ABSTRACT

Here then, in this ancient text, we find mention of no less than eight acu-points by the names which they still bear today.b In general, anyone reading over these luminous descriptions must allow a considerable degree of anatomical knowledge on the part of these founding fathers of Chinese human biology. It is much more than they have usually been credited with, and in another place (Sect. 43 on anatomy) we show that this was generally true through all the Chinese centuries, Western impressions having been derived mainly from the illustrations, which fell far behind the knowledge set forth in the texts. Lastly, the significance of these descriptions also lies in the fact that they clearly bring out the beginnings and ends of the tracts, and hence the continuity of the circulation of the chhi.