难经云脉有奇经八脉者不拘于十二经何谓也然有阳维有阴维有阳跷有阴跷有冲有任有督有带
之脉凡此八脉皆不拘于经故曰奇经八脉也经有十二络有十五凡二十七气相随上下何独不拘于
经也然圣人图设沟渠通利水道以备不然天雨降下沟渠溢满当此之时 霈妄行圣人不能复图也
此络脉满溢诸经不能复拘也既不拘于十二经络皆从何起何继详见下文
督脉起自下极 并与脊里上风府过脑额鼻入龈交为阳脉海都纲要任脉起于中极底上复循喉承
浆里阴脉之海任所为冲脉出胞至胸止从腹会咽络口唇女人成经为血室脉并少阴之肾经与任督
本于阴会三脉并起而异行阳跷起足跟之底循外踝上入风池阴跷内踝循喉嗌本是阴阳脉别支诸
阴会起阴维脉发足少阴筑宾郗诸阳会起阳维脉太阳之 金门是带脉周四季胁问会于维道足少
阳所谓奇经之八脉维系诸经乃顺常
公孙冲脉胃心胸内关阴维下认同临泣胆经连带脉阳维自锐外关逢后溪督脉内 颈申脉阳跷络
亦通列缺肺任行肺系阴跷照海膈喉咙
《难经》中说：“脉有奇经八脉”，这是指这八条经脉不受十二正经的约束，为什么呢？因为有阳维脉、阴维脉、阳跷脉、阴跷脉、冲脉、任脉、督脉、带脉。这八条经脉都不受常规经脉的约束，所以称为“奇经八脉”。
人体有十二条正经和十五条络脉，凡二十七气上下相随运行，为什么唯独这八脉不受常规经脉的约束呢？这就好比圣人挖掘沟渠以疏通水道，以备不时之需。当大雨降下，沟渠满溢时，水流就会泛滥妄行，即使是圣人也无法再加以规划控制。同理，当络脉满溢时，诸经之气便不再受常规约束。既然不受十二经络的约束，它们究竟从何而起、由何接续呢？详见下文。
督脉起于下极（尾骨端），与脊里并行，上行至风府穴，过脑部，入额部，沿鼻下行至龈交穴，为“阳脉之海”，是总纲所在。
任脉起于中极穴之下，向上沿喉部，经过承浆穴，为“阴脉之海”，是任脉所主之处。
冲脉出于胞宫，上行至胸部停止；从腹部会合咽喉，联络口唇。在女性中，它形成月经，成为血室。此脉并少阴肾经而行，与任脉、督脉本源于阴，三脉并起而各行其道。
诸阳脉会合处起于阳维脉，太阳经的金门穴是其关键。
带脉环绕腰部四季胁肋之间，会合于维道穴。足少阳胆经所谓“奇经之八脉”，维系着诸经，乃是顺应常道的规律。
公孙穴通冲脉，主治胃、心、胸部的疾病；内关穴通阴维脉，下认同身穴位（此处指内关与公孙相配，或指其作用范围）。
列缺穴通肺经，任脉行于肺系；照海穴通阴跷脉，主治膈部和喉咙疾病。
八卦对应：乾卦对应公孙，艮卦对应内关，巽卦对应临泣，震卦对应外关，离卦对应列缺，坤卦对应照海，兑卦对应后溪，坎卦对应申脉。
补泻手法分为浮沉，方向分为逆顺，把握时机与呼吸并不困难。这是祖传的秘诀神针法，万病如拈，立刻安宁。
公孙偏与内关配合，列缺能消除照海的病症（注：此处原文意指八脉交会穴的主客配伍关系，通常公孙配内关，列缺配照海等，但原文表述较为简略，直译为字面意思）。
左病右治，右病左治，知晓高下之分，以意念贯通经脉。广泛运用按摩，补泻手法遵循迎随原则，分清逆顺。“五门八法”是真传的科学法则。
The *Nan Jing* (Classic of Difficult Issues) states: "There are eight extraordinary vessels among the pulses." This refers to the fact that these eight vessels are not restricted by the twelve regular meridians. Why is this so? Because there are the Yang Linking Vessel (Yangwei), Yin Linking Vessel (Yinwei), Yang Heel Vessel (Yangqiao), Yin Heel Vessel (Yinqiao), Chong Vessel, Ren Vessel, Du Vessel, and Dai Vessel. These eight vessels are all unrestricted by the regular meridians; hence they are called the Eight Extraordinary Vessels.
