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[Ping An]: This section, from the beginning of the chapter to "three doses and it is finished," is found in *Ling Shu* (Spiritual Pivot), Volume 10, Chapter 71, "Xie Ke" (Evil Guest), and also in *Jia Yi Jing* (Classified Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion), Volume 12, Section 3. From "Huang Di said: I have heard that the twelve meridians..." to "...regulate them according to their numbers," it is found in *Ling Shu*, Volume 6, Chapter 40, "Yin Yang Qing Zhuo" (Clear and Turbid Yin and Yang). From "Huang Di said: I wish to hear about the clear and turbid qi of humans..." to "...regulate them according to their numbers," it is also found in *Jia Yi Jing*, Volume 1, Section 12. From "Huang Di said: The twelve meridians..." to the end, it is found in *Ling Shu*, Volume 6, Chapter 34, "Wu Luan" (Five Disorders), and also in *Jia Yi Jing*, Volume 6, Chapter 4, "Da Lun Yin Yang Qing Zhuo Shun Zhi Ni Luan" (Great Treatise on the Smooth Governance and Reverse Chaos of Clear and Turbid Yin and Yang).

Huang Di asked Bo Gao: When pathogenic factors invade the human body, some cause a person's eyes to remain open so they cannot sleep or lie down. What qi causes this? (The invasion of Jue [reversal] pathogenic factors causes disease, manifesting as eyes opening but unable to close, rising from bed... Ping An: The eleven characters from "Bu Ming Ming" [not closing eyes] to "Shi Ran" [is it so] are written as seven characters "Mu Bu De Mian Zhe He Ye" [Why can the eyes not sleep?] in *Jia Yi Jing*.) Bo Gao replied: When five grains enter the stomach, their dregs, fluids, and Zong Qi (Gathering Qi) are divided into three pathways. (Zong means gathering. Sui means pathway. Dregs, fluids, and Gathering Qi are divided into three pathways.) Therefore, Zong Qi accumulates in the chest, emerges from the throat, penetrates the Heart and Lung to facilitate respiration. (Dregs and fluids, being turbid and impure, flow downward to form urine and feces. The clear part is Zong Qi, accumulating in Dan Zhong [Conception Vessel point CV-17], named Qi Hai [Sea of Qi]. Its qi penetrates the Heart and Lung, entering and exiting through the throat to facilitate respiration; this is the first case. Ping An: *Ling Shu* writes "Heart Mai" [Heart Meridian] instead of "Heart Lung".) Ying Qi (Nutritive Qi) secretes fluids, injects them into the vessels, transforms them into blood, and nourishes the four extremities, internally infusing the Five Zang and Six Fu organs to correspond with the timing of water clocks. (Ying Qi originates in the Middle Jiao, secreting the fluids of five grains, injecting into the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian, transforming into blood, circulating through the vessels to nourish the hands and feet, returning within the Five Zang and Six Fu organs, rotating to correspond with water clock timings; this is the second case.) Wei Qi (Defensive Qi) emits its fierce, rapid, and slippery qi, proceeding first among the four extremities, muscles, and skin without rest. During the day, it travels in the Yang aspects; at night, it travels in the Yin aspects. When entering Yin, it usually starts from the interspaces of the Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian, traveling through the Five Zang and Six Fu organs. (Wei Qi originates in the Upper Jiao, ascending to the eyes. After traversing the Hand and Foot Three Yang meridians, at night it begins from the Foot Shaoyin interspace, ascending to the Five Zang. By day, it returns to travel the Three Yang meridians, thus cycling through the Five Zang. Regarding the Six Fu organs: when traveling through the Five Zang at night, since the Zang meridians connect to the Fu, it travels through them simultaneously because the Fu are interior; this is the third case. Ping An: *Ling Shu* and *Jia Yi Jing* add "Yu" [on] before "Si Mo" [four extremities]. "Bu Xiu Ye Zhe" [without resting] is written as "Bu Xiu Xi Ye" [without resting] in *Jia Yi Jing*. *Jia Yi Jing* omits "Ri" [day] after "Zhou" [day]. *Ling Shu* lacks the sentence "Qi Ru Yu Yin Ye" [When it enters Yin].) Now, if Jue Qi [reversal qi/pathogenic qi] invades the Zang and Fu organs, Wei Qi alone guards the exterior. Guarding the exterior causes Yang Qi to be abundant, while Yin Qi becomes increasingly deficient. The Yang Qiao vessel becomes full, leading to an excess of Yang, hence the eyes cannot close. (Jue Qi refers to pathogenic qi. When pathogenic qi invades the interior Zang and Fu, Wei Qi cannot enter the organs and can only guard the exterior, resulting in abundant Yang. [Character missing/obscured] indicates expansion/excess. Internal qi of the Zang and Fu fails to circulate, making internal qi increasingly deficient. The Yang Qiao vessel governs the eyes externally; now Yang Qiao is overflowing, so the eyes cannot close. Ming sounds like Mian [sleep]. Ping An: *Ling Shu* writes "Wu Zang Liu Fu" [Five Zang Six Fu] for "Zang Fu", while *Jia Yi Jing* writes "Wu Zang" [Five Zang]. "Du Wei Qi Wai" [alone guards the exterior] is written as "Du Ying Qi Wai" [alone nourishes the exterior] in *Jia Yi Jing*. The twenty-five characters from "Wei Qi Wze Yang Qi ..." to "Gu Mu Bu De Ming" are written in *Ling Shu* as "Xing Yu Yang Ze Yang Qi Sheng, Yang Qi Sheng Ze Yang Qiao Xian, Bu De Ru Yu Yin, Yin Xu Gu Mu Bu Ming" [Traveling in Yang makes Yang Qi abundant; abundant Yang Qi makes Yang Qiao sunken; unable to enter Yin, Yin deficiency causes eyes not to close]. *Jia Yi Jing* is identical except "Yang Qiao Xian" is "Yang Qiao Man" [full], "Yin Xu" is "Yin Qi Xu" [Yin Qi deficient], and "Gu Mu Bu Ming" is "Gu Mu Bu De Mian" [therefore eyes cannot sleep], slightly differing from *Ling Shu*.) Huang Di said: Excellent. How should it be treated? Bo Gao said: Tonify the deficiency, drain the excess, regulate the deficiency and excess, unblock the pathways, and expel the pathogenic factors. (Deficiency refers to Yin Qi. Excess refers to exterior Yang Qi.) Administer Ban Xia Tang (Pinellia Decoction) once. When Yin and Yang become unblocked, sleep will return immediately. (The following describes the formula for Ban Xia Tang to treat Jue Qi. Once Jue Qi dissipates and internal-external qi flows freely, the eyes close and sleep ensues. Ping An: "Qi" [dose/formula] is written as "Ji" [dose] in *Ling Shu* and *Jia Yi Jing*.) Huang Di said: Excellent. This is what is meant by opening up blocked channels, allowing meridians to flow freely, and harmonizing Yin and Yang. I wish to hear the formula. (Water in ditches blocked by silt flows freely when opened; similarly, blocked Yin-Yang qi is guided by acupuncture and herbs, hence called "Jue Du" [opening ditches]. Thus, I ask for the formula.) Bo Gao said: For the decoction, use eight sheng [units] of flowing water from a thousand li away, churn it ten thousand times, and take five sheng of the clear water to boil. Cook it using reed firewood. When it boils vigorously, add one sheng of Shu Mi [glutinous rice] and five he [units] of prepared Ban Xia [Pinellia Rhizome]. Simmer slowly until only one and a half sheng of liquid remains. Remove the dregs. Drink one small cup, three times a day. Gradually increase the dose until therapeutic effects are observed. For newly onset diseases, sleep comes immediately after drinking and covering oneself; sweating cures it. For chronic diseases, three doses are sufficient. (Sleeping immediately after drinking and sweating indicates rapid recovery. One and a half sheng constitutes one dose. Chronic diseases heal after three doses, less than one full dose; new diseases heal after one dose. Ping An: The character "Da" [great/vigorous] in "Da Fei" [boiling vigorously] is written as "Huo" [fire] in *Ling Shu* and *Jia Yi Jing*.)

