Belt Vessel (daimai), Chinese woodcut, 1817

Woodcut illustration from 1817 edition of Bian Que maishu nan jing (Canon of Problems in Bian Que's Book of the Pulse) by Xiong Qinghu (Qing period 1644-1911), showing the path of the Belt Vessel (daimai)and its points of intersection with other channels. The Belt Vessel is one of the Eight Extraordinary Channels (qi jing ba mai). Encircling the waist like a belt, it intersects with the Director Vessel [also stranslated as 'Conception Vessel'] (renmai), shaoyin (Lesser Yin), yangming (Yang Brightness), taiyin (Greater Yin), jueyin, shaoyang (Lesser Yang), taiyang (Greater Yang), yangqiao and dumai (Governor Vessel) channels.

Image title: Qi jing daimai (The Belt Vessel, an Extraordinary Channel) Other lettering: Renmai (Director Vessel); shaoyin (Lesser Yin); yinjue; yangming (Yang Brightness); taiyin (Greater Yin); jueyin; shaoyang (Lesser Yang); taiyang (Greater Yang); yangjue; dumai (Governor Vessel) [channels]