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[Note]: This chapter is incomplete from "overflowing into the middle" upwards, and its title cannot be verified. The twenty characters from "The Yellow Emperor said: The way of Ying Qi" to "flowing to the lung" were supplemented from the *Ling Shu* (Spiritual Pivot) and *Jia Yi Jing* (Classified Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion), Chapter "Ying Qi". From "overflowing into the middle" down to "the normality of reverse and forward", it appears in *Ling Shu*, Volume 4, Chapter 16 "Ying Qi", and also in *Jia Yi Jing*, Volume 1, Chapter 10 "Ying Qi". From "The Yellow Emperor said: I wish to hear about where Ying and Wei circulate" to the end, it appears in *Ling Shu*, Volume 4, Chapter 18 "Ying Wei Hui" (Meeting of Ying and Wei), and also in *Jia Yi Jing*, Volume 1, Chapter 11 "Ying Wei San Jiao" (Ying, Wei, and Triple Burner).

The Yellow Emperor said: In the circulation of Ying Qi (Nutritive Qi), ingested grain is precious. When grain enters the stomach, it is transmitted to the lungs, (supplemented from *Ling Shu* and *Jia Yi Jing*: overflowing into the middle), spreading outward. (After grain enters the stomach, the turbid part flows downward, while the clear essence is injected into the lungs. The lungs receive this qi, which overflows to nourish the five zang organs and spreads to the six fu organs.) The pure and concentrated part travels through the meridians and collaterals (jing sui), circulating endlessly, ending and beginning again; this is called the norm of heaven and earth. (This pure blood and qi, circulating endlessly, is named Ying Qi.) Thus, the qi emerges from the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian, injects into the Hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian, ascends to the face, injects into the Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian, descends to the dorsum of the foot, injects into the space between the big toes, and combines with the Foot Taiyin Spleen Meridian. (The following describes the circulation of Ying Qi through the twelve meridians. Here, "qi" refers to Ying Qi. Ying Qi originates in the Middle Jiao, exits after the Upper Jiao at the stomach opening, and injects into the Hand Taiyin. The Hand Yangming then goes to the Foot Yangming. Note: *Jia Yi Jing* has five characters "following the inner upper border of the arm" after "emerges". *Ling Shu* and *Jia Yi Jing* read "injects into Hand Yangming" for "injects into Yangming". *Ling Shu* lacks the two characters "to the face".) It ascends to reach the spleen. From the spleen, it injects into the heart, follows the Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian out from the axilla and arm, injects into the tip of the little finger, combines with the Hand Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian, ascends passing through the axilla out before the ear, targets the inner canthus, ascends to the vertex, descends to the nape, and combines with the Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian. It follows the spine down to the sacrum, injects into the tip of the little toe, (The Foot Taiyin meridian injects into the heart, running from the heart along the Hand Shaoyin meridian. "Combines" refers to combining at the tip of the hand little finger. "Ascends to vertex and descends to nape": Among the twelve meridians, a branch of the Hand Taiyang meridian diverges from the cheek, ascends to the nose and reaches the inner canthus; the Hand Taiyang meridian originates at the inner canthus. What is meant by "ascending to the vertex" here is that the qi of the Hand Taiyang reaches the inner canthus, combines with the qi of the Foot Taiyang, and they travel together up to the crown and down the nape, before being called "combining"; this logic is consistent. Note: "Reach spleen" (*Ling Shu*) reads "reach thigh". "Ye" (*Ling Shu*, *Jia Yi Jing*) reads "axilla", same below, not repeated. "Injects into tip of little finger", *Ling Shu* lacks "of tip". "Below sacrum", *Ling Shu* and *Jia Yi Jing* have the character "down".) It follows the sole of the foot, injects into the Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian, ascends and injects into the kidneys. From the kidneys, it injects into the heart, scatters externally into the chest center, follows the Pericardium Meridian (Hand Jueyin) out from the axilla and arm, enters between the two tendons, enters the palm, emerges at the tip of the middle finger, (Note: *Jia Yi Jing* reads "middle finger of the hand"), returns to inject into the tip of the ring finger, combines with the Hand Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian, ascends and injects into the Danzhong (Chest Center), scatters into the Triple Burner, from the Triple Burner injects into the Gallbladder, (Note: "Gallbladder", *Jia Yi Jing* reads "Danzhong"), emerges from the hypochondrium and injects into the Foot Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian, descends to the dorsum of the foot, again from the dorsum injects into the space between the big toes, combines with the Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian. It ascends to the liver. From the liver, it ascends and injects into the lungs, follows the throat upward, enters the orifices of the Hangsang (nasopharynx), and ultimately reaches the Chumen (nostrils). Its branch, (Note: *Ling Shu*, *Jia Yi Jing* read "its branch"), ascends the forehead, follows the vertex down to the nape, follows the spine into the sacrum; this is the Du Mai (Governing Vessel), connecting the genitalia, passing above the pubic hair, entering the umbilicus, ascending along the interior of the abdomen, entering the clavicular fossa, descending and injecting into the lungs, then emerging again into the Taiyin. This is the normal course of reverse and forward circulation of Ying Qi.

