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Huangdi said: I wish to hear about the "Fifty Circulations" (Wu Shi Ying). How does it work? Qibo replied: The celestial sphere encompasses twenty-eight mansions (Er Shi Ba Xiu, ancient Chinese constellations), each corresponding to thirty-six fen (ancient angular units). When Qi in the human body completes one circulation, it traverses one thousand and eight fen (this refers to the physical aspect derived from celestial degrees). The sun travels through the twenty-eight mansions daily. The human meridians, distributed above, below, left, right, front, and back, number twenty-eight, with a total length of sixteen zhang and two chi, corresponding to the twenty-eight celestial mansions (this refers to the dynamic aspect derived from solar motion. The water clock has three layers; as it drips, it becomes tighter layer by layer. This "leak" layer is extracted from the concepts of heaven and sun to serve as the standard for the Fifty Circulations. Thus, one hundred ke perfectly corresponds to the Fifty Circulations). The water clock drips one hundred ke to divide day and night. Therefore, with each exhalation, the pulse beats twice, and Qi moves three cun; with each inhalation, the pulse also beats twice, and Qi moves another three cun. One exhalation and one inhalation constitute one breath (Xi), during which Qi moves six cun. In ten breaths, Qi moves six chi. The sun moves two fen. In two hundred and seventy breaths, Qi moves sixteen zhang and two chi. Qi circulates internally and externally, completing one circuit around the body while the water clock drops two ke, and the sun moves twenty-five fen. In five hundred and forty breaths, Qi completes a second circuit around the body, the water clock drops four ke, and the sun moves forty fen. In two thousand seven hundred breaths, Qi completes ten circuits around the body, the water clock drops twenty ke, and the sun moves five mansions and twenty-two fen. In thirteen thousand five hundred breaths, Qi completes fifty circuits (Ying) around the body, the water clock drops one hundred ke, and the sun completes the twenty-eight mansions. When the water clock is empty, the pulse movement ends. What is called "traffic" (Jiao Tong) means running in parallel according to the same numerical principle. Thus, when the Fifty Circulations are complete, one can enjoy the full lifespan granted by Heaven and Earth. The total distance traveled is eight hundred and ten zhang.

In these scant two hundred characters, there are many stories and discussions covered within. The title contains only three characters, "Fifty Circulations," yet the text conjures up numerous numbers, creating an extremely vibrant atmosphere.

Huangdi said: The way of Ying Qi (Nutritive Qi) values internal grain nourishment above all. Grain enters the stomach, then transmits to the lungs, where its essence flows and spreads throughout the interior and exterior. The purest and most specialized part travels within the meridian tunnels, circulating ceaselessly, ending and beginning again. This is called the norm of Heaven and Earth. Thus, Qi emerges from the Lung Meridian of Hand-Taiyin, injects into the Large Intestine Meridian of Hand-Yangming, travels upward, injects into the Stomach Meridian of Foot-Yangming, descends to the dorsum of the foot, injects into the space between the big toes, combines with the Spleen Meridian of Foot-Taiyin, ascends to reach the Spleen, and from the Spleen injects into the Heart. It follows the Heart Meridian of Hand-Shaoyin, emerges from the axilla, descends the arm, injects into the tip of the little finger, combines with the Small Intestine Meridian of Hand-Taiyang, ascends through the axilla, emerges at the cheek/ear area, enters the inner canthus of the eye, ascends to the vertex, descends the nape, combines with the Bladder Meridian of Foot-Taiyang, follows the spine, descends to the sacrum, goes down to inject into the tip of the little toe, follows the sole of the foot, injects into the Kidney Meridian of Foot-Shaoyin, ascends to inject into the Kidneys. From the Kidneys, it injects into the Heart, disperses outward into the chest, follows the Pericardium Meridian of Hand-Jueyin, emerges from the axilla, descends the arm, emerges between the two tendons, enters the palm, emerges at the tip of the middle finger, returns to inject into the tip of the ring finger, combines with the Sanjiao Meridian of Hand-Shaoyang, ascends, injects into the Danzhong (Chest Center), disperses into the Triple Burner. From the Triple Burner, it injects into the Gallbladder Meridian, emerges from the hypochondrium, injects into the Gallbladder Meridian of Foot-Shaoyang, descends to the dorsum of the foot, then from the dorsum injects into the space between the big toes, combines with the Liver Meridian of Foot-Jueyin, ascends to the Liver. From the Liver, it ascends and injects into the Lungs, follows the throat upward, enters the opening of the nasopharynx (Hangsang), and ultimately reaches the nasal orifice (Chumen). Its branch ascends to the forehead, follows the vertex, descends the nape, follows the spine, enters the Du Mai (Governing Vessel), connects with the genitalia, passes over the pubic hair, enters the umbilicus, ascends along the interior of the abdomen, enters the clavicular fossa (Quepen), descends to inject into the Lungs, and re-emerges into the Lung Meridian of Hand-Taiyin. This is the pathway of Ying Qi, the normal pattern of reverse and forward flow.

First, the general idea is raised as an introduction, followed by a detailed narration of the matter. This is also a common format in writing, with clean and pleasing brushwork.