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I have read the *Qingjing Jing* (Scripture of Purity and Tranquility), which states: Heaven is clear, Earth is turbid. Men are active, women are still. This is the relationship between root and branch, thereby giving birth to all things. I also studied Zhou Dunyi's *Taijitu Shuo* (Explanation of the Diagram of the Supreme Ultimate): "Yang moves, Yin is still; when stillness reaches its extreme, it returns to movement. One movement and one stillness serve as each other's root." From this, I know that clarity and turbidity are the positional attributes of Heaven and Earth, while movement and stillness are the key mechanisms of men and women. Men belong to Yang... (the original text here is incomplete)

I have perused the medical formulas and discussions of various schools, exploring the profound principles of medicine. I then reread Buddhist scriptures and found that they often use medicine as a metaphor. It is stated therein: Physicians are skilled in using ingenious prescriptions to universally save all diseases. In summary, the human body consists of the Four Great Elements. The shedding of hair, nails, and teeth; stiffness of tendons and flaccidity of bones; exhaustion of marrow and rotation of the brain; foul complexion and deteriorated aura—these ailments originate from the "Earth Element" (solid matter). Saliva, nasal mucus, pus and blood; fluids, phlegm, tears, and essence; obstruction or incontinence of urination and defecation, overflowing externally—these ailments originate from the "Water Element" (liquid matter). Warm breath belongs to the "Fire Element" (thermal energy), and movement belongs to the "Wind Element" (kinetic function). Thus, physicians are like divine masters, yet they keep these secrets hidden from people. Only Buddhist scriptures elaborate on this in detail. Because the Buddha is the Great Physician King, who understands life and death, he can thoroughly comprehend this principle. Therefore, I am able to integrate the teachings of the sutras into medicine. Future readers should not consider my words pedantic. If you consider my words pedantic, you are also considering Buddhism pedantic.

The Taihe Qi (Supreme Harmonious Qi) establishes the positions of Heaven and Earth, generating all things, with humanity situated within them. The Three Powers (Heaven, Earth, Human) are established. The human body flows in accordance with the laws of Heaven and Earth. The head is the convergence point of all Yang meridians. The Upper Dantian resides in the Niwan Palace, where the hundred deities gather, serving as the chief of the body. The Hand Triple Burner Yang meridians travel from hand to head; the Foot Triple Burner Yang meridians travel from head to foot. The six Yang meridians converge at the head. Therefore, headache mostly belongs to Yang syndromes. Yin syndromes can also cause headache because the Yin meridians generally ascend only to the neck and chest before returning, without reaching the head. Only the Jueyin Liver meridian ascends to the hard palate (hangsang), connects to the eye system, emerges above the forehead, and meets the Du Meridian at the vertex. The *Neijing* states: For headache and disorders of the vertex, the fault lies in the Foot Shaoyang and Foot Jueyin meridians; if severe, the pathogen enters the Liver. There are also cases of headache radiating to the teeth, recurring intermittently for years, caused by cold pathogen invading the bone marrow. Since the brain governs the bone marrow, rebellious brain Qi causes headache and toothache. These are diseases generated by the Kidney. Yin meridian diseases do not typically cause headache; only Liver and Kidney meridian diseases do, due to this reason. The face is the window of the spirit. The Five Mountains of the face correspond to the five sense organs, which are associated with the Zang organs. The eyes are the orifice of the Liver, governing the discrimination of colors; the nose is the orifice of the Lung, governing the perception of odors; the mouth is the orifice of the Spleen, governing the preference for grains; the tongue is the orifice of the Heart, governing the tasting of flavors; the ears are the orifice of the Kidney, governing the discrimination of sounds. With the five orifices complete, the spirit of the whole body manifests in the face. The *Neijing* says: At age 42 (6x7), women's faces become withered; at age 48 (6x8), men's faces become withered. This is because the Qi of the Yangming meridians declines in the upper part. The Hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian ascends directly through the neck, passes through the cheek, enters the lower gum, returns to flank the mouth, crosses at the philtrum, with the left vessel going right and the right vessel going left, ascending to flank the nostrils. The Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian originates at the side of the nose, intersects at the nasion, binds laterally with the Taiyang meridian, descends along the lateral nose into the upper gum, returns to flank the lips, intersects below at Chengjiang, then descends behind the jaw, emerges at Daying, follows Jiache, ascends anterior to the ear, passes Kongzhu, follows the hairline to the frontal skull. The *Nanjing* states: The human face alone can resist cold because the Qi of all Yang meridians ascends to the head and ears. When Huangdi discussed facial withering and hair loss, he mentioned only the Yangming meridians, not others, likely because although other Yang meridians ascend to the head, they do not network and sustain the face like the Yangming meridians do. Examining these two meridians together allows one to understand meridian circulation and verify the waxing and waning of Qi and Blood. If emotions stir internally and external temptations arise, changes in appearance will manifest on the face, which cannot be exhaustively listed.

