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The general principles of the transmission of meridians in Cold Damage (Shanghan) disease: On the first day, it is in the Taiyang meridian; on the second day, in the Yangming meridian; on the third day, in the Shaoyang meridian; on the fourth day, in the Taiyin meridian; on the fifth day, in the Shaoyin meridian; and on the sixth day, in the Jueyin meridian. It transmits one meridian per day, which is the same as the pattern in Warm Disease (Wenbing). It is said that diseases "originating from Yang" heal on the seventh day, and those "originating from Yin" heal on the sixth day. This is a fixed number. After six days, the circulation through the meridians is complete, the pathogenic factor recedes, the healthy qi recovers, and the disease resolves through sweating. This is the normal course of Cold Damage disease.

The difference between it and Warm Disease lies in the following: In Warm Disease, the pathogenic factor affects the meridians, but the heat generates within the Zang-Fu organs. In contrast, Cold Damage and Wind Strike originally have no interior pathogenic factors and do not necessarily transmit to the Zang-Fu organs. Transmission to the Fu organs occurs only when Yang qi is vigorous, and transmission to the Zang organs occurs only when Yin qi is vigorous (nominally called transmission to Fu or Zang, but actually it is a self-disease of the Zang-Fu organs). This is the point of difference.

In the *Taiyang Chapter*, it states: "On the first day of Cold Damage, the Taiyang meridian is affected. If the pulse remains tranquil, it indicates no transmission." This non-transmission refers to the non-transmission to the Zang organs of the Three Yin meridians.

If, on the second or third day of Cold Damage, there are no signs of the Yangming or Shaoyang meridians, it indicates no transmission. This non-transmission refers to the non-transmission to the Fu organs of the Yangming meridian.

In the *Shaoyang Chapter*, it states: "On the third day of Cold Damage, if the Shaoyang pulse is small, the disease is about to resolve." This also refers to the non-transmission to the Fu organs of the Yangming meridian.

On the third day of Cold Damage, the course of the Three Yang meridians is completed, and the Three Yin meridians should be affected. If the patient can eat and does not vomit, it indicates that the Three Yin meridians are not affected by the pathogen. This non-transmission refers to the non-transmission to the Zang organs of the Three Yin meridians.

It is possible for Cold Damage or Wind Strike not to transmit to the Zang-Fu organs, but there is no principle of not transmitting through the meridians. Cheng believed that Cold Damage does not transmit through the meridians. If it truly did not transmit, then Zhang Zhongjing's statements such as "those originating from Yang heal in seven days, those originating from Yin heal in six days," and "Headache in Taiyang disease persists for more than seven days and heals spontaneously because the meridian cycle has been exhausted" would contradict each other.

If the interior qi of a person is not deficient, within two or three days, the disease might resolve through sweating after transmitting to the Yangming meridian, or resolve through sweating after transmitting to the Shaoyang meridian. However, this is seen only occasionally. This accounts for only one in a thousand cases and cannot be used to generalize ordinary cases of Cold Damage.

After the Six Meridians of Cold Damage have completed their course, they naturally resolve through sweating. If, after six or seven days, the meridian course is complete but the disease does not resolve, this is either due to excess Yang transmitting to the Fu organs or excess Yin transmitting to the Zang organs.

Cheng believed that Cold Damage has no fixed meridian of transmission, and its transmission and resolution have no fixed days. Some may transmit from Taiyang to Yangming, or from Taiyang to Shaoyang, without needing to follow the sequential order; some may take several days to pass through Yangming, or remain in Taiyang for several days, without adhering to specific timelines; some may resolve from Taiyang, others from Yangming, without needing to circulate through all meridians. These are all illnesses that have transmitted to the Fu and Zang organs but were mistakenly considered as meridian transmissions, leading to such absurd and contradictory discussions.

If the exterior pathogen resolves through sweating, so be it. If it does not resolve through sweating, the heat within the meridians will stagnate internally, accumulating day by day and growing stronger. The next day, it will naturally transmit to the Yangming meridian, and the day after, to the Shaoyang meridian. The sequential transmission through the Six Meridians within six days is an inevitable event. Since the Six Meridians are arranged in adjacent order, if the meridian heat is not vented, it will inevitably transmit inward in sequence. How could there be a principle of remaining in the Taiyang meridian for several days or passing through Yangming only after several days? How could there be a principle of transmitting from Taiyang to Yangming or from Taiyang to Shaoyang arbitrarily? Furthermore, how could there be a principle of resolving from Taiyang or from Yangming arbitrarily?

Only when transmitting to the Fu and Zang organs is there no fixed location for transmission and no fixed period for resolution. When the pathogenic factor is strong, transmission occurs; when the healthy qi recovers, resolution occurs. Compared to other scholars studying Cold Damage, Cheng had slightly more insight, but he mistakenly treated interior diseases as meridian diseases. His statements regarding the transmission and resolution of diseases are entirely contradictory and erroneous. Others, such as Jie [An] and Jiayan, are like people suffering from nightmares.