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Question 66 of the *Nan Jing* (Classic of Difficult Issues) states: Medical classics say that the Yuan-Source point of the Lung meridian is Taiyuan (LU-9), the Yuan-Source point of the Heart meridian is Tailing (PC-3), the Yuan-Source point of the Liver meridian is Taichong (LR-3), the Yuan-Source point of the Spleen meridian is Taibai (SP-3), the Yuan-Source point of the Kidney meridian is Taixi (KI-3), the Yuan-Source point of the Hand-Shaoyin Heart meridian is Duigu (HT-5, also known as Shenmen), the Yuan-Source point of the Gallbladder meridian is Qiuxu (GB-40), the Yuan-Source point of the Stomach meridian is Chongyang (ST-42), the Yuan-Source point of the Sanjiao (Triple Burner) meridian is Yangchi (TE-4), the Yuan-Source point of the Bladder meridian is Jinggu (BL-64), the Yuan-Source point of the Large Intestine meridian is Hegu (LI-4), and the Yuan-Source point of the Small Intestine meridian is Wangu (SI-4).

Mr. Hua Shou stated: From the Yuan-Source point of the Lung, Taiyuan, to the Yuan-Source point of the Kidney, Taixi, are recorded in Chapter 1 of the *Ling Shu* (Spiritual Pivot). The second chapter of that text states: The Shu-Stream point of the Lung is Taiyuan; the Shu-Stream point of the Heart is Tailing; the Shu-Stream point of the Liver is Taichong; the Shu-Stream point of the Spleen is Taibai; the Shu-Stream point of the Kidney is Taixi; the Shu-Stream point of the Bladder is Shugu (BL-65), passing through Jinggu to become the Yuan-Source point; the Shu-Stream point of the Gallbladder is Linqi (GB-41), passing through Qiuxu to become the Yuan-Source point; the Shu-Stream point of the Stomach is Xangu (ST-41), passing through Chongyang to become the Yuan-Source point; the Shu-Stream point of the Sanjiao (Triple Burner) is Zhongzhu (TE-3), passing through Yangchi to become the Yuan-Source point; the Shu-Stream point of the Small Intestine is Houxi (SI-3), passing through Wangu to become the Yuan-Source point; the Shu-Stream point of the Large Intestine is Sanjian (LI-3), passing through Hegu to become the Yuan-Source point. Generally, the Yin meridians of the Five Zang organs use only the Shu-Stream points as Yuan-Source points, whereas the Yang meridians of the Six Fu organs have both Shu-Stream points and separate Yuan-Source points. Some ask: The *Ling Shu* identifies Tailing as the Yuan-Source point of the Heart, and the *Nan Jing* agrees, yet it separately identifies Duigu as the Yuan-Source point of the Hand-Shaoyin Heart meridian. Various acupuncture texts identify Tailing as the Shu-Stream point of the Hand-Jueyin Pericardium meridian, while identifying Shenmen, located at the end of the bone at the wrist crease (Duigu), as the Ying-Spring or Shu-Stream point of the Heart meridian. What is the reason for such discrepancies? According to Chapter 71 of the *Ling Shu*: Does the Hand-Shaoyin Heart meridian lack Shu-Stream points? Will heart diseases not occur? Qibo replied: Its exterior meridian may be diseased while the interior organ remains healthy; therefore, one should only select the point at the end of the bone at the wrist crease. The remaining pathways of the meridian, including its exits, entries, bends, and turns, and the speed of its flow, are all similar to the pathway of the Hand-Jueyin Pericardium meridian. Furthermore, Chapter 2 of the *Ling Shu* states: The Qi of the Heart emerges from Zhongchong (PC-9), flows into Laogong (PC-8), pours into Tailing (PC-3), travels through Jianshi (PC-5), and enters Quze (PC-3). This refers to the Hand-Shaoyin Heart meridian. (Note: Zhongchong and the following points belong to the Hand-Jueyin Pericardium meridian; the *Ling Shu* directly refers to them as the Hand-Shaoyin Heart meridian, without separately listing the Shu-Stream points of the Hand-Shaoyin Heart meridian.) Additionally, the "Miao Ci" chapter of the *Su Wen* (Basic Questions) states: Puncture one needle each at the ends of the bones at the wrist for the Hand-Jueyin Pericardium and Hand-Shaoyin Heart meridians, and the condition will be cured immediately. The "Qi Xue" chapter states: There are fifty Shu points of the Zang organs. Wang Bing’s commentary notes that among the Shu points of the five Zang organs, there are only the Jing-Well and Shu-Stream points of the Pericardium meridian, with no Jing-Well or Shu-Stream points listed for the Heart meridian. Moreover, Question 79 of the *Nan Jing* states: In the case of heart disease, drain the Shu-Stream point of the Hand-Jueyin Pericardium meridian and tonify the Jing-Well point of the Hand-Jueyin Pericardium meridian. Examining the meaning of these preceding and subsequent passages, it is understood that the Hand-Shaoyin Heart meridian and the Hand-Jueyin Pericardium meridian are treated together.

Why do all twelve meridians use the Shu-Stream points as Yuan-Source points? This is because the Shu-Stream points of the Five Zang organs are where the Qi of the Sanjiao (Triple Burner) circulates and where the True Qi stays and stops. Why are the Shu-Stream points circulated by the Sanjiao called Yuan-Source points? Because the moving Qi between the kidneys below the navel is the root of human life and the foundation of the twelve meridians; hence it is named Yuan-Source. The Sanjiao meridian acts as a special envoy of the Yuan-Qi (Original Qi), primarily governing the circulation of Qi in the Upper, Middle, and Lower Burners, traversing the Five Zang and Six Fu organs. "Yuan" is an honorific title for the Sanjiao; thus, wherever the Qi stops, it is designated as a Yuan-Source point. When the Five Zang and Six Fu organs suffer from disease, their Yuan-Source points are selected.

