[Course]
1. This branch Lingshu-Yingqi states: "The foot jueyin... its branch diverges, ascends to the forehead, follows the vertex, descends to the nape, follows the spine, enters the sacrum, this is the governor vessel (GV)." It refers to the foot jueyin liver meridian (LR) ascending to the "nasopharynx" and then a branch ascending to the forehead, following the midline of the head, descending along the midline of the nape and back, reaching the sacrum, which is the main pathway of the governor vessel (GV). Connecting the twelve meridians and the anterior conception vessel (CV), it forms the pathway for the movement of Yingqi. In terms of the movement of Yingqi, the governor vessel (GV) flows from top to bottom, connecting with the conception vessel (CV) which flows from bottom to top. However, Suwen-Gukong Lun and others discuss the generation of "qi" (the qi of the dantian) and describe it as ascending from below.
2. Origin: Suwen-Gukong Lun states: "The governor vessel (GV) originates from the lower abdomen, below the central bone, in women it connects to the vaginal orifice—the end of the urethral orifice. Its collateral follows the genitalia. It converges at the perineum, circles around the anus, diverges to circle the buttocks, and reaches the shaoyin to merge with the taiyang apoplexy involving collaterals... In men, it follows the penis down to the perineum, similar to women." This explains that the "qi" of the governor vessel (GV) originates from the lower abdomen, later referred to as the "dantian," Nan Jing‧Chapter 66 calls it "the motive qi between the kidneys below the navel." This meridian qi descends to the center of the pelvis, in women it connects to the vaginal orifice, in men it follows the penis down, disperses and converges at the front of the anus (Huiyin (CV1)), circles around the anus, diverges to circle the buttocks, and reaches the foot shaoyin to merge with the taiyang (Changqiang (GV1), Huiyang (BL35)).
3. Communication with the foot taiyang and foot shaoyin: Suwen-Gukong Lun states: "The shaoyin ascends the inner posterior thigh, penetrates the spine to connect with the kidney. The taiyang starts at the inner canthus, ascends to the forehead, crosses the vertex, enters to connect with the brain, exits and diverges to descend the nape, follows the inner shoulder blade, alongside the spine, reaches the waist, enters to follow the spine and connect with the kidney." Here, the lower part communicates with the foot shaoyin kidney meridian (KI) and connects to the kidney; the upper part communicates with the foot taiyang bladder meridian (BL) and connects to the kidney.4. Communication with the conception vessel (CV): Suwen-Gukong Lun states: "The part that ascends directly from the lower abdomen penetrates the center of the navel, ascends to penetrate the heart, enters the throat, ascends to the chin, circles the lips, and connects to the center below the eyes." This branch is the pathway of the conception vessel (CV).
5. Collateral branch: Nan Jing‧Chapter 28: "The governor vessel (GV) originates from Xiajizhishu, runs alongside the spine, ascends to Fengfu (GV16), and enters to connect with the brain." This branch is described as ascending from below and can be separate or combined with the midline. From "Xiajizhishu" Changqiang (GV1), it ascends bilaterally alongside the spine, reaching Fengfu (GV16) and entering the brain.
[Disease Manifestations]
Since the governor vessel (GV) is distributed in the brain and spinal regions and intersects with the foot jueyin liver meridian (LR) at the vertex, obstruction of its meridian qi can lead to symptoms such as dizziness, blurred vision, and stiffness of the back. Suwen-Gukong Lun states, "When the governor vessel (GV) is diseased, the spine becomes stiff and bends backward"; Nan Jing describes it as "stiffness of the spine with fainting," both referring to this condition. Lingshu-Jingmai says, "In excess, the spine is stiff; in deficiency, the head feels heavy and sways." The heaviness of the head and swaying can be divided into two categories: yang deficiency leading to failure of clear yang to ascend, or yin deficiency causing wind-yang to disturb upward, both related to the governor vessel (GV). Suwen-Feng Lun states, "When wind qi ascends along Fengfu (GV16), it causes tremor disease; when wind enters the head system, it causes eye wind and eye cold." This shows the close relationship between wind diseases and the governor vessel (GV). External wind often affects the governor vessel (GV) through the foot taiyang, while internal wind often affects the governor vessel (GV) through the foot jueyin. The brain is the sea of marrow, "When the sea of marrow is abundant, one is light and strong, exceeding normal limits; when the sea of marrow is insufficient, there is tinnitus, soreness of the shins, dizziness, blurred vision, lethargy, and a desire to lie down." Diseases caused by emptiness of the sea of marrow should also be treated by regulating the governor vessel (GV). Maijing also points out, "Stiffness and pain in the lower back, inability to bend forward or backward, depressive psychosis in adults, and wind epilepsy in children," all belong to diseases governed by the governor vessel (GV). Meanwhile, Suwen-Gukong Lun states, "Pain ascending from the lower abdomen to the heart, inability to move forward or backward, is called rushing hernia; in women, infertility, urinary retention, hemorrhoids, enuresis, and dry throat," which should be attributed to diseases governed by the thoroughfare vessel (TV) and conception vessel (CV). Since the governor vessel (GV) is connected to the thoroughfare vessel (TV) and conception vessel (CV), they are discussed together.
