Analysis of the subject of information transfer
- The subject that receives, analyzes, and gives commands for information transfer is the nervous system (central nervous system).
- The pathways or channels of information transfer are nerves, lymphatic vessels, or blood vessels.
- The representative hormone classifications for information transfer are paracrine, autocrine, and endocrine.
- Many hormones exist, including insulin, epinephrine, steroids, and hormones released based on mood.
Why discuss this?
The purpose of the nervous system, lymphatic system, and hormones is the same: they transmit information to achieve a state of harmony within the body. This is true for cells, organs, and the meridians (경락), which are a more extensive system.
There was an experiment in Germany where they put acupuncture needles in random places and on acupuncture points for a headache, and the results were the same, leading to the conclusion that meridians do not exist.
My own opinion is different. There is a difference between placing needles with the concept of meridians in mind and just placing them randomly, which suggests a lack of clinical experience. It is true that placing needles or moxibustion anywhere has some effect—better than nothing—but it is not to be disregarded when using the concept of meridians.
What are Meridians (경락)?
- Meridians (경락) are composed of the main meridians (경맥), collateral vessels (낙맥), twelve meridian sinews (십이경근), and twelve cutaneous regions (십이피부).
- Meridians (경맥) are divided into the primary meridians (정경), extraordinary meridians (기경), and divergent meridians (경별).
- Collateral vessels (낙맥) are divided into the major collaterals (별락), minor collaterals (손락), and superficial collaterals (부락).
The Primary Meridians (정경)
- There are 12 primary meridians, called the Twelve Meridians (12경맥).
- The location and circulation direction of the 12 meridians are regular and directly connected to the organs (장부).
- If there is a disease in an organ, it can be treated by performing acupuncture on the corresponding meridian.
- The sequence of the 12 meridians, connecting each organ and following the path of circulation of vital energy (기혈), is as follows:
- Lung Meridian → Large Intestine Meridian → Stomach Meridian → Spleen Meridian → Heart Meridian → Small Intestine Meridian → Bladder Meridian → Kidney Meridian → Pericardium Meridian → Triple Energizer Meridian → Gallbladder Meridian → Liver Meridian → Lung Meridian.
- If blood vessels are the pathways for blood, meridians are the pathways of life through which celestial and terrestrial energy flow.
- Just as blocked blood vessels can lead to arteriosclerosis and strokes, a poor or blocked flow of meridians can cause various diseases and corresponding symptoms.
- Meridians are the fundamental force of noble life activity that only exists in living people. When life ends, the meridians dissolve and disappear.
The Composition of Meridians
The primary meridians (정경) and extraordinary meridians (기경) are part of the meridian system.
1. Primary Meridians (정경)
- There are 12 primary meridians where the energy of the six viscera and six bowels flows. They can be compared to major national highways.
- These include the Liver, Gallbladder, Heart, Small Intestine, Spleen, Stomach, Lung, Large Intestine, Kidney, Bladder, Pericardium, and Triple Energizer Meridians.
2. Extraordinary Meridians (기경)
- Often called the Eight Extraordinary Meridians, they can be compared to expressways.
- These include the Girdling, Governing, Penetrating, Conception, Yin Heel, Yang Heel, Yin Linking, and Yang Linking Meridians.
Acupuncture Points (경혈)
- Acupuncture points are stimulation points on the surface of the body for acupuncture, moxibustion, and cupping treatments, located along the meridians (경락).
- They are called ‘혈’ (穴, hole) because they are where vital energy (기) gathers and enters/exits.
- Acupuncture points are reaction points on the body’s surface where abnormalities of an organ or functional system appear, serving as both diagnostic and treatment points.
- In Korean medicine, there are about 361 points on the 14 meridians, as well as Ashi points and extraordinary points.
Yin and Yang Classification of Meridians
| Classification | Yin/Yang | Organ (장부) | Meridian Start Point | Meridian Name (경락명칭) | Meridian Start to End |
| Yang (人迎) | Yangming (3성) | Large Intestine (대장) | Hand (手) | Hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian (手陽明大腸經) | Yángyáng → Shāngyáng |
| Stomach (위장) | Foot (足) | Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian (足陽明胃經) | Chéngqì → Lìduì | ||
| Taiyang (2성) | Bladder (방광) | Foot (足) | Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian (足太陽膀胱經) | Qīngmíng → Zhìyīn | |
| Small Intestine (소장) | Hand (手) | Hand Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian (手太陽少腸經) | Shàozé → Qīnggōng | ||
| Shaoyang (1성) | Triple Energizer (삼초부) | Hand (手) | Hand Shaoyang Triple Energizer Meridian (手少陽三焦經) | Guānchōng → Sīzhúkōng | |
| Gallbladder (담낭) | Foot (足) | Foot Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian (足少陽膽經) | Tóngzǐliáo → Qūyīn | ||
| Yin (寸口) | Jueyin (1성) | Liver (간장) | Foot (足) | Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian (足厥陰肝經) | Tàidūn → Qímén |
| Pericardium (심포장) | Hand (手) | Hand Jueyin Pericardium Meridian (手厥陰心包經) | Tiānchí → Zhōngchōng | ||
| Shaoyin (2성) | Heart (심장) | Hand (手) | Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian (手少陰心經) | Jíquán → Shàochōng | |
| Kidney (신장) | Foot (足) | Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian (足少陰腎經) | Yǒngquán → Yúfǔ | ||
| Taiyin (3성) | Spleen (비장) | Foot (足) | Foot Taiyin Spleen Meridian (足太陰脾經) | Yǐnbái → Dàbāo | |
| Lung (폐장) | Hand (手) | Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian (手太陰肺經) | Zhōngfǔ → Shàoshāng |
Note: Yin meridians flow from bottom to top, where Earth energy (지기) sublimes into Celestial energy (천기). Yang meridians flow from top to bottom, where Celestial energy (천기) flows into Earth energy (지기).
| Yin Meridians | Yang Meridians |
| Five Zang Organs | Six Fu Organs |
| Liver, Heart, Spleen, Lung, Kidney, Pericardium | Gallbladder, Small Intestine, Stomach, Large Intestine, Bladder, Triple Energizer |
| Jueyin | Shaoyang |
| Shaoyin | Taiyang |
| Taiyin | Yangming |
| Element | Yin Meridian (Zang) | Yang Meridian (Fu) |
| Wood | Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian | Hand Jueyin Pericardium Meridian, Foot Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian, Hand Shaoyang Triple Energizer Meridian |
| Fire | Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian | Hand Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian |
| Water | Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian | Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian |
| Earth | Foot Taiyin Spleen Meridian | Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian |
| Metal | Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian | Hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian |