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[Ping An]: This chapter, from beginning to end, is found in Chapter 36 of Volume 6 of *Ling Shu* (Spiritual Pivot), titled "Differentiation of Five Obstructions and Fluids," and also in Volume 1, Chapter 13 of *Jia Yi Jing* (Systematic Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion).

The Yellow Emperor asked Qi Bo: When water and grain enter the mouth, they are transported to the stomach and intestines. Their fluids differentiate into five types. In cold weather with thin clothing, they become urine and flatus; in hot weather with thick clothing, they become sweat; when grief causes qi stagnation, they become tears; when internal heat relaxes the stomach wall, they become saliva. When pathogenic factors reverse internally, qi becomes obstructed and fails to circulate. Failure of circulation leads to edema and distension. I know this occurs, but I do not understand its origin. I wish to hear your explanation. (Note: "Shu" here means reversal or counter-flow. Water and grain enter the mouth, reverse within the stomach and intestines, and transform into Jin Ye (Body Fluids). There are five differentiations, corresponding to the fluids of the five Zang organs. Generally, all "Ye" are referred to as "Jin." The classics refer to "Jin" but not "Ye," hence there are five types of "Ye." This briefly lists the five fluids; please explain their meaning. Ping An: *Jia Yi Jing* lacks the nine characters "Yu zhi qi ran ye, yuan wen qi shuo" [I know it is so, but wish to hear the explanation]. *Ling Shu* uses "Dao" instead of "Shuo." In the notes, "Ni Zhi" and "Ni Yu," other versions write "Ni" as "Song".)

Qi Bo replied: Water and grain enter the mouth, and their flavors are fivefold, each flowing into its respective Sea. (The five flavors travel to the Four Seas of the five Zang organs. The Liver and Heart govern blood, so Sour and Bitter flavors travel to the Blood Sea. The Spleen governs the Qi of water and grain, so Sweet flavor travels to the Sea of Water and Grain. The Lung governs Qi, so Pungent flavor travels to the Dan Zhong Qi Sea. The Kidney governs brain marrow, so Salty flavor travels to the Marrow Sea. Ping An: *Jia Yi Jing* writes "Ge Zhu" as "Fen Zhu".) Jin Ye (Body Fluids) each follow their own pathways. (The eyes are the pathway for tears, the Cou Li (interstices) are the pathway for sweat, Lian Quan (CV23) is the pathway for saliva, the nose is the pathway for nasal mucus, and the mouth is the pathway for saliva.) Therefore, the Upper Jiao (Triple Burner) emits Wei Qi (Defensive Qi) to warm the muscles and fill the skin, which is called Jin (Thin Fluids); (The Qi emitted by the Upper Jiao exits from the upper orifice of the stomach, named Wei Qi, warming the muscles and moistening the skin and Cou Li, thus called Jin. Ping An: *Ling Shu* writes "Shang Jiao" as "San Jiao". *Jia Yi Jing* adds "Zhe" after "Fu". *Ling Shu* adds "Qi" after "Wei".) Those that remain and do not flow are called Ye (Thick Fluids); (The essence juices of water and grain are injected into the bones and joints, remaining without departing, termed Ye. Ping An: *Ling Shu* writes "Liu" as "Liu" [flow].) In hot weather with thick clothing, the Cou Li open, so sweat is excreted; (Excretion due to heat opening the Cou Li is termed sweat.) Cold staying between the Fen Rou (muscle intervals), where Jin Ye gathers into foam, causes pain; (Cold stays between the muscle intervals, Jin Ye gathers into foam, pressing and splitting the muscle tissue, thus causing pain. Ping An: *Ling Shu* and *Jia Yi Jing* write "Mo Ju" as "Ju Mo".) In cold weather, the Cou Li close, Qi becomes stagnant and does not flow, water flows down to the Bladder, becoming urine and flatus. (This explains the cause of excessive urine and flatus. Ping An: *Ling Shu* writes "Se" as "Shi", "Xia Liu" as "Xia Liu" [stay], *Jia Yi Jing* writes "Xia Liu" as "Xia Liu" [flow].) Among the five Zang and six Fu organs, the Heart is the ruler, the Ear is the listener, the Eye is the observer, the Lung is the minister, the Liver is the general, the Spleen is the guard, and the Kidney governs water. (Ping An: *Ling Shu* and *Jia Yi Jing* write "Shui" as "Wai".) Thus, the Jin Ye of the five Zang and six Fu organs all seep upward into the eyes.

