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The Shaoyin (Lesser Yin) within the Yang is the Lung. Zhang Yun: The Heart and Lung reside above the diaphragm and both are considered Yang Zang organs, but the Lung is Yin within Yang; therefore, it is called Shaoyin.

Taiyuan (LU-9). Ma Yun: Located in the depression behind the palm, this is where the Lung meridian qi pours in, corresponding to Earth in the Five Phases. Yin meridians lack Yuan (Source) points, so Shu (Stream) points substitute for them; other cases follow this pattern.

The Taiyang (Greater Yang) within the Yang is the Heart. Zhang Yun: The Heart is Yang within Yang; therefore, it is called Taiyang.

Daling (PC-7). Zhang Yun: Daling belongs to the Pericardium Meridian of Hand-Jueyin. In the chapter "Xie Ke" (Invading Pathogens), the Yellow Emperor asked: "Why does the Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian alone lack Shu points?" Qibo replied: "Hand-Shaoyin is the Heart meridian. The Heart is the great master of the five Zang and six Fu organs, the residence of the Spirit. Its organ is solid, and pathogens cannot accommodate themselves within it. If they do, the Heart is damaged; if the Heart is damaged, the Spirit departs; if the Spirit departs, death ensues. Therefore, any pathogen affecting the Heart actually affects the Pericardium. The Pericardium is the meridian of the Heart Master; hence, this refers to Daling." There are two Daling points, located in the depression between the two tendons below the bone at the back of the palm.

Shaoyin (Lesser Yang) within the Yin is the Liver. Zhang Yun: The Liver, Spleen, and Kidney reside below the diaphragm and are all considered Yin Zang organs, but the Liver is Yang within Yin; therefore, it is called Shaoyang.

Taichong (LR-3). Ma Yun: Located two cun posterior to the root of the big toe, in the depression where the arterial pulse is palpable, this is where the Liver meridian qi pours in, corresponding to Earth.

Zhiyin (Extreme Yin) within the Yin is the Spleen. Zhang Yun: The Spleen belongs to Earth and symbolizes the ground; therefore, it is called Zhiyin within Yin.

Baiquan (SP-3). Ma Yun: Located on the medial side of the big toe, in the depression anterior to the medial malleolus and below the bony prominence, this is where the Spleen meridian qi pours in, corresponding to Earth.

Taiyin (Greater Yin) within the Yin is the Kidney. Zhang Yun: The Kidney is located inferiorly and belongs to Water; therefore, it is called Taiyin within Yin.

Taixi (KI-3). Ma Yun: Located in the depression of the arterial pulse above the calcaneus behind the medial malleolus. For men or women suffering from disease, life is indicated if this pulse is present, and death if absent. This is where the Kidney meridian qi pours in, corresponding to Earth.

Yuan Point of Gao (Fatty Tissue). Zhi Yun: Qi of the Middle Jiao steams fluids, transforming them into essence and subtle nutrients. These are exuded into the couli (interstices), moisten and pour into the bones, nourish the brain marrow, and lubricate the skin. Thus, fluids pour into the three hundred and sixty-five joints and seep into the skin and muscle interstices. Overflowing outward, they make the flesh and fatty tissue plump; remaining inward, they fill the Gao and Huang. Generally, "Gao" refers to the fatty membranes of the Zang organs, while "Huang" refers to the Mu-Yuan (source/primal) areas between the intestines and stomach. Brief Commentary: In *Zuo Zhuan*, Duke Cheng, Year 10, it is recorded: "The disease resides above the Huang and below the Gao." Du Yu commented: "Huang is the diaphragm; below the heart is Gao." The Correct Meaning states that scholars like Jia Kui, Fu Qian, and He Xiu agreed that although solidified fat is called Zhi and liquefied fat is called Gao, solidified fat is also termed Gao. *Li Ji · Nei Ze* mentions "cutting wild wolf Gao," referring to the fatty tissue connected to the heart. Only Liu Xuan argued that "Gao" should be read as "Diaphragm," altering the text to criticize Du Yu. Fu Xun refuted this by citing *Su Wen · Ci Jin Lun*: "Above the Diaphragm and Huang, there are Father and Mother." Yang Shangshan explained: "Below the heart and above the diaphragm is Huang. Heart is Yang, the Father; Lung is Yin, the Mother." After carefully observing pig hearts and diaphragms, I recalled that the Diaphragm acts as a partition. Above the diaphragm are the clean parts of the Heart and Lung; below are the turbid parts of the intestines and stomach. Below the heart lies thin fat called Gao, and above the diaphragm lies a thin membrane called Huang. *Su Wen* says "Diaphragm-Huang," clearly meaning the Huang of the diaphragm. What else could the Huang of the diaphragm be but that membrane? *Bi Lun* further states: "Between the skin and muscles, warming the Huang membrane." The commentary notes: "Huang membrane refers to the membranes between the five Zang organs within the diaphragm." This aligns perfectly with the thin fat below the heart. The two "Shu" (demons) residing above and below Gao and Huang have little connection to the Zang-Fu organs; it is the most deficient area, unrelated to meridians and acupoints. Hence, attack is impossible, penetration cannot reach it, and medicine does not arrive. *Chunqiu Yuanming Bao* states: "Gao is the fluid of the Spirit."

