• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.79-97
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• 2015

Objectives : To research origin of the shape of vital gate(命門) in Yixuerunmen makes us understand more exactly what the author, Li Chan(李梴) thought vital gate shaped. Methods : It's shape described in his book was compared with pictures portraying it in Hua Tuo Xuan Men Nei Zhao Tu(華陀玄門內照圖), one of references of his book. Results : He reasonably modified its passing track, while explaining it according to the paintings in Hua Tuo Xuan Men Nei Zhao Tu. Vital gate, as he thought, was not an real organ like the other five viscera, but a cord or a tube similar to blood vessels. He believed its cord had long connections from pericardium to terminal of urethra, which went through pericardium upward, right kidney downward, right around terminal rectum down-frontward, and urethra in parallel outward. Conclusions : He had consistent understandings for vital gate to penetrate several different viewpoints, as based on pictures in Hua Tuo Xuan Men Nei Zhao Tu.