Chinese glossary
| Chinese (pronunciation) | French | Definition |
| Ashi (cheered) | Pain point | Painful point on palpation which most often signals a disruption of the circulation of Qi and Blood in the Meridian affecting the muscle tissue where the point is located. It can also appear as a result of internal imbalances of the viscera. These points correspond in part to the stress points listed on the myofascial chains, called trigger points. |
| Ba Mai Jiao Hui Xue (pa mai tsiao roé tsiué) | Point of the eight curious meridians | Acupuncture point to stimulate the regulatory functions of curious meridians. |
| Bei ShuXue (pei chou tsiué) | Shu point of the back | Acupuncture points coming in pairs and usually stimulated bilaterally, located on either side of the spine. They allow the functions of one viscera to be regularized at a time. |
| Ben (pen) | Root | Main, deep or original component of a set. Can designate the main points of a Meridian (BenXue), psychovisceral entities – whose interaction allows the different levels of consciousness (BenShén) -, or the root causes of an imbalance. See also Branch. |
| BenShén (bread chain) | Psychovisceral entity | Both physical and psychic entity (the two aspects being absolutely inseparable) which takes care of the Essences and which maintains an environment conducive to the expression of the Spirits. |
| BianZheng (pian tcheng) | Energy balance | Portrait of pathological tables or syndromes of imbalances. The equivalent of western medicine diagnostics. |
| Biao (piao) | Industry | Peripheral or secondary component of an imbalance. See Racine. |
| Biao (piao) | Surface | The surface layer of the body that includes the skin, muscles and openings in the body. The Surface allows exchanges with the outside. It reflects the state of the viscera. Surface is opposed to Depth. |
| BiZheng (pi tcheng) | Painful obstruction syndrome | Grouping of signs and symptoms (Zheng) related to a blockage in the circulation of Qi and Blood, which induces pain (Bi). |
| About (tchi) | Cubit | One of the three wrist radial pulse measurement zones; furthest from the hand. See Thumb and Barrier. |
| With a (tsoun) | Thumb | One of the three wrist radial pulse measurement zones; closest to the hand. See Cubit and Barrier. |
| DaChang (ta tchang) | Large intestine | One of the six entrails. Responsible for the elimination of solid residues. |
| Dan (tan) | Gall bladder | One of the six entrails. Responsible for releasing bile and promoting downward movement in the digestion process. Also considered as one of the curious entrails, because it retains bile, an Essence one of whose roles is to support courage and help to make the right decisions. |
| DuMai (tou mai) | Governor Vessel | One of the eight Curious Meridians. It circulates on the posterior median part of the trunk and the head. Involved in the distribution of Yang Energy and Defensive Energy. |
| Fei (fey) | Lung | One of the six Organs. It designates the respiratory sphere which includes the skin, nose, throat, bronchi, lungs and pulmonary circulation. He is involved in the production of different forms of Qi. It promotes the circulation of Qi and organic liquids, and their diffusion to the Surface, especially in a perspective of defense of the organism. The only organ in direct relation with the outside air. |
| Feng (feng) | Wind | One of the five Climates. An exogenous pathogenic factor (a cold usually comes from Wind-Cold, laryngitis, Wind-Heat, etc.). An endogenous pathogenic factor resulting from a weakness of the Blood, a rise in Yang of the Liver, an extreme heat consuming the fluids of the body, etc. |
| Fu (crazy) | Bowels | Yang or “hollow” viscera: Stomach, Small Intestine, Large Intestine, Gallbladder, Bladder and Triple Warmer. |
| Gan (can) | Liver | One of the six Organs. It designates the organic hepato-biliary sphere involved in the management of blood flow and the free circulation of Qi. Responsible for the psychic Soul, therefore in relation to the strength of character and with the capacity of vision and affirmation of desires and projects. |
| Guan (kouan) | Fence | The intermediate zone among the three zones for taking the radial pulse of the wrist. See Thumb and Cub. |
| He (they have) | Cold | One of the five Climates. An exogenous pathogenic factor attributable to an excess of cold temperature or the failure of the body’s mechanisms to maintain an adequate temperature. An endogenous pathogenic factor resulting from a deficiency in the vital functions of the Spleen / Pancreas or the Kidneys. |
| HouTian ZhiQi (reou tienn tché tchi) | Acquired Qi (Posterior Sky Qi, Postnatal Qi, Postnatal Energy, Acquired Energy) | Qi resulting from the transformation of Air or Food. |
| HuiXue (roé tsiué) | Meeting point | Acupuncture point located in the neck or the head promoting the circulation of Qi and Blood between the head and the trunk. |
| Hun (roun) | Psychic Soul (Ethereal Soul) | Innate aspect of the psyche. Spontaneous component of the personality. One of the two components of the human soul, along with the bodily soul. It determines the sensory and cognitive capacities as well as the strength of character of the individual. |
