Explanations of Channels and Points Vol.1 – Point Explanations III

Explanations of Channels and Points Vol.1 –
Point Explanations III
_________________________________________________

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.

Spleen
________________________________________________

Fourth Point of the Spleen Channel
Gōng Sūn – Grandfather and Grandson (SP-4)

脾經第四穴公孫
注：穴名公孫者，萬物生於土，而土又以火爲父，以金爲子，脾經自井隱白，木生大都火，以及太白土。又將生商邱金，有祖孫父子之義，故曰公孫。
Explanation: this point is named Gōng Sūn (Grandfather and Grandson). The ten-thousand beings are engendered by earth; earth has fire as its father, and metal as its child. The spleen channel originates from well [point] Yǐn Bái (SP-1) of wood, which engenders Dà Dū (SP-2) of fire, then Tài Bái (SP-3) of earth, and about to engender Shāng Qiū (SP-5) of metal. It has the meaning of grandfather and grandchild, father and son, therefore it is named Gōng Sūn (Grandfather and Grandson).
Sixth Point of the Spleen Channel
Sān Yīn Jiāo – Three Yīn Intersection (SP-6)

脾經第六穴三陰交
注：三陰者，足太陰在中，厥陰在前，少陰在後，三陰所生者皆經血。如經血閉，泄之立通，經脈虛耗不行者，補之則亦通。
Explanation: regarding the Sān Yīn (Three Yīn), the foot tàiyīn is in the middle, the juéyīn is in the front, and the shàoyīn is behind. The Sān Yīn (Three Yīn) are that which engender the menstrual blood. When the menstrual blood is blocked, drain it and it will be disinhibited quickly. [When] the channel vessel is deficient and consumed with amenorrhoea, tonify it to [restore] the flow.

Seventh Point of the Spleen Channel
Lòu Gǔ – Leaking Valley (SP-7)

脾經第七穴漏谷
注：穴名漏谷者，蓋以此穴正在内踝上六寸之所，又爲太陰絡在下之公孫，所以交足陽明之在足跗者。此穴之絡，乃在膝之下，上行而交於膝之陽明，有交必有隙，故曰漏谷。
Explanation: this point is named Lòu Gǔ (Leaking Valley), because this point is located exactly 6 cùn above the inner ankle [bone]. For the tàiyīn network [point] Gōng Sūn (SP-4) that is located below, this [point] is what enables it to intersect with the foot yángmíng at the instep. The network-vessel of this point ascends from below the knee to intersects with the yángmíng at the knee. When there is an intersection, there must be a gap, therefore, it is called Lòu Gǔ (Leaking Valley).

Ninth Point of the Spleen Channel
Yīn Líng Quán – Yīn Mound Spring (SP-9)

脾經第九穴陰陵泉
注：地之高者曰陵，脾經自足上行至膝之下，可謂高矣，故曰陵。脈過其處，有泉之象，以其與陽陵相對而處，此在内，彼在外，故曰陰陵泉。
Explanation: a lofty point in the terrain is called Líng (Mound). The spleen channel ascends from the foot to reach below the knee, where it can be said to be lofty, therefore it is called Líng (Mound). As the vessel passes through this place, it has the image of a Quán (Spring). As it is located as the counterpart to Yáng Líng [Quán] (GB-34), where this [point] is located on the inside, the other (i.e. GB-34) is located on the outside, therefore it is called Yīn Líng Quán (Yīn Mound Spring).

此穴必伸足方可得，屈膝則不能得，若膽經之陽陵泉，屈膝方可得也。
For this point, the foot must be stretched for it to be located; with the knee bent, it cannot be located. For Yáng Líng Quán (GB-34) of the gallbladder channel, the knee must be bent for it to be located.

Twelfth Point of the Spleen Channel
Chōng Mén –Gate of the Chōng Vessel (SP-12)

脾經第十二穴衝門
注：此穴乃脾經入腹之始，足三陰經並足陽明自股入腹者，横列數之。足少陰在裏，其入腹之始穴爲横骨穴，去中行各一寸。
Explanation: this point is [where] the spleen channel begins to enter the abdomen, the three foot yīn channels, side by side with the foot yángmíng, enter the abdomen from the thigh. When arranged and counted in a horizontal row, the foot shàoyīn is located in the interior, its first point that enters the abdomen is Héng Gǔ (KI-11), at 1 cùn from the midline on each side.

次則陽明經，入腹爲氣衝穴，去中行各二寸。次則足厥陰肝經，入腹爲陰廉穴，去氣衝穴二寸。次則足太陰脾經，入腹爲衝門穴。
Next is the yángmíng channel, it enters at Qì Chōng (ST-30), at 2 cùn from the midline on each side. Next is the foot juéyīn liver channel, it enters at Yīn Lián (LR-11), at 2 cùn from Qì Chōng (ST-30). Next is the foot tàiyīn spleen channel, it enters the abdomen at Chōng Mén (SP-12).

以氣衝已在中，去中行二寸之際，而此穴乃在去中行四寸半之際，反在氣衝之外，以其近於胃經入腹穴之氣衝也，故曰衝門。
Qì Chōng (ST-30) is located in the middle, it is [located] at the boundary 2 cùn apart from the midline. As for this point, it is located at the boundary 4 and half cùn apart from the midline, located unexpectedly outside of Qì Chōng (ST-30). As it is near Qì Chōng (ST-30), where the stomach channel enters the abdomen, therefore it is called Chōng Mén (Gate of the Chōng Vessel).

Twentieth Point of the Spleen Channel
Zhōu Róng – All-Encompassing Flourishing (SP-20)

脾經第二十穴周榮
注：穴名周榮者，以土生金，而上與中府相近。土有四經，有周義焉，上生肺經之金，故曰榮。
Explanation: this point is called Zhōu Róng (All-Encompassing Flourishing), because earth engenders metal. In its above, it is close to Zhōng Fǔ (LU-1). As earth has the four channels, it contains the meaning of Zhōu (All-Encompassing). It moreover ascends to engenders metal of the lung channel; therefore, it is called Róng (Flourishing).

Post-Scriptum: The book is available on this webiste under the ‘Our Books’ tab.
PPS: Vol.2 will be released early next year.