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[Ping An] This chapter, from the beginning to five cun below Tianfu (Tianfu, LI16), is found in *Suwen* (Basic Questions), Volume 15, Chapter 58, "Qixue Lun" (Discourse on Qi Cavities). From "Asking: Why does Shaoyin govern the Kidney?" to "When cold is extreme, heat is generated," it is found in *Suwen*, Volume 16, Chapter 61, "Shuire Xuelun" (Discourse on Water and Heat Acupoints). From "Asking: Why does Shaoyin govern the Kidney?" to "It is named Fengshui (Wind Water)," it is found in *Jiayingjing* (Classic of A-Bio), Volume 8, Chapter 5. From "Huangdi asked Qibo: I wish to hear about the Shu points of the Five Zang organs" to "Wait for the fire to extinguish itself," it is found in *Lingnu* (Spiritual Pivot), Volume 8, Chapter 51, "Bei Shu" (Back Shu Points) chapter. From "To know the back Shu points" to "The degree of moxibustion and acupuncture," it is found in *Suwen*, Volume 7, Chapter 24, "Xueqi Xingzhi" (Blood, Qi, Constitution, and Will) chapter. From "Huangdi asked Qibo: I have known the locations of the Qi cavities" to the end, it is found in *Suwen*, Volume 15, Chapter 58, "Qixue Lun," and also in *Jiayingjing*, Volume 3, Chapter 1.

Huangdi asked Qibo: I have heard that there are three hundred and sixty-five Qi cavities (points where Qi of the twelve meridians gathers), corresponding to the days of a year, but I do not understand what this specifically refers to. I wish to hear it fully explained. (Note: The three hundred and sixty-five acupoints are places where the Qi of the twelve meridians converges, hence called Qi cavities.) Qibo bowed twice with his head touching the ground and said: How profound your question is! If not for a sage emperor, who could exhaust its principles? I earnestly request you to open your mind and speak fully about their locations. Huangdi clasped his hands and stepped back respectfully, saying: The way you have opened my understanding, although I have not seen those locations with my eyes nor heard their numbers with my ears, because of your words, my eyes have become clear and my ears acute. (Note: "Zunsun" sounds like "qunxun," meaning to investigate thoroughly. "Yiyi" means to let one's will flow freely. "Chu" refers to the three hundred and sixty-five acupoints. "Pengshou" means holding hands upright. "Zunsun er que" is the movement of respectful acceptance. Although not yet personally witnessed or heard, knowing completely through speech makes one enlightened.) Qibo said: This is what is meant by saying that sages are easy to communicate with, and fine horses are easy to drive. Huangdi said: It is not because I am a sage that I am easy to communicate with; the world speaks of these true numbers to open people's minds. (Note: The Emperor says Qibo has sage virtue and speaks true principles; even if not a sage emperor, one can understand. In the current *Suwen*, there are extra characters "you yu" after "fei," no "qi" before "zhen," and no "ye" after "yi.") What I ask now is indeed these true numbers. Like enlightening the ignorant and resolving confusion, it is insufficient for discussing profound theories. However, I hope you will open your mind and speak fully about their locations. Now that I have understood their meaning, please allow me to hide them in the golden chest, daring not to reveal them again. (Note: What I ask only serves to enlighten and resolve confusion, not as an ultimate theory. I only hope you speak freely, and I will hide it so as not to lose it. In *Suwen*, "fang" is written as "fang" (visit), and "jin jie" is written as "ling".) Qibo bowed twice and rose, saying: Your subject requests to speak. When the back and heart pull against each other causing pain, the treated points are Tiantu (Tiantu, CV22), the tenth thoracic vertebra, and Shangji (Upper Junction, Zhongwan CV12) and Xiaji (Lower Junction, Guanyuan CV4). Shangji is the epigastrium (Zhongwan); Xiaji is Guanyuan. (Note: The Ren Mai (Conception Vessel) ascends into the spine, serving as the sea of meridians. Its superficial external part runs along the inner abdomen above the navel to the chest, to the throat, connecting to the lips and mouth. Thus, mutual pulling pain between back and chest is pain of the Ren Mai. These points are all penetrated by the Ren Mai, hence selected. In *Suwen*, there is no "Xiaji" after "Shangji".)

