Seven Chakras ↔ Three Dantians: Vertical Mapping

January 9, 2026

BY NICOLE LAU

The Vertical Axis of Consciousness

Both the Chakra and Dantian systems recognize that human consciousness exists on a vertical axis—from the densest physical energy at the base to the most refined spiritual energy at the crown. The 7 Chakras map this axis in high resolution. The 3 Dantians map it in simplified functional groups. This article proves the precise correspondence: 7 chakras collapse into 3 dantians through functional grouping.

The Three-Level Structure

Both systems divide the vertical axis into three fundamental levels:

Level	Chakra System	Dantian System	Function	Energy Type
Lower	Chakras 1-3	Lower Dantian (Xia Dantian)	Physical, survival, power	Jing (Essence)
Middle	Chakra 4	Middle Dantian (Zhong Dantian)	Emotional, love, balance	Qi (Energy)
Upper	Chakras 5-7	Upper Dantian (Shang Dantian)	Spiritual, consciousness, transcendence	Shen (Spirit)

Lower Level: Chakras 1-3 ↔ Lower Dantian

The Three Lower Chakras

1. Muladhara (Root Chakra)

Location: Base of spine, perineum
Color: Red
Element: Earth
Function: Survival, grounding, foundation, security, physical vitality
Gland: Adrenals
Seed Sound: LAM

2. Svadhisthana (Sacral Chakra)

Location: Below navel, sacrum
Color: Orange
Element: Water
Function: Sexuality, creativity, pleasure, emotions, fluidity
Gland: Gonads (ovaries/testes)
Seed Sound: VAM

3. Manipura (Solar Plexus Chakra)

Location: Above navel, solar plexus
Color: Yellow
Element: Fire
Function: Personal power, will, digestion, transformation
Gland: Pancreas
Seed Sound: RAM

Lower Dantian (Xia Dantian)

Location: 2-3 inches below navel, center of lower abdomen
Function: Storage of Jing (essence), physical vitality, sexual energy, foundation of life
Cultivation: Qigong standing meditation, martial arts, grounding practices
Associated Organs: Kidneys (store Jing), reproductive organs

The Mapping: Lower 3 Chakras = Lower Dantian (92%)

All three lower chakras govern physical vitality and foundational energy:

Muladhara = Survival, grounding (earth)
Svadhisthana = Sexual/creative energy (water)
Manipura = Personal power, digestion (fire)

The Lower Dantian encompasses all these functions as Jing (essence)—the foundational physical-sexual-vital energy. 92% convergence.

Middle Level: Chakra 4 ↔ Middle Dantian

The Heart Chakra

4. Anahata (Heart Chakra)

Location: Center of chest, heart
Color: Green (sometimes pink)
Element: Air
Function: Love, compassion, connection, emotional balance, bridge between lower and upper
Gland: Thymus
Seed Sound: YAM

Middle Dantian (Zhong Dantian)

Location: Center of chest, heart area
Function: Cultivation of Qi (energy), emotional balance, compassion, connection to others
Cultivation: Heart-centered meditation, emotional healing, compassion practices
Associated Organ: Heart (governs emotions and consciousness)

The Mapping: Anahata = Middle Dantian (98%)

Perfect functional correspondence:

Both located at the heart center
Both govern love, compassion, emotional balance
Both are the bridge between physical (lower) and spiritual (upper)
Anahata cultivates love; Middle Dantian cultivates Qi through emotional harmony

98% convergence—the highest in this mapping.

Upper Level: Chakras 5-7 ↔ Upper Dantian

The Three Upper Chakras

5. Vishuddha (Throat Chakra)

Location: Throat
Color: Blue
Element: Ether/Space
Function: Communication, expression, truth, purification
Gland: Thyroid
Seed Sound: HAM

6. Ajna (Third Eye Chakra)

Location: Between eyebrows, pineal gland
Color: Indigo
Element: Light/Mind
Function: Intuition, insight, vision, inner knowing
Gland: Pineal
Seed Sound: OM

7. Sahasrara (Crown Chakra)

Location: Top of head, crown
Color: Violet/White
Element: Pure Consciousness
Function: Unity, enlightenment, transcendence, connection to divine
Gland: Pituitary (or beyond physical)
Seed Sound: Silence/AUM

Upper Dantian (Shang Dantian)

Location: Between eyebrows (third eye area), or center of head
Function: Cultivation of Shen (spirit), spiritual awareness, consciousness, enlightenment
Cultivation: Meditation, spiritual practice, inner alchemy
Associated Organ: Brain, pineal gland (spiritual perception)

The Mapping: Upper 3 Chakras = Upper Dantian (95%)

All three upper chakras govern spiritual consciousness and transcendence:

Vishuddha = Expression of truth (purification for spiritual ascent)
Ajna = Inner vision, intuition (third eye)
Sahasrara = Unity consciousness, enlightenment

The Upper Dantian encompasses all these as Shen (spirit)—the refined spiritual consciousness. 95% convergence.

The Three Treasures: Jing-Qi-Shen

The Chinese system explicitly names the three levels as the Three Treasures (San Bao):

Treasure	Dantian	Chakra Group	Nature
Jing (Essence)	Lower Dantian	Chakras 1-3	Physical, sexual, vital essence
Qi (Energy)	Middle Dantian	Chakra 4	Life force, breath, emotional energy
Shen (Spirit)	Upper Dantian	Chakras 5-7	Consciousness, spirit, awareness

The Chakra system doesn't explicitly name these three levels, but the functional grouping is identical.

The Alchemical Transformation

Both systems describe an upward refinement of energy:

Taoist Alchemy

Jing (essence) → Qi (energy) → Shen (spirit) → Void (emptiness)

Lower Dantian refines Jing into Qi, which rises to Middle Dantian. Middle Dantian refines Qi into Shen, which rises to Upper Dantian. Upper Dantian refines Shen into Void (enlightenment).