阴股入阴,上循胸里,入缺盆,上出人迎之前,入 ,
属目内 ,合于太阳、阳跷而上行。气并相还则为濡目(句),气不营则目不合(张洁古曰∶肌肉之上,阳脉
所行,通贯六腑,主持诸表,其名为阳跷之络。肌肉之下,阴脉所行,通贯五脏,主持诸里,其名为阴跷之络)。
《灵枢》曰∶阴跷之气,独行五脏,不荣六腑,何也?曰∶气之不得无行也,如水之流,如日月之不休,故
阴脉荣其脏,阳脉荣其腑,如环之无端,莫知其纪,终而复始。其流溢之气,内溉脏腑,外濡腠理。又曰∶跷
脉有阴阳,何脉当其数?曰∶男子数其阳,女子数其阴,当数者为经,不当数者为络也(愚按∶人之经脉,上下
左右前后二十八脉,周身十六丈二尺,然必合跷、任、督三脉计之,方得此数。若但十二为一周,则积数少二丈
四尺矣。当数,谓当十六丈二尺之数也。男子以阳跷当其数,则阳跷为经,阴跷为络。女子以阴跷当其数,则阴跷
为经,阳跷为络)
一云∶两足跷脉各长七尺五寸,而阴跷所生在照海,以交信为 ,阴跷脉病者取此,凡四穴∶〔然骨〕(即
然谷之次),〔交信〕(足少阴内踝上),〔照海〕(足少阴内踝下,在然谷之后),〔睛明〕(足太阳目内 )。
("Qiao" means agile. The two Qiao vessels, each is eight chi in length.) The *Nan Jing* (Classic of Difficult Issues) states: The Yang Qiao vessel originates from the middle of the heel (Gen refers to the heel), follows the lateral malleolus upward (Shenmai [BL62], belonging to the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Channel), ascends into Fengchi [GB20] (Acupoint name, located in the depression at the nape behind the hairline). When diseased, it presents with slackness on the Yin side and tension on the Yang side (Yin refers to the interior; Yang refers to the exterior. Yin slackness and Yang tension indicate harmony in the interior but disease in the exterior, suitable for treatment via sweating). Hua Borun stated: The Yang Qiao vessel is originally a branch of the Foot-Taiyang, merging with the Taiyang channel; its qi ascends, meeting the Foot-Shaoyin at the lower part of Zhangmen [LR13], again meeting the Hand-Yangming at the shoulder tip, and further meeting the Hand-Taiyang, Foot-Taiyang, and Yang Wei vessels at the shoulder, ascending from the upper border of the scapula to meet the Hand-Yangming and Foot-Yangming at the corners of the mouth and sides of the nose, and also meeting the Ren Mai and Foot-Yangming under the eyes.
Lou Quanshan stated: The classic mentions only the Yin Qiao and omits the Yang Qiao, which is due to lost bamboo slips. The twenty-two acupoints where the Yang Qiao meets are: [Shenmai] (Foot-Taiyang, below the lateral malleolus), [Fuyang] (Foot-Taiyang, above the lateral malleolus), [Pucan] (Foot-Taiyang, above the calcaneus), [Juliao] (Foot-Shaoyang, below Zhangmen), [Jianyu] (Hand-Yangming, at the shoulder tip), [Jugu] (Hand-Yangming, on the shoulder), [Tianzong] (Hand-Taiyang, above the scapula), [Dicang] (Foot-Yangming, beside the corner of the mouth), [Juliao] (Foot-Yangming, beside the nose), [Chengqi] (Foot-Yangming, below the eye), [Jingming] (Foot-Taiyang, at the inner canthus).
The *Nan Jing* states: The Yin Qiao vessel also originates from the middle of the heel, follows the medial malleolus upward (Zhaohai [KI6], belonging to the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Channel), reaches the throat, and intersects with the Chong Mai (meeting the part of the Chong Mai that floats externally at the throat). When diseased, it presents with slackness on the Yang side and tension on the Yin side. The *Ling Shu* (Spiritual Pivot) states: The Qiao vessel is a branch of the Foot-Shaoyin (i.e., the Foot-Shaoyin channel), originating behind Ran Gu (Ran Gu, commonly called the "lone crook bone," referring to the navicular tuberosity), ascending above the medial malleolus, going straight up along the medial thigh into the yin region, ascending along the interior of the chest, entering Quepen, ascending before Renying [ST9], entering the inner canthus, merging with the Taiyang and Yang Qiao to ascend. When the Qi merges and returns, it moistens the eyes (this completes the sentence); if the Qi does not nourish, the eyes cannot close (Zhang Jiegu stated: Above the muscles, where Yang vessels travel, penetrating the Six Fu organs and governing all exterior aspects, is named the Luo vessel of Yang Qiao. Below the muscles, where Yin vessels travel, penetrating the Five Zang organs and governing all interior aspects, is named the Luo vessel of Yin Qiao). The *Ling Shu* asks: Why does the Qi of Yin Qiao travel alone through the Five Zang organs and not nourish the Six Fu organs? The answer is: Qi cannot fail to circulate, just as water flows or the sun and moon do not cease. Thus, Yin vessels nourish the Zang, and Yang vessels nourish the Fu, forming a circle without beginning or end, unknown in origin, ending and restarting. Its overflowing Qi irrigates the internal Zang and Fu organs and moistens the external Couli (pores/skin). It is also said: Since Qiao vessels have Yin and Yang, which one counts towards the numerical total? The answer is: For men, count the Yang; for women, count the Yin. The one counted is considered a Jing (Main) vessel, and the one not counted is a Luo (Connecting) vessel. (My commentary: Human meridians, up, down, left, right, front, and back, total twenty-eight vessels, with a total body length of sixteen zhang and two chi. However, this number is only achieved when calculating together with the Qiao, Ren, and Du vessels. If counting only the twelve regular channels as one cycle, the accumulated length falls short by two zhang and four chi. "Counted" refers to fitting within the total of sixteen zhang and two chi. For men, since the Yang Qiao is counted, Yang Qiao is the Jing vessel and Yin Qiao is the Luo vessel. For women, since the Yin Qiao is counted, Yin Qiao is the Jing vessel and Yang Qiao is the Luo vessel.)
Another theory states: The two foot Qiao vessels are each seven chi and five cun long. The Yin Qiao originates at Zhaohai, using Jiaoxin as its Xi-Cleft point. For diseases of the Yin Qiao vessel, these points are selected, totaling four acupoints: [Rangu] (adjacent to Ran Gu, essentially Rangu), [Jiaoxin] (Foot-Shaoyin, above the medial malleolus), [Zhaohai] (Foot-Shaoyin, below the medial malleolus, posterior to Rangu), [Jingming] (Foot-Taiyang, at the inner canthus).