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The entire text is divided into four sections: the first section discusses that the Kidney belongs to Water and its diseases also manifest as Water pathogen; the second section discusses that acupoints selected for different Zang organs vary across the four seasons; the third section discusses acupoints for draining Heat; and the fourth section discusses how Cold damage transforms into Heat syndrome.

The chapter title "Shui Re Xue" (Acupoints for Water and Heat) combines the content of the first and third sections, without profound meaning. The second section merely mentions it incidentally while discussing acupoints, and the fourth section extends the discussion from Heat, making this chapter indeed a composite compilation.

Huangdi asked: Why does the Shaoyin meridian govern the Kidney? Why does the Kidney govern Water metabolism? Qibo replied: The Kidney belongs to Extreme Yin (Zhi Yin), which means it stores abundant Water. The Lung belongs to Taiyin, and the Shaoyin meridian corresponds to the pulse of Winter. Therefore, the root of Water lies in the Kidney, and its branches extend to the Lung, both resulting in fluid accumulation. (Note: "Yin" refers to Cold. At Winter Solstice, Cold is most severe, and Kidney Qi resonates with it, hence the Kidney is called Extreme Yin. Water flourishes in Winter, hence Extreme Yin stores abundant Water. The Shaoyin meridian ascends from the Kidney, passes through the Liver and Diaphragm, and enters the Lung, hence the root is in the Kidney and the branch in the Lung. If Kidney Qi rebels upward, Water pathogen lodges in the Lung, hence fluid accumulates. Comment: "Abundant Water" refers to Water flourishing in Winter. Water originates from the Kidney, hence Root; overflowing from Kidney to Lung, hence Branch.) Huangdi said: Why can the Kidney accumulate Water and cause disease? Qibo said: The Kidney is the gate of the Stomach. If the gate is not functioning properly, Water accumulates and develops according to its nature. (Note: The "gate" controls entry and exit. The Kidney governs the Lower Jiao, and the Bladder is the Fu organ responsible for distribution and excretion. The anterior and posterior orifices are the gates. When Kidney Qi transforms normally, the two orifices are patent, keeping the Stomach full. Thus, the Kidney is the gate of the Stomach. Closure leads to Water retention; Water retention leads to Qi stagnation; Qi stagnation generates Water; Water generation causes Qi overflow. Since Qi and Water are of the same category, improper gate function leads to Water accumulation following its kind. *Ling Shu* states: "Overflow from the Lower Jiao becomes Water." This refers to that. Comment: The classic says the Stomach relies on the Kidney as a gate, meaning the Kidney governs the Lower Jiao and manages waterways. Its Qi descends, preventing upper obstruction. Note this. However, the Kidney governs Qi transformation, and Mingmen Fire generates Spleen/Stomach Earth. Abundant Kidney Qi ensures flow; deficient Kidney Qi causes stagnation. The Stomach's patency or blockage depends on the Kidney as its origin, which must be understood.) Water overflowing上下 (upper and lower) onto the skin causes edema. Edema is disease caused by accumulated Water. (Comment: "Upper and lower" refers to the whole body. Annotations interpreting this solely as Kidney/Lung are incorrect. Pronunciation: fu.) Huangdi asked: Do all Water diseases originate from the Kidney? Qibo said: The Kidney is a Yin Zang (Pin Zang). "Pin" means Yin. Earthly Qi rising belongs to the Kidney and generates fluid, hence called Extreme Yin. If one exerts force vigorously and labors excessively, Kidney sweat occurs. If this sweat encounters Wind, it cannot enter the Zang-Fu internally nor vent through the skin externally. It lodges in the Xuancu (sweat pores), travels within the skin, and transforms into edema. Originating in the Kidney, it is named Fengshui (Wind Edema). The so-called Xuancu refers to sweat pores. (Note: Vigorous exertion and labor refer to sexual intercourse. Labor/vigorous activity opens the Xuancu; sweating then encountering Wind closes the Xuancu again. Closed, residual sweat remains trapped in the skin, transforming into Water, combining with Wind to cause Water disease, hence Fengshui. Comment: "Vigorous" means strength. Excessive labor implies relying on strength for intercourse or strenuous travel. Focusing only on intercourse is biased.)

