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The human body, internally comprising the five zang organs and six fu organs, and externally consisting of the four limbs and hundred bones; internally containing jing (essence), qi (vital energy), and shen (spirit), and externally composed of sinews (tendons/ligaments) and flesh (muscles), together form a complete entity. Outside the zang-fu organs, sinews and bones provide the main support; outside the sinews and bones, muscles provide the covering; inside the muscles, blood vessels govern circulation; the ability of the entire body to move and be agile is primarily governed by qi. Therefore, the essence of cultivation lies entirely in nourishing blood and qi, which is the most crucial aspect. Just as heaven generates all things according to the arrival of yin and yang, how much more so for human life? And even more so for physical cultivation? Moreover, jing, qi, and shen are formless entities, while sinews, bones, and flesh are formed bodies. This method must first refine the formed body as an assistant to the formless, and cultivate the formless as a support for the formed; this is one becoming two, and two becoming one.

If one solely cultivates the formless while abandoning the formed, it is inadmissible. If one solely refines the formed while abandoning the formless, it is even less acceptable. Thus, the formed body must rely on the formless qi without contradiction to achieve an indestructible physique. If they contradict and do not rely on each other, the formed body will also transform into formlessness. Therefore, refining sinews requires refining membranes (fascia); refining membranes requires refining qi. However, refining sinews is easy while refining membranes is difficult; refining membranes is difficult while refining qi is even more so. One must first take a firm stand in the most difficult and chaotic places, then seek the true method in the state of immobility and unshakability. One must diligently nourish yuan qi (original qi), guard zhong qi (middle qi), protect zheng qi (upright qi), acquire shen qi (kidney qi), nurture gan qi (liver qi), regulate fei qi (lung qi), manage pi qi (spleen qi), ascend qing qi (clear qi), descend zhuo qi (turbid qi), avoid xie e qi (evil/unwholesome qi), do not injure qi, do not reverse qi, and do not damage qi through worry, thought, grief, or anger. Let qi become clear and calm, calm and harmonious, harmonious and smooth-flowing, able to travel through sinews and thread through membranes, until the whole body becomes agile, moving everywhere and reaching everywhere. When qi arrives, the membrane rises; when qi moves, the membrane expands. If it can rise and expand, the membrane and sinews become equally solid. If one refines sinews but not membranes, the membranes have no master; if one refines membranes but not sinews, the membranes have no foundation. If one refines sinews and membranes but not qi, the sinews and membranes become stiff and ineffective; if one refines qi but not sinews and membranes, qi cannot circulate freely through the meridians. If qi cannot circulate, sinews cannot become solid. This is what is meant by mutual utility and intricate interconnection. After refining until the sinews rise, one must double the effort, ensuring that the membranes of the entire body can rise, attaching firmly to the skin like the sinews, and securing internally. Only then are the mother and child aspects properly balanced; otherwise, although the sinews are solid, they lack assistance. It is like plants without soil for cultivation—how can this be considered complete achievement?!

Ban Ci Mi Di (Paramaguru) said: This chapter states that Yi Jin Jing (Muscle/Tendon Changing Classic) begins with refining membranes, and refining membranes focuses on refining qi. However, this "membrane" is often unrecognized by people; it is not the fatty membrane (adipose tissue), but the fascial membrane. The fatty membrane exists within body cavities! The fascial membrane exists outside the bones. Sinews connect the limbs and bones, while membranes wrap around the skeletal bones. Comparing sinews and membranes, membranes are softer than sinews; comparing flesh and membranes, membranes are tougher than flesh. Membranes reside inside the flesh and outside the bones, serving as the substance that wraps bones and lines flesh. With such a structure, practitioners must ensure qi threads between the membranes, protecting the bones and strengthening the sinews, integrating them into one unit, which is called complete achievement.