Jie's Note: Regarding the meaning of Gao and Huang, only the explanations by former scholar Tang Rongchuan and contemporary Zhang Xichun are very detailed and clear. Excerpts are as follows.

Tang Yun: Wherever there are membranous networks, whether superior, middle, inferior, internal, or external, fat oil grows on top. This is what *Zuo Zhuan* calls Gao and Huang. "Huang" refers to the membrane, belonging to the Sanjiao; "Gao" refers to the oil, belonging to the Spleen. All processes of transforming water and grain rely on the power of Gao oil for absorption and warming. This is why the Spleen governs the promotion of water metabolism and food digestion. The pathways lie entirely within the membranes of the Middle Jiao. This membrane attaches to the spine and ascends to the Liver, forming the Liver-Diaphragm. Half of the Liver-Diaphragm is above the body surface, half below the diaphragm. The Diaphragm originates from the Liver, follows the ribs to the Jiweil point at the chest front, shields turbid Qi downward, and protects the Heart and Lung upward, serving as the boundary between Yin and Yang. Liver Qi passes through the Diaphragm to enter the intestines and stomach and travel to the Blood Chamber; these pathways are all within the Diaphragm membrane and the oil networks of the Middle and Lower Jiao.

Zhang Yun: *Su Wen · Ci Jin Pian* states: "Above the Diaphragm and Huang, there are Father and Mother." This indicates Huang is the Diaphragm. Also, *Ling Shu · Jiu Shi Yuan Lun* states: "The Yuan point of Gao emerges from Jiweil." Inside Jiweil is the Diaphragm, which is the Upper Jiao of the Sanjiao, the Fu organ of Hand-Shaoyang, connected to the Hand-Jueyin Pericardium Zang-Fu pair. The Pericardium is the system connecting the Heart and Lung, originally composed of fatty membranes; fat is Gao. Since *Zuo Zhuan* says "above Huang, below Gao," the disease is undoubtedly in the chest. However, the chest is where Great Qi is stored. Although needling is not strictly forbidden, one may only needle two or three fen, avoiding penetrating needles to prevent draining Great Qi. Hence, "attack is impossible." Hard bones protect the exterior, preventing the use of Bian stones; hence, "penetration cannot reach it." Furthermore, this is an empty Fu organ, not communicating with the throat above nor with the Zang-Fu below the diaphragm; hence, "medicine does not arrive." Thus, it is incurable.

Jiweil (CV-15). Ma Yun: Also known as Wei Yi or KT. It is at the end of the xiphoid process, five fen below the xiphoid process anterior to the sternum. In individuals without a xiphoid process, locate it one cun below the bifurcation of the sternum. The bone hangs down like the tail of a turtledove.

Yuan Point of Huang. Zhi Yun: Huang is the Mu-Yuan of the intestines and stomach. Brief Commentary: *Fu Zhong Lun* states: "This is the root of wind. Its Qi overflows into the large intestine and adheres to Huang. The Yuan point of Huang is below the umbilicus." *Ci Jin Lun* states: "Above the Diaphragm and Huang, there are Father and Mother." Yang's commentary: "Below the heart and above the diaphragm is Huang." *Bi Lun* states: "Sinking into the Huang membrane." Wang's commentary: "Huang membrane refers to the membranes between the five Zang organs within the diaphragm." *Zhang Lun* states: "Warming the muscular Huang, hitting the Qi points." *Za Bing Pian* states: "Rushing up to the intestines and stomach, warming the Liver, dispersing into Huang, knotting at the umbilicus." Therefore, take the Yuan point of Huang to disperse it. Based on these texts, Huang is the diaphragmatic membrane. Membranes exist between all Zang-Fu organs. Among those shielding turbid Qi within the body shell, the diaphragmatic membrane is the most useful. Thus, when speaking solely of "Huang," it refers to the diaphragmatic membrane. Zhang's commentary on *Bi Lun* states: "Huang refers to any void spaces between the cavities, abdominal walls, and muscle textures, above and below." However, *Shiji · Bian Que Zhuan* and *Shuo Yuan* write "Huang Mo," i.e., "Huang membrane." How can one massage a void space? "Huang" is Huang, and "Yuan" is Yuan; how can one explain Huang as "Membrane-Original"? Both interpretations by Zhang are unacceptable.

