人生之有经络。犹地理之有界分。治病不知经络。犹捕盗不知界分。其能无诛伐无过之咎乎。岐黄问
答。以经络为主。惟经络一明。然后知症见何经。用何经之药以治之。了然无谬。如古之善射御者。自有
得心应手之妙焉。假如腹之中行。系任脉一经。开两傍系足少阴肾经。又开两傍系足阳明胃经。又开
两傍系足太阴脾经。此皆在腹中者。其乳之在上在傍。系手太阴肺经手少阴心经手厥阴心包络经
也。又开两傍则在两肋。系足厥阴肝经。又肋之后。背之傍。系足少阳胆经。其脊之两傍各两行。系足太
阳膀胱经。若脊之中行。系督脉一经。手之外廉。系手三阳经。手之内廉。系手三阴经。足之外廉。系足三
阳经。足之内廉。系足三阴经。头乃手足六阳经所会。如耳前后。系手足少阳经。颧之上下。系手足阳明
经。两 傍。系手足太阳经。其鼻之上行。仍系督脉一经。又凡各经支别交会与夫足三阴。皆循喉咙挟
舌本。又足厥阴随督脉会于巅。虽未得备陈分寸起止。实乃十四经之大略也。内经所谓分肉者正指
此耳。至于奇经八脉。亦皆有起止病患也。假如肋痛。便知其为肝经。不分内外男妇大小。皆可识症用
药。稍近后便知其为胆经。则又当随症加减矣。由些言之。则凡十四经所在。皆可类推也。
陀云。痈疽之作。其行也有处。其主也有归。如心之发于喉舌。肺之发于皮肤。脾之发于肌肉。肝之发
于筋肋。肾之发于骨髓是也。阴毒发于下。阳毒发于上。腑之发于外。脏之发于内。发于下者得之缓。
发于上者得之速。感于腑者易治。感于脏者难疗。故内曰坏。外曰溃。上曰从。下曰逆。近骨者多冷。久
而不愈。化血生虫。虫则多庠少疼。或先庠后疼。近肤者多热。久而不愈。传气成漏。漏则多疼少痒。或
不疼不痒。发于虚处者多险。发于节而相应者不治。（应为内外通溃也）
手足十二经有气血多少之分。歌曰。多气多血君须记。手经大肠足经胃。多气少血有六经。三焦胆肾
心脾肺。多血少气心胞络。膀胱小肠肝所异。
治以气多者行其气。血多者破其血。气少者难于起发。补托之。血少者难于收敛。滋养之。虽然。厥阴经
有相火。难治。少阳经有相火。而更难治。故足少阴当作气血两虚治也。用药之道。如东垣之处方。矧有
兼风、兼痰、兼湿、兼气、兼血、兼阴、虚等症。病本不同。治当求备。较之世俗图人形疮样而不分经络者。大
相径庭矣。
The human body possesses meridians, just as geography has boundaries. Treating diseases without understanding the meridians is like capturing thieves without knowing their operational zones; would one not incur the fault of punishing the innocent (unjustified attack)? The dialogues between Qibo and Huangdi in the *Huangdi Neijing* (Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon) take the meridians as the core. Only when the meridians are clearly understood can one know which meridian a symptom belongs to, and thus use herbs corresponding to that meridian for treatment, ensuring clarity and accuracy. This is akin to ancient masters of archery and charioteering, who naturally achieved the exquisite state of ease and proficiency.
