Master Tung’s Acupuncture Channels

In his writings, Master Tung did not elucidate the theoretical principles underpinning his family tradition. His students had to discover them independently. One of his students, Young Wei Chieh, writes on his website (Young, no date): “He did not talk much, to his patients or to his students. Every time questions were raised to him, he would say, ‘Observe for yourself, then think about it.’”

Master Tung titled his book Tung’s Acupuncture and Moxibustion Channels and Extraordinary Acupuncture Points (Tung, 1973).  A fundamental question arising from an attempt to understand the principles of his method concerns the nature of the primary channels in Master Tung’s family tradition. Was he referring to the traditional 14 primary channels or a distinct channel system? There are two answers to this question, comprising two approaches:

1. Master Tung’s points are extra points of the 14 primary channels.
2. Master Tung’s acupuncture is not rooted in the 14 primary channels but constitutes a separate tradition with its own channel system based on the five zang organs.

According to the first approach, Master Tung’s points are extra points of the 14 channels, and the method’s foundational principles align with these 14 primary channels. Each one of Master Tung’s points can be situated on one of the 14 primary channels or between two channels. For instance, 22.04 Ling Gu resides on Arm Yangming, whereas 77.05 Yi Zhong is positioned between Leg Shaoyang and Leg Yangming. To analyze or understand Master Tung’s points, they must be examined through the lens of the 14 primary channels.

Young Wei Chieh, a disciple of Master Tung, claims: “The term ‘Orthodox Channels’ in the title of Master Tung’s book, Tung’s Acupuncture Extraordinary Points of the Orthodox Channels, is closely related to the traditional 14 channels. Since the 14 channels and the zang fu interconnect, there is an inseparable relationship between the 14 channels and the zangfu. To explain Master Tung’s Points, one must first consider applying the thinking behind and concepts related to the 14 channels. Choosing points along the meridians in the 14 channels is the basic principle, and the technique of choosing points by syndrome differentiates treatment.  Choosing points from the affected channel among the 14 channels is the most fundamental principle and method of point selection in acupuncture syndrome differentiation and point selection methodology. When making use of Master Tung’s points the same principles and methods of course also apply.” (Young, 2014).

Young elucidates the mechanisms of the points’ actions through the channel theory. For example, consider 22.11 Tu Shui for treating gastritis, chronic stomach ailments, and tonsilitis. The point is located on Arm Taiyin, near Lu-10 Yu Ji. The Taiyin channel of the hand begins on the stomach (CV-12 Zhong Wan). Therefore, the point can be used to treat stomach diseases. Arm Taiyin also passes through the throat; therefore, like Lu-10 Yu Ji, the point can be used to treat tonsilitis.

Young also explains the actions of the points through channel relationships, including interior-exterior channel relationships, channels sharing the same name, and extraordinary connections of the organs.

The relationship between two channels passing through the legs or arms and exhibiting an interior-exterior relationship (Yin-Yang) – see Illustration 1.

• Arm Taiyin has an interior-exterior relationship with Arm Yangming.
• Leg Taiyin has an interior-exterior relationship with Leg Yangming.
• Arm Shaoyin has an interior-exterior relationship with Arm Taiyang.
• Leg Shaoyin has an interior-exterior relationship with Leg Taiyang.
• Leg Jueyin has an interior-exterior relationship with Arm Shaoyang.
• Leg Jueyin has an interior-exterior relationship with Leg Shaoyang.

For example, 22.05 Ling Gu, situated on Arm Yangming, has an interior-exterior relationship with Arm Taiyin (Lung). Therefore, the point can treat lung ailments and regulate Qi (as the Lungs govern Qi).

Relationships exist between channels passing through the arm and leg that share the same name (see Illustration 1).

• Arm Taiyin has a same-name relationship with Leg Taiyin.
• Arm Yangming has a same-name relationship with Leg Yangming.
• Arm Shaoyin has a same-name relationship with Leg Shaoyin.
• Arm Taiyang has a same-name relationship with Leg Taiyang.
• Arm Jueyin has a same-name relationship with Leg Jueyin.
• Arm Shaoyang has a same-name relationship with Leg Shaoyang.

Consider 77.08 Si Hua Shang, located on Leg Yangming (Stomach). The point can treat both stomach and lung ailments. This can be explained in two ways: (1) The channel is associated with the Earth phase, and Earth generates Metal (Lungs). (2) The same-name relationship between Leg Yangming and Arm Yangming shares an interior-exterior relationship with Arm Taiyin (Lungs).

Another example of same-name relationships is evident in 22.11 Tu Shui, which treats stomach and intestinal disorders. The point resides on Arm Taiyin, sharing a same-name relationship with Leg Taiyin. Leg Taiyin exhibits an interior-exterior relationship with Leg Yangming, a primary channel for treating stomach and intestinal ailments.

Young developed the Zang Fu extraordinary connection needling technique. The concept is rooted in the work of Li Chuan from the Ming Dynasty, author of Introduction to Medicine, and Tang Zong Hai from the Qing Dynasty, author of The Essence of Medicine, which explored the six organ relationships. Young applied these relationships to the 14 primary channels.

