Library

The *Suwen* (Plain Questions), chapter "Six Jie Zangxiang Lun" (Treatise on the Six Jie and Viscera Manifestations) states: The Heart is the Taiyang (Greater Yang) within the Yang; the Lung is the Taiyin (Greater Yin) within the Yang; the Kidney is the Shaoyin (Lesser Yin) within the Yin; the Liver is the Shaoyang (Lesser Yang) within the Yang. However, the *Lingshu* (Spiritual Pivot), chapter "Jiuzhen Shieryuan" (Nine Needles and Twelve Source Points) states: The Shaoyin (Lesser Yin) within the Yang is the Lung; the Taiyang (Greater Yang) within the Yang is the Heart; the Shaoyang (Lesser Yang) within the Yin is the Liver; the Taiyin (Greater Yin) within the Yin is the Kidney. Examining this, the *Suwen* classifies the Liver as Yang based on its corresponding season/time; the *Lingshu* classifies the Liver as Yin based on its visceral nature. The *Suwen* refers to the Lung as Taiyin and the Kidney as Shaoyin by citing their meridian names; the *Lingshu* refers to the Lung as Shaoyin and the Kidney as Taiyin because the Lung, although a Yin organ, resides in a Yang position (upper jiao/chest), and the Kidney, although a Yin organ, resides in a Yin position (lower jiao/abdomen). Such is the difference between these two classics.

There are twelve primary meridians (Jingmai) and fifteen collaterals (Luomai), totaling twenty-seven Qi pathways that circulate up and down. The points where Qi emerges are called Jing-Well (Jing) points; where it flows lightly are Ying-Spring (Ying) points; where it pours is the Shu-Stream (Shu) point [text missing in original, usually implies Shu]; where it passes is the Yuan-Source (Yuan) point; where it travels is the Jing-River (Jing) point; and where it enters deeply is the He-Sea (He) point. Therefore, the *Benshu* (Roots and Transmissions) chapter of the *Lingshu* states: The Bladder meridian emerges at Zhiyin (BL-66), which is the Jing-Well point; flows through Tonggu (BL-65), which is the Ying-Spring point; pours into Shugu (BL-64), which is the Shu-Stream point; passes through Jinggu (BL-64 is often cited as Shu/Yuan overlap or BL-64/Shugu context depending on text version, here strictly following text: Jinggu is Yuan), which is the Yuan-Source point; travels through Kunlun (BL-60), which is the Jing-River point; and enters Weizhong (BL-40), which is the He-Sea point. The Gallbladder meridian emerges at Qiaoyin (GB-44), which is the Jing-Well point; flows through Xiaxi (GB-43); pours into Linqi (GB-41), which is the Shu-Stream point; passes through Qiuxu (GB-40), which is the Yuan-Source point; travels through Yangfu (GB-38), which is the Jing-River point; and enters Yanglingquan (GB-34), which is the He-Sea point. The Stomach meridian emerges at Lidui (ST-45), which is the Jing-Well point; flows through Neiting (ST-44), which is the Ying-Spring point; pours into Xangu (ST-43), which is the Shu-Stream point; passes through Chongyang (ST-42), which is the Yuan-Source point; travels through Jiexi (ST-41), which is the Jing-River point; and enters Xialing (Zusanli, ST-36), which is the He-Sea point. However, the *Genjie* (Roots and Knots) chapter of the *Lingshu* states: The root of the Foot-Taiyang Bladder meridian begins at Zhiyin, flows to Jinggu, pours into Kunlun, and enters Tianzhu (BL-10) and Feiyang (BL-58). The root of the Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder meridian begins at Qiaoyin, flows to Qiuxu, pours into Yangfu, and enters Tianrong (SI-17). The root of the Foot-Yangming Stomach meridian begins at Lidui, flows to Chongyang, pours to Xialing (Zusanli), and enters Renying (ST-9) and Fenglong (ST-40). Thus, regarding the locations of the Jing-Well, Ying-Spring, Shu-Stream, Yuan-Source, Jing-River, and He-Sea points, the descriptions differ between the two texts in this manner.