《素问·骨空论》曰∶冲脉者，起于气街，并少阴之经，侠脐上行，至胸中而散。
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《灵枢·卫气篇》曰∶请言气街。胸气有街，腹气有街，头气有街，胫气有街。故气
在头者，止之于脑；气在胸者，止之膺与背俞；气在腹者，止之背俞。与冲脉在脐之左
右之动脉者，气在胫者，止之于气街，与承山踝上。
冲脉起于腹气街，后天宗气气冲来，并于先天之真气，相并侠脐上胸街，大气至胸
中而散，会合督任充身怀，分布脏腑诸经络，名之曰海不为乖。
【注】冲脉者，起于气街，是起于腹气之街也。名曰气街者，是谓气所行之街也。一
身之大气，积于胸中者，有先天之真气，是所受者，即人之肾间动气也；有后天之宗气，
是水谷所化者，即人之胃气也。此所谓起于腹气之街者，是起胃中谷气也；并于少阴者，
是并于肾间动气也。其真气与谷气相并，侠脐上行，至胸中而散，是谓大气至胸中，分
布五脏六腑诸经，而充身者也。《灵枢·逆顺肥瘦篇》曰∶冲脉者五脏六腑之海也，五脏
六腑皆禀气焉。《灵枢·动俞篇》又曰∶冲脉者十二经之海也，与少阴之大络，起于肾下，
出于气街。《灵枢·五音五味篇》又曰∶冲脉任脉皆起于胞中者，即此之起于肾下之谓也。
而谓起于肾下者，即并于少阴之经，肾间动气上行也。《素问·骨空论》曰∶冲脉起于气
冲者，即此出于气街之谓也。不曰起而曰出者，谓谷气由阳明胃经出，而会于气街也。
《素问·骨空论》说：冲脉（Chong Mai, Penetrating Vessel），起始于气街（Qiqie, Gas Street，指气运行的通道，此处特指腹股沟动脉搏动处），与足少阴肾经并行，夹着肚脐向上行走，到达胸中后分散。
《灵枢·卫气篇》说：请让我谈谈气街。胸部的有气街，腹部的有气街，头部的有气街，小腿的有气街。所以气在头部的，止聚于脑；气在胸部的，止聚于胸部前面（膺）和背部腧穴；气在腹部的，止聚于背部腧穴以及冲脉在肚脐左右两侧的动脉处；气在小腿的，止聚于气街，以及承山穴和脚踝上方。
冲脉起始于腹部的“气街”，后天形成的宗气（Zong Qi, Pectoral Qi，积于胸中之大气）从气冲穴而来，并与先天的真气（Zhen Qi, True Qi，源于肾间的原动力）相合并，夹着肚脐上行至胸部的“气街”。当大气到达胸中时便分散开来，会合督脉（Du Mai, Governor Vessel）和任脉（Ren Mai, Conception Vessel），充盈全身怀抱，分布于脏腑和各条经络，称之为“海”并不为过。
【注释】冲脉起始于“气街”，这里指的是腹部的“气之街”。称为“气街”的，是说这是气所通行的街道。一身的大气，积聚在胸中的，包括先天的真气，这是禀受于父母的，也就是人的肾间动气（Kidney Interstitial Moving Qi，两肾之间动的元气）；还有后天的宗气，这是由水谷精微化生的，也就是人的胃气。这里所说的“起于腹气之街”，是指起于胃中的谷气；所谓“并于少阴”，是指并合于肾间的动气。真气和谷气相合并，夹着肚脐向上行走，到达胸中而分散，这就是说大气到达胸中，分布到五脏六腑各条经脉，从而充盈全身。《灵枢·逆顺肥瘦篇》说：冲脉是五脏六腑的海，五脏六腑都禀受其气。《灵枢·动俞篇》又说：冲脉是十二经脉的海，它与足少阴肾经的大络，起始于肾下，出于气街。《灵枢·五音五味篇》又说：冲脉和任脉都起始于胞宫（Bao Gong, Uterus/Pelvis），就是这里所说的起于肾下的意思。而说它起于肾下，就是指并合足少阴肾经，肾间动气向上行走。《素问·骨空论》说：冲脉起于气冲穴（Qichong, ST30），就是这里所说的出于气街的意思。不说“起”而说“出”，是说谷气由足阳明胃经出来，而汇聚于气街。
The *Suwen: Gu Kong Lun* states: The Chong Mai (Penetrating Vessel) originates from the Qiqie (Gas Street, referring to the pulsation in the inguinal region where Qi flows), runs parallel with the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian, flanks the navel upwards, and disperses upon reaching the chest.
The *Lingshu: Wei Qi Pian* states: Let me speak of the Qi Streets. There is a Qi Street in the chest, a Qi Street in the abdomen, a Qi Street in the head, and a Qi Street in the lower legs. Therefore, when Qi is in the head, it terminates at the brain; when Qi is in the chest, it terminates at the anterior chest (Ying) and the Back-Shu points on the back; when Qi is in the abdomen, it terminates at the Back-Shu points and the arterial pulses on the left and right sides of the navel belonging to the Chong Mai; when Qi is in the lower legs, it terminates at the Qiqie, as well as at Chengshan (BL57) and above the ankle.
The Chong Mai originates from the abdominal "Qi Street." The acquired Zong Qi (Pectoral Qi) comes from the Qichong point, merges with the innate Zhen Qi (True Qi, the vital force originating from between the kidneys), and together they flank the navel to ascend to the chest's "Qi Street." When the Great Qi reaches the chest, it disperses, converges with the Du Mai (Governor Vessel) and Ren Mai (Conception Vessel), fills the whole body, distributes to the Zang-Fu organs and all meridians, and is rightly called the "Sea" without error.
[Commentary] The Chong Mai originates from the "Qi Street," which here refers to the Qi Street of the abdomen. It is named "Qi Street" because it is the pathway through which Qi travels. The Great Qi of the entire body, accumulated in the chest, consists of two parts: the innate Zhen Qi, which is inherited and corresponds to the Kidney Interstitial Moving Qi (the original Qi moving between the kidneys); and the acquired Zong Qi, which is transformed from food and water, corresponding to Stomach Qi. Thus, what is meant by "originating from the Qi Street of the abdomen" is that it originates from the Grain Qi in the stomach; and what is meant by "merging with the Shaoyin" is that it merges with the Kidney Interstitial Moving Qi. The True Qi and Grain Qi merge, flank the navel to ascend, and disperse upon reaching the chest. This means that the Great Qi reaches the chest, distributes to the meridians of the five Zang and six Fu organs, and thereby fills the whole body. The *Lingshu: Ni Shun Fei Shou Pian* states: The Chong Mai is the Sea of the Five Zang and Six Fu organs; the Five Zang and Six Fu organs all receive Qi from it. The *Lingshu: Dong Yu Pian* further states: The Chong Mai is the Sea of the Twelve Meridians; it connects with the large collateral of the Foot-Shaoyin, originates below the kidney, and emerges from the Qiqie. The *Lingshu: Wu Yin Wu Wei Pian* further states: Both the Chong Mai and Ren Mai originate from the Bao Gong (Uterus/Pelvis), which refers to what is said here about originating below the kidney. To say it originates below the kidney means that it merges with the Foot-Shaoyin Meridian and ascends via the Kidney Interstitial Moving Qi. The *Suwen: Gu Kong Lun* states: The Chong Mai originates from the Qichong point (ST30), which refers to emerging from the Qiqie. The text uses "emerges" rather than "originates" to indicate that Grain Qi exits from the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian and converges at the Qiqie.