典藏书目

To understand that the skin regions (Pibu) are governed by the meridians, it is because Yang governs the exterior and Yin governs the interior; this applies to all meridians. If the color is predominantly blue-green, it indicates pain; if predominantly black, it indicates Bi syndrome (obstruction); if yellow and red, it indicates heat; if predominantly white, it indicates cold; if all five colors appear, it indicates a mixture of cold and heat. When the collateral vessels (Luomai) are full of pathogenic factors, they invade and reside in the main meridians. (When the pathogens in the collaterals are abundant, they invade and reside in the meridians.) The twelve meridian systems are the manifestations of the skin regions. (Superficial collaterals are visible on the skin.) Therefore, the onset of all diseases must begin at the hair follicles and skin. When pathogens strike, the interstices (Coulí, referring to sweat pores and skin texture) open; once opened, pathogens enter and reside in the collateral vessels. If they remain without being expelled, they transmit into the meridians; if they remain there without being expelled, they transmit into the Fu organs; they lodge (Lin, meaning to stay/reside) in the intestines and stomach. When pathogens first enter the skin, (Xi, similar to 'se' or describing shivering from cold), the body hair stands erect, and the interstices open. When they enter the collateral vessels, the collateral vessels become full, and the color changes. Pathogens residing in the collaterals do so because of deficiency (Jingqi deficiency allows for pathogenic invasion). Consequently, the pulse sinks and becomes depressed. (The pulse sinks and becomes depressed.) If pathogens linger between the sinews and bones, excessive cold causes sinew spasms and bone pain; excessive heat causes sinew flaccidity and bone wasting, muscle emaciation, and hair breaking and deterioration. The skin is the region of the vessels. When pathogens reside in the skin, the interstices open; once open, pathogens enter and reside in the collateral vessels. When collateral vessels are full, they pour into the meridians; when meridians are full, they enter and reside in the Zang-Fu organs. Thus, the skin has specific regions. If not treated, major diseases will arise. (This means that when pathogens reside in the skin regions, they obstruct the flow of Jingqi; if neglected, major diseases will arise.)

(The Classic states: There are 365 Qi acupoints, corresponding to the 365 days of a year. ○ All acupoints in the human body are residences of Qi, hence called Qi acupoints.)
Pain pulling between the back and the heart should be treated with Tiantu (CV22) and Shizhui (DU14, Zhongshu) and Shangji (CV12, Zhongwan). Shangji refers to the epigastrium; Xiaji refers to Guanyuan (CV4). (Zhongwan is the Front-Mu point of the Stomach, generated by the Hand-Taiyang, Hand-Shaoyang, and Foot-Yangming meridians, and is an intersection of the Ren Mai; Guanyuan is the Front-Mu point of the Small Intestine, an intersection of the Foot-Sanyin meridians and the Ren Mai. Hence, they are called Shangji and Xiaji.) The way evil links yin and yang on the left and right between the back and chest is as described above. The symptoms of this condition include pain and astringency in the front and back, chest and hypochondriac pain with dyspnea, inability to lie flat, rebellious Qi, shortness of breath, unilateral pain, and full, protruding pulses. The channels slant out from the sacrum, connect to the chest and hypochondrium, branch to the heart, penetrate the diaphragm, ascend to the shoulder, reach Tiantu, slant down to the shoulder, and intersect below Shizhui. (This details the aforementioned pain pulling between the back and heart, which is entirely due to disorders of the Ren Mai and Du Mai. The Ren Mai is anterior, and the Du Mai is posterior. Those lower down slant out from the sacral channels; those higher up connect to the chest and hypochondrium, branch to the heart, penetrate the diaphragm, ascend to the shoulder, reach Tiantu, and slant down to the shoulder on both sides, intersecting below Shizhui. Therefore, one should needle points such as Tiantu, Zhongshu, Zhongwan, and Guanyuan. ○ Wu Kun deleted the above 87 characters; the New Correction suspects this text was originally from the "Gu Kong Lun" and erroneously inserted here.)
Large gatherings of muscle are called Gu (valleys); small gatherings of muscle are called [implied term for smaller muscle intersections]. The intersections between muscle fibers are the gatherings of Gu, used to circulate Ying and Wei Qi and gather Da Qi. When pathogens overflow and Qi stagnates, the pulse [becomes obstructed/hot]. (Remaining between bone joints, where fluids gather, inevitably leads to decay and rot; this is caused by Qi stagnation and pulse heat.) Accumulated cold remains, causing Ying and Wei Qi to cease their normal residence; muscles contract, sinews spasm, and the ribs and elbows cannot extend. Internally, this forms Bone Bi; externally, it results in numbness and insensitivity. This is called Deficiency. (Yang Qi deficiency.) Severe cold remaining in the [muscle intersections]. There are 365 [muscle intersection] acupoint meetings, also corresponding to one year. (There are 365 bone joints in the body, and the [muscle intersection] acupoints correspond to them, hence called Acupoint Meetings, also corresponding to the number of days in a year.) For minor Bi syndromes that overflow and move along the meridians, the method of using fine needles is the same. (Minor Bi refers to slight pathogens.) Sun Luo (branching collaterals) that diverge from the meridians, whose blood is abundant and requires draining, number 365 as well, all pouring into the collaterals and transmitting through the Twelve Collateral Vessels, not just the Fourteen Collateral Vessels. (The numerous Sun Luo all transmit to the large collaterals of the Twelve Meridians, not just the fourteen collateral points.) Internal resolution and draining involve ten meridians. (Resolution means dispersal; draining means removing excess; 'Zhong' refers to the Five Zang organs. Although there are only twelve collaterals, they are distributed among the Five Zang organs, five on each side, hence it is said that internal resolution and draining involve ten meridians.)