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Du Meridian: The pulse at the center of both Cun (inch) and Chi (cubit) positions is floating, with a straight up-and-down trajectory.
[Note] Jiegu said: "Du means gathering; it is the chief commander of the Yang meridians." This meridian originates from the Shu point at the lower extreme, runs parallel within the spinal column, ascends to the vertex, and terminates at the Yinjiao (Gum Intersection) acupoint in the upper dental suture. Its diseases primarily involve external contraction of wind-cold pathogenic factors. The *Neijing* states that excess manifests as rigidity of the spine, while deficiency manifests as heaviness of the head. Wang Shuhe described symptoms as stiffness and pain in the waist and back, inability to bend or extend, epilepsy in adults, and wind-induced convulsions in children. When the three positions of Cun, Guan, and Chi are all floating and exhibit a straight up-and-down trajectory, this indicates a Xian (bowstring) and Chang (long) pulse image, thus indicating disease caused by external pathogens.

Ren Meridian: The pulse at the Cun Kou (Cun position) is tight, fine, solid, and long, extending to the Guan (bar) position. It is also stated that the Cun Kou pulse resembles a pill or bean.
[Note] The Ren Meridian originates below the Zhongji acupoint, follows the abdomen upward to the throat, reaches the Yinjiao acupoint, and extends to the Chengqi acupoint under the eye. It is the convergence of all Yin meridians. Its diseases include seven types of hernia in men, and leukorrhea and mass accumulation (Jia Ju) in women. Wang Shuhe also considered it to manifest as pain around the umbilicus radiating to the genitalia. Furthermore, a pulse resembling a pill at the Cun Kou indicates Qi rushing upward like a finger striking the heart, accompanied by stiffness during flexion and extension. A tight, fine, solid, and long pulse indicates cold invading the middle and Qi knotting. A pulse resembling a pill at the Cun Kou is the Dong Mai (Surging Pulse). Its shape is like a bean, trembling vigorously, thus indicating Qi rushing upward to strike the heart.

Chong Meridian: The pulse at the center of both Cun and Chi positions is deep and firm (Lao), with a straight up-and-down trajectory.
[Note] The Chong Meridian originates at the Qichuan (Gas Street) [located two cun lateral to the midline in the pubic hair region], ascends bilaterally flanking the umbilicus, disperses in the chest, and serves as the root of the twelve regular meridians. Hence, it is called the Sea of the Twelve Meridians and also the Sea of Blood. The *Ling Shu* states: "When the Chong Meridian blood is abundant, it seeps into the skin and generates body hair. Women who lose blood frequently do not nourish their lips, hence beard growth is absent. Eunuchs have their Zongjin (root tendon) removed, damaging the Chong Meridian, hence beards do not grow." Yue Ren (Bian Que) stated: "Disease of the Chong Meridian presents with rebellious Qi and abdominal urgency," or irritability and heat, all due to rebellion of Chong Meridian Qi. Treatment should involve Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang added with Zhi Mu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma) and Huang Bo (Phellodendri Cortex). Wang Shuhe said: "When the Chong and Du meridians are active, the twelve meridians no longer converge at the Cun Kou; the patient suffers from trance, mania, and dementia." He also said: "The Chong Meridian is no different from the Du Meridian, except that the Du pulse is floating and the Chong pulse is sunken."

Yang Qiao Meridian: The pulse at the Cun position beats laterally on both sides.
[Note] The Yang Qiao Meridian originates in the heel, ascends to the lateral malleolus, follows the hypochondrium to the shoulder, flanks the mouth and lips, reaches the eye, and terminates at the Fengchi acupoint behind the ear. Yue Ren said: "Disease of the Yang Qiao involves slackness of the Yin side and tension of the Yang side." Wang Shuhe annotated: "It should be understood as tension above the lateral malleolus and slackness above the medial malleolus." He further said: "A pulse beating laterally at the anterior part of the Cun Kou indicates the Yang Qiao Meridian; the patient suffers from backache, epilepsy, sudden collapse, aversion to wind, hemiplegia, and numbness with stiffness. Lateral beating is the image of the Jin (Tight) pulse. ('Wan' sounds like 'wan', meaning numbness.)"

Yin Qiao Meridian: The pulse at the Chi position beats laterally on both sides.
[Note] The Yin Qiao Meridian originates in the heel, ascends to the medial malleolus, follows the yin aspect, from the chest to the pharynx, and terminates at the Jingming acupoint in the inner canthus. Yue Ren said: "Disease of the Yin Qiao involves slackness of the Yang side and tension of the Yin side." Wang Shuhe annotated: "It should be understood as tension above the medial malleolus and slackness above the lateral malleolus." He further said: "A pulse beating laterally at the posterior part of the Cun Kou indicates the Yin Qiao Meridian; the patient suffers from epilepsy with chills and fever, skin numbness and itching, lower abdominal pain, internal urgency, pain in the waist and hips connecting to the genitals, male yin hernia, and female metrorrhagia." Zhang Jiegu said: "Qiao means agility. These two Qiao meridians originate from the feet, enabling agile movement. The Yang Qiao is above the muscle, following the Yang meridians, penetrating the Six Fu organs, and governing the exterior. The Yin Qiao is below the muscle, following the Yin meridians, penetrating the Five Zang organs, and governing the interior." ("Kuan" sounds like 'kuan'; 'Liao' sounds like 'liao'.)

