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[Ping An]: This chapter appears in *Ling Shu* (Spiritual Pivot), Volume 3, Chapter 10 "Jing Mai" (Meridians), and also in *Jia Yi Jing* (The Classic of A-Bian Acupuncture and Moxibustion), Volume 2, Part 1, Lower Section.

Huang Di said: The twelve Jing Mai (Primary Meridians) run deep within the intermuscular spaces, are profound and usually invisible. Those that are commonly visible are those of the Foot Taiyin Spleen Channel, which passes above the medial malleolus; because there is no concealment there, they are seen. All vessels that float superficially and are commonly visible are Luo Mai (Collaterals). (Annotation: Among the twelve Jing Mai and various Luo Mai: the invisible ones refer to eleven channels; the visible one refers to the Foot Taiyin Channel, ascending to above the ankle, and because the skin is thin, it is visible; all other Luo Mai are visible. Ping An: Below "Foot Taiyin", *Jia Yi Jing* has the character "Mai". "Nei Huai" (Medial Malleolus): both *Ling Shu* and *Jia Yi Jing* make it "Wai Huai" (Lateral Malleolus), while the orthodox edition of *Jia Yi Jing* makes it "Nei Huai". Checking Yin channels run on the inside, Yang channels run on the outside; Foot Taiyin is a Yin channel and should connect internally to the medial malleolus. Re-examining the text of this book regarding the Spleen Foot Taiyin Channel, it ascends to the anterior margin of the medial malleolus. Yang's annotation states: The twelve Jing Mai all run between muscles, bones, and joints; only this Foot Taiyin Channel ascends to the place with thin flesh at the medial malleolus, where the vessel can be seen. This perfectly elucidates the current passage. Writing "lateral malleolus" is likely an error.) The six large Luo Mai of the Yang channels are the large collaterals of the Hand Yangming Large Intestine Channel and the Hand Shaoyang Sanjiao Channel; they originate between the five fingers and ascend to converge in the elbow region. (Annotation: Among the six Yang Luo: the Hand Yangming Luo is the collateral of the Lung organ; the Hand Shaoyang Luo is the collateral of the Sanjiao. The Hand Yangming Large Intestine Channel originates between the index finger and thumb, specifically between the index and middle fingers on the inner side, where the Hand Yangming Luo arises. The Hand Shaoyang Channel originates between the ring finger and little finger, specifically on the outer side of these two fingers, where the Hand Shaoyang Mai arises. Thus, these two Luo Mai arise from between the five fingers. Ping An: "Shaoyang" in *Jia Yi Jing* is written as "Shaoyin". In the note for Hand Shaoyang, the character "Shou" (Hand) is omitted in the Yuan edition.) For those who drink wine, Wei Qi (Defensive Qi) moves first into the skin, filling the Luo Mai initially; thus, when the Wei Qi has become balanced, Ying Qi (Nutritive Qi) then fills, and the Jing Mai become greatly full.

(Annotation: Wine is the liquid of cooked grains; entering the Stomach, it moves first into the skin, so Wei Qi becomes abundant. When Wei Qi injects into the vessels, it becomes balanced, and Ying Qi fills. When Ying Qi fills the channel it enters, the Luo Mai of that channel become greatly full and pulsating. Ping An: "Gu Wei Qi Yi Ping" in *Jia Yi Jing* is written as "Ze Wei Qi Yi Ping".) Sudden movements or pulsations of the vessels indicate that pathogenic factors reside there, remaining at the root and extremities of the channel. (Annotation: If there are sudden movements in the twelve Jing Mai, it is because Ying and Wei Qi have introduced pathogenic factors into these vessels, causing them to pulse. "Ben Mo" (Root and Extremities) refers to the proximal and distal ends of this channel. The Luo Mai introduces pathogens into Wei Qi, and Wei Qi introduces pathogens into the root and extremities of this vessel, where they remain without exiting, thus causing movement. Wine is also considered a pathogen.) If there is no movement but heat, (Annotation: If pathogens are in the vessel, abundant yet not moving, heat will steam and accumulate at the site of the pathogen.) if it is not firm, it sinks and becomes empty, differing from others; therefore, one can know which channel is diseased. (Annotation: At the site where pathogens reside, if heat pathogens are abundant, it must be hard. If cold pathogens are abundant, the vessel sinks and flesh becomes empty, differing from normal people. By observing this, one knows which of the twelve channels is diseased. Ping An: "Bing" (Disease) in *Ling Shu* and *Jia Yi Jing* is written as "Dong Ye" (Movement/Acting). In the note "Bi Wei Jian Ying", the right side of the character "Ying" has a small annotation "You Wu Meng Fan"; the Yuan edition writes "Bi Wei Jian, Jian, Meng Ying Fan", which does not match the original manuscript.)

