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Water is Yin, and Fire is Yang. Among water and fire, fire is particularly important. This is because water belongs to Yin; Yin alone cannot generate life but must rely on the Yang Qi of fire to produce vitality. Therefore, water must be heated by fire before it can be drunk, and food must be cooked by fire before it can be eaten. On earth, it manifests as water; in heaven, it corresponds to cold. On earth, it manifests as fire; in heaven, it corresponds to heat. The warm and hot Yang Qi can nurture all things, but if it encounters Yin-cold Qi, all things will perish. If a physician can understand the principle of weighing priorities within the relationship between water and fire, then there will be more lives saved and fewer deaths.

The *Classic* states: "Yin and Yang have names but no specific form." Their numbers can be extended to ten, then to a hundred; to a thousand, then to ten thousand; even reaching ten thousand, they are incalculable. Speaking generally, Yang is often in excess, while Yin is often deficient. In the cosmos, Heaven is Yang and Earth is Yin, with Heaven enveloping Earth. In the human body, Qi is Yang and Blood is Yin, with Qi actually leading Blood. In a year of 360 days, the sun shines brightly for over 300 days. Brightness represents Yang, while rain and dampness represent Yin. Yang being in excess and Yin being deficient is the evidence. Humans correspond to Heaven and Earth and resonate with the Sun and Moon, so their Yang Qi should also be in excess. Generally, Yang governs Qi and Yin governs Blood. If a person suffers sudden massive loss of Yin Blood, as long as Yang Qi remains, death will not occur immediately. However, if Yang Qi escapes, even if Yin Blood is abundant, life cannot be sustained until dawn. If one understands that Yang is heavier than Yin within the balance of Yin and Yang, then when treating diseases, there will naturally be hope for survival, and I believe we can avoid the fatal errors caused by indiscriminate use of cooling and purging methods!

"Locations" refer to the head, face, chest, back, flanks, abdomen, hands, and feet, each having its specific region and governing position.
The head is the leader of the Three Yang meridians. The Taiyang (Greater Yang) meridian starts from the Yintang point, passes through the forehead and vertex, descends from the brain to the nape, covering the areas of the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian, hence the head is called the leader of the Three Yang. The cheekbones belong to the Kidney. The *Treatise on Acupuncture and Heat* states: "When redness appears on the cheekbones, the heat internally connects to the Kidney." The eyes are the orifices of the Liver, and the essence of the Five Zang organs pours into them. Thus, the pupil belongs to the Kidney, the black part (cornea/iris area) belongs to the Liver, the white part (sclera) belongs to the Lungs, the inner and outer canthi (palpebral caruncle/canthi) belong to the Heart, and the eyelids belong to the Spleen. The nostrils are the orifices of the Lungs, located centrally, and thus also belong to the Spleen. The passage connecting the nose and mouth inside the nasal cavity is called the *hangsang* (nasopharynx), also known as the storage gate, which is the area where Liver and Lung Qi intersect. The mouth is the orifice of the Spleen, and the inner and outer lips are governed by the Spleen. The tongue is the sprout of the Heart; teeth are the surplus of bones, and the gums (dental alveoli) belong to the Stomach. Below the tongue and inside the cheeks lie the Lianquan and Yuying points, which are the upper sources of body fluids. The ears are the orifices of the Kidneys, and the Heart also opens into the ears. The Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian originates at Yingxiang beside the nose, crosses the nasal root, runs down the lateral side of the nose, enters the gum, and circles the lips. The Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian originates at Tongziliao at the outer canthus, ascends to the temporal angle, runs behind the ear, enters the ear, and emerges anterior to the ear. These locations on the head and face each have their specific affiliations.

