The role of the Organs in Chinese Medicine is pivotal, as elucidated in chapter 8 of the Yellow Emperor’s Classic. This chapter provides insight into the individual and collective functions of each Organ. The Treatise on the Spiritual Orchid Secret Canon employs a social framework metaphorically to represent the human body, where the sovereign commands the subjects, assigning each to its proper role. This concept is crucial, whether in the context of the Five Elements or the specific duties of each Organ.
Chapter 8 describes the organs according to their functions, combining the Stomach and Spleen. This implies that the Stomach and Spleen share the same function, acting as the Earth element that stores grain.
The Heart holds the office of the sovereign and ruler.
The Lungs hold the office of chancellor and mentor.
The Liver holds the office of general.
The Gall bladder holds the office of centered righteousness.
The Pericardium holds the office of minister and envoy.
The Spleen and Stomach holds the office of the granaries.
The Large intestine holds the office of transmitting along the way.
The Small intestine holds the office of receiving sacrifices.
The Kidneys holds the office of making strong.
The San jiao holds the office of clearing the canals.
The Urinary bladder holds the office of regional rectifier
Maoshing Ni translates this text differently which gives another perspective of each function of the Organ.
The Heart is the sovereign of all organs and represents the consciousness of one’s being. It is responsible for intelligence, wisdom, and spiritual transformation.
The Lung is the advisor. It helps the heart in regulating the bodies qi.
The Liver is like the general, courageous and smart.
The Gall bladder is like a judge for it power of discernment.
The Pericardium is like the court jester who makes the king laugh, bringing forth joy.
The Stomach and Spleen are like warehouses where one stores all food and essences. They digest, absorb, and extract food and nutrients.
The Large intestine is responsible for transportation of all turbidity. All waste products go through this organ.
The Small intestine receives the food that has been digested by the spleen and stomach and further extracts, absorbs, and distributes it throughout the body, all the while separating the pure from turbid.
The Kidneys store the vitality and mobilize the four extremities. They also aid the memory, will power, and coordination.
The San jiao promotes the transformation and transportation of water and fluids in the body.
The Bladder is where water converges and where, after being catalysed by the qi is eliminated.
However, the decision making is the kings job. If the spirit is clear, all functions of the other organs will be normal. It is in this way that one’s life is preserved and perpetuated, just as a country becomes prosperous when all its people are fulfilling their duties.
If the spirit is disturbed and unclear, the other organs will not function properly. This creates damage. The pathways and roads along which the qi flows will become blocked and health will suffer. The citizens of the kingdom will also suffer.
Stomach and Spleen
The Yellow Emperor’s Classic provides a detailed account of the functions of the Stomach and Spleen, assigning them distinct official roles. The Stomach is likened to the official of the granaries, from which the five flavors arise. These flavors represent the nourishment of the body, with each distinct flavor nurturing a different transforming Agent and giving rise to an Organ.
The spleen received its own line, the Spleen holds the office of remonstration. Understanding the complete cycle originates from it.
The office of Jian remonstration was an official post in ancient times, and later it was referred to as the senior official of remonstration.
Explaining Writing and Analyzing Characters; Jian means to differentiate between good and evil, and present these finding to the Ruler. It is because of this official that the Ruler was able to make his Spirit bright, and could not become fatuous and self-indulgent.
The definition of fatuous means complacently or inanely foolish.
To avoid errors and fully comprehend the entirety of matters, the ruler depends on the Spleen.
Great Commentary of the Dao De Jing; By knowing the complete cycle of the myriad things, the Dao can transform everything under heaven, so that nothing is overstepped.
In summary this is what you should learn
The Heart, the sovereign and ruler.
The Stomach, the granaries.
The Spleen, the remonstration and complete cycle understanding.
The Lungs, the chancellor and mentor.
The Kidneys, the making strong.
The Liver, the general.
The Pericardium, the minister and envoy.
The Small intestine, the receiving sacrifices.
The San jiao, the clearing the canals.
The Large intestine, the transmitting along the way.
The Gall bladder, the centered righteousness.
The Urinary bladder, the regional rectifier.