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The Hand Shaoyin Meridian connects to the Heart, the Foot Shaoyin Meridian connects to the Kidney, the Hand Taiyin Meridian connects to the Lung, the Foot Taiyin Meridian connects to the Spleen, the Hand Shaoyang Meridian connects to the Danzhong (Pericardium), the Foot Shaoyang Meridian connects to the Gallbladder, the Hand Jueyin Meridian connects to the Mingmen (Gate of Life, here referring to the functional aspect or location associated with the Pericardium as argued by the author), characterized by abundant Qi and scarce Blood; the Foot Jueyin Meridian connects to the Liver, the Hand Taiyang Meridian connects to the Small Intestine, the Foot Taiyang Meridian connects to the Bladder, characterized by abundant Blood and scarce Qi; the Hand Yangming Meridian connects to the Large Intestine, the Foot Yangming Meridian connects to the Stomach, characterized by abundant Blood and abundant Qi. The poem states: The Hand and Foot Shaoyin meridians correspond to the Heart and Kidney respectively; the Lung and Spleen are both located in the Taiyin position; the Danzhong and Gallbladder reside in the Shaoyang; these three meridians (Shaoyin, Shaoyang, Jueyin) have scarce Blood but abundant Qi; the Yangming meridians have abundant Blood and abundant Qi, the Hand Yangming connects to the Large Intestine, the Foot Yangming connects to the Stomach, the Jueyin meridian exclusively corresponds to the Mingmen and Liver, the Taiyang meridians connect to the Small Intestine and Bladder, these four meridians (excluding Mingmen and Kidney) are characterized by abundant Qi and scarce Blood, this must be remembered.

In my commentary, "Jing" (Meridians/Vessels) refers to the continuous and unceasing circulation of Zang-Fu organ Qi and Blood. "Luo" (Collaterals) encompasses the tendons and vessels of the human body; straight ones are called Jing, horizontal ones are called Luo. They originate from the Zang-Fu organs and terminate at the hundred bones (skeletal system). Yin meridians arise from the Zang organs, Yang meridians arise from the Fu organs. The Shaoyin ends at the Heart and Kidney, the Taiyin ends at the Spleen and Lung. When two Yins intersect and exhaust, it is called Jueyin, where the Mingmen and Liver are housed. The Shaoyang is manifest at the Danzhong and Gallbladder, the Taiyang is manifest at the Small Intestine and Bladder. When two Yangs combine and illuminate, it is called Yangming, to which the Large Intestine and Stomach belong. This distribution of Zang-Fu organs and meridians by ancient sages has not been altered by later generations. However, the characters "Hand" and "Foot" raise doubts. I believe that if the Three Yin meridians of the Hand travel from the Zang organs to the Hand, and the Three Yin meridians of the Foot travel from the Foot into the Abdomen, then the upper and lower parts would not intersect; if the Three Yang meridians of the Hand travel from the Hand to the Head, and the Three Yang meridians of the Foot travel from the Head to the Foot, then the meridians would lose their fundamental origin. Some say that the Three Yin and Three Yang are aliases for the Zang-Fu organs, while "Hand" and "Foot" are merely surnames; knowing the name need not require investigating the alias, just as one asks for a surname without asking for the given name. This statement is profound! But if one insists on following the ancients, adding the term "Meridian-Collateral" (Jing-Luo) would provide some grounding for "Hand" and "Foot".

Regarding the Hand Shaoyin Meridian, one theory states it connects to the Danzhong, which is the Pericardial Collateral (Pericardium) of the Heart. The Classic says: "The Danzhong is the official of the minister, from whom joy and pleasure emerge." This implies that the Monarch is the Heart, the Minister is the Danzhong, and the Mingmen is a nominal position; another theory states that the "Small Heart" connects to the Mingmen. The Classic says: "Beside the seventh vertebra, there is the Small Heart." This implies that the primary entity is the Heart, the secondary is the Mingmen, and the Danzhong is a nominal position. Both theories come from ancient philosophers, and it is unknown which is correct. People claim that the "Small Heart" is the Danzhong. Examining diagrams like the *Neijing Mingtang*, the Pericardial Collateral is placed above Wu Earth, while the Mingmen is mapped within the Kidney. Clearly, these are two distinct entities; how can they be forcibly merged? Moreover, the Mingmen is a single Yang trapped between two Yins. During sexual intercourse, it governs egress and ingress. Thus, whenever desire stirs, the Yang fire responds and rises; when this rising force interacts with Yin, essence is discharged. This is akin to heaven and earth: Yang vaporizes moisture into clouds, and clouds suppressed by Yin become rain. Is the Danzhong merely the minister of the Heart, lacking concrete evidence? Furthermore, the Mingmen is Yang within Yin, the essence of Yuan Qi (Original Qi), and the source of generation. It does not solely serve the role of Minister Fire. It is like the lantern on the Ao Mountain galloping horse display: those bowing, dancing, walking, or running are all driven by this single point of true fire. If this fire extinguishes, all phenomena cease. Can the Danzhong, being merely an object of the Pericardium, possess such spiritual clarity? Therefore, stating that the Hand Jueyin belongs to the Mingmen makes the explanation clear. As for the officials of the Twelve Meridians, only the Sanjiao (Triple Burner) is formless and placeless. Its forms, like mist, foam, and ditch, are essentially non-existent entities. Even its functions of transporting Essence, Spirit, and Qi are merely hypothetical. How can it be seen as the Hand Shaoyang, thereby allowing the Hand Jueyin to be considered a Zang-Fu organ? Since the Danzhong follows the same path as the Zang-Fu organs, let the Danzhong replace the Sanjiao in the Shaoyang position, and let the Mingmen replace the Danzhong in the Jueyin position. Replacing the character "Jiao" with "Shan", is this not a precise summary? Leaving this aside, the inconsistent theories regarding the Mingmen and Pericardial Collateral indicate that the ancients' statements were not entirely perfect. Huang Tingjing dares to offer private criticism. Therefore, determining the Twelve Meridians, I conclude that the Danzhong is the Hand Shaoyang Meridian, and the Mingmen is the Hand Jueyin Meridian.