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(Su Wen, Chapter 5: Generation of the Five Zang Organs)

All vessels (Mai, blood vessels and meridians) are connected to the eyes. (The Da Huo Lun states: The essence of the five zang organs and six fu organs all ascend to the eyes to form vision. The Kou Wen Pian states: The eyes are the gathering place of the Zong Mai [Major Vessels]. Therefore, all vessels are connected to the eyes.) All marrow (Sui) is connected to the brain, (The brain is the Sea of Marrow, therefore all marrow belongs to it.) All sinews (Jin) are connected to the joints, (Sinews provide strength and connect the bones and joints. As stated in the Xuan Ming Wu Qi Pian: Prolonged walking injures the sinews. This is because all sinews are connected to the joints.) All blood (Xue) is connected to the Heart, (The Yin Yang Ying Xiang Da Lun states: The Heart generates blood. The Wei Lun states: The Heart governs the blood vessels of the body. Therefore, all blood is connected to the Heart.) All qi (Qi) is connected to the Lungs, (Both the Tiao Jing Lun and Ben Shen Pian state: The Lungs store qi. The Wu Wei Pian states: The great qi that moves but does not circulate accumulates in the chest, called the Sea of Qi, emerging from the Lungs, following the throat and pharynx, so it exits during exhalation and enters during inhalation. This is why all qi is connected to the Lungs.) This describes the daily circulation of the four limbs and eight xi [valleys/creeks]. (The four limbs refer to the two hands and two feet. The eight xi refer to the elbows and axillae in the upper limbs, and the knees and ankles in the lower limbs; these are the joints of the four limbs, hence called xi. "Zhao Xi" [morning and evening] means that the various vessels, marrow, sinews, blood, and qi of the human body all enter and exit through these points, circulating day and night without cessation. The Xie Ke Pian states: Humans have eight xu [deficient spots], which are the chambers of the joints, where true qi passes and blood collaterals travel. This refers to this concept. Another interpretation: "Zhao Xi" implies tides, meaning the flow of qi and blood in the body is like the ebb and flow of sea tides; morning is called chao [tide in], evening is called xi [tide out], which is also a valid explanation.) Therefore, when a person lies down to sleep, blood returns to the Liver. (When awake, one moves; movement causes blood to follow qi into the yang aspects and circulate through the various meridians. When sleeping, one is still; stillness causes blood to follow qi into the yin aspects and return to the Liver, as the Liver is the organ that stores blood. Thus, people who are sleeping often have pale complexions because the blood is stored away.) The Liver receives blood and thus enables vision. (The Liver opens into the eyes; when the Liver receives blood, the spirit gathers in the eyes, enabling sight.) The feet receive blood and thus enable walking. (When the feet receive blood, the spirit resides in the feet, making steps steady.) The palms receive blood and thus enable grasping. (When the palms receive blood, the spirit resides in the hands, making grips firm.) The fingers receive blood and thus enable holding/picking up. (When the fingers receive blood, the spirit resides in the fingers, making grasping strong. Note: Qi and blood are the basis of human spirit/shen. Why do these sections only mention blood and not qi? Generally, qi belongs to yang and is formless, while blood belongs to yin and has form. Human physical form is constituted by yin. As the Jiu Zhen Pian states: What generates humans is blood vessels. The Ying Wei Sheng Hui Pian states: Blood is shen qi. The Ping Ren Jue Gu Pian states: When blood vessels are harmonious, spirit resides. Therefore, speaking of blood here implies that spirit is generated based on form, and function emerges from the body.) If, after waking and going out, one is exposed to wind, blood coagulating in the skin becomes Bi syndrome [obstruction]. (During the time of waking and going out, if the xuan fu [pores] are not closed and sweat is not retained, exposure to wind causes blood to coagulate in the skin, leading to numbness or pain, resulting in Bi syndrome.) Coagulation in the vessels becomes Qi [stagnation/roughness]. (External invasion of wind-cold causes blood to coagulate in the vessels, leading to vessel stagnation and disease. Qi is synonymous with Se [astringent/stagnant].) Coagulation in the feet becomes Jue [cold extremities/reversal]. (The four limbs are the root of all yang. Wind-cold invading and causing blood to coagulate in the feet leads to yang deficiency and yin excess, causing qi reversal and Jue syndrome.) In these three cases, blood circulates but cannot return to its empty spaces [orifices/channels], thus becoming Bi and Jue syndromes. (Blood flows when warm and coagulates when cold. Regarding the previous three sections, due to wind-cold invasion, blood vessels become stagnant and unable to circulate and return to their orifices, thus causing Bi and Jue diseases. Kong is the same as Kong [hole/orifice], referring to the channels of blood flow.) The human body has twelve major gu [valleys]. (Major gu refers to the largest joints. There are no larger joints than those in the four limbs: in the hands, the shoulders, elbows, and wrists; in the feet, the ankles, knees, and tarsus. Each limb has three joints, totaling twelve places. Fen means place. Note: This corresponds to the meaning of the eight xi mentioned earlier. Since they are called xi, why are they also called gu? As the Qi Ke Lun states: Large gatherings of muscle are called gu, small gatherings are called xi. Between muscle divisions, the convergence of xi and gu serves to circulate ying and wei qi and gather great qi. Thus, although xi and gu differ in size, they are both convergences of qi and blood, so the terms can be used interchangeably. The previous text mentioned them singly, hence only eight xi; this section contrasts with the 354 minor xi mentioned below, hence called major gu. Annotations interpreting the twelve major gu as parts of the twelve meridians are incorrect.) There are 354 minor xi [valleys], excluding the twelve Shu [transporting] points. (Minor xi refers to the intersections of bones throughout the body. The Xiao Zhen Jie states: The 365 intersections of joints are where collateral vessels seep into and irrigate the joints. The twelve Shu points refer to the back-Shu points of the twelve zang organs, such as Fei Shu and Xin Shu. Excluding the twelve Shu points which communicate with zang qi and are not part of the minor xi category, there should be 353 points; the text saying 354 is a transcription error.) These are all places where Wei Qi [Defensive Qi] stays and stops, and where pathogenic qi lodges. Acupuncture and stone therapy remove pathogens along these pathways. (All convergence points of xi and gu are originally places where Wei Qi stays. If disease occurs, these are also places where pathogenic qi lodges. When pathogenic qi lodges in the meridians, treatment with acupuncture and stone must follow the location of the pathogen to remove it. Yuan means to follow or base upon.)