[Investigation of acupoints on Du (governor) channel]

The origin and variation of acupoints on the Du channel are investigated by analyzing and studying the number and distribution of points recorded in the ancient medical works. It is found that the amount and distribution of the points were different in different ages. The distributions of the points were not only located on the midline of the face, head, nape and posterior midline but also on both sides of the spine from the period of Neijing (Inner Canon) to that of Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing (A-B Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion). Since the period of Tongren Shuxue Zhenjiu Tujing (Illustration Classic of Acupoints on Bronze Statue) in the Song dynasty, only those points of the midline from the face, nape to the spine are remained there until now. Meanwhile, the amount of points were also varied because of the cognition to the points on the spine. Huangdi Neijing Taisu (Grand Simplicity of Inner Canon of Huangdi) compiled in the Tang Dynasty first mentioned the arguments about the varied points on the channel. The records by Yang Shangshan and Wang Bing indicate that the main differences on the cognition of the channel andits points appeared during the period of the Tang Dynasty to the Song Dynasty.