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Chapter 46 asks: Why do the elderly lie down but fail to sleep, while the young and vigorous sleep without waking?

The response states: The classic texts explain that in the young and vigorous, blood and qi are abundant, muscles are smooth, the qi pathways are unobstructed, and the circulation of Ying (Nutrient) Qi and Wei (Defensive) Qi remains within normal limits. Therefore, they possess mental clarity during the day and sleep soundly at night. In the elderly, blood and qi decline, muscles become dry and lack smoothness, and the pathways for Ying and Wei Qi become sluggish. Consequently, they lack mental vitality during the day and suffer from insomnia at night. Thus, it is understood that the elderly have difficulty sleeping.

The Wei Qi and blood circulating on the exterior travel through the Yang collaterals twenty-five times during the day and through the Yin collaterals twenty-five times at night, thereby dividing the cycle into day and night. When Qi reaches the Yang aspect, one rises and opens the eyes; when Qi reaches the Yin aspect, activity ceases and the eyes close. By "blood and qi," we refer to that which fills the skin, warms the flesh, and permeates the hair follicles and skin surface. By "muscles," we refer to those located externally beneath the skin and internally at the Mouyuan (epigastric region/mesenteric fat). By "qi pathways," we refer to the texture of the muscles, the places where the Sanjiao (Triple Burner) connects with Yuan Zhen (Original True Qi), and the channels through which blood and qi circulate and enter or exit. Because the elderly experience a decline in blood and qi, their muscles become dry, and the pathways for blood and qi become obstructed and sluggish, leading to a lack of mental acuity during the day and frequent insomnia at night. Conversely, the young and vigorous have abundant blood and qi, smooth muscles, and unobstructed pathways for blood and qi that maintain their normal rhythm of entry and exit. Thus, they enjoy mental clarity during the day and restful sleep at night. Therefore, the phenomenon of the elderly being awake yet unable to sleep, and the young sleeping without waking, depends on whether Ying, Wei, blood, and qi are sufficient or deficient.

Chapter 47 asks: Why is it that only the human face can resist cold?

The response states: The head is the convergence point of all Yang meridians. All Yin meridians ascend only to the neck and chest before returning, whereas all Yang meridians ascend to the head and ears. This is why the face can withstand cold.

The reason the face alone resists cold is that the six Yang meridians all ascend to the head, while the six Yin meridians do not ascend to the head. The *Ling Shu* (Spiritual Pivot), Chapter "Pathogenic Factors, Zang-Fu Organs, and Disease Manifestations," states: "The head and face are connected to the body form, linked by bones and sinews, and integrated with blood and qi." When heaven is cold, the earth cracks and ice forms; sudden exposure to cold may cause the hands and feet to become lax and weak, yet the face requires no clothing for warmth. Why is this? Qibo replied: "The twelve primary meridians and the three hundred and sixty-five collaterals, all their blood and qi ascend to the face and flow into the orifices. Their refined Yang Qi ascends to the eyes to provide vision; their branch Qi flows to the ears to provide hearing; their Zong Qi (Pectoral Qi) emerges from the nose to provide smell; their turbid Qi originates from the Stomach and flows to the lips and tongue to provide taste. The fluids and essence of these Qi all steam upward to nourish the face. Furthermore, the skin is thick and the muscles are firm; therefore, neither extreme heat nor extreme cold can overcome them." This explains the principle. Additionally, the chapter cites the theory from "Ni Shun Fei Yu" (Reversed and Smooth, Fat and Thin): "The three Yin meridians of the hand travel from the Zang organs to the hands; the three Yang meridians of the hand travel from the hands to the head; the three Yang meridians of the foot travel from the head to the feet; the three Yin meridians of the foot travel from the feet to the chest." This serves as proof. It states that the head and face are the convergence of all Yang meridians, hence the three Yang meridians ascend along the head. However, although the Jueyin meridian ascends to the forehead and crosses the vertex, then descends along the cheeks, the text omits specific mention of it, likely due to brevity. Generally, the Qi of Yin-Yang and Cold-Heat ascends from below. Thus, Qibo stated that the blood and qi of the twelve primary meridians and three hundred and sixty-five collaterals all ascend to the face and flow into the orifices.

The above constitutes Volume III, covering Chapters 30 to 47, discussing Zang-Fu organs.