(Question: The Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian passes through the diaphragm, spreads in the hypochondrium, follows the throat posteriorly, enters the Hangsang, connects to the eye system, ascends out of the forehead, and meets the Du Mai at the vertex. Here it says the Foot Jueyin meridian follows the throat to Chumen, follows the vertex into the sacrum, etc., belonging to the Du Mai; what is the difference between the Du Mai and the Foot Jueyin meridian? Answer: The Foot Jueyin meridian from the liver ascends to inject into the lungs, follows the throat up to the vertex, meeting the Du Mai. The Du Mai itself goes from Chumen up the forehead to the vertex, down the nape into the sacrum, differing from Jueyin. The statement "branch ascending forehead following vertex" means that when Ying Qi circulates to the Foot Jueyin meridian at Chumen, it diverges from the Jueyin meridian, follows the Du Mai up the forehead to the vertex, down the nape into the sacrum, connects the genitalia, ascends along the abdominal interior to the clavicular fossa, then diverges again from the Du Mai, injects into the lungs, and re-emerges into the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian. This is the standard path of Ying Qi circulation according to sequence and measure, distinct from the Foot Jueyin and Du Mai meridians themselves. Hangsang refers to the double holes above the epiglottis. Chumen refers to the nostrils. Reverse and forward: in the hands, follow Yin to emerge and follow Yang to enter; in the feet, follow Yin to enter and follow Yang to emerge. This is the normal reverse and forward circulation of Ying Qi. Note: "Circulation of Ying Qi", *Jia Yi Jing* reads "Where Ying Qi Circulates".)

The Yellow Emperor said: I wish to hear how Ying and Wei circulate, and along what paths they travel? Qibo answered: Ying Qi originates from the Middle Jiao, and Wei Qi (Defensive Qi) originates from the Upper Jiao. (Regarding the Triple Burner: The Upper Jiao is at the upper opening of the stomach, governing intake without excretion, its mechanism lies in the Danzhong; the Middle Jiao is at the middle opening of the stomach, neither ascending nor descending, governing the rotting and ripening of food and drink, its mechanism lies beside the umbilicus; the Lower Jiao is below the umbilicus, at the upper opening of the bladder, governing the separation of clear and turbid, governing excretion without intake, its mechanism lies one cun below the umbilicus. Thus, Ying Qi originating from the Middle Jiao comes from the middle opening of the stomach; Wei Qi originating from the Upper Jiao comes from the upper opening of the stomach. Note: "From traveling", *Ling Shu* reads "from coming", *Jia Yi Jing* reads "from starting", lacking the three characters "Qibo answered".)

