Glossary of terms in Acupuncture

Chinese
(pinyin)
(Nei) San Jiao
()

Wai San Jiao

English

French

Alternative names
and notes

San Jiao ( ): production of Ying qi( ) and Wei qi( )

Three burners
Les trois foyers
3 physical body zones:
Upper burner
foyer suprieur upper part of thorax, middle of abdomen
Middle burner
foyer mdian
(just below the ribs) and lower abdomen,
Lower burner
foyer infrieur including the organs and viscera they
contain (Zang and Fu).
The three burners ensure the functioning
of the Pathway of water and cereals.
Three warmers
Les trois
These ensure the pre-processing of
Upper warmer
rchauffeurs
energies and substances received and
Middle warmer
rch. suprieur, maintenance of the energetic and
Lower warmer
rch. mdian
physiological integrity of the organism. In
rch. infrieur, this they are supported by two structures:
An anatomical structure: three upper
tracts or external organs:
o upper respiratory tracts (nose and
sinuses + bronchi),
o upper digestive tracts. (mouth +
esophagus)
o sexual and urinary tracts
An energetic structure: the twelve
channels, antennae of the
corresponding organs and viscera in the
three burners. These twelve channels
then function in accordance with the
six phases of Shang Han Lun.

San Jiao : Utilization of Ying qi and Wei qi, in the form of Blood and Energy (Xue and Qi)
Nei San Jiao
Triple Burner
Le Triple foyer
Viscus (fu): energetic function
corresponding to the totality of the three

burner organs, in particular the exocrine

Gu Fu
pancreas. The Triple Burner participates in
the functions of the 5 Earth elements in
the form of Yang Minister Fire. Also
known as "lone viscus" (Gu Fu)
Shou shao yang Triple Warmer channel Le mridien du
One of the 12 channels: the peripheral
san jiao jing
Triple rchauffeur energetic channel associated with the
Triple Burner function. As a channel, it

participates in the 6 phases of Shang Han

Lun.

Zang

Fu

Organ(s)

Organe(s)

Viscus, viscera

Viscre(s) ou
entraille(s)

Qi heng zhi fu

Qi

Xue

Sui

Jinye

Extraordinary organs
Qi, Energy

Entrailles
curieuses
Energie

Blood

Sang

Marrows

Molles

Body fluids

Tanyin

You Xing Zhi

Tan

Wu Xing Zhi
Tan

Mucus, Phlegm

Liquides organiques - fluides (jin)

et pais (ye)
Glaires

Substantial phlegm

Glaires matrielles Mucus, phlegm, spittle, nasal mucus, etc.

Insubtantial phlegm

Glaires
immatrielles

Qi jing ba mai Eight extra(ordinary)

channels,

8 wondrous vessels
Chong mai
CV- Chong Vessel
Penetrating vessel

Yin wei mai

yWM - yin wei mai
Yin linking vessel

Yin qiao mai

yQM - yin qiao mai
Yin heel vessel / Yin

motility vessel
Ren mai
RM - ren mai
Conception vessel

Huit merveilleux
vaisseaux

Du mai

Yang qiao mai

Du mai

Yang wei mai

DM - du mai
Governor vessel
YQM - yang qiao mai
Yang heel vessel /
Yang motility vessel
YWM - yang wei mai
Yang linking vessel

Solid, yin (liver, heart, spleen, lung,

kidneys)
Hollow, yang (gallbladder, small intestine,
stomach, large intestine, urinary bladder,
triple burner)
Gallblader, marrows, brain, uterus

Includes the bone marrow as well as the

spinal cord and the brain.

An immaterial pathogenic factor that

can disturb consciousness and become
condensed to form nodules, cysts, etc.

Chong mai
Yin wei mai
Yin qiao mai
Ren mai

Yang qiao mai

Yang wei mai

The WHO nomenclature of acupuncture

points indicates CV (Conception Vessel)
as standard abreviations. This Guide uses
RM to avoid confusion with the Chong
Vessel (which is not mentioned in the
WHO nomenclature)
Governor vessel GV WHO standard
abreviation, see above.