Huang Di said: I have heard that the twelve meridians correspond to twelve rivers. These twelve rivers have different colors and varying degrees of clarity and turbidity. If human blood and qi were all uniform, how would they correspond? (The twelve waters refer to Jing, Wei, Hai, Hu, Ru, Mian, Huai, Luo, Jiang, He, Ji, and Zhang. These twelve waters are modeled by the twelve meridians to correspond to the Five Elements, hence their colors differ. Jiang River is clear, He River is turbid, indicating different clarity. Ruo means like. If human blood vessels are uniform, how do they correspond to these twelve rivers? Ping An: The four characters "Shi Er Jing Shui" [Twelve Meridian Waters] are not repeated in *Ling Shu*.) Qi Bo said: If human blood and qi were completely uniform, then the world would be unified. Where would there be chaos? (If human blood and qi were entirely consistent without difference, they could not correspond to the twelve rivers. Precisely because blood vessels and the twelve meridians differ, they can correspond to the twelve rivers, hence the potential for disorder.) Huang Di said: I am asking about one person, not the multitude of the world. Qi Bo said: One person also has chaotic qi, and the multitude of the world also has chaotic qi; they are consistent. (Not only do the blood vessels of the multitude have chaos, but one person also has chaos within their own twelve meridians. Ping An: One character is missing here; *Ling Shu* fills it with "He" [combine], Yuan edition uses "Li" [reason/principle].) Huang Di said: I wish to hear about the clear and turbid qi of humans. Qi Bo said: Qi receiving grain is turbid; Qi receiving Heaven's breath is clear. (Turbid Qi receiving grain is Stomach Qi; Clear Qi receiving breath is Lung Qi.) Clear Qi enters Yin, (Yin refers to the Lung.) Turbid Qi enters Yang, (Yang refers to the Stomach.) The clear portion of the turbid ascends out of the pharynx, (The clear part of grain Qi, though turbid overall, ascends out of the mouth/throat to form belching.) The turbid portion of the clear descends, (The turbid part of grain Qi, though clear overall, descends into the meridians to form Ying Qi. Ping An: "Ze Xia Xing" [then descends] is written as "Xia Xing Yu Wei" [descends into the Stomach] in *Jia Yi Jing*.) When Clear and Turbid interfere with each other, it is called Chaotic Qi. (Clear is Yin, Turbid is Yang. Interference leads to chaotic Yin-Yang Qi. Ping An: "Ming" [name/call] is written as "Ming" [name] in *Jia Yi Jing*.) Huang Di said: Yin is clear and Yang is turbid. Turbid contains clear, and clear contains turbid. How can they be distinguished? (Asking about the state of clear and turbid. Ping An: "Qing Zhuo" [Clear and Turbid] appears before "Bie" [distinguish] in *Ling Shu*.) Qi Bo said: The general distinction of Qi, (There are many subtle distinctions of Qi, but we speak of the general overview here.) Clear Qi ascends to the Lung, (The clear Qi of grain ascends to the Lung.) Turbid Qi flows down to the Stomach. (The turbid part of grain flows down to the Stomach.) The clear Qi of the Stomach ascends out of the mouth; (The clear part of grain Qi in the Stomach, though turbid overall, ascends out of the throat/mouth to form belching.) The turbid Qi of the Lung descends into the meridians and accumulates internally in the Sea. (The clear yet turbid Qi injected into the Lung descends into the twelve meridians and accumulates in Dan Zhong, forming Qi Hai [Sea of Qi] for respiration.) Huang Di said: All Yang meridians are turbid. Why is the Taiyang [Greater Yang] uniquely the most turbid? (All Yin meridians are clear, all Yang meridians are turbid. Among the Yang meridians, which one uniquely bears the turbidity?) Qi Bo said: The Hand Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian uniquely receives the turbidity of Yang. (The Stomach ripens food and transmits it to the Small Intestine. The Small Intestine receives and holds it, then transmits it to the Large Intestine. After passing through, this is where the Small Intestine bears the most filth and turbidity; thus, the Small Intestine Meridian receives the turbidity of Yang.) The Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian uniquely receives the clarity of Yin. Its clear Qi ascends to the empty orifices, (The Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian receives clear Qi. It has two branches. One branch of pure clear Qi travels through the 365 collaterals, all ascending to the face. Essence-Yang Qi ascends to the eyes for vision. Its separate Qi travels to the ears for hearing. Its Zong Qi [Gathering Qi] ascends out