There were in-depth studies and discussions on phlegm-fluid retention by many physicians at ancient times,among them Zhu Danxi's doctrine of phlegm-fluid retention was the most famous with a considerable influence on later generations.Zhang Jingyue realized the quintessence of Zhu's doctrine and dared to innovate.He put forward his own unique understandings on phlegm-fluid retention combined with his clinical experience and Zhu's doctrine,and had made a tremendous contribution to the development of diagnosis and treatment of phlegm-fluid retention.This paper discusses the exposition about phlegm-fluid retention in Danxi Xinfa (Danxi's Experiential Therapy) and Jingyue Quanshu (Complete Works of Jingyue),and sorts out the similarities and differences between them after comparing and integrating their academic thought and features.The authors hope to get the true essence of doctrine of phlegm-fluid retention and provide guide for treatment of phlegm-fluid retention diseases in clinical practice.

Yin-yang, visceral manifestation, and ti-yong theories are the core theories of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and play a crucial role in its formation and development. With the continuous evolution of Chinese philosophy, TCM philosophy and theories have undergone significant influence, resulting in differing interpretations of the visceral manifestation of liver and mingmen across various historical periods by different medical practitioners. This paper focuses on the different understandings of the position of liver and mingmen, combining relevant philosophical images and TCM anatomical illustrations to deeply explore ancient medical theorists′ concepts regarding the four spatial directions of left, right, up, and down. The research reveals that ancient medical theorists′ conceptualization of spatial theory transitioned from an initial circular motion to a vertical movement, with the focus shifting from the upper part to the lower part. The primary reasons for these differences and changes could be explained by the varying emphasis on the ti-yong theory and differing focal points within the yin-yang theory. This study systematically examines the evolution of visceral manifestation theories related to liver and mingmen, highlights the shifts in physicians′ perspectives on spatial theory, and analyzes the influence of the ti-yong theory and yin-yang theory on these changes. The findings aim to provide a theoretical guide for advancing research and clinical application of spatial theory in TCM, thereby fostering the integration of TCM philosophy with medical theory.