| Huo (rouo) | Feu | One of the five Movements (or Elements). Physiological energy of the organism. The aggravation of pathogenic Heat (Fire is sometimes considered as a sixth Climate; then also called Heatwave). |
| Jing (tsing) | Essence (Kidney Essence) | What determines the material framework, as much of the universe as of the human body. Innate Essences are a “plane” contained in the germ from conception. The Essences acquired come from Air and Food. |
| JingLuo (tsing luo) | Meridian | Non-structural channel that allows the flow of Vital Energy (Qi), and which connects acupuncture points to various bodily structures and functions. The Meridians are formed of main circuits (Jing) extending in innumerable ramifications (Luo). Mnemonic system allowing the human body to be divided into territories and channels in which Substances circulate. |
| JinYe (tsin yé) | Organic liquid | All body fluids (secretions, sweat, urine, blood serum and plasma, cerebrospinal fluid, interstitial fluids, etc.). Classified into two categories, Jin (very fluid) and Ye (cloudy and thick). |
| Kai Qiao Yu (kai tchiao you) | Sensory opening (Somatic opening) | Eyes, tongue, mouth, nose and ears. Five places or cavities where the main sense organs reside. These “openings” allow their activity, and feed the Spirits in |
| Li (at the) | Depth | Where the Viscera and the Essences reside, and where the deep branches of the Meridians circulate. This allows the body to keep and adapt. The possible location of a disease. Depth opposes Surface. |
| LiuQi (liou tchi) | Climate | Wind, Cold, Heat, Humidity and Drought. Pathogenic factors that can come from the environment (cold, drought, heatwave, etc.), or be generated inside the body itself, following the deficiency of an organ for example. |
| LuoXue (luo tsiué) | Point Luo | Acupuncture point to work on certain ramifications of the main meridians or to promote the link between two coupled meridians. |
| MingMen (ming men) | Door of Destiny | Entity located between the Kidneys in front of the second lumbar vertebra; seat of the initial tension between Yin and Yang from which emerges a first form of Qi called original Qi. Responsible for the original vitality of the individual, then for his maintenance. |
| MuXue (mou tsiué) | Alarm point (Mu point) | Acupuncture point in relation to a specific viscera. It becomes painful when the visceral sphere is affected by an imbalance. It can help regulate the viscera in question. These points, located on the front of the trunk, are complementary to the Shu points on the back. |
| in (crow) | Endogenous | That originates or develops inside the organism itself. As opposed to exogenous. |
| PangGuang (prang koann) | Bladder | One of the six entrails. Responsible for the elimination of liquid residues in the form of urine. |
| Pi (pi) | Spleen / Pancreas | One of the six Organs. It designates the visceral sphere of digestion. It is responsible for renewing the nourishing substances of the organism and promoting their transport to the tissues, influencing the volume of the flesh and the tone of the tissues. |
| Po (pro) | Bodily soul | Virtual mold allowing the development of the physical body which will be done through the intermediary of innate Essences (received at conception) and acquired Essences (from Air and Food). This Soul, made up of seven entities, determines the unique human form of each person. Complement of the Psychic Soul. |
| Qi (tchi) | Energy (Breath) | The only fundamental component of all that surrounds and constitutes us – living beings as well as the inanimate world. All matter originates from a condensation of Qi, even if the Qi itself remains invisible. The term “breath”, which translates a certain dynamism, and refers to an intuition which encompasses and goes beyond our senses, better expresses the true meaning of Qi than the term Energy which can have an overly restrictive scientific connotation. |
| Qi Jing Ba Mai (tchi tsing pa mai) | Curious Meridian (Extraordinary Vessel, Wonderful Vessel) | Major basic axes from which our incarnation comes. They manage the shaping of the human body at the time of conception and then ensure its development into adulthood. |
| QingQi (tsing tchi) | Pure | Qualifies Qi when it is in a refined state after having been decanted by the Bowels from “unclean” or raw Qi from Food and Air. Pure Qi is managed by the Organs. |
| Re (re) | Heat | One of the five Climates. An exogenous or endogenous pathogenic factor which can take different forms: febrile illnesses, inflammations, infections, hot flashes, etc. |
| RenMai (jenn mai) | Design Vessel (Director Vessel) | One of the eight Curious Meridians. It circulates on the anterior median part of the trunk and the head. Involved in sexual maturation, reproduction, pregnancy and menstruation. |