Dai mai

DM - dai mai
Belt vessel
Girdle vessel

Dai mai
vaisseau ceinture

Various types of channels

Jing mai

Zheng Jing

Liu Da Jing

Shou tai yin

Shou yang
ming

Zu yang ming

Zu tai yin

Shou shao yin

Shou tai yang

Zu tai yang

Main channels

Mridiens
principaux

6 (paired) channels
Tai Yang
Yang Ming
Shao Yang
Tai Yin
Shao Yin
Jue Yin
LU Lung channel

6 grands mridiens
Tai Yang
Yang Ming
Shao Yang
Tai Yin
Shao Yin
Jiu Yin
P - poumon

LI Large Intestine
channel

GI gros intestin

Each paired channel divides into a hand

channel and a foot channel, e.g. the
Yang Ming paired channel comprises
Shou Yang Ming (large instestine channel)
and Zu Yang Ming (stomach channel)

ST Stomach channel E - estomac

SP Spleen channel

Rt - rate

HT Heart channel

C cur

SI Small Intestine
channel
UB Urinary Bladder
channel
Inner pathway

IG intestin grle

Outer pathway
Zu tai yin

Shou jue yin

Xin bao jing /

luo
/

KI Kidney channel

Shou shao yang

Zu shao yang

Zu jue yin

TW Triple Warmer
channel
GB Gall Bladder
channel
LV Liver channel

PC Pericardium
channel

V vessie
1re chane de
V.
2me chane de
V.
R - rein
MC matre du
cur et de la
sexualit ou
pricarde ou
enveloppe du
coeur
TR Triple
rchauffeur
VB vsicule
billiaire
F - foie

The Pericardium as a function is known as

xin bao luo in Chinese, while the
Pericardium meridian or channel is xin
bao jing

Luo mai

Bie luo

1. Luo channels
1. Les luo / lo;
Luo-connecting
les vaisseaux
channels;
luo / lo.
connecting channels;
collaterals

1. Be sure not to confuse these collaterals

with jing bie, the divergent
channels. (In French, the term
collatrauxis used for jing bie!).

2. 12 Transversal Luo
vessels

2. The 12 Transversal Luo-connecting

2. Vaisseaux luo /
Vessels are short vessels that connect
lo transversaux.
the Main Channel of a Zang (Yin solid
organ) with its coupled Fu (Yang
hollow bowel).
Zong Luo
16 Longitudinal Luo
Vaisseaux luo / lo The 16 Longitudinal Luo-connecting
Vessels
longitudinaux
vessels originate at the Luo points on the

extremities and have a distinct

symptomatology.
Fu Luo, Sun
Fu Luo, Sun Luo, Xue Vaisseaux luo / lo, Smaller luo vessels branching off the main
Luo, Xue Luo luo (capillaries)
fu luo, sun luo,
luo vessels, similar to capillary blood
xue luo
vessels.

(capillaires)

Jing Bie
Jing Bie
Jing Bie
Terminology can be confusing in Chinese
Divergent Channels
Vaisseaux
(not to mention English and French) as

collatraux
divergent vessels appear under different
Bie Mai
names in the Classics at different epochs.

Jing jin
Jing Jin
Jing Jin
Muscle channels
Mridiens tendino
Jing jin-sinew channels musculaires
Ligamentary channels Vaisseaux
Musculotendinous
ligamentaires
channels
Tong Dao
Pathway
Trajectoire / trajet Pathway of a channel or an extraordinary
vessel

Xu Li
Xu Li
Xu Li
Great Luo of stomach

Da Bao (Pi zhi Da Bao

Da Bao
Great Luo of spleen
da luo)
(
)

Different types of points

Beishu Xue

Mu Xue

Xi Xue

Back-Shu points
Back transporting
points
Front-Mu points
Front collecting points
Alarm points
Xi-cleft points
Acumulating points

Points Shu
Points assentiment
Points Mu
Points hraut
Points Xi
Points
d'accumulation

Luo Xue

Zu Luo Xue

Luo-connecting points Points Luo

Group Luo points

Points Luo de
groupe

Wu Shu Xue

(Five) Shu points

transporting points
antique points
Jng-Well point

Points Shu
antiques

Ying-Spring point

Point Rong
Point Ying

Shu-Stream point

Point Shu

Yuan-source point

On the yang channels only

Jing-River point

Point Yuan
Point Source
Point Jing

He-Sea point

Point He

Uniting point

He-Sea point

Points mer

Sea points of the blood, qi, water and

cereals, marrows

Lower He-Sea
8 Hui-converging
points
8 master points
Hui-meeting points
Hui-gathering points
Intersection points
Coupled points

Point He
secondaire
Points matres (des
merveilleux
vaisseaux)
Points runion
Points croisement
Points CRX
Points coupls

