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(The entire chapter "Jing Bie" from the *Ling Shu*)

Huang Di asked Qi Bo: I have heard that the human body corresponds to the Heavenly Dao. Internally, the Five Zang Organs (Five Zang Organs) correspond to the Five Tones, Five Colors, Five Seasons, Five Flavors, and Five Positions; externally, the Six Fu Organs (Six Fu Organs) correspond to the Six Lv (Six Pitch Pipes). The Six Lv establish the Yin and Yang meridians and harmonize them with the Twelve Months, Twelve Earthly Branches, Twelve Solar Terms, Twelve Water Channels, Twelve Double-Hour Periods, and Twelve Primary Meridians. This is how the Five Zang and Six Fu organs respond to the Heavenly Dao. (This passage states that the meridians of the internal organs are all in harmony with the Heavenly Dao. The meanings of the five tones, colors, etc., are seen in the category of Zang-Xiang. The meaning of the six Lv is seen in the Appendix Wing: Origin of Rhythm. The meanings of the twelve months, etc., are detailed in the Diagram Wing.) The Twelve Primary Meridians (Twelve Primary Meridians) are the basis of life, the cause of disease, the foundation of treatment, the key to recovery, the beginning of learning, and the limit of skill. They are easily overlooked by mediocre practitioners but difficult to master for experts. I ask how these meridians separate, combine, enter, and exit? (The meridians are the branches and leaves of the Zang-Fu organs; the Zang-Fu organs are the root and foundation of the meridians. To understand the way of the Twelve Primary Meridians is to clarify Yin and Yang, comprehend interior and exterior, distinguish Qi and Blood, perceive deficiency and excess, observe the compliance or rebellion of the Heavenly Dao, and discern the safety or danger of pathogenic factors and healthy Qi. All aspects of human life, the formation of disease, the possibility of treatment, and the onset of recovery stem from this. Therefore, beginners must start here, and skilled practitioners ultimately rest here. However, mediocre practitioners neglect it, considering it common and easy to know; expert practitioners find it difficult, considering its responses infinite. The content of the Twelve Primary Meridians is already complete in the previous chapter on Meridians, but the details of their upper-lower separation-combination and interior-exterior entry-exit are not fully covered, so we clarify them here again. The previous chapter 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 one is brief and the other detailed, the principles differ, and they should be consulted together.) Qi Bo bowed twice and said: Your question is truly insightful. This is what mediocre practitioners overlook and what expert practitioners pay attention to. Let me finish explaining. ("Guo" means passing by, implying neglect without scrutiny. "Xi" means stopping/resting, implying careful attention.)

The Zheng Mai (Correct/Regular Meridian) of Foot-Taiyang Bladder enters the popliteal fossa. One branch descends five cun below the sacrum, enters the anus, belongs to the Bladder, scatters into the Kidney, follows the erector spinae muscles to the heart, and disperses there; the straight branch ascends along the erector spinae muscles, emerges at the nape, and re-joins the Foot-Taiyang meridian. This constitutes one pair. The Zheng Mai of Foot-Shaoyin Kidney, at the popliteal fossa, diverges to join Foot-Taiyang and combines. It ascends to the Kidney, exits at the level of the fourteenth vertebra to belong to the Dai Mai (Girdle Vessel); the straight branch ties to the base of the tongue, emerges at the nape, and combines with Foot-Taiyang. This forms one union. Because all Yin meridians' divergent pathways are called Zheng Mai... (This indicates that the Bladder and Kidney are exterior-interior pairs, so their meridians form a union. The Zheng Mai of Foot-Taiyang enters the popliteal fossa, joins with Foot-Shaoyin, and ascends; its other branch descends five cun below the sacrum, at the level of Chengfu (BL 36), enters the anus, travels internally through the abdomen, belongs to the Bladder, scatters into the Kidney, follows the erector spinae to the heart, disperses, ascends to the nape, and returns to the original Foot-Taiyang meridian, constituting one internal-external unit. The Zheng Mai of Foot-Shaoyin joins Foot-Taiyang at the popliteal fossa, travels internally to the Kidney, exits at the level of the fourteenth vertebra near Shenshu (BL 23) to belong to the Dai Mai, its straight branch ascends to tie the tongue base, emerges at the nape, and combines with Foot-Taiyang, which is one of the six unions. Since there must be exterior corresponding to interior, and Yang corresponding to Yin, the Zheng Mai of all Yang meridians must be completed by the divergent pathways of all Yin meridians. These are true meridians separating and combining, not merely collateral intersections. The rest follow this pattern. Kao [sacrum] is pronounced kai-gao qie. Gang [anus] is pronounced gong, or hao-gang qie. Guo [popliteal fossa] is synonymous with Zhui, pronounced chui.)

The Zheng Mai of Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder surrounds the thigh, enters the pubic hair region, and joins Foot-Jueyin; another branch enters the space between the costal margin and the flank, follows the interior of the chest, belongs to the Gallbladder, scatters to the upper Liver, pierces the Heart, ascends to flank the pharynx, emerges between the chin and jaw, scatters on the face, ties to the eye system, and combines with Foot-Shaoyang at the lateral canthus. The Zheng Mai of Foot-Jueyin Liver diverges from the dorsum of the foot, ascends to the pubic hair region, joins Foot-Shaoyang, and runs together with the other branch. This forms the second union. (This indicates that the Gallbladder and Liver are exterior-interior pairs, forming a union. Foot-Shaoyang surrounds the lateral thigh, enters the pubic hair region, and joins Foot-Jueyin. Its internal branch enters from the costal margin to the chest, belongs to the Gallbladder, scatters to the upper Liver, passes through the upper Liver to pierce the Heart, ascends to flank the pharynx, emerges between the chin and jaw, scatters on the face, ascends to tie the eye system, and re-combines with the original Foot-Shaoyang meridian at the lateral canthus (Tongziliao GB 1). The Zheng Mai of Foot-Jueyin diverges from the medial dorsum of the foot, ascends to the pubic hair region, joins Foot-Shaoyang, runs with the branch, and distributes to the hypochondrium. This is the second of the six unions. Yi [chin] is pronounced yi. Han [jaw] is pronounced he-gan qie.)

