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Zhang Sanxi said: Zang-fu organs and Yin-Yang each have their respective meridians; the four limbs, bones, and sinews each have their specific governors. By clarifying the location of the lesion, one determines the meridian involved; by following the flow of the meridian, one traces back to the source of the disease. To abandon this approach and attempt to locate the disease is like intending to go to Yan but traveling south—would it not be more laborious yet further from the goal? Medical texts state: "If one does not study the Twelve Meridians, any opening of the mouth or movement of the hand will lead to errors." This is indeed a correct statement. The common people regard meridian knowledge as merely the domain of acupuncture practitioners, remaining ignorant and uninvestigative, making rash recommendations and baseless discussions.

Take headache as an example: left and right sides belong to different meridians, and anterior and posterior locations differ. Similarly, for abdominal pain, there are distinctions between Zhongwan (Upper Abdomen), Duanqi (Periumbilical region), and Shaofu (Lower Abdomen). For eye diseases, there are differences between the inner canthus (Da Ying), outer canthus (Xiao Ying), black pupil (Hei Zhu), white sclera (Bai Zhu), and upper/lower eyelids. If a disease is in the Lung but treated with Heart meridian herbs, the Lung disease will persist while the Heart meridian is damaged; if a blood disease is treated with Qi-moving herbs, the Qi will be injured and the blood disease will worsen. Li Dongyuan stated: When pathogenic factors of Cold Damage (Shanghan) are in the Taiyang Meridian (disease syndrome caused by pathogen invasion of the Foot-Taiyang Bladder channel), using Ge Gen Tang (Kudzu Root Decoction) erroneously will draw the pathogen into the Yangming Meridian (disease syndrome caused by pathogen invasion of the Foot-Yangming Stomach channel). This is because Ge Gen (Puerariae Radix) is a herb for the Yangming meridian, not the Taiyang meridian. From this inference, one can imagine how many people have died prematurely due to improper medication! Benevolent gentlemen should not lightly discuss this matter but should pay close attention to it. Now, I have compiled the most essential points from classics such as *Suwen* (Basic Questions), *Nanjing* (Classic of Difficult Issues), *Lingshu* (Spiritual Pivot), and Hua Borun's *Fourteen Meridians Exposition*, to create *Jingluo Kao* (Examination of Meridians and Collaterals).

[Huangdi's Diagram of Human Dimensions in Supine Position]
[Huangdi's Diagram of Human Dimensions in Prone Position]

The Yellow Emperor said: Meridians can determine life and death, manage hundreds of diseases, and regulate deficiency and excess; they must not be left ununderstood. Thus it is said: When food enters the stomach, the vessel pathways become open, and Blood and Qi begin to circulate.

The Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian originates in the Middle Jiao (Middle Burner), descends to connect with the Large Intestine, returns along the upper opening of the stomach, passes through the diaphragm, and belongs to the Lung organ. From the Lung system (trachea and larynx), it emerges horizontally under the axilla, descends along the medial aspect of the arm, running anterior to the Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian and Hand-Jueyin Pericardium Meridian, reaches the elbow midpoint, follows the medial forearm along the lower border of the radius, enters the Cunkou (radial pulse point), ascends to the Yuji area, follows the thenar eminence margin, and exits at the tip of the thumb. Its branch arises from behind the wrist, goes straight to the medial side of the index finger, and emerges at its tip. When this meridian undergoes change, disease occurs: Lung distension and fullness, bloating with wheezing and coughing, pain in the Quepen (supraclavicular fossa); in severe cases, crossing both hands over the chest and experiencing visual vertigo, known as Bi Jue (Arm Jue). This meridian governs diseases generated by the Lung: cough, asthma with wheezing, irritability and chest fullness, pain or cold sensation in the medial anterior back, and heat in the palm.

If Lung Qi is excessive, there is wind-cold pain in the shoulder and back, sweating with susceptibility to Wind-stroke, frequent urination with scant volume. If Lung Qi is deficient, there is shoulder and back pain with cold sensation, shortness of breath insufficient for respiration, and changes in urine color, presenting these various illnesses. (" " pronounced róu; "Mao" pronounced mào).

This passage describes the circulation of Qi in the Lung meridian, which is the first of the meridians. Whenever "Hand" is mentioned, it is because the Jing-Well, Ying-Spring, Shu-Stream, Jing-River, and He-Sea acupoints all originate from the hand. Whenever "Foot" is mentioned, it is because these acupoints all originate from the foot. "Originates" means to start. "Middle Jiao" refers to the area of Zhongwan, located four cun above the umbilicus. "Stomach opening" refers to the Upper Wan of the stomach (five cun above the umbilicus). "Connect" implies encircling or netting, like horizontal lines used to hold objects. "Follow" means to patrol. "Diaphragm" means separation. In the human body, there is a diaphragmatic membrane below the heart, connecting anteriorly to Jiutui (below the xiphoid process) and posteriorly level with the eleventh thoracic vertebra (spine), attaching around the spine to block turbid Qi from ascending to熏 (smoke/heat) the Heart and Lungs.