| SanJiao (san tsiao) | Triple Heater (Three Burners) | One of the six entrails. Concept specific to TCM which considers what “envelops” the Organs and the Entrails as a full-fledged viscera possessing a regulatory function. It promotes the circulation of the original Energy and Organic Liquids during the different stages of their transformations. |
| Shén (chain) | Mind | Organizational force that joins forces with Essences to allow the emergence and evolution of different levels of consciousness, and their manifestation through different skills. |
| Shèn (chain) | Reins | One of the six Organs. The only double organ: there is a Kidney Yin and a Kidney Yang. The Kidneys and MingMen (located between them) are the source of the body’s Yin and Yang. The Kidneys (guardians of the Essences) allow growth, development and reproduction, in relation to the bone structure, the Marrow, the Brain and the reproductive organs. |
| Shi (that) | Humidity | One of the five Climates. An exogenous pathogenic factor linked to an excessively humid environment. An endogenous pathogenic factor attributable to a bad transformation or a bad circulation of organic liquids. |
| ShiZheng (ché tcheng) | Syndrome of Excess (Sthenia, Fullness) | Pathological state attributable to the presence of a perverse Energy – exogenous or endogenous – in a Viscera or a Meridian; characterized by the frequent presence of phlegm or edema, and by acute, strong and intense symptoms, aggravated by pressure and movement. |
| Shou (chou) | From the hand | Refers to the Meridian-Systems in relation to the upper limbs. As opposed to Zu (of the foot). |
| ShuiDao (chou me) | Way of the Waters | Name given to the Triple Heater when its functions consist of promoting or containing the ascent, descent and elimination of liquids. |
| ShuiGu (chui kou) | Food | Food includes both the physical and energy components of food. ShuiGu |
| ShuXue (chu tsiué) | Point d’acupuncture | Precisely listed point, located on the surface of the body, constituting a gateway to act on the Energy of the Meridians, Viscera, bodily functions, etc. |
| Wai (oé) | Exogenous | That occurs outside or comes from outside the body. As opposed to endogenous. |
| Wei (oé) | Stomach | One of the six entrails. Responsible for receiving Food, stirring and macerating it to extract the active ingredients in the form of Qi from Food. Responsible for the downward movement that accompanies the progress of Foods towards the elimination of their residual part. |
| WeiQi (hey) | Defensive Qi (Defensive Energy) | Component of vital energy (Qi) which has the function of protecting the surface of the body and sensory openings during the day, and to help internal visceral regulation at night. |
| Wu ShuXue (ou chou soué) | Point Shu antique | Acupuncture point located on the upper and lower limbs, used to treat peripheral disorders as well as visceral disorders. |
| WuXing (wou sing) | Movement (Element) | The five Movements (Wood, Fire, Metal, Water and Earth) are five fundamental processes, five characteristics, five phases of the same cycle or five potentialities of change inherent in any phenomenon. They were named after the names of five elements of nature to recall what they symbolize. |
| WuXing (wou sing) | Five Movements (Five Elements) | Theory according to which everything that surrounds and composes us is subdivided into five large interdependent sets called Movements. These sets bear the names of five elements: Wood, Fire, Metal, Water and Earth. The theory codifies the affinities between viscera, environmental stimuli, diseases, seasons, emotions, foods, etc. |
| XiangCheng (afternoon tchreng) | Cycle of Aggression | Pathology resulting from an imbalance in a normal control relationship between two viscera: if the controlling viscera is affected by an excess, or the controlled viscera with a void, the first may attack the second. |
| XiangKe (noon) | Cycle of Control (Domination) | Healthy relationship which takes the form of an indirect support between the functions of two viscera. For example, the Spleen / Pancreas provides control of the Kidneys through its digestive functions, essential to the conservation functions assumed by the Kidneys. |
| XiangSheng (afternoon cheng) | Generation cycle | Healthy relationship which takes the form of a direct support between two viscera, where the first (the mother) provides one or more Substances to the second (the son). For example, the Liver “generates” the Heart, because it frees the Blood and promotes the free circulation of Substances that the Heart circulates in the vessels. |
| XiangWu (noon or) | Cycle of Revolt (Counter-domination) | Pathology resulting from an imbalance in a normal Control relationship between two Viscera: if the controlling Viscera is affected by a Void, or the Controlled Viscera by an Excess, the latter may revolt against the one who should normally control it. |
| XianTian ZhiQi (sian tsian tché tchi) | Innate Qi (Prenatal Qi, Anterior Heaven Qi, Prenatal Energy, Innate Energy) | Constitutes a part of the vital Qi of the individual; determined from its conception by the conjunction of the paternal and maternal Essences. Starts all the functional activities of the body. Comes from the original Qi of the universe. |
