Library

Bian Que (Yue Ren) stated that the Pericardium Master (Xin Zhu Bao Luo, the pericardium which protects the heart) and the Sanjiao (Triple Burner) are interior-exteriorly related; both have names but no distinct form. Later scholars who identified the Mingmen (Gate of Life) as the Pericardium were not offering a comprehensive theory. The Qi of Shaoyang Sanjiao is generated in the Kidney, which is also called Xianghuo (Ministerial Fire). Ministerial Fire refers to the Primordial Yang (Yuanyang) generated from the Pre-heaven (Innate). The Pericardium envelops the area below the Heart, is rich in blood, governs the vessels, and serves as the assistant to the Monarch (Heart). Its vessel originates in the chest, emerges to connect with the Pericardium, descends through the diaphragm, and sequentially connects with the Sanjiao. (When referring to the Sanjiao, it is called "xun" [to follow/circulate]; when referring to the Pericardium, it is called "li" [to traverse/connect]; both indicate circulating and connecting within the upper and lower regions of the middle Jiao/Stomach area.) Thus, the Pericardium is above the diaphragm, and the Sanjiao is below the diaphragm; both are tangible Zang-Fu organs. However, the Qi of both the Pericardium and Sanjiao originates from the Kidney. One type of Qi circulates through the Upper, Middle, and Lower Jiao, each having its specific destination; the other enters the Pericardium below the Heart to serve as the Monarch's assistant. (The *Ling Shu* states: "The Kidney combines with the Sanjiao and Bladder." This means Kidney Qi ascends to combine with the Pericardium, just as the Bladder returns to its designated station.) This is analogous to the combination of Biao-Gen (Root and Branch) between the Kidney and Bladder, or between the Taiyang (Greater Yang) channel and Junhuo (Monarch Fire). The Yuan Yang (Primordial Yang) in the Kidney represents the Pre-heaven Water and Fire; Junhuo (Monarch Fire) and the Pericardium represent the Post-heaven two Fires. To understand the Pericardium and Sanjiao, one must seek them in the realm between the tangible and intangible.

The *Gu Kong Lun* chapter states: "The Du Mai (Governing Vessel) originates below the lower abdomen, in the central part of the bone. In women, it enters and connects to the Ting Kong (Court Aperture/Vulva). This aperture is the end of the Niao Kong (Urethral Aperture)." (Ting Kong refers to the vaginal opening. The posterior part of the urethral aperture is the birth canal within the uterus. This passage indicates that the Du Mai originates inside the lower abdomen; thus, the female birth canal is cited to clarify this. It implies that in men, the Du Mai also originates inside the lower abdomen, at the extremity of the Zong Jin [conjoined sinews]. Hence, the following text says: "In men, it follows the penis downward to the Huiyin (Cuan), being equal to women." By citing women here, men can be inferred; by citing men in the next section, it is equal to women.) Its collateral follows the genitalia, converges at the Huiyin (Cuan) space, circles around the posterior aspect of the Huiyin, branches off to circle the buttocks, reaches the point where the Shaoyin (Lesser Yin) and Juyang (Greater Yang) collaterals meet, combines with the Shaoyin channel, ascends along the posterior medial aspect of the thigh, penetrates the spine, and attaches to the Kidney. (Cuan is pronounced 'chu huan'. Tun is pronounced 'tun'. Cuan Jian is the intersection of the anterior and posterior orifices. This describes the Du Mai following below the genitalia, passing through the posterior buttocks and spine, entering internally via the Mingmen at the level of the 14th thoracic vertebra to attach to the Kidney. Since Mingmen is the gate through which the Du Mai enters, Bian Que named the right Kidney as Mingmen, asserting that the Du Mai governs Yang, while the right Kidney belongs to Fire.) It [the Du Mai] combines with the Taiyang channel, which originates at the inner canthus of the eye, ascends to the forehead, intersects at the vertex, enters to network the brain, emerges again to descend separately along the neck, follows the medial aspect of the shoulder blade, flanks the spine, reaches the waist center, descends along the paraspinal muscles (Lu), and networks the Kidney. (The *Gen Jie* chapter states: "Taiyang roots at Zhiyin and knots at Mingmen. Mingmen refers to the eye." The descending path of the Du Mai starts from the Mingmen of the Taiyang [eye], ascends to the forehead, intersects at the vertex, networks the brain, exits the neck, follows the shoulder, reaches the waist, descends along the Lu, and networks the Kidney. This indicates starting from the upper Mingmen [Yang position] and entering/exiting the lower Mingmen [Yin position]. The Taiyang and Du Mai generate Yang from Yin, originating from the Pre-heaven Water and Fire, serving as the gate for the beginning of life. Therefore, both upper and lower entry/exit points are named Mingmen. The previous section mentioned penetrating the spine and attaching to the Kidney; this section mentions following the Lu and networking the Kidney. This is like Zang channels attaching to Zang and networking Fu, or Fu channels attaching to Fu and networking Zang. Whether ascending or descending, the Du Mai enters and networks the two Kidneys via the Mingmen. Emerging from the Ting Kong, it starts from Yin, penetrates the spine, and attaches to the Right Kidney; starting from the inner canthus of the eye [Taiyang], it starts from Yang, descends along the Lu, and networks the Left Kidney. This demonstrates the subtle interaction of Yin linking to Yang and Yang linking to Yin. Since men correspond to the left and women to the right, the previous section discussed women, and this section discusses men, which is logical.) In men, it follows the penis downward to the Huiyin (Cuan), being equal to women. The branch rising straight from the lower abdomen penetrates the umbilicus (Qi) centrally, ascends through the Heart, enters the throat, rises to the chin, circles the lips, and ascends to tie into the center below the two eyes. (Qi is synonymous with Umbilicus. This states that the origin of the Du Mai begins inside the lower abdomen and bifurcates. One branch goes posteriorly, penetrating the spine and attaching to the Kidney; the other branch goes anteriorly, following the abdomen, penetrating the umbilicus, rising straight to tie below the eyes, and intersecting with the Mingmen of the Taiyang. Thus, the Du Mai encircles front, back, upper, and lower once, similar to how Heaven encompasses the Earth externally. People generally consider the back as Yang and the abdomen as Yin, stating that the Du Mai circulates on the back to govern all Yang in the body, while the Ren Mai circulates on the abdomen to command all Yin in the body. This fails to understand Bian Que's meaning regarding the right Kidney as Mingmen. Therefore, it has been detailed in the commentary on the *Su Wen*, and is reiterated here. The Du Mai bifurcates and internally networks the two Kidneys; even Bian Que could not fully analyze the scriptural meaning. It bifurcates upon exiting and bifurcates upon entering.)