Evil strikes Yin and Yang on left and right. Such diseases manifest as pain in front and back, dryness and pain in the chest and hypochondrium, inability to breathe normally, inability to lie down, shortness of breath, unilateral pain, full pulse rising from the coccygeal meridian, connecting to the chest, branching to the heart, penetrating the diaphragm, ascending to the shoulder adding Tiantu, and evil descending to the shoulder crossing at the tenth thoracic vertebra below connecting to the Kidneys. (Note: Measuring the path of this meridian where disease occurs, all are caused by the Du Mai (Governing Vessel). "Xia zang" means connecting downward to the Kidneys. In *Suwen*, "Xie ji" has "bei xiong" before it, "ji" becomes "xi", "er tong" becomes "tong er", "luo xiong" has "xie" after it, and "shi zhui" has no "zang" after it.) There are fifty Shu points of the Zang organs. (Each of the five Zang organs has five Shu points, totaling twenty-five Shu; this is stated for one hand or foot; now discussing both hands and feet together, hence fifty points.) There are seventy-two Shu points of the Fu organs. (Each of the six Fu organs has six Shu points, totaling thirty-six Shu; similarly for one hand/foot; discussing both together yields seventy-two points.) There are fifty-nine Shu points for Heat diseases, and fifty-seven Shu points for Water diseases. On the head, five rows with five points each, totaling twenty-five points. Along the middle line, two flanking sides with five points each, totaling ten points. Above Dazhu (Dazhu, BL11), two points on each side, totaling two points. (In *Suwen*, "Dazhu" is written as "Dazhui"; Wang Bing's annotation was unclear; Xin Zhengjiao notes: According to Dazhui's upper side there are no points; the point on Dazhui's lower side is named Dazhu.) Two points of Futbai (Futbai, GB12) under the pupil, two points of Yanzhong (Yanzhong, GB30) in the thighs. (In *Suwen*, "fen" is added after "yan".) Two points of Dubi (Dubí, ST35), two points of Duo Suowen (Duosuwon, SI18) in the ear, two points of Meiben (Meiben, EX-HN4) at the eyebrows, two points of Wangu (Wangu, GB12), one point in the center of the neck, two points of Zhen Gu (Zhengu, EX-HN6) at the occipital bone, two points of Shangguan (Shangguan, ST7), two points of Daying (Daying, ST5), two points of Xiaguan (Xiaguan, ST7), two points of Tiangui (Tianguai, ST9 - note: likely Tianrong or similar, text says Tianguai), four points of Juxu Shangxia (Juxu Shangxia, ST36 & ST37), (In *Suwen*, "lian" is added before the four points.) Two points of Quya (Quya, ST6), one point of Tiantu (Tiantu, CV22), two points of Tianfu (Tianfu, LU3), two points of Tianyou (Tianyou, TE16), two points of Futu (Futu, LI16), two points of Tianchuang (Tianchuang, SI16), two points of Jianjie (Jianjie, SI11), one point of Guanyuan (Guanyuan, CV4), two points of Weiyang (Weiyang, BL39), two points of Jianzhen (Jianzhen, SI9), two points of Jianyu (Jianyu, LI15). (In *Suwen*, "Jianyu" is written as "Yinmen".) One point below the navel, two points of Huangshu (Huangshu, CV12 - note: text says Huangshu, likely referring to Mingmen or similar area, but text specifies Huangshu), (In *Suwen*, "Huangshu" is written as "Xiongshu", and "two points" as "twelve points".) Two points of Beishu (Beishu, BL15?), two points of Yingshu (Yingshu, BL13?). (In *Suwen*, "two points" is written as "twelve points".) Two points of Fenrou (Fenrou, EX-UE9?), two points of Huagu above the ankle. (In *Suwen*, "gu" is omitted.) Four points of Yin Qiao and Yang Qiao. Totaling three hundred and sixty-five points, which are the sites for needle insertion. (The above ninety-nine points treat various diseases generally. In *Suwen*, the thirteen characters "Fan san bai liu shi wu xue zhen zhi suo you xing ye" are placed after "five cun below Tianfu".) Water Shu points are located in the various fenli (interstices), Heat Shu points are in the Qi cavities, Cold Shu points are in the two Haiyan (Haiyan, GB30) points. (Above describes the locations of the three types of Shu points. Hai refers to bone. Other versions read "Ci", sound "yu mi fan", meaning curved bone end. In *Suwen*, "re" (heat) is added after "han" (cold).) There are twenty-five Great Prohibitions, located five cun below Tianfu. (Among the three hundred and sixty-five points, the Great Prohibition is the Wuli (Wuli, LI13) point, located five cun below Tianfu on the arm. If Qi is drained from this point five times, Qi exhaustion leads to death, hence it is a Great Prohibition.)

