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[Ping An]: This section, from the beginning of the chapter to "flavors govern the He-Sea points," is found in *Ling Shu* (Spiritual Pivot), Volume 7, Chapter 44, "Dividing One Day into Four Times According to Qi Flow," and also in *Jia Yi Jing* (The Classic of Jia Yi), Volume 1, Section 2. From the question "Why are Luo-Collateral and Fen-Rou taken in Spring" to the end, it is found in *Su Wen* (Basic Questions), Volume 16, Chapter 61, "Discussion on Water and Heat Acupoints," and also in *Jia Yi Jing*, Volume 5, Part 1, Upper Compilation.

Huang Di said: I have heard that acupuncture has five variations, which govern the Five Shu Points (Jing-Well, Ying-Spring, Shu-Stream, Jing-River, He-Sea). I wish to hear their numbers. Qi Bo said: Humans have five Zang organs; each Zang organ has five variations; each variation has five Shu points. Thus, there are twenty-five Shu points, corresponding to the Five Seasons. (The Five Seasons refer to Spring, Summer, Late Summer, Autumn, and Winter.) [Ping An]: In *Jia Yi Jing*, the character for "Shu point" is written as "Shu" (腧), same below. It lacks the six characters "Yu wen ci you" (I heard that needling has) and "yi zhu" (to govern). In *Ling Shu*, "Zang wu you bian" (Zang has five variations) is written as "Wu Zang wu you bian" (Five Zang organs have five variations), and "Bian wu you shu" (Variations have five Shu points) is written as "Wu bian wu you shu" (Five variations have five Shu points).

Huang Di said: I wish to hear what the Five Variations are. Qi Bo said: The Liver is a Yang Zang organ (Mu Zang); its color is Green; its season is Spring; its musical note is Jue; its flavor is Sour; its days are Jia and Yi. The Heart is a Yang Zang organ; its color is Red; its season is Summer; its days are Bing and Ding; its musical note is Zhi; its flavor is Bitter. The Spleen is a Yin Zang organ (Pin Zang); its color is Yellow; its season is Late Summer; its days are Wu and Ji; its musical note is Gong; its flavor is Sweet. The Lung is a Yin Zang organ; its color is White; its musical note is Shang; its season is Autumn; its days are Geng and Xin; its flavor is Pungent. The Kidney is a Yin Zang organ; its color is Black; its season is Winter; its days are Ren and Gui; its musical note is Yu; its flavor is Salty. These are called the Five Variations. (The Liver and Heart belong to Wood and Fire, hence they are Yang Zang organs; the Spleen, Lung, and Kidney belong to Earth, Metal, and Water, hence they are Yin Zang organs. Yin-Yang Zang organs, Five Colors, Five Seasons, Five Musical Notes, and Five Flavors result in twenty-five variations.) [Ping An]: *Jia Yi Jing* lacks the ten characters from "Huang Di" to "Qi Bo said." "Its days are Jia and Yi" appears above "its musical note is Jue," and "its musical note is Shang" appears below "its days are Geng and Xin." In the commentary, the characters "Er Shi" (twenty) in "Er Shi Wu Zhi Bian" (Twenty-five variations) were erroneously printed as "Qi" in the Yuan edition.

Huang Di said: How do we use these to govern the Five Shu Points? Qi Bo said: The Zang organs govern Winter; in Winter, one needles the Jing-Well points. (In Winter, all things are stored, so the Five Zang organs govern Winter. Jing-Well points belong to Wood; Wood corresponds to Spring. In Spring, all things begin to generate, like spring water in a well. In Winter, all things begin to sprout, like deep well water not yet emerging; needling at this time involves slight stimulation of the Jing-Well. [Ping An]: *Jia Yi Jing* lacks the twelve characters from "Huang Di" to "Qi Bo said." *Ling Shu* lacks the three characters "Qi Bo said.") Colors govern Spring; in Spring, one needles the Ying-Spring points. (In Spring, all things initially bloom with fresh brilliance, so the Five Colors govern Spring. Ying-Spring points belong to Fire; Fire corresponds to Summer. In Summer, all things flourish and grow, like overflowing water. In Spring, when all things begin to generate but are not yet fully prosperous, needling involves slight stimulation of the Ying-Spring.) Seasons govern Summer; in Summer, one needles the Shu-Stream points. (In Summer, all things are glorious and flourishing, representing the peak of the four seasons, so the Five Seasons govern Summer. Shu-Stream points belong to Earth; Earth corresponds to Late Summer. In Late Summer, all things reach their peak, like gathered water. In Summer, when things are flourishing but not yet at their absolute peak, needling involves slight stimulation of the Shu-Stream.) Musical notes govern Late Summer; in Late Summer, one needles the Jing-River points. (In Late Summer, all things are lush and abundant; musical notes harmonize the order of the four seasons, so the Five Musical Notes govern Late Summer. Jing-River points belong to Metal; Metal corresponds to Autumn. In Autumn, all things begin to decline. In Late Summer, when things are abundant but not yet declining, needling involves slight stimulation of the Jing-River.) Flavors govern Autumn; in Autumn, one needles the He-Sea points. (In Autumn, all things are ripe, and all flavors are abundant, so the Five Flavors govern Autumn. He-Sea points belong to Water; Water corresponds to Winter. In Winter, all things are stored, like water entering the sea. In Autumn, when things are harvested but not yet fully stored, needling involves slight stimulation of the He-Sea.) These are called the Five Variations, used to govern the Five Shu Points. (These are the five variations of all things, governing the Five Element Shu points.)