When the heart feels sorrowful, Qi stagnates, causing the Xin Mai (Heart Vessel/Connection) to contract tightly. Tight contraction lifts the Fei Ye (Lung Lobes). When lifted, fluids overflow upwards. Since the Xin Mai lifting prevents the Lung from maintaining constant elevation, the fluid moves up and down intermittently, thus tears are produced. (Pronounced 'qu'. The fluids managed by the five sensory organs all seep into the eyes, becoming tears. 'Zhe' refers to the action of drawing Qi and opening the mouth during tear production. Ping An: *Ling Shu* writes "Fei Ye Ju Ju" as "Fei Ju Fei Ju". For "Fu Xin Mai Ju Fei", *Ling Shu* writes "Ju" as "Yu", *Jia Yi Jing* writes "Ju" as "Ji". *Ling Shu* writes "Ke" as "Ke", *Jia Yi Jing* agrees. *Jia Yi Jing* writes "Qi Chu" as "Xian Chu".) Internal heat causes rapid digestion of grain in the stomach. After digestion, parasites move up and down. The stomach and intestines expand, causing relaxation. Relaxation leads to rebellious Qi, thus saliva is excreted. (Parasites refer to the three worms. Guo refers to the chest/diaphragm. During digestion, worms move up and down, the stomach and intestenes are wide, filling the chest, causing relaxation and rebellious Qi, hence saliva. Ping An: *Ling Shu* and *Jia Yi Jing* write "Gu Huan" as "Gu Wei Huan".) The Jin Ye of the five grains harmonize and combine to form a paste-like substance. This penetrates inward into the bone cavities, nourishes the brain marrow, and flows downward to the Yin region. (Ping An: *Ling Shu* and *Jia Yi Jing* write "Yin" as "Yin Gu" [inner thigh]). If Yin and Yang are disharmonious, fluids overflow and flow downward to the Yin region. Marrow fluids decrease and flow downward. Excessive downward flow leads to deficiency. Deficiency causes pain in the bones and spine, and weakness in the legs. (Nourishing brain marrow involves grain fluids combining into paste, penetrating head bone cavities to nourish the brain; penetrating other bone cavities to nourish marrow; flowing to Yin to nourish essence. If Yin and Yang are excessively disordered and cannot be harmonized rationally, essence fluids overflow downward. Due to excessive reduction of marrow fluids, deficiency results in lower back pain and leg weakness. Ping An: *Ling Shu* and *Jia Yi Jing* write "Shi Ze" as "Zuo Ze".) If Yin-Yang Qi pathways are blocked, the Four Seas are closed, the San Jiao (Triple Burner) fails to drain, and Jin Ye fails to transform. Water and grain accumulate in the stomach and intestines, separate into the Hui Chang (Lower Intestine), stay in the Lower Jiao, and fail to渗 (seep) into the Bladder. This causes Lower Jiao distension. Overflowing water leads to edema/distension. (If Zang-Fu Yin-Yang cannot harmonize and circulate, the Four Seas close and stop flowing, the San Jiao becomes congested and fails to drain. Qi fails to transform into Jin Ye. Water and grain accumulate in the stomach/intestines without digesting, separate into the Hui Chang and stay in the Lower Jiao, failing to enter the Bladder. Distension occurs in the Lower Jiao, overflowing into the body, thus forming edema. Ping An: *Ling Shu* writes "Bing Yu" as "Bing Xing".) These are the smooth and reversed states of the five differentiations of Jin Ye. (The above five differentiations constitute the meaning of smooth and reversed Jin Ye. Ping An: *Ling Shu* writes "Shun Ni" as "Ni Shun".)