Huangdi asked: What do the fifty-seven acupoints for treating Water primarily govern? Qibo said: There are fifty-seven points associated with the Kidney, which are where Yin Qi gathers and where Water enters and exits. (Comment: The Kidney governs Water, so these are called Water points. The Kidney resides internally, and Shu points respond externally. When Kidney disease accumulates, Water exits/enters via these points.) Above the sacrum, there are five rows, each with five points; these are the Kidney Shu points. (There are five rows of Back-Shu points on the back. The middle row is where Du Meridian Qi issues; the adjacent four rows are where Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian Qi issues.) Therefore, in Water disease, if there is edema and abdominal distension below, and wheezing/calling out with inability to lie flat above, both root and branch are diseased. Thus, the Lung causes wheezing/calling, the Kidney causes edema, and the Lung causes rebellion/inability to lie flat. (...Water residing below in the Kidney causes edema from abdomen to feet; entering above into the Lung causes rapid panting and loud calling. Root and branch: Lung is branch, Kidney is root. Comment: Only the Lung governs wheezing/calling because lying down exacerbates Qi rebellion.) Above the Futu point, there are two rows on each side, each with five points; these are the pathways of the Kidney. (Jie means pathway. Five rows of anterior abdominal points: those flanking the midline are where Kidney Foot-Shaoyin and Chong Meridian Qi issue; next outward are where Stomach Foot-Yangming Qi issues. These four rows are above Futu.) The Three Yin meridians intersect at the foot. Above each ankle, there is one row with six points; this is the downward path of the Kidney Meridian, named Taichong. All fifty-seven points are the Yin collaterals of the Zang organs and places where Water lodges. (Regarding the fifty-seven points: Above sacrum, five rows of five. Middle row of spine, Du Meridian: Jizhong, Xuanxu, Mingmen, Yaoshu, Changqiang. Next to Du, Foot-Taiyang: Dachangshu, Xiaochangshu, Pangguangshu, Zhongliao, Baihuan. Next outward, Foot-Taiyang: Weicang, Huangmen, Zhishi, Baohuang, Zhibian. Above Futu, two rows each side of Ren Meridian, intersection of Chong and Foot-Shaoyin: Zhongzhu, Siman, Qixue, Dahe, Henggu. Next to Chong/Shao-yang, Foot-Yangming: Wailing, Daju, Shuidao, Guilai, Qijie. Above ankle, one row six points: Inner ankle has Foot-Shaoyin Yin Qiao Meridian ascending. Foot-Shaoyin has Taichong, Fuliou, Yinggu. Yin Qiao has Zhaohai, Jiaoxin, Zubin. Yin Qiao is a branch of Foot-Shaoyin and can treat together. Counting these, one is missing. Comment: Xin Zhengjiao notes: "Wang Shi says one is missing. In *Qifu Lun* note, below 12th thoracic vertebra is Yangguan. Including Yangguan, none is missing." Acupuncture/moxibustion details are in *Qixue Lun* note, omitted here, listing only names.)

Huangdi asked: Why take Collateral vessels and muscle spaces in Spring? Qibo said: In Spring, Wood begins to govern, Liver Qi begins to generate. Liver Qi is urgent, Wind is swift. Meridians are deep, but Qi is scarce and cannot penetrate deeply, so we take Collaterals and muscle spaces. (Comment: Collaterals/muscle spaces are inside hair follicles/sweat pores, outside meridians. Because Liver Wood is swift/windy and superficial, acupuncture should not be deep.) Huangdi asked: Why take Shengjing (Full Meridians) and Fenrou (Muscle intervals) in Summer? Qibo said: In Summer, Fire begins to govern, Heart Qi begins to grow. Pulses are thin, Qi is weak. Yang Qi overflows, heat steams Fenrou, reaching internally to meridians. So we take Shengjing and Fenrou, cutting the skin to remove disease, because pathogens are shallow. Shengjing refers to Yang meridians. (Comment: Summer heat floats, pathogens stay in Yang division. Needles need not be deep. "Cutting skin" means removing pathogens just by penetrating skin. Wang edition has "Liuyi"; if retained, it cannot overflow. Xin Zhengjiao says another version has "Liuyi" (flowing/overflowing), which is correct. Follow it.) Huangdi asked: Why take Jing-Spring and Shu points in Autumn? Qibo said: In Autumn, Metal begins to govern, Lung Qi gathers and肃杀 (purges). Metal overcomes Fire. Yang Qi is at He-Sea points, Yin Qi begins to overcome, dampness affects the body. (Comment: Lung governs gathering/purging, Qi is austere. Heat recedes, cool arises, Fire declines, Metal flourishes. Flourishing Metal overcomes Fire. Autumn cool is gradual cold, so Yin Qi begins to overcome. Autumn fog/dew, so dampness affects body.) Yin Qi is not yet strong, cannot penetrate deep, so take Shu to drain Yin pathogen, take He to empty Yang pathogen. Yang Qi begins to decline, so take He points. (Comment: Lung uses Taiyuan as Shu, Chize as He. Xin Zhengjiao: "Huangfu Mi says: This refers to early Autumn treatment changes.") Huangdi asked: Why take Jing-Well and Ying-Spring points in Winter? Qibo said: In Winter, Water begins to govern, Kidney closes. Yang Qi is weak, Yin Qi is firm and strong. Juyang (Taiyang) sinks and hides, Yang meridines depart. (Comment: "Fang bi" means early Winter. Yang weak, Yin strong. After Winter Solstice, one Yang begins to arise. "Depart" means sinking/hiding.) So take Jing-Well to descend Yin rebellion, take Ying-Spring to tonify Yang Qi. (Comment: Winter Yin-Cold rebels, suppress it downward. Winter Yang is subtle, tonifying is precious. *Jia Yi* and *Qian Jin* read "Tong", incorrect. Yuan Qi reads "Yi", especially incorrect.) Hence: Winter takes Jing-Well/Ying-Spring, Spring avoids Biyun (nasal congestion/epistaxis). This is what is meant. (Comment: Jing is where Qi emerges, Ying where it flows, Shu where it pours, Jing where it travels, He where it enters. Taking Jing/Ying in Winter descends Yin and tonifies Yang, showing they suppress Yin and assist Yang. Autumn taking Jing/Shu drains Yin deficiency/Yang excess; Summer taking Shengjing removes shallow pathogens, showing Jing/Shu drain pathogens.)

