• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.21-27
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• 2014

Objectives : Among the translations of the verse "Sa-gi is on the upper side, Tak-gi is on the middle side, Cheong-gi is on the under side(邪氣在上, 濁氣在中, 淸氣在下)" in the texts of Miraculous Pivot(靈樞) Nine needles and Twelve sources(九鍼十二原), the meanings of 'Ham-maek(陷脈)' and 'Joong-maek(中脈)' have contradictory versions. Methods : This study will identify the actual meaning of this verse through analysis of the phrase "夫氣之在脈也", followed by examination of the relationship between the meaning of "three-stratum puncture(三刺)" in the chapters Miraculous Pivot Handling needle(官鍼), Miraculous Pivot Jong-si(終始) and the meaning of "刺有三變" of Miraculous Pivot Longevity and character(壽夭剛柔), after which its application in later periods will be discussed. Results : The words 'Sa-gi', 'Tak-gi' and 'Cheong-gi' in the phrase "夫氣之在脈也" of Miraculous Pivot Nine needles and Twelve sources each correspond to the words 'yang pathogens(陽邪)', 'yin pathogens(陰邪)' and 'essence derived from food(穀氣)' of Miraculous Pivot 終始, respectively. Conclusions : The Upper-Middle-Lower of the phrase "夫氣之在脈也" in Nine needles and Twelve sources indicates the three levels of depth, in which 'Sa-gi', 'Tak-gi' and 'Cheong-gi' each dwell. 'Ham-maek' and 'Joong-maek' are categorizations according to the depth of needling.