Lei Gong asked: How do we know the difference between Jing Mai and Luo Mai? Huang Di said: Jing Mai are usually invisible; their deficiency and excess are known through the Qikou (Cunkou/Radial artery). Those that are visible are all Luo Mai. (Annotation: Since Jing Mai are not visible, if one wishes to observe their deficiency or excess, one should diagnose the Cunkou to know. Luo Mai lie transversely on the surface, and their five colors are visible; by visual observation, one knows their deficiency or excess.) Lei Gong said: Your student cannot understand why this is so. ("Xi Zi" is a humble self-reference. Although diagnosing the Cunkou reveals the deficiency/excess of Jing Mai, the reason for the visibility of Luo Mai remains unclear.) Huang Di said: All Luo Mai cannot pass through major joints; they must travel through discontinuous paths and emerge, entering beneath the skin again and recombining, with their intersections all visible externally. ("Da Jie" refers to the twelve major joints of the four limbs. Generally, the movement of Luo Mai stops at the major joints; because the Luo pathways exit the joint to the exterior, enter the skin, and merge with other Luo Mai, they appear on the skin surface. "Jue" means stop. Ping An: From "Lei Gong Yue" to "Huang Di Yue", *Jia Yi Jing* lacks these thirteen characters. "Er Dao" in *Ling Shu* and *Jia Yi Jing* is written as "Dao Er".)

Therefore, whenever needling Luo Mai, one must needle above the knots (accumulations). If blood is abundant, even if there are no knots, one should urgently extract blood to drain the pathogens and expel the blood; otherwise, retention will lead to Bi Syndrome (Obstruction). (Annotation: This discusses treating the location of Luo Mai. "Jie" means accumulation. When pathogens lodge in the Luo Mai, there may be areas of blood accumulation, which can be needled away. Even without accumulation, observing places where Luo Mai blood is abundant indicates pathogen residence, which can be needled away, fearing that pathogen retention will cause Bi disease. Ping An: "Zhu Ci" in the Daozang edition of *Ling Shu* is written as "Ci Zhu". *Jia Yi Jing* writes "Sui Wu Jie" as "Sui Wu Xue Jie".)

Generally, diagnosing Luo Mai: if the vessel color is blue/green, there is cold and pain; if red, there is heat. If the Stomach has cold, the Luo Mai on the Thenar eminence (Yu Ji) are mostly blue/green; if the Stomach has heat, the Yu Ji Luo Mai are also red; if the Yu Ji is black, it is long-standing Bi syndrome; if it has red, blue/green, and black colors, it indicates mixed cold and heat. (Annotation: This discusses the method of diagnosing Luo Mai deficiency and excess. There are three Luo Mai colors: blue/green, red, and black. Blue/green indicates cold, red indicates heat, black indicates Bi; having all three colors indicates mixed cold and heat. Regarding color diagnosis, blue/green and red indicate conditions in the Stomach. Diagnosing the Yu Ji Luo Mai relates to the Stomach because the Hand Yangming channel combines with the Taiyin, and the Taiyin channel follows the stomach opening to the Yu Ji; thus, diagnosing the Taiyin Luo Mai reveals Stomach cold or heat. Stomach Bi can also be diagnosed at the Yu Ji; if pathogens lodge and remain long-term forming Bi, it can be diagnosed. Ping An: *Jia Yi Jing* writes "Wei Zhong Han" as "Wei Zhong You Han". "Yu Luo Yi Chi" in *Ling Shu* is written as "Yu Ji Luo Chi", and in *Jia Yi Jing* as "Ze Yu Ji Zhi Luo Chi". "Yu Hei Zhe" in *Ling Shu* and *Jia Yi Jing* is written as "Qi Bao Hei Zhe". Below "Han Re", *Ling Shu* has the characters "Qi Ye".) If the vessels are blue/green and small/short, it indicates Qi deficiency. (Annotation: Blue/green indicates cold, and being small/short indicates that the cold qi is slight. Ping An: *Ling Shu* lacks the characters "Er Xiao".)

Whenever needling to treat cold and heat syndromes, one should use many blood vessels (Luo Mai); treatment must be taken every other day until the blood is exhausted, then regulate the deficiency and excess. (Annotation: This discusses the method of needling Luo Mai. Cold and heat refer to Stomach cold and heat; due to Stomach Qi, the colors are blue/green and red, and the Luo Mai blood is abundant. To treat over multiple days, one takes treatment every other day, stopping when balance is achieved.) If the vessels are small and short, indicating Qi deficiency, excessive draining will cause fainting/collapse; if severe, the patient may fall, be unable to speak, and should be made to sit urgently. (Annotation: If Yin Luo Mai are small and short, Yin Qi is deficient, so excessive draining causes collapse; sitting with bent knees allows the vessels to fill, so the patient wakes and can speak. Alternatively, if both Yin and Yang Luo Mai are short and small, both Qi types are deficient, and draining causes collapse. "Pu" means collapse/fall. Ping An: Both instances of "Shen" in the original manuscript were written as "Qi"; corrected to "Shen" based on *Ling Shu* and *Jia Yi Jing*. *Ling Shu* and *Jia Yi Jing* both write "Men" (Oppressed/Stifled). The character above "Bo" in the note was originally missing; the Yuan edition writes "Ze".)