Chinese Medicine Series 06:
Explanations of Channels and Points Vol.1
The following post is an excerpt from《Explanations of Channels and Points Vol. 1》 [经穴解] from a chapter entitled ‘The Poem of Inner Scenery’ about the Sanjiao, translated by Michael Brown and edited by Allen Tsaur:
再詳夫，臟腑略備，三焦未言。號孤獨之腑，擅總司之權。體三才而定位，法六合而象天。
Let’s further examine in detail, the zàng-viscera and fu-bowels are briefly summarized; however, the sānjiāo has yet to be discussed. [The sānjiāo] is called the solitary fu-bowel that has the full authority for the overall command [of the whole body]. The body has the three divisions, thus, the form [of the sānjiāo] has been determined, in accordance with the six directions and in the image of heaven.
上焦如霧兮，靄氤氲之天氣；中焦如漚兮，化營血之新鮮；下焦如凟兮，主宣通乎壅滯。此所以上焦主納 而不出，下焦主出而如川。又總諸臟之所居，隔高低之非類。
The upper jiāo resembles mist, it is the thick mist of the heavenly qì. The middle jiāo resembles foam, it transforms the new and fresh construction-blood. The lower jiāo resembles a ditch, it governs the perfusion of what is congested and stagnant. For this reason, the upper jiāo governs receiving and but not exiting, the lower jiāo governs exiting like that of a river. In addition, [the sānjiāo] oversees where all the zàng-viscera [and fǔ-bowels] reside, where the different [zàng-viscera and fǔ-bowels] are separated by [their respective] height.
求脈氣之往來 ，果何如而相濟。以心主之爲君，朝諸經之維繫。是故怒動於心，肝從而熾，欲念方萌，腎經精沸。搆難釋之苦思，枯脾中之生意。肺脈澀而氣沉，爲悲憂於心内。惟脈絡有以相通，故氣得從心而至。
Exploring the coming and going of the vessel qì, indeed, how is it mutually assisting? When the heart governs as a sovereign, [it] maintains and unites the assembling of the all channel-vessels. Thus, when anger stirs in the heart, the liver blazes as a consequence; when [sexual] desire first sprouts, the essences boil in the kidney channel; when there is deep contemplation for difficult issues to resolve, it desiccates the life force of the spleen; when the lung pulse is rough and the qì is deep, this is due to sorrow and worry within the heart. Due to the mutual communication in the vessels and networks, the qì can reach all [zàng-viscera and fu-bowels] from the heart.
雖諸臟之歸心，實上系之聯肺。肺氣何生？根從脾胃。賴水穀於敖倉，化精微而爲氣。氣旺則精盈，精盈則氣盛。此是化源根，坎裏藏真命。雖内景之緣由，尚根苗之當究。
Although all the zàng-viscera return to the heart, in fact, they all ascend to unite with the lung. How is the lung qì engendered? Its root is from the spleen and stomach; it depends on the food and grain [that is] in the granary storehouse, where it is transformed into subtle essences and [where it] becomes qì. When the qì is effulgent, the essence will be abundant; and when the essence is abundant, the qì will be exuberant. This is the root of the source of transformation, where within kan the true [qì] and vitality are stored. This is the origin and reason for [the composition of] this inner scenery, even though it is the [early state of] rooting and sprouting, it should also be scrutinized.
既云兩腎之前，又曰膀胱之後。出大腸之上左，居小腸之下右。其中果何所藏，蓄坎離之交媾。爲生氣之海，爲元陽之竇。闢精血於子宫，實人生之夭壽。稱命門者是也，號天根者非謬。使能知地下有雷聲，方悟得春光彌宇宙。
It is said to be in front of the two kidneys; it is also stated to be behind the bladder. It emerges from the upper left side of the large intestine and resides on the lower right of the small intestine. Between them, what is hidden there that is able to amass the unification of kan and lí, to be the ocean of qì engenderment, to be the aperture of the original yáng, to cultivate the essences and blood in the uterus, to dictate the longevity of life or premature death? It is called the life gate. It is called the root of heaven. This is not an absurd claim. From it, one knows of the thunders beneath the earth. With which, one finally comes to the realization of the radiance of spring that permeates throughout the universe.
Post-Scriptum: The book is available on amazon under the following link:
https://www.amazon.com/Explanations…/dp/1703778715
PPS: Vol. 2 will be released in spring next year as work is in full swing..
PPS: Allen Tsaur has recently released his first authored work, ‘The Complete Compendium of Zhang Jingyue Vol.1-3’, available under:
https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Compendium…/d
