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Originates at the end of the radial side of the second finger.
The *Mai Jing* (Pulse Classic) has the characters "lateral side" below this. Examination: The classic does not specify which side for the ends of all fingers. However, verifying by acupoints, the statement in the *Mai Jing* is also valid.

Enters below the lateral aspect of the elbow.
The *Mai Jing* has the character "ascends" above "enters", both are acceptable. "Below" is written as "lateral". Examination: The Yangming channel runs on the anterior aspect of the body and should not enter below the medial aspect of the elbow. The acupoint of this channel at the elbow is exactly at the lateral aspect of the elbow, not the medial aspect; it should be corrected according to the *Mai Jing*.

From the clavicular fossa (Quepen), ascends to the neck and passes through the cheek.
The *Mai Jing* has the characters "straight enters" below "fossa". Examination: For channels that run deeply from here, the classic generally calls it "enters". There are no acupoints in this channel from Jugu to Tianding, clearly indicating the next segment after ascending from the clavicular fossa to the neck, which is a deep course. If following the current version, it seems to ascend superficially before the clavicular fossa to the neck, which does not accord with the distribution of channel pathways and acupoints.

Enters into the lower teeth.
The *Mai Jing* has the character "gap" below "teeth". Ma's commentary and the citation in Volume 3, Chapter on Cold and Heat, are identical, indicating that the text was not erroneous in the Ming Dynasty.

Swelling of the neck.
The *Mai Jing* writes "neck" as " " (infraorbital area). Examination: In *Suwen: Zhentyao Dalun*, when Shaoyin is in the泉 (subterranean position), people suffer from toothache and infraorbital swelling. The New Correction cites *Jiayi Jing* also writing " ". Since the area below the eye is called " ", and this channel flanks the nostrils, directly under the eyes, there is a symptom of infraorbital swelling. At the segment from the clavicular fossa ascending to the neck, where the channel runs deeply, swelling should not occur.

Originates at the intersection of the nose and " " (nasal alae).
Both citations in *Suwen: Wuzang Shengcheng* and *Pingren Qixiang* lack the character "of". Examination: With the character "of", it seems plausible; "intersection " refers to the name of the channel sequence. Detailed examination of Ma's commentary states: Originating from the sides of the nose at Yingxiang acupoint, ascending and intersecting left and right at " ". Thus, the original text had no redundant characters.

Ascends and enters the teeth.
The *Mai Jing* writes "enters the upper teeth", contrasting with Hand-Yangming entering the lower teeth. Examination: Upper teeth belong to Foot-Yangming, lower teeth to Hand-Yangming, explicitly stated in the classic. If simply referred to as "teeth", upper and lower cannot be distinguished. Moreover, this channel descends from the nose to the teeth and mouth; how can it be said to "ascend and enter"?

Originates at the stomach opening, descends along the abdominal interior.
In the *Mai Jing*, the character "mouth" is below "descends". The citation in *Suwen: Wuzang Shengcheng* is the same. Ma's commentary also says: Originating from the lower opening of the stomach, following the abdominal interior; thus the original text was correct, and the error lies in transposition during copying.

Descends below Bituan.
Wang Bing's commentary citing *Suwen: Wuzang Shengcheng* lacks the character "guan".

Descends three cun below the knee crease and branches off, descending into the lateral space of the middle finger.
The *Mai Jing* writes "knee" for "crease". There is the character "yi" below "branches". Examination: This channel branches from the medial space of the middle finger to the lateral space; it cannot be described as descending below the crease. Ma's commentary correctly writes "below the knee", so the original text was not erroneous. Presumably, one branch enters the patella, while this branch does not enter the patella but floats down three cun from the knee to branch off. The character "yi" should be present according to the convention of this chapter.

Prone to groaning and frequent yawning.
The *Mai Jing* writes "extend" for "groan". Probably treating frequent extending and yawning as one symptom. *Liji* states: A gentleman yawns and extends. If groaning were a kidney disease, it should not belong to the stomach.

Then aversion to people and fire.
Both *Suwen: Maijie* and *Yangming Maijie* have the character "jue" (reversal/collapse) below "ze"; the meaning is longer and it should be supplemented.

Heart desires movement, alone closing doors and blocking windows to reside.
In the *Mai Jing*, the character "yu" (desire) is below "dong" (move), forming a sentence, without the character "sai" (block). *Suwen: Yangming Maijie* is the same. Presumably, the ancient version of *Lingshu* was like this. Furthermore, *Maijie* does not explain the two characters "xindong" (heart moving), implying it connects to the previous character "jing" (startle) for explanation.

