河图。四为金之生数。九为金之成数。
其谷稻。
秋熟。皮黄米白。故属金。
其畜狗。
说文云。叩气发声。故名狗。肺主气。狗能叩气。故属肺金之畜。
其虫介。
铠甲之象。属金鳖甲山甲。均能破肝。以其秉金气能攻制木也。
其果李。
按李既属肝。此当以梨配之。五常政论作桃。
其菜韭。
韭色白。亦可属肺。然其得春气为多。总宜属肝。秉金气者。不止此药。古人以此属肺。亦只示人以端倪。非谓此
外。更无其物。又以见一物。不止一义耳。
肾
形如豆。又似猪腰子。肾中有油膜一条贯于脊骨是为肾系此系下连。网膜又有气管由肺而下。附脊循行。以下入肾
系而透入。网膜达于丹田。两肾属水中间肾系属火即命门也。命门为三焦膜油发源之所。故命门相火。布于三焦。焦即
油膜也。旧说多误。西医析言之。而不能会通也。详考内经自见。
肾靠脊而生。有膏油遮掩。附肾有薄膜包裹。西医名为肾衣。此衣发于肾系。乃三焦之源也。肾系是白膜层叠退出
而成。一条贯脊。系中内窍通。脊髓最深之窍也。其次为气管。外通于鼻。以吸天阳下入丹田。为生气之根又其次为溺。
窍水入胃。散膜膈中。以入肾系。合为溺窍透入下焦乃及膀胱。西医但言气管溺管。而不知化精通髓。尤有一管名曰命
门者。水中之阳外通天气为生命之根源也。内经未言溺过肾中。然谓三焦为水道。膀胱为水府。肾为三焦膀胱之主。其
司溺从可知矣。
\r肾图\pt31a5.bmp\r
在天为寒。
北方冬令。阳气内敛。阴气交互。是为寒气。
在地为水。
寒气所生。于卦为坎。于五行为水。
在体为骨。
肾秉寒水之气。主蛰藏受五脏之精而藏之化。髓生骨。小儿髓不足。故头骨未合。老人肾虚。故骨痿也。西医将人
骨骼。照印入书。长断大小。圆锐曲折。尽其形矣。然不知是肾之所生。彼以骨中有髓。知为脑髓生骨。而不知并脑髓。
皆肾所生也。余识西医潘某中国人。而为外国医士者也。
其妻死。即用洋药。化去尸肉。存枯骨。置之药局。以备考校。此于接骨检验。询为有益。于内证毫无补裨。存其
骨。而不知骨所自生。迁可笑矣。
在色为黑。
水之色也。黑而惨淡者。水泛土衰。黑如烟煤者。水枯肾竭。五行之理。成功者。退五。色亦然黑转青。则黑退青
转红。则青退烂布造作洋纸。腐化全带黑色。若欲退其黑色。用品蓝入。则黑退。然纸成后。内存品蓝性。久则变出青
色。必再加品红水。则青色退尽。永不变蓝色矣。是可见五行退卸之理。
在音为羽。
其音低细。
在声为呻。
呻。伸也肾气在下。故声欲太息。而伸出之。
在变动为栗。
战栗。寒貌老。人阳虚。往往寒战。
在窍为耳。
陈修园谓肾脉不上头。肾与心交。假心小肠之脉。入耳为听宫。其说迂曲。岂有肾自开窍。而无路上头之理。盖肾
主脑。髓耳通于脑。路甚直捷。所以肾开窍于耳也。西人称耳深处之穴。曰耳鼓箱。有薄翳盖之。气搏则动。下有细骨
如干。传其动于穴底耳翳接细络。如琴瑟之有弦。稀密拉。放以外音传于脑。则耳亦琴也。巧妙之至。西人此说精矣。
然不知耳是肾窍。不知司听者。是何物也。盖髓为精神所会。而窍通于耳。故能辨声音。声气二者。皆空虚无形。然声
速于气。气已至。则可呼吸而入口。声已至。不能招收而得。西学言空气。布满天地凡声音者。是击动空气而成也。据
此则耳之辨音。亦以耳窍内之气为外空气击动。故声传入耳。肾者。生气之源。而髓则肾精所化。则髓中之气尤至。灵
气也。故外空气传声动之则应。又听有远近明暗之分。则久视乎髓中之气。有优劣也。西学尚未谈到此。
在味为咸。
洪范曰。润下作咸。水之味也。药如苁蓉等。皆入肾。
在志为恐。
肾存志。为作强之官。肾虚不能作强。则为恐矣。
在液为唾
肾络上贯膈。入肺系。系舌本。舌下廉泉玉英穴。出液之道也。肾液上泛。则为唾。
其荣为发。
发虽血之余。实则血从气而化。外达皮毛。上至颠顶而生发也。气乃肾水之生阳。由太阳经而达于外。以上于头。
血在血室之中。得肾气之化。外达则为皮毛。上行则生头发。血室气海是二是一。皮毛头发。并非二物。所以发名血余。
而又为肾水之荣也。故乌须发之药皆补肾。
其臭为腐。
凡物入水。无不腐化。故水之臭腐。
其数六。
河图。一为水之生数。六为水之成数。
其谷豆。
黑豆也。其性沉。其色黑。故属肾水。
其畜豕
豕也。色黑属亥。为水之畜。
其虫鳞。
鱼龙。皆水中之阳物也。故鲤鱼汤利水。龙骨镇肾气。皆从其类之义。
其果栗。
色黑。根不亡本。故属肾水。
其菜藿。
古藿。即豆苗叶。
天地之大。不外五行。人禀天地而生五脏。推之于物。各禀五行。因皆与人之五脏相属。能知五行变化之理。则于
病药。自然会通。故节录金匮真言脏象论等文合为一章以见大概。
In the He Tu (River Map) numerology, four is the generating number of Metal, and nine is the completing number of Metal.
The corresponding grain is rice.
It ripens in autumn; the skin is yellow and the rice white, thus it belongs to Metal.