Question: Why does Shaoyin govern the Kidney? Why does the Kidney govern water? (Asking why the Shaoyin meridian governs the Kidney.) Answer: The Kidney is the Supreme Yin. (Supreme means extreme. The Kidney is the extreme of Yin.) Yin accumulates water. (Yin qi houses water, hence called accumulating water. In *Suwen* and *Jiayingjing*, "zhi" is added before "yin".) The Kidney belongs to Shaoyin, and Shaoyin is the pulse of Winter. (Another version says Lung belongs to Taiyin, which I consider incorrect. Shaoyin is also abundant; Shaoyin meridian abundance belongs to winter. In *Suwen* and *Jiayingjing*, "Shen zhe Shaoyin" is written as "Fei zhe Taiyin".) Therefore, the root is in the Kidney, and the branch is in the Lung; both involve water accumulation. (Shaoyin Kidney meridian enters the Lung, hence branch is in Lung. Thus Kidney and Lung, mother and son, upper and lower, both produce water accumulation.) Question: Why can the Kidney gather water and cause disease? (Kidney being Supreme Yin gathers water, unknown how it causes disease.) Answer: The Kidney is the gatekeeper of the Stomach. If the gatekeeper is obstructed, water gathers and follows its kind, overflowing up and down into the skin, thus forming edema. (Stomach governs water and grain. If Stomach Qi gatekeeping is obstructed, Kidney gathers water, Lung Qi responds, overflowing into skin, thus forming edema. Fu, sound fu fu fan, same meaning as fu. In *Suwen* and *Jiayingjing*, "wei zhi guan bi" is written as "wei zhi guan", "guan bi bu li" as "guan men bu li", and nine characters "zhou zhong zhe ju shui er sheng bing ye" are added after "zhong".) Question: Do all water diseases originate from the Kidney? Answer: The Kidney is a Yin organ (Pin Zang). Earth Qi ascending belongs to the Kidney and generates fluid, hence called Supreme. (Pin means Yin. Earth Qi is Yin Qi. Yin Qi accumulates water, ascending to Kidney, generating Jin Ye, hence Kidney is called Extreme Yin. In *Suwen* and *Jiayingjing*, "yin" is added after "zhi".) A brave person exerting themselves heavily sweats from the Kidney. If sweat encounters wind, it cannot enter internally to the Zang, nor escape externally to the skin, lingers in the Six Fu, moves in the skin, transmits to become edema. Rooted in the Kidney, it is named Fengshui (Wind Water). (Brave persons exert waist and spine heavily, Kidney opens pores sweating, evil wind enters. Wind comes and goes, cannot enter residual Zang of Fu, cannot excrete from skin of Fu, gathers water lingering in Six Fu, moves in skin transmitting to edema. Its root is Kidney Wind, named Fengshui. In *Suwen*, "feng feng" is "feng yu feng", "ru qi zang" is "ru yu zang fu", "liu fu" is "xuan fu", "xing yu pi fu" is "xing yu pi li", and eight characters "suo wei xuan fu zhe han kong ye" are added after "feng