Severe.
In *Suwen: Maijie*, "bingzhi" (disease arrives) is written as "shen" (severe), and "shen" is written as "bingzhi", differing from this. Explaining the classic text should be corrected according to *Maijie*.
Generally, above "closing doors and windows" are symptoms of deficiency of Wei Qi (Defensive Qi); below "ascending high" are symptoms of excess of Wei Qi. Excess indicates pathogenic factor. If following the current version, it is incomprehensible.

Sores and ulcers on the lips and mouth.
The *Mai Jing* writes "jin" (tight) for "zhen" (ulcer/eruption). Examination: Lips and mouth belong to tendon diseases, unrelated to vessel diseases. " " should be " ", meaning sores in the mouth, which are ulcerative conditions like lip ulcers. " " is a vulgar script; ancient texts had no "mouth" radical. The original text must have been " ", likely a simplified form of " ", mistaken by shallow scholars! "Jin" is a phonetic loan for "jia" (mass), meaning lip sores and tightness; both interpretations are valid. See my *Zhengyuan* for details.

Edema of the great abdomen.
Examination: This classic discusses symptoms throughout, not etiology; why mention edema here specifically? *Suwen: Maijie* says: Regarding guest collateral vessels, headache, nasal congestion, and abdominal swelling occur because Yangming merges upward; the upward part involves its collateral vessels of Taiyin, hence headache, nasal congestion, and abdominal swelling. That text explains great abdominal swelling without the character "water", showing that this classic has redundant characters. The scribe, seeing the name "great abdominal edema" in the water gate section, made an error of unnecessary addition.

After defecation and passing gas, feeling relieved as if the illness subsides.
The *Mai Jing* writes "obtaining sour and heat, then feeling relieved and eating". Examination: "Hou" (posterior/defecation) and "Suan" (sour) have similar radicals; "Qi" (gas) or written as " ", resembles "Re" (heat); "Shuai" (subsiding) resembles the bottom part of "Shi" (food). Hence the contradiction.

Urgent pain in the epigastrium.
The *Mai Jing* has the characters "cold malaria" below this, suspected to be redundant.

Inability to lie down.
The *Mai Jing* writes "likes to lie down, unable to eat meat, blue lips" (eight characters). Examination: Stomach disease causes inability to lie down; Spleen disease causes liking to lie down. By this reasoning, the *Mai Jing* is correct. My understanding is incomplete.

Swelling of the inner thigh and knee.
The *Mai Jing* writes "pain" for "swelling"; the meaning is better. Examination: Swelling is a Wei Qi disease; pain is a Ying Qi (Nutritive Qi) disease. Below "diseases generated by the channel", it should not erroneously list a Wei Qi symptom; it should be corrected according to the *Mai Jing*.

Emerges between the two tendons on the medial side of the elbow.
The *Mai Jing* writes "bone" for "tendon".

Enters the clavicular fossa.
The *Mai Jing* has the characters "towards the axilla" below this; the meaning is complete.

Swelling of the cheek, neck, jaw, shoulder, and pain on the posterior-lateral aspect of the arm and elbow.
The *Mai Jing* writes "jaw swelling neck" for "cheek swelling neck jaw". Examination: The text of the *Mai Jing* conforms to the sequence of channel circulation; " " should be added, and "han" (jaw) changed.

Descends flanking the spine and passes through the buttocks.
The *Mai Jing* writes "descends to meet the posterior orifice, descends through the buttocks". Examination: Among the diseases generated by this channel are hemorrhoids, which are diseases of the posterior orifice. Since the classic mentions diseases originating from the posterior yin, there must be a channel meeting the posterior orifice. This chapter states: The proper pathway of Foot-Taiyang, one branch descends five cun below the coccyx, separately enters the anus. This matches the *Mai Jing*. This channel should not be missing; it should be corrected according to the *Mai Jing*.

Pain in the vertex, occiput, and nape.
The *Mai Jing* writes "brain" for "fontanelle", and "top of head" for "nape". Examination: Based on this channel entering the brain from the vertex, the *Mai Jing* has better meaning. If following Ma's version, nape pain duplicates the lower text, which is incorrect.

Insufficiency of Qi leads to fearfulness.
*Suwen: Maijie* writes "insufficient Qi and irritability"; thus "insufficiency of Qi" and "fearfulness" should be parallel, and "ze" (then) is redundant. From "hungry but no desire to eat" to here, all are caused by insufficiency of Qi; why only one instance of fearfulness? It should be corrected by deleting according to *Maijie*.

This is called Gu Jue (Bone Reversal).
The *Mai Jing* writes "Kidney" for "Bone".

Circulates in the chest center.
The *Mai Jing* lacks the character "zhong" (center). Examination: The convention of this chapter is that whenever "circulates" (xun) is used, it refers to superficially running channels. If it were the chest center, it would be a deep-running pathway, and should be noted as "if enters", not "circulates". The absence of "zhong" in the classic is obvious. Ma's commentary also lacks "zhong".

