Grasping the Wind: An Exploration Into the Meaning of Chinese Acupuncture Point Names (English and Chinese Edition) Paperback – January 1, 1989

The Grasping the Wind: it is an awesome book for who is interesting in Chinese medicine and acupuncturist. This book came with a good condition. I am very happy with it.

Valuable insight into what happens after school.highly recommend it

This book is what it claims to be. It is not there to teach you how to use the points/caves, its there to teach you about the meaning of the names of the points. Learning acupuncture areas as points on a line is a huge mistake, if you learn them by their names, you in most cases, have already begun a relationship with something beyond a point on a line. Modern TCM folk may not care about the meaning of the names because they are practicing a Maoist invented herbalized form of acupuncture.Take Ki21, dark gate. Its the meeting point of the penetrating vessel, with the Ki channel, so doubly Yin, which tells you something about its function.. Its also the gate from where the Qi of the penetrating vessel exits and passes over the chest, another words a powerful spreading of deep Qi ovrer the heart and pericardium, making it very useful for bringing the soft, cool energy of the penetrating vessel to bear in cases of abdominal pain, bearing in mind that where there is pain there is stagnation and because Qi is warm, stagnant Qi is even warmer, especially as much abdominal pain is due to Liver depression.

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.

This was a gift and was greatly appreciated.

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.

This book isn't as good as other books I have but it may be good in some instances because it is not big and heavy to carry around. It gives no explanations of the points' functions that I saw at a glance.

Seller listed as very good. The book appears new to me.

Easy to read. A must for acupuncture students.Had a chuckle at a few translations.Purchased from world of books on market place, really pleased with the quality and service.

Definitely a good book,infact it gives a new insight to the subject.

Fast delivery, best book ever!!! It is a must have!!!

A great book to back up my knowledge