Jing Bie meeting

points

Points de reunion
des Jing Bie

Windows of the sky

points

Points fentres du
ciel

Jng Xue

Rong / Ying
Xue
/
Shu Xue

Yuan Xue

Jing / Xing
Xue

He Xue

4 Hai Xue

Xia He Xue

Ba Mai Jiao
Hui Xue

Jiao Hui Xue

Point Jng

Dui Xue

Hui Xue
8 Hui-influential points Points runion

Hui He Xue

Tian you
Tian chuang
Xue
/

The group Luo points act on three

channels at the same time. For example,
SP 6 acts on the spleen, liver and kidney
channels.
Points corresponding to the five elements
on each of the channels

Always used in relation with an

extraordinary vessel
Points common to channels and
extraordinary vessels
Refers to the 8 Master points of the
extraordinary Channels, which are always
used in pairs, for exemple SP 6 with PC 6
Meeting points of the blood, qi, bones,
muscles and ligaments, marrows, vessels
and arteries, veins, organs, viscera, etc.
Points on the neck or head where the Jing
Bie meet two by two (a yin coupled with a
yang)

Gui Xue

Ru, Chu Xue

/
Hui He Xue

13 ghost points

13 points gui

Points indicated by Sun Si-Miao

Entry and exit points

In general, the first and last points on a

channel
Points at which the tendino-muscular
channels converge three by three

Guan Xue

Guan points
Barrier points

Points dentre et
de sortie
Points de runion
des mridiens
tendinomusculaires
Points Guan
Points barrires

Jing Jin convergence

points

Points Koann

Principles and theory

Da xunhuan

Horary cycle

zi wu liu zhu

Wu Ye (zi-wu )
()
Fu Qi

Biao ben

Gen Bu Xue /
Gen Xie Xue
/
Bi Zheng

Midnight-noon ebb
flow
Midday-midnight rule

Root treatment
tonification /
dispersion point
Bi (syndrome)

Traitement des
Racines / branches
Point racine de
tonification / de
dispersion
Bi
Seasonal attack

8 gang

yin / yang
/
biao / li
/
han / re
/
shi / xu
/

8 Principles

8 Principes

Yin / Yang

Yin / Yang

Interior / exterior

Avers / revers

Cold / heat

Froid / chaleur

Deficiency / excess

Vide / plnitude

Movements of Qi
Qi deficiency

Mouvements du
Qi
Vide dnergie

Qi sinking

Energie rentrante

Qi Xu

Qi Xian

Grande circulation Circulation of Qi in the 12 channels, at 2hourly intervals.

Worsley (Five Element School) and
Lavier call this Wei Circulation.
(Loi, relation)
Midi-minuit

Husband and Wife rule Loi poux-pouse

Root/branch treatment

Also surface/depth
or outside/lining

Qi Yu

Qi Ni

Xue Xu

Xue Yu

Qi stagnation

Xue Re

Blood heat

Qi counterflow
Blood deficiency
Blood stasis

Stagnation
dnergie
Energie contrecourant
Vide de sang
Stagnation de
sang, stase
sanguine
Chaleur du sang

Liu Jing Zhuan Six stages

Bian

Six phases

Wu Xing

Mu

Huo

Tu

Jin

Shui

5 elements

5 lments

Wood

Bois

Fire

Feu

Earth

Terre

Metal

Mtal

Water

Eau

Tu Huo

Earth fire

Feu de la Terre

Xiang Huo

Minister fire

Deuxime feu
Feu ministre

Jun Huo

Xiang Sheng

Xiang Ke

Emperor fire

Feu empereur

Sheng cycle
Engendering cycle
Ke cycle
Control cycle
Restraining cycle
Overwhelming cycle

Cycle Sheng

Xiang Cheng
Bei Ke

Cycle Ke
Cycle d'insulte

After Shang Han Lun (On Cold Damage)

Concerns the Pericardium and the Triple

Burner when they dynamize the
transport-transformation function of the
Earth
In the Five Elements, concerns the
Pericardium (yin Minister Fire) and the
Triple Burner (yang Minister Fire)
Concerns the Heart as Emperor
Sheng cycle,also birth or production cycle
(a physiological cycle)
( physiological cycle)
This is a pathological exacerbation of the
Ke cycle the dominated element is
crushed

Xiang Wu
Fan ke

Reverse Ke cycle
Rebellion cycle

Cycle Ke invers

Liu qi

Heavenly 6
environmental
phenomena

6 qualits du ciel

Liu yin
Liu xie

Wai xie

Han

Huo

Shu

Six climatic pathogens Six facteurs

6 excesses
pathognes

The reverse Ke cycle is another

pathological cycle

When the environmental phenomena"

become excessive or abnormal

Exogenous evils
Exogenous pathogens
Cold

Maux extrieurs
Energies perverses
Froid

Fire

Feu

"Hot" or "radiating" fire

Summer heat

Chaleur (de l't)

Feng

Wind

Vent

Atmospheric depression.
A climatic factor, not to be confused with
heat (Re ), e.g. inner heat
Atmospheric pressure.
A climatic factor, not to be confused with
inner wind.

