Grasping the Wind: An Exploration Into the Meaning of Chinese Acupuncture Point Names [Paperback]

Andrew Ellis (Author), Nigel Wiseman (Author), Ken Boss (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1989

This text shows that point names, the traditional means of identifying acupoints, have meanings that are hard to grasp. It promotes understanding of each point's use in acupuncture practice by considering the meaning, context and significance of each. The 363 points covered are listed according to the system currently in use in China.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Grasping the Wind provides students a unique opportunity to study an application of Chinese medical language in a clear, appropriately documented and culturally valid context. -- American Journal of Acupuncture

Here is a foundation on which it is safe to build. -- Sara Hicks, Traditional Acupuncture Journal

It is thought-provoking and crosses into areas that are rarely touched upon by both modern Chinese researchers and the more innovative of our Western acupuncture educators. It tackles many difficult concepts such as the spiritual, mental, and emotional; aspects of Chinese medicine, source theory, and classical energetic anatomy and physiology. It is a book you can dip into at any time and come out with gems of insight that can only reinforce your belief in a paradigm that is just starting to be explored by our culture and our scientific community. -- Australian Journal of TCM

Language Notes

Text: English, Chinese

Product Details

• Paperback: 462 pages
• Publisher: Paradigm Publications (1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0912111194
• ISBN-13: 978-0912111193
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #335,896 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good idea in serious need of revision and corrections, December 12, 2009

By 

Quadradox (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Grasping the Wind: An Exploration Into the Meaning of Chinese Acupuncture Point Names (Paperback)

This book fills an important nitch, that of providing details on the meanings behind the names for acupuncture points and a rapid summary of point features/locations. I find it listed among recommended books (sometimes strongly so), for 5-Element practioners, TCM students and physicians practicing medical acupuncture (sold in the AAMA bookstore). There is apparently only one edition from 1989.

Unfortunately there are errors readily identified, beginning with something that is easily verified with most other sources. The element attached to each of the transport points was wrong or missing in 5 out of 60 cases (8% inaccuracy on just one feature). Details are shown below.

(BL60 is listed as a water point and it actually a fire point; TB or TH 6 was listed as a wood point and is actually a fire point; PC8 was listed as a water point and is a fire point; ST 43 is listed as a water point and is actually a wood point). I don't think it is simply explained by the fact that the authors may have been referring to different sources -- because they list both ST 43 and ST 44 as water points and omit the fire point all together.

Thus until further editing and scholarship is applied, it I think it would be difficult for me or others without advanced knowledge and study of chinese to rely on this as a single source for the meaning of chinese characters. I now feel I need to check with alternative publications.

There some nice features --
1. A list of chinese radicals positioned at the beginning of the book (shows sub-elements of the chinese character that taken together make up the meaning).
2. A Glossary of single characters and their English meaning as Appendix A. Some of these include word etymology which is interesting and helpful.

Furthermore the authors of this book are giants in the field as demonstrated by the following texts which are considered to be critical references for TCM: Fundamentals of Chinese Medicine: Zhong Yi Xue Ji Chu (Paradigm title) and A Practical Dictionary of Chinese Medicine some of whom personally have direct working expertise with Chinese and the ancient classics.

There is an alternative source which I find promising. Characters of Wisdom: Taoist Tales of the Acupuncture Points. It is less ambitious in scope and focuses on the author's expertise -- the use of the points and their meaning for practitioners of 5-Elements acupuncture. Furthermore it is written with a conversational style appropriate both for practitioners and recipients of this form of acupuncture -- with likely relevance to other schools as well. What is included is described in more depth with heavy reliance on creating more memorable visual images; these serve to direct one's wisdom, intuition, intention and participation, particuarly with respect to the elemental uses of each point and thus could enhance depth of communication and healing between clients and their healers.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A window on the Chinese understanding of the Acupoints, November 1, 2003

By 

"indigocoatl" (Austin, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Grasping the Wind: An Exploration Into the Meaning of Chinese Acupuncture Point Names (Paperback)

First of all, if you want to know the location, indications, contraindications and prescriptions for all the 400+ acupoints, please see _A Manual of Acupuncture_ by Peter Deadman, Mazin Al-Khafaji with Kevin Baker. But if you want more than a two or three word translation of the point's Chinese name, turn to _Grasping the Wind_.

After the introduction, You have several essays: Influences on the Development of Point Names, Point Name Taxonomy, A Brief Discussion of Chinese Characters, Radicals, And Character Categories; these are followed by the entries on each point.

They are listed in meridan order, with the meridians in horary order, and the first thing that you see is the name of the point in Chinese - in a font size that a Westerner can easily see and appreciate. Then comes the translation, followed by the alphanumeric point designation, and the pinyin with tone marks. Each word is then translated, and alternate names for the point are given. A classical description of the location is then given, which I find quite picturesque, and a paragraph or two explaining the point name. Points listed are on all 14 of the regular meridians (the 12 Zangfu plus the Du and Ren meridians).

Now, it could be that this book isn't as accurate as someone with a complete background in Chinese would like it to be - but for someone with an abiding love for TCM, it is a gift to be digested.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Must-Have Text for TCM & Acupuncture Students, November 27, 2004

By 

Andrea Acailawen (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Grasping the Wind: An Exploration Into the Meaning of Chinese Acupuncture Point Names (Paperback)

While there may be differing opinions on the etiological accuracy of the linguistic terminology in this text, it is important to note that it was co-written by Nigel Wiseman, whose Chinese medical terminology is commonly accepted as the standard in Traditional Chinese Medicine in the West. If you practice TCM in the West, this really should not present a problem.

That said, this is a very useful text for any student of TCM and/or Acupuncture who needs to learn acu points. It breaks down the Chinese name of each point, and gives a memorable English name for each (based on the Chinese name), that makes recollection of point location MUCH easier.

For example, ST-39 is "xia ju xu." The author breaks down these Chinese words as: xia (lower), ju (great, large), and xu (hollow, deficiency or vacancy). The English name for this point is given as "Lower Great Hollow," and its location is given as: "One inch below the Ribbon Opening (ST-38) in the depression (hollow) below the sinew and bone."

Along with Deadman's "A Manual of Acupuncture," which is now a required text for the California acupuncture licensing exam (and the best text on the subject, in my opinion), "Grasping the Wind" is a very useful text for learning a somewhat illusive subject (acupuncture points) and should be in every TCM student's library.