The major purpose of the Belt vessel is to regulate the Qi of the gall bladder. It is also responsible for the Qi's horizontal balance. If you have lost this balance, you will have lost your center and balance both mentally and physically. Woodcut illustration from 1817 edition of Bian Que maishu nan jing (Canon of Problems in Bian Que's Book of the Pulse) by Xiong Qinghu (Qing period 1644-1911), showing the path of the Belt Vessel (daimai) and its points of intersection with other channels. The Belt Vessel is one of the Eight Extraordinary Channels (qi jing ba mai). Encircling the waist like a belt, it intersects with the renmai (Director Vessel, also translated as Conception Vessel), shaoyin (Lesser Yin), yangming (Yang Brightness), taiyin (Greater Yin), jueyin, shaoyang (Lesser Yang), taiyang (Greater Yang), yangqiao and dumai (Governor Vessel) channels.