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The disciple Zhu Jigong asked, "It is said that both kidneys belong to Water. The Mingmen (Gate of Life) resides between the two kidneys, inside the fourteenth thoracic vertebra of the spine, and serves as the source of Qi generation for the Sanjiao (Triple Burner), resembling the fullness within the Kan trigram (☵). This explanation seems very reasonable." I replied, "This is baseless nonsense! The Way of Medicine began with Huangdi (Yellow Emperor) and Qibo. The origins and movements of Zang-Fu organs, Blood, and Qi are not known by innate wisdom; who but a sage could fathom their subtleties? Why do later scholars fail to comprehend the sacred classics and instead prefer heterodox theories? When a human embryo first forms, it is like the Taiji (Supreme Ultimate)! At three months, the form takes shape, and the two kidneys are born first, just as Taiji generates the Liangyi (Two Modes/Yin and Yang). Tian Yi produces Water, which generates Wood; Wood generates Fire. Di Er produces Fire, which generates Earth; Earth generates Metal. Thus, in the Pre-Heaven state, there were only Water and Fire; it was in the Post-Heaven state that the Five Phases were complete. Among the Five Phases, there are two Fires, which combine to form the Three Yin and Three Yang, corresponding to the Six Zang and Six Fu organs. Therefore, *Ling Shu: Ben Shu* states: 'Shaoyang belongs to the Kidney, and the Kidney connects upward to the Lung, thus governing these two Zang organs.' Shaoyang is the source of Qi generation for the Sanjiao, originating from the Right Kidney, connecting upward to the Bao Luo (Pericardium), serving as the origin of Ministerial Fire. The Left Kidney belongs to Water and connects upward to the Lung, hence referred to as the two Zang organs. ('Kidney connects upward to Lung' is detailed in *Su Wen: Shui Re Xue Lun*.) Furthermore, *Ben Zang* states: 'The Kidney harmonizes with the Sanjiao and Bladder.' The Qi of the Right Kidney connects upward to the Xin Zhu (Heart Master/Pericardium), forming one Zang organ. Additionally, *Su Wen: Ke Lun* states: 'If Kidney cough persists, it affects the Bladder; if chronic cough persists, it affects the Sanjiao.' Thus, *Nei Jing* mentions only the Kidney, with no original mention of 'Mingmen'. It is likely that one Kidney corresponds to the Sanjiao, and the other to the Bladder, constituting two Zang organs coordinating with two Fu organs. Humans are born endowing Yin, Yang, Water, and Fire. If both kidneys are likened to the solid line in the Kan trigram (representing Water/Fire duality with Yang within Yin), which Zang organ would correspond to the broken line in the Li trigram (Fire)? By immersing oneself in the sacred classics, one will naturally not be confused by predecessors.

Zhu Jigong asked again, "*Nan Jing* states that the Right Kidney governs storing Essence in men and anchoring the Bao Gong (Uterus) in women. You stated it is the source of Ministerial Fire and Qi generation, implying the Left Kidney governs Water and the Right Kidney governs Fire. Thus, Essence/Water is generated only in the Left Kidney, and the Bao Gong should be situated on the right." I said, "That is not what is meant. The Way of Heaven and Earth Yin and Yang lies in formless Qi, called Yin and Yang; in有形 (form) manifestations, called Water and Fire; in the human Shen Yuan (Primordial Spirit), called Qi and Jing. Tian One produces Water, Di Two produces Fire. Yin contains Yang, and Yang contains Yin. The Qi of the two kidneys penetrates each other mutually; both left and right possess Jing and Qi. Water is Jing, and Fire is Qi. Yin and Yang, Water and Fire, mutually nourish and generate each other; otherwise, solitary Yang cannot generate, and isolated Yin cannot grow. The saying about 'storing Essence and anchoring the Uterus' merely distinguishes between males and females. However, females also store Essence, and males can also form embryos. The statement that the Uterus is 'anchored' on the right implies that Heaven governs the generation of life, and Earth governs the completion of form; thus, it is anchored on the right due to the influence of Qi, not because the Uterus is anatomically connected to the Right Kidney. Just as the sun, moon, and stars are said to be 'anchored' there, they are carried by the great Qi. The movement of the sun and moon, and the shifting of stars, never involves any physical tethering."