of the nose for smell. Its turbid Qi exits the lips and mouth for taste. All these are results of the Hand Taiyin clear Qi's operation. Ping An: "Kong Qiao" [empty orifices] is written as "Kong Qiao" [hole/orifice] in *Jia Yi Jing*. Note: "Jing Yang" [Essence Yang] is written as "Qing" [clear] in Yuan edition.) Its turbid Qi descends into the various meridians. (The clear yet turbid Qi of Hand Taiyin enters the vessels and travels through the twelve meridians.) All Yin meridians are clear, but the Foot Taiyin Spleen Meridian uniquely receives their turbidity. (The six Yin meridians' Qi is clear. Foot Taiyin is the Spleen Meridian. The Spleen governs the turbid Qi of grain and water; thus, Foot Taiyin receives the turbidity of Yin. Ping An: In the note "Pi Zhu" [Spleen governs], the top half of "Zhu" [govern] is damaged by insects, leaving only the bottom "Tu" [earth] radical. It should be the remnant of "Zhu". Yuan edition reads "Shang" [upper].) Huang Di said: How should it be treated? Qi Bo said: Clear Qi is slippery/slippery-flowing; Turbid Qi is sluggish/stagnant. This is the normal state of Qi. Therefore, when needling Yang meridians, insert deeply and retain the needle; when needling Yin meridians, insert shallowly and withdraw quickly; when Clear and Turbid interfere, regulate them according to numerical principles. (Most meridians consider Clear Qi as Yang and Turbid Qi as Yin; this chapter considers the fierce Qi of grain as Turbid/Yang and the essence Qi of grain as Clear/Yin. There are differences. Thus, for human Qi that is clear and slippery, needle shallowly and withdraw quickly; for Qi that is turbid and sluggish, needle deeply and retain; for chaotic Yin-Yang Clear-Turbid Qi, regulate according to principle, which is the natural order. Ping An: *Ling Shu* swaps "Needle Yang" to "Needle Yin" and vice versa; *Jia Yi Jing* agrees. "Ji Zhi" [withdraw quickly] is written as "Ji Qu Zhi" [withdraw and take] in *Jia Yi Jing*.)

Huang Di said: The twelve meridians correspond to the Five Elements and are divided into the Four Seasons. Under what conditions do they become disordered, and under what conditions are they cured? Qi Bo said: The Five Elements have order, and the Four Seasons have fixed divisions. Following them brings health; opposing them brings chaos. (Following means the twelve meridians have divisions of Five Elements and Four Seasons. Those who practice self-cultivation align with these divisions to achieve harmony and following; deviating from norms and losing principle leads to opposition and chaos.) Huang Di said: What does "following" mean? (Ping An: *Jia Yi Jing* adds "Er Zhi" [and cure].) Qi Bo said: The twelve meridians correspond to the twelve months. The twelve months are divided into the Four Seasons. The Four Seasons—Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter—have different climates. Ying Qi and Wei Qi follow each other, Yin and Yang are harmonized, and Clear and Turbid do not interfere. This is following and health. (Ying Qi is inside the vessels, Wei Qi is outside. They follow each other internally and externally, hence "follow." It does not mean walking together or harmonizing together.) Huang Di said: What does "opposing and chaotic" mean? Qi Bo said: Clear Qi is in Yin, Turbid Qi is in Yang, (Clear Qi is inside the vessels, forming Ying Qi and Yin; Turbid Qi is outside the vessels, forming Wei Qi and Yang.) Ying Qi moves smoothly along the vessels, Wei Qi moves in reverse. (Ying and Wei Qi move forward and backward through the twelve meridians. The fierce Qi of Wei Qi ascends to the eyes, follows the Foot Taiyang to the toes as smooth movement; its scattered fierce Qi returns from the eyes, follows the Hand Taiyang to the fingers, which is reverse movement. This is the normal state. Ping An: *Ling Shu* and *Jia Yi Jing* omit "Xing" [move] before "Mai" [vessel].) When Clear and Turbid interfere and chaos arises in the chest, it is called Da Men [Great Oppression/Stifling]. (Men sounds like Men [stifled/oppressed]. Yang Qi entering Yin, Yin Qi entering Yang, is Clear/Turbid chaos. Ying Qi moving reverse, Wei Qi moving smooth, is Reverse/Smooth chaos.) Thus, if Qi is chaotic in the Heart, there is mental distress, silence, bowing the head, and quiet sitting; (Silent mental distress, unwillingness to speak. Bowing head means sitting quietly with head lowered. Ping An: "Hei" is written as "Mo" [silent] in *Jia Yi Jing*.) If chaotic in the Lung, there is panting and gasping while bending forward and backward, holding the chest to breathe; (Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian travels along the