手少阳三焦。有上中下之名。或欲以上焦附寸。中焦附关。下焦附尺。根据经言上者上之。下者下之之说。果执是说。
则如伯仁所言大小肠宜见于尺。
不宜见于寸。揆之经脉授受之次。有是理哉。大概心胞在膈上。命门在膈下三焦俱不相失而相应。上焦寄位两乳之
间。名曰膻中。中焦在胃中脘。即脐之右旁。下焦在脐下膀胱上口。故自膻中以迄脐三寸。皆为气海。有脂膜在腔子
内。包罗乎五脏六腑之外。合之胞络。共成六脏六腑。为十二经而或言腑止有五者。以三焦有名无状。不名正腑。腑属
膀胱也。而或言脏亦止五者。以命门与肾。二而一不及心胞也。然或言五腑六脏。或言五脏六腑。则六脏六腑之名不
能灭。又何疑于手少阳之为三焦。手厥阴之为胞络也哉。其体亦属相火。言其用。三焦为气之父。盖肾间气动。人之生
命。
十二经之根本。三焦者。原气之别使也。主通行三气。经历于五脏十二经。故曰。禀肾间动气以资始。藉胃中谷气以资
生。为决渎之官。水道出焉。合胞络为用。宣流气血。分别清浊。运导营卫上升下降。各得其所。脉受胞络之交。故
胞络脉。终于第四指。三焦脉。即起于无名指之端。循手腕。出臂外两骨之间。上贯肘。循 外止肩。故肩肘 臂痛。
皆三焦病。入
缺盆。布膻中。散络心胞。下膈属三焦。故病为嗌干。为喉痹。其支者。从膻中入缺盆。上项系耳后。直上出耳上角。
下颊至项。其支者。从耳后入耳中。出走耳前。交颊至目锐 。故三焦病。耳后痛。耳聋颊肿。目锐 痛。三焦之大
略如此。
The Hand-Shaoyang Sanjiao (Triple Burner) meridian is named according to its upper, middle, and lower sections. Some propose that the Upper Jiao corresponds to the Cun (Inch) position of the radial pulse, the Middle Jiao to the Guan (Bar) position, and the Lower Jiao to the Chi (Cubit) position. Relying on the classic saying "upper [pulse] reflects upper [pathology], lower [pulse] reflects lower [pathology]," if one rigidly adheres to this view, then as Wang Shuhe (courtesy name Boren) stated, the pulses of the Large Intestine and Small Intestine should be found at the Chi position, not at the Cun position. Does this align with the sequence of meridian transmission?
Generally speaking, the Pericardium (Xinbao) is located above the diaphragm, while the Mingmen (Gate of Life) is below it; the functions of the Sanjiao are consistent with and correspond to both. The Upper Jiao resides between the two breasts and is named Danzhong (Chest Center). The Middle Jiao is located at the Zhongwan point in the stomach, which is beside the right side of the umbilicus. The Lower Jiao is located below the umbilicus at the upper opening of the Bladder. Therefore, the area from Danzhong down to three cun above the umbilicus is all referred to as the Sea of Qi (Qihai). Inside the thoracic cavity, there is a layer of fatty membrane that envelops the exterior of the Zang and Fu organs. Combined with the Pericardium, they form six Zang and six Fu organs, constituting the twelve meridians. Some say there are only five Fu organs because the Sanjiao has a name but no distinct shape, so it is not considered a principal Fu organ, but rather belongs to the category of the Bladder. Others say there are only five Zang organs because the Mingmen and Kidney are treated as one, excluding the Pericardium. However, whether one speaks of five Fu and six Zang, or five Zang and six Fu, the designation of "six Zang and six Fu" cannot be abolished. Thus, why doubt that the Hand-Shaoyang is the Sanjiao and the Hand-Jueyin is the Pericardium?
Its substance also pertains to Ministerial Fire (Xianghuo). Regarding its function, the Sanjiao is the father of Qi. This is because the vital movement of Qi in the Kidneys initiates human life and serves as the root of the twelve meridians. The Sanjiao is the special envoy of Yuan Qi (Original Qi), primarily responsible for circulating the three types of Qi through the five Zang organs and twelve meridians. Hence, it is said: "It receives the vital movement of Qi from the Kidneys to initiate existence, and relies on the Grain Qi from the Stomach to sustain growth." It is called the Official of Dredging (Juedu), through which water passages flow. It works in conjunction with the Pericardium to disseminate and circulate Blood and Qi, separate clear from turbid, and guide Ying (Nutrient) and Wei (Defensive) Qi to ascend and descend, allowing each to reach its proper place.
The pulse of the Sanjiao is influenced by the Pericardium pulse; thus, the Pericardium pulse terminates at the fourth finger (middle finger), while the Sanjiao pulse originates at the tip of the ring finger. It follows the wrist, emerges between the two bones on the lateral aspect of the arm, passes up through the elbow, follows the lateral arm to the shoulder. Therefore, pain in the shoulder, elbow, and arm are all diseases of the Sanjiao. It enters the Key Valley (Quepen), distributes in the Danzhong, scatters and connects with the Pericardium, descends through the diaphragm, and belongs to the Sanjiao. Thus, disease in the Sanjiao manifests as dryness of the throat and Bi syndrome of the throat. Its branch vessel enters the Key Valley from the Danzhong, ascends the neck, connects behind the ear, goes straight up to emerge above the ear angle, and descends along the cheek to the neck. Another branch enters the ear from behind the ear, exits in front of the ear, crosses the cheek, and reaches the outer canthus of the eye. Therefore, Sanjiao disease presents with pain behind the ear, deafness, swelling of the cheek, and pain at the outer canthus of the eye. Such is the general overview of the Sanjiao.