The Yellow Emperor said: I wish to hear the origins of the Triple Burner. (Previously asked about the origins of Ying and Wei qi, stating they originate from the Triple Burner, but unknown where the Upper Jiao Wei Qi originates, hence this question. Note: *Jia Yi Jing* lacks the thirteen characters "The Yellow Emperor said: I wish to hear" and "Qibo said" below.) Qibo said: The Upper Jiao emerges from the upper opening of the stomach, accompanies the pharyagus upward through the diaphragm, spreads in the chest, moves to the axilla, follows the distribution of the Hand Taiyin, and returns to inject into the Yangming, ascending to the tongue, (The junction of pharyagus and stomach is named the upper opening of the stomach. Qi exiting the upper opening of the stomach follows the pharyagus to spread in the chest, from the axilla in the chest, follows the Lung Meridian of Hand Taiyin to the end of the index finger, injects into the Hand Yangming Meridian, follows the upper border of the finger up to the lower teeth. Qi reaching the tongue is why it is said "ascends to the tongue". This is where the origin of the Upper Jiao is the same as Wei Qi, and the path traveled is shared with Ying Qi. Note: "Spread upper", *Ling Shu* and *Jia Yi Jing* have the character "and". "Return inject into Yangming", *Ling Shu* reads "return to Yangming", *Jia Yi Jing* reads "return to Hand Yangming". Note "from chest", Yuan edition reads "follow" instead of "from".) descends to the Foot Yangming Meridian, its meridian returns out crossing the mouth at the Renzhong point, left to right, right to left, ascending alongside the nostrils to combine with the Foot Yangming Meridian. The Foot Yangming descends to the Foot Taiyin, etc., traveling together with Ying Qi. Note: "Descend Foot Yangming", *Jia Yi Jing* reads "descend inject into Foot Yangming". Note "cross Renzhong", Yuan edition mistakenly prints "clip" for "cross". It commonly travels with Ying Qi twenty-five circuits in the Yang and twenty-five circuits in the Yin, constituting one cycle; thus, after fifty cycles, they meet again at the Hand Taiyin. (Ying Qi travels during the day, so it travels in Yang; travels at night, so it travels in Yin. Its qi follows the twenty-eight meridians, sixteen zhang and two chi, traveling twenty-five cycles by day and twenty-five by night, thus fifty cycles in a day and night, meeting at the Hand Taiyin meridian at dawn. One cycle is one circuit; fifty cycles constitute a great day-night cycle. Upper Jiao Wei Qi follows Ying Qi's circulation, ending and beginning again, traveling endlessly. Note: "Travel in Yang" two sentences, *Jia Yi Jing* reads "travel in Yin and Yang twenty-five cycles each, one cycle", making it one cycle, hence "day and night" below, and "start" below.)

The Yellow Emperor said: When a person eats hot food and drinks, the qi has not yet settled, yet sweat appears, sometimes on the face, sometimes on the back, sometimes on half the body. Why does it not exit following the path of Ying and Wei Qi? Qibo said: This is because external wind injury opens the cou li (pores/skin texture) internally, hair steams and texture leaks, Wei Qi rushes there, certainly unable to follow its proper path. This qi is fierce, rapid, and slippery; seeing an opening, it exits, thus failing to follow its path, hence named "Lou Xie" (Leakage). (Zheng, sound zhi bing fan, fire qi ascending. Wei Qi resides between the vessels and muscle intervals. Cou li injured by wind, due to hot food/drink, hair steams and texture leaks, cou li opens internally. , sound fang zhao fan, urgent. Han, hu dan fan, brave. Meaning Wei Qi is brave and urgent, thus not following its path, immediately exiting as sweat, called Leakage Wind. Note: "Ying Wei Qi", *Ling Shu* and *Jia Yi Jing* lack "Ying". "Named", *Jia Yi Jing* reads "called", Yuan edition omits "named". "Xie", *Ling Shu* and *Jia Yi Jing* both read "Xie".)

