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[Ping An]: This section, from the beginning of the chapter to "those not counted as primary are collaterals," is found in *Ling Shu* (Spiritual Pivot), Volume 4, Chapter 17 "Mai Du" (Length of Vessels), and also in *Jia Yi Jing* (Classified Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion), Volume 2, Section 2. The section from "Yin Qiao and Yang Qiao" to "then the eyes close," is found in *Ling Shu*, Volume 5, Chapter 21 "Han Re Bing" (Cold-Heat Diseases), also in this book (*Huang Di Nei Jing Tai Su*) Volume 26 "Han Re Za Shuo" (Miscellaneous Sayings on Cold and Heat), and also in *Jia Yi Jing*, Volume 12, Section 4. From "Evil Qi invades the Foot Yang Qiao" to the end, it is found in *Su Wen* (Basic Questions), Volume 18, Chapter 63 "Miao Ci Lun" (Discussion on Miraculous Puncture), and also in *Jia Yi Jing*, Volume 5, Section 3.

The Yellow Emperor asked: Where do the Qiao vessels originate and where do they terminate? What Qi governs these vessels? (Qiao is also written as Qiao; pronunciation is Jin Jiao fan, meaning agile and vigorous runners. Human movement is swift and vigorous due to the function of these vessels, hence the name. Qiao means high. These vessels originate from the feet and ascend to the head, thus called Qiao vessels. This asks for their starting and ending points, and which Zang organ's Qi governs them. Ping An: In *Ling Shu* and *Jia Yi Jing*, Qiao is written as Qiao. 'Governs this' is written as 'Rong Shui' in *Ling Shu* and 'Ying Ye' in *Jia Yi Jing*.)

Qi Bo replied: The Qiao vessels are branches of the Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian. They originate behind Ran Gu (the navicular tuberosity), ascend above the medial malleolus. (*Jiu Juan Jing*, i.e., *Ling Shu*, states: Each Qiao vessel extends seven chi five cun from foot to eye; together, Yin and Yang Qiao measure one zhang five chi. Thus, both Yin and Yang Qiao originate at the heel and reach the inner canthus. Branching from Foot Shaoyin behind Ran Gu, running through the heel to Zhaohai (KI6), and ascending to the inner canthus is named Yin Qiao; originating from the heel, reaching Shenmai (BL62), and ascending to the inner canthus is named Yang Qiao. Therefore, *Nan Jing* Chapter 81 states: Both Yin and Yang Qiao originate from the heel and ascend. Yin Qiao reaches the throat and intersects with the Chong Mai (Penetrating Vessel); Yang Qiao enters Fengchi (GB20). Both originate from the heel and ascend, entering the inner canthus, intersecting with the Chong Mai at the throat. This describes their course but not their termination; their ascent terminates at the inner canthus as the extreme point. Behind Ran Gu refers to the heel. Both *Jiu Juan* and *Nan Jing* record left and right sides, and the measurements are consistent. [Text missing] is the branch of Foot Shaoyin. Behind Ran Gu, [missing character] below the front-large raised bone of the heel. Ping An: In the note 'originate at the heel', Yuan edition mistakenly prints 'Xian' instead of 'Gen'. Also, six characters missing before 'is Foot Shaoyin' are conjectured by me as 'behind Ran Gu, in the heel'. The missing character after 'heel' is conjectured based on *Jia Yi Jing* as 'Xian' (depression), while Yuan edition prints 'Zhi'.)

They go straight up along the medial thigh, enter the genital region, ascend along the interior of the chest into the Supraclavicular Fossa (Que Pen), emerge anterior to Renying (ST9), enter the nasal cavity, connect to the inner canthus, and merge with the Taiyang Bladder Meridian and Yang Qiao to ascend. (Entering the genital region refers to Yin Qiao entering the external genitalia; this is a branch of Foot Shaoyin, named Yin Qiao, ascending into Que Pen. Yang Qiao travels from Fengchi (GB20) and Naokong (GB13) to the corner of the mouth, meeting Dicang (ST4) and Chengqi (ST1), and after intersecting with Yin Qiao at the outer canthus, they separately enter the nasal cavity, reach the inner canthus, where Yin Qiao merges with Taiyang and Yang Qiao to ascend. Ping An: 'Emerge anterior to Renying' in *Jia Yi Jing* is 'follow Renying'. 'Enter nasal cavity' in *Jia Yi Jing* is 'ascend into nasal cavity'; in *Ling Shu* it is 'enter Bi' (lacrimal sac area); orthodox *Jia Yi Jing* also writes 'Bi'.)