shui".) Question: What do the fifty-seven Water Shu points govern? Answer: The fifty-seven Kidney Shu points are the gathering place of accumulated Yin, where water enters and exits. (Below discusses Water Shu. Kidney is accumulated Yin, so Jin Ye entry and exit are governed by Kidney. In *Suwen*, "shi he suo zhu ye" is "shi he zhu ye".) The five rows of five points above the sacrum are all Kidney Shu. (The twenty-five Shu points above the sacrum in five rows, though some are not issued from Kidney meridian, are all called Kidney Shu because they are near the Kidney, within the Kidney region, reached by Kidney Qi, hence all called Kidney Shu. In *Suwen*, "ci jie shen shu ye" is "ci shen shu".) Thus, water disease manifests as lower body swelling and abdominal distension, and upper body wheezing and inability to lie down; this is simultaneous disease of root and branch. Hence Lung causes wheezing, Kidney causes edema. (Branch is Lung, Root is Kidney. Lung causes wheezing, Kidney causes edema. Two Zang jointly cause water disease, hence called simultaneous disease. In *Suwen*, "zhong" is "fu". Note: "gong wei shui bing", Yuan edition "gong" mistakenly printed as "qi".) Lung causes rebellion, hence inability to lie down. (Lung governs Qi; Lung disease causes Qi rebellion, hence water disease causes inability to lie down. In *Suwen, there is no "wu" character.) Distribution and mutual transmission among parts is where water Qi stays. (Kidney governs water, Lung governs Qi, hence called distribution. Two Qi connect and gather, hence called mutual transmission. Mutual transmission means water and Qi stay together. In *Suwen*, "fen zhi xiang shu shou zhe" is "fen wei xiang shu ju shou zhe".) Two rows of five points each above Fubu (Fubu, ST32) are where Kidney Qi rushes. (Above Fubu, two rows on each side, four rows total, twenty Shu points, all are Shu points rushed by Kidney Qi Foot Shaoyin and Chong Mai. In *Suwen*, "suo chong" is "jie". Yuan edition misses "ge" before "er hang", and "suo chong" is mistaken for "suo zhong".) This is where the Three Yin meridians intersect at the foot. One row of six points each above the ankle. (Foot Three Yin meridians intersect at the foot. From ankle upwards, one row on left and right, six Shu points each, totaling twelve Shu, hence adding to fifty-seven points.) This is the descending part of the Kidney meridian, named Taichong. (Chong Mai emerges upward from Hangsang, descends to inject into Foot Shaoyin large collateral, descends伏行 out to foot dorsum, hence called Kidney meridian descending named Taichong. In *Suwen*, "tai" is "da".) All fifty-seven points are the end of Zang Yin, where water lodges. (These points are the terminal Shu of Kidney Yin Zang, abode of lodging water. In *Suwen*, "jie zang yin zhi zhong ye" is "jie zang zhi yin luo".)

