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[Correction Note] The New Correction states: Regarding this chapter titled "Generation of the Five Zang Organs" instead of "Discussion on the Generation of the Five Zang Organs," it is because this chapter directly records the matters of the generation of the five Zang organs, without any dialogue or discussion. Therefore, it is not called a "Discussion." All subsequent chapters that do not use the term "Discussion" follow this convention.

The Heart corresponds to the Mai (Vessels/Pulse) (Fire energy is restless, and the pulse is uniform; the Heart corresponds to Fire, hence it corresponds to the Vessels). Its flourishing aspect manifests in the complexion (According to the New Correction: "Wang Bing's commentary stating that red color is the flourishing aspect of the face is incorrect. Generally, any color appearing on the face is the flourishing aspect of the Heart, not just red.") Its controlling organ is the Shen (Kidney) (According to: 'Master' implies what the servant fears; Heart Fire fears Kidney Water, thus the Kidney is the controller/master).

The Lung corresponds to the Pi (Skin) (Metal energy is firm, and the skin is likewise; the Lung corresponds to Metal, hence it corresponds to the Skin). Its flourishing aspect manifests in the Mao (Hair) (Hair attaches to the skin, thus manifesting externally as flourishing). Its controlling organ is the Xin (Heart) (According to: Lung Metal fears Heart Fire).

The Liver corresponds to the Jin (Tendons) (Wood nature is flexible and straight, and the tendons are likewise; the Liver corresponds to Wood, hence it corresponds to the Tendons). Its flourishing aspect manifests in the Zhao (Nails) (Nails are the surplus of the tendons, thus manifesting externally as flourishing). Its controlling organ is the Fei (Lung) (According to: Liver Wood fears Lung Metal).

The Spleen corresponds to the Rou (Muscles/Flesh) (Earth nature is soft and thick, and the flesh is likewise; the Spleen corresponds to Earth, hence it corresponds to the Muscles). Its flourishing aspect manifests in the Chun (Lips) (The mouth is the orifice of the Spleen, thus flourishing at the lips. Here, 'lips' refers to the white edges, not the red part). Its controlling organ is the Gan (Liver) (According to: Spleen Earth fears Liver Wood).

The Kidney corresponds to the Gu (Bones) (Water nature flows and moistens, and the essence is likewise; bones connect to the marrow, hence it corresponds to the Bones. According to: The Kidney is the official of strength, bones are the pillars of the body, and the Kidney governs essence stored in the bones, hence it corresponds to the Bones). Its flourishing aspect manifests in the Fa (Hair) (The brain is the sea of marrow, governed by Kidney Qi, thus manifesting externally as hair flourishing). Its controlling organ is the Pi (Spleen) (According to: Kidney Water fears Spleen Earth).

Therefore, excessive consumption of salty flavor causes the Mai (Vessels) to become stagnant and changes the color (The Heart corresponds to vessels, its flourishing aspect is color. Salty flavor benefits the Kidney and overcomes the Heart. Since the Heart cannot overcome, the vessels stagnate and the color changes). Excessive consumption of bitter flavor causes the Pi (Skin) to wither and Mao (Hair) to fall out (The Lung corresponds to skin, its flourishing aspect is hair. Bitter flavor benefits the Heart and overcomes the Lung. Since the Lung cannot overcome, the skin withers and hair falls). Excessive consumption of pungent flavor causes Jin (Tendons) to become tight and Zhao (Nails) to wither (The Liver corresponds to tendons, its flourishing aspect is nails. Pungent flavor benefits the Lung and overcomes the Liver. Since the Liver cannot overcome, tendons tighten and nails wither). Excessive consumption of sour flavor causes Rou (Muscles) to develop calluses and Chun (Lips) to peel (The Spleen corresponds to muscles, its flourishing aspect is lips. Sour flavor benefits the Liver and overcomes the Spleen. Since the Spleen cannot overcome, muscles develop calluses and lip skin peels. Note: Zhi sounds like 'zhi', Chen sounds like 'zhou'). Excessive consumption of sweet flavor causes Gu (Bones) to ache and Fa (Hair) to fall out (The Kidney corresponds to bones, its flourishing aspect is hair. Sweet flavor benefits the Spleen and overcomes the Kidney. Since the Kidney cannot overcome, bones ache and hair falls). This is the injury caused by the five flavors.

Thus, the Heart desires bitter flavor, the Lung desires pungent flavor, the Liver desires sour flavor, the Spleen desires sweet flavor, and the Kidney desires salty flavor (According to: The Treatise on the Great Truth and Necessity says, "When five flavors enter the mouth, each returns to its preference." Because they prefer them, they desire them.) This is the harmony of the five flavors.

