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Someone asked Shengshengzi: "In the *Linglan Midian Lun* (Treatise on the Secret Canon of Spiritual Orchids), the nobility and mutual service of the twelve meridians are discussed, yet why is the Hand Jueyin Pericardium (Hand Heart Master) omitted?" Shengshengzi replied: "It is not omitted; it is encompassed by the mention of 'Shanzhong' (Chest Center/Pericardium). 'Shanzhong is the official of the minister envoy, from which joy and pleasure emerge.' The *Lingshu · Zhang Lun* (Spiritual Pivot · Treatise on Distension) states: 'The chest and abdomen are the outer walls of the zang-fu organs. Shanzhong is the palace city of the Heart Master.' The *Suwen · Yi Pian* (Basic Questions · Lost Chapters) states: Shanzhong is located between the two breasts in the chest, serving as the Sea of Qi, the residence of the Hand Jueyin Pericardium Meridian. This is the seat of Ministerial Fire (Xiang Huo), hence referred to as the minister envoy, governing joy and pleasure.

Someone asked regarding the classification of the twelve meridians into Hand and Foot categories: what is the reason? Shengshengzi replied: "This is the principle of Yin-Yang coordination between upper and lower parts. The meridians of the Hand start at the hands, and those of the Foot start at the feet. The Hand meridians govern the upper body, while the Foot meridians govern the lower body. The distinction between Hand and Foot meridians serves to record the upper and lower regions, similar to the statement in the *I Ching* (Book of Changes): that which originates from Heaven tends toward the upper, and that which originates from Earth tends toward the lower. The *Suwen · Yunqi Pian* (Basic Questions · Treatise on Five Movements and Six Qi) states: The Heart, Lung, and Pericardium are all above the diaphragm and belong to the Hand meridians; the Liver, Spleen, and Kidney are below and belong to the Foot meridians. Hand meridians pair with Hand meridians, and Foot meridians pair with Foot meridians. The Yin-Yang coordination of the zang-fu organs within the Hand and Foot meridians follows this pattern, constituting a single harmony. Someone asked: Since the zang-fu organs are already coordinated by Yin-Yang and exterior-interior relationships, why is there no concept of husband-wife pairing? I say: Husband-wife pairing discusses Yin-Yang through the lens of mutual overcoming (Ke); here, Yin-Yang is discussed based on the similarity of Hand and Foot categories. This is a natural tendency that must not be disrupted. For example, the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian belongs to Metal, is Interior, is Yin, and is a Hand meridian; thus, it is paired with the Hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian (Metal). The Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian belongs to Fire, is Interior, is Yin, and is a Hand meridian; thus, it is paired with the Hand Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian (Fire). The Foot Taiyin Spleen Meridian belongs to Earth, is Yin, is Interior, and is a Foot meridian; thus, it is paired with the Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian (Earth). The Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian belongs to Wood, is Yin, is Interior, and is a Foot meridian; thus, it is paired with the Foot Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian (Wood). The Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian belongs to Water, is Yin, is Interior, and is a Foot meridian; thus, it is paired with the Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian (Water). This constitutes the correct coordination of the Five Zang and Five Fu organs according to the Five Elements. The Hand Jueyin Pericardium Meridian belongs to Fire, and the Hand Shaoyang Sanjiao (Triple Burner) Meridian also belongs to Fire. Although these two meridians lack specific physical forms, both are classified as Ministerial Fire. One is the Father of Qi, belonging to the Exterior; the other is the Mother of Blood, belonging to the Interior. This is also a pairing by category. Hands pair with Hands, Feet pair with Feet, Yin pairs with Yang, Fire pairs with Fire, Water pairs with Water, Metal pairs with Metal, Wood pairs with Wood, and Earth pairs with Earth. All are natural tendencies, inevitably so. (Observing this coordination reveals that the Yin-Yang of the upper and lower extremities have fixed counterparts: Hand meridians pair with the Yin-Yang of the Hands, and Foot meridians pair with the Yin-Yang of the Feet. Therefore, it is clear that the Sanjiao of the Hand meridians does not pair with the Right Kidney of the Foot meridians.)"