Huangdi asked Qibo: You spoke of treating heat disease with fifty-nine Shu points. I pondered their meaning but could not distinguish their locations. I wish to hear their locations and understand their significance. Qibo said: The five rows of five points on the head disperse the rebellious heat of all Yang meridians. (Below discusses Heat Shu. Human head is Yang, hence twenty-five Shu points on head disperse all Yang heat. In *Suwen*, "ling" is added before "bie".) Dazhu (Dazhu, BL11), Yingshu (Yingshu, BL13), Quepen (Quepen, LU1), Beishu (Beishu, BL15). These eight points dispel heat in the chest. Zhu, sound chu lv fan. Yingshu is Shu point in chest. Beishu is Lung Shu. (These eight are near chest front and back, hence dispel chest heat.) Qichong (Qichong, ST30), Zusanli (Zusanli, ST36), Shangjixu (Shangjixu, ST37), Xiajixu (Xiajixu, ST39). These eight points dispel heat in the stomach. (These eight are all Shu points penetrated by Stomach meridian Foot Yangming, hence dispel Stomach heat.) Yunmen (Yunmen, LU2), Gugu (Gugu, SI11 - note: text says Gugu, likely Jianyu or similar, but text specifies Gugu), Weizhong (Weizhong, BL40), Suikong (Suikong, BL52 - note: text says Suikong, likely Mingmen or similar, but text specifies Suikong). These eight points dispel heat in the four limbs. (Yunmen near shoulder, Gugu at shoulder, towards arm; Weizhong in popliteal fossa, Suikong in waist, named Yaoshu, all govern legs, hence dispel limb heat.) Five points beside the Five Zang Shu. These ten points dispel heat in the Five Zang. (All are Taiyang Five Zang Shu points, five Shu points on left and right respectively, hence ten Shu points, to dispel Zang heat.) All these fifty-nine points are the lateral Shu points of heat disease. (All are lateral Shu points of heat disease.) Question: Why does human injury by cold transmit to heat? Answer: When cold is extreme, heat is generated. (Yang extreme descends, Yin extreme ascends, hence extreme cold generates heat, extreme heat generates cold, this is constant physical law. Hence heat disease is called Shanghan (Cold Damage), named from the root.)

Huangdi asked Qibo: I wish to hear about the output of the Five Zang Shu points on the back. (Five Zang Shu points, some on hands and feet, now wish to hear the five Shu on back. In *Lingnu*, "shu" is "shu", in *Suwen* is "shu", consistent throughout.) Qibo replied: The great Shu of the chest is at the end of the Duzhu bone. (Duzhu, also named Dazhu, located above the Shu points of Five Zang and Six Fu, hence is the great Shu of Qi of Danzhong in chest.) Lung Shu is between the third and fourth vertebrae. Heart Shu is between the fifth and sixth vertebrae. Diaphragm Shu is between the seventh and eighth vertebrae. Liver Shu is between the ninth and tenth vertebrae. Spleen Shu is between the eleventh and twelfth vertebrae. Kidney Shu is between the fourteenth and fifteenth vertebrae. All are beside the spine, spaced about three cun apart. (Shu, sound shi gou fan, meaning to convey/send. These Five Zang Shu beside spine and vertebral spacing follow the same method as *Mingtang*. In *Lingnu*, "ge" is "di", "zhui" is "jiao", "xia" is "jia".) To verify, press the location; if it corresponds to the pulse and pain resolves, it is the Shu point. (Below describes method of selecting Shu points. Even if slightly not matching Cun number, pressing causing pain is correct. In *Lingnu*, "ji yu er yan zhi" is "ze yu de er yan zhi".) Moxibustion is permissible, acupuncture is permissible. Excess Qi is dispersed, deficiency Qi is tonified. For fire tonification, do not blow the fire; wait for it to extinguish naturally. For fire dispersion, blow quickly, attach moxa, wait for it to extinguish. (Needle tonification and dispersion mentioned previously, hence here discussing moxa tonification and dispersion. Fire burning the area gathers righteous Qi, hence called tonification; blowing to make heat enter attacks disease, hence called dispersion. Fu sound fu. Use hand to cover moxa and blow, preventing fire Qi from scattering.) In *Lingnu*, "ci zhi ze ke" is "ci zhi ze bu ke".

