人之一身，有经脉，有络脉。直行曰经，旁行曰络。几经有十二，手足三阴三阳是也。
十五，乃十二经各有一别络，而脾又有一大络，并任督二络，为十五络也。共二十七气，相
随上下，如泉之流，如日月之行，不得休息，故阴脉荣于五脏，阳脉荣于六腑，阴阳相贯，
如环无端，菲知其纪，终而复始。其流溢之气入于奇经，转相灌溉，内运脏腑，外濡腠理。
奇经凡八脉，不拘制于十二经，无表里配合，故谓之奇。盖奇经犹夫湖泽，正经之脉隆盛，
则溢于奇经。秦越人比之天雨下降沟渠溢满，滂沛傍行，流于湖泽，此发《灵》、《素》之
秘也。八脉散在群书，略而不悉予虽不敏。谓陈大旨。八脉者，阴维也，阳维也，阴跷也，
阳跷也，冲也，任也，督也，带也。阳维起于诸阳之会，由外踝而上行于卫分；阴维起于诸
阴之交，由内踝而上行于营分，所以为一身之纲维也。阳跷起于跟中，循外踝而上行身之左
右；阴跷起于跟中，循内踝而上行身之左右，所以使机关之跷捷也。督脉起于会阴，循背而
行于身之后，为阳脉之总督，故曰阳脉之海。任脉起于会阴，循腹而行于身之前，为阴脉之
承任，故曰阴脉之海。冲脉起于会阴，夹脐而行，直冲于上，为诸脉之冲要，故曰十二经脉
之海。带脉则横围于腰，状如束带，所以总约诸脉者也，是故阳维主一身之表。阴维主一身
之里，以乾坤言也。阳跷主一身左右之阳，阴跷主一身左右之阴以东西言也，督脉主身后之
阳
，任脉主身前之阴，以南北言也，带脉横束诸脉，以六合言也，八脉之中惟任督二脉，为人
身之子午，为升降之道，交媾之乡，如鹿运尾闾，能通督脉足于精，龟纳鼻息，能通任脉足
于气，是以二物得寿。此奇经八脉之大旨，至于经穴病状，具见《濒湖脉考》中。
人的身体，有经脉，有络脉。直行的称为经，旁行的称为络。正经共有十二条，即手三阴经和手三阳经、足三阴经和足三阳经。
十五络，是指十二经脉各有一条别络，加上脾脏有一条大络，以及任脉和督脉的各一条络脉，合起来共十五条络脉。全身共有二十七气，上下相随运行，像泉水流动一样，像日月运行一样，不停歇，所以阴脉滋养五脏，阳脉滋养六腑，阴阳经脉相互贯通，像一个圆环没有端点，如果不了解其规律，就会终而复始地循环。其中流溢的气进入奇经八脉，互相灌溉，内运脏腑，外润腠理（皮肤纹理及汗孔）。
奇经共有八条脉，不受十二正经的约束，没有表里配合关系，所以称为“奇”。大概奇经就像湖泊沼泽，当十二正经的脉气隆盛时，就会溢出流入奇经。秦越人（扁鹊）将其比作天雨下降，沟渠溢满，水势浩大旁行，流入湖泽，这是阐发《灵枢》、《素问》奥秘的地方。八脉散见于各类医书中，我虽然不才，也试着陈述其大旨。这八条脉是：阴维脉、阳维脉、阴跷脉、阳跷脉、冲脉、任脉、督脉、带脉。
阳维脉起于诸阳经交会之处，从外踝向上运行于卫分；阴维脉起于诸阴经交会之处，从内踝向上运行于营分，所以它们是全身经脉的纲维。阳跷脉起于足跟中，沿外踝向上运行于身体左右两侧；阴跷脉起于足跟中，沿内踝向上运行于身体左右两侧，所以能使关节灵活敏捷。督脉起于会阴穴，沿背部向后上方运行，为阳脉的总督，所以称为“阳脉之海”。任脉起于会阴穴，沿腹部向前上方运行，为阴脉的承任，所以称为“阴脉之海”。冲脉起于会阴穴，夹脐上行，直冲向上，为诸脉的冲要，所以称为“十二经脉之海”。带脉则横向环绕腰部，形状像束带，所以总束诸脉。
因此，阳维脉主一身之表，阴维脉主一身之里，这是从乾坤角度而言的。阳跷脉主一身左右之阳，阴跷脉主一身左右之阴，这是从东西角度而言的。督脉主身后之阳，任脉主身前之阴，这是从南北角度而言的。带脉横束诸脉，这是从六合角度而言的。在八脉之中，只有任脉和督脉，是人身上的子午线，是气机升降的道路，也是阴阳交媾之乡，就像鹿运转尾闾，能通督脉而补足精气；龟用鼻呼吸，能通任脉而补足气机，所以这两种动物得以长寿。这就是奇经八脉的大旨，至于具体的经穴和病状，详见《濒湖脉考》中。
In the human body, there are Jing (Primary Meridians) and Luo (Collaterals). Those that run straight are called Jing, while those that branch off are called Luo. There are twelve primary meridians, namely the Three Yin and Three Yang meridians of the hand and foot.
