Library

The classic texts state: The Liver is the official of the General, from whom strategies and deliberations arise. It is also stated that the Liver resides below the diaphragm, with its upper part attached to the ninth thoracic vertebra of the spine. This meridian typically has abundant blood but scarce Qi. It corresponds to the sinews (Jin), its flourishing aspect manifests in the nails, it primarily stores the Hun (Ethereal Soul), and opens into the eyes. Its connecting system links upward to the Heart and Lungs, while downward it has no orifice connecting to the exterior.

The *Nan Jing* (Classic of Difficult Issues) states: The Liver weighs two jin and four liang. It has three lobes on the left and four on the right, totaling seven lobes. As an organ, its functional governance is located on the left, while its physical body is situated in the right hypochondrium, anterior to the right Kidney, adjacent to the Stomach, and attached to the ninth thoracic vertebra of the spine.

The Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian originates at the lateral end of the big toe where hair grows. It ascends along the medial margin of the dorsum of the foot, one cun anterior to the medial malleolus, reaches eight cun above the ankle, crosses posterior to the Foot Taiyin Spleen Meridian, ascends along the medial aspect of the thigh, enters the pubic region, passes around the external genitalia, reaches the lower abdomen, flanks the Stomach, belongs to the Liver, and connects with the Gallbladder. It pierces through the diaphragm, spreads within the hypochondrium, follows the posterior aspect of the pharynx, enters the nasopharynx (Hangsang), connects with the optic nerve system, emerges onto the forehead, and meets the Du Meridian at the vertex. A branch descends from the optic nerve system to the inner cheek, encircling the interior of the lips. Another branch diverges from the Liver, pierces through the diaphragm, and flows upward into the Lung.

The Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian terminates here. It begins at the hairy margin of the tip of the big toe. At Taichong (LR3) on the medial margin of the dorsum of the foot, it divides. One cun anterior to the medial malleolus, it enters Zhongfeng (LR4). Ascending eight cun above the ankle, it crosses posterior to the Foot Taiyin Meridian, following the medial aspect of the thigh. It circles the genitalia and reaches the lower abdomen, flanking the Stomach, belonging to the Liver and connecting with the Gallbladder. It pierces the diaphragm and spreads in the hypochondrium, flanking the throat, passing through the nasopharynx and connecting with the optic nerve system. The meridian ascends to the vertex to meet the Du Meridian. A branch arises from the optic nerve system, descending to network the inner cheek and circle the lips. Another branch communicates from the diaphragm to the Lung.

[Note] The meridian of the Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian originates at Dadun (LR1) and Xingjian (LR2) at the hairy margin of the big toe. From Xingjian, it ascends along the medial margin of the dorsum of the foot to Taichong (LR3). From Taichong, one cun anterior to the medial malleolus, it reaches Zhongfeng (LR4). From Zhongfeng, ascending five cun along the medial malleolus, it enters Ligou (LR5). From Ligou, ascending seven cun above the ankle, it reaches Zhongdu (LR6). Ascending eight cun above the medial malleolus, it crosses posterior to the Foot Taiyin Spleen Meridian, ascending along the medial aspect to Guanyuan (not explicitly named in text but implied by location) and Ququan (LR8) at the knee. From Ququan, following the medial thigh via Yinbao (LR9) and Wuli (LR10), it enters Yinlian (LR11) in the pubic region, passes the genitalia to reach the lower abdomen, ascends to Zhangmen (LR13), proceeds to Qimen (LR14), moves inward from Qimen, flanks the Stomach, belongs to the Liver, connects with the Gallbladder, pierces the diaphragm, spreads in the hypochondrium, distributes among the Zang-Fu organs, follows the posterior pharynx, enters the nasopharynx, connects with the optic nerve system, ascends to the forehead, and meets the Du Meridian at the vertex. One branch does not ascend to the vertex but descends from below the eye to the inner cheek, circling the lips. Another branch diverges from the Liver, pierces the diaphragm, and flows upward into the Lung, thereby connecting with the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian.