Translating "公孫", acupuncture point SP-4
The reasoning for translating "公孫" as "Going Along Fairly" from Chinese into English. This is the original name of acupuncture point SP-4 (Spleen 4).
Explanation of the point name
This point name has by others been translated along the lines of 'Grandfather Grandson,' 'Prince's Grandson' and such. However, in my view, the acupuncture point names in the WHO system belong to a limited number of categories: the effect of a point, an indication for it, it's location or procedure for finding that, or a description of the surrounding skin terrain. These translations are neither, so I doubt their validity.
However, 公 can also mean 'fair' and 'public' (as opposed to private). 孫 can mean 'to follow' or 'going along' in the sense of 'following what is said' or 'following a train of thought.' Since the effect of this point feels like fair, unselfish thinking, I have chosen to translate the name as 'Going Along Fairly.'
1st character
No other point names with this character.
2nd character
Point names with 孫
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.
| SP-4 | 公孫 | Going Along Fairly |
| TB-20 | 角孫 | Following the Angle |
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.
| SP-1 | 隱白 | Hidden Purity |
| SP-2 | 大都 | Big City |
| SP-3 | 太白 | Greatest Purity |
| SP-4 | 公孫 | Going Along Fairly |
| SP-5 | 商丘 | Deliberation Mound |
| SP-6 | 三陰交 | Three Yin in Interaction |
| SP-7 | 漏谷 | Leaking Valley |