Eight Extraordinary Vessels (qí jīng bā mài) — core four
Eight Extraordinary Vessels (qí jīng bā mài) — core four is a Chinese / TCM & Daoist — Classical acupuncture body system as transmitted through the lineage The eight extraordinary vessels as codified in the Nán Jīng (Difficulties 27–28) and Lingshu: reservoirs that link and buffer the twelve primaries. This pass ships the four with distinct body-surface courses — Du Mai, Ren Mai, Chong Mai, Dai Mai — which share trajectories with the meridians system by design (cross-link target). Yang/Yin Qiao and Yang/Yin Wei ship with their leg courses in an incremental pass.. This page lists every point in the system with sourced placements and links to cross-tradition correspondences curated for The Body Spiritual.
Open in interactive explorerPrimary sources
- Huangdi Neijing · Lingshu (transl. Unschuld, California UP 2016) — Canonical notices for the eight extraordinary vessels (qí jīng bā mài); Du/Ren courses in chs. 13 and 60.
- Nán Jīng (Classic of Difficulties) (transl. Unschuld, California UP 2016) — Difficulties 27–28: the eight extraordinary vessels, their reservoir function and paired confluent points.
- P. Deadman, A Manual of Acupuncture (JCM Publications 1998) — Modern pathway reference for vessel trajectories.
Known lineage variants
- Qiao and Wei vessel pairs deferred: their defining content is the ascending leg/arm courses, best authored together when back-view channel rendering lands.
- Dai Mai's belt is drawn at the umbilical level following the common modern depiction; classical sources disagree about how low the descending loops reach below the hips.
- Chong Mai's abdominal line height varies between sources (0.5 cun vs first lateral line); we follow the qìchòng-parallel reading.
Related systems
- Twelve Primary Meridians (shí'èr jīng 十二經) (202 points)
- Zàng-Fǔ Organ Networks (五臟六腑) (0 points)
Points
- Du Mai — Governing Vessel — vertex (bǎihuì region) — Front-view projection anchor
- Du Mai — Governing Vessel — forehead (shèntíng) — Front-view projection anchor
- Du Mai — Governing Vessel — nose bridge (súliao approach) — Front-view projection anchor
- Du Mai — Governing Vessel — philtrum terminus (rénzhōng) — Front-view projection anchor
- Ren Mai — Conception Vessel — perineum origin (huìyīn) — Front-view projection anchor
- Ren Mai — Conception Vessel — suprapubic midpoint (qǔgǔ) — Front-view projection anchor
- Ren Mai — Conception Vessel — umbilicus (shěnquè) — Front-view projection anchor
- Ren Mai — Conception Vessel — epigastric midpoint (jiùquē) — Front-view projection anchor
- Ren Mai — Conception Vessel — sternum midline (dànzōng) — Front-view projection anchor
- Ren Mai — Conception Vessel — sternal notch (tiāntū) — Front-view projection anchor
- Ren Mai — Conception Vessel — chin-lip terminus (chéngjiāng) — Front-view projection anchor
- Chong Mai — Penetrating Vessel (right) — lower abdomen lateral (qìchōng line) — Front-view projection anchor
- Chong Mai — Penetrating Vessel (left) — lower abdomen lateral (qìchōng line) — Front-view projection anchor
- Chong Mai — Penetrating Vessel (right) — umbilical lateral (qìhǎi line) — Front-view projection anchor
- Chong Mai — Penetrating Vessel (left) — umbilical lateral (qìhǎi line) — Front-view projection anchor
- Chong Mai — Penetrating Vessel (right) — sternum lateral line — Front-view projection anchor
- Chong Mai — Penetrating Vessel (left) — sternum lateral line — Front-view projection anchor
- Chong Mai — Penetrating Vessel (right) — clavicle terminus line — Front-view projection anchor
- Chong Mai — Penetrating Vessel (left) — clavicle terminus line — Front-view projection anchor
- Dai Mai — Belt Vessel (right) — waist belt, right flank — Front-view projection anchor
- Dai Mai — Belt Vessel (left) — waist belt, right flank — Front-view projection anchor
- Dai Mai — Belt Vessel (right) — belt at umbilical level, right-front — Front-view projection anchor
- Dai Mai — Belt Vessel (left) — belt at umbilical level, right-front — Front-view projection anchor
- Dai Mai — Belt Vessel (right) — left-front belt — Front-view projection anchor
- Dai Mai — Belt Vessel (left) — left-front belt — Front-view projection anchor
- Dai Mai — Belt Vessel (right) — left flank — Front-view projection anchor
- Dai Mai — Belt Vessel (left) — left flank — Front-view projection anchor
Frequently asked
What is Du Mai — Governing Vessel — vertex (bǎihuì region)?