Huang Di said: How do the Yuan-Source points combine to form the Six Shu points? (The Five Variations combine with the Five Shu points; how does the Yuan-Source point combine with anything? [Ping An]: "Six Shu points" in *Jia Yi Jing* is written as "Five Shu points".) Qi Bo said: The Yuan-Source points alone do not correspond to the Five Seasons; instead, they combine with the Jing-River points to match their number, thus resulting in six times six, thirty-six Shu points. (The Six Fu organs are Yang. The Qi of the Mingmen (Gate of Life) in humans is the moving Qi between the two kidneys; it is the root of life for the Five Zang organs, Six Fu organs, and Twelve Primary Meridians, hence it is named the Yuan-Source. The San Jiao (Triple Burner) is the special envoy of the Yuan-Qi, transmitting the three aspects of Yuan-Qi to manage the Five Zang and Six Fu organs. Therefore, the Yuan-Source is a respected title for the San Jiao. It does not directly correspond to the Five Seasons but combines with the Yang meridians to match the numerical count, resulting in sixty-six, thirty-six Shu points.)

Huang Di said: Why is it said that Zang organs govern Winter, Seasons govern Summer, Musical Notes govern Late Summer, Flavors govern Autumn, and Colors govern Spring? I wish to hear the reasons. Qi Bo said: For diseases located in the Zang organs, take the Jing-Well points. (Jing-Well points belong to Wood. Jing-Well points govern fullness under the heart, which indicates Liver Qi fullness. For winter diseases of fullness under the heart, needling the Jing-Well point dispels the root cause.) For diseases manifesting in colors, take the Ying-Spring points. (Ying-Spring points belong to Fire. Ying-Spring points govern body heat, indicating Heart involvement. For spring diseases of body heat, needling the Ying-Spring point also dispels the root cause. [Ping An]: In *Jia Yi Jing*, "Ying" is written as "Ying" (Camp/Nourishing).) For diseases that worsen intermittently, take the Shu-Stream points. (Shu-Stream points belong to Earth. Shu-Stream points govern heavy body and joint pain; intermittent worsening indicates Spleen disease. For summer diseases of heavy body and joint pain with intermittent worsening, needling the Shu-Stream point also dispels the root cause.) For diseases manifesting in voice/sound, take the Jing-River points, where the Jing vessel is full and contains blood. (Jing-River points belong to Metal. Metal governs wheezing, coughing, aversion to cold, and fever. Fullness of Jing blood indicates Lung disease. For late summer diseases of wheezing, coughing, aversion to cold, and fever with full Jing blood, needling the Jing-River point also dispels the root cause. [Ping An]: For "Jing Man" (Jing full), the character "Jing" in *Jia Yi Jing* notes that it may also be written as "Luo" (Collateral).) For diseases in the Stomach, or those caused by irregular diet, take the He-Sea points. (He-Sea points belong to Water. He-Sea points govern rebellious Qi and diarrhea, indicating Kidney disease. For autumn diseases caused by irregular diet leading to rebellious Qi and diarrhea, needling the He-Sea point also dispels the root cause. [Ping An]: "Wei" (Stomach), *Jia Yi Jing* notes: may also be written as "Xiong" (Chest).) Hence it is called "Flavors govern the He-Sea," (Hence flavor-related diseases govern the He-Sea points.) which is called the Five Variations. Huang Di said: Excellent. (Because the Yuan-Source points do not correspond to the Five Seasons, there are the Five Variations. [Ping An]: *Ling Shu* lacks the four characters "Huang Di said: Excellent," same in *Jia Yi Jing*.)

Question: Why are Luo-Collaterals and Fen-Rou (intermuscular spaces) taken in Spring? Answer: In Spring, Wood Qi begins to govern, Liver Qi generates, Liver Qi becomes urgent, Wind Qi is swift. The Primary Meridians are usually deep, and Qi is scarce, unable to penetrate deeply. Therefore, one takes the Luo-Collaterals and Fen-Rou. (Luo-Collaterals are superficial, while Primary Meridians are usually deep. In Spring, pathogenic factors reside in the Luo-Collaterals and Fen-Rou, hence they are selected. [Ping An]: In *Su Wen*, "Gan Qi Sheng" is written as "Gan Qi Shi Sheng" (Liver Qi begins to generate), same in *Jia Yi Jing*.)

