典藏书目

The *Suwen: Gukong Lun* states: The Du Mai (Conception Vessel of the Back, Governor Vessel) originates from the central part below the bones of the lower abdomen. In women, it enters and connects to the Ting Kong (Urethral Orifice), which is the end of the urinary passage. Its collateral follows the external genitalia, meets at the Huiyin area (perineum), and circles around the anus posteriorly. A separate branch winds around the buttocks, merging with the middle collaterals of the Shaoyin (Kidney Meridian) and Juyang (Bladder Meridian), combining with the Shaoyin channel to ascend along the posterior medial aspect of the thigh, piercing through the spine, and attaching to the Kidneys. It starts together with the Taiyang (Bladder Meridian) at the inner canthus of the eye, ascends to the forehead, crosses at the vertex, enters to network the brain, emerges again to descend separately down the neck, follows the shoulder interior, runs alongside the spine, reaches the middle of the waist, enters to follow the muscles beside the sacrum (Lü), and networks the Kidneys. In men, it follows the penis downward to the perineum, being the same as in women. The direct path rising from the lower abdomen pierces through the center of the umbilicus, ascends to pierce the Heart, enters the throat, ascends to the chin, circles the lips, and ascends to connect to the central point below both eyes.

[Image: Diagram of Du Mai Circulation]

The Du Mai originates at the bone center of the lower abdomen; in women, it enters and connects to the boundary of the urethral orifice. In men, the collateral follows the external genitalia, circling posteriorly before branching off toward the buttocks. Those reaching the Shaoyin channel follow the interior of the abdomen, meeting directly upward at the Guanyuan point. It attaches to the Kidneys and meets the Chong Mai (Penetrating Vessel) at the abdominal Qi Street.
It enters the throat, ascends to the chin, and circles the lips appropriately; ascending to connect to the central point below both eyes, it initially combines with the Taiyang meridian at the inner canthus. Ascending to the forehead and crossing at the vertex, it enters to network the brain, emerging again to descend to the neck and shoulders, running alongside the spine to reach the waist and following the Lü muscles, networking the Kidneys. The penis and perineum share the same locality. This clarifies the pathway of the Du Mai, serving as the general guideline for all Yang meridians.

[Note] The Du Mai originates from the central part below the bones of the lower abdomen, referring to the central part inside the transverse bone below the lower abdomen of both men and women, which is the endpoint where women enter and connect to the Ting Kong, and where men's external genitalia meet at the perineum. At the end of the male penis, the seminal chamber opening and the urinary opening merge into one path, meeting at the perineum, which is also where the female uterus opening and urinary opening merge. The endpoint of the Ting Kong is what is referred to later as "being the same as women." Its collateral follows the external genitalia, meets at the perineum, and circles around the anus posteriorly; this refers to the main collateral externally combining with the middle collateral of the Taiyang meridian. The separate collateral winding around the buttocks refers to the separate collateral internally joining the interior of the abdomen of the Shaoyin meridian. Therefore, the classic states: "Merging with the middle collaterals of the Shaoyin and Juyang." Reaching the Shaoyin, it follows the posterior medial aspect of the thigh, travels through the interior of the abdomen, and meets directly upward with the Ren Mai (Conception Vessel) at the Guanyuan point. It pierces the spine and attaches to the Kidneys, ascending alongside the Kidneys to meet the Chong Mai at the abdominal Qi Street. Therefore, the classic states: "Rising straight up from the lower abdomen, piercing through the center of the umbilicus, ascending to pierce the Heart and enter the throat, ascending to the chin and circling the lips, moving inward to terminate at the Yinjiao point of the Du Mai, and moving outward to connect to the central point below both eyes, traveling through the inner canthus to meet the Taiyang." Therefore, the classic states: "Starting together with the Taiyang at the inner canthus, ascending to the forehead and crossing at the vertex, entering to network the brain, emerging again to descend separately down the neck, following the shoulder interior, running alongside the spine to reach the middle of the waist, entering to follow the Lü muscles, and networking the Kidneys, then meeting again with the Shaoyin. This is the circulation of the Du Mai."