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Wei Qi (Defensive Qi) ascends from Yuan Qi (Original Qi). It governs the skin, hair, and interstices (cou li), protecting the exterior of the body, and primarily encompasses and guards the whole body. If Wei Qi is not firm, it leads to sweating and leakage.

Sweat is essentially the loss of Qi. The fear of contracting wind-cold is because Wei Qi cannot defend against pathogens externally. Whether in acute or chronic diseases, if there is profuse sweating, or sweating that extends to the feet (indicating severe Yang collapse), this indicates Wang Yang (Collapse of Yang). This is a manifestation of Yuan Qi escaping outward, signaling imminent death with no hope of recovery. There is also night sweats; although belonging to Yin deficiency, it is caused by Yang's inability to control Yin. Thus, in formulas like Liu Huang Tang (Six Yellow Decoction, often referring to Dang Gui Liu Huang Tang for night sweats), using Huang Qi (Astragali Radix) as the sovereign herb reveals its therapeutic intent.

Conditions such as asthma, coughing, and counterflow qi due to injury from cold pathogens and cold drinks affecting the Lung are all due to the laxity of Wei Qi.

Zong Qi (Gathering Qi) also ascends from Yuan Qi. It resides in the Dan Zhong (Chest center), and like Wei Qi, is governed by the Lung. It is the master of all Qi moving up and down, inside and outside the body. If the pulsation under the left breast is so strong that it moves the clothes, this indicates the leakage of Zong Qi, a disease of Yin deficiency where Qi fails to return to its root.

Ying Qi (Nutritive Qi) also ascends from Yuan Qi. It is governed by the Spleen, which is the root of Blood and Qi. Therefore, Ying Qi circulates and transports Blood and Qi, distributing and irrigating the meridians, zang-fu organs, muscles, acupoints, joints, sinews, and bones.

Stomach Qi also ascends from Yuan Qi. It resides in the Middle Jiao and is called Zhong Qi (Middle Qi). "Qi" here refers specifically to Stomach Qi. When Stomach Qi is abundant, one does not easily fatigue despite labor, can eat more without injuring the stomach, feels no hunger at inappropriate times, and maintains normal reception and transformation functions without deviating from regular rhythms. Thus, it specially utilizes external Grain Qi (Gu Qi) to nourish Yuan Qi. Once Yuan Qi is nourished, the True Qi of the six zang organs will be sufficient. The six pulses will appear neither too large nor too small, neither floating nor sunken, neither rapid nor slow, but harmonious and spirited, showing neither excess nor deficiency. This is having Stomach Qi. This relates not only to pulse diagnosis but is also a sign of Yuan Qi. If Yuan Qi is already deficient, how can Stomach Qi be robust on its own?

The form of Yuan Qi is like the interaction between Heaven and Earth. Within the Earth is Heavenly Yang, governing Yin; within Yin generates Yang, which is Stomach Qi. Ying Qi, Zong Qi, and Wei Qi all take Yuan Qi as their root. When active, Yuan Qi fills the San Jiao (Triple Burner); when still, it remains stored in the Ming Men (Gate of Life). Ming Men is the root of the San Jiao, and the San Jiao is the branch of Ming Men. "Ming Men" is named after "Life," originating from parents giving birth to us, serving as the root of life; while we giving birth to sons and daughters serves as the origin of establishing life. Therefore, even in the womb, although endowed by essence and blood, a point of True Yang is already accumulated within. Only if the parents' congenital essence and blood are solid and dense will the child's Yuan Qi be substantial, manifesting as strong Stomach Qi, nourishing Ying Qi, ascending Zong Qi, and firm Wei Qi. Internally, pulse Qi; externally, form Qi—all will be substantial. True Yang and True Yin interact in the middle, generating endlessly, and Shen Qi (Spirit Qi) will flourish. Even if attacked by the Six Exogenous Pathogens, they cannot harm the body. One can tolerate overwork or hunger. If one diligently cultivates and regulates oneself in postnatal life, avoiding reckless exertion, not only will body and mind be healthy, reaching extreme longevity, but offspring will also be free from the danger of premature death.

If congenital Yuan Qi is inherently deficient, children often suffer from emaciation and illness. Upon growing up, essence and blood fail to nourish the body, leading to an aged appearance in youth. Food intake decreases; excessive consumption of rich foods exhausts Stomach Qi. The limbs become thin and weak, spirit fades, indicating declining Ying Qi. Head tilting and deep-set eyes indicate sinking Zong Qi. Sweating upon slight exertion and panting upon slight movement indicate sinking Zong Qi. Fullness and distension in the chest indicate sinking Zong Qi. Feeling cold before it is actually cold and seeking coolness before it is hot, frequent attacks by the Six Pathogens lead to lingering illness. Incorrectly administering cold herbs can reverse life and death in an instant, due to lax Wei Qi. Excessive worry and lack of joy deplete Heart Qi. Impotence and thin semen, soft sinews and brittle bones indicate exhaustion of Liver and Kidney Qi. A slight negligence may cost one's life. However, if one persists in self-cultivation and caution, aided by proper prescriptions, one can barely sustain life, hopefully reaching a lower lifespan. This depends on both destiny and human effort.

Current physicians, regardless of whether Yuan Qi is deficient or excess, and without examining the rise and fall of various Qi, merely follow the severity of the disease symptoms and treat the disease specifically. In this way, while heat conditions should indeed receive cold herbs, the treatment method for false heat becomes exhausted. While cold conditions should indeed receive hot herbs, the understanding of false cold becomes obscure. For the same heat condition, the pulse may belong to Yin or Yang differently; for the same cold condition, the pulse may differ in strength or weakness. Disease cold and heat depend on the pulse; pulse deficiency and excess depend on Qi; the rise and fall of Qi depend on congenital Yuan Qi. Yin-Yang and Water-Fire are all controlled by Yuan Qi, and Yuan Qi is the root of Yin-Yang and Water-Fire. Thus, cold and heat arise from this. Cold and heat are also the root of all diseases. The unpredictable emergence of all diseases is merely the infinite variation of cold and heat. Only by discerning the true and false nature of cold and heat can one recognize the deficiency and excess of Yuan Qi. Why worry about the lack of precision in medical practice? If Yuan Qi is not examined, although treating those with deep roots wrongly may cause no harm, how could one bear to recklessly attack those with depleted middle Qi?

The famous physician Wang Yingzhen said: "When seeing phlegm, do not just treat phlegm; when seeing blood, do not just treat blood; when there is no sweat, do not induce sweating; when there is heat, do not attack heat; when wheezing arises, do not consume Qi; when essence leaks, do not use astringents." Only by understanding the essence of these principles can one be a傑 outstanding practitioner. Practicing medicine without knowing the methods of treating Qi, what basis can one rely on? One would only be laughed at by laymen, failing to reach the level of understanding. These are truly words of knowing the root and reaching the source. Students should reflect on this.