Neiguan/Shimen (Text has missing character "脖 ", likely referring to Shimen or similar lower abdomen point based on context "Lower Qi Sea"). Ma Yun: Also known as Xia Qi Hai or Xia Huang. Located in the depression 1.5 cun below the umbilicus. It is the sea of vital Qi for men (from *Jia Yi Jing*). Brief Commentary: *Yu Pian* defines "Neiguan" as the umbilicus. Just as Tianshu is the umbilicus, its acupoint is one cun lateral to the umbilicus on both sides. Zhang Yun: The Yuan points of the five Zang mentioned above are two each, plus the Yuan points of Gao and Huang, totaling twelve. The Qi of the interior and exterior of the Zang-Fu pairs all connect here, allowing treatment of diseases of the five Zang and six Fu. Brief Commentary: This chapter only discusses the Yuan points of the five Zang, not the six Fu, supplementing them with Jiweil and [Missing Character]. Ma cited the Yuan points of the six Fu from *Nan Jing · Chapter 66* to complete the list. However, this derives from a separate meaning developed in the classic text and cannot be judged by the standard of the other.

For distension, select the Three Yang meridians; for undigested stool diarrhea (Sun Xie), select the Three Yin meridians. *Jia Yi Jing* reads "Sun Xie" as "Zhi" (Stagnation). Zhang Yun: Distension refers to abdominal fullness. Sun Xie refers to undigested food in stool. For distension, one should select the Foot-Taiyang, Foot-Shaoyang, and Foot-Yangming meridians (Stomach, Gallbladder, Bladder). For Sun Xie, one should select the Foot-Taiyin, Foot-Jueyin, and Foot-Shaoyin meridians (Spleen, Liver, Kidney). Brief Commentary: "Zhi" in *Jia Yi Jing* likely refers to dysentery (also written as HT, see *Shi Ming* and calligraphy of Wang Xizhi).

Bi (Closed/Obstructed). Ma's version uses HT. It reads HT as Bi. Zhi Yun: HT sounds like "Bian," meaning to beat/pulse. Brief Commentary: *Yu Pian* states HT is the vulgar form of "Bi." HT is unattested in dictionaries.

One who skillfully uses needles... has not yet mastered the technique. Zhang Yun: This elaborates that even if a disease is chronic, if the blood and Qi have not failed, it can still be treated with needles. Thus, a skilled needle practitioner is like pulling out a thorn: removing a thorn from the skin requires lightness and speed. It is like washing dirt: cleansing the Ying and Wei requires thorough purification. It is like untying a knot: resolving knots in the joints requires loosening. It is like opening a blockage: clearing blocked pathways requires unblocking. Each of these four applications has subtleties; the key is to gently remove the pathogen without slightly injuring the Zheng Qi (Upright Qi). These are used as metaphors. If one can emulate and apply them, even long-standing diseases will surely heal. Zhang Zhaohuang said: Dirt is in the skin and hair; thorns are in the flesh; knots are in the blood vessels; Bi (obstruction) is in the sinews and bones. Brief Commentary: "Snow" means to wash. *Zhuang Zi · Zhi Bei You*: "Bathe the spirit in snow."

Like dipping a hand into hot water. Zhang Yun: Applied with lightness and rising action. Heat belongs to Yang, and Yang governs the exterior; thus, treatment should be conducted thusly.

Like a person unwilling to walk. Zhang Yun: Indicates lingering intent. Yin-cold stagnation makes obtaining De Qi difficult; thus, retaining the needle is appropriate as described.

Yin having Yang pathology. Zhang Yun: Heat in the Yin division.

Xialing Sanli. Ma Yun: An acupoint of the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian, i.e., Zusanli. A four-character name.

Wu Dai. Zhang Yun: Dai is synonymous with Dai (sluggish/lazy). Brief Commentary: *Laozi*: "Circulates without slackening." Commentary: Dai means slackening.

Qi descends. Zhang Yun: Pathogenic Qi retreats.

Pathology high and internal. Zhang Yun: Located superiorly, treat by selecting points inferiorly. However, high and internal pathology belongs to the Zang; therefore, select Yinlingquan (SP-9) of the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian.

Pathology high and external. Zhang Yun: Belongs to the Fu; therefore, select Yanglingquan (GB-34) of the Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian.