One of the core principles of Chinese medicine is the interconnectedness of Heaven, Earth, and Humanity. According to this perspective, the human is a reflection of Heaven and Earth. As Song dynasty philosopher Zhu Xi stated: “Everything has a highest standard [above physical form], which is principle li [理]. All principles in the world constitute taiji” and “For Heaven and Earth, the whole world has a taiji inside; for everything, has a taiji inside [在天地言，则天地中有太极；在万物言，则万物中各有太极]” (Feng, 2005). In Taiji theory, the whole contains the part, and the part contains the whole; therefore, the whole body is reflected in each of its parts. This principle extends to the cellular level, with the DNA, the genetic blueprint, encapsulating information about the entire system.

Various treatment modalities, such as scalp, face, ear, eye, nose, mouth, tongue, chest, stomach, hand, and foot acupuncture [1], are based on this principle. These modalities, often categorized as microsystems, or holographic acupuncture, reflect a general physiological concept of holographic imaging, where the whole body is represented in its parts. This relationship is dynamic and reciprocal. A pathological change in the entire organism manifests as a corresponding change in each microsystem. Therefore, interventions in one of these microsystems can influence the entire organism. This same principle underlies Master Tung’s acupuncture, which integrates the external expression of the disease, Dao Ma groups, and diagnosis.

The concept of microsystems and holographic acupuncture can be applied to explain point indications in Master Tung’s acupuncture. In cases where a patient does not improve, these concepts can aid in identifying the external expression of the disease and discovering new points. Given its clinical efficacy, this theory should be considered. Although Master Tung was likely unfamiliar with the specific term “microsystems,” as they emerged after his time, the concept is implicit in his acupuncture. For instance, each of the 12 zones in Master Tung’s acupuncture is a microsystem of the whole body. Young Wei Chieh and Lee Kuo Cheng later incorporated holographic acupuncture into Master Tung’s technique, developing several imaging methods between different body organs, including right-left limb

The right hand mirrors the left hand, and the left hand mirrors the right hand. Similarly, the right leg mirrors the left leg, and the left leg mirrors the right leg (see Limg Imaging). For example:

• The right elbow can be treated by needling the left elbow, and vice versa.
• The right arm can be treated by needling the left arm, and vice versa.
• The right forearm can be treated by needling the left forearm, and vice versa.
• The right knee can be treated by needling the left knee, and vice versa.
• The right thigh can be treated by needling the left thigh, and vice versa.
• The right lower leg can be treated by needling the left lower leg, and vice versa.

This reflection can be inverted around the elbow. In an inverted reflection, the hand mirrors the opposite shoulder, the forearm mirrors the opposite arm, the elbow mirrors the opposite forearm, and the shoulder mirrors the opposite hand (see Illustration Limg Imaging). For example:

• The right elbow can be treated by needling the left elbow, and vice versa.
• The right shoulder can be treated by needling the left hand, and vice versa.
• The right forearm can be treated by needling the left arm, and vice versa.

In an inverted reflection of the lower limbs, the foot mirrors the opposite hip joint, the lower leg mirrors the opposite thigh, the knee mirrors the opposite knee, the thigh mirrors the opposite shin, and the hip joint mirrors the opposite foot (see Illustration Limg Imaging). For example:

• The right knee can be treated by needling the left knee, and vice versa.
• The right hip joint can be treated by needling the left foot, and vice versa.
• The right thigh can be treated by needling the left lower leg, and vice versa.

The upper limbs mirror the lower limbs, and vice versa. The hand mirrors the opposite hip joint, the forearm mirrors the opposite thigh, the elbow mirrors the opposite knee, the arm mirrors the opposite lower leg, and the shoulder mirrors the opposite foot (see Illustration Imaging Between Upper and Lower Limbs). For example:

• The right knee can be treated by needling the left elbow, and vice versa.
• The right hand can be treated by needling the left hip joint, and vice versa.
• The right forearm can be treated by needling the left thigh, and vice versa.
• The right arm can be treated by needling the left lower leg, and vice versa.

In Master Tung’s acupuncture, “Taiji” refers to the navel as the center. The area above the navel reflects the Upper Heater, while the area below the navel reflects the Lower Heater. The neck and trunk can mirror the upper limbs: the shoulder mirrors the head, the arm mirrors the chest and epigastrium, the elbow mirrors the navel, the forearm mirrors the lower abdomen, and the hand mirrors the genitalia.

Similarly, the neck and trunk can mirror the lower limbs: the hip joint mirrors the head, the thigh mirrors the chest and epigastrium, the knee mirrors the navel, the lower leg mirrors the lower abdomen, and the foot mirrors the genitalia (see Illustration Imaging Between the Head, Neck, and Trunk and the Limbs). For example:

• The right side of the head can be treated by needling the left shoulder or left thigh.
• The right side of the chest can be treated by needling the left arm or right lower leg.
• The right lower abdomen can be treated by needling the left forearm or left lower leg.

This reflection can be inverted: the hand and foot mirror the head, the forearm and lower leg mirror the chest and epigastrium, the elbow and knee mirror the navel, the arm and thigh mirror the lower abdomen and waist, and the shoulder and hip joint mirror the genitalia (see Illustration Imaging Between the Head, Neck, and Trunk and the Limbs). For example:

• The right side of the head can be treated by needling the left hand or left foot.
• The left side of the chest can be treated by needling the left forearm or right lower leg.
• The right lower abdomen can be treated by needling the left arm or left thigh.

Another important point to emphasize is that the anterior side mirrors the anterior, the lateral side mirrors the lateral, the posterior side mirrors the posterior, and the medial side mirrors the medial. For example:

• The right anterior side of the head could be treated by needling the lateral side of the left hand (22.04 Da Bai, 22.05 Ling Gu), or the anterior (dorsal) side of the left foot, Liu Xi (66).
• The lateral side of the right chest could be treated by needling the lateral side of the left forearm (33.04-06 Shou San Huo) or the lateral side of the left thigh, 88.25 Zhong Jiu Li, Qi Li (88).
• The right lower back could be treated by needling the posterior side of the left forearm (33.10-12 San Men) or the posterior side of the left lower leg (77.03 Zheng Shi,77.02 Zheng Zong).

In 1973, Ying Qing-Zhang, a professor from Shandong University in China, discovered a new group of acupuncture points along the second metacarpal bone. This bone represents a small human figure, with the metacarpophalangeal joint corresponding to the head and the opposite end representing the foot. The remaining points are positioned relative to these two ends (Schjelderup, 1992) (see Illustration Imaging Between the Second Metacarpal Bone and the Whole Body).

Based on this discovery, Ying Qing-Zhang developed the bio-holographic theory, which he termed “Embryo Containing the Information of the Whole Organism” (ECIWO). This theory is based on the principles of holographic photography technology, where each part of the film contains an image of the whole object being photographed (Wang, 2009).

The bio-holographic theory is founded on the hypothesis that living organisms have a mosaic structure composed of parts with embryonic properties that contain information about the entire organism. ECIWO provides an explanation for acupuncture microsystems and offers a new scientific basis for acupuncture research (Schjelderup, 1992).

Beyond the second metacarpal bone, such biosystems can be identified on all metacarpal and metatarsal bones. Microsystems can also be found on all long bones, such as the tibia and fibula in the lower leg (see Illustration 14). This concept aligns with Master Tung’s acupuncture, where most points are located near the bones of the limbs. In addition to bone-related microsystems, Master Tung’s acupuncture also includes microsystems on the face and feet.

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[1] The bio-holographic theory comes from holographic photography technologies, where each part of the holographic film contains an image of the entire object being photographed.