Below the head and face, there is the throat and pharynx in front, and the neck at the back. The larynx (throat/trachea) is on the right, and the pharynx (esophagus) is on the left. The larynx is the airway and is hard; the pharynx is the food pipe and is soft. Between the throat and pharynx lies the deep throat (*kengyi*), above which is the root of the tongue. The root of the tongue is at the end of the mandible, while the epiglottis is at the end of the maxilla. The collaterals of the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian connect to the root of the tongue, as do those of the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian and the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian. Outside the throat and pharynx, on both sides, lies the Renying pulse (carotid artery), which belongs to the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian. Below Renying, in the hollow of the clavicle, is the Quepen point, governed by the Lungs. Furthermore, the Yangming meridians run along the anterior body, from the face to the chest-diaphragm area, all governed by the Yangming meridians. Below Quepen and above the breasts is the Yingzhong. The center of Yingzhong is called Shangge (Upper Diaphragm), which is the Upper Jiao. The *Classic* states: "The Upper Jiao opens and develops, distributing the flavors of grains, steaming the skin, filling the body, and moistening the hair, like mist and dew." Below Shangge is Gezhong, i.e., the chest-diaphragm. Between the chest and diaphragm is Danzhong, which is the Pericardium (Xinbao). The Pericardium governs Blood and vessels, extending horizontally and spreading everywhere. Below the Pericardium are the stomach collaterals, connected and spread horizontally among the meridians. The chest is the palace city of the Heart Master, with the Pericardium enveloping the Heart externally. The Lungs are the chief of the Five Zang, covering the Heart superiorly. Below the heart pit is the Middle Jiao. The Stomach has three wans (parts): next to the Upper Jiao is the Shangwan (Upper Wan); next to the Middle Jiao is the Zhongwan (Middle Wan); next to the Lower Jiao is the Xiawan (Lower Wan). Behind the head and face is the neck. The center of the neck is Fengfu; the sides are Fengchi. The prominent Dazhui below the neck is the first vertebra of the spine. From the spine downward, to the sides of the seventh vertebra, is the Geshu point. The *Classic* states: "Beside the seventh vertebra lies the Xiao Xin (Minor Heart)," indicating that Geshu is the pathway for Heart Qi circulation. The Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian runs along the back. These chest and back locations each have their specific affiliations.

Below the chest-diaphragm is the abdomen. The sides of the chest-diaphragm are the flanks. The flanks are situated between the anterior chest and posterior back, running along the lateral body. Above the flank is the axilla; below is the hypochondrium. The Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian runs along the back and governs "Opening"; the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian runs along the front and governs "Closing"; the Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian runs along the side and governs the "Pivot." Without Opening, Closing cannot occur; without Closing, Opening cannot occur. Without the Pivot, Opening and Closing cannot function; thus, the Pivot is the key to Opening and Closing. The large abdomen is called Kun Earth, referring to the Taiyin Spleen Earth. Above the large abdomen, between the lower wan, is Middle Earth, referring to the Yangming Stomach Earth. The Large Intestine, named Hui Chang (coiled intestine), spirals on the left and right of the abdomen. The Small Intestine is in front of the Large Intestine, and the umbilicus is the summary point of the Small Intestine. Adjacent to the left and right of the umbilicus is the origin of the Chong Mai (Penetrating Vessel). The *Classic* states: "The Chong Mai is the arterial pulse on the left and right of the umbilicus." Below the umbilicus is the lower abdomen. The sides of the lower abdomen are called Shaofu. The lower abdomen belongs to the Shaoyin Water Zang (Kidney) and Water Fu (Bladder). The Shaofu is the residence of the Jueyin Liver and the Baozhong (Sea of Blood). The Sea of Blood resides outside the Bladder, named Baozhong; the Bladder resides inside the Sea of Blood. Hence, it is said: "The Bladder is the chamber of the Baozhong." Entering the anterior yin from the lower abdomen belongs to the Shaoyin, Taiyin, and Yangming meridians. The *Classic* states: "The Kidney opens into the anterior and posterior yin," so the anterior yin belongs to Shaoyin. The *Classic* also states: "The anterior yin is the gathering place of the Zongjin (tendons), where Taiyin and Yangming combine." Additionally, Yangming moistens the Zongjin. Thus, the anterior yin also belongs to Taiyin and Yangming. The scrotum and testicles belong to the Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian. Hence, the *Classic* states: "In Jueyin disease, the tongue curls and the scrotum retracts." Tongue curling involves the Hand-Jueyin Pericardium; scrotal retraction involves the Foot-Jueyin Liver. It is also said: "When Jueyin Qi perishes, the testicles retract upward, leading to death." These flank and abdominal locations each have their specific affiliations.