The fifteen collaterals consist of one collateral from each of the twelve primary meridians, plus one major collateral from the Spleen, along with the Ren (Conception Vessel) and Du (Governing Vessel) collaterals, totaling fifteen collaterals. Together with the twenty-four qi flows of the twelve meridians, these constitute twenty-seven qi streams. They circulate up and down continuously, like flowing spring water or the movement of the sun and moon, never resting. Thus, Yin meridians nourish the Zang organs, and Yang meridians nourish the Fu organs. The Yin and Yang meridians interconnect in a continuous cycle without beginning or end. Without understanding this principle, one cannot grasp how it repeats endlessly. The overflowing qi enters the Eight Extraordinary Vessels, irrigating each other, moving internally to the Zang-Fu organs, and moistening externally the Couli (skin texture and pores).
There are eight extraordinary vessels, which are not constrained by the twelve primary meridians and lack exterior-interior pairing; hence they are termed "Extraordinary." These vessels are likened to lakes and marshes: when the qi of the primary meridians becomes abundant, it overflows into the extraordinary vessels. Qin Yue-ren (Bian Que) compared this to rain falling from heaven, causing ditches and channels to overflow, with surging waters spreading sideways into lakes and marshes. This elucidates the secrets of the *Ling Shu* and *Su Wen*. The eight vessels are scattered across various texts. Although I am not talented, I will attempt to outline their main principles. The eight vessels are: Yin Wei Mai, Yang Wei Mai, Yin Qiao Mai, Yang Qiao Mai, Chong Mai, Ren Mai, Du Mai, and Dai Mai.
Yang Wei Mai originates at the convergence of all Yang meridians and ascends from the lateral malleolus into the Wei (Defensive) level, serving as the framework for the exterior of the body. Yin Wei Mai originates at the convergence of all Yin meridians and ascends from the medial malleolus into the Ying (Nutritive) level, serving as the framework for the interior of the body.
Yang Qiao Mai originates in the heel, follows the lateral malleolus, and ascends along both sides of the body, enabling agility of the joints. Yin Qiao Mai also originates in the heel, follows the medial malleolus, and ascends along both sides of the body.
Du Mai (Governing Vessel) originates at Huiyin (CV1), runs along the back, and governs all Yang meridians, thus being called the "Sea of Yang Meridians." Ren Mai (Conception Vessel) also originates at Huiyin (CV1), runs along the abdomen, and governs all Yin meridians, thus being called the "Sea of Yin Meridians." Chong Mai (Penetrating Vessel) originates at Huiyin (CV1), runs alongside the umbilicus, and ascends directly upward, acting as the crucial passage for all meridians, thus being called the "Sea of the Twelve Primary Meridians." Dai Mai (Girdle Vessel) encircles the waist horizontally, resembling a belt, thereby binding and regulating all meridians.
Therefore, Yang Wei Mai governs the exterior of the body, and Yin Wei Mai governs the interior, corresponding to Qian (Heaven) and Kun (Earth). Yang Qiao Mai governs the Yang on both left and right sides, and Yin Qiao Mai governs the Yin on both left and right sides, corresponding to East and West. Du Mai governs the Yang at the posterior, and Ren Mai governs the Yin at the anterior, corresponding to North and South. Dai Mai binds the meridians horizontally, corresponding to the Six Directions (Liu He). Among the eight vessels, only Ren Mai and Du Mai correspond to the Zi-Wu (North-South axis) of the body, serving as the pathways for the ascent and descent of Qi and the site of Yin-Yang interaction. Just as deer move their tails to stimulate the Du Mai and replenish essence, and turtles breathe through their noses to stimulate the Ren Mai and replenish Qi, these animals achieve longevity. This is the gist of the Eight Extraordinary Vessels. For specific acupoints and symptoms, please refer to *Binhu Maixue* (Pulse Studies by Binhu).