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(Lingshu, Chapter 9: Nine Needles and Twelve Origins)

Huangdi said: I wish to hear about the locations where the qi of the five zang organs and six fu organs originates. (This refers to the locations where the meridian qi emerges.)

Qibo replied: Each of the five zang organs has five acupoints, totaling twenty-five (5 × 5 = 25); each of the six fu organs has six acupoints, totaling thirty-six (6 × 6 = 36). (These five acupoints refer to the Jing-Well [Jingqu], Ying-Spring [Yingqu], Shu-Stream [Shuqu], Jing-River [Jingqu], and He-Sea [Hequ] points of each meridian, collectively referred to as "Shu" [Transport Points]. The six fu organs have one additional Yuan-Source [Yuanqu] point, hence they each have six points.)

There are twelve main meridians and fifteen collaterals, making a total of twenty-seven qi pathways circulating throughout the upper and lower body. (There are five zang and six fu organs, plus the Hand Jueyin Pericardium meridian, constituting the twelve meridians. Each of the twelve meridians has a collateral; for example, the divergent collateral of the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian is at Lieque [LU7]. Additionally, there is the Pingyi [Baihui area/Conception Vessel collateral], the Changqiang [GV1] of the Du Meridian, and the Dabao [SP21] of the Spleen's great collateral, totaling fifteen collaterals. The twelve meridians and fifteen collaterals sum up to twenty-seven qi pathways, which connect the entire body.)

The point where the qi emerges is called the Jing-Well [Jingqu] [Spring Point], (Meridian qi emerges from here, like water springing from a well, with deep qi.) The place where the qi flows is called the Ying-Spring [Yingqu] [Spring Point], (Rapid flow is called "liu". A small stream is called "ying". Qi flows out from the Jing-Well and trickles into the Ying-Spring, where its qi is still slight. "Liu" is pronounced li-jiu. "Ying" has pronunciations ying and rong.) The place where the qi pours is called the Shu-Stream [Shuqu] [Stream Point], ("Zhu" means pouring. "Shu" means transporting. Qi pours here and transports there, and its qi gradually becomes vigorous.) The place where the qi travels is called the Jing-River [Jingqu] [River Point], (Meridian qi travels extensively here, operating within, and its qi is at its peak.) The place where the qi enters is called the He-Sea [Hequ] [Sea Point], (Qi reaches here, gradually storing and entering inwardly.) The circulation of these twenty-seven qi pathways all occurs within these five types of points. (The qi circulated by the twenty-seven meridians resides between these five categories of points.)

At the intersections of joints, there are three hundred and sixty-five meeting points. One who understands the essence can summarize it in a single statement; one who does not understand the essence will find it scattered and endless. (Although there are three hundred and sixty-five meeting points at the intersections of human body qi joints, the essence lies in these five points. Thus, understanding the essence allows one to conclude with a single word; otherwise, it becomes scattered and endless without finding the thread.) What is meant by "joints" here is the place where divine qi [shenqi] circulates and enters/exits, not referring to skin, flesh, sinews, or bones. (What circulates and enters/exits is the divine qi, referring to the acupoints/shu points, thus not referring to physical tissues like skin, flesh, sinews, or bones. Knowing the deficiency and excess of pathogenic and righteous qi to select points accurately is what is meant by understanding the essence. The Xiao Zhen Jie [Explanation of the Small Needle] states: The three hundred and sixty-five meeting points at joint intersections are where collaterals seep and irrigate various joints. This is the meaning of divine qi.)