Library

According to the "Treatise on the Essentials of Diagnosing and the Termination of Meridians": In the first and second months, the Qi of Heaven begins to be upright, the Qi of Earth begins to emerge, and the Qi of Humanity resides in the Liver. In the third and fourth months, the Qi of Heaven is fully upright, the Qi of Earth is fully emerging, and the Qi of Humanity resides in the Spleen. In the fifth and sixth months, the Qi of Heaven is abundant, the Qi of Earth is high, and the Qi of Humanity resides in the Head. In the seventh and eighth months, Yin Qi begins to wither (Shu), and the Qi of Humanity resides in the Lungs. In the ninth and tenth months, Yin Qi begins to freeze, the Qi of Earth begins to close, and the Qi of Humanity resides in the Heart. In the eleventh and twelfth months, Water Qi returns and condenses, the Qi of Earth closes together, and the Qi of Humanity resides in the Kidneys. (This enumerates the Qi of Heaven, the Qi of Earth, and the Qi of Humanity to illustrate that knowing where the Qi of Humanity resides is of utmost importance for diagnosticians. Zhen (Diagnosis) refers to visual inspection. The meaning of Zhen is broad; it includes diagnosing via pulse-taking and diagnosing diseases. A skilled diagnostician observes complexion and palpates pulses, not limiting themselves solely to the pulse. Fang means upright. Sha means solemn or withering. The first and second months correspond to Yin and Mao months, governed by Wood, which rules the East. The Qi of Heaven begins to be upright, the Qi of Earth begins to emerge, and the Qi of Humanity resides in the Liver, as the Liver belongs to Wood in the East. The third and fourth months correspond to Chen and Si months, governed by Earth and Fire, ruling the Southeast. The Qi of Heaven is fully upright, the emergence of Qi of Earth has stabilized, and the Qi of Humanity resides in the Spleen, as the Spleen belongs to Earth, and Earth generates Fire. The fifth and sixth months correspond to Wu and Wei months, governed by Fire, which rules the South. The Qi of Heaven is abundant, the Qi of Earth is high, and the Qi of Humanity resides in the Head, as the Head corresponds to Fire in the South. The seventh and eighth months correspond to Shen and You months, governed by Metal, which rules the West. The Yang Qi of Heaven and Earth descends, while Yin Qi ascends, beginning a state of solemnity and withering; the Qi of Humanity resides in the Lungs, as the Lungs belong to Metal in the West. The ninth and tenth months correspond to Xu and Hai months, governed by Water. Yin Qi begins to freeze, the Qi of Earth closes, and the Qi of Humanity resides in the Heart, as Yang Qi enters the Zang organs. The eleventh and twelfth months correspond to Zi and Chou months, governed by Water, which rules the North. Water has returned and condensed, the Qi of Earth has closed together, and the Qi of Humanity resides in the Kidneys, as the Kidneys belong to Water in the North. Skilled diagnosticians often use these principles as their method.) What is the termination of the Twelve Primary Meridians? (Termination, Zhong, means exhaustion or end.) When the Taiyang (Greater Yang) meridian terminates, the eyes are fixed upward (Daiyan) and the body arches backward with spasms (Chizhong); the complexion is white; Jiexuan (desperate sweat) appears, and once it appears, death ensues. (This discusses the termination of the Taiyang meridian first. The Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian originates at the inner canthus, ascends to the forehead and intersects at the vertex, enters to connect with the brain, emerges again to descend separately along the nape, runs along the medial side of the shoulder blades, flanking the spine to reach the middle of the waist; its branch descends along the foot to the lateral side of the little toe. The Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian originates at the tip of the little finger, runs up the arm to the shoulder, enters the clavicular fossa (Quepen); its branch enters the ear from behind the ear, exits before the ear, runs along the neck to the cheek, and reaches the outer canthus. Thus, upon termination of the Taiyang meridian... Daiyan refers to the eyeballs being fixed and looking upward. Fanze Chizhong refers to the body arching backward, with limbs either tense (Chi) or flaccid (Zhong). The complexion is white; the Water of Foot-Taiyang governs black, and the Fire of Hand-Taiyang governs red; since neither of these colors is seen, only white remains. Jiexuan refers to sweat suddenly gushing out like beads without penetrating back into the skin. Death occurs when this desperate sweat appears.) When the Shaoyang (Lesser Yang) meridian terminates, there is deafness, all joints become flaccid, and the meridians around the eyes sever. After the meridians sever, death occurs in one and a half days. Upon death, the complexion first turns cyan and white, then death ensues. (This discusses the termination of the Shaoyang meridian. The Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian originates at the outer canthus, ascends to touch the head corner, and descends behind the ear; its branch enters the ear from behind, exits before the ear. The Hand-Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian's branch enters the ear from behind, exits before the ear. Thus, upon termination, there is deafness. Shaoyang governs tendons, so upon termination, all joints become flaccid. The meridians around the eyes sever; after severance, death occurs in one and a half