Glossary of terms in Acupuncture
Chinese
(pinyin)
(Nei) San Jiao
(内) 三焦
Wai San Jiao
外三焦
English
French
Alternative names
and notes
San Jiao (三焦 ): production of Ying qi(营气 ) and Wei qi(卫气 )
Three burners
Les trois foyers
3 physical body zones:
• Upper burner
• foyer supérieur upper part of thorax, middle of abdomen
• Middle burner
• foyer médian
(just below the ribs) and lower abdomen,
• Lower burner
• foyer inférieur 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
réchauffeurs
energies and substances received and
• Middle warmer
• réch. supérieur, maintenance of the energetic and
• Lower warmer
• réch. médian
physiological integrity of the organism. In
• réch. inférieur, 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
內三焦
burner organs, in particular the exocrine
Gu Fu孤腑
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 méridien du
One of the 12 channels: the peripheral
san jiao jing
Triple réchauffeur energetic channel associated with the
Triple Burner function. As a channel, it
手少阳三焦经
participates in the 6 phases of Shang Han
Lun.
1
Zang
脏
Fu
腑
Organ(s)
Organe(s)
Viscus, viscera
Viscère(s) ou
entraille(s)
Qi heng zhi fu
奇恒之腑
Qi
气
Xue
血
Sui
髓
Jinye
津液
Extraordinary organs
Qi, Energy
Entrailles
curieuses
Energie
Blood
Sang
Marrows
Moëlles
Body fluids
Tanyin
痰饮
You Xing Zhi
Tan
有形之痰
Wu Xing Zhi
Tan
无形之痰
Mucus, Phlegm
Liquides organiques - fluides (jin)
et épais (ye)
Glaires
Substantial phlegm
Glaires matérielles Mucus, phlegm, spittle, nasal mucus, etc.
Insubtantial phlegm
Glaires
immatérielles
Qi jing ba mai Eight extra(ordinary)
channels,
奇经八脉
8 wondrous vessels
Chong mai
CV- Chong Vessel
Penetrating vessel
冲脉
Yin wei mai
yWM - yin wei mai
Yin linking vessel
阴维脉
Yin qiao mai
yQM - yin qiao mai
Yin heel vessel / Yin
阴跷脉
motility vessel
Ren mai
RM - ren mai
Conception vessel
任脉
Huit merveilleux
vaisseaux
Du mai
督脉
Yang qiao mai
阳跷脉
Du mai
Yang wei mai
阳维脉
2
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
带脉
DM - dai mai
Belt vessel
Girdle vessel
Dai mai
vaisseau ceinture
Various types of channels
Jing mai
经脉
Zheng Jing
正经
Liu Da Jing
六大经
Shou tai yin
手太阴
Shou yang
ming
手阳明
Zu yang ming
足阳明
Zu tai yin
足太阴
Shou shao yin
手少阴
Shou tai yang
手太阳
Zu tai yang
足太阳
Main channels
Méridiens
principaux
6 (paired) channels
• Tai Yang
• Yang Ming
• Shao Yang
• Tai Yin
• Shao Yin
• Jue Yin
LU – Lung channel
6 grands méridiens
• 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 – cœur
SI – Small Intestine
channel
UB – Urinary Bladder
channel
• Inner pathway
IG – intestin grêle
• Outer pathway
Zu tai yin
足太阴
Shou jue yin
手厥阴
Xin bao jing /
luo
心包经/络
KI –Kidney channel
Shou shao yang
手少阳
Zu shao yang
足少阳
Zu jue yin
足厥阴
TW – Triple Warmer
channel
GB – Gall Bladder
channel
LV – Liver channel
PC – Pericardium
channel
V – vessie
• 1ère chaîne de
V.
• 2ème chaîne de
V.
R - rein
MC – maître du
cœur et de la
sexualité ou
péricarde ou
enveloppe du
coeur
TR – Triple
réchauffeur
VB – vésicule
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
3
Luo mai
络脉
Bie luo
别络
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
“collatéraux”is 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
纵络
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.
浮络，孙络，
(capillaires)
血络
Jing Bie
Jing Bie
Jing Bie
Terminology can be confusing in Chinese
Divergent Channels
Vaisseaux
(not to mention English and French) as
经别
collatéraux
divergent vessels appear under different
Bie Mai
names in the Classics at different epochs.
