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(From *Yixue Rumen*)

The human body's Qi and Blood circulate through sixty-six acupoints daily, with five points being influenced in each two-hour period (excluding the six Yuan-Source points, which are sites of meridian transition). When the Five Elements generate each other or the Heavenly Stems combine harmoniously, it is considered "Kai" (Open), at which time acupuncture may be performed. When the Five Elements overcome each other, it is considered "He" (Closed), at which time acupuncture should not be performed. Yang generates Yin while Yin perishes; Yin generates Yang while Yang perishes. For example: Jia Wood dies at Wu hour and is born at Hai hour; Yi Wood dies at Hai hour and is born at Wu hour; Bing Fire is born at Yin hour and dies at You hour; Ding Fire dies at You hour and is born at Yin hour; Wu Earth is born at Yin hour and dies at You hour; Ji Earth dies at You hour and is born at Yin hour; Geng Metal is born at Si hour and dies at Zi hour; Xin Metal dies at Zi hour and is born at Si hour; Ren Water is born at Shen hour and dies at Mao hour; Gui Water dies at Mao hour and is born at Shen hour. Whenever one encounters hours where one generates others, others generate oneself, or where Heavenly Stems combine, this is the time when Qi and Blood are vigorous and flourishing; thus, one can differentiate between deficiency and excess to perform acupuncture. If one encounters hours of mutual overcoming or closed ("He") periods, Qi and Blood are in a state of decline or exhaustion. Either the Qi has not yet arrived, or it has already passed. Erroneous needling and misdirecting pathogenic Qi will disrupt True Qi, causing excess conditions to become more excessive and deficient conditions to become more deficient, resulting in significant harm.

Yang days, Yang hours, and Yang points; Yin days, Yin hours, and Yin points. Yang uses Yin as "He" (Closure), and Yin uses Yang as "He". "He" means closure. When in a closed state, one should needle the point that combines with the Heavenly Stem of the current hour.

If a Yang day encounters a Yin hour, or a Yin day encounters a Yang hour, the previous points are already closed; one should select the combining point for needling. "Combining" refers to: Jia combines with Ji to transform into Earth; Yi combines with Geng to transform into Metal; Bing combines with Xin to transform into Water; Ding combines with Ren to transform into Wood; Wu combines with Gui to transform into Fire. This is the principle of the Five Gates and Ten Changes. The reason for this is that on Yang days, Qi enters the Six Fu Organs first, followed by Blood circulation; on Yin days, Blood enters the Five Zang Organs first, followed by Qi circulation. Following Yin and Yang is therefore following the regulation of Qi and Blood.

On Yang days, the presiding Six Fu Organs guide Qi; on Yin days, the presiding Five Zang Organs guide Blood.

One might ask: What if the Yang hours of a Yang day have passed, or the Yin hours of a Yin day have passed, and an acute illness occurs? The answer is: Husband and wife, or mother and son relationships among points can be used interchangeably. One must adapt to the condition: if the "Wife" point is closed, needle the "Husband" point; if the "Husband" point is closed, needle the "Wife" point; if the "Son" point is closed, needle the "Mother" point; if the "Mother" point is closed, needle the "Son" point. It is essential that the point matches the pathology before needling.

Alas! When selecting points, prioritize the Principal point over the Guest point; when selecting hours, abandon the Principal hour in favor of the Guest hour.

For instance, on a Jia day, the Gallbladder Meridian serves as the Principal point, while other points are Guest points. Needling must proceed from Principal to Guest. If the Principal point is not open during hours such as Jia-Xu, then needle the Guest point. By calculating hours based on the day and seeking points along the meridians, one finds clear correspondences between hours and points. There is no need to calculate the derived numbers of the Linggui Eight Methods. This is why one should adhere to the Ziwu Liuzhu method rather than discard it for the Linggui Eight Methods.

The Linggui Eight Methods were specifically established for the eight specific points of the Eight Extraordinary Vessels. Its chart follows later. However, the Ziwu Liuzhu method is easier to understand theoretically, and its points are located within the elbows and knees. How could they escape the laws of Ziwu Liuzhu flow and distribution?