Spreads in Danzhong.
The *Mai Jing* writes "intersect" for "spread". Examination: Ma's commentary also writes "intersect". Thus the original text was correct; otherwise, saying "spread" above and "scatter" below would be repetitive in meaning.

Bending downwards to the cheek reaching " ".
The *Mai Jing* writes "forehead" for "cheek". Examination: This channel descends from the ear apex; from forehead to " ", the momentum is smooth; from cheek to " ", the momentum is contrary.
Moreover, if the classic truly had such a looping channel, it should say bending downwards to the cheek, then ascending to " ", not written as is. It urgently needs correction according to the *Mai Jing*.

Descends to Daying, meets Hand-Shaoyang, reaches " ".
The *Mai Jing* cites this passage in two versions: one is "ascends to welcome Hand-Shaoyang at the vertex", the other is the same as here but without the character "di" (reach). Examination: Ma's commentary also lacks "di", so the original text had no redundancy; it should be deleted. As for "ascends to welcome Hand-Shaoyang at the vertex", checking against acupoints fits well. Generally located at Yangbai, Yanguan, Muchuang, Zhengying, Chengling, Naokong positions, more complete than Ma's version; it must be corrected according to the *Mai Jing*.

Enters between the little finger and the ring finger.
The *Mai Jing* writes "end" for "between"; the meaning is better. Because the little finger and ring finger refer to the ring finger alone, not two fingers, "between" is inappropriate.

Returns and penetrates the nail bed, emerges at the tuft of hair.
The *Mai Jing* has the character "enter" below "penetrate". Examination: "Sanmao" (three hairs) has no meaning; based on Foot-Jueyin channel text, it should be "congmao" (tuft of hair).

Mandibular pain.
The *Mai Jing* writes "angle and forehead pain". Yuan's collated edition writes "temporal pain, forehead pain". Examination: This channel descends from Jiache to the neck, not reaching the mandible, so mandibular pain should not be listed. Its branch from the outer canthus ascends to welcome Hand-Shaoyang at the vertex, undoubtedly passing over the forehead; thus forehead pain should exist, and the *Mai Jing* has better meaning. As for "temporal pain", it is a variant of the earlier "headache". Among the Three Yang channels, only Taiyang occupies the center of the head and is exclusively called headache; Shaoyang only passes the temporal region, so it should be called temporal pain, not mixed as headache.

Circulates along the inner thigh entering the pubic region.
The *Mai Jing* places "yin" below "enter". Examination: The convention of this chapter uses anterior/posterior margin or medial/lateral margin, never naming by Yin/Yang. According to the convention, it should say "circulates along the medial thigh"; since the text above already said "ascends medial margin", it omits the word, saying "circulates thigh". It should be corrected according to the *Mai Jing*.

Then Jin Ye (Body Fluids) leave the skin joints; those whose Jin Ye leave the skin joints will have withered nails and broken hair; those with broken hair will die first in their hair.
In *Nanjing*, the phrase "ze jinye qu" and the eight characters "pijie jinye qu pijie zhe" are written as "jinye qu ze pi jie shang, pi jie shang zhe" (eleven characters). The *Mai Jing* is the same. The character "zhua" (nail) in *Nanjing* is written as "pi" (skin). The *Mai Jing* is the same as the classic. "Mao xian si" (hair dies first) is the same in *Nanjing* and the classic; the *Mai Jing* writes "qi xian si" (Qi dies first). Examination: "Jin Ye leaving skin joints" has no meaning; *Nanjing* is better. Nails are the sign of Foot-Jueyin, not Hand-Taiyin, and should not be listed here. Even the character "pi" in *Nanjing* repeats the meaning of "skin injury" above. Inferring from the classic solely inheriting "mao zhe" (hair breaks), "zhua ku" (nails wither) should be redundant. "Mao xian si" repeats the meaning of "mao zhe". Referring to the pattern of the following four sections, "qi xian si" is accurate and consistent with "qi bu rong ze maopi jiao" (Qi not nourishing leads to dry skin and hair). Also, the text above already said "skin and hair dry"; why repeat "skin joint injury" here, being detailed only about skin? Ancient people likely did not use such repetitive phrasing. "Pijie" (skin joint) should be a mistake for "zhijie" (limb joint). "Zhi" (limb) was anciently written as "zhi", resembling "pi" (skin), hence the error.

