Library

Joy, anger, worry, grief, thought, fear, and alarm are called the Seven Emotions (Qing). The Seven Emotions connect with the Five Zang organs: Joy connects with the Heart, anger with the Liver, worry with the Lungs, grief and thought with the Spleen, fear with the Kidneys, and alarm with both the Heart and the Liver. Therefore, if the Seven Emotions are excessive, they will injure the Five Zang organs. Internal injury caused by the Seven Emotions leads to deficiency and loss, which is difficult to treat. One must identify which specific Zang organ is injured, observe the complexion, examine the pulse, verify the physical form and spirit, and detail whether the condition is due to excess or deficiency, before regulating and balancing it. This is perhaps only within the capability of the wise!

The Five Zang organs are Yin, and the Six Fu organs are Yang; the Jing-Mai (Meridians) are Yin, and the Luo-Vessels are Yang. The Zang-Fu organs and Jing-Luo vessels have been discussed in detail in the *Nei Jing* (Inner Canon). Now, I will summarize the essentials. The Five Zang organs are governed by the Three Yin channels: Jueyin governs the Liver, Shaoyin governs the Heart and Kidneys, and Taiyin governs the Lungs and Spleen. The Liver, Heart, Spleen, Lungs, and Kidneys correspond to Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water, respectively. Liver-Wood corresponds to Wind, Heart-Fire to Heat, Spleen-Earth to Dampness, Lung-Metal to Dryness, and Kidney-Water to Cold. Thus, the Five Zang combine with the Five Movements (Wu Yun), encompassing the Six Qi (Six Energies): Wind, Fire, Heat, Dampness, Dryness, and Cold. The combination of the Six Qi and Five Movements occurs because the two Fires of Shaoyin and Shaoyang combine with the Five Movements. The Five Zang organs are有形 (tangible/formed), containing Qi within their forms. This Qi connects with the Six Fu organs and circulates through the Jing-Sui (Meridian pathways). Circulating through the Jing-Sui, the Skin, Muscle, Pulse, Tendons, and Bones serve as external correspondences for the Five Zang: for example, the Lungs correspond to the Skin, the Spleen to the Muscle, the Heart to the Pulse, the Liver to the Tendons, and the Kidneys to the Bones. Connecting with the Six Fu organs, the Five Zang and Six Fu exist as interior-exterior pairs: for instance, the Lungs and Large Intestine are paired, the Spleen and Stomach are paired, the Heart and Small Intestine are paired, the Liver and Gallbladder are paired, and the Kidneys and Bladder are paired. This outlines the general nature of the Five Zang. As for the Six Fu organs, they are governed by the Three Yang channels: Shaoyang governs the Gallbladder and Sanjiao (Triple Burner), Yangming governs the Stomach and Large Intestine, and Taiyang governs the Bladder and Small Intestine. The Gallbladder and Sanjiao belong to the Wood-Fire Qi of Shaoyang; the Stomach and Large Intestine belong to the Earth-Metal Qi of Yangming; the Bladder and Small Intestine belong to the Water-Fire Qi of Taiyang. These Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, and Fire energies combine with the Three Yang channels to govern the Six Fu organs. The Six Fu organs are also tangible, each containing Qi within its form. This Qi internally connects with the Five Zang organs and externally circulates through the meridians. It is said that the Five Zang have Shu-Points, and the Six Fu also have Shu-Points; the Five Zang have He-Sea Points, and the Six Fu also have He-Sea Points. This outlines the general nature of the Six Fu organs.

The Three Yin channels govern the Five Zang organs, but Jueyin not only governs the Liver but also the Pericardium. Thus, the Hand and Foot Three Yin and Three Yang channels constitute the Twelve Principal Meridians (Jing-Mai). In the Twelve Principal Meridians, Qi flows from the Chest to the Hands, from the Hands to the Head, from the Head to the Feet, and from the Feet to the Chest. Internally, it connects with the Zang-Fu organs; externally, it connects with the Luo-Vessels, circulating around the body. Externally connecting with the Luo-Vessels, it merges with Sun-Luo (Branch Collaterals) and seeps into the skin and hair pores. Internally connecting with the Zang-Fu organs, it merges with the blood in the meridians and circulates Ying (Nutrient) and Wei (Defensive) Qi, described as "Qi warming and Blood moistening," flowing continuously without cessation. Nowadays, people do not understand the depth of the skin, muscle, and meridians. When encountering sudden onset of cold and heat conditions involving the meridians, they generally administer medicines targeting the Qi level, rarely achieving effectiveness. There are twelve meridians, converging at 365 acupoints, with 365 meridian pathways, as detailed in the *Su Wen*. This outlines the general nature of the Principal Meridians. Outside the Principal Meridians are the Luo-Vessels; outside the Luo-Vessels are the Sun-Luo. Hence, it is said that the Principal Meridians are Yin and the Collaterals are Yang. Generally, those running straight and encircling the body are Jing (Principal Meridians), while those running horizontally and encircling left and right are Luo (Collaterals). Beyond the Twelve Principal Meridians, there is the Great Luo of the Spleen, named Da Bao (Great Wrap); together with Wei Yi (Tail Feather) of the Ren Mai (Conception Vessel) and Chang Qiang (Long Strong) of the Du Mai (Governing Vessel), they form the Fifteen Great Collaterals. These Great Collaterals emerge outside the Principal Meridians and cause peculiar diseases characterized by mutual infusion between left and right sides. Peculiar diseases refer to ailments where pathology on the left influences the right, and vice versa, which are diseases of the Luo-Vessels. For diseases of the Luo-Vessels, the *Su Wen* prescribes the Miu Ci (Contralateral Needling) method for treatment. Outside the Luo-Vessels are the Sun-Luo. The Sun-Luo connect with the skin, located within the hair pores of the entire body, where the blood from the胞 (uterus/blood chamber) fills the flesh, warms the muscles, and seeps into the skin and hair pores. The classic states: "Sun-Luo branches off from the meridians, numbering 365 acupoint intersections." Another needling method states: "When needling the hair and interstices, do not injure the skin." Knowing the junction where the hair follicles and interstices meet the skin reveals the location of the Sun-Luo. This concludes the general discussion on Sun-Luo, derived from the discussion on Luo-Vessels.