别脉
Jing jin
Jing Jin
Jing Jin
Muscle channels
Méridiens tendino经筋
Jing jin-sinew channels musculaires
Ligamentary channels Vaisseaux
Musculotendinous
ligamentaires
channels
Tong Dao
Pathway
Trajectoire / trajet Pathway of a channel or an extraordinary
vessel
通道
Xu Li
Xu Li
Xu Li
Great Luo of stomach
虚里
Da Bao (Pi zhi Da Bao
Da Bao
Great Luo of spleen
da luo)
大包(脾之大
络)
Different types of points
Beishu Xue
背俞穴
背俞
Mu Xue
募穴
Xi Xue
郄穴
4
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 héraut
Points Xi
Points
d'accumulation
Luo Xue
络穴
Zu Luo Xue
Luo-connecting points Points Luo
Group Luo points
Points Luo de
groupe
Wu Shu Xue
五输穴
(Five) Shu points
transporting points
antique points
Jîng-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 maîtres (des
merveilleux
vaisseaux)
Points réunion
Points croisement
Points CRX
Points couplés
Jing Bie meeting
points
Points de reunion
des Jing Bie
Windows of the sky
points
Points fenêtres du
ciel
Jîng Xue
井穴
Rong / Ying
Xue
荣/荥穴
Shu Xue
输穴
Yuan Xue
原穴
Jing / Xing
Xue
经穴
He Xue
合穴
4 Hai Xue
四海穴
Xia He Xue
下合穴
Ba Mai Jiao
Hui Xue
八脉交会穴
Jiao Hui Xue
交会穴
Point Jîng
Dui Xue
对穴（八脉交
会穴）
Hui Xue
8 Hui-influential points Points réunion
汇穴
Hui He Xue
汇合穴（经
别）
Tian you
Tian chuang
Xue
天牖/天窗穴
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)
5
Gui Xue
鬼穴
Ru, Chu Xue
入/出穴
Hui He Xue
汇合穴（经
筋）
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
关穴
Guan points
Barrier points
Points d’entrée et
de sortie
Points de réunion
des méridiens
tendinomusculaires
Points Guan
Points barrières
Jing Jin convergence
points
Points Koann
Principles and theory
Da xunhuan
大循环
Horary cycle
zi wu liu zhu
子午流柱
Wu Ye (zi-wu )
午夜(子午)
Fu Qi
夫妻
Biao ben
標本
Gen Bu Xue /
Gen Xie Xue
根补穴/根泻穴
Bi Zheng
痹症
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
八纲
yin / yang
阴/阳
biao / li
表/里
han / re
寒/热
shi / xu
实/虚
8 Principles
8 Principes
Yin / Yang
Yin / Yang
Interior / exterior
Avers / revers
Cold / heat
Froid / chaleur
Deficiency / excess
Vide / plénitude
Movements of Qi
Qi deficiency
Mouvements du
Qi
Vide d’énergie
Qi sinking
Energie rentrante
Qi Xu
气虚
Qi Xian
气陷
6
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 époux-épouse
Root/branch treatment
Also surface/depth
or outside/lining
Qi Yu
气瘀
Qi Ni
气逆
Xue Xu
血虚
Xue Yu
血瘀
Qi stagnation
Xue Re
血热
Blood heat
Qi counterflow
Blood deficiency
Blood stasis
Stagnation
d’énergie
Energie à contrecourant
Vide de sang
Stagnation de
sang, stase
sanguine
Chaleur du sang
Liu Jing Zhuan Six stages
Bian
六经传变
Six phases
Wu Xing
五行
Mu
木
Huo
火
Tu
土
Jin
金
Shui
水
5 elements
5 éléments
Wood
Bois
Fire
Feu
Earth
Terre
Metal
Métal
Water
Eau
Tu Huo
土火
Earth fire
Feu de la Terre
Xiang Huo
相火
Minister fire
Deuxième feu
Feu ministre
Jun Huo
君火
Xiang Sheng
相生
Xiang Ke
相克
Emperor fire
Feu empereur
Sheng cycle
Engendering cycle
Ke cycle
Control cycle
Restraining cycle
Overwhelming cycle
Cycle Sheng
Xiang Cheng
Bei Ke
相乘
倍克
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”
7
Xiang Wu
Fan ke
相侮反克
Reverse Ke cycle
Rebellion cycle
Cycle Ke inversé
Liu qi
六气
Heavenly « 6
environmental
phenomena »
6 qualités du ciel
Liu yin
Liu xie
六淫六邪
Wai xie
外邪
Han
寒
Huo
火
Shu
暑
Six climatic pathogens Six facteurs
6 excesses
pathogènes
The reverse Ke cycle is another
pathological cycle
When the “environmental phenomena"
become excessive or abnormal
Exogenous evils
Exogenous pathogens
Cold
Maux extérieurs
Energies perverses
Froid
Fire
Feu
"Hot" or "radiating" fire
Summer heat
Chaleur (de l'été)
Feng
风
Wind
Vent
Atmospheric depression.