For instance, the midline of the abdomen is traversed by the Ren Mai (Conception Vessel). Moving laterally from there lies the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian. Further lateral is the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian, and further still is the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian. These all reside within the abdominal region. The upper and lateral aspects of the breasts belong to the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian, Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian, and Hand-Jueyin Pericardium Meridian. Extending further laterally to the hypochondriac region corresponds to the Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian. Posterior to the ribs and along the lateral back corresponds to the Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian. On either side of the spine, arranged in two rows, is the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian. The midline of the spine itself is traversed by the Du Mai (Governing Vessel). The lateral aspect of the arms corresponds to the Three Yang Meridians of the Hand, while the medial aspect corresponds to the Three Yin Meridians of the Hand. The lateral aspect of the legs corresponds to the Three Yang Meridians of the Foot, and the medial aspect corresponds to the Three Yin Meridians of the Foot. The head is the convergence point of the Six Yang Meridians of the Hand and Foot. For example, the areas anterior and posterior to the ears correspond to the Shaoyang Meridians of both hands and feet; the upper and lower parts of the zygomatic bone correspond to the Yangming Meridians of both hands and feet; the lateral sides of the face correspond to the Taiyang Meridians of both hands and feet. The upward extension of the nose still belongs to the Du Mai. Furthermore, the branch intersections of various meridians, as well as the Three Yin Meridians of the Foot, all follow the throat and flank the root of the tongue. Additionally, the Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian converges with the Du Mai at the vertex of the head. Although this does not exhaustively list every inch and starting/ending point, it represents the general outline of the Fourteen Meridians. What the *Neijing* refers to as "fenrou" (intermuscular spaces) points precisely to this. As for the Eight Extraordinary Vessels, they also have their respective origins, terminations, and pathological manifestations. For example, if there is pain in the hypochondrium, one knows it pertains to the Liver Meridian; regardless of gender, age, or internal/external location, symptoms can be identified and treated accordingly. If the pain shifts slightly posteriorly, one knows it pertains to the Gallbladder Meridian, and the prescription should then be adjusted based on specific symptoms. From this, it can be inferred that the locations of all Fourteen Meridians can be deduced similarly.
Tuo stated: The progression of carbuncles and sores has fixed locations, and their governance has specific affiliations. For instance, heart disorders manifest in the throat and tongue; lung disorders manifest in the skin; spleen disorders manifest in the muscles; liver disorders manifest in the tendons and ribs; kidney disorders manifest in the bones and marrow. Yin toxins manifest in the lower part of the body, while Yang toxins manifest in the upper part; fu-organ disorders manifest externally, while zang-organ disorders manifest internally. Manifestations in the lower part develop slowly, while those in the upper part develop rapidly. Infections of the fu-organs are easy to treat, whereas infections of the zang-organs are difficult to cure. Therefore, internal lesions are termed "huai" (decay), external lesions are termed "kui" (ulceration), upper lesions are considered "cong" (favorable prognosis), and lower lesions are considered "ni" (unfavorable prognosis). Lesions near the bones often present with coldness; if chronic and unhealed, they may transform blood into parasites, causing intense itching with little pain, or itching preceding pain. Lesions near the skin often present with heat; if chronic and unhealed, qi transmission may lead to fistulas, which cause pain with little itching, or neither pain nor itching. Lesions occurring in deficient areas are generally dangerous, while those occurring at joints and appearing symmetrically are considered untreatable (Note: originally intended as systemic ulceration).
The Twelve Meridians of the Hands and Feet differ in the quantity of Qi and Blood. A rhyme states: Remember the meridians abundant in both Qi and Blood: the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian and the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian. There are six meridians abundant in Qi but deficient in Blood: the Sanjiao (Triple Burner) Meridian, Gallbladder Meridian, Kidney Meridian, Heart Meridian, Spleen Meridian, and Lung Meridian. The Pericardium Meridian is abundant in Blood but deficient in Qi. The Bladder Meridian, Small Intestine Meridian, and Liver Meridian are distinct in this regard.
Treatment for meridians abundant in Qi involves promoting Qi circulation; for those abundant in Blood, it involves breaking blood stasis. Meridians deficient in Qi are difficult to initiate healing (e.g., raising a sore) and require tonification and support; meridians deficient in Blood are difficult to heal (close wounds) and require nourishment. Nevertheless, the Jueyin Meridian contains Ministerial Fire and is difficult to treat; the Shaoyang Meridian also contains Ministerial Fire and is even more difficult to treat. Therefore, the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian should be treated as a condition of dual deficiency of Qi and Blood. The principle of medication, such as in Li Dongyuan's prescriptions, must be comprehensive. Moreover, cases may involve concurrent Wind, Phlegm, Dampness, Qi stagnation, Blood stasis, or Yin deficiency, each with different fundamental pathologies requiring thorough treatment strategies. This approach differs vastly from the secular practice of merely drawing human figures with sores without distinguishing the meridians.