（此宗气领营血所行也，营行脉中）
经脉发源在左乳旁下，以手按之有动脉者是也。《素问》名为胃之大络虚里穴，《灵枢
》名为脾之大络大包穴。盖脉本营血，乃水谷所主，故以脾胃互称。此只一穴，在左乳旁下，若
右乳旁下则无有，不论男女，人人皆然。此等要紧之穴，《内经》言之甚清，验之此身亦甚
明，乃诸家竟不知此为何事，可为浩叹（虚里出浏腋下三寸，大包在腹下六寸）。
第一，手太阴肺经从左边虚里穴上注肺，由左腋间走左手大指（寸口脉即此），是从胸走
手也（正络入肺）。
第二，手阳明大肠经从寸口斜分至腕臂（反关脉即此），走上至头，是从手走头也（正络
入大肠）。
第三，足阳明胃经从头上接前脉，由胸前而下至足背，是从头走足也（正络入胃）。
第四，足太阴脾经从足指接前脉，由膝而上至胸，注心中，是从足走胸也（正络入脾）。
第五，手少阴心经从胸中接前脉，由 间而至手小指，是从胸走手也（正络入心）。
第六，手太阳小肠经从手小指外侧接前脉而上至头，是从手走头也（正络入小肠）。
第七，足太阳膀胱经从头上接前脉，由背而下至足小指，是从头走足也（正络入膀胱）
。
第八，跷脉（男用阳跷，女用阴跷）从胫上接前脉，上至背俞，转从复冲下行于足（正
络
第九，足少阴肾经从足心接前脉，由膝内而上至胸，是从足走胸也（正络入肾）。
第十，手厥阴心主经从胸中接前脉，由 而至手中指，是从胸走手（正络散入膻中）。
第十一，手少阳三焦经从手指背接前脉，由手腕外上至耳侧，是从手走头也（正络历三
焦）。
第十二，足少阳胆经从头上耳侧接前脉，由身之旁下至足，是从头走足也（正络入胆）。
第十三，足厥阴肝经从足下接前脉，由膝而上至胸中，注于肺，是从足走胸也（正络入
肝）。
以上诸脉，各有两条先行于左者毕，然后再注肺，由右腋间走右手太阴经、手阳明经，
以次至足厥阴经，亦如其左，不复繁缀，然后再交于督脉。
督脉从右足厥阴经上头而来，由头顶中间入颈，循脊中直下至尾骨，分两支入前阴，合
交任脉（此脉只一条，无正络）。
任脉，从前阴接前督脉由腹中间上胸，复注于肺，为周而复始（此脉亦一条，正络无）。
以上左右十二经、两跷、督、任，凡二十八脉，共长十六丈二尺，一息六寸计，二百七
十息
此审次第。 详后营行）。
(This is the process where Zong Qi (Gathering Qi) leads the circulation of Ying Blood (Nutritive Blood); Ying Qi circulates within the vessels.)
The origin of the meridians is located below the left breast, where an arterial pulse can be felt upon palpation; this is the starting point. The *Su Wen* (Plain Questions) refers to it as the "Great Collateral of the Stomach," Xuli Point (Xu Li Acupoint), while the *Ling Shu* (Spiritual Pivot) calls it the "Great Collateral of the Spleen," Dabao Point (Da Bao Acupoint). Since the vessels originate from Ying Blood, which is governed by the essence of food and water, the Spleen and Stomach are often mentioned in conjunction. This specific acupoint exists only on one side, below the left breast; there is no corresponding point below the right breast, regardless of gender, for all individuals. Such a crucial acupoint is clearly described in the *Nei Jing* (Inner Canon) and is easily verified on one's own body, yet many practitioners remain ignorant of its significance, which is truly lamentable (Xuli is located three cun below the left axilla; Dabao is located six cun below the abdomen).
First, the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian ascends from the left Xuli Point into the Lung, travels through the left axilla to the thumb of the left hand (the Cun Kou Pulse is located here), representing the flow from the chest to the hand (the main collateral enters the Lung).
Second, the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian diverges obliquely from the Cun Kou to the wrist and forearm, ascending to the head, representing the flow from the hand to the head (the main collateral enters the Large Intestine).
Third, the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian connects with the previous meridian at the head, descends through the anterior chest to the dorsum of the foot, representing the flow from the head to the foot (the main collateral enters the Stomach).
Fourth, the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian connects with the previous meridian at the toes of the foot, ascends from the knee to the chest, and pours into the Heart, representing the flow from the foot to the chest (the main collateral enters the Spleen).
Fifth, the Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian connects with the previous meridian in the chest, travels via the [axilla/lateral chest] to the little finger of the hand, representing the flow from the chest to the hand (the main collateral enters the Heart).
Sixth, the Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian connects with the previous meridian on the lateral side of the little finger, ascending to the head, representing the flow from the hand to the head (the main collateral enters the Small Intestine).
Seventh, the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian connects with the previous meridian at the head, descends along the back to the little toe of the foot, representing the flow from the head to the foot (the main collateral enters the Bladder).
Eighth, the Qiao Mai (Shocking Vessels; Yang Qiao is used for males, Yin Qiao for females) connects with the previous meridian above the shin, ascends to the Back-Shu points on the back, then turns downward via Fuchong to the foot (the main collateral... [text incomplete]).
Ninth, the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian connects with the previous meridian at the sole of the foot, ascends from the medial aspect of the knee to the chest, representing the flow from the foot to the chest (the main collateral enters the Kidney).
Tenth, the Hand-Jueyin Pericardium Meridian (Heart Master) connects with the previous meridian in the chest, travels via the [axilla/lateral chest] to the middle finger of the hand, representing the flow from the chest to the hand (the main collateral disperses into the Danzhong region).
Eleventh, the Hand-Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian connects with the previous meridian on the dorsal aspect of the fingers, ascends from the lateral aspect of the wrist to the side of the ear, representing the flow from the hand to the head (the main collateral traverses the Sanjiao).
Twelfth, the Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian connects with the previous meridian at the side of the head near the ear, descends along the lateral aspect of the body to the foot, representing the flow from the head to the foot (the main collateral enters the Gallbladder).
Thirteenth, the Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian connects with the previous meridian from below the foot, ascends from the knee to the chest, and pours into the Lung, representing the flow from the foot to the chest (the main collateral enters the Liver).
After the two meridians on the left side complete their sequence, the qi then pours into the Lung, travels through the right axilla to the Hand-Taiyin and Hand-Yangming meridians of the right hand, proceeding sequentially to the Foot-Jueyin meridian, following the same pattern as the left side without further elaboration, and then intersects with the Du Mai (Governor Vessel).
The Du Mai ascends from the Foot-Jueyin meridian of the right foot to the head, enters the neck from the center of the vertex, runs straight down along the midline of the spine to the coccyx, divides into two branches entering the anterior genitalia, and intersects with the Ren Mai (Conception Vessel) (this vessel has only one branch and no main collateral).
The Ren Mai connects with the preceding Du Mai from the anterior genitalia, ascends through the midline of the abdomen to the chest, and again pours into the Lung, forming a continuous cycle (this vessel also has only one branch and no main collateral).
The above-mentioned twelve meridians on the left and right, the two Qiao Mai, the Du Mai, and the Ren Mai constitute a total of twenty-eight vessels, with a combined length of sixteen zhang and two chi. Calculating at six cun per breath (xi), after two hundred and seventy breaths...
This examines the sequence of flow. (For details, see the subsequent discussion on Ying Qi circulating within the vessels).