BIX-Y1002 Acupuncture Bronze Man: Why a Two-Sided Body Beats a Flat Chart

A meridian chart shows a line. A patient presents a body, and the distance between two points changes with the width of the ribcage and the length of the limb. The bronze man model exists to close that gap, and it has done so since the Ming dynasty teaching figures that gave the format its name. BIX-Y1002 is a 178 cm fibreglass model: 14 primary channels and 361 acupoints with 48 extraordinary points on the right side, CUN markers for judging inter-point distance, and a subcutaneous view of nerves, arteries, veins and muscles on the left. Listed price is US $471.42.

Why two sides on one body

Teaching acupuncture on a one-sided model produces a specific blind spot: students learn where a point is but not what sits underneath it. The left side of BIX-Y1002 shows nerves, vessels and muscle; the right side shows channels and points. A student can therefore be asked to locate a point and then say what structure lies deep to it — a question that separates memorisation from understanding, and the one that matters when needling depth is discussed.

The CUN markers do the second job. Point location is proportional, not absolute, and a marker set lets an instructor ask "how many cun from the umbilicus" instead of "how many centimetres", which is the way the classical texts and modern examination both phrase it.

Using 361 points without drowning a class

Teach by channel, not by number. Fourteen channels divide the point set into teachable blocks of roughly 9 to 67 points. A term of sixteen sessions can cover one channel per session with revision built in.

Separate the two categories early. The 48 extraordinary points are not on the channels and are examined differently. Mixing them into channel teaching is the most common cause of confusion in first-year cohorts.

Anchor each channel to a landmark. Lung channel to the radial artery, stomach channel to the mid-clavicular line, and so on. Once the landmark is fixed, point order becomes memorable.

What the evidence says about physical models

Physical models outperform three-dimensional computer models and textbooks for learning spatial anatomy in a controlled comparison [1], and reviews of anatomy teaching consistently find that handling a physical object improves retention of spatial relationships [2]. Competency-based acupuncture curricula place point location under direct observation, which requires an object a student can be observed on [3].

What BIX-Y1002 does not do

• No needle depth simulation. It is a surface and subsurface display model; depth practice needs a padded practice model or cadaver material.
• No patient variation. One body size, one habitus. Obese and paediatric proportions are not represented.
• Not portable. At 178 cm and fibreglass construction, it is a room fixture, not a tabletop aid.
• No electrical points. This model does not support point-locating devices.

Buying notes

1. Confirm the lettering language. Ask for the language of the point labels and whether an English index is supplied.
2. Check the stand and wall fixing. A 178 cm fibreglass figure needs either a weighted base or a wall bracket.
3. Ask about delivery packaging. Freight damage on life-size models is common; confirm crate dimensions and insurance terms.
4. Plan the room. The model needs 1.5 m of clear space in front for two students to work simultaneously.

Quotation and freight. Current pricing, crate dimensions and delivery terms for BIX-Y1002 are available from ada-manikin@adaanatomy.com.

FAQ

Q1. How many points are marked on BIX-Y1002? 361 acupoints along the 14 primary channels plus 48 extraordinary acupoints on the right side.

Q2. What is shown on the left side? A subcutaneous view: neural distribution, arteries, veins, blood vessels and muscular structures, plus upper and lower extremity extra points.

Q3. What are the CUN markers for? They let instructors teach proportional point location — distance measured in cun rather than centimetres.

Q4. What is the model made of? Fibreglass, described by the manufacturer as resistant to cracking and discolouration, with clear, durable lettering.

Q5. Can students practise needling on it? No. It is a display and location model; needling depth requires a practice pad or cadaver material.

Q6. What is the price? US $471.42 as listed, with freight quoted separately by destination.

References

1. Preece D, et al. "Let's get physical": advantages of a physical model over 3D computer models and textbooks in learning imaging anatomy. Anat Sci Educ. 2013;6:216–224. doi:10.1002/ase.1345
2. Sugand K, et al. The anatomy of anatomy: a review for its modernization. Anat Sci Educ. 2010;3:83–93. doi:10.1002/ase.139
3. Cho E, et al. Implementing a competency-based acupuncture training program in Korean Medicine education. PLoS One. 2026;21:e0345289. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0345289

For a quotation on BIX-Y1002 with crating and freight to your city, write to ada-manikin@adaanatomy.com with the room dimensions and the label language you need.