To know back Shu points, first measure the distance between two nipples and fold it in half. Then use another grass to measure half of that length. Place the two ends against each other. Lift to measure the back. Let one end be above, aligned with Dazhui (Dazhui, GV14) vertebra. The two ends below correspond to: the lower end is Lung Shu. Move down one measurement, Heart Shu. Move down one measurement, right angle is Liver Shu, left angle is Spleen Shu. Move down one measurement, Kidney Shu. This is called the Five Zang Shu points, the standard for moxibustion and acupuncture. (Above describes method of measuring back Shu points. Scriptures differ only because human body seven chi five cun is small, but laws of Heaven and Earth are exhaustive. Thus Heaven and Earth creation, numbers are infinite, how can human Shu point divisions be identical? Formerly Shennong recorded three hundred and sixty-five kinds of metals, stones, grasses, and trees in heaven and earth, corresponding to three hundred and sixty-five days, for saving time. Unrecorded ones, perhaps known by some, unknown by others, were many. Next, Huangdi took three hundred and sixty-five points on human body, also corresponding to three hundred and sixty-five days. On the body, shifting to Cun and Fen, left and right differ, taking Shu points for disease is indeed numerous. As for *Bianque Jiu Jing*, taking points and names differs greatly. Recent *Qin Chengzu Mingtang*, *Cao Zi Shi Jiu Jing* etc., inherited different versions, locations and names also differ. But removing disease is also not few. One can judge by wisdom, suitable for disease use, cannot say entirely wrong. Those who say all are wrong do not know great doctrine. Thus this measurement method, sages set teaching differently, not worth surprising. In *Suwen*, "qi ban" has no "qi", "yu" is "yu", "zhu" is "zhu", "right angle liver" is "left angle liver", "left angle spleen" is "right angle spleen". Note: "cao mu" Yuan edition mistakenly "cao ben". Qin Chengzu, Yuan edition "Qin" mistakenly "Zou". Difference Yuan edition "zhuo yi", Japanese *Yixin Fang* also "cha".)

Huangdi asked Qibo: I have known the locations of Qi cavities and the residence of wandering needles. I wish to hear if Sun Luo (branch collaterals) and Xi Gu (valleys) also have corresponding points? Qibo said: Three hundred and sixty-five Sun Luo intersections correspond to one year. (Below discusses Sun Luo intersections. Fifteen Luo meridians generate from main meridians, called Zi. Small collaterals generate from fifteen Luo, are Sun of main meridians. Sun Luo intersects with Qi of three hundred and sixty-five points, corresponding to Qi of one year. In *Suwen*, "yu yi" is "yu yi".) To drain odd evils, to unblock Ying and Wei. (Xu means ditch, place where water flows. Sun Luo flows with odd evil Ying Wei Qi, hence called Xu. Sound huo bi fan. In *Suwen*, "xu" is "yi", *Jiayingjing* is "sa". Ying, *Suwen* and *Jiayingjing* write "Rong", same below.) If Ying blood stagnates, Xu channel blocked, Qi turbid and blood adheres, externally causes fever, internally causes shortness of Qi. (If Ying blood stagnates, Xu does not flow, causing blood turbidity and adhesion, skin fever, Ying Wei blocked, hence shortness of Qi. In *Suwen*, "ji liu ying xu" is "Rong Wei ji liu Wei san Rong yi" eight characters. "Qi zhuo" is "Qi jie". *Jiayingjing* lacks forty-five characters from "ji liu" to "Qibo yue".) Drain rapidly without delay to unblock Ying and Wei. See and drain, do not ask for intersection. (Thus if Sun Luo blood Qi Xu channel blocked, where there is blood, drain rapidly to unblock Ying Wei, no need to seek Shu intersection and generate doubt.) Huangdi said: Good. I wish to hear about the convergence of Xi Gu. Qibo said: Large convergence of Fen Rou (muscle intervals) is called Gu (Valley), small convergence of meat is called Xi (Stream). Between muscle divisions, convergence of Xi Gu, conducts Ying and Wei, gathers Da Qi (Great Qi). (Below discusses between combined muscles, there are sizes. Large called Gu, small called Xi, smaller called ditches, all conduct Ying Wei, house evil Da Qi. In *Suwen* and *Jiayingjing*, "Fen rou zhi da hui" lacks "fen". "Yi hui da qi" *Jiayingjing* "hui" is "she".) Evil overflows, Qi stagnates, pulse hot, flesh rots, Ying Wei blocked, must become pus. (Below discusses Qi stagnation becoming heat forming abscess. Evil Qi lodges between Xi Gu ditches, overflows and stays, Ying Wei blocked,)