Regarding the Qi of the five Zang organs manifesting in colors: If the green color appears like dead grass, death occurs (Note: Zi means moist/lush; here it implies the opposite, i.e., dull and lifeless like dead grass). If the yellow color appears like the fruit of the Trichosanthes kirilowii root (Zhi Shi), death occurs (Yellowish-green color). If the black color appears like coal, death occurs (Note: Mei means coal. Note: Tai sounds like 'tai'). If the red color appears like coagulated blood, death occurs (Coagulated blood refers to bad, clotted blood, which is dark red/black. Note: Fang cuts at 'fang'). If the white color appears like dry bones, death occurs (White and withered, like dry bone). These are the signs of death seen in the five colors. If the green color appears like the feather of a kingfisher, life is sustained. If the red color appears like the comb of a rooster, life is sustained. If the yellow color appears like the belly of a crab, life is sustained. If the white color appears like the fat of a pig, life is sustained. If the black color appears like the feather of a crow, life is sustained. These are the signs of life seen in the five colors (Note: Although the same color, why is the former death and the latter life? Gaining Shen [Spirit] leads to life, losing Shen leads to death.)

Life generated in the Heart appears like white silk wrapping cinnabar. Life generated in the Lung appears like white silk wrapping red. Life generated in the Liver appears like white silk wrapping deep cyan. Life generated in the Spleen appears like white silk wrapping Trichosanthes fruit. Life generated in the Kidney appears like white silk wrapping purple. (Gao is white. Gan is pale cyan.) This is the external flourishing manifestation of the five Zang organs (Note: This merely describes the vibrant colors of life; one should not be pedantic about the literal wording).

Colors and flavors should correspond to the five Zang organs: White corresponds to the Lung and pungent flavor; Red corresponds to the Heart and bitter flavor; Green corresponds to the Liver and sour flavor; Yellow corresponds to the Spleen and sweet flavor; Black corresponds to the Kidney and salty flavor (Each corresponds to its respective organ for color and flavor). Thus, White corresponds to the Skin; Red corresponds to the Vessels; Green corresponds to the Tendons; Yellow corresponds to the Muscles; Black corresponds to the Bones (Note: Dang means belongs to).

All Mai (Vessels) belong to the Eyes (Note: The Heart is the sovereign official, commanding all functions. Thus, its correspondence to vessels circulates through the whole body, up and down, similar to how the eyes function by integrating the essence of the five Zang and six Fu organs, hence it is said they all belong to the eyes). All Sui (Marrow) belong to the Brain (Because the brain is the sea of marrow). All Jin (Tendons) belong to the Joints (Note: Joints are the connection points of bones. Although tendons attach to bones, without joints, they cannot connect and allow flexion and extension). All Xue (Blood) belong to the Heart (Because the Heart generates blood). All Qi belong to the Lung (Because the Lung generates Qi). This describes the daily circulation of the four limbs and eight streams. Note: Four limbs refer to the four bodies, encompassing Zang-Fu and meridians, not just hands and feet. Small gatherings of flesh are called streams. Eight streams refer to pathways of entry and exit. It means the five Zang organs are the pathways for the entry and exit of Qi, Blood, Jin, Gu, Mai, and Luo, circulating up and down without interruption, like day turning to night.

Therefore, when a person lies down to sleep, Blood returns to the Liver (The Liver stores Blood, the Heart moves it. When active, Blood circulates in the meridians; when quiet, Blood returns to the Liver. Why? Because the Liver governs the Sea of Blood). The Liver receiving Blood enables vision (This describes its function). The feet receiving Blood enable walking (Note: Only when Blood is abundant can it move with Qi). The palms receiving Blood enable grasping. The fingers receiving Blood enable holding/pinching (Note: Human movement is governed by Qi, but the power to move relies entirely on Blood. Grasping and holding are functions of Qi, but the ability to grasp and hold depends on Blood).

After waking, if exposed to wind, Blood coagulating in the skin causes Bi Syndrome (Paralysis/Numbness. Note: Wan sounds like 'wan'). Coagulating in the vessels causes Se (Stagnation/Obstruction) (Se refers to poor blood flow. Note: Qi reads as 'se'). Coagulating in the feet causes Jue Syndrome (Cold reversal of the feet). These three conditions occur because Blood circulation cannot return to its Kong (Orifices/Vessels), thus causing Bi and Jue syndromes. (Kong refers to the pathways of blood flow, i.e., major meridians. Note: These three stem from the premise of exposure to wind after waking.)

The human body has twelve Da Gu (Great Valleys) (Convergences of major meridians, called Great Valleys. Twelve divisions refer to the twelve meridian segments). There are 354 Xiao Xi (Small Streams), excluding twelve Shu points (Convergences of minor collaterals, called Small Streams. However, considering 365 minor collaterals, excluding twelve Shu points leaves 353. The text says 354, indicating a transcription error where three was written as four. Note: Shu, in other editions, Yuan Qi edition, and Ta Su, is written as Guan). These are places where Wei Qi (Defensive Qi) stays and stops, and also where Xie Qi (Evil Qi) resides (Note: Wei Qi is the fierce Qi derived from food and drink. Wei Qi travels in Yang during the day and Yin at night. When Evil Qi invades, it must use Wei Qi as a pathway for entry and exit. Thus, Great Valleys and Small Streams are places where Wei Qi stays, and consequently, where Evil Qi enters and exits. The explanation of 'Ke' [reside] is found earlier). Needle and stone therapies can remove the pathogen along these pathways (Note: Yuan means according to. Based on where the pathogen resides, needle and stone are used to attack and remove the disease. The commentary suggesting it follows the meridians seems inaccurate).

