ESSENCE/ JING Flashcards
What are the 3 types of Essence?
Pre-Heaven Essence
Post-Heaven Essence
Kidney-Essence
What does the character for ‘Jing’ represent?
character for ‘(uncooked) rice’ on the left
character for ‘clear, refined’ on the right
Sidenote: “impression that it is a distilled, refined essence extracted from some coarser base”
What essence nourishes the embryo and fetus during pregnancy, and is also dependent on nourishment derived from the mother’s Kidneys?
Pre-Heaven Essence
What are the Yin and Yang aspects of the Conception Essence of a fetus after birth?
Yin aspect = Pre-Heaven Essence Proper
Yang aspect = Fire of Gafe/ Mite of Ling Men
Is Pre-Heaven Essence the only type of Essence present in the fetus?
Yes- fetus does not have independent physiological activity
What does Pre-Heaven Essence determine?
- individual constitutional makeup, strength, vitality
- makes each individual unique
What provides the warmth necessary for all physiological processes?
Ming Men / Fire of Gate of Life (between the Kidneys)
What happens to Pre-Heaven Essence at puberty?
- ‘matures’ into Kidney-Essence / Tian Gui
- generates menstrual blood for females
- generates sperm for males
Where do Ming Men and Pre-Heaven Essence Proper accumulate/concentrate?
Mingmen: GV-4 Mingmen (on spine, at conception)
P-H.E.P.: CV-4 Guanyuan* (on spine, at conception)
*correlates with uterus in females, Room of Sperm in males
According to the Classic of Difficulties, “___ is the residence of the Mind and Essence and it is connected to the Yuan Qi: in men it houses the Sperm; in women the Uterus.”
The Gate of Life
True or False: Pre-Heaven Essence can be augmented with diligent attention to nourishing Post-Heaven Essence.
True, although some believe Pre-Heaven Essence is fixed.
What is Sea of Yin?
Ren Mai / Conception Vessel
What is Sea of Yang?
Du Mai / Governing Vessel
What is Sea of Blood?
Chong Mai
What is Post-Heaven Essence?
the Essence refined and extracted from food and fluids by the Stomach and Spleen (after birth)
What organs are Post-Heaven Essence most closely related to?
Stomach and Spleen (which extract and refine it from all things consumed)
What organs are known as The Root of 1)Pre-Heaven Essence and 2)Post-Heaven Essence?
1) Kidneys
2) Stomach and Spleen
What is the difference between Kidney-Essence and Pre-Heaven Essence?
- derived from BOTH Pre-Heaven Essence and Post-Heaven essence
- is also a hereditary energy that determines constitution, BUT interacts directly with Post-Heaven Essence and is replenished by it
Where is Kidney Essence stored, and where does it circulate?
Kidneys; 8 Extraordinary Vessels
List Maciocia’s functions of Kidney-Essence (5)
- growth, reproduction, development
- basis of Kidney-Qi
- producer of Marrow
- basis of constitutional strength
- basis for the Three Treasures (Jing, Qi, Shen)
What are the primary differences between Essence and Qi? (4)
- Essence primarily derived from parents before birth, Qi formed after birth
- Essence replenished with difficulty, Qi replenished with more ease on day-to-day basis
- Essence follows cycles of 7 or 8 yrs, Qi follows briefer cycles
- Qi changes quickly, Essence changes slowly and gradually
Essentially, what is ageing?
process of decline of Essence
How long are the cycles of Essence for males and females?
Males: 8 years
Females: 7 years
When is puberty for males and females on essence cycle?
Males: 16 years
Females: 14 years
