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[Diagram of the Twelve Meridians and Zang-Fu Organs]

The Taiyang (Greater Yang) Small Intestine corresponds to the Foot-Taiyang Bladder; the Yangming (Bright Yang) Large Intestine corresponds to the Foot-Yangming Stomach; the Shaoyang (Lesser Yang) Sanjiao (Triple Burner) pairs with the Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder; the Taiyin (Greater Yin) Hand-Lung pairs with the Foot-Taiyin Spleen; the Shaoyin (Lesser Yin) Heart meridian is paired with the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney; and the Jueyin (Terminal Yin) Pericardium meridian corresponds to the Foot-Jueyin Liver.

[Diagram of the Interior-Exterior Relationships of the Twelve Meridians and Zang-Fu Organs]

The Heart, Liver, Spleen, Lung, and Kidney are called the Five Zang (Solid) Organs (Zang organs store essence and Qi without leaking, being full but not solid); together with the Pericardium, they form six Zang organs. The Large Intestine, Small Intestine, Gallbladder, Stomach, and Bladder, together with the Sanjiao (Triple Burner), form six Fu (Hollow) Organs (Fu organs transmit and transform substances without storing, being solid but not full); together they constitute the Twelve Meridians. Each of the Twelve Meridians has its own Luo (Connecting) vessels. Adding the Yang Qiao (Yang Heel) vessel, the Yin Qiao (Yin Heel) vessel, and the Great Luo of the Spleen, there are fifteen Luo vessels in total. Outside these fifteen Luo vessels, there are further branch vessels. The term "Jing" (Meridian/Vessel) refers to a path or channel. The movement of the Jing meridians refers to the circulation of Qi and Blood throughout the body, continuous and unceasing, like an inexhaustible river flow. The term "Luo" is akin to a net or兜 (兜 implies enclosing or netting); just as horizontal lines form a network to enclose objects, the Luo vessels distribute Qi and Blood throughout the body, reaching every minute detail without leakage, like tributaries branching off from a river without losing water. (Some claim that the Twelve Meridians plus the Du (Governing Vessel) and Ren (Conception Vessel) make up the fifteen Luo vessels, excluding the Yin Qiao and Yang Qiao vessels. This misunderstanding likely arises from misinterpreting the character "Bie" (Branch/Divergent). It should be understood that the Twelve Meridians plus the Bie-Luo (Divergent Branches) of the Du and Ren vessels constitute the fifteen Luo vessels. These "Bie" branches refer to the Yin Qiao and Yang Qiao vessels, meaning there is no duplication or separate entity.)

Five Zang Organs: The character "Zang" means to store. They store Essence and Qi without excreting them, remaining full (of vital substances) but not solid (with food waste). For instance, the Heart and Lung possess hollow cavities; the Liver, Kidney, and Spleen also have small tubular structures and varying numbers of hollow passages; the Pericardium is similar.

Six Fu Organs: The character "Fu" means empty/hollow. They transmit and transform substances without storing them, becoming temporarily solid (filled with contents) but not permanently full (of essence). For example, the intestines and stomach are hollow. When food enters the Stomach, the Stomach becomes filled while the Intestines are empty. As it moves down into the Intestines, the Intestines become filled while the Stomach becomes empty, and then the contents move downward again. The Bladder functions similarly.

In the Hand Meridians: The Taiyang belongs to the Small Intestine; the Foot-Taiyang belongs to the Bladder. The Foot-Jueyin belongs to the Liver; the Hand-Jueyin belongs to the Pericardium. The Foot-Yangming belongs to the Stomach; the Hand-Yangming belongs to the Large Intestine. The Foot-Shaoyang belongs to the Gallbladder; the Hand-Shaoyang belongs to the Sanjiao (Triple Burner). The Foot-Shaoyin belongs to the Kidney; the Hand-Shaoyin belongs to the Heart. The Foot-Taiyin belongs to the Spleen; the Hand-Taiyin belongs to the Lung (Metal element).