《灵兰秘典论》曰∶十二脏之相使，贵贱何如？心者，君主之官也，神明出焉。（任
治于物，故为君主之官。清静栖灵，故曰神明出焉。）肺者，相傅之官，治节出焉。（位高非君，故官为相
傅。主行营卫，故治节由之。）肝者，将军之官，谋虑出焉。（勇而能断，故曰将军。潜发未萌，故谋虑出
焉。）胆者，中正之官，决断出焉。（刚正果决，故官为中正。直而不疑，故决断出焉。）膻中者，臣使
之官，喜乐出焉。（膻中者，在胸中两乳间，为气之海。心主为君，以敷宣教令，膻中主气，以气布阴阳，气
和志适，则喜乐由此而生，分布阴阳，故官为臣使也。）脾胃者，仓廪之官，五味出焉。（包容五谷，是为
仓廪之官。营养四旁，故云五味出焉。）大肠者，传道之官，变化出焉。（传道，谓传不洁之道；变化，
谓变化物之形，故云传道之官，变化出焉。）小肠者，受盛之官，化物出焉。（承奉胃司，受盛糟粕，受
已复化，传入大肠，故云受盛之官，化物出焉。）肾者，作强之官，伎巧出焉。（强于作用，故曰作强。造
化形容，故云伎巧，在女则当其伎巧，在男则正曰作强。）三焦者，决渎之官，水道出焉。（引导阴阳，开
通闭塞，故官司决渎，水道出焉。）膀胱者，州都之官，津液藏焉，气化则能出矣。（位当孤腑，故
谓都官。居下而藏津液，若得气海之气施化，则溲便注泄，故曰气化则能出矣。）凡此十二官者，不得相
失也。（失则灾害至，故不得相失。）故主明则下安，以此养生则寿，主不明则十二官危，使道
闭塞而不通，形乃大伤，以此养生则殃。
The *Linglan Midian Lun* (Treatise on the Secret Canon of Linglan) states: How do the twelve zang-fu organs assist each other, and what is their hierarchy? The Heart is the official of the Sovereign Monarch, from which Shenming (Spirit/Mental Activity) emerges. (The Heart governs all things, thus it is the official of the Sovereign Monarch. Being pure and still while housing spirituality, it is said that Spirit emerges from it.) The Lung is the official of the Chancellor, from which Zhi Jie (Governance and Regulation) emerges. (Its position is high but not sovereign, thus it is the official of the Chancellor. It governs the circulation of Ying Qi (Nutrient Qi) and Wei Qi (Defensive Qi), thus governance and regulation proceed through it.) The Liver is the official of the General, from which Mou Lv (Strategizing and Deliberation) emerges. (It is brave and decisive, thus it is called the General. It acts secretly before events arise, thus strategizing and deliberation emerge from it.) The Gallbladder is the official of Integrity and Justice, from which Jue Duan (Decision-making) emerges. (It is upright and resolute, thus it is the official of Integrity. It is direct and without hesitation, thus decision-making emerges from it.) The Danzhong (Chest Center/Pericardium region) is the official of the Envoy, from which Xi Le (Joy and Happiness) emerges. (Danzhong is located in the chest between the two breasts and is the Sea of Qi. The Heart Master acts as the Sovereign to disseminate orders; Danzhong governs Qi, distributing Yin and Yang through Qi. When Qi is harmonious and emotions are balanced, joy arises therefrom, distributing Yin and Yang, thus it is called the Envoy.) The Spleen and Stomach are the officials of the Granary, from which Wu Wei (Five Flavors/Nutrients) emerge. (They contain and store the five grains, thus they are the officials of the Granary. They nourish the four extremities, thus it is said that nutrients emerge from them.) The Large Intestine is the official of Transmission, from which Bian Hua (Transformation and Change) emerges. ("Transmission" refers to the path of transmitting waste; "Transformation" refers to changing the form of substances, thus it is the official of transmission, and transformation emerges from it.) The Small Intestine is the official of Reception and Containment, from which Hua Wu (Transformation of Substances) emerges. (It receives the functions of the Stomach, receiving and containing food residues, transforming them after reception, and transmitting them to the Large Intestine, thus it is the official of reception and containment, and transformation of substances emerges from it.) The Kidney is the official of Strength and Vigor, from which Ji Qiao (Skill and Ingenuity) emerges. (It is strong in action, thus it is called the official of Strength. It shapes the physical form, thus it is associated with skill; in women, this manifests as skillfulness, and in men, primarily as vigor.) The Sanjiao (Triple Burner) is the official of Drainage and Ditching, from which Shui Dao (Water Passages) emerge. (It guides Yin and Yang and opens blockages, thus its office is called Drainage, and water passages emerge from it.) The Bladder is the official of the Provincial Capital, where Jin Ye (Body Fluids) are stored; only through Qi Hua (Qi Transformation) can they be excreted. (Positioned as a solitary fu organ in the lower jiao, it is called the Capital Official. It resides in the lower part and stores body fluids; if it receives the transformative power of the Qi Sea, urine and feces are discharged, thus it is said that excretion occurs only through Qi transformation.) These twelve officials must not lose their harmony. (If they lose harmony, disasters will occur, thus they must not be out of sync.) Therefore, if the Sovereign (Heart) is clear, the subordinates (other organs) are at peace; using this state for health preservation leads to longevity. If the Sovereign is unclear, the twelve officials are endangered, causing the channels of communication to become blocked and the physical form to suffer severe damage; using this state for health preservation leads to disaster.