The corresponding domestic animal is the dog.
According to *Shuowen Jiezi*, "it strikes air to produce sound," hence named "dog." The Lung governs Qi; the dog can strike air to produce sound, thus it belongs to the category of animals associated with Lung Metal.
The corresponding insect/animal group is those with shells (Jie).
They resemble armor and belong to Metal. Turtle shell and pangolin scales can both break up Liver stasis because they embody Metal Qi, which can overcome Wood (the Liver).
The corresponding fruit is the plum.
According to its Five Elements attribution, since the plum already belongs to the Liver, here it should be paired with the pear (which is white and enters the Lung). *Su Wen: Wu Chang Zheng Da Lun* lists it as the peach.
The corresponding vegetable is Chinese chives.
Chinese chives are white in color and could also be attributed to the Lung. However, they obtain more Spring Qi and generally suit attribution to the Liver. Herbs embodying Metal Qi are not limited to this. The ancients attributed this to the Lung merely to show a starting point, not implying that nothing else exists outside of this, but also indicating that one substance carries multiple meanings.
Kidney
Its shape resembles a bean or a pig's kidney. Inside the Kidney, there is a membrane of oil running through the spinal column, known as the Kidney Meridian (Shen Xi). This meridian connects downward; within the omentum, there is a Qi tube descending from the Lung, attaching to the spine and circulating downward into the Kidney Meridian, penetrating the omentum to reach the Dantian. The two Kidneys belong to Water, while the central Kidney Meridian belongs to Fire, which is the Mingmen (Gate of Life). The Mingmen is the source of the Sanjiao (Triple Burner) oily membranes; thus, the Ministerial Fire of the Mingmen spreads throughout the Sanjiao, where Sanjiao refers to these oily membranes. Old theories contain many errors. Western medicine analyzes them in detail but fails to integrate them comprehensively. Detailed examination of the *Nei Jing* will reveal the truth.
