Explanations of
Channels and Points Vol.1 –
Introduction
The following post is an excerpt from《Explanations of Channels and Points Vol. 1》 [经穴解] translated by Michael Brown and edited by Allen Tsaur. It explicates the origin of point names from a new perspective and viewpoint.
This Work’s Author and Editions
The Author of this Work
Yuè Hánzhēn 岳含珍 (lit. Yuè holding something precious in the mouth), courtesy name Yùyě 玉也 (lit. the jade), was born around 1602 CE and passed away around 1682 or 1692 CE. He was known for his medical skills, especially in acupuncture. He later self-styled himself as Sīlián Zǐ 思蓮子 (lit. the master longing for the lotus). The below is his only biography found:
岳含珍字玉也，儲珍之弟，性聰慧好讀書，經史子集靡不博覽，尤旁通岐黃之術，年十四補博士弟子員，屢戰棘闈不克，值明季世亂，慨然曰：古人云，寧為百夫長，勝作一書生。乃投筆從軍。
Yuè Hánzhēn, courtesy name Yùyě, was the younger brother of Chǔzhēn; he was brilliant and intelligent in nature with a fondness of reading; classics, histories, philosophies, and belles-lettres, there was none that he did not read avidly about; on his side studies, he especially had a good understanding in the art of Qí Bó and the Yellow Emperor.
When he was fourteen of age, he [passed the entry exam and] became eligible to study at the Imperial College. After which, he suffered repeated setbacks at the [provincial] examinations. At the time, it was the declining years of the Ming dynasty, a turbulent era. He sighed indignantly and said, “the ancients said that one would rather be a centurion, far superior than being a scholar.” He then threw away his pen and joined the military.
為材官，皇朝定鼎除山西潞安道中軍，尋陞浙江金華府都司簽署，時海寇內犯，有平定功，遷陜西延綏靖邊遊擊兼定邊副總兵，敕授昭勇將軍。
He first served as a civil engineer. During the establishment of the imperial dynasty (1636 CE), for vanquishing the central regiment of Lù’ān Region in Shānxī Province, he was promoted to commander of the specialized battalion in Jīnhuá Prefecture, Zhèjiāng Province.
At the time, there was an inland incursion by the pirates, which he successfully pacified. He was promoted to commander of the frontier cavalry brigade in Jìngbiān Prefecture, Shǎnxī Province, serving also as the deputy corps commander of the Yánsuí Garrison [of the Great Wall]. With an imperial decree, he was further bestowed the rank of the General of Exemplary Bravery.
未幾，乞骸骨歸，楗戶著書，有靈素區別、針灸闡崎、古方體用考、分經本草、大病論若干卷，以文學之士，而從事戎行，置身通顯，卒之休沐林泉，復理故業，以終其天年，亦可謂人傑也哉。
A few years later, he retired and returned to his hometown. He bolted down his door and began writing. He wrote Distinguishing the Língshū and Sùwèn, Opening the Rugged Path of Acupuncture, Investigating the Substances and Applications of the Ancient Formulas, Materia Medica with Classified Channels, and Treatise of the Great Disease in numerous volumes.
He was a scholar of literature; yet, he pursued a career in the military. He was promoted to hold high office. Nevertheless, he retired to rest and bathe among the trees and springs, where he resumed his original career until the end of his destined years. It can be said that he was an illustrious individual. The Bóshān Xiànzhì 博山縣志 (Annals of the Bóshān Prefecture, 1753 CE) Besides the works mentioned, it has been recorded that he also produced the following works:
經穴解 (Explanations of Channels and Points), 六一衡訓 (Weighing the Instructions for the Manifestation of the Heavenly Water), 咳嗽議 (Discussing on Coughs), 針灸類證 (Classified Patterns of Acupuncture), 幼科闡崎 (Opening the Rugged Path of Paediatric).
None of his works was put into printing. Of all his works, only 經穴解 (Explanations of Channels and Points) has survived. 針灸闡崎 (Opening the Rugged Path of Acupuncture) and 幼科闡崎 (Opening the Rugged Path of Paediatric) have survived in incomplete fragments.
The Editions of this Work
The Jīngxué Jiě 經穴解 (Explanations of Channels and Points) has survived to this day in two scribal manuscripts. One was by an anonymous copyist dated likely in the late Qing dynasty (1800s CE). The other was a heavily edited copy by Chén Xiángfǔ 陳祥甫 with an unknown date. Based on these two scribal manuscripts, Zhāng Cànjiǎ 張燦玾 and Zhà Chánghuá 柵長華 reconstructed this text during China’s national program of 中醫古籍整理出版規劃 (the Program of Systematizing and Publishing Ancient Texts of Chinese Medicine) in 1982 CE.
This reconstructed edition by Zhāng and Zhà is the source text for this translation. Wherever Zhāng and Zhà notes the differences between the two manuscripts, should we find it noteworthy with the given context, a footnote would be included to make the alternative passage available for the reader.
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For more information about the book please view the interview by the Chinese Medicine Podcast, entitled: ‘Explanations of Channels and Points – a discussion with Acupuncturist & Translator Michael Brown‘.
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Post-Scriptum: The book is available on amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/Explanations…/dp/1703778715…
PPS: Vol. 2 will be released early next year as translations are in full swing.
PPPS: Picture is from wellcome collection.