The neck and nape are areas where Yang meridians converge. The six Yang meridians exit the shoulder and neck through the Clavicular fossa (Quepen) to connect downward with the Zang organs. Therefore, ancients palpated the Renying pulse in the neck to assess the excess or deficiency of Qi in the Zang and Fu organs. Manifestations vary: stiff neck unable to turn; painful neck with dry throat; painful neck radiating to Quepen; each varies according to the affected meridian. Scrofula and goiters often occur in the neck due to meridian convergence. The shoulders are the intersection of the six Yang meridians and the Yang Linking Vessel (Yangwei Mai), traversing the shoulders. Thus, the shoulder is the pathway for Yang meridians and the pivot of muscles and bones, capable of bearing heavy loads. The back stores the Qi of the Zang organs, which receives Qi in the chest and circulates through the back. The classic states: In the human body, the back is Yang. Therefore, the Qi of the Zang and Fu organs resides in the back. The axilla (ye) is traversed by the Hand Three Yin meridians and the Foot Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian, causing swelling and pain in the axilla during disease. The *Lingshu* states: The Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian exits horizontally from the lung system to the axilla; the Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian goes up from the heart system through the lung to the axilla; the Hand Jueyin Pericardium Meridian follows the chest out to the hypochondrium and reaches the axilla; the Foot Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian descends from Quepen to the axilla, follows the chest, and passes the lateral costal margin. These four meridians have distinct paths. Fox odor and axillary leakage were traditionally grouped as one disease, but logically their symptoms differ. Fox odor often results from sweat accumulation due to work or rest, touched by hands, causing stale impurities to enter the clear pathways, ascend to the Niwan Palace, and scatter into the meridians. Axillary leakage is caused by excessive consumption of pungent spices, leading to loose pores and spontaneous sweating from the axilla, which is sticky, wet, and foul-smelling. Although not fatal, these conditions affect personal hygiene and social interactions. Cultivated individuals must maintain cleanliness and seek remedies.

The hypochondrium is the region of the ribs. The Liver and Gallbladder meridians intersect here, so hypochondriac pain mostly belongs to the Liver and Gallbladder. The *Nanjing* states: At the junction of organ Qi, there is an acupoint named Zhangmen, located 2.8 cun lateral to the umbilicus, representing the Spleen's domain. The Foot Shaoyin and Foot Jueyin meridians utilize their intersection points to treat diseases. The diaphragm (ge) acts as a barrier. Below the Heart and Lung, a membrane blocks turbid Qi from ascending to harm them. The Danzhong (Chest Center) is the Official of Envoy, where joy arises. It distributes Yin and Yang; when Qi and Will harmonize, joy is generated. Below the diaphragm origin lies the source of parental Qi, the root of life and master of destiny, hence the Sea of Qi is called Parent. The Membrane Origin refers to the space between Heart and Lung. Conception occurs where harmonious Qi condenses, possessing endless generative power. Like fruits falling when ripe, the umbilical cord detaches. Hence it is called Shenque (Divine Gate). Anteriorly it faces the intestines, posteriorly aligns with Shenshu. It is the water-dominant area facing the Gate of Life. The umbilicus corresponds to the fetus's breathing relative to the mother's. The dynamic Qi of the Five Zang organs emanates from around the umbilicus. The Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian and Chong Mai flank the umbilicus, while the Du Meridian pierces its center. Umbilical protrusion indicates Water Qi accumulation in the Spleen Yuan; umbilical abdominal pain indicates Cold pathogen injuring the Lower Jiao.

The waist is governed by the Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian piercing the spine and the Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian reaching the waist. Thus, the waist is the external indicator of the Kidney. The waist divides Heaven (Yang) and Earth (Yin), serving as the boundary of Yin and Yang in the body. Waist pain results from strain. Sexual exhaustion depletes Essence and Qi, leading to stooping, heaviness, and pain radiating to the hypochondrium, termed Li Xue Yao Tong (Dripping Blood Waist Pain). Or, after labor sweating, cold dampness penetrates clothing, causing thirst, free urination, normal appetite, and a sensation of carrying 5,000 coins around the waist, termed Shen Zhuo (Kidney Fixation). Inability to twist or bend indicates impending Kidney failure. The *Nanjing* states: The Large and Small Intestines meet at Lanmen (Filter Gate). The Small Intestine receives contents at Lanmen to separate clear from turbid. Fluids seep into the upper opening of the Bladder, while residue transmits to the Large Intestine. Thus, the Lower Jiao is at the Bladder's upper opening to separate clear and turbid. It connects to the Two Yins (orifices), which are the external apertures of the Kidney. The anterior orifice handles urine and semen/blood. In men, Water (Zi) is above and Fire is below, forming the Hexagram Wei Ji (Not Yet Completed). The posterior orifice is the Anus, acting as the axle of the cart, the lower outlet of the Lung, also known as Po Men (Gate of Corporeal Soul). It weighs 12 liang, is 8 cun wide, 2.5 cun in diameter, and 2 chi long. Anorectal swelling and blockage indicate stagnation; cold causes prolapse and diarrhea. Fox-Hu syndrome presents differently; scholars must examine carefully. (Seven Rush Gates: Feimen is Xi Men, Stomach is Ben Men, Lower Stomach is You Men, Lanmen is Filter Gate, Xiamen is Po Men. Yi Lao states: Po Men opposes Feimen... Fox-Hu disease attacks upward from below... You Men obstruction causes upward rush, Xi Men closure leads to dysphagia and constipation... You Tang is the primary formula.)

The thigh is Bi Gu, the knee is Xi, the ankle is Huai. These are sites of Foot Six Meridian flow. Foot Yang meridians travel Head to Foot; Foot Yin meridians travel Foot to Abdomen. The Three Yin meridians run along the medial leg and thigh. The Shaoyin meridian emerges from the medial knee. Chongyang is the source of Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian Qi. In Shanghan, diagnosis is crucial because meridians differ despite covering the whole body. King Zhou said: A son born to an old man vs. a young man. How to know? The old man's son fears cold because marrow does not fill the tibia. Zhou cut their tibias to verify. Thus, Marrow generates Bone, Bone generates Lung (Mother-Child relationship). Sun Simiao associates Marrow with Liver and Gallbladder, as it is the root of Life and master of the Body.