Du Mai — Governing Vessel — vertex (bǎihuì region) — front-view trajectory anchor of the extraordinary vessel (Lingshu / Nán Jīng; Deadman). Trajectory anchor, not an acupoint.
What is Du Mai — Governing Vessel — forehead (shèntíng)?
Du Mai — Governing Vessel — forehead (shèntíng) — front-view trajectory anchor of the extraordinary vessel (Lingshu / Nán Jīng; Deadman). Trajectory anchor, not an acupoint.
What is Du Mai — Governing Vessel — nose bridge (súliao approach)?
Du Mai — Governing Vessel — nose bridge (súliao approach) — front-view trajectory anchor of the extraordinary vessel (Lingshu / Nán Jīng; Deadman). Trajectory anchor, not an acupoint.
What is Du Mai — Governing Vessel — philtrum terminus (rénzhōng)?
Du Mai — Governing Vessel — philtrum terminus (rénzhōng) — front-view trajectory anchor of the extraordinary vessel (Lingshu / Nán Jīng; Deadman). Trajectory anchor, not an acupoint.
What is Ren Mai — Conception Vessel — perineum origin (huìyīn)?
Ren Mai — Conception Vessel — perineum origin (huìyīn) — front-view trajectory anchor of the extraordinary vessel (Lingshu / Nán Jīng; Deadman). Trajectory anchor, not an acupoint.
What is Ren Mai — Conception Vessel — suprapubic midpoint (qǔgǔ)?
Ren Mai — Conception Vessel — suprapubic midpoint (qǔgǔ) — front-view trajectory anchor of the extraordinary vessel (Lingshu / Nán Jīng; Deadman). Trajectory anchor, not an acupoint.
What is Ren Mai — Conception Vessel — umbilicus (shěnquè)?
Ren Mai — Conception Vessel — umbilicus (shěnquè) — front-view trajectory anchor of the extraordinary vessel (Lingshu / Nán Jīng; Deadman). Trajectory anchor, not an acupoint.
What is Ren Mai — Conception Vessel — epigastric midpoint (jiùquē)?
Ren Mai — Conception Vessel — epigastric midpoint (jiùquē) — front-view trajectory anchor of the extraordinary vessel (Lingshu / Nán Jīng; Deadman). Trajectory anchor, not an acupoint.
What is Ren Mai — Conception Vessel — sternum midline (dànzōng)?
Ren Mai — Conception Vessel — sternum midline (dànzōng) — front-view trajectory anchor of the extraordinary vessel (Lingshu / Nán Jīng; Deadman). Trajectory anchor, not an acupoint.
What is Ren Mai — Conception Vessel — sternal notch (tiāntū)?
Ren Mai — Conception Vessel — sternal notch (tiāntū) — front-view trajectory anchor of the extraordinary vessel (Lingshu / Nán Jīng; Deadman). Trajectory anchor, not an acupoint.
What is Ren Mai — Conception Vessel — chin-lip terminus (chéngjiāng)?
Ren Mai — Conception Vessel — chin-lip terminus (chéngjiāng) — front-view trajectory anchor of the extraordinary vessel (Lingshu / Nán Jīng; Deadman). Trajectory anchor, not an acupoint.
What is Chong Mai — Penetrating Vessel (right) — lower abdomen lateral (qìchōng line)?
Chong Mai — Penetrating Vessel (right) — lower abdomen lateral (qìchōng line) — front-view trajectory anchor of the extraordinary vessel (Lingshu / Nán Jīng; Deadman). Trajectory anchor, not an acupoint.
What is Chong Mai — Penetrating Vessel (left) — lower abdomen lateral (qìchōng line)?
