络脉，本经之旁支，而别出以联系于十二经者也。本经之脉由络脉而交他脉，他脉之交
亦由
明之支者，从缺盆上挟口鼻，而交于足阳明。足阳明之支者，别跗上，出大指之端，而交于
足太阴。足太阴之支，从胃别上膈注心中，而交于手少阴。手少阴则直自本经少冲穴，而交
于手太阳，不假支持，盖君者出令者也。手太阳之支者，别颊上，至目内 而交于足太阳。
足太阳之支者，从膊内左右，别下合 中，下至小指外侧端，而交于足少阴。足少阴之支者
，从肺出注胸中，而交于手厥阴。手厥阴之支者，从掌中循小指次指，出其端，而交于足少
阳。足少阳之支者，从跗上，入大指爪甲聚毛，出而交于足厥阴。足厥阴之支者，从肝别贯
膈，上注肺，而交于手太阴也。
故经脉者，行血气、通阴阳以荣于身也。通结上文以起下之义∶经脉之流行不息，所以
营运血气、流通阴阳，以荣养于身者也。不言脉络者，举经以赅之。其始从中焦，注手太阴、阳
明，阳明注足阳明、太阴，太阴注手少阴、太阳，太阳注足太阳、少阴，少阴注手心主、少
阳，少阳注足少阳、厥阴，厥阴复还注太阴。始于中焦注手太阴，终于注足厥阴，是经脉之
行一周身也。
其气常以平旦为纪，以漏水下百刻，昼夜流行，与天同度，终而复始者也。气，荣气，
统纪承上文经脉之行。其始则自起中焦，其气别常以平旦为纪也，荣常以平旦之寅时为纪，由中焦
而始注手太阴，以次流行也。不言血者，气行则血可知也。漏水下百刻，昼夜流行，与天同
度者，言昼夜漏下百刻之内，人身之经脉流行无有穷止，与天同一营运也。盖天以三百六十
五度四分度之一，为一周天而终一昼夜；人之荣卫则以五十度，周为一身。气行一万三千五
百息，脉行八百一十丈而终一昼夜，适当明日之寅时，而复会于手太阴。是与天同度数，周
而复始也。或云昼漏有长短，其荣气盈缩何如?然，漏刻虽有长短之殊，而五十度周身者均
至其中，不因漏刻而盈缩也。
络脉，是本经的旁支，另外分出以联系于十二经脉。本经的脉气通过络脉与其他经脉相交，其他经脉的相交也是由络脉连接。手太阴肺经的支脉，从缺盆上行挟持口鼻，与足阳明胃经相交。足阳明胃经的支脉，别出于足背，出大脚趾尖端，与足太阴脾经相交。足太阴脾经的支脉，从胃部别出上穿膈肌注入心中，与手少阴心经相交。手少阴心经则直接由本经的少冲穴，与手太阳小肠经相交，不需要借助支持，因为心为君主之官，发出号令。手太阳小肠经的支脉，别出于颊部上行，至目内眦与足太阳膀胱经相交。足太阳膀胱经的支脉，从膊内左右分开下行合入腘中，下至小指外侧端，与足少阴肾经相交。足少阴肾经的支脉，从肺部出来注入胸中，与手厥阴心包经相交。手厥阴心包经的支脉，从掌中循行经过小指和次指（中指），出其指尖，与足少阳胆经相交。足少阳胆经的支脉，从足背进入大脚趾爪甲后的丛毛处，出来与足厥阴肝经相交。足厥阴肝经的支脉，从肝脏别出贯穿膈肌，上注于肺，与手太阴肺经相交。
所以经脉，是运行血气、沟通阴阳以营养全身的东西。承接上文以引出下文的意义：经脉的流行不息，是用来营运血气、流通阴阳，以荣养身体的。不说脉络，是因为举出“经”就概括了“络”。经脉之气起始于中焦，注入手太阴肺经，手太阴注入手阳明大肠经，手阳明注入足阳明胃经、足太阴脾经，足太阴注入手少阴心经、手太阳小肠经，手太阳注入足太阳膀胱经、足少阴肾经，足少阴注入手厥阴心包经、手少阳三焦经，手少阳注入足少阳胆经、足厥阴肝经，足厥阴又返还注入手太阴肺经。起始于中焦注入手太阴，终于注入足厥阴，这是经脉运行一周身的过程。
其气通常以平旦（清晨）为节律，随着漏壶滴水一百刻，昼夜不停流动，与天道度数相同，循环往复。这里的“气”，指营气，统领承接上文关于经脉运行的论述。其起始则是自中焦开始，其气通常以平旦为节律，营气通常以平旦寅时为节律，从中焦开始注入手太阴肺经，依次流行。不说血，是因为气行则血随之可知。漏水下百刻，昼夜流行，与天同度，是说在昼夜漏下百刻之内，人身经脉的流行没有穷尽，与天道的运行相同。大概天道以三百六十五度又四分之一度，为一周天而终结一个昼夜；人体的营卫之气则以五十周，环绕全身一周。气行走一万三千五百息，脉行走八百一十丈而终结一个昼夜，正好到达第二天的寅时，又重新会合于手太阴肺经。这与天道度数相同，周而复始。有人说白昼漏刻有长短变化，那么营气的盈缩情况如何呢？回答说，漏刻虽然有长短的不同，但五十周环绕全身的时间都是均匀到达的，并不因为漏刻的长短而出现盈缩变化。
The Luo-collaterals (Luo Mai, collateral vessels) are the lateral branches of the primary meridians, diverging to connect with the Twelve Primary Meridians. The Qi of the primary meridian intersects with other meridians through the Luo-collaterals, and the intersection of other meridians is also connected via these collaterals. The branch of the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian ascends from the Keyu region (Quepen), flanking the mouth and nose, intersecting with the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian. The branch of the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian diverges at the dorsum of the foot, emerging at the tip of the great toe, and intersects with the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian. The branch of the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian diverges from the stomach, pierces the diaphragm, and enters the heart, intersecting with the Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian. The Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian directly intersects with the Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian from its own Shaochong point (Shaochong, HT9), without requiring intermediate support, because the Heart acts as the sovereign ruler issuing commands. The branch of the Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian diverges from the cheek, ascends to the inner canthus of the eye, and intersects with the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian. The branch of the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian diverges from the medial aspect of the upper arm, descends bilaterally to converge in the popliteal fossa, continues down to the lateral end of the little toe, and intersects with the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian. The branch of the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian emerges from the lung, enters the chest, and intersects with the Hand-Jueyin Pericardium Meridian. The branch of the Hand-Jueyin Pericardium Meridian circulates from the palm along the little finger and the index finger, emerging at their tips, and intersects with the Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian. The branch of the Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian enters from the dorsum of the foot into the area of hair growth near the nail of the great toe, emerges, and intersects with the Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian. The branch of the Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian diverges from the liver, penetrates the diaphragm, ascends to the lung, and intersects with the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian.
