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Yuèrén (Bian Que) stated that the left is the Kidney and the right is the Mingmen (Gate of Life), which is incorrect. The Mingmen is located between the two Kidneys, one cun and five fen from each, corresponding to the center of the body. This aligns with the *I Ching*’s description of "one Yang trapped within two Yins," and the *Neijing*’s statement: "Beside the seventh vertebra, there is a small heart." It is named Mingmen, serving as the true Sovereign, the Taiji of the entire body. It has no visible form; its dwelling place is within the two Kidneys.

The Sanjiao (Triple Burner) acts as the ministerial envoy, executing orders and circulating ceaselessly among the Zang and Fu organs, known as Xianghuo (Ministerial Fire). Xianghuo performs transformations on behalf of Heaven. This is the pre-natal invisible fire, distinct from post-natal tangible fire, emerging from a small aperture on the right side.

On the left side, there is also a small aperture, through which Zhenyin Zhen Shui (True Yin and True Water) Qi ascends along the spine to the brain, becoming the Sea of Marrow. It secretes fluids, injects them into the vessels, and nourishes the four extremities. Internally, it irrigates the Zang and Fu organs, responding to temporal cycles. It typically follows Xianghuo in covert circulation throughout the body, differing from post-natal tangible water.

However, the invisible fire of the Mingmen resides within the tangible tissues of the two Kidneys, referred to as Huangting (Yellow Court). Thus, it is said that the true essence of the five Zang organs finds its root in the Kidney. Consequently, the Mingmen is the master of the twelve meridians. Without this fire, the Kidney cannot perform its function of strength and skill; without it, the Bladder lacks the Qi transformation of the Sanjiao, causing the water passages to stagnate; without it, the Spleen and Stomach cannot steam and rot food and drink, failing to produce the five flavors; without it, the Liver (General) loses decisiveness and planning; without it, the Large and Small Intestines lose their transformative functions, leading to constipation or incontinence; without it, the Heart’s Shen (Spirit) becomes dim, unable to respond to affairs. This is precisely what is meant by "if the Sovereign is unclear, the twelve officials are in danger." Consider the lanterns during the Lantern Festival or the walking horse lanterns: all figures are present, but at the center is merely fire. When the fire is strong, movement is fast; when weak, slow; when extinguished, stillness prevails. Yet the bodies of the figures remain intact. Thus, it is said: "This body does not belong to you; it is a form entrusted by Heaven and Earth."

Water serves as the gate of establishing life, the supreme treasure of the human body. Why do people today, seeking health, fail to restrain desires and preserve True Water to safeguard True Fire, instead harming themselves day and night? Once this fire is diseased, physicians often neglect to warm and nourish it, instead using cold and cooling herbs daily to extinguish it directly. How can one expect vitality under such conditions?

I now point directly to the path of returning to the source. The fire of the Mingmen’s true Sovereign is fire within water, inseparable from water. Excess fire stems from a deficiency of True Water; thus, one dare not eliminate fire but should tonify water to harmonize with fire—"Strengthen the master of water to control excessive yang." Deficiency of fire appears as excess water; thus, one need not drain water but should tonify fire within the context of water—"Benefit the origin of fire to dissipate yin shadows." The terms "origin" and "master" refer to the profound mysteries of pre-natal invisible qi, not implying that the Heart is fire with its origin in the Liver, or that the Kidney is water with its origin in the Lung.

Regarding the six external pathogens—Wind, Cold, Summerheat, Dampness, Dryness, and Fire—they are guest qi, not host qi. If host qi is solid, guest qi cannot enter. Physicians only know how to expel guests but neglect to strengthen host qi. Even those who advocate strengthening host qi focus solely on the Spleen and Stomach as the center of the body, failing to realize that Kun Earth (Spleen) is generated by Li Fire (Heart), and Gen Earth (Stomach/Large Intestine) is generated by Kan Water (Kidney).

Therefore, this water and fire both belong to invisible qi. Xianghuo receives orders from the Mingmen, and True Water follows Xianghuo. From Yin hour to Shen hour, it circulates twenty-five degrees in the Yang aspect; from You hour to Chou hour, it circulates twenty-five degrees in the Yin aspect, flowing continuously among the Zang and Fu organs. Stagnation leads to disease; cessation leads to death. Hence it is said: "In the pre-natal stage, only this single fire can complete everything." This fire returns to the Mingmen.