Chong Mai — Penetrating Vessel (left) — lower abdomen lateral (qìchōng line) — front-view trajectory anchor of the extraordinary vessel (Lingshu / Nán Jīng; Deadman). Trajectory anchor, not an acupoint.
What is Chong Mai — Penetrating Vessel (right) — umbilical lateral (qìhǎi line)?
Chong Mai — Penetrating Vessel (right) — umbilical lateral (qìhǎi line) — front-view trajectory anchor of the extraordinary vessel (Lingshu / Nán Jīng; Deadman). Trajectory anchor, not an acupoint.
What is Chong Mai — Penetrating Vessel (left) — umbilical lateral (qìhǎi line)?
Chong Mai — Penetrating Vessel (left) — umbilical lateral (qìhǎi line) — front-view trajectory anchor of the extraordinary vessel (Lingshu / Nán Jīng; Deadman). Trajectory anchor, not an acupoint.
What is Chong Mai — Penetrating Vessel (right) — sternum lateral line?
Chong Mai — Penetrating Vessel (right) — sternum lateral line — front-view trajectory anchor of the extraordinary vessel (Lingshu / Nán Jīng; Deadman). Trajectory anchor, not an acupoint.
What is Chong Mai — Penetrating Vessel (left) — sternum lateral line?
Chong Mai — Penetrating Vessel (left) — sternum lateral line — front-view trajectory anchor of the extraordinary vessel (Lingshu / Nán Jīng; Deadman). Trajectory anchor, not an acupoint.
What is Chong Mai — Penetrating Vessel (right) — clavicle terminus line?
Chong Mai — Penetrating Vessel (right) — clavicle terminus line — front-view trajectory anchor of the extraordinary vessel (Lingshu / Nán Jīng; Deadman). Trajectory anchor, not an acupoint.
What is Chong Mai — Penetrating Vessel (left) — clavicle terminus line?
Chong Mai — Penetrating Vessel (left) — clavicle terminus line — front-view trajectory anchor of the extraordinary vessel (Lingshu / Nán Jīng; Deadman). Trajectory anchor, not an acupoint.
What is Dai Mai — Belt Vessel (right) — waist belt, right flank?
Dai Mai — Belt Vessel (right) — waist belt, right flank — front-view trajectory anchor of the extraordinary vessel (Lingshu / Nán Jīng; Deadman). Trajectory anchor, not an acupoint.
What is Dai Mai — Belt Vessel (left) — waist belt, right flank?
Dai Mai — Belt Vessel (left) — waist belt, right flank — front-view trajectory anchor of the extraordinary vessel (Lingshu / Nán Jīng; Deadman). Trajectory anchor, not an acupoint.
What is Dai Mai — Belt Vessel (right) — belt at umbilical level, right-front?
Dai Mai — Belt Vessel (right) — belt at umbilical level, right-front — front-view trajectory anchor of the extraordinary vessel (Lingshu / Nán Jīng; Deadman). Trajectory anchor, not an acupoint.
What is Dai Mai — Belt Vessel (left) — belt at umbilical level, right-front?
Dai Mai — Belt Vessel (left) — belt at umbilical level, right-front — front-view trajectory anchor of the extraordinary vessel (Lingshu / Nán Jīng; Deadman). Trajectory anchor, not an acupoint.
What is Dai Mai — Belt Vessel (right) — left-front belt?
Dai Mai — Belt Vessel (right) — left-front belt — front-view trajectory anchor of the extraordinary vessel (Lingshu / Nán Jīng; Deadman). Trajectory anchor, not an acupoint.
What is Dai Mai — Belt Vessel (left) — left-front belt?
Dai Mai — Belt Vessel (left) — left-front belt — front-view trajectory anchor of the extraordinary vessel (Lingshu / Nán Jīng; Deadman). Trajectory anchor, not an acupoint.
What is Dai Mai — Belt Vessel (right) — left flank?
Dai Mai — Belt Vessel (right) — left flank — front-view trajectory anchor of the extraordinary vessel (Lingshu / Nán Jīng; Deadman). Trajectory anchor, not an acupoint.
What is Dai Mai — Belt Vessel (left) — left flank?
Dai Mai — Belt Vessel (left) — left flank — front-view trajectory anchor of the extraordinary vessel (Lingshu / Nán Jīng; Deadman). Trajectory anchor, not an acupoint.