The two hands and two feet are called the Four Limbs. Above the hands are the elbows and axillae; above the feet are the popliteal fossae (Guo) and thighs (Bi). The two elbows, two axillae, two popliteal fossae, and two thighs are called the Eight Xu (Empty/Vulnerable spots). From the arm to the hand, the Hand-Taiyin Lung Metal Meridian originates, involving the Hand-Shaoyin Heart and Hand-Jueyin Pericardium. These three Hand-Yin meridians travel from the chest to the hands. From the foot to the thigh, the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian originates, involving the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney and Foot-Jueyin Liver. These three Foot-Yin meridians travel from the feet to the chest. The Twelve Primary Meridians of the Hand and Foot, consisting of Three Yin and Three Yang, interconnect and circulate throughout the body. The Hand-Yin meridians go from chest to hand; the Hand-Yang meridians go from hand to head—thus, Hand Yin and Yang circulate in the arms. The Foot-Yang meridians go from head to foot; the Foot-Yin meridians go from foot to chest—thus, Foot Yin and Yang circulate in the legs and thighs. These hand and foot locations each have their specific affiliations.

The *Ling Shu* details the Twelve Primary Meridians circulating throughout the body, yet physicians may not fully comprehend them. Here is a summary: The Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian originates in the Middle Jiao, exits laterally under the axilla, follows the medial aspect of the arm, emerges between the thumb and index finger, and connects with the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian. The Large Intestine Meridian originates at the radial side of the index finger, follows the lateral aspect of the arm, enters the Quepen (supraclavicular fossa), ascends to the face, runs alongside the nostrils, and connects with the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian. The Stomach Meridian originates at the nasal root, reaches the forehead, follows the throat, descends through the diaphragm, runs alongside the umbilicus, enters the knee patella, descends to the dorsum of the foot, emerges at the big toe, and connects with the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian. The Spleen Meridian originates at the big toe, ascends anterior to the knee and thigh, enters the abdomen, ascends through the diaphragm, connects to the root of the tongue, injects into the Heart, and connects with the Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian. The Heart Meridian originates in the Heart, ascends to the Lungs, runs alongside the pharynx, exits the axilla, follows the medial aspect of the arm, reaches the palm bone, emerges at the ulnar side of the little finger, and connects with the Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian. The Small Intestine Meridian originates at the ulnar side of the little finger, exits the wrist, follows the lateral aspect of the arm, connects at the shoulder, enters the ear, reaches the inner canthus, and connects with the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian. The Bladder Meridian originates at the inner canthus, descends from the head through the neck and spine, follows the paraspinal muscles, descends the posterior leg, reaches the lateral side of the little toe, and connects with the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian. The Kidney Meridian originates at the little toe, follows the sole of the foot, ascends through the thigh, penetrates the spine, ascends through the liver and diaphragm, enters the Lungs, runs alongside the root of the tongue, injects into the chest, and connects with the Hand-Jueyin Pericardium Meridian. The Pericardium Meridian originates in the chest, follows the chest, exits the costal region, enters the elbow, follows the arm, passes through the palm, follows between the little and index fingers, and connects with the Hand-Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian. The Sanjiao Meridian originates between the little and index fingers, follows the arm, exits the lateral aspect of the arm, penetrates the elbow, ascends to the shoulder, enters the ear, emerges anterior and posterior to the ear, reaches the outer canthus, and connects with the Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian. The Gallbladder Meridian originates at the outer canthus, goes from behind the ear to the shoulder, converges at Quepen, descends into the chest, passes the hypochondrium, emerges at the knee, follows the dorsum of the foot, emerges at the big toe, and connects with the Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian. The Liver Meridian originates at the pubic hair of the big toe, ascends through the medial thigh, passes the genitalia, reaches the lower abdomen, ascends into the chest, and connects with the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian. This completes one cycle of the Twelve Primary Meridians, demonstrating that the head, face, chest, back, hands, and feet each have specific affiliations, forming the network of bodily locations.