Question: Why are Sheng-Jing (Abundant Meridians) and Fen-Cou (skin pores/clefts) taken in Summer? Answer: In Summer, Fire Qi begins to govern, Heart Qi begins to grow. The vessels are thin and Qi is weak. Yang Qi flows abundantly, warming and heating the Fen-Cou, penetrating internally to the Meridians. Therefore, one takes the Sheng-Jing and Fen-Cou. Cutting through the skin eliminates the disease because the pathogen resides superficially. (Yang Qi is exclusively abundant, hence vessels are thin and Qi is weak. Heat penetrates internally to the Meridians and externally warms the Fen-Cou, hence one takes the shallow parts of the Sheng-Jing and Fen-Cou. [Ping An]: "Liu" (Flow) in *Su Wen* is written as "Liu" (Stay); New Correction states: "Another version writes 'Liu' (Flow)." "Xun Re Fen Cou" (Warming heat Fen-Cou) in *Jia Yi Jing* is written as "Xue Wen Yu Cou" (Blood warms the clefts).) What is meant by Sheng-Jing? It refers to the Yang Meridians. (The Three Yang Abundant Meridians. In summer, the Qi in these meridians is hot and abundant, hence one takes the Fen-Cou within the Abundant Meridian regions.)

Question: Why are Jing-Shu (Meridian Stream points) taken in Autumn? Answer: In Autumn, Metal Qi begins to govern, the Lung begins to restrict, Metal overcomes Fire. Yang Qi is at the He-Sea points, Yin Qi begins to overcome, Dampness reaches the body. Yin Qi is not yet abundant and cannot penetrate deeply. Therefore, one takes Shu-Stream points to drain Yin pathogens and He-Sea points to empty Yang pathogens. As Yang Qi begins to decline, one takes the He-Sea points. (Jing-Shu refers to the points on the Primary Meridians. Autumn diseases affect the Shu points, hence one takes them to drain Yin pathogens; Yang decline affects the He-Sea points, hence one takes them to empty Yang pathogens. [Ping An]: "Chu Sha" (Initial Killing/Restricting) in *Su Wen* and *Jia Yi Jing* is written as "Shou Sha" (Harvest Restricting). "Yin Qi Chu Sheng" (Yin Qi initially overcomes), *Jia Yi Jing* lacks the character "Chu" (Initially). "Ji Ti" (Reaches the body) in *Jia Yi Jing* is written as "Fan Ti" (Returns to the body). Below "Gu Qu Yu He" (Therefore take the He-Sea), *Jia Yi Jing* has "This is called the treatment variation of early Autumn," which is also cited in the New Correction of *Su Wen*.)

Question: Why are Jing-Well and Ying-Spring points taken in Winter? Answer: In Winter, Water Qi begins to govern, the Kidney is closing, Yang Qi is declining and scarce, Yin Qi is tight and abundant. Ju Yang (Great Yang/Taiyang) lies hidden and sunken, Yang meridinals depart. (Tight means abundant. Ju Yang refers to Foot Taiyang Qi, hidden and sunken in the bones. [Ping An]: "Jin" (Tight) in *Su Wen* and *Jia Yi Jing* is written as "Jian Shen" (Hard and Abundant).) Therefore, one takes Jing-Well points to subdue rebellious Yin, and Ying-Spring points to solidify Yang Qi. Thus, taking Jing-Well and Ying-Spring points ensures no nasal bleeding in Spring. This is what is meant. (Jing-Well belongs to Wood, Ying-Spring belongs to Fire. Taking Jing-Well and Ying-Spring during the Winter He-Sea period: since Yin Qi is abundant in Winter, one counter-intuitively takes Spring's Jing-Well to drain Yin pathogens; counter-intuitively takes Summer's Ying-Spring to tonify Yang. Thus, there is no Cold damage in Winter, and no nasal bleeding in Spring. [Ping An]: "Yi Shi Yang Qi" (To solidify Yang Qi), New Correction of *Su Wen* states: "Quan Yuanqi's version writes 'Shi' as 'Qian' (Dispatch), *Jia Yi Jing* and *Qian Jin* write it as 'Tong' (Connect).) The sentence "Ci Zhi Wei Ye" (This is what is meant) in *Jia Yi Jing* is written as "Shi Wei Mo Dong Zhi Zhi Bian Ye" (This is called the treatment variation of late Winter), which is also cited in the New Correction of *Su Wen*.)