The Yellow Emperor said: I wish to hear the origin of the Middle Jiao. Qibo said: The Middle Jiao also accompanies the stomach opening, emerging after the Upper Jiao; this is called the receiver of qi, separating dregs, receiving fluids, transforming fine essences, injecting them upward into the lung meridian, thereby transforming into blood, to sustain the living body, (Bi, sound bi. Middle Jiao is at the middle opening of the stomach. After the qi of the Middle Jiao emerges from the middle opening of the stomach, it accompanies the upper opening of the stomach, emerging after the Upper Jiao, receiving the qi of five grains, separating dregs, receiving fluid juice, transforming fine essences, injecting into the Hand Taiyin meridian, turning red to become blood, to sustain the living body. Note: *Jia Yi Jing* lacks fourteen characters from "Yellow Emperor said" to "Qibo said". *Ling Shu* reads "middle opening of stomach" for "stomach opening". *Ling Shu* and *Jia Yi Jing* read "zheng" (steam) for "cheng" (receive) in "cheng jin ye". Note "five grains" originally missing one character, supplemented as "receive" based on text. Nothing is more precious than this, so it alone travels through the jing sui (meridian tunnels), named Ying Qi. (Human eyes receive blood to see, hands receive blood to grasp, feet receive blood to walk; nothing is more precious to the body than blood, so it travels through the twelve meridian paths to nourish the body, hence called Ying Qi. Sui means path. Thus Middle Jiao... Ying Qi. Note: "Named Ying Qi", *Jia Yi Jing* lacks "Qi". Note below "Middle Jiao" originally missing two characters; since the previous section asked about the origin of Middle Jiao, supplemented here as "origin".)

The Yellow Emperor said: Blood and Qi have different names but are of the same category; why? Qibo said: Ying and Wei are refined qi, blood is spirit qi; thus blood and Qi, though differently named, are of the same category. Therefore, those who lose blood should not sweat, and those who lose qi should not lose blood. Thus, a person dies if both [blood and qi] are depleted, but cannot live if both are present (implying mutual dependence; depletion of both leads to death, presence of both sustains life).

The Yellow Emperor said: I wish to hear the origin of the Lower Jiao. Qibo answered: The Lower Jiao separates from the ileum, injects into the bladder and seeps in. Thus, water and grain often reside together in the stomach, becoming dregs, and descend together into the large intestine, forming the Lower Jiao, seeping and descending together, filtering and separating juices, following the Lower Jiao to seep into the bladder. (Ileum is the large intestine. Lower Jiao is below the umbilicus, at the upper opening of the bladder, governing separation of clear and turbid without intake; this is the location of the Lower Jiao. Filtering and separating juices, following the Lower Jiao to seep into the bladder, this is the qi and fluid of the Lower Jiao. Bladder is the urinary bladder. Note: *Jia Yi Jing* lacks fourteen characters from "Yellow Emperor said" to "Qibo answered", "cheng er" reads "wei er", "ji mi" reads "shen xie".)

The Yellow Emperor said: When a person drinks wine, it also enters the stomach. The grain is not yet ripe, yet urine alone comes out first. Why? Qibo answered: Wine is the liquid of cooked grain; its qi is fierce and slippery, so although entered later, it exits earlier than the grain. (Its qi is fierce; wine is the qi of cooked grain, and is hot, thus the qi is fierce... Note: Note "also hot", Yuan edition omits "also". Three characters originally missing below "han", supplemented as "yi hua ye" based on text.)

The Yellow Emperor said: Excellent. I have heard that the Upper Jiao is like mist, the Middle Jiao like foam/soaking, and the Lower Jiao like a ditch; this is what is meant. (Upper Jiao qi is like mist in the sky; mist contains water vapor, like snow/mist. Ou, sound wu dou fan, long soaking. Middle Jiao blood and qi in the vessels moisten for a moment, called Ou. Lower Jiao qi, urine, etc., flow in the ground like ditches. Note: Note "snow" character likely a transcription error for "cloud".)