The Court of the Body
臟腑 Zangfu — Organs and Souls
In the Neijing tradition, each organ is an official in the court of the body, carrying a specific psychological and spiritual function. The Zang (臟, Yin) organs store vital substances. The Fu (腑, Yang) organs transform and transport.
心者，君主之官也，神明出焉。肺者，相傅之官，治節出焉。肝者，將軍之官，謀慮出焉。
The Heart is the sovereign ruler; spirit-illumination emanates from it. The Lungs are the minister-chancellor; regulation emanates from them. The Liver is the general of the army; planning and strategy emanate from it.
臟腑 The Organ-Trigram Map
| Trigram | Power | Organ | Type | Wuxing | Official Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ☰ Qian · Wisdom | Jupiter | 肝 Liver (Gan) | Zang | 木 Wood | 將軍之官 General of the Army |
| ☲ Li · Reason | Mercury | 膽 Gallbladder (Dan) | Fu | 木 Wood | 中正之官 Official of Decisions |
| ☱ Dui · Vitality | Venus | 心 Heart (Xin) | Zang | 火 Fire | 君主之官 Sovereign Ruler |
| ☳ Zhen · Physicality | Mars | 小腸 Small Intestine | Fu | 火 Fire | 受盛之官 Official of Receiving |
| ☴ Xun · Clarity | Neptune | 肺 Lungs (Fei) | Zang | 金 Metal | 相傅之官 Minister-Chancellor |
| ☶ Gen · Justice | Iustitia | 大腸 Large Intestine | Fu | 金 Metal | 傳導之官 Official of Transit |
| ☵ Kan · Potential | Faunus | 腎 Kidneys (Shen) | Zang | 水 Water | 作強之官 Official of Strength |
| ☷ Kun · Transformation | Pluto | 膀胱 Bladder (Pangguang) | Fu | 水 Water | 州都之官 Regional Administrator |
七情 The Five Emotions (Qiqing)
Each Wuxing phase carries a primary emotion, the natural expression of that phase’s Qi:
- 木 Wood (☰ Qian / ☲ Li): 怒 Nu (Anger) — the force of growth pressing through obstacles
- 火 Fire (☱ Dui / ☳ Zhen): 喜 Xi (Joy) — the warmth of connection and maturation
- 金 Metal (☴ Xun / ☶ Gen): 悲 Bei (Grief) — the release and letting-go that makes room
- 水 Water (☵ Kan / ☷ Kun): 恐 Kong (Fear) — the awareness of depth and the unknown
土 Earth (Center): 思 Si (Pensiveness) — the holding pattern of the axis, the mother’s concern
五神 The Five Spirits (Wushen)
The Neijing tradition recognizes five spirits (五神, Wushen), each housed in a specific Zang organ:
魂 Hun — The Ethereal Soul · 肝 Liver · ☰ Qian
The Hun is the spirit that dreams, imagines, wanders, and envisions. It survives death and returns to the formless. When the liver blood is abundant, the Hun is rooted and vision is clear. When deficient, the Hun floats away: insomnia, anxiety, aimless imagination without ground.
The Hun is the Shen (神, mental) aspect of Wood, consciousness expressed as creative vision.
魄 Po — The Corporeal Soul · 肺 Lungs · ☴ Xun
The Po is the body-soul, the animal spirit, the felt sense. It enters at first breath and returns to earth at death. It governs instinct, sensation, the immediate felt sense of being alive. When the lungs are strong, the Po is grounded and breathing is deep.
The Po is the body aspect of Metal, embodiment expressed as rhythm and letting-go.
神 Shen — The Spirit · 心 Heart · ☱ Dui
Shen is consciousness itself: awareness, presence, the light in the eyes. The Neijing says: 心藏神 — “the heart stores the Shen.” When the heart is at peace, Shen is bright and the person is present, coherent, and warm.
志 Zhi — The Will · 腎 Kidneys · ☵ Kan
Zhi is willpower rooted in Jing (精, essence). The deep, quiet determination that comes from being connected to one’s nature, the Ming (命) expressing itself as sustained intention.
意 Yi — The Intellect · 脾 Spleen · Center
Yi is the capacity for applied thinking, study, and concentration. It belongs to Earth (土), the center that holds.