The human body has twelve regular meridians and fifteen collaterals, totaling twenty-seven qi pathways that move up and down together. Why are only these eight vessels unrestricted by the regular meridians? It is like how sages dug ditches to facilitate water flow in case of necessity. When heavy rain falls and the ditches overflow, the water flows wildly and uncontrollably, beyond even the sage's ability to plan or contain. Similarly, when the collaterals become full and overflow, the qi of the various meridians can no longer be constrained by their regular paths. Since they are not restricted by the twelve regular meridians, where do they originate and how do they connect? See the following text for details.
The Du Vessel (Governing Vessel) originates from the lower extreme (coccyx), runs parallel within the spinal canal, ascends to the Fengfu (DU16) acupoint, passes through the brain, enters the forehead, descends along the nose, and enters the Yinjiao (GV28) acupoint. It is the "Sea of Yang Meridians" and serves as the general outline.
The Ren Vessel (Conception Vessel) originates below the Zhongji (CV3) acupoint, ascends along the throat, passes through the Chengjiang (CV24) acupoint, and is the "Sea of Yin Meridians," governed by the Ren Vessel.
The Chong Vessel (Penetrating Vessel) emerges from the uterus (Bao Gong), ascends to the chest and stops; it meets at the throat from the abdomen and connects to the lips. In women, it forms the menstrual blood and becomes the Blood Chamber. This vessel runs alongside the Shaoyin Kidney Meridian and shares its root with the Ren and Du vessels in the yin aspect; the three vessels arise together but travel separately.
The Yang Qiao Vessel originates from the bottom of the heel, follows the lateral malleolus upward, and enters the Fengchi (GB20) acupoint.
The Yin Qiao Vessel originates from the medial malleolus, ascends along the throat and pharynx, and is originally a branch of the yin and yang vessels.
The Yin Wei Vessel arises where the various yin vessels meet, originating from the Xi-cleft point Zhubin (KI9) of the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian.
The Yang Wei Vessel arises where the various yang vessels meet, with Jinmen (BL63) of the Taiyang Bladder Meridian being its key point.
The Dai Vessel (Girdle Vessel) encircles the waist and costal region, meeting at the Weidao (GB26) acupoint. The Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian describes the Eight Extraordinary Vessels as maintaining and linking the various meridians, which is the normal course of physiology.
Gongsun (SP4) connects to the Chong Vessel and treats diseases of the stomach, heart, and chest; Neiguan (PC6) connects to the Yin Wei Vessel.
Linqi (GB41) belongs to the Gallbladder Meridian and connects to the Dai Vessel; Waiguan (TE5) meets the Yang Wei Vessel.
Houxi (SI3) connects to the Du Vessel and treats neck and head conditions; Shenmai (BL62) connects to the Yang Qiao Vessel, and their collaterals also communicate.
Lieque (LU7) connects to the Lung Meridian, and the Ren Vessel travels through the lung system; Zhaohai (KI6) connects to the Yin Qiao Vessel and treats diaphragm and throat conditions.
In terms of Bagua correspondence: Qian corresponds to Gongsun, Gen corresponds to Neiguan, Xun corresponds to Linqi, Zhen corresponds to Waiguan, Li corresponds to Lieque, Kun corresponds to Zhaohai, Dui corresponds to Houxi, and Kan corresponds to Shenmai.
Tonification and sedation techniques are divided into floating and sinking, while directions are divided into counter-flow and following-flow. Grasping the timing and respiration is not difficult. This is the ancestral secret method of the Divine Needle; myriad diseases are easily resolved, bringing immediate peace.
Gongsun pairs with Neiguan; Lieque resolves issues associated with Zhaohai. Linqi and Waiguan serve as master and guest pairs; Houxi and Shenmai harmonize perfectly. Treating the left side for right-sided disease, and vice versa, one must understand the high and low distinctions. By using intention to penetrate the meridians and employing massage widely, tonification and sedation follow the Ying-Sui principles, distinguishing between counter-flow and following-flow. The "Five Gates and Eight Methods" constitute the true science of acupuncture.