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The sixty-fifth difficulty states: The classic texts say, "What emerges is the Jing-Well point, what enters is the He-Sea point." What is the method? The answer is: "What emerges is the Jing-Well point." The Jing-Well corresponds to the East and Spring, which is the beginning of the growth of all things; hence it is said that "what emerges is the Jing-Well point." "What enters is the He-Sea point." The He-Sea corresponds to the North and Winter, when Yang Qi enters the Zang organs; hence it is said that "what enters is the He-Sea point."

Master Hua (Hua Shou) says: This explains the beginning and end of the flow and distribution of acupoints along the meridians.

The seventy-third difficulty states: All Jing-Well points are located where muscles are shallow and thin, and the Qi is scarce and insufficient for tonification or sedation. How should they be needled? The answer is: All Jing-Well points belong to Wood, while Ying-Spring points belong to Fire. Fire is the child of Wood. When one needs to needle a Jing-Well point, one should sedate its corresponding Ying-Spring point. Thus, the classic texts state, "Tonification cannot be used as sedation, and sedation cannot be used as tonification," which refers to this principle.

Master Hua (Hua Shou) says: The Jing-Well points of all meridians are located at the tips of the fingers and toes, in areas where muscles are shallow and thin, and the Qi is scarce, making them unsuitable for direct tonification or sedation. Therefore, when it is necessary to needle a Jing-Well point, one should only sedate the Ying-Spring point. Since the Jing-Well belongs to Wood and the Ying-Spring belongs to Fire, and Fire is the child of Wood. A detailed examination of Yu Ren's (Bian Que's) statement reveals that it specifically addresses the sedation of Jing-Well points. If one needs to tonify a Jing-Well point, one must instead tonify its He-Sea point. Hence, the classic text is cited: "Tonification cannot be used as sedation, and sedation cannot be used as tonification," indicating that each has its appropriate application. If tonification and sedation are reversed, the disease will worsen, leading to the danger of "reinforcing excess and depleting deficiency" (making excess conditions more excessive and deficiency conditions more deficient). Can one not be cautious? (Gao Wu's note: Master Hua's interpretation regarding the sedation of Jing-Well points and tonification, as well as the tonification of Jing-Well and He-Sea points, indeed stems from the principle of "sedating the South and tonifying the North.")

The twenty-third difficulty states: There are twelve regular meridians and fifteen collaterals. Where do they begin and where do they end? The answer is: The meridians circulate Blood and Qi, connect Yin and Yang, and thereby nourish the body. They begin at the Middle Jiao and enter the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian and Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian; the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian enters the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian and Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian; the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian enters the Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian and Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian; the Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian enters the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian and Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian; the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian enters the Hand-Jueyin Pericardium Meridian and Hand-Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian; the Hand-Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian enters the Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian and Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian; the Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian then returns to enter the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian. The fifteen collateral vessels all follow their Yuan-Source points, forming a circle without beginning or end, irrigating each other in rotation, and converging at the Cun Kou (Radial Artery) and Ren Ying (Carotid Artery) to diagnose various diseases and determine life and death.

Master Hua (Hua Shou) says: "Yin" means following, and "Yuan" means beginning. "Chao" is like a court audience, implying usage. This follows the previous discussion on the measurements of the meridians to deduce the course of the collaterals. Straight-running vessels are called meridians, and those branching off are called collaterals. There are twelve collaterals corresponding to the twelve meridians, plus Yang collaterals, Yin collaterals, and the Great Collateral of the Spleen, totaling fifteen collaterals.

Master Xie says: Beginning at the Middle Jiao implies that food enters the mouth and is stored in the Stomach. Its refined essences transform and enter the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian and Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian, passing sequentially until the Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian, which then returns to enter the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian. The fifteen collaterals all follow the beginnings of the twelve meridians, irrigating each other in rotation like a circle without end, converging at the Cun Kou and Ren Ying to diagnose diseases and determine life and death. Regarding Cun Kou and Ren Ying, ancient methods identified the Ren Ying as the pulsating artery beside the throat. However, Wang Shuhe of the Jin Dynasty directly designated the point one finger-breadth anterior to the cun guan on the left hand as Ren Ying, and the point one finger-breadth anterior to the cun guan on the right hand as Qi Kou. Later generations followed this practice. I believe the ancients selected Ren Ying and Qi Kou because Ren Ying belongs to the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian, receiving Grain Qi to nourish the five Zang organs; whereas Qi Kou belongs to the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian, overseeing the hundred vessels to weigh and balance them.

The book *Ci Nan Zhi Yi* records: At the hour of Yin (3–5 AM), the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian begins at the Middle Jiao and ends at the radial side of the thumb. At the hour of Mao (5–7 AM), the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian begins at the tip of the index finger and ends above the nostrils. At the hour of Chen (7–9 AM), the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian begins at the nose bridge and ends between the big toe. At the hour of Si (9–11 AM), the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian begins at the tip of the big toe and ends by entering the Heart. At the hour of Wu (11 AM–1 PM), the Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian begins at the Heart and ends at the ulnar side of the little finger. At the hour of Wei (1–3 PM), the Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian begins at the tip of the little finger, reaches the nose and inner canthus, and obliquely connects to the cheekbone. At the hour of Shen (3–5 PM), the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian begins at the inner canthus and ends at the medial side of the little toe. At the hour of You (5–7 PM), the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian begins below the little toe and ends by entering the chest. At the hour of Xu (7–9 PM), the Hand-Jueyin Pericardium Meridian begins in the chest and ends at the tip of the ring finger. At the hour of Hai (9–11 PM), the Hand-Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian begins at the tip of the ring finger and ends at the outer canthus. At the hour of Zi (11 PM–1 AM), the Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian begins at the outer canthus and ends at the medial side of the ring finger; its branch enters the space between the big toe bones and exits through the nail bed. At the hour of Chou (1–3 AM), the Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian begins above the hair on the big toe and ends by entering the Lungs.