Suwen · On Water, Heat, and Points

The text

The Yellow Emperor asked: How is it that shaoyin governs the kidney, and the kidney governs water? Qi Bo answered: The kidney is utmost yin. Utmost yin is abundant water. The lung is taiyin. Shaoyin is the winter vessel. Thus its root is in the kidney, its tip is in the lung — both accumulate water. The Emperor said: How can the kidney gather water and give birth to illness? Qi Bo said: The kidney is the gate of the stomach. When the gate does not move freely, water gathers and follows its kind. Above and below it overflows into the skin, and so becomes floating swelling. Floating swelling is water gathered, giving birth to illness. The Emperor said: Are all waters born from the kidney? Qi Bo said: The kidney is the female zang. Earth's qi that rises belongs to the kidney, and gives birth to water and fluids — therefore it is called utmost yin. When one is bold and labors too much, kidney-sweat goes out. When kidney-sweat goes out and meets wind, within it cannot enter the zang and fu; without it cannot pass beyond the skin. It is a guest in the dark gates, travels in the inner skin, and is passed as floating swelling. Its root is in the kidney; it is named wind-water. What is called the dark gates are the sweat-hollows. The Emperor said: The water shu, fifty-seven places — what governs them? Qi Bo said: The kidney shu, fifty-seven points, are where accumulated yin gathers — where water goes out and comes in. Five lines above the sacrum, five on each line: these are the kidney shu. Thus in water-illness: below, floating swelling and a great belly; above, panting and calling; those who cannot lie down have both root and branch ill. Thus the lung is panting and calling; the kidney is water-swelling; the lung is counterflow so one cannot lie down. What is divided and mutually transported, both receiving — this is where water-qi stays. Two lines each above the crouching rabbit, five on each line: these are the streets of the kidney. Where the three yin cross and knot at the foot. One line each above the ankles, six on each line: this is the descending travel of the kidney vessel; it is named the great thoroughfare. All fifty-seven points are the yin collaterals of the zang — where water is a guest. The Emperor said: In spring one takes the collateral vessels and the divided flesh — why? Qi Bo said: Spring is when wood first governs; liver-qi first is born. Liver-qi is urgent; its wind is swift. The channel vessels are always deep; this qi is scant and cannot go deep. Thus take the collateral vessels and the spaces of the divided flesh. The Emperor said: In summer one takes the abundant channels and the divided interstices — why? Qi Bo said: Summer is when fire first governs; heart-qi first grows. The vessels are thin, the qi is weak; yang-qi stays and overflows; heat steams the divided interstices and reaches inward to the channels. Thus take the abundant channels and the divided interstices. Those from whom illness leaves when the skin is cut through: the pathogen dwells shallow. What is called the abundant channels are the yang vessels. The Emperor said: In autumn one takes the channel shu — why? Qi Bo said: Autumn is when metal first governs; the lung is about to gather and kill; metal is about to dominate fire. Yang-qi is at the unions; yin-qi first dominates; damp qi reaches the body. Yin-qi is not yet abundant and cannot go deep. Thus take the shu to drain yin pathogen; take the unions to empty yang pathogen. Yang-qi first declines — therefore take at the unions. The Emperor said: In winter one takes the wells and brooks — why? Qi Bo said: Winter is when water first governs; the kidney is just closing. Yang-qi declines and is scant; yin-qi is firm and abundant. Great-yang hides and sinks; the yang vessels then leave. Thus take the wells to bring down yin counterflow; take the brooks to make yang-qi replete. Therefore it is said: take the wells and brooks in winter, and in spring there is no running nose or nosebleed. This is what is meant. The Emperor said: You have spoken of treating heat illness at the fifty-nine shu. I have discussed their intent, but I cannot yet distinguish their places. I wish to hear their places, and thereby hear their intent. Qi Bo said: Five lines on the head, five on each line: to send over the heat-counterflow of all the yang. Great-shuttle, the breast shu, the empty basin, the back shu — these eight: to drain the heat in the chest-center. The qi-street, three-li, the upper and lower edges of the great vacancy — these eight: to drain the heat in the stomach-center. Cloud-gate, the shoulder-bone, the center of the hollow of the knee, the marrow hollows — these eight: to drain the heat of the four limbs. The five beside the shu of the five zang — these ten: to drain the heat of the five zang. All these fifty-nine points are the left and right of heat. The Emperor said: A person is injured by cold, and it is passed as heat. Why? Qi Bo said: When cold is abundant, it then gives birth to heat.

The line

Qi Bo answered: The kidney is utmost yin. Utmost yin is abundant water.

The note

The kidney is utmost yin; utmost yin is abundant water. Water and heat meet at the points. First recognize who governs water; then recognize why water is hot.