A climatic factor, not to be confused with
heat (Re 热), e.g. inner heat
Atmospheric pressure.
A climatic factor, not to be confused with
inner wind.
Zao
燥
Shi
湿
Gen jie
根结
Dryness
Sécheresse
Dampness
Humidité
Roots and knots
Noeuds et racines
Qi Qing
七情
Xi
喜
Nu
怒
You
忧
Si
思
Bei
悲
Kong
恐
Jing
惊
Seven emotions
Sept sentiments
Joy
Joie
Anger
Colère
Worry
Souci
Pensiveness
Réflexion
Sadness
Tristesse
Fear
Peur
Fright
Choc
8
Treatment of the six pathogenic factors
Anxiety
Xian tian
先天
Hou tian
后天
Earlier heaven
Ciel antérieur
Later heaven
Ciel postérieur
Shui gu tong
dao
水谷通道
Pathway of water (or
liquids) and cereals
Voie de l’eau et
des céréales
From Nanjing, chapter 25
Bu
补
Xie
泻
Tonify
Tonifier
Drain / disperse
Disperser
1212-
Gu qi
谷气
Qing Qi
清气
Yang qi
氧气
Ying qi
营气
Wei Qi
卫气
Qi
气
Xue
血
Ba gua
八卦
Kun
坤
Zhen
震
Dui
兑
Xun
巽
Li
离
Kan
坎
Gen
艮
Qian
干
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
Énergie 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
9
Tian Gan
天干
Di Zhi
地支
Heavenly stems
Troncs célestes
Earthly branches
Branches terrestres
Pouls
Cun
寸
Guan
关
Chi
尺
Wang Shu He
Mai Xiang
王叔和脉象
Chang
长
Chen
沉
Chi
迟
Cu
促
Da
大
Dai
代
Dong
动
Duan
短
Fu
浮
Fu
伏
Ge
革
Hong
鸿
Hua
滑
Huan Mai
缓脉
Ji
急
Jie
节
10
Cun
Pouce
Pulse position I
Guan
Barrière
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
Précipité
Large
Grand
Interrupted
Intermittent
Irregular, periodical
Moving
Remuant
Disturbed
Short
Court
Not reaching the pulse location
Floating
Flottant
Superficial
Hidden
Caché
Leather
Flooding
En peau de
tambour
Vaste
Slippery
Glissant
Moderate
Lax
Urgent
Paisible
Knotty
Noué
Hâtif
Less than 5 pulsations per breath
Jin
紧
Kou
芤
Lao mai
牢脉
Ru mai
濡脉
Ruo
弱脉
San mai
散脉
Se
涩
Shi
实
Shu
数
Wei mai
微脉
Xi, Xiao
细，小
Xian
弦
Xu
虚
Tight
Serré
Hollow
Creux
Confined
Fixé
Soggy
Mou
Weak
Faible
Scattered
Dispersé
Choppy
Rugueux
Full
Plein
Rapid
Rapide
Faint
Ténu
Thin, thready
Fin, petit
Wiry, stringlike
En corde
Empty
Vide
Wu Xing Mai
Xiang
五行脉象
Xian
弦
Man
满
Huan
缓
Fu
浮
Chen
沉
San Bu Jiu Hou
三部九侯（沿
经脉循行的搏
动
5 Element pulses
Pouls des 5
éléments
Wiry
Tendu, en corde
Wood
Full
Ample
Fire
Moderate
Moyen
Earth
Floating
Flottant
Metal
Deep, like a stone
Profond, comme
Water
un caillou
Pouls révélateurs 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