The Kidney grows relying on the spine, covered by fatty tissue. Attached to the Kidney is a thin membrane wrapped around it, called the "renal capsule" by Western medicine. This capsule originates from the Kidney Meridian and is the source of the Sanjiao. The Kidney Meridian is formed by layers of white membrane receding, with one strand piercing the spine. Inside the meridian, internal orifices connect; this is the deepest orifice of the spinal cord. Next is the Qi tube, externally connecting to the nose, inhaling Heavenly Yang Qi down into the Dantian, serving as the root of vital Qi. Next is the urination orifice; water enters the Stomach, disperses within the diaphragm, then enters the Kidney Meridian, converges into the urination orifice, penetrates the Lower Jiao, and reaches the Bladder. Western medicine only discusses the respiratory and urinary tubes, unaware of the transformation of essence into marrow. Furthermore, there is another tube named Mingmen, which is Yang within Water, externally connecting to Heavenly Qi, serving as the root of life. The *Nei Jing* does not state that urine passes through the Kidney, but it states that the Sanjiao is the water pathway and the Bladder is the water repository, with the Kidney as the master of both; thus, its control over urination can be inferred.
[Image: Kidney Diagram]
In Heaven, it manifests as Cold.
In the North during winter, Yang Qi turns inward, and Yin Qi interacts, forming Cold Qi.
On Earth, it manifests as Water.
Generated by Cold Qi, in the Eight Trigrams it corresponds to Kan, and in the Five Elements, it is Water.
In the body, it manifests as Bone.
The Kidney embodies the Qi of Cold Water, governing hibernation and storage, receiving the essence of the five Zang organs to store it, transforming into Marrow, which generates Bone. Children have insufficient Marrow, so their skull sutures do not close; the elderly suffer from Kidney deficiency, leading to bone atrophy. Western medicine prints human bones in books, detailing their length, size, roundness, sharpness, and curvature, exhausting their physical forms. However, they do not know these are generated by the Kidney. Because bones contain marrow, they know brain marrow generates bone, but they do not know that even brain marrow is generated by the Kidney. I knew a Western doctor named Pan, a Chinese national practicing Western medicine. After his wife died, he used chemical agents to dissolve the flesh, preserving the skeleton, which was kept in a pharmacy for examination and reference. This is beneficial for fracture assessment and forensic examination but offers no help for internal medicine diagnoses. Preserving bones without knowing their origin is indeed laughable.
In colors, it manifests as Black.
This is the color of Water. A dull, bleak black indicates Water flooding and Spleen decline; a black like coal smoke indicates Water exhaustion and Kidney depletion. According to the principles of the Five Elements, after achieving success, elements retreat. Colors follow this rule: when Black transforms to Green, Black retreats; when Green transforms to Red, Green retreats. Consider rotting cloth made into Western paper; the decay brings out blackness. To remove this blackness, adding Prussian Blue causes the black to fade. However, after the paper is made, the nature of Prussian Blue remains inside; over time, it turns green. Adding Rose Red water then removes the green completely, preventing it from ever turning blue again. This illustrates the principle of elemental retreat.
In musical tones, it manifests as Yu (Note).
The tone is low and fine.
In vocal sounds, it manifests as Shen (Groaning).
Shen means extension. Since Kidney Qi is located below, the voice tends to sigh and extend outward.
In pathological changes, it manifests as Li (Trembling/Shivering).
Trembling is a sign of cold. In the elderly, Yang deficiency often leads to cold shivers.
In the orifices, it manifests as the Ear.
