Translating "百會", acupuncture point DU-20
The reasoning for translating "百會" as "Hundreds of Realizations" from Chinese into English. This is the original name of acupuncture point DU-20 (Du 20).
Explanation of the point name
百 is often translated as 'one hundred' and taken to mean 'many' or 'all.' With that meaning, it makes more sense to translate it as 'hundreds of,' when keeping the number. In the Chinese there is no indication of singular or plural, so 'hundreds' is just as valid as 'one hundred.'
With 會 usually translated as 'join' or 'meet,' what, of which there are many, joins or meets here?
Could that be the bones of the skull? Why is the character 骨 'bone' not there, then, as it is in other point names, like for example BL-65 束骨, Bundle of Bones?
Elsewhere, it is said that at this point all Yang channels join. However, in actuality only three, so half of the Yang channels, are known to join at this point (BL, GB, TB). And one Yin channel, namely the Liver. That is not enough to warrant the use of the character 百. There is no Yang in the name, so why the Yang channels? There may be confusion here with an alternate name for this point, 三陽, but that is clearly about three Yangs, which could be these three Yang channels here.
Apparently, 會 must mean something else here, than the usual 'join' or 'meet.' Interestingly, it can also mean to 'understand,' 'comprehend,' 'realize' or 'perceive.' Those are things that go on in the head, that this point influences. It clears and invigorates the mind. This does make sense.
I'm going with 'realizations,' as this a noun that is easily understood as an event of understanding (the word 'understandings' could be confusing).
1st character
No other point names with this character.
2nd character
Point names with 會
For consistency in the translations, it is necessary to be aware of how the character is translated elsewhere. These are the point names it is in.
BL-35 | 會陽 | Meeting of Yangs |
TB-7 | 會宗 | Clan Meeting |
TB-13 | 臑會 | Upper Arm Junction |
GB-2 | 聽會 | Listening to the Group |
GB-42 | 地五會 | Five Meeting on the Ground |
REN-1 | 會陰 | Meeting of Yin |
DU-20 | 百會 | Hundreds of Realizations |
DU-22 | 囟會 | Fontanelle Junction |
Nearby points
Sometimes the names of consecutive points on a meridian are related. Being aware of nearby points can help to translate consistently in such a situation.
DU-17 | 腦戶 | Brain's Door |
DU-18 | 強間 | Pausing for Strength |
DU-19 | 後頂 | Behind the Top of the Head |
DU-20 | 百會 | Hundreds of Realizations |
DU-21 | 前頂 | In Front of the Top of the Head |
DU-22 | 囟會 | Fontanelle Junction |
DU-23 | 上星 | Stars Above |