Chong, Ren, Du, and Dai: The Meeting of Earlier and Later Heaven

The Chong, Ren, Du, and Dai are not merely four unusual channels. Chen Dingsan interprets them as structures that connect the prenatal and postnatal systems. The Du runs along the back and governs the Yang channels, and is associated with the prenatal; the Ren runs along the abdomen and governs the Yin channels, and is associated with the postnatal. The Chong connects with Yangming and communicates with the uterine/reproductive chamber, representing “the postnatal connecting with the prenatal Kidney.” The Dai emerges from the Kidney region and encircles the Spleen region, representing “the prenatal connecting with the postnatal Spleen.” Their significance therefore lies not only in route and location but in the links they establish between prenatal Kidney and postnatal Spleen/Stomach, Yin and Yang, and longitudinal and circumferential organization.

Original Passage from Exploring the Sources of Medicine

“The Chong vessel begins within the lower abdomen, in the uterine chamber, ascends on both sides of the navel, joins the Foot Yangming vessel and reaches the chest, where it disperses, then ascends beside the throat. The Ren vessel begins within the lower abdomen, below the uterine chamber, emerges at the perineum, ascends the pubic hairline, follows the center of the navel to the chest center, goes upward through the throat, circles the lips, and ends at Chengjiang beneath the lower lip, where it meets the Du. The Du begins in the Kidney, descends to the uterine chamber, then moves downward to connect with the genital region, passes between the two lower orifices to the coccyx, penetrates the spine … and ends at the philtrum, where it meets the Ren. The Dai emerges at the level of the Kidney around the fourteenth vertebra and encircles the body like a belt, descending anteriorly toward the uterine chamber. … The Du is on the back and governs all Yang, belonging to the prenatal; the Ren is on the abdomen and governs all Yin, belonging to the postnatal; the Chong is attached to Yangming and communicates with the uterine chamber, connecting the postnatal with the prenatal Kidney; the Dai emerges from the Kidney and circles through the Spleen region, connecting the prenatal with the postnatal Spleen. The four mutually assist one another and must be examined in detail.”