Anatomical drawing: mingmen (r. kidney as 'Portal of Life')

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Anatomical drawing: mingmen (r. kidney as 'Portal of Life'). Wellcome Collection. Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). Source: Wellcome Collection.

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Ink drawing from a MS of the Qing period (1644-1911). In Chinese medical theory, the two kidneys have distinct roles. Shen (kidney) refers specifically to the left kidney. The right kidney is considered as the Portal of Life (mingmen). It is the reservoir of innate (xiantian) Qi, the source of generation and transformation (shenghua) in the human organism -- the root of life itself. The large and small intestine and bladder, as organs of digestion, serve to digest or decompose food and drink and separate 'clear' and 'turbid' elements. These organs are all involved in the process of digesting and absorbing food, drink and 'essence', and excreting waste products.

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IMAGE TITLE: Detail of essence/semen (jing) and urine. OTHER LETTERING: Upper aperture of the small intestine. Mingmen (Portal of Life). Large intestine. Here urine is voided; here essence/semen (jing) is discharged.

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