Then the vessels are blocked; if vessels are blocked, blood does not flow; if blood does not flow, the luster of hair is lost; therefore, his face is black like lacquered charcoal.
The *Mai Jing* has twelve characters below "ze mai bu tong": "Shaoyin zhe xin mai ye, xin zhe mai zhi he ye" (Shaoyin is the heart vessel; the heart is the union of vessels).
*Nanjing* is the same as the classic. *Nanjing* writes "seze qu" (color luster departs) for "maose bu ze" (hair color not lustrous), lacking the character "mao". Examination: Referring to the pattern of the above and below four sections, the twelve characters should exist. These twelve characters explain the reason for observing Heart Qi exhaustion via vessel blockage; their absence is due to omission during copying! The character "mao" is redundant. *Suwen: Liuji Zangxiang Lun* states: "The Heart, its brilliance is in the face, its filling is in the blood vessels"; thus, observing the Heart should focus on the face and vessels. "Color not lustrous" refers to dark facial complexion, closely connected with "gu" (therefore). If "mao" followed below, it would refer to withered hair, not dark facial complexion. So, do the following eight characters connect properly? Moreover, hair is the sign of Hand-Taiyin; why is it listed here?

Then the vessels do not nourish the muscles, lips, and tongue.
*Nanjing* and *Mai Jing* both write "ze mai bu rong qi, kou chun zhe" (then vessels do not nourish it, mouth and lips); the meaning is better. If following Ma's version, the context above and below is not coherent. Furthermore, the tongue is the sign of Foot-Jueyin, not Foot-Taiyin; naturally, it is a mistake for the character "kou" (mouth).

Then the tongue atrophies.
Neither *Nanjing* nor *Mai Jing* has the two characters "she wei" (tongue atrophy). Examination: It should be deleted according to them; the reasoning is seen previously.

Therefore, the bones are not moistened, and the flesh cannot adhere.
The *Mai Jing* has the character "gu" (bone) below "zhuo" (adhere). Examination: *Nanjing* says "rou bu zhuo gu" (flesh does not adhere to bone), which is correct. The classic inherently has the character "gu".

Then the tendons sever.
The *Mai Jing* writes "suo" (contract/shrink) for "jue" (sever); the meaning is better.

Gathers at the Yin organ, and the vessels connect to the root of the tongue.
In *Nanjing* and *Mai Jing*, the character "qi" (Qi) is written as "qi" (vessel/organ). Wang Bing's commentary citing *Suwen: Zhinyaojingzhong Lun* is the same. *Nanjing* lacks the character "mai" (vessel); the meaning is better.

Then the tendons contract; contracting tendons pull the tongue and testicles, therefore the lips turn blue.
The *Mai Jing* adds the character "suo" (contract) above both "ji" (urgent/tight); *Nanjing* is the same; the meaning is better. *Nanjing* lacks the two characters "chun qing" (lips blue). Examination: Lips are the sign of Foot-Taiyin, not Foot-Jueyin. Although blue belongs to Jueyin, the convention of this chapter records channels but not colors; these are certainly redundant characters.

Originates at the interspace above the wrist, alongside the Taiyin channel.
The *Mai Jing* writes "axilla" for "above wrist". Below the character "jian" (space/interspace) are seven characters: "bie zou yangming, qi zhi zhe" (separately walks Yangming, its branch). Examination: Lieque acupoint is one and a half cun above the wrist, not in the axilla; suspecting the *Mai Jing* is in error. Perhaps its main collateral emerges from the axilla, and its branch directly enters the palm, scattering into the Thenar eminence, which is Lieque! However, Yuji and Lieque are not in corresponding positions; we should leave it as a question. (Examination: By analogy with other collaterals, "separately walks Taiyin" should be placed here according to the *Mai Jing*.)

Take it one and a half cun from the wrist, separately walking Yangming.
The *Mai Jing* writes "one and a half cun" for "half cun", lacking the five characters "bie zou yangming ye" (separately walks Yangming). Examination: Ancient acupuncture masters state Lieque is one and a half cun above the wrist; knowing from this that the classic text is inverted, it should be corrected according to the *Mai Jing*. In the *Mai Jing*, "separately walks Yangming" is below "above wrist interspace", hence absent here.

Deficiency manifests as stiff neck.
The *Mai Jing* writes "restless heart" for "stiff neck". Examination: The Pericardium channel does not reach the head; it cannot have a stiff neck symptom. Moreover, stiff neck arises from the neck tendons and should belong to Foot-Taiyang; listing it here is incorrect. If "restless heart", it aligns well with the three characters "luo xin xi" (connects to the heart system) in the classic; it should be corrected according to the *Mai Jing*.

Five cun above the medial malleolus.
The *Mai Jing* has the character "shang" (above) below "huai" (malleolus). Examination: According to Ma's commentary, the original text had the character "shang"; the current version omitted it during copying!

Excess manifests as elongation and heat.
The *Mai Jing* has the character "re" (heat) below "chang" (long); the meaning is better.