Dai Meridian: The pulse at the Guan position beats laterally on both sides.
[Note] The Dai Meridian originates from the costal margin, encircles the body once like a belt. Yue Ren said: "Disease of the Dai Meridian presents with abdominal fullness and a loose, weak sensation in the waist, as if sitting in water." ('Rong Rong' describes a relaxed and lax appearance.) The *Ming Tang* states: "Women suffer from lower abdominal pain, internal urgency with spasms, irregular menstruation, and red and white leukorrhea." Yang Shi said: "The Dai Meridian binds all meridians, preventing them from wandering recklessly, like a person wearing a belt hanging forward. If this meridian is firm, there will be no symptoms of leukorrhea or uterine bleeding." ("Chi" sounds like 'chi'; 'Zong' sounds like 'zong'.)

Yin Wei Meridian: From the outer Chi position, slanting upward to the Cun position.
[Note] The Yin Wei Meridian originates at the intersection of all Yin meridians, emerging five cun above the medial malleolus, follows the thigh, enters the lower abdomen, follows the hypochondrium to the chest, and terminates at the front of the vertex. Shuhe said: "The patient suffers from epilepsy, sudden collapse, aphonia, muscle numbness and itching, sweating with aversion to wind, and a shivering sensation." He also said: "A Yin Wei pulse that is deep, large, and solid governs pain in the chest, fullness under the ribs, and heart pain. A pulse resembling beads strung together indicates fullness in the hypochondrium and lumbar pain in men, and pain in the genitalia resembling sores in women." (Five cun above the medial malleolus is the Zubin acupoint.)

Yang Wei Meridian: From the inner Chi position, slanting upward to the Cun position.
[Note] The Yang Wei Meridian originates at the intersection of all Yang meridians, emerging one cun and five fen below the lateral malleolus, follows the knee, ascends to the hip joint, reaches the lower abdomen, follows the head into the ear, and terminates at the Benshen acupoint. Shuhe said: "The patient suffers from muscle numbness and itching, skin pain, insensitivity in the lower body, sweating with cold, sudden collapse with barking sounds, mutual pulling of hands and feet, and in severe cases, inability to speak." Jiegu said: "Wei (Defensive) is Yang and governs the exterior. When the Yang Wei is invaded by pathogens, the disease is in the exterior, causing chills and fever. Ying (Nutritive) is Yin and governs the interior. When the Yin Wei is invaded by pathogens, the disease is in the interior, causing heart pain. When Yin and Yang mutually bind, Ying and Wei are harmonious; when Ying and Wei are disharmonious, the person feels lost and unable to control themselves." ("Bi" sounds like 'bi'. One cun and five fen below the lateral malleolus is the Shenmai acupoint.)

Li Shizhen said: "The human body has Jing (Regular) and Luo (Collateral) meridians. Those running straight are Jing; those running obliquely are Luo. There are twelve Jing meridians: three Yin and three Yang of the hand, and three Yin and three Yang of the foot. There are fifteen Luo meridians: one collateral for each of the twelve Jing meridians, plus one major collateral of the Spleen, and the collaterals of the Ren and Du meridians, totaling fifteen. Together, these twenty-seven Qi flows move up and down continuously, like flowing spring water, never resting. Yin meridians nourish the Five Zang organs, and Yang meridians nourish the Six Fu organs. Yin and Yang interconnect in a continuous circle. The overflowing Qi enters the Qi Jing (Extraordinary) meridians and irrigates each other. The eight Qi Jing meridians are not constrained by the twelve regular Jing meridians and lack interior-exterior pairing, hence they are called 'Qi' (Odd/Extraordinary). Generally, the regular meridians are like ditches, and the Qi meridians are like rivers and marshes. When the Qi in the regular meridians is abundant, it overflows into the Qi meridians. Thus, Bian Que compared it to rain filling ditches until they overflow into rivers and marshes. This is the unexpressed principle of the *Ling Shu* and *Su Wen*." (There are twelve Jing meridians, each with one collateral, plus the Spleen's major collateral and the Ren/Du collaterals, totaling twenty-seven Qi.) He also said: "The Yang Wei originates at the intersection of Yang meridians, ascending from the lateral malleolus into the Wei (Defensive) division; the Yin Wei originates at the intersection of Yin meridians, ascending from the medial malleolus into the Ying (Nutritive) division, thus serving as the framework for the whole body. The Yang Qiao originates in the heel, ascending along the lateral malleolus on both sides of the body, thereby making joints agile. The Du Meridian originates at Huiyin, follows the back along the posterior body, commanding all Yang meridians, hence called the Sea of Yang Meridians. The Ren Meridian originates at Huiyin, follows the abdomen along the anterior body, bearing all Yin meridians, hence called the Sea of Yin Meridians. The Chong Meridian originates at Huiyin, flanking the umbilicus, rushing straight upward, serving as the crucial passage for all meridians, hence called the Sea of the Twelve Meridians. The Dai Meridian encircles the waist horizontally like a belt, binding all meridians. Therefore, if a physician understands these eight meridians, the main principles of the twelve Jing and fifteen Luo meridians are grasped."