Chen Xiuyuan argued that the Kidney pulse does not ascend to the head; the Kidney communicates with the Heart, borrowing the Heart and Small Intestine meridians to enter the ear at the Tinggong acupoint. This theory is convoluted. How could the Kidney open an orifice without a pathway to the head? Essentially, the Kidney governs the Brain; the Marrow Sea connects directly to the ear, providing a direct path, which is why the Kidney opens into the ear. Westerners call the deep cavity of the ear the "tympanic box," covered by a thin membrane. Air vibration causes movement; beneath lie small bones transmitting vibration to the bottom of the cavity. Fine nerves connect the eardrum, similar to strings on a lute or zither, vibrating to transmit external sounds to the brain. Thus, the ear is like a musical instrument, extremely ingenious. While Western theory is precise, they fail to recognize that the ear is the orifice of the Kidney and do not identify what governs hearing. Marrow is the convergence of spirit and consciousness, connecting to the ear, enabling sound discrimination. Sound and Qi are both empty and formless, but sound travels faster than Qi. Qi arrives and can be breathed in; sound arrives but cannot be grasped. Western science states that air fills heaven and earth, and sound is created by striking air. Accordingly, the ear discriminates sound by having the air within the ear orifice struck by external air, transmitting sound into the ear. The Kidney is the source of generating Qi, and Marrow is transformed from Kidney Essence; thus, the Qi in the Marrow is particularly spiritual. Therefore, external air transmitting sound triggers a response. Hearing varies in distance and clarity, depending on the quality of Qi within the Marrow. Western science has not yet reached this level of understanding.
In tastes, it manifests as Salty.
The *Hong Fan* states: "Moistening downward produces saltiness," which is the taste of Water. Herbs such as Cistanche enter the Kidney.
In emotions, it manifests as Fear.
The Kidney stores Willpower (Zhi) and serves as the official of strength and vigor. When Kidney deficiency prevents this vigor, fear arises.
In fluids, it manifests as Saliva (Thick Saliva).
Kidney collaterals ascend through the diaphragm, enter the Lung system, and attach to the root of the tongue. The Lianquan and Yuying acupoints under the tongue are the pathways for fluid exit. When Kidney fluids overflow upward, they become saliva.
In flourishing aspects, it manifests as Hair.
Although hair is considered the surplus of Blood,实质上 (in reality), Blood transforms via Qi, reaching the exterior skin and hair, ascending to the vertex to grow hair. Qi is the generating Yang of Kidney Water, reaching the exterior via the Taiyang Meridian and ascending to the head. Blood resides in the Blood Chamber; transformed by Kidney Qi, it reaches the exterior as skin/hair and ascends to generate scalp hair. The Blood Chamber and Qi Sea are essentially one; skin/hair and scalp hair are not distinct entities. Hence, hair is named "Blood Remainder" and is also the flourishing aspect of Kidney Water. Therefore, herbs that darken hair and beard all tonify the Kidney.
In odors, it manifests as Putrid/Rotten.
All things entering water undergo putrefaction; thus, the odor of water is putrid.
In numbers, it manifests as Six.
In the He Tu, one is the generating number of Water, and six is the completing number of Water.
The corresponding grain is beans.
Black beans. Their nature is sinking, and their color is black, thus they belong to Kidney Water.
The corresponding domestic animal is the Pig.
Pigs are black in color and correspond to the Earthly Branch Hai (Pig), making them the animal of Water.
The corresponding insect/animal group is Scaled creatures (Fish/Dragons).
Fish and dragons are Yang entities within water. Hence, Carp Decoction promotes urination, and Dragon Bone calms Kidney Qi, following the principle of affinity with their kind.
The corresponding fruit is Chestnut.
Its color is black, and its roots retain their origin, thus it belongs to Kidney Water.
The corresponding vegetable is Huo (Legume leaves).
Ancient "Huo" refers to legume seedling leaves.
The vastness of Heaven and Earth does not exceed the Five Elements. Humans are born endowing Heaven and Earth, possessing five Zang organs. Extending this to all things, each embodies the Five Elements and thus associates with human Zang organs. Understanding the principles of Five Elements transformation allows for natural integration regarding diseases and herbs. Therefore, excerpts from *Jin Gui Zhen Yan* and *Zang Xiang Lun* are combined into one chapter to present the general outline.