Schools, styles and lineages
Eight families; within each: school → system → style → lineage. Point-selection methods and microsystems kept separate.
FamilyClassical / meridian acupunctureA
The base and reference layer: 12 regular meridians, 8 extraordinary vessels, the 361 WHO-standard points and the classical categories (five shu, yuan, luo, xi, back-shu, front-mu…).
SchoolClassical TCMA1
Point nomenclature and location per the WHO standard (2008) and the classical texts.
System14 meridians / classical points39 points
12 regular meridians + Ren Mai + Du Mai; 361 points.
SystemExtra points2 points
Points outside the meridians, coded EX (e.g. Yintang, Taiyang).
FamilyTung & distal systemsB
The independent school of Master Tung Ching-Chang, not a TCM subset: zone + code points, reaction areas, Dao Ma, bloodletting.
SchoolMaster Tung's acupunctureB1
Sources report between 275 and more than 700 Tung points; in the Tung tradition a point may be a reactive area rather than a fixed coordinate.
StyleOriginal Tung (1973)10 points
StyleTung lineages
Students and teachers, each with their own localisations and applications.
LineageChuan-Min Wang
LineageWei-Chieh Young
LineageHenry McCann
LineageJames Maher
LineageBrad Whisnant
LineageRobert Chu
LineageEsther Su
SystemTung subsystems
Tung points, Dao Ma, Hui Ma, reaction areas, palm diagnosis, bloodletting, secret family points, 72 severing points, 32 relieving points, five-zang system.
FamilyMicrosystem acupunctureC
A large family, not a school: hand, foot, abdomen, wrist-ankle, face, nose. Scalp and ear are separate families.
MicrosystemHand microsystemC1
SystemKorean hand acupuncture (Koryo)
An independent microsystem, not merely "Korean acupuncture".
MicrosystemFoot microsystemC2
MicrosystemAbdominal acupunctureC3
MicrosystemWrist-ankle acupunctureC4
An independent system with its own zone logic (6 zones); never reduced to the 14 meridians.
MicrosystemFace microsystemC5
MicrosystemNose microsystemC6
FamilyScalp acupunctureD
A family of systems, not one school: a specialist review identified 19 distinct systems. Each system keeps its own localisation.
SchoolJiao Shunfa scalp acupunctureD1
Stimulation lines projected from the cortical areas (motor, sensory, balance…).
SchoolChinese scalp acupuncture (standard)D2
The international standard of 14 lines (MS1–MS14), adopted 1984/1989.
SchoolYamamoto New Scalp Acupuncture (YNSA)D3
A complete system: basic points (A–E), ypsilon, sensory, brain and extra points; neck and abdominal diagnosis; treatment protocols.
SystemBasic points (A–E)
SystemYpsilon points
SystemSensory points
SystemBrain points
SystemExtra points
SchoolZhu Mingqing's scalp acupunctureD4
Treatment and functional zones; the specific techniques Chou Qi, Jin Qi and Dao Yin.
SchoolFang Yunpeng scalp acupunctureD5
SchoolTang Songyan scalp acupunctureD6
SchoolFunctional scalp acupunctureD7
SchoolTraditional TCM scalpD8
Classical points on the head (GV20, GB20, Sishencong…).
SchoolOther / emerging systemsD10
Every new system must first be classified: school, style, modification, lineage or protocol.
FamilyAuricular acupunctureE
Multi-system; an ear point is never equated with Tung zone 99: different identity and mapping.
FamilyJapanese stylesF
Separate from TCM. A Japanese LI4 is not a new point: the same classical identity with different localisation, diagnosis, palpation, stimulation and treatment logic.
SchoolJapanese meridian therapy (Keiraku Chiryo)F1
StyleToyohariF3
LineageShudo DenmeiF5
SchoolManakaF4
FamilyKorean acupunctureG
SchoolKorean traditional acupunctureG1
SchoolSaam acupunctureG2
Point selection by the five elements and the mother–child relationship.
SchoolTaegeuk acupunctureG3
FamilyPoint-selection methodsH
These are not point schools: a TCM point can be selected by the Tan method without becoming a "Tan point".
MethodTan Balance MethodH1
Correspondence, balance, mirror, image, channel relationships, treatment selection.
MethodDistal acupunctureH2
MethodMirror imagingH3
MethodImage mappingH4
MethodFive-element point selectionH5
MethodZang-FuH6
MethodChannel-based selectionH7
MethodLuo / Yuan / Xi selectionH8
MethodFive transporting pointsH9
MethodConstitutional selectionH10
FamilySpecialised / modern systemsI
Neuroacupuncture, motor/sensory approaches, electroacupuncture, trigger points, anatomical/biomedical, sports, pain-focused systems.