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The Lung organ is positioned first among the five zang organs. The Large Intestine serves as the channel of transmission, with its function being to disseminate and unblock.
The Lung is referred to as the "Canopy" (the organ covering the other five zang organs), residing above all other viscera; hence it is said to be in the foremost position. The Lung and the Large Intestine are exteriorly-interiorly related. The *Ling Shu: Ling Lan Mi Dian Lun* states:
"The Large Intestine is the official of transmission, responsible for transformation and excretion." Thus, it is described as a smooth channel.
According to the *Su Wen: Yin Yang Ying Xiang Da Lun*: "In the West arises Dryness; Dryness generates Metal; Metal corresponds to Pungency; Pungency nourishes the Lung; the Lung nourishes the skin and hair; the skin and hair nourish the Kidney. The Lung governs the nose. In Heaven it corresponds to Dryness, on Earth to Metal, in the body structure to skin and hair, in the viscera to the Lung, in colors to White, in musical tones to Shang, in vocal sounds to Weeping, in pathological changes to Cough, in orifices to the Nose, in flavors to Pungency, and in emotions to Sorrow. Excessive Sorrow damages the Lung, while Joy overcomes Sorrow. Heat damages the skin and hair, while Cold overcomes Heat. Pungency damages the skin and hair, while Bitterness overcomes Pungency." The *Jin Gui Zhen Yan Lun* states: "The color of the West is White, internally connecting to the Lung, opening into the Nose, and storing essence within the Lung. Therefore, diseases manifest in the back. Its flavor is Pungent, its category is Metal, its associated animal is the Horse, its grain is Rice, and it corresponds to the four seasons, specifically appearing as the Tai Bai Star in the heavens. Thus, one knows that disease resides in the skin and hair. Its tone is Shang, its number is nine, and its odor is Fishy."
Dui represents the western position in the Eight Trigrams.
The Lung governs the Metal Qi of the West. In King Wen's Bagua arrangement, Dui is located in the West. Speaking from the perspective of the Eight Trigrams, the Lung resides in the land of Dui. Dai Qizong's alteration of the character "Di" (Land) to "Shuo" (Saying) is incorrect.
Metal connects through the Five Phases.
"Qian" means to combine. From the perspective of the Five Phases, the Lung combines with Metal.
Skin and hair correspond to each other.
The *Zang Fu Sheng Cheng Pian* states: "The Lung combines with the skin, and its flourishing manifestation is in the hair."
Hun (Ethereal Soul) and Po (Corporeal Soul) are interconnected.
A question from the *Nan Jing* asks: "The Liver stores Hun, and the Lung stores Po. Why is there no separate verse for the Liver, but rather a combined verse for the Lung?" The answer lies in understanding that although the spirits of the five zang organs have their respective domains, their subtlety lies in mutual integration and absorption. The *Fortieth Difficulty* elucidates the concepts of hearing and smelling. Although Wood belongs to the East, it receives Qi at Shen hour and nurtures its fetus at You hour; although Metal belongs to the West, it receives Qi at Yin hour and nurtures its fetus at Mao hour. Thus, the *Cantong Qi* states: "Raising the East to unite with the West, Hun and Po naturally constrain each other." This is explained as: Raising the East to unite with the West refers to driving the Dragon to join the Tiger. Hun and Po naturally constraining each other refers to transforming emotion to harmonize nature.
According to the *Cantong Qi, Chapter on Two-Eighth String Qi*: "The Crescent Moon serves as the tripod and furnace, the White Tiger as the key to refining, Mercury-Sun as the flowing pearl, and the Green Dragon comes along with it. Raising the East to unite with the West, Hun and Po naturally constrain each other." The explanation is: Now, the Dragon resides in the East, and the Tiger in the West. Although they guard their respective directions, there is a principle of mutual resonance. Therefore, raising the Hun of the East to unite with the Po of the West allows the Dragon and Tiger to naturally cohabit, mutually regulating and controlling each other, thus forming the Great Medicine. Raising the East to unite with the West means driving the Dragon to join the Tiger. Hun and Po naturally constraining each other means pushing emotion to harmonize nature.
The nose distinguishes odors; obstruction causes Qi to be tormented.