"Lung system" refers to the throat. The throat receives Qi and connects downward to the Lung. The junction below the shoulder and above the ribcage is called the axilla. The depression below the arm, opposite the axilla, is called , located between the shoulder and elbow. The end of is the elbow; below the elbow is the arm. "Lian" means corner or edge. The artery beside the high bone behind the palm is Guan; the artery before Guan is Cunkou. It is called "Yu" (Fish); "Yuji" refers to the fleshy prominence anterior to the metacarpal bone and posterior to the proximal phalanx of the thumb, collectively called Fish, and Yuji is the name of the acupoint within it. "Duan" means tip.

Note: In chapters such as *Yingwei Shenghui*, *Wuwei*, *Xieke*, and *Cijie Zhenxie* of this classic, it is stated that the human body has three Jiaos. Zong Qi (Pectoral Qi) originates from the Upper Jiao, accumulating in the chest, also known as accumulating in Danzhong (between the nipples), emerging from the throat to govern respiration. Ying Qi (Nutritive Qi) is Yin essence Qi. It arises from the Qi of the Middle Jiao (Yang containing Yin), descends with the Upper Jiao Qi to the Lower Jiao to generate this Yin Qi, hence "Clear becomes Ying"; also stated as "Ying originates from the Middle Jiao". However, Ying Qi is Yin, pure, and specialized, circulating with Zong Qi within the vessel tunnels, hence "Ying travels within the vessels". Wei Qi (Defensive Qi) is Yang essence Qi. It arises from the Qi of the Lower Jiao (Yin containing Yang), ascends with the Middle Jiao Qi to the Upper Jiao to generate this Yang Qi, hence "Turbid becomes Wei"; also stated as "Wei Qi originates from the Lower Jiao". However, Wei Qi is fierce and rapid, does not travel with Zong Qi, but moves independently among the skin and muscles of each meridian, hence "Wei travels outside the vessels".

This description of the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian, starting from the Middle Jiao and continuing in the text, originally referred to Zong Qi and Wei Qi traveling together, excluding Wei Qi from specific participation here, consistent with the *Lingshu · Yingwei Shenghui* chapter stating that they travel twenty-five cycles in Yang and twenty-five in Yin, completing one cycle, thus meeting again at the Hand-Taiyin after fifty cycles. However, this specifically discusses the beginning of meridian Qi circulation. Starting from the Middle Jiao corresponds to the *Shenghui* chapter stating that the Middle Jiao is also within the stomach, emerging after the Upper Jiao; the Qi received here separates dregs, steams fluids, transforms fine essences, and directs them upward to the Lung vessels. This means grain Qi entering the stomach, its fine essence originates in the Middle Jiao, descends to connect with the Large Intestine (as Lung and Large Intestine are exterior-interior pairs); circles the stomach, exits the upper opening, and belongs to the Lung, emerging horizontally from the Lung system under the axilla. Generally, from the fourth row of the chest, passing through Zhongfu and Yunmen acupoints, it emerges under the axilla, descends along , passing Tianfu and Xiabai acupoints, running anterior to the Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian and Hand-Jueyin Pericardium Meridian, descending into the elbow to reach Chize acupoint. This corresponds to the *Shenghui* chapter stating that the Upper Jiao emerges from the upper stomach opening, travels up the pharynx, penetrates the diaphragm, distributes in the chest, goes to the axilla, and follows the Taiyin division. Having reached the elbow, it follows the medial arm along the lower border of the radius, passing Kongzui and Lieque acupoints, entering Jingqu and Taiyuan acupoints at Cunkou, ascending to Yuji, following the thenar margin, exiting the thumb tip, and stopping at Shaoshang.

Its branch, like branches on a tree, diverges from the main vertical meridian. The end of the arm bone is the wrist; the large vessel channel is the Jing (River); intersecting channels are Luo (Collaterals). Although the main meridian ends at the thumb, the collateral circulation, from Lieque behind the wrist, intersects with the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian, proceeding through Hegu, Erjian, and Sanjian acupoints to Shangyang, and ascending from Shangyang. "Shi Dong Ze Bing" (When moved, disease occurs) refers to symptoms like Lung distension arising from meridian disturbance. The *Nanjing* considers "Shi Dong" as Qi disorders; Ma Xuantai cited scriptures to judge this as incorrect, which is most appropriate. ("Tan" pronounced tǎn).