The Eight Main Psychic Channels

The 8 Main Psychic Channels - or Vessels - are important to know, because they are much easier to visualize than the 26 channels or Meridians of traditional acupuncture.

Basically, there are : 

• 3 channels on the Torso : One vertical in the Back, one vertical in the Front, one horizontal around the waist; 
• one vertical channel inside the Torso, 
• one channel on the outside, and one on the inside of each Limb. 

This is quite easy to remember.

• Tu Mo follows the middle line of the back.
• Jen Mo follows the middle line of the front.
• Tai Mo is a circle at the waist.
• Chung Mo raises inside the body from the perineum up to the Heart.
• Yang Yao runs along the outside of the arms.
• Yin Yao runs along the Inside of the arm.
• Yang Chiao runs along the outside of the leg.
• Yin Chiao runs on the inside of the leg. 
  
  
  
  
  MIDDLE LINE OF THE BODY 
   

Du Mo - Governor Vessel

Ren Mo - Conception Vessel

Knowledge of these 2 Tu Mo and Jen Mo vessels can be very profitable to the actual PRACTICE of  Zen and Budo to help improve health and ability to focus. We will in later posts describe a few exercises to this effect. In Karate, Sanchin Kata should be performed while keeping in mind the path of these Governor and Conception vessels. 

THE UNIQUE BELT AND THRUSTING VESSELS

Tai Mo - Belt Vessel

 

Chong Mo - Thrusting Vessel

These 2 Belt and Thrusting vessels are not often mentioned in Classical Acupuncture (I know, if you are a genuine acupuncturist, you won't agree. Sorry,  this is not a blog about acupuncture...) 

THE ARMS VESSELS

Yang Yao - Yang Arm Vessel - runs along the outside of the Arm.

Yin Yao - Yin Arm Vessel, runs on the inside of the Arm.

THE LEGS VESSELS

Yang Chiao - Yang Leg Vessel - runs along the outside of the Leg.

Yin Chao -  Yin Leg Vessel - rus on the inside of the leg

These 6 vessels are important to memorize. We will use them for various exercises.

The following Notes are for Acupuncture Nerds

Note 1 : Correlation with the 12 organs Meridians :

Basically, for those of you familiar with traditional Chinese Acupuncture, the 2 new things are the Belt (Tai Mo) and Thrust (Chung Mo) Channels. You already are familiar with the Governor and Conception Channels, and the Positive and Negative Arm and Leg Vessels are a “compilation” of the Yang and Yin Meridians of the Arm and Legs. Yang Yao : Large and Small Intestines, Triple heater meridians; Yin Yao : Heart, Lungs and Pericadium meridians; Yang Chiao : Stomach, Gall Bladder and Urinary Bladder meridians; Yin Chiao : Kidneys, Liver and Spleen meridians.

Note 2 : Detailed description of the 8 Psychic Channels :

1. the Tu Mo or Governor channel rises from the perineum (between the genitals and anus) and passes through the coccyx up the backbone to the brain;
2. the Jen Mo or Conception channel rises from the perineum and goes up along the belly, passes through the navel, the pit of the stomach, the chest and throat before going up to the brain;
3. the Tai Mo or belt channel from both sides of the navel forms a belt which circles the belly;
4. the Ch'ung Mo or thrusting channel rises from the perineum, goes up between the tu mo and jen mo channels and ends in the heart;
5. the Yang Yao or positive arm channels in the outer sides of both arms link both shoulders with the centres of the palms after passing through the middle fingers;
6. the Yin Yao or negative arm channels in the inner sides of both arms link the centres of the palms with the chest;
7. the Yang Chiao or positive leg channels rise from the centres of the soles and turn along the outer sides of the ankles and legs before reaching the perineum where they connect with other channels; and
8. the Yin Chiao or negative leg channels rise from the centres of the soles and turn along the inner sides of the ankles and legs before reaching the perineum where they connect with other channels.

Note 3 : Terminology :

The names of these channels vary a lot, I suppose depending upon different ways to translate Chinese. This is not that important for our purpose. What matters to us is to be able to visualize the path of these channels.

Tu Mo is also known as Du Mo or Du Mai, Control Channel or Governor Channel.

Jen Mo is also known as Ren Mo or Ren Mai, Function or Conception Channel.

Tai Mo is also known as Dai Mo, Belt or Girdle Channel.

Chung Mo is also known as Chong Mo, Chang Mo, Chong Mai, Thrusting or  Penetrating vessel

Yang Yao is also known as Yang Wei Mo, or Positive Arm Channel.

Yin Yao is also known as Yin Wei Mo or Negative Arm Channel.

Yang Chiao is also known as Yang Jiao Mo, Yang Qiao Mo, or Positive Leg Channel.

Yin Chiao is also known as Yin Jiao Mo, Yin Jiao Mo or Negative Leg Channel.