This is the 6th and last instalment of the discussion on the Triple Burner. 6) Relationship between Triple Burner and Pericardium Although they are interiorly-exteriorly related, the relationship between Pericardium and Triple Burner is somewhat tenuous: such a relationship is more applicable to the channels, rather than to the organs themselves. The Nei Jing and Nan Jing always refer to the "5 Zang and 6 Fu" (omitting the Pericardium), but also to the "12 channels" (including the Pericardium). Originally the Pericardium was not considered as separate from the Heart; the two were considered a single organ, which is perfectly logical considering their close anatomical relationship. In fact, when the Ling Shu lists the Yuan points of the 5 Zang in chapter 1, it lists Daling (P-7) as the Yuan point of the Heart.1 A passage from Chapter 38 of the Nan Jing makes it clear that the Pericardium and Heart were, in those times, considered as one organ. It says: " The Zan...
