三十八难曰。脏唯有五腑独有六者。何也。然。所以腑有六者。谓三焦也。有原气之别焉。主持诸气有名而无形。
其经属手少阳。此外腑也。故言腑有六焉。
丁曰。其言五脏六腑者。谓五脏应地之五行。其六腑应天之六气。其言天之六气。谓三焦为相火。属手少阳。故言
腑独有六也。杨曰。三焦无内腑。惟有经脉名手少阳。故曰。外腑也。
三十九难曰。经言腑有五。脏有六者。何也。然。六腑者。正有五腑也。然五脏亦有六脏者。谓肾有两脏也。其左
为肾。右为命门。命门者。谓精神之所舍也。男子以藏精。女子以系胞。其气与肾通。故言脏有六也。腑有五者。何也。
然。五脏各一腑。三焦亦是一腑。然不属于五脏。故言腑有五焉。
丁曰。五脏正有五腑。今曰三焦。是为一腑。配心包络为脏。即脏腑皆有六焉。其二经俱是相火。相行君命。故曰
命门也。杨曰。五脏六腑皆五。有五六之数。或俱五。或俱六。或一五。或一六。并应天地之数也。若以正脏腑言之。
则脏腑俱有五也。脏五以应地之五岳。腑五以应天之五星。若以俱六言之、则脏六以应六律。腑六以应干数。若以脏五
腑六言之。则脏五以应五行。腑六以法六气。若以腑五脏六言之。则脏六以法六阴。腑五以法五常。所以脏腑俱五者。
手心主非脏。三焦非腑也。脏腑俱六者。合手心主及三焦也。其余例可知也。虞曰。天以六气司下。地以五行奉上。天
地交泰。五六之数而成也。人法三才。所以脏腑以法五六之数。谓人头圆象天。足方象地。以脏腑五六之数以象人。则
三才备矣。十一之数。相因而成。故不离于五六也。汉书云。五六乃天地之中数也。
Chapter 38 asks: There are only five Zang organs, yet there are uniquely six Fu organs. Why is this? The answer is: The reason there are six Fu organs is due to the Sanjiao (Triple Burner). It serves as a distinct pathway for Yuan Qi (Original Qi), governing all Qi in the body; it has a name but no physical form. Its meridian belongs to the Hand-Shaoyang (Hand-Taiyang) channel. Therefore, it is referred to as an "External Fu Organ," hence the statement that there are six Fu organs.
Ding stated: When referring to "Five Zang and Six Fu," it means the Five Zang correspond to the Five Elements of the Earth, and the Six Fu correspond to the Six Qi of Heaven. Regarding the Six Qi of Heaven, it refers to the Sanjiao being Xiang Huo (Ministerial Fire), which belongs to the Hand-Shaoyang channel. Thus, it is said that there are uniquely six Fu organs. Yang stated: The Sanjiao lacks an internal organ entity; it possesses only the meridian named Hand-Shaoyang. Hence, it is called an "External Fu Organ."
Chapter 39 asks: The classics state "Five Fu and Six Zang." Why is this? The answer is: The so-called Six Fu actually consist of just five proper Fu organs. However, there is also a concept of Six Zang organs because the Kidney comprises two parts. The left side is called the Kidney, and the right side is called the Mingmen (Gate of Life). The Mingmen is where the Spirit (Shen) and Essence (Jing) reside. In men, it stores Jing (Essence); in women, it connects to the Baoguo (Uterus/Womb). Its Qi communicates with the Kidney, hence it is said there are six Zang organs. Why then are there only five Fu organs? The answer is: Each of the Five Zang corresponds to one Fu. Although the Sanjiao is also a Fu organ, it does not belong directly to any specific Zang organ. Therefore, it is said there are five Fu organs.
Ding stated: The Five Zang properly correspond to five Fu organs. Now, adding the Sanjiao as one Fu, paired with the Xinbao Luo (Pericardium/Luo) as a Zang, results in both Zang and Fu having six. These two meridians both belong to Ministerial Fire (Xiang Huo), which executes the commands of Sovereign Fire (Jun Huo), hence it is called the Mingmen. Yang stated: The Five Zang and Six Fu involve numbers of both five and six; they may be both five, both six, or one five and one six. This aligns with the numbers of Heaven and Earth. If speaking of orthodox Zang and Fu, then both Zang and Fu number five. The five Zang correspond to the Five Great Mountains (Wuyue) of the Earth, and the five Fu correspond to the Five Stars (Wuxing) of Heaven. If speaking of them all being six, then the six Zang correspond to the Six Pitch-pipes (Liulü), and the six Fu correspond to the Heavenly Stems (Tiangan). If speaking of five Zang and six Fu, then the five Zang correspond to the Five Elements (Wuxing), and the six Fu emulate the Six Qi (Liuqi). If speaking of five Fu and six Zang, then the six Zang emulate the Six Yin, and the five Fu emulate the Five Constants (Wuchang). The reason Zang and Fu are considered five is that the Heart-Master (Xin Zhuzhi/Pericardium) is not a distinct Zang, and the Sanjiao is not a distinct Fu. The reason Zang and Fu are considered six is by including the Pericardium and the Sanjiao. Other cases can be understood by analogy. Yu stated: Heaven governs below with the Six Qi, and Earth offers above with the Five Elements. Heaven and Earth interact harmoniously, forming the numbers of five and six. Humans emulate the Three Powers (Sancai: Heaven, Earth, Humanity). Therefore, the Zang and Fu emulate the numbers of five and six. The human head is round like Heaven, and the feet are square like Earth. Using the numbers of five and six for Zang and Fu to symbolize humanity completes the Three Powers. The number eleven arises from their interaction, thus remaining inseparable from five and six. The Book of Han states: Five and Six are the central numbers of Heaven and Earth.