〔Belonging Acupoints and Intersecting Points〕1. Belonging Acupoints: Changqiang (GV1) (meeting point of foot shaoyin), Yaoshu (GV2), Yangguan, Mingmen (GV4), Xuanshu (GV5), Jizhong (GV6), Zhongshu (GV7), Zhiyang (GV9), Lingtai (GV10), Shendao (GV11), Shenzhu (GV12), Taodao (GV13) (meeting point of foot taiyang), Dazhui (GV14) (meeting point of the three yang meridians of the hand and foot), Yamen (GV15) (meeting point of yang linking vessel), Fengfu (GV16) (meeting point of foot taiyang and yang linking vessel), Naohu (GV17) (meeting point of foot taiyang), Qiangjian (GV18), Houding (GV19), Baihui (GV20) (meeting point of foot taiyang or said to be the meeting point of the three yang meridians of the foot and foot jueyin), Qianding (GV21), Xinhui (GV22), Shangxing (GV23), Shenting (GV24) (meeting point of foot taiyang and yangming), Suliao (GV25), Shuigou (GV26) (meeting point of hand and foot yangming), Duiduan (GV27), Yinjiao (GV28) (said to be the meeting point of conception vessel (CV) and foot yangming).
2. Intersecting Points: Huiyin (CV1) (meeting point of conception vessel (CV) and thoroughfare vessel (TV)), Huiyang (BL35) (meeting point of foot taiyang), Fengmen (BL12) (Suwen Wang's annotation as Dazhu (BL11). Meeting point of foot taiyang). Additionally, the taiyang small intestine meridian (SI)'s shu-stream point Houxi (SI3) connects to the governor vessel (GV).
The governor vessel (GV) Benjing runs along the midline of the head and spine, its lower end meeting the conception vessel (CV) and thoroughfare vessel (TV) at Huiyin (CV1); at Changqiang (GV1), it receives the meeting of foot shaoyin; its side is Huiyang (BL35), meeting foot taiyang, the upper part is Fengmen (BL12) (or Dazhu (BL11)), also meeting foot taiyang; the midline Taodao (GV13), Dazhui (GV14), then receives the meeting of foot taiyang and the three yang meridians of the hand and foot; Yamen (GV15), Fengfu (GV16), receive the meeting of the yang linking vessel; Naohu (GV17) (and Fengfu (GV16)), receive the meeting of foot taiyang; Baihui (GV20), receives the meeting of foot taiyang (or said to be the three yang meridians of the foot); Shenting (GV24), receives the meeting of foot taiyang and yangming; Shuigou (GV26), receives the meeting of hand and foot yangming; the upper acupoint Yinjiao (GV28), receives the meeting of conception vessel (CV).
From the intersecting relationships, it can be seen that the governor vessel (GV) is most closely connected with the foot taiyang on both sides. The taiyang is the head of the three yang, expanding from foot taiyang to the three yin meridians of the foot and the three yang meridians of the hand and foot, such as Dazhui (GV14) being the most important intersecting point. Fengfu (GV16), Yamen (GV15), are key acupoints where the yang linking vessel connects various yang meridians directly to the governor vessel (GV). This illustrates that the governor vessel (GV) "supervises the meridians" as the "sea of yang meridians," playing a role of "overall governance" and command in the whole body. The governor vessel (GV) connects with foot taiyang and networks to the brain, "the brain is the sea of marrow," also belonging to the governor vessel (GV). Its upper acupoint is Baihui (GV20), the lower is Fengfu (GV16). The governor vessel (GV) also connects with foot shaoyin and communicates with the kidney; in front, it connects with the conception and thoroughfare vessels (TV) and communicates with the heart. It connects up and down with the conception vessel (CV), forming the pathway for the movement of Yingqi.