Library

(Continuing from the previous chapter in the *Lingshu: Benshen* [Spiritual Pivot: The Root Spirit] chapter)

The Liver stores Blood (Xue, blood), and the Hun [Ethereal Soul] resides in the Blood. When Liver Qi is deficient, there is fear; when excess, there is anger. (The *Xuanming Wuqi* [Manifestation of the Five Qi] chapter states: The Liver houses the Hun. The *Wuzang Shengcheng* [Generation of the Five Zang Organs] chapter states: When a person lies down, blood returns to the Liver. The *Tiaojing Lun* [Treatise on Regulating the Meridians] states: The Liver stores Blood; if Blood is in excess, there is anger; if deficient, there is fear.) The Spleen stores Ying [Nutritive Qi], and the Yi [Intellect] resides in the Ying. When Spleen Qi is deficient, the four limbs are unusable and the five Zang organs are unsettled; when excess, there is abdominal distension and difficulty with urination and defecation. (Ying Qi arises from the Middle Jiao [Middle Burner], receiving the essence of food and drink, transforming it into red fluid, which is called Blood; thus, it is said that the Spleen stores Ying. "Ying resides in Yi" means the Spleen houses the Yi. Spleen deficiency leads to the inability to use the four limbs and unrest of the five Zang organs because the Spleen governs the four limbs and serves as the root of the five Zang organs. The Taiyin meridian enters the abdomen and connects with the Stomach; therefore, Spleen excess results in abdominal distension and obstruction of Jing [urination/defecation] and Sou [urination]. In the *Tiaojing Lun*, it states: If Form is in excess, there is abdominal distension and obstruction of Jing and Sou. The character "Jing" should be read as "Jing" (channels). "Sou" is pronounced sou.) The Heart stores Mai [Vessels/Pulse], and the Shen [Spirit] resides in the Vessels. When Heart Qi is deficient, there is sorrow; when excess, there is incessant laughter. (The *Xuanming Wuqi* chapter states: The Heart governs the Vessels. The *Tiaojing Lun* states: The Heart houses the Shen; if Shen is in excess, there is incessant laughter; if deficient, there is sorrow.) The Lung stores Qi, and the Po [Corporeal Soul] resides in the Qi. When Lung Qi is deficient, there is nasal congestion, difficulty in breathing, and shortness of breath; when excess, there is panting with loud sounds, chest fullness, and仰息 [breathing while lying on the back with head extended]. (Panting with loud sounds refers to rapid and coarse respiration. Chest fullness refers to distension and fullness. Yangxi refers to panting while lying supine with the face upward. The *Xuanming Wuqi* chapter states: The Lung houses the Po. The *Tiaojing Lun* states: If Qi is in excess, there is panting, coughing, and rebellious Qi rising; if deficient, breathing is clear but there is shortness of breath.) The Kidney stores Jing [Essence], and the Zhi [Willpower] resides in the Essence. When Kidney Qi is deficient, there is cold extremities (Jue); when excess, there is distension. (The *Jiuzhen Lun* [Treatise on the Nine Needles] states: The Kidney stores Jing and Zhi. The *Tiaojing Lun* states: The Kidney houses Zhi; if Zhi is in excess, there is abdominal distension and undigested stool diarrhea; if deficient, there is cold extremities.) If the five Zang organs are unsettled, one must carefully examine the manifestations of disease in the five Zang organs to determine the deficiency or excess of their Qi, and then cautiously regulate them. (This section originally belonged to the same chapter as the preceding *Benshen*; the former discusses damage caused by emotional states, while this part distinguishes between deficiency and excess of the five Zang organs. Therefore, whenever any of the five Zang organs are unsettled, one must examine the disease manifestations, the state of deficiency or excess, and the associated emotional factors, so as to regulate according to the specific Zang organ. This concludes the previous chapter by outlining the treatment methods.)