Library

All versions lack the character "Pian" (Chapter), which should be deleted.

Five Positions: Zhang Zhiceng's commentary states, "The fixed positions of the Five Directions."

Six Lu establish Yin and Yang meridians: The *Jia Yi Jing* notes that "Jian" means to act as a host or organizer. Zhang Zhiceng's commentary states, "Establishing the six Yin and six Yang to integrate with the various meridians."

Twelve Earthly Branches and Twelve Joints: The commentary on *Zhou Li - Cu Shi* states, "Chen" refers to the sequence from Zi to Hai. The commentary on *Zuo Zhuan - Cheng Gong Year 9* regarding "between two consecutive days" notes that "Jia Chen" is twelve days. The *Xie Ke Pian* states, "There are twelve Chen, and humans have ten toes and the penis/scrotum to correspond to them." It also states, "The year has twelve months, and humans have twelve joints." Additionally, the *Sheng Qi Tong Tian Lun* mentions, "The five viscera and twelve joints."

Twelve Major Rivers: Detailed in the *Jing Shui Pian*.

Twelve Double-Hours: Gu Yanwu's *Ri Zhi Lu* states, "In ancient times, there was no concept of 'hours' (Shi). Whenever 'Shi' was mentioned, such as the Four Seasons in *Shang Shu - Yao Dian* or the Three Seasons in *Zuo Zhuan* (Huan Gong Year 6, 'harm does not occur in three seasons'), it all referred to Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. Since the Han Dynasty, calendar methods have become increasingly precise, leading to the division of one day into twelve double-hours. It is unknown who started this, but it has been followed without abolition to this day."

How do they separate, combine, enter, and exit? Zhang Jingyue states, "The twelve regular meridians are already detailed in the *Jing Mai Pian*, but the principles of their upper and lower separation/combination and internal/external entry/exits were not fully covered previously. Therefore, this chapter clarifies these details again. However, the *Jing Mai Pian* discusses the cycle from head to tail, so the starting and ending points differ. This chapter discusses separation and combination, so it starts only from the four extremities. Although this chapter is brief where the other is detailed, the meanings differ, and they should be consulted together."

What the unskilled overlooks, the skilled pauses for: Zhang Jingyue states, "'Guo' is like passing through, meaning to overlook or fail to examine. 'Xi' is like resting or stopping, meaning to pay attention to."

Foot Taiyang Zheng Meridian (Stop) All are called Zheng: Zhang Jingyue states, "This is because the Bladder and Kidney are exterior-interior pairs, so their meridians form one union." The Foot Taiyang Zheng meridian enters the chest center (Dan Zhong), combines with the Foot Shaoyin, and ascends. Its divergent branch descends five cun below the sacrum, at the level of the Chengfu point, ascends into the anal canal, travels internally within the abdomen, belongs to the Bladder, scatters in the Kidney, follows the back muscles to the heart area, scatters there, emerges at the nape of the neck, and re-joins the original Foot Taiyang meridian. This indicates that the interior and exterior belong to the same meridian system. The Foot Shaoyin Zheng meridian, from the chest center, combines with the Taiyang. Internally, it ascends to the Kidney, at the level of the Shenshu point beside the fourteenth vertebra, emerges to belong to the Dai Mai (Girdle Vessel). Its straight branch ascends to tie with the root of the tongue, emerges again at the nape of the neck, and combines with the Taiyang. This is the first of the Six Unions. However, where there is exterior, there must be interior; where there is Yang, there must be Yin. Thus, the Zheng of all Yang meridians must be completed by the Bie of all Yin meridians. These are all Zheng meridians separating and combining, not referring to collateral intersections. The rest follow this pattern. Zhang Zhiceng comments, "'Zheng' refers to a distinct regular meridian outside the main meridians, not a collateral. It diverges from the main meridian and re-joins the Taiyang meridian, hence the name. Jing Bie refers to the divergent regular meridians of the main meridians. Ma Shi considers 'Zheng' as the regular meridian, suitable for matching the straight runners in the *Jing Mai Pian*; 'Bie' as the collaterals, suitable for matching the branches and divergences in the *Jing Mai Pian*. Alas, the origin, entry, and exit of blood and qi in the meridians are complex and difficult to sort out." The *Jia Yi Jing* lacks the nine characters "yi yi xia jiu zi," with a note stating: "*Jiu Xu* says: Some consider the divergences of all Yin meridians as Zheng."

Foot Shaoyang Zheng Meridian (Stop) This is the Second Union: Zhang Jingyue states, "This is because the Gallbladder and Liver are exterior-interior pairs, so their meridians form one union." The Foot Shaoyang Zheng meridian wraps around the lateral thigh, enters the pubic region, and combines with the Foot Jueyin. Its internal divergent branch enters the chest from the costal margin, belongs to the Gallbladder, scatters in the Liver, passes through the upper part of the Liver to pierce the Heart, ascends along the pharynx, emerges from the jaw/chin area (the *Tu Yi* notes that the chin area is below the jaw and cheeks, consistent with the imagery of a tiger's head and swallow's chin), scatters on the face, ties with the eye system, and re-combines with the original Shaoyang meridian at the outer canthus and Tongziliao point. The Foot Jueyin Zheng meridian diverges from the medial dorsum of the foot, ascends to the pubic region, combines with the Foot Shaoyang, and travels with the divergent branch up to distribute in the hypochondrium. This is the second of the Six Unions. Note: There is an extraneous "Shang" (up) in "Liver Shang Shang."

