The above diagram which shows meridian and collaterals line regards certain organ as unity and illustrates relationships of meridian and collateral lines and distribution of meridians and collaterals of internal organs, but it can not express relationships between meridians and collaterals and relations between internal organs and can not directly observe relationships of the whole meridians and collaterals. It is difficult to express relations between 47 meridians and collaterals line and relations between five viscera and six bowels completely on two diagrams. The author tried to draw hundred diagrams and finally regards twelve meridians and collaterals as bulk and tortuosity of three sections and forms figures clashing in internal and external relation of three sections and six groups that head is above, chest and abdomen are below, separates yin and yang from middle, then drew connection diagrams between twelve meridians, twelve divergent collaterals, fifteen collaterals and five viscera and six bowels, connection diagrams of twelve meridians, twelve divergent collaterals, fifteen collaterals and eight extra meridians by layout successfully in 1975. These two diagrams show the whole distribution of 47 meridians and collaterals lines on human body and mutual formation of connection and distribution.
From the diagram we can see contents that difficult to find in other diagram, it adds and consummates TCM theory.
We can see that there is no mutual association of meridians and collaterals lines between viscera and bowels in abdomen and chest. But there are many meridians and collaterals lines that associate between viscera and bowels, it illustrates that role of viscera on human body is more important than bowels and this is coincidence with TCM theory that is bases on viscera. Viscera are root and bowels are support, viscera and bowels match in internal and external and viscera are bulk. Function of yin-yang five phases are done between viscera and bowels, mutual assistant, mutual harmony and mutual restrict of viscera and bowels are completed by meridians and collaterals which are distributed over viscera and bowels.
Special association lines of meridians and collaterals of digestive system, it is easy to find distribution square of meridians and collaterals of digestive system, this square is composed by spleen, stomach, large intestine and small intestine, and it illustrates mutual relation between digestion and viscera and bowel. Above square stomach and spleen have branches and are associated with heart and lung two viscera, this illustrates perfectly how later heaven forms.
Showing this diagram, what is paid attention to is that many meridians and collaterals are distributed over heart and forms distribution center of meridians and collaterals which take heart as core and indicates importance of center of TCM theory.
We can see relation between whole distributions of 47 lines in Fig.80, especially association between yang meridians, all yang meridians are compounding in series or compounding in parallel, it enforces circulation of qi and blood of yang meridians. This may be necessary type of defense qi that human body is diurnal.
Yang meridians combine great yang, there are 12 connection points of meridians and collaterals on main lines of bladder meridian and can associate any yang meridians. Zhangzhongjing didn’t find association network of meridians and collaterals, so he can only distinguish syndrome of yang and can not distinguish its theory. Connection diagram of meridians and collaterals lines can solve changes of taiyang disease.
Divergent collateral of yin meridians are dramatic in diagram, it form six combinations which compound in parallel of internal-external and yin-yang and transform twelve to six and become foundation of syndrome-differentiation of the six meridians. Another role is connects connection point directly where qi of internal and external meridians do not passé two meridians. There is a special rule that there is only one juncture between divergent collaterals of yin meridians and yang meridians which flow along meridian qi but two junctures between divergent collaterals of yin meridians and yang meridians which flow against meridian qi. Divergent collaterals of yang do not have features of divergent collaterals of yin but have their own rules; divergent collaterals of yang meridians of lower limbs have branches but divergent collaterals of yang meridians of upper limbs do not. These rules must have different function but still have not found theory evidence.
There is another special phenomenon in diagram that gallbladder meridian and collateral of heart meridian have no association route with their meridians in internal and external relation; there is no specific explanation in record. There must be significance that two meridians have no substantial viscera and bowel, but now this route is added in many teaching materials without illustration, it may mislead later generation. Besides, there are several contents such as relations between yin heel vessel and bladder meridian, triple energizer meridian and bladder meridian, small intestine meridian and stomach meridian, large intestine meridian and small intestine meridian and relation between kidney meridian, belt vessel, governor vessel and bladder meridian are not yet illuminated.
Two layouts manifest that meridians and collaterals are very complicated tissue system and many scientific rules are worth approaching, their theory value are more than only diagrams and contents of twelve meridians, twelve divergent collaterals, fifteen collaterals and eight extra meridians.