This concept is based on Chapter 6 of the Basic Questions (Su Wen), which presents a dialogue on the separation and union of Yin and Yang. It states:

“Hence, 
in the division and unity of the three yang [vessels], 
the major yang is the opening; 
the yang brilliance is the door leaf; 
the minor yang is the pivot.
[These] three [yang] conduits cannot lose each other. 
If they beat, but not at the surface, this is called ‘one yang’.
… Hence, 
in the division and unity of the three yin, 
the major yin is the opening; 
the ceasing yin is the door leaf; 
the minor yin is the pivot.
These three [yin] conduits cannot lose each other. 
If they beat, but not in the depth, this is called ‘one yin’.”
(Unschuld and Tessenow, 2011)

Inspired by Chapter 6 of the Basic Questions, Young connects the two opening, two closing, and two pivot functions as follows:

• Leg Taiyang (open) connects to Arm Taiyin (open).
• Arm Taiyang (open) connects to Leg Taiyin (open).
• Leg Yangming (close) connects to Arm Jueyin (close).
• Arm Yangming (close) connects to Leg Jueyin (close).
• Leg Shaoyang (pivot) connects to Arm Shaoyin (pivot).
• Arm Shaoyang (pivot) connects to Leg Shaoyin (pivot).

For example, 77.08 Si Hua Shang can treat heart ailments. The point is located on Leg Yangming, which shares a Zang Fu Bei Tong relationship with Arm Jueyin (pericardium), a crucial channel for treating heart disorders.

Another example is 11.01 Da Jian, which treats Shan Qi (hernia). The point is on Arm Yangming, which shares a Zang Fu Bei Tong relationship with Leg Jueyin. In channel theory, Leg Jueyin is a primary channel for treating Shan Qi disorders.

Extensive discourse exists on the relationship between Master Tung’s acupuncture and the 14 primary channels. Readers seeking further exploration of this approach are encouraged to consult the relevant professional literature. It is my contention that Master Tung’s acupuncture is not based on the 14 primary channels but represents a distinct system, as elaborated in the next chapter.

Master Tung’s acupuncture channels can be explained using the 14 primary channels. I employed this approach and taught it for many years. Later, I realized that Master Tung’s family acupuncture possesses its own tradition, diverging from the 14 primary channels. The channel system in Tung’s family tradition is founded on the five Zang organs.

Master Tung writes in the introduction to his book: “The acupuncture technique passed down by my ancestor, Jing Chang, differs from the conventional ‘fourteen meridians’ system and the corresponding ‘three hundred and sixty-five acupoints,’ as the location of the acupoints is significantly different. Furthermore, Jing Chang emphasized the use of needles over moxibustion and employed a simple yet effective treatment method. Many patients who were deemed difficult to treat were cured swiftly by Jing Chang’s ancestral acupuncture technique. My family’s acupuncture tradition has a unique history and has developed into its own school.” (Tung, 1973)

Master Tung explicitly stated that his family acupuncture is not rooted in the 14 primary channels. When titling his book The Unique Points of the Primary Channels [正經奇穴學], he was not referring to the 14 primary channels but to the primary channels of his family tradition. Master Tung also emphasized that his family’s unique points are not equivalent to the points of the 14 primary channels. That is, they are not located identically to the 365 points of traditional acupuncture. Nonetheless, some of Master Tung’s students positioned some of his points at the same locations as the points of the 14 primary channels.

Although Master Tung mentioned his family acupuncture’s distinct tradition, he did not explain what that tradition was. In his books, there are some clues. In the opening to the introduction of his book, he wrote: “Acupuncture, with a long history of development, can be traced back to the time of Emperor  Ren Zong of the Song Dynasty, who cast the ‘Bronze Figure of Yu’s Acupuncture Points.’ This bronze figure confirmed the twelve major meridians and set up 365 acupuncture points. The ‘Five Viscera Chart’ was also published for people to refer to, which promoted the development of acupuncture.”  (Tung, 1973)

Why does Master Tung mention the illustration of the five Zang organs and assert its advancement of the development of acupuncture? Yuan Guo Ben, a student of Tung’s who edited Master Tung’s book in 1973, told Chuan-Min Wang, another of Tung’s students residing in the United States, that Master Tung’s acupuncture possessed its own channel system and that Master Tung’s unique points should not be treated as extra points of the 14 primary channels. This conversation occurred in Taiwan in 2008. In response, Chuan-Min Wang wrote: “Many people misunderstood that Tung’s points are extra points of the 14 channels because they were not aware that Tung’s Acupuncture has its own set of channels distributed along various regions of the body.” (Wang, 2013)

At the same meeting, Yuan Guo Ben gave him a document that had been kept secret for 44 years. Entitled “Ching Chang’s Unique Points and Special Cases” (Chen, 1964), the document was compiled in 1964 by Du Ren Chen, one of Master Tung’s students. A Chinese Medicine doctor of Master Tung’s age, Du Ren Chen began studying under Master Tung in May 1964. According to Du Ren Chen, Master Tung determined which points to employ mainly based on the affected Zang organ channel.

On the Dao Ma Needling Technique, I will continue to describe the unique channel system of Master Tung’s acupuncture, but first, certain preliminary topics require clarification.