The Zheng Mai of Foot-Yangming Stomach ascends to the thigh, enters the abdominal cavity, belongs to the Stomach, scatters to the Spleen, connects upward to the Heart, follows the pharynx to emerge at the mouth, ascends to the eyes, returns to tie the eye system, and combines with Foot-Yangming. The Zheng Mai of Foot-Taiyin Spleen ascends to the thigh, joins Foot-Yangming, runs together with the branch, knots at the pharynx, and pierces the middle of the tongue. This forms the third union. (This indicates that the Stomach and Spleen are exterior-interior pairs, forming a union. Foot-Yangming ascends to Bituan (ST 31); its internal branch enters the abdominal cavity via Qichong (ST 30), belongs to the Stomach, scatters to the Spleen, connects to the Heart, follows the pharynx to emerge at the mouth, ascends to the eyes, enters the level of Chengqi (ST 1), ties the eye system as a net under the eye, and combines with the original Foot-Yangming meridian. The Zheng Mai of Foot-Taiyin ascends the medial thigh, joins Foot-Yangming, runs with the branch to the pharynx and through the tongue. This is the third of the six unions. E [eye area] is pronounced e. Zhuo [eye area] is pronounced zhuo.)

The Zheng Mai of Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine points downward (towards the earth), diverges from the shoulder joint, enters the axilla, travels to the Heart, and ties to the Small Intestine. The Zheng Mai of Hand-Shaoyin Heart diverges into the space between the two tendons at Yuanye (GB 22), belongs to the Heart, ascends to the throat, emerges on the face, and combines at the medial canthus. This forms the fourth union. (This indicates that the Small Intestine and Heart are exterior-interior pairs, forming a union. "Pointing to earth" means the earth is Yin, residing within Heaven. The internal pathway of Hand-Taiyang diverges from the shoulder joint, enters the axilla, travels to the Heart, and ties to the Small Intestine; all move from superior to inferior, from exterior to interior, hence "pointing to earth." The Meridian Chapter says they cross the shoulder, enter the supraclavicular fossa, and connect to the Heart; this text says they diverge from the shoulder joint, enter the axilla, and travel to the Heart. There are likely pathways entering the Heart both anteriorly and posteriorly. The Zheng Mai of Hand-Shaoyin, three cun below the axilla at the level of Foot-Shaoyang's Yuanye, travels between the two tendons, internally belongs to the Heart, and combines with Hand-Taiyang's pathway entering the axilla and traveling to the Heart. It then ascends to flank the pharynx, emerges on the face, and combines at the medial canthus, where it should meet Jingming (BL 1) of Foot-Taiyang. This is the fourth of the six unions.)

The Zheng Mai of Hand-Shaoyang Sanjiao points upward (towards Heaven), diverges from the vertex, enters the supraclavicular fossa, descends to the Sanjiao, and scatters in the chest cavity. The Zheng Mai of Hand-Jueyin Pericardium diverges three cun downward into the chest cavity, separately belongs to the Sanjiao, emerges to follow the throat, emerges behind the ear, and combines with Shaoyang below Wanggu (GB 12). This forms the fifth union. (This indicates that the Sanjiao and Pericardium are exterior-interior pairs, forming a union. "Pointing to Heaven" means Heaven is Yang, operating outside the earth. The Zheng Mai of Hand-Shaoyang diverges from the vertex, enters the supraclavicular fossa, descends to the Sanjiao, and scatters in the chest, encompassing the organs outside the viscera, hence "pointing to Heaven." The Zheng Mai of Hand-Jueyin, its internal divergent branch, shares the same origin three cun below the axilla at the level of Foot-Shaoyang's Yuanye with the Shaoyin pathway, enters the chest, belongs to the Sanjiao, emerges to follow the throat, travels behind the ear, and combines with Hand and Foot Shaoyang below Wanggu. This is the fifth of the six unions.)

The Zheng Mai of Hand-Yangming Large Intestine follows the chest and breast from the hand, diverges from Jianjing (GB 21), enters the vertebral column, descends to the Large Intestine, belongs to the Lung, ascends to follow the throat, emerges from the supraclavicular fossa, and combines with Hand-Yangming. The Zheng Mai of Hand-Taiyin Lung diverges into the space anterior to Yuanye and Hand-Shaoyin, enters the Lung, scatters to the Large Intestine, emerges from the supraclavicular fossa, follows the throat, and re-combines with Hand-Yangming. This completes the sixth union. (This indicates that the Large Intestine and Lung are exterior-interior pairs, forming a union. The Zheng Mai of Hand-Yangming follows the intercostal and mammary regions; its internal branch diverges from Jianjing, enters the vertebral column, descends from the supraclavicular fossa to the Large Intestine, belongs to the Lung; its ascending branch follows the throat, emerges from the supraclavicular fossa, and combines with the original Hand-Yangming meridian. The Zheng Mai of Hand-Taiyin, its internal branch, diverges from Tianfu (LU 3) into Yuanye, enters internally anterior to the Hand-Shaoyin Heart meridian to reach the Lung, scatters to the Large Intestine; its ascending branch emerges from the supraclavicular fossa, follows the throat, and re-combines with the Hand-Yangming meridian. Above, these constitute the Twelve Primary Meridians, forming the six unions.)