When Qi moves together and returns, it moistens the eyes; if Qi does not nourish, the eyes cannot close. (Yin and Yang Qi move together and return; excess Yin causes tears to moisten the eyes. If the two Qi do not nourish each other, there is disharmony; excess Yang causes the eyes to remain open. Ping An: 'Qi bing' in *Jia Yi Jing* is 'Qi xiang bing'. 'Ying' in *Ling Shu* is 'Rong', same below.)

The Yellow Emperor asked: Why does Qi circulate only through the Five Zang organs and not nourish the Six Fu organs? (The Emperor asks about Yin Zang. Since the branch of Shaoyin is Yin Qiao, which nourishes Yin, implying Yang Qi does not nourish the Fu organs, hence the question.)

Qi Bo said: Qi cannot fail to circulate. (Yin and Yang Qi pour into each other like a circle, so they cannot fail to circulate.) It flows like water, moves ceaselessly like the sun and moon. Thus, Yin vessels nourish the Zang, and Yang vessels nourish the Fu. Like a circle without beginning or end, its origin is unknown, ending and restarting. (Water flows east, circling heaven and earth, thus moving ceaselessly. Sun and moon start from Xing Ji and restart, thus moving endlessly. Three Yin vessels nourish Zang and inject into Yang; Three Yang vessels nourish Fu and inject into Yin. Yin and Yang inject into each other like a circle, compared to flowing water and moving sun/moon, ending and restarting, unknowable in sequence. Ping An: In the note 'Sun and Moon start from Xing Ji', the characters 'Sun and Moon' were incomplete originally; based on the text, they should be 'Sun and Moon'.) The overflowing Qi irrigates the Zang and Fu internally and moistens the Cou Li (skin and pores) externally. (This refers to the Qi of the two Qiao vessels.)

The Yellow Emperor asked: Regarding Yin and Yang Qiao, which should be counted (as the primary meridian)? (Ping An: In *Ling Shu* and *Jia Yi Jing*, 'Yin Yang' is 'You Yin Yang', and 'Dang Shu' is 'Dang Qi Shu'.)

Qi Bo answered: For men, count Yang; for women, count Yin. That which is counted is the Jing (Primary) vessel; that which is not counted is the Luo (Collateral) vessel.

The Yellow Emperor said: Excellent. (For men, Yang Qiao is Jing and Yin Qiao is Luo; for women, Yin Qiao is Jing and Yang Qiao is Luo. Ping An: Above 'That which is counted', *Jia Yi Jing* repeats 'Its Yin'.)

Yin Qiao and Yang Qiao intersect; Yang enters and Yin exits. At the outer canthus (Dui Kong), Yin and Yang intersect. When Yang Qi is excessive, the eyes open; when Yin Qi is excessive, the eyes close. (The two Qiao intersect at the inner canthus; Yang Qiao Qi enters from outside to inside, Yin Qiao Qi exits from inside to outside. Excess Yang Qiao makes the eyes unable to close; excess Yin Qiao causes the eyes to remain closed. Ping An: Dui Kong in *Ling Shu* is 'Mu Rui Kong' (outer canthus).)

Evil Qi invading the Foot Yang Qiao causes eye pain, starting from the inner canthus. (The two Qiao intersect at the outer canthus and both reach the inner canthus; thus, pain from evil invasion originates from this internal point. Ping An: The missing character after 'Rui Kong' in the note, based on the previous note 'Yang Qiao and Yin Qiao intersect at Mu Rui Kong already', should be 'Yi' (already). 'Starting from Shi Nei Bi Qi', 'Shi' is likely a transcription error for 'Mu' (eye).)