arm. When Lung Qi is chaotic, the Lung and arm feel stifled, hence holding the chest to breathe. Ping An: "Jie" [touch/connect] is written as "An" [press] in *Jia Yi Jing*.) If chaotic in the intestines and stomach, there is Huo Luan [Colic with vomiting and diarrhea]; (In the intestines and stomach, Ying and Wei Qi mix chaotically, causing Huo Luan. Huo Luan is sudden vomiting and diarrhea.) If chaotic in the arms and legs, there is Si Jue [Four Reversals/Cold Extremities]; (Si Jue refers to cold or hot extremities.) If chaotic in the head, there is Jue Ni [Reversal Cold/Heat], heavy head, dizziness, and falling. (Jue Ni heavy head refers to cold or heat in the head, heaviness, dizziness, and falling. Ping An: "Tou Zhong" [heavy head] is written as "Tou Tong" [headache] in *Jia Yi Jing*, note: "One version says heavy head.") Huang Di said: Is there a method for treating the Five Disorders with acupuncture? Qi Bo said: There is a way they come, and a way they go. Understanding this way thoroughly is the treasure of the body. (Having a way means regulating chaos, making it return to the correct path.) Huang Di said: Excellent. I wish to hear the ... [missing character]. Qi Bo said: If Qi is in the Heart, select the Shu [Transport] points of the Hand Shaoyin Pericardium Meridian and Heart Meridian. (Selecting Hand Shaoyin for Qi in the Heart: The earlier text says the Heart does not receive evil. Now Qi is in the Heart; how can it not receive evil? If the evil is in the Pericardium, why treat both Heart and Pericardium meridians? Thus, we know the Heart also receives evil. Shu refers to the third Shu points of both Hand Shaoyin and Hand Jueyin [Pericardium]. Ping An: One character is missing; *Ling Shu* fills it with "Dao" [way], Yuan edition uses "Zhi" [essence/purpose]. "Shao Yin Jing Xin Zhu Shu" is written as "Shao Yin Xin Zhu Zhi Shu" in *Ling Shu* and *Jia Yi Jing*.) If Qi is in the Lung, select the Ying [Spring] point of the Hand Taiyin and the Shu point of the Foot Shaoyin. (Hand Taiyin Ying point is the root Shu of the Lung. Foot Shaoyin Shu point is the Kidney Meridian. Because the Kidney Meridian ascends into the Lung, upper and lower Qi connect, so select Hand Taiyin Ying above and Foot Shaoyin Shu below.) If Qi is in the intestines and stomach, select the Foot Taiyin and Foot Yangming meridians; for the lower part, select Zu San Li [ST-36]. (Foot Taiyin is the Spleen Meridian. Spleen and Stomach Zang-Fu have connecting Yin-Yang Qi. Thus, for intestinal/stomach Qi chaos, select Foot Taiyin. Yangming Meridian is the Stomach's own meridian. The Stomach's upper Shu is on the back, lower Shu is at Zu San Li. Ping An: "Xia Zhe" [lower part] is written as "Bu Xia Zhe" [not lower part] in *Ling Shu* and *Jia Yi Jing*.) If Qi is in the head, select Tian Zhu [BL-10] and Da Zhu [BL-11]; (Foot Taiyang Meridian travels on the head. Tian Zhu and Da Zhu are emission points of Foot Taiyang Qi, so select them.) if no improvement, select the Ying and Shu points of the Foot Taiyang. (If the previous two points do not help, select the second Ying point and third Shu point of Foot Taiyang.) If Qi is in the arms and feet, first remove blood from the vessels, then select the Ying and Shu points of the Yangming and Shaoyang meridians. (For Four Reversals in limbs, first prick the abundant collaterals of hands and feet to release blood, then select Ying and Shu points of Hand/Foot Yangming and Hand/Foot Shaoyang. Ping An: *Ling Shu* adds "Qu Zhi" [take them] after "Zu" [foot]; "Xue" [blood] lacks "Yu" [from/in] before it.) Huang Di said: How to apply tonification and drainage? Qi Bo said: Slow insertion and slow withdrawal is called Dao Qi [Guiding Qi]. (Tonification is slow insertion and quick withdrawal; drainage is quick insertion and slow withdrawal. This guides Ying and Wei Qi to harmonize.) Tonification and drainage are formless, hence called Tong Jing [Same Essence]. This is not about excess or deficiency, but about reverse chaotic Qi. (Although tonification and drainage are formless, one must be precise regarding the excess/deficiency of Qi and the reversal of chaotic Qi. Thus, the subtlety lies in tonification/drainage, aiming for harmony.) Huang Di said: How glorious is the Dao! How illuminating is the discussion! Please inscribe it on jade tablets, naming it "Zhi Luan" [Treating Chaos]. (Huang Di praises Qi Bo's words in two ways: first, praising the great Dao; second, praising the skillful and convenient discussion. Thus, requesting it be passed down immortally. Ping An: From "Huang Di said Guang Hu Zai Dao" to the end, *Jia Yi Jing* does not include this section.)