In order to clarify the connotation and academic significance of the term Qijie(pathway of qi)in Chinese medicine
the author of the present article collected related ancient literature and made a theoretical analysis on its concept
its relevance to the content of Sihai(four seas i.e.:1)the brain
the sea of marrow
2)Danzhong
the sea of qi;3)stomach:the sea of water and food;4)Chongmai
the sea of the 12meridians)
its related application and the evolution of the relationship between acupoints and their subordinated meridian.The author holds that the four Qijie aims at explaining the underlying mechanism of acupoints located on the head
chest and abdominal regions.The four Qijie theory was established in the transition period of the developmental process of meridian-acupoint theory
and is of realistic significance in elucidating the correlation between the back shu-acupoints and zang-fu organs.