| XiaoChang (siao tchrang) | Small intestine | One of the six entrails. Responsible for separating solids and liquids from food, decanting the pure components and preparing the elimination of impure components. |
| XieQi (sié tchi) | Perverse energy (perverse Qi) | An excess of an environmental factor which fails to adapt the organism’s ability to adapt; or an endogenous pathogenic factor such as internal heat, edema, phlegm, etc. |
| Xin (his) | Heart | One of the six Organs. Responsible for the management of Blood and blood vessels. It is the residence of the Spirit, enabling it to perform its functions. It propels vitality throughout the body. It is considered the Emperor Body. |
| XinBao (sinn pao) | Envelope of the Heart (Master of the Heart, Pericardium) | The intermediary between the Heart, the Spirit and the rest of the body. Assumes the cardiovascular function and, more precisely, the pulsating rhythm of this function. Carries Blood throughout the body and in so doing plays a role in sexual functions. |
| Xue (not) | Blood | Body fluid circulating in blood vessels. Its function is to nourish and humidify the organism. It also allows the Spirit to take root in the body, and to make tangible the psychic manifestations of psychovisceral entities. |
| XuZheng (sou tcheng) | Void Syndrome (Asthenia, Deficiency) | Weakness of the normal functions of a Viscera, a Substance or a Meridian; characterized by a general impairment (vulnerability to changes in the environment, chilliness, fatigue, shortness of breath), or the insufficiency of certain functions (difficult digestion, constipation, poor blood circulation, decreased libido). |
| Yang (which) | Yang | One of the two aspects of all that is manifested, the other being Yin. Yang tends to be more dynamic, separating, active and masculine. Yin and Yang oppose and complement each other in a perpetual dance. |
| Yi (I) | Thought | Set of spiritual and psychic forces which animate the individual and which are manifested by his states of consciousness, his capacity to be moved and to think, his temperament, his aspirations, his desires, his talents and his abilities. One of the tools of the Spirit. |
| Yin (yin) | Yin | One of the two aspects of all that is manifested, the other being Yang. Yin tends to be more stable, structuring, passive and feminine. Yin and Yang oppose and complement each other in a perpetual dance. |
| YingQi (ing tchi) | Nourishing Qi (Nutritive Qi, Nourishing Energy, Nutritive Energy) | Component of vital energy (Qi) which has the function of nourishing all the components of the organism by traveling in the form of Blood in the vessels, and by being distributed in the organism by the intermediary of the Meridians. |
| YuanQi (iuann tchi) | Original Qi (Original Energy) | Primary form of Energy, resulting from the initial tension between Yin and Yang. She emerges from MingMen. |
| YuanXue (iuann tsiué) | Point source (Point Yuan) | Peripheral acupuncture point connected to a specific viscera. Used to provide an Energy contribution to the Viscera in question or to its Meridian. |
| Zang (tsrang) | organs | Viscera Yin or “full”: Heart, Envelope of the Heart, Lung, Spleen / Pancreas, Liver and Kidneys. |
| ZangFu (crazy tsrang) | Viscera | All Organs (Heart, Envelope of the Heart, Lung, Spleen / Pancreas, Liver and Kidneys) and Bowels (Stomach, Small Intestine, Large Intestine, Gallbladder, Bladder and Triple Heater). |
| Zao (zao) | Drought | One of the five Climates. An exogenous pathogenic factor especially present in the fall, affecting Essences and Organic Liquids. An endogenous pathogenic factor linked to the decrease in Yin in the body. |
| ZhengQi (tcheng tchi) | Correct Qi (Correct Energy) | Component of Vital Energy (Qi) when it strives to preserve the integrity of the organism in the presence of a perverse Energy. |
| ZhenQi (tchen tchi) | True Qi (True Qi, True Energy, True Energy) | Vital Energy (Qi) considered in its totality, as an amalgam of its innate and acquired components. |
| Zhi (tché) | Will | Element that allows you to channel your action with firmness, determination, endurance and courage. Closely related to desires, Zhi is a term also used to refer to emotions. One of the tools of the Spirit. |
| ZhuoQi (tchou tchi) | Impure | Qualifies the Qi coming from Food and Air in its raw or coarse state, before being decanted by the Bowels, which extract the “pure” Qi from it. The residues of the settling are also qualified as impure. |
| ZongQi (tsong tchi) | Complex Qi (Complex Energy) | Acquired energy which is gathered and circulated in the thorax by the combined action of the Lung and the Heart. Complementary to the original Energy, it is produced from intrauterine life, thanks to the support of the mother; then autonomously through respiration and digestion. |
| Zu (would) | From the foot | Refers to the Meridian-Systems in relation to the lower limbs. As opposed to Shou (with the hand). |