The Yellow Emperor Chapter 18 - The Spiritual Pivot – The Meeting of Nutritive and Defensive Qi 营卫生会

This Chapter is a dialogue from the Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine, specifically Chapter 18, exploring the nature and functions of ying (nutritive) and wei (defensive) qi. The discussion details how these qi are formed from ingested food, their circulatory pathways, and their relationship to yin and yang. The text further contrasts the qi of the young and the elderly, explaining differences in sleep patterns and overall health. Finally, it clarifies the roles of the three jiao (upper, middle, and lower) in the transformation and distribution of qi and fluids within the body.