The classics state: "Lung Qi connects to the nose. When the nose is harmonious, one can distinguish fragrant and foul odors. When pathogenic Qi presses upon the Lung, the nasal orifice becomes obstructed and blocked, resulting in the inability to smell."
Excessive speech leads to cough.
The Lung governs Qi. Excessive speech injures Qi. When Lung Qi is injured, cough develops.
Sores float as if pierced by wine infusion.
Wine is a damp-heat substance. Sores are also generated by damp-heat. The Lung governs the skin and hair. Excessive wine consumption injures the Lung meridian, causing sores to appear on the skin.
If the complexion is white like congealed pig fat, it indicates good prognosis; if white like dry bone, life is hard to preserve.
The *Zang Fu Sheng Cheng Pian* states: "White like pig fat indicates survival," referring to a white and lustrous complexion. Hence, it indicates life. "White like dry bone indicates death," referring to a white and dull complexion. Hence, it indicates death.
According to the *Yu Ji Zhen Zang Lun*: "The True Lung pulse is large and empty, feeling light like a feather touching the person. If the skin color is white-red without luster and hair breaks off, death ensues."
The accumulation of Xi Ben causes illness, occurring on the right hypochondrium during Spring.
The *Fifty-Sixth Difficulty* states: "The accumulation of the Lung is named Xi Ben (Breathful Accumulation). It is located under the right hypochondrium, covering an area as large as a cup. If untreated for a long time, it causes chills and fever, wheezing, and cough, developing into Lung obstruction. If contracted on Jia or Yi days in Spring, why is this? Because Heart disease transmits to the Lung, and Lung disease transmits to the Liver. The Liver is prosperous in Spring; a prosperous organ does not accept pathogenic factors. The Lung attempts to transmit back to the Heart, but the Heart refuses to accept it. Thus, it remains and knots to form an accumulation. Therefore, we know Xi Ben is contracted on Jia or Yi days in Spring."
Following the season, the pulse is Floating, Choppy, and Short.
The Lung prospers in Autumn. As the Lung governs the skin and hair, the pulse is Floating. The Lung is an organ with abundant Qi and scarce Blood, so the pulse is Choppy. Autumn belongs to Metal, which is the least abundant among the Five Phases, so the pulse is Short.
According to the *Ren Jing Jing*: "The Lung combines with the skin and hair, and the Lung pulse travels along the skin and hair. In pulse diagnosis, applying pressure equivalent to three beans' weight, reaching the skin and hair to perceive the pulse, constitutes a Floating pulse. Slightly increasing pressure, where the pulse channel is not smooth, constitutes a Choppy pulse. Increasing pressure further, but not reaching the proper depth, constitutes a Short pulse."
Reversal manifests as Large, Surging, and Wiry pulses.
If a Large, Surging, and Wiry pulse is seen in Autumn, it is called contrary to the four seasons. Why? Surging and Large belong to Fire, which overacts on Metal. Furthermore, the presence of a Wiry pulse, belonging to Wood, implies Wood generating Fire. Here, the Lung pulse is both Surging and Wiry, indicating the Mother (Fire) leveraging the Child (Wood) to insult Metal. Wind and Fire blaze together, injuring Lung Metal. Hence, it is termed "reversal."
Excess conditions dream of weapons and conflict; Deficiency conditions dream of wading through water fields.
When Lung Qi is excessive, one dreams of fear, crying, and flying. The *Yin Xie Fa Meng Pian* states: "When Jue Qi lodges in the Lung, one dreams of flying and seeing strange objects like gold, iron, or metal. When it lodges in the Large Intestine, one dreams of fields." The current rhyme text states: "Excess dreams of weapons and conflict; Deficiency dreams of wading through water fields." This means the Lung belongs to Autumn Metal, governing肃杀 (severing and killing). Due to Lung Excess, one dreams of conflicts involving weapons. The North belongs to Water, which is the place of decline and tomb for Geng Metal. Due to Metal Deficiency, one dreams of wading through water fields.
Weighing three jin and three liang, six lobes suspended separately.
The *Forty-Second Difficulty* states: "The Lung weighs three jin and three liang. It has six lobes and two ears, totaling eight lobes. Its primary function is to store Po."