Foot Yangming Zheng Meridian (Stop) This is the Third Union: In the *Jia Yi Jing*, under "Taiyin Zheng," the characters "Ze Bie" appear. The word "Zuo" (make) is changed to "Luo" (collateral). "She Zhong" (middle of tongue) is changed to "She Ben" (root of tongue). Regarding "E Luan," the Daozang Ben version and Zhang's version write "Luan," while Ma's version and Zhi's version write "E Luan." Zhang Jingyue states, "This is because the Stomach and Spleen are exterior-interior pairs, forming one union." The Foot Yangming Zheng meridian ascends to the Bituan point. Its internal branch enters the abdomen via the Qichong point, belongs to the Stomach, scatters in the Spleen, connects upward to the Heart, follows the pharynx to emerge from the mouth, ascends to the level of the Chengqi point, ties with the eye system, forms the lower eyelid framework, and combines with the original Yangming meridian. The Foot Taiyin Zheng meridian ascends along the medial thigh, combines with the Foot Yangming, and travels with the divergent branch up the pharynx through the tongue. This is the third of the Six Unions.

Hand Taiyang Zheng Meridian (Stop) This is the Fourth Union: Zhang Jingyue states, "This is because the Small Intestine and Heart are exterior-interior pairs, so their meridians form one union." "Pointing to Earth": Earth belongs to Yin and resides within Heaven. The internal pathway of the Hand Taiyang divergent meridian diverges at the shoulder joint, enters the axilla, travels to the Heart, and ties with the Small Intestine. All these paths go from top to bottom and from exterior to interior, hence "pointing to Earth." The *Jing Mai Pian* states entering the supraclavicular fossa after crossing the shoulders to connect with the Heart. Here it says diverging at the shoulder joint, entering the axilla, and traveling to the Heart, implying there are pathways entering the Heart both anteriorly and posteriorly. The Hand Shaoyin Zheng meridian, from three cun below the axilla at the level of the Shaoyang Yuanye point, travels between two tendons, internally belongs to the Heart, and combines with the Hand Taiyang pathway entering the axilla and traveling to the Heart. It then ascends along the pharynx, emerges on the face, and combines at the inner canthus, meeting the Jingming point of the Foot Taiyang. This is the fourth of the Six Unions.

Hand Shaoyang Zheng Meridian (Stop) This is the Fifth Union: Zhang Jingyue states, "This is because the Sanjiao and Pericardium are exterior-interior pairs, so their meridians form one union." "Pointing to Heaven": Heaven belongs to Yang and operates outside the Earth. The Hand Shaoyang Zheng meridian diverges above at the vertex, enters the supraclavicular fossa, descends to travel through the Sanjiao, and scatters in the chest cavity, enveloping the organs outside. Hence, "pointing to Heaven." The Hand Jueyin Zheng meridian, its internal divergent branch, following the same path as the Shaoyin meridian from three cun below the axilla at the level of the Shaoyang Yuanye point, enters the chest cavity, belongs to the Sanjiao, emerges to follow the throat, travels behind the ear, and combines with the Hand and Foot Shaoyang meridians below the Wanggu point. This is the fifth of the Six Unions. Zhang Zhiceng comments, "Shaoyang is the initial Yang. It arises from Yang and moves from bottom to top, hence 'pointing to Heaven.' To say 'pointing to Earth' means the Hand combines with the Foot. To say 'pointing to Heaven' means the Foot combines with the Hand. If we separate Hand and Foot into two meridians, there are Six Unions; discussing Yin and Yang Qi, there are only Three Unions." Note: "Diverging three cun below Yuan Ye," Ma Yun states, "Diverges from the Tianchi point in the axilla." Examining the *Ben Shu Pian*, it states, "Three cun below the axilla is the Hand Jueyin, named Tianchi." Ma's view seems correct.

Hand Yangming Zheng Meridian (Stop) This is the Sixth Union: In the Daozang Ma and Zhi versions, "Large Intestine" is written as "Taiyang," which is an error. Zhang Jingyue states, "This is because the Large Intestine and Lung are exterior-interior pairs, so their meridians form one union." The Hand Yangming Zheng meridian follows the chest between the pectoralis and breast area. Its internal branch diverges at the Jianyu point, enters the vertebral column, descends from the supraclavicular fossa to travel to the Large Intestine, and belongs to the Lung. Its superior branch follows the throat, emerges again from the supraclavicular fossa, and combines with the original Yangming meridian. The Hand Taiyin Zheng meridian (Note: Text says Hand Taiyang here, likely a typo in source for Hand Taiyin based on context of Lung/LI pairing, but translating literally as per instruction to not add content, though context implies Taiyin): Its internal branch diverges from the Tianfu point into the Yuanye, emerging before the Hand Shaoyin Heart meridian, entering internally to travel to the Lung, and scattering in the Large Intestine. Its ascending branch emerges from the supraclavicular fossa, follows the throat, and re-combines with the Hand Yangming meridian. Above, these total twelve meridians, constituting the Six Unions.