The beginning of diagnosing disease lies in the Wu Jue (Five Decisions). Wu Jue refers to using the pulses of the five Zang organs to determine the principles of life and death. To know the beginning, one must first establish the Mu (Mother/Root) (Jian means establish. Mu refers to the Wang Qi [Prosperous Qi] corresponding to the season. First establish the seasonal prosperous Qi, then seek the pathogenic and righteous Qi). The so-called Wu Jue refers to the five pulses (Pulses of the five Zang organs).

Therefore, headache and cranial disorders, characterized by deficiency below and excess above, involve the Foot Shaoyin (Kidney) and Foot Taiyang (Bladder) meridians. (...Note: Headache and cranial disorders indicate excess above. However, this excess seems like external wind-pathogen invasion, but it is actually caused by deficiency below. Thus, the root is attributed to the Kidney and Bladder. Only due to deficiency below does excess above arise. The Treatise on Comprehensive Evaluation of Deficiency and Excess states: "Exuberance of pathogenic Qi constitutes Excess. Depletion of essential Qi constitutes Deficiency." Therefore, skilled practitioners treat the root, not the branch.) Dizziness, visual disturbance, and tremors, accompanied by blindness and deafness, characterized by excess below and deficiency above, involve the Foot Shaoyang (Gallbladder) and Foot Jueyin (Liver) meridians. (...Note: The meaning of 'Xun Meng Zhao You' is not accurately explained by Wang Bing or the New Correction. I believe it refers to a different condition, or there are textual errors. One should not interpret it solely as eye disease because of the following phrase 'blindness'. It is best to leave it as a doubt. Blindness and deafness are symptoms of deficiency above, yet they appear non-deficient due to excess below. The Gallbladder and Liver meridians house Ministerial Fire, which rushes upward, causing blindness and deafness. Some ask: The text only mentions excess below, how do you know it is fire? I say: If blindness and deafness were not due to fire, they would be signs of essence and blood depletion, implying deficiency both above and below. Now that the text mentions excess below, it implies that blindness and deafness are not purely deficiency, and one should look to the Liver and Gallbladder, rather than solely tonifying the Kidney. How to treat it? Suppress and drain it.) Abdominal fullness and distension, obstruction in the chest and hypochondrium, cold reversal below and confusion above, involve the Foot Taiyin (Spleen) and Foot Yangming (Stomach) meridians. (Note: Man means bloated/stuffy. Chen Zhang means internal and external tension. Such abdominal conditions gradually cause obstruction in the hypochondrium, blocking the diaphragm, with rebellious Qi causing confusion. These are diseases of the Spleen and Stomach. Tonify deficiency, drain excess, and ensure the middle Qi flows smoothly. , refers to above the armpit. Xie refers to the hypochondrium.) Cough and rebellious Qi, with pathology in the chest, involve the Hand Yangming (Large Intestine) and Hand Taiyin (Lung) meridians. (Note: Wang Ben has 'Jue' in the chest, while Jia Yi Jing has 'Bing' [Disease]. We now adopt 'Bing'. Since rebellious Qi is mentioned, 'Jue' is redundant. Ke [cough] is sound without phlegm; Sou [phlegmatic cough] is sound with phlegm. Cough involves rebellious Qi. Lung diseases necessarily involve cough because the Lung governs all Qi. Why treat both Taiyin and Yangming? By unblocking the Fu organ, the Zang organ naturally clears.) Heart vexation and headache, with pathology in the Diaphragm region, involve the Hand Taiyang (Small Intestine) and Hand Shaoyin (Heart) meridians. (...Note: The Heart governs Fire. Heart disease necessarily causes vexation; Fire flaming upward causes headache. The Diaphragm region is governed by the Heart, hence pathology is in the Diaphragm. Treatment method: Drain the Heart, and if ineffective, promote urination via the Small Intestine. Note: Diagnostic methods only take the pulses of the five Zang and five Fu organs, excluding the Hand Shaoyang Sanjiao and Jueyin Pericardium. Why? The five Zang pulses specifically correspond to the Five Elements, and their diseases have specific names. In contrast, the Sanjiao encompasses the whole body, and the Pericardium assists the Heart Sovereign. Their general function lies in Ministerial Fire, traveling不定ly and attaching to various meridians. Bo Gao omitted them, perhaps for this reason.)

In observing the five colors... If the face is yellow and the eyes are green, yellow face with red eyes, yellow face with white eyes, or yellow face with black eyes, none will die (Any face showing yellow indicates the presence of Wei Qi [Stomach Qi], hence no death). If the face is green with red eyes, red face with white eyes, green face with black eyes, black face with white eyes, or red face with green eyes, all will die (Those dying without yellow lack Wei Qi. The five Zang are rooted in Wei Qi; thus, lacking Wei Qi results in death.)