Library

Difficulty 34 states: Do the Five Zang Organs each have distinct colors, sounds, odors, and tastes that can be clearly known?

The response is: The *Shi Bian* (Ten Transformations) states: The Liver's color is green, its odor is fishy/su, its taste is sour, its sound is a cry/hu, and its fluid is tears; the Heart's color is red, its odor is scorched/jiao, its taste is bitter, its sound is speech/yan, and its fluid is sweat; the Spleen's color is yellow, its odor is fragrant/xiang, its taste is sweet, its sound is singing/ge, and its fluid is saliva/xian; the Lungs' color is white, its odor is raw/fishy/xing, its taste is pungent/spicy, its sound is weeping/kū, and its fluid is nasal mucus/ti; the Kidneys' color is black, its odor is putrid/fu, its taste is salty, its sound is groaning/shen, and its fluid is spittle/tuo. These are the colors, sounds, odors, and tastes of the Five Zang Organs.

This originally discusses the functions of the Five Zang Organs based on the Five Elements (Wu Xing). The Liver belongs to Wood; green is the color of Wood; su (fishy odor) is the Qi of Wood; sourness arises from the bending and straightening nature of Wood, which is the taste of Wood; the sound hu (cry) is drawn out and long, reflecting the Qi of Wood; tears arise because the Liver opens into the eyes. The Heart belongs to Fire; red is the color of Fire; jiao (scorched odor) is the Qi of Fire; bitterness arises from the flaming upward nature of Fire, which is the taste of Fire; speech reflects the scattering and rising nature of Fire; sweat arises because the Heart governs Blood, and sweat is the manifestation of Blood. The Spleen belongs to Earth; yellow is the color of Earth; xiang (fragrance) is the Qi of Earth; sweetness arises from the sowing and reaping nature of Earth, which is the taste of Earth; singing reflects the slow and steady nature of Earth; some say the Spirit of the Spleen delights in joy, hence its sound is singing; xian (saliva) arises because the Spleen opens into the mouth. The Lungs belong to Metal; white is the color of Metal; xing (raw/fishy odor) is the Qi of Metal; pungency arises from the changing and cutting nature of Metal, which is the taste of Metal; weeping reflects the sorrowful and intense nature of Metal; nasal mucus arises because the Lungs open into the nose. The Kidneys belong to Water; black is the color of Water; fu (putrid odor) is the Qi of Water; saltiness arises from the moistening and downward nature of Water, which is the taste of Water; groaning reflects the deep and suppressed nature of Water; additionally, since the Kidneys are located far away, only the breath of groaning can reach the depth of respiration, thus the sound of groaning originates from the Kidneys; spittle arises because the Kidneys open under the tongue. Chen Shi interprets *Shi Bian* as stating that the Lungs govern sound, the Liver governs color, the Heart governs odor, the Spleen governs taste, and the Kidneys govern fluids; the Five Zang Organs are intricate and interrelated, hence it is called *Shi Bian*.

Commentary: Xu Shi notes that regarding the sounds of the Five Zang Organs, both the *Ling Shu: Jiu Zhen Lun* and the *Su Wen: Xuan Ming Wu Qi Pian* state: Heart - yi (belching), Lungs - ke (cough), Liver - yu (speech), Spleen - tun (gulping), Kidneys - qian (yawning). Here, however, the sounds are hu, yan, ge, ku, shen. This originates from the *Su Wen: Yin Yang Ying Xiang Da Lun*. That text speaks of pathological manifestations, while this text speaks of emotional manifestations; the underlying principle is the same. When studying classics, one must infer the meaning, so that everything becomes coherent.

Do the Five Zang Organs contain Seven Spirits? Where are they stored?

The response is: Zang organs are where the human Shen Qi (Spiritual Energy) resides and is stored. Thus, the Liver stores Hun (Ethereal Soul), the Lungs store Po (Corporeal Soul), the Heart stores Shen (Spirit), the Spleen stores Yi (Intellect/Intent) and Zhi (Wisdom/Planning), and the Kidneys store Jing (Essence) and Zhi (Will).

Why do the Five Zang Organs speak of seven spirits? Because the Spleen and Kidneys each store two spirits. "Zang" means to hide, indicating that human spiritual energy is hidden within. The Liver stores Hun; Hun is the essence of Yang and the agility of Qi. In the human body, Qi is Yang and Blood is Yin; Yang cannot adhere without Yin, and Qi cannot remain without Blood. The Liver governs Blood and contains internal Yang Qi, which is called Hun. Investigating the root of Hun, it is born from the single Yang line in Kan Water; deducing the function of Hun, it manifests as the Yuan Qi (Original Qi) of Qian Metal. It is not stored in the Lungs but in the Liver because Yang hides within Yin; it is not stored in the Kidneys but in the Liver because Yin emerges from Yang. During the day, Hun travels through the eyes for vision; at night, Hun returns to the Liver for sleep. The *Ling Shu: Ben Shen Pian* states: "Following the Shen, coming and going is called Hun," referring to the agile aspect of perception. The Lungs store Po; Po is the essence of Yin and the agility of Form. The Liver governs Blood, which is fundamentally Yin, yet stores the Yang Hun, representing Yang hiding in Yin. The Lungs govern Qi, which is fundamentally Yang, yet store the Yin Po, representing Yin born from Yang. At birth, the movement of ears, eyes, heart-mind, hands, and feet, as well as crying and calling, are all manifestations of the agility of Po. Baihe Bing (Lily Disease) with restlessness and confusion indicates Po is disturbed; nightmares or evil possession indicate Po Qi is obscured. The *Ben Shen Pian* states: "Exiting and entering together with Essence is called Po," referring to the capacity for movement. The Heart stores Shen; Shen governs perception and illuminates all things. What is Shen? It is the Jing Qi from the Kidneys that ascends to the Heart, combining into the Li Trigram, containing the image of Kan Water. Because Yin Essence is contained internally and Yang Essence protects externally, the Fire of the Heart shines brightly and clearly to illuminate objects. Essentially, Shen is Heart Fire, which, aided by Kidney Yin, keeps the Heart clear and calm, allowing Shen to emerge. Insufficient Heart Blood leads to mental agitation; Wind-Phlegm entering the Heart leads to mental confusion. The *Ben Shen Pian* states: "The interaction of two Essences is called Shen," referring to the subtle mechanism of Yin-Yang union. The Spleen stores Yi and Zhi; the Spleen maintains centrality, enabling memory, and governs application, enabling comprehensive deliberation. The *Ben Shen Pian* states: "Memory arising from the Heart is called Yi; handling matters through deliberation is called Zhi," due to the Spleen's governance of thought. The Kidneys store Jing and Zhi; what is retained in the Heart is called Zhi; Shen is born from Jing, and Zhi is born from the Heart, reflecting the mutual assistance between Heart and Kidneys.

Commentary: Zhi refers to focused intent that does not waver. Zhi is originally a function of the Heart but is stored in the Kidneys, representing Yang stored within Yin. The Kidneys govern Jing, serving as the root of the Five Zang Organs; Jing generates Marrow, which governs the skeletal framework. When Jing and Marrow are sufficient, skills and dexterity emerge, which is the function of Zhi. The *Ben Shen Pian* states: "At birth is called Jing; what the intent retains is called Zhi," which aligns with this meaning.