Zao

Shi

Gen jie

Dryness

Scheresse

Dampness

Humidit

Roots and knots

Noeuds et racines

Qi Qing

Xi

Nu

You

Si

Bei

Kong

Jing

Seven emotions

Sept sentiments

Joy

Joie

Anger

Colre

Worry

Souci

Pensiveness

Rflexion

Sadness

Tristesse

Fear

Peur

Fright

Choc

Treatment of the six pathogenic factors

Anxiety

Xian tian

Hou tian

Earlier heaven

Ciel antrieur

Later heaven

Ciel postrieur

Shui gu tong
dao

Pathway of water (or

liquids) and cereals

Voie de leau et
des crales

From Nanjing, chapter 25

Bu

Xie

Tonify

Tonifier

Drain / disperse

Disperser

1212-

Gu qi

Qing Qi

Yang qi

Ying qi

Wei Qi

Qi

Xue

Ba gua

Kun

Zhen

Dui

Xun

Li

Kan

Gen

Qian

Gu qi

Gu qi

Food (alimentary) energy

Respiratory energy

Energie
respiratoire

Qing Qi is the term used in medical

classics to designate respiratory energy,
the energy of the air. Modern TCM texts
call it Yang Qi (litterally "oxygene").
Blood (Xue)

Pump in energy so as to increase it

Close a point
Drain or eliminate energy
Open a point

Energies

Nourishing or nutritive Qi nourricier

energy
Defensive energy
nergie Wei

Energy (Qi)

Energy

Energie

Energy

Blood

Sang

Blood

Trigrams

Trigrammes

Earth

Terre

Thunder

Tonnerre

Also lightning

Lake

Lac

Or Marsh

Wind

Vent

Fire

Feu

Water

Eau

Mountain

Montagne

Heaven

Ciel

Tian Gan

Di Zhi

Heavenly stems

Troncs clestes

Earthly branches

Branches terrestres
Pouls

Cun

Guan

Chi

Wang Shu He
Mai Xiang

Chang

Chen

Chi

Cu

Da

Dai

Dong

Duan

Fu

Fu

Ge

Hong

Hua

Huan Mai

Ji

Jie

10

Cun

Pouce

Pulse position I

Guan

Barrire

Pulse position II

Chi

Pied

Pulse position III

Wang Shu-He's
pulses

Pouls de Wang
Shu-He

Long

Long

28 types of pulse: the 24 classic Wang

Shu-He pulses (Mai Jing pulse classic)
+4
Beyond the pulse location

Sinking, deep

Profond

Slow

Lent

Hurried

Prcipit

Large

Grand

Interrupted

Intermittent

Irregular, periodical

Moving

Remuant

Disturbed

Short

Court

Not reaching the pulse location

Floating

Flottant

Superficial

Hidden

Cach

Leather
Flooding

En peau de
tambour
Vaste

Slippery

Glissant

Moderate
Lax
Urgent

Paisible

Knotty

Nou

Htif

Less than 5 pulsations per breath

Jin

Kou

Lao mai

Ru mai

Ruo

San mai

Se

Shi

Shu

Wei mai

Xi, Xiao

Xian

Xu

Tight

Serr

Hollow

Creux

Confined

Fix

Soggy

Mou

Weak

Faible

Scattered

Dispers

Choppy

Rugueux

Full

Plein

Rapid

Rapide

Faint

Tnu

Thin, thready

Fin, petit

Wiry, stringlike

En corde

Empty

Vide

Wu Xing Mai
Xiang

Xian

Man

Huan

Fu

Chen

San Bu Jiu Hou

5 Element pulses

Pouls des 5
lments

Wiry

Tendu, en corde

Wood

Full

Ample

Fire

Moderate

Moyen

Earth

Floating

Flottant

Metal

Deep, like a stone

Profond, comme
Water
un caillou
Pouls rvlateurs The carotid pulse is mentioned in Zhen Jiu
Da Cheng - VIII; the pulses along the
channels in Yi Xue Ru Men - I)
Also in Nei Jing, Chapter 20 "San bu jiu
hou lun"

Alternative pulses
(carotid pulse and
pulses along the
channels)

More than 5 pulsations per breath

11