days. The complexion must turn cyan and white upon death, due to the conflict between Metal and Wood.) When the Yangming (Yang Brightness) meridian terminates, there is twitching of the mouth and eyes, frequent fright, delirious speech, yellow complexion, and excessive pulsation in the upper and lower meridians. Loss of sensation (Buren) marks the termination. (This discusses the termination of the Yangming meridian. The Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian originates at the nose, intersects at the forehead, descends along the lateral nose, enters the teeth, flanks the mouth and encircles the lips, runs along the cheekbone to the front of the ear, and follows the hairline to the forehead; its branch descends from the Renying point before the Renying, runs along the throat, enters the clavicular fossa, and passes through the diaphragm. The Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian originates at the tip of the index finger, runs up the arm to the shoulder, emerges at the junction of the vertebral bones, descends along the clavicular fossa to connect with the Lungs; its separate branch ascends from the clavicular fossa along the neck through the cheek, enters the teeth, returns to flank the mouth and intersect at the philtrum, and ascends to flank the nostrils. Thus, upon termination, there is movement of the mouth and eyes. Stomach disease causes aversion to people and fire; hearing the sound of wood causes sudden fright; cursing without regard for kinship or distance leads to fright and delirium. Yellow is the color of Earth. 'Upper' refers to the Hand meridians, 'lower' to the Foot meridians. Jing Sheng (Meridian Excess) refers to restlessness and fullness in the face, eyes, neck, chin, feet, dorsum pedis, wrists, and calves. Buren means insensitivity to pain and itch. These are signs of extreme Qi exhaustion, hence termination.) When the Shaoyin (Lesser Yin) meridian terminates, the face turns black, the teeth appear long and dirty, abdominal distension and closure occur, and there is blockage between the upper and lower parts leading to termination. (This discusses the termination of the Shaoyin meridian. When the Qi of Hand-Shaoyin Heart fails, blood does not flow; when blood does not flow, the skin and hair die, so the complexion is like lacquer but not red. When the Qi of Foot-Shaoyin Kidney fails, the bones do not soften; when bones do not soften, the gums recede, so the teeth appear long and accumulate dirt. The Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian originates in the heart, emerges to belong to the Heart system, descends through the diaphragm to connect with the Small Intestine. The Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian ascends from the Kidney, pierces the Liver and Diaphragm, and enters the Lungs. Thus, upon termination, there is abdominal distension and closure, with blockage between upper and lower.) When the Taiyin (Greater Yin) meridian terminates, there is abdominal distension and closure with inability to breathe, frequent belching and vomiting. If vomiting occurs, Qi rebels; if Qi rebels, the face turns red. If Qi does not rebel, there is blockage between upper and lower; if blocked, the face turns black, skin and hair wither, and termination ensues. (This discusses the termination of the Taiyin meridian. The Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian enters the abdomen from the anterior aspect of the medial thigh, belongs to the Spleen and connects with the Stomach, and ascends through the diaphragm. The Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian originates in the Middle Jiao, descends to connect with the Large Intestine, returns to follow the stomach opening, ascends through the diaphragm to belong to the Lungs. Precisely because it connects the Spleen and Stomach, there is abdominal distension and closure with breathing difficulty, leading to belching and vomiting. Vomiting causes Qi to rebel and ascend, turning the face red. If there is no vomiting, there is no rebellion; if no rebellion, the upper and lower are connected, but if the lower closes again, there is blockage between upper and lower. Heart Qi burns externally, causing skin and hair to wither and termination to ensue. Why? The branch of the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian separates from the Stomach, ascends through the diaphragm, and pours into the Heart.) When the Jueyin (Terminal Yin) meridian terminates, there is heat in the chest, dry throat, frequent urination, and irritability. In severe cases, the tongue curls and the testicles retract, leading to termination. This represents the failure of the Twelve Meridians. (This discusses the termination of the Jueyin meridian. The Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian runs along the shank, ascends to the scrotum and knots at the penis; its main channel enters the pubic region, passes over the genitalia, ascends to the lower abdomen, flanks the Stomach, runs along the posterior aspect of the throat, and enters the nasal cavity/pharynx. The Hand-Jueyin Pericardium Meridian originates in the chest, emerges to belong to the Pericardium. Thus, upon termination, there is chest heat, dry throat, frequent urition, and irritability. The *Ling Shu* states: The Liver is the union of tendons. Tendons gather at the genitalia and connect to the root of the tongue. In severe cases, the tongue curls and the testicles retract, leading to termination. When such conditions affect all Twelve Meridians to the point of failure, death is inevitable.)