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Regarding the proposition that "the spiritual mechanism (Lingji, referring to mental activity and consciousness) and memory reside in the brain rather than the heart," this topic arguably should not have been discussed; even if explained clearly, it would likely be difficult to implement or accept. If one wishes not to discuss it, there are many diseases where people fail to recognize that the "spiritual mechanism" originates from the head/brain, instead attributing them solely to the heart.

There is a vessel entering the heart, turning left out of the heart, passing through the lungs into the spine, named the "Wei Zong Guan" (General Manager of Defensive Qi). Anteriorly, it connects to the Qi Fu and Jing Dao; posteriorly, it connects to the spine; superiorly, it connects to both shoulders; medially, it connects to both kidneys; inferiorly, it connects to both legs. This vessel is the repository for Yuan Qi (Original Qi) and Jin Ye (Body Fluids). The entry and exit of Qi pass through the heart; the heart is merely the pathway for Qi's movement, so how can it generate the spiritual mechanism or store memory?

The reason why the spiritual mechanism and memory reside in the brain is as follows: Diet generates Qi and Blood, which nourish muscles. The purest essence of fluids transforms into Marrow (Sui), which travels up the spinal bone into the brain, named Brain Marrow (Nao Sui). The container holding the brain marrow is named the Sea of Marrow (Sui Hai). The bone above it is named the Tian Ling Gai (Heavenly Spirit Cover). The two ears connect to the brain, and all sounds heard return to the brain. If Brain Qi is deficient, the brain shrinks. If the Qi of the brain does not connect with the Qi of the ear orifices, deficiency deafness occurs. If there is obstruction in the pathway connecting the ear orifices to the brain, excess deafness occurs.

The two eyes are generated from Brain Juice. The optic nerves are like threads extending into the brain; all visual objects perceived return to the brain. The whiteness of the pupil is due to Brain Juice flowing downward into the eye, a process named "Brain Juice Entering the Eyes." The nose connects to the brain, and all odors perceived return to the brain. If the brain is affected by Wind-Heat, Brain Juice flows out through the nose; the nasal discharge becomes turbid and foul-smelling, a condition named Nao Lou (Brain Leakage).

Observing newborn infants, their brains are not fully developed; the fontanelle is soft, their eyes lack agility, they do not hear, they do not smell, and their tongues cannot speak. By one year of age, the brain gradually develops, the fontanelle closes, they begin to hear slightly, their eyes show slight agility, they faintly perceive smells, and their tongues can utter one or two words. By three or four years of age, the brain marrow is nearly full, the fontanelle is completely closed, they can hear, their eyes are agile, they perceive smells, and their speech forms sentences. Therefore, children lack memory because their brain marrow is not yet full; the elderly lack memory because their brain marrow gradually empties.

Li Shizhen stated: "The brain is the mansion of the Primordial Spirit." Zheng Jingxi stated: "Human memory resides entirely in the brain." Wang An stated: "People today, when recalling past events, must close their eyes and look upward to ponder."

If there is temporarily no Qi in the brain marrow, not only is there no spiritual mechanism, but death ensues momentarily; if there is no Qi for even an instant, death occurs instantly.

Consider Epilepsy (Xian Zheng), commonly known as Sheep Lamb Wind (Yang Gao Feng); this is precisely when Yuan Qi temporarily fails to ascend and enter the brain marrow. During convulsions, it is as if a living person has a dead brain. The term "living person" refers to the fact that Qi first leaves the abdomen; the Qi in the chest does not know how to enter or exit and suddenly rushes outward. During convulsions, a gurgling sound is heard in the chest because Body Fluids are trapped in the airways. Since the brain lacks the Qi of the spiritual mechanism to facilitate the swallowing and expectoration of fluids, the fluids stagnate in the airways, causing this sound. Headache and drowsiness after convulsions occur because although Qi has entered the brain, it is still insufficient. Convulsive wind in children after prolonged illness due to deficient Yuan Qi, and sudden Qi Jue (Qi Syncope) in adults, are both caused by a lack of Qi in the brain, resulting in the patient having no awareness. Based on this reference, is this not evidence that the spiritual mechanism resides in the brain!