The Textual Study On Acupoints Along The Three Foot-yang Meridians On The Lacquer Figure Unearthed In The Tomb Of Han Dynasty In Chengdu Laoguanshan

Objective:A systematic textual study was performed on suspected acupoints along the three Foot-Yang meridians on the Lacquer Figure unearthed in the tomb of Han Dynasty in Chengdu Laoguanshan(hereafter called “the Laoguanshan Lacquer Figure” for short).By comparing with medical records in dynasties,Mingtang Chart(Acupoints and meridians chart),and the unearthed medical relics and literature,this study aimed to clarify the name,location and meridian belonging of the suspected acupoints along the three Foot-Yang meridians on the Laoguanshan Lacquer Figure,and in further to analyze the characteristics of acupoints distribution then to speculate the development and evolution of the ancient acupoints theory.Methods:1.By acquiring photos of the Laoguanshan lacquer figure,collecting ancient medical classics and information of unearthed cultural relics and literature,this study drew walking lines of the three Foot-Yang meridians and marked the suspected acupoints,and then built a corresponding information table.2.By comparing to the medical records in dynasties,Mingtang Chart,the unearthed medical relics and literatures,and the Acupuncture Bronze Figure,this study conducted textual research on the name,location and meridians belonging of suspected acupoints along three Foot-Yang meridians of the Laoguanshan lacquer figure.Results:1.A total of 51 suspected acupoints were found along the three Foot-Yang meridians of the Laoguanshan lacquer figure,with 31 along the Foot-Taiyang Meridian,10 along the Foot-Shaoyang Meridian,and 10 along the Foot-Yangming Meridian.2.After comparison,this study found 29 among the 31 suspected acupoints along the Foot-Taiyang Meridian with equal or similar location compared to the ancient classics,remaining 2 still unknown;All suspected acupoints along the Foot-Shaoyang Meridian and Foot-Yangming Meridian could be found equally or similarly compared to the ancient classics.3.Among the suspected acupoints along the three Foot-Yang meridians of the Laoguanshan lacquer figure,the Foot-Taiyang Meridian acupoints were mainly located in the back and lower limbs,and the Foot-Shaoyang and Foot-Taiyang Merdian acupoints were mainly located in the lower limbs,particularly around the joint.4.The number of acupoints along the three Foot-Yang meridians of the Laoguanshan lacquer figure were less than that recorded in “Huangdi Neijing”(Huangdi's Canon of Medicine),“Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing”(A-B classics of Acupuncture and Moxibustion),and“Tongren Shuxue Zhenjiu Tujing”(a manual of acupoints by using the bronze figure),with some overlapped and some distinguished.Conclusions:1.Acupoints along the three Foot-Yang meridians of the Laoguanshan lacquer figure were mainly located in the back and lower limbs,characterized by a general symmetrical distribution along meridians.Most of them were called “the specific acupoints” in later generations.2.The ancient acupoints theory had a long development,with a growing number of acupoints,a larger distribution from common location to the whole body,wider categories of acupoints from the specific to non-specific acupoints,and constantly clear illustration of meridians which acupoint belongs to.