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In the "Pi Bu Pian" (Chapter on Skin Parts) of the *Su Wen* (Basic Questions), the Yellow Emperor asked: I have heard that the skin has distinct regions, the meridians have their pathways and regulations, the sinews have connecting networks, and the bones have measurable dimensions. The diseases they generate are different. I wish to know how to distinguish these regions, their locations in the left and right, upper and lower, yin and yang, and the beginning and end of diseases. May I ask for the principles involved? Qibo replied: To understand the skin parts, one should take the meridians as the guiding principle; this applies to all meridians. The yang aspect of the Yangming Meridian is called Haifei. The methods above and below are the same. Observe the floating collaterals within the region; these are all the collaterals of Yangming. If the color is predominantly blue/green, it indicates pain; if predominantly black, it indicates Bi syndrome (obstruction); if yellow/red, it indicates heat; if predominantly white, it indicates cold; if all five colors appear, it indicates a mix of cold and heat. When the collaterals are full, pathogens enter and lodge in the main meridians. Yang governs the exterior, Yin governs the interior. The yang aspect of the Shaoyang Meridian is called Chuchi. The methods above and below are the same. Observe the floating collaterals within the region; these are all the collaterals of Shaoyang. When the collaterals are full, pathogens enter and lodge in the main meridians. Thus, what is in the yang [collaterals] governs inward transmission, and what is in the yin [collaterals] governs outward discharge, allowing seepage into the interior. This applies to all meridians. The yang aspect of the Taiyang Meridian is called Guanshu. The methods above and below are the same. Observe the floating collaterals within the region; these are all the collaterals of Taiyang. When the collaterals are full, pathogens enter and lodge in the main meridians. The yin aspect of the Shaoyin Meridian is called Shuru (alternatively written as 'Shu'). The methods above and below are the same. Observe the floating collaterals within the region; these are all the collaterals of Shaoyin. When the collaterals are full, pathogens enter and lodge in the main meridians. Upon entering the meridians, they flow from the yang regions into the meridians; upon exiting, they flow from the yin interior into the bones. The yin aspect of the Pericardium (Heart Master) is called Haijian. The methods above and below are the same. Observe the floating collaterals within the region; these are all the collaterals of the Pericardium. When the collaterals are full, pathogens enter and lodge in the main meridians. The yin aspect of the Taiyin Meridian is called Guanzhe. The methods above and below are the same. Observe the floating collaterals within the region; these are all the collaterals of Taiyin. When the collaterals are full, pathogens enter and lodge in the main meridians. All twelve meridian collateral systems are the divisions of the skin. Therefore, the onset of all diseases must first occur in the hair and skin. When pathogens attack, the interstices (Cou Li) open; when open, pathogens enter and lodge in the collaterals. If they remain without departing, they transmit to the meridians; if they remain without departing, they transmit to the fu organs, stagnating in the intestines and stomach. When pathogens initially enter the skin, the body hair stands erect, and the interstices open. When they enter the collaterals, the collaterals become full and the color changes. When they lodge in the meridians, deficiency allows them to sink inward. If they remain between the sinews and bones, excessive cold causes sinew spasms and bone pain; excessive heat causes sinew flaccidity and bone wasting, muscle emaciation, skin cracking, and the stiffening and deterioration of body hair. The Emperor said: You spoke of the twelve divisions of the skin; what kind of diseases do they produce? Qibo said: The skin is the division of the meridians. When pathogens lodge in the skin, the interstices open; when open, pathogens enter and lodge in the collaterals. When collaterals are full, they transmit to the main meridians; when main meridians are full, they enter and reside in the zang-fu organs. Thus, the skin has specific divisions; failing to observe them leads to serious diseases. The Emperor said: Excellent. The skin belongs to the Lung. The classics state: The Lung combines with the skin, and its flourishing aspect manifests in the body hair. It also states: The Lung governs the skin and hair. In the zang organs, it corresponds to the Lung; in the形体 (body structures), it corresponds to the skin and hair. Withered body hair and dry nails indicate the exhaustion of the Hand-Taiyin [Lung Meridian]. The classics state: The Hand-Taiyin [Meridian] circulates qi to nourish the skin and hair. If qi does not nourish, the skin and hair become scorched/dry; if skin and hair become scorched/dry, body fluids are lost. In cases of skin exhaustion, once body fluids are lost, the nails become dry and the body hair withers. Withered body hair indicates that the hair dies first.