Therefore, the Jing-Meridians (Jing Mai, primary meridians) transport Blood and Qi, communicate Yin and Yang, and nourish the body. This passage connects to the preceding text to introduce the following meaning: The continuous circulation of the Jing-Meridians serves to circulate Blood and Qi, flow Yin and Yang, and nourish the body. The term "Luo-collaterals" is not explicitly mentioned here because citing the "Jing-Meridians" encompasses the "Luo-collaterals." The circulation begins at the Middle Jiao (Zhong Jiao, middle burner), entering the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian; the Hand-Taiyin enters the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian; the Hand-Yangming enters the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian and Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian; the Foot-Taiyin enters the Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian and Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian; the Hand-Taiyang enters the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian and Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian; the Foot-Shaoyin enters the Hand-Jueyin Pericardium Meridian and Hand-Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian; the Hand-Shaoyang enters the Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian and Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian; the Foot-Jueyin returns to enter the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian. Starting from the Middle Jiao entering the Hand-Taiyin and ending with the entry into the Foot-Jueyin constitutes one complete circuit of the meridians around the body.
The Qi typically takes dawn (Pingdan) as its rhythmic marker. Following the measurement of one hundred water-clock strokes (ke), it flows day and night without cessation, matching the celestial degrees, completing cycles and starting anew. Here, "Qi" refers to Ying-Qi (Nutritive Qi), summarizing the previous discussion on meridian circulation. It originates from the Middle Jiao, and its rhythm is marked by dawn; specifically, Ying-Qi uses the Yin hour of dawn as its marker, beginning from the Middle Jiao to enter the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian, circulating sequentially. Blood is not mentioned separately because where Qi moves, Blood follows. "One hundred water-clock strokes flowing day and night, matching the heavens" means that within the hundred strokes of the water clock covering day and night, the circulation of human meridians is endless, operating in accordance with the heavens. The heavens complete one celestial circuit (365 and 1/4 degrees) to finish one day and night; the human Ying-Wei (Defensive Qi) completes fifty circuits around the body. The Qi travels for 13,500 breaths, and the pulse travels 810 zhang, concluding one day and night, arriving precisely at the Yin hour of the next day, reuniting at the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian. This matches the heavenly degrees, cycling endlessly. Some ask: if the length of daylight measured by the water clock varies, how does the Ying-Qi expand or contract? The answer is that although the water clock measures vary in length, the fifty circuits around the body reach their completion uniformly, without expanding or contracting due to the variations in the water clock.