Huangdi said: You mentioned fifty-nine Shu points for treating Febrile Diseases. I pondered their meaning but could not distinguish their locations. I wish to know their locations and intent. Qibo said: Five rows of five points on the head disperse rebellious Heat from all Yang meridians. (Five rows on head: Middle row Shangxing, Xinhui, Qian Ding, Baihui, Hou Ding. Next sides Wuchu, Chengguang, Tongtian, Luoque, Yuzhen. Next sides Linqi, Mucuang, Zhengying, Chengling, Naokong. Comment: Head is chief of all Yang. Heat in Yang rebels upward. Fire rises, follows its kind. "Yue" means disperse, dispersing Fire of Yang meridians.) Dazhu, Ying Shu (Zhongfu), Quepen, Bei Shu (Fengmen): These eight points drain Heat in the Chest. (Dazhu: Below 1st cervical vertebra, 1.5 cun lateral, depression. Intersection of Du, Hand/Foot-Taiyang. Ying Shu is Zhongfu: Lateral to sternum, 6 cun apart, 1 cun below Yunmen, 3 rib interspace above nipple, arterial pulse felt. Supine position. Intersection of Hand/Foot-Taiyin. Quepen: Depression in clavicular fossa. Foot-Yangming issues. Bei Shu is Fengmen/Re Fu: Below 2nd thoracic vertebra, 1.5 cun lateral. Du/Foot-Taiyang intersection. Comment: Xin Zhengjiao: "Wang Shi in *Cire Lun* didn't specify Bei Shu location, here identifies Fengmen. In *Qixue Lun*, Dazhu is Bei Shu. Discrepancy suggests doubt.") Qijie, Zusanli, Shangjuxu, Xiajuxu: These eight points drain Heat in the Stomach. (Qijie: Below umbilicus, ends of transverse bone, 1 cun above inguinal ligament, arterial pulse. Foot-Yangming. Zusanli: 3 cun below knee, lateral to tibial tuberosity, between muscles. Foot-Yangming enters. Shangjuxu: Foot-Yangming/Da Chang intersection, 3 cun below Zusanli. Xiajuxu: Foot-Yangming/Xiao Chang intersection, 3 cun below Shangjuxu. Comment: Xin Zhengjiao: "Qijie annotations vary, see previous Shui Re Xue note.") Yunmen, Jianyu, Weizhong, Suikong: These eight points drain Heat in the Four Limbs. (Yunmen: Below Jugu, lateral to sternum, 6 cun apart, arterial pulse. Foot-Taiyin. Raise arm. Verify *Zhonggao Kongxue Tujing*: No Jianyu point, has Jianyu [shoulder tip] between two bones. Hand-Yangming Qiao intersection. Weizhong: Posterior knee crease center, arterial pulse. Foot-Taiyang enters. Comment: *Zhonggao* says Yaoshu is Suikong, below 21st thoracic vertebra, Du Meridian. Comment: Stomach governs limbs; limbs are root of Yang, receiving Qi from Stomach. Heat in Stomach/limbs can use the previous 16 points. Pronunciation: yu.) Five points beside the Five Zang Shu: These ten points drain Heat in the Five Zang. (Beside Shu: Pohu, Shentang, Hunmen, Yishe, Zhishi. Lateral to spine, 3 cun apart. Foot-Taiyang. All fifty-nine points are pathways for Heat. (Comment: Left/right means pathways.)

Huangdi asked: Why does injury by Cold transmit to Heat? Qibo said: Severe Cold generates Heat. (Injury by Cold transforms to Heat; sweating cures it, revealing external constriction and internal stagnation. This is acute disease of a few days. Comment: *Re Lun* says: "Sensation of Cold results in Heat disease.")