Library

The condition below the left foot Taiyang meridian is regulated by these five flavors (sour, bitter, sweet, pungent, salty). The enumeration of left, right, upper, and lower corresponding to twenty-five variations in human constitutions is intended for later learners to observe physical forms to understand the abundance or deficiency of Qi and Blood; it does not imply a distinction between upper and lower within the five flavors themselves. For instance, when regulating the upper part of the left hand Taiyang meridian and the lower part of the right hand Taiyang meridian, one should generally use wheat, grains, and mutton for regulation. Books cannot fully express speech, and speech cannot fully express intent; if learners can infer the meaning with their minds, they will grasp it. Zhang Ji’s note: This passage corresponds to the section on Five Flavors in the *Zang Qi Fa Shi Lun* (Treatise on Organ Functions Adapting to Natural Laws) mentioned above, and the content is identical.

Shang Yu (Upper Water Tone) is the same as Tai Yu (Great Water Tone). The grain is Soybean (*Glycine max*), the animal is Pig (*Sus scrofa domesticus*), and the fruit is Chestnut (*Castanea mollissima*). The associated Zang organ is the Foot Shaoyin Kidney, the color is Black, the flavor is Salty, and the season is Winter.
Ma Shi said: Shang Yu and Tai Yu refer to individuals of the Water tone. Therefore, among the five grains, five animals, and five fruits, Soybeans, Pigs, and Chestnuts belong to Water and are suitable for individuals of the Water tone to use for regulation. Zhang Zhicong said: Shang Yu refers to individuals of the Foot Shaoyin meridian, while Tai Yu refers to the physical form within the twenty-five variations. The classic text mentions "Right Zheng" and "Tai Yu"; the text is intricately interwoven, citing one example to show that left/right, Shao/Tai are all regulated by this flavor. Beans are black in color and astringent in nature, representing the grain of Water; Pigs are Hai-branch animals, representing the animal of Water; Chestnuts are black in color and salty in taste, representing the fruit of the Kidney. Shang Yu corresponds to the Foot Shaoyin in meridian Qi, to the Kidney in Zang organs, to Black in color, to Salty in flavor, and to Winter in season. Ni Zhongxuan said: What is stated as the Foot Shaoyin Zang Kidney means that the flavors of Soybeans, Pigs, and Chestnuts regulate the Foot Shaoyin in meridian Qi and regulate the Kidney in Zang organs. The same principle applies to other Zang organs.

Shang Gong (Upper Earth Tone) is the same as Tai Gong (Great Earth Tone). The grain is Millet (*Panicum miliaceum*), the animal is Cow (*Bos taurus*), and the fruit is Jujube (*Ziziphus jujuba*). The associated Zang organ is the Foot Taiyin Spleen, the color is Yellow, the flavor is Sweet, and the season is Late Summer (Ji Xia).
Ma Shi said: Shang Gong and Tai Gong refer to individuals of the Earth tone. Therefore, among the five grains, five animals, and five fruits, Millet, Cows, and Jujubes belong to Earth and are suitable for individuals of the Earth tone to use for regulation. Zhang Zhicong said: Shang Gong refers to individuals of the Foot Taiyin meridian, while Tai Gong refers to the form transformed into the Foot Yangming meridian. Millet is yellow in color and sweet in taste, representing the grain of Earth; Cows are animals of Earth; Jujubes are the fruit of the Spleen. In Qi, it governs the Foot Taiyin; in Zang organs, it governs the Spleen; in color, it governs Yellow; in flavor, it governs Sweet; in season, it governs Late Summer. Individuals of Shang Gong, Tai Gong, Jia Gong, Zuo Gong, and Shao Gong all similarly regulate the flavors of these grains and animals.

Shang Shang (Upper Metal Tone) is the same as Right Shang (Right Metal Tone). The grain is Broomcorn Millet (*Panicum miliaceum var. glaucum*), the animal is Chicken (*Gallus gallus domesticus*), and the fruit is Peach (*Prunus persica*). The associated Zang organ is the Hand Taiyin Lung, the color is White, the flavor is Pungent, and the season is Autumn.
Ma Shi said: Shang Shang and Right Shang refer to individuals of the Metal tone. Therefore, among the five grains, five animals, and five fruits, Broomcorn Millet, Chickens, and Peaches belong to Metal and are suitable for individuals of the Metal tone to use for regulation. Zhang Zhicong said: Shang Shang refers to individuals of the Hand Taiyin meridian, while Right Shang refers to the form within the four variations. Broomcorn Millet is white in color and harvested in autumn, representing the grain of Metal; Chickens belong to the You branch and crow during Si, You, and Chou hours, representing the animal of Metal; Peaches are white in color and hairy, representing the fruit of the Lung. In Qi, it governs the Hand Taiyin; in Zang organs, it governs the Lung; in color, it governs White; in flavor, it governs Pungent; in season, it governs Autumn. Individuals of Shang Shang, Right Shang, Shao Shang, Tai Shang, and Left Shang all similarly regulate the flavors of these grains and animals.

Shang Jue (Upper Wood Tone) is the same as Tai Jue (Great Wood Tone). The grain is Hemp/Sesame (*Sesamum indicum*), the animal is Dog (*Canis lupus familiaris*), and the fruit is Plum (*Prunus salicina*). The associated Zang organ is the Foot Jueyin Liver, the color is Green/Cyan, the flavor is Sour, and the season is Spring.
Ma Shi said: Shang Jue and Tai Jue refer to individuals of the Wood tone. Therefore, among the five grains, five animals, and five fruits, Hemp, Dogs, and Plums belong to Wood and are suitable for individuals of the Wood tone to use for regulation. Zhang Zhicong said: Shang Jue refers to individuals of the Foot Jueyin meridian, while Tai Jue refers to the form within the four variations. Hemp is green in color with straight stems, representing the grain of Wood; Dogs belong to the Xu branch and have a sour affinity, representing the animal of Jueyin; Plums are green in color and astringent in taste, representing the fruit of the Liver. In meridian Qi, it governs the Foot Jueyin; in Zang organs, it governs the Liver; in color, it governs Green/Cyan; in flavor, it governs Sour; in season, it governs Spring. Individuals of Shang Jue, Tai Jue, Right Jue, [Textual Error] Jue, and [Textual Error] Jue all similarly regulate the flavors of these grains and fruits. Qiu Rulin said: Regulating the five tones supplements the five Zang organs, while regulating the four variations supplements the six Fu organs. The *Ling Shu: Nine Needles* chapter states: Among the five flavors, Sour enters the Liver, Pungent enters the Lung, Bitter enters the Heart, Sweet enters the Spleen, Salty enters the Kidney, and Bland enters the Stomach. This is called the Five Flavors.
Zhang Ji’s note: The Stomach is the sea of the five Zang and six Fu organs; water and grain all enter the Stomach, and the five Zang and six Fu organs all receive Qi from the Stomach. Each of the five flavors travels to its preferred organ. Once the Qi of grain and fluids have circulated, Ying and Wei Qi flow freely and transmit sequentially downward. Wang Zilv said: Blandness attaches to Sweetness, therefore Blandness enters the Stomach.