Mr. Hua Shou stated: The reason all twelve meridians use Shu-Stream points as Yuan-Source points is that the Shu-Stream points of the twelve meridians are all located where the Qi of the Sanjiao circulates and where the True Qi stays and stops. The reason the Shu-Stream points circulated by the Sanjiao are called Yuan-Source points is that the moving Qi between the kidneys below the navel is the root of human life and the foundation of the twelve meridians. The Sanjiao serves as the special envoy of the Yuan-Qi, governing the circulation of Qi in the Upper, Middle, and Lower Burners, traversing the Five Zang and Six Fu organs. The phrase "circulating three Qi" refers to what Ji Shi described: the Lower Burner receives the True Primal Qi, which is the Yuan-Qi; this ascends to the Middle Burner, where the Middle Burner receives the essence and robust Qi from water and grain, transforming them into Ying-Qi (Nutritive Qi) and Wei-Qi (Defensive Qi). The Ying-Qi and Wei-Qi, along with the True Primal Qi, circulate together to reach the Upper Burner. Therefore, the Yuan-Source point is regarded as the honorific title of the Sanjiao. Wherever the Qi stops, it becomes a Yuan-Source point, just as the places where the Emperor's procession halts are called "Imperial Residences." It is indeed appropriate to select points here when treating diseases of the Five Zang and Six Fu organs. The *Ba Cui Fang* (Extracts from the Pinnacle) states: The Yuan-Source points of the respective meridians do not follow the rules of meridian reversal or adherence, nor do they adhere to the Five Elements' mother-son tonification and sedation methods. When needling Yuan-Source points, one should insert the needle upon observing the pulse response indicating the arrival of Qi. Upon inhalation, obtain Deqi (arrival of Qi), do not withdraw the needle immediately, but retain it for a long time until the Qi subsides before withdrawing. This is the method of extracting Yuan-Qi. Wang Haizang stated: If needling is required for a disease of the Liver meridian, one needle should also be inserted into the Yuan-Source point of that same meridian. If tonifying the Liver meridian is needed, tonify the Yuan-Source point of that meridian; if sedating the Liver meridian is needed, sedate the Yuan-Source point of that meridian. After completing tonification and sedation for other meridians, follow this example to tonify and sedate the Yuan-Source points of each meridian. These twelve Yuan-Source points are not used for the method of draining the child and tonifying the mother; they are applicable to both deficiency and excess conditions. Therefore, for diseases of the Five Zang and Six Fu organs, their Yuan-Source points are selected.

Question 67 of the *Nan Jing* states: The Mu-Alarm points of the Five Zang organs are all on the Yin aspect, while the Shu-Back points are on the Yang aspect. What does this mean? The answer is: Yin diseases manifest on the Yang aspect, and Yang diseases manifest on the Yin aspect; therefore, the Mu-Alarm points are on the Yin side, and the Shu-Back points are on the Yang side.

Mr. Hua Shou stated: "Mu" and "Shu" are general terms for the empty cavities of the Five Zang organs. Those on the abdomen, being Yin, are called Mu-Alarm points; those on the back, being Yang, are called Shu-Back points. "Mu" is like the "mu" in "mujie" (knotting/gathering), indicating that Meridian Qi gathers here. "Shu," written as "Shu" (transport) in the *Records of the Grand Historian: Biography of Bian Que*, is like the "shu" in "weishu" (distribution/transport), indicating that Meridian Qi is transported from here to there. The Mu-Alarm points of the Five Zang organs are on the abdomen: The Mu-Alarm point of the Lung is Zhongfu (LU-1), bilateral, located one cun below Yunmen (LU-2) in the chest, in the depression of the pulsating artery in the third intercostal space above the nipple; the Mu-Alarm point of the Heart is Juque (CV-14), unilateral, located one cun below Jiutui (CV-15); the Mu-Alarm point of the Spleen is Zhangmen (LR-13), bilateral, located below the costal margin, directly opposite the umbilicus; the Mu-Alarm point of the Liver is Qimen (LR-14), bilateral, located one cun and five fen lateral to Burong (ST-19); the Mu-Alarm point of the Kidney is Jingmen (GB-25), bilateral, located in the waist at the costal margin. The Shu-Back points of the Five Zang organs are on the back, belonging to the Foot-Taiyang Bladder meridian. Feishu (BL-13) is below the third thoracic vertebra; Xinshu (BL-15) is below the fifth thoracic vertebra; Ganshu (BL-18) is below the ninth thoracic vertebra; Pishu (BL-20) is below the eleventh thoracic vertebra; Shenshu (BL-23) is below the fourteenth thoracic vertebra. All are located one cun and five fen lateral to the spine. The statement "Yin diseases manifest on the Yang, Yang diseases manifest on the Yin" means that the Qi of Yin and Yang meridians penetrates each other, and the Qi of the viscera and their corresponding anterior-posterior regions interacts; thus, Yin diseases sometimes manifest on the Yang, and Yang diseases sometimes manifest on the Yin. The acupuncture principle states: Draw Yin from Yang, draw Yang from Yin. (Note: The classic text states that manifesting on Yang or Yin is inevitable, whereas Mr. Hua’s commentary suggests it happens "sometimes," implying contingency, which seems inconsistent with the original intent of the text.)