★Written by Liu Yuanyuan, medical master with tumor-clinical expertise—bringing 2,000-year-old wisdom back to modern life.

★First-ever full-comic guide to Huangdi’s Outer Canon—smashing ancient-language barriers, easily mastering health and disease prevention wisdom.

★This book is based on traditional Chinese medicine classics and invites experts from various fields to review and provide authoritative introductory guides for Chinese medicine enthusiasts.

★Must-have health manual for office workers—tackle sedentary anxiety, chronic fatigue and more with practical "emotion management" & "tendon-conditioning" tips.

Compiled in the Han dynasty, "Huangdi’s Outer Canon (Huangdi Waijing)" stands alongside the "Inner Canon" as one of the “Seven Medical Classics.” In nine scrolls and eighty-one chapters, it records dialogues between the Yellow Emperor and ministers such as Qi Bo, expounding core TCM concepts—yin-yang, excess-deficiency, heavenly cycles, reproduction, zang-fu organs, meridians, tonification-drainage, six qi & eight winds, seasonal wellness, etc.—laying a deep theoretical foundation for diagnosis and treatment.

This book respects the original while rendering its abstruse passages in modern language and vivid manga panels. The lost classic is thus reborn: readers gain accurate understanding and ready-to-use guidance for daily health and disease prevention.

Liu Yuanyuan

Liu Yuanyuan, a practicing physician with a master's degree in medicine, specializes in integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine treatment plans including acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicine, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy, focusing on the treatment of various tumor diseases.
In her spare time, she delves into ancient medical texts such as the "Huangdi Neijing", "Huangdi Waijing", and "Shanghan Lun".
She has participated in multiple clinical studies, including "The Effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine on Constipation after Chemotherapy" and "Clinical Observation on the Application of Immunotherapy Combined with Anti-angiogenic Targeted Drugs in Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer", and has published academic papers in professional medical journals, such as "Clinical Observation on the Improvement of Constipation after Chemotherapy by the Method of Invigorating Qi and Nourishing Blood" and "Clinical Observation on the Treatment of Constipation after Chemotherapy in Malignant Tumors with Ma Ren Run Chang Pills Combined with Qi and Blood Invigorating Formula".

Volume One
Chapter One: Reversal of Yin and Yang - What is the Best Way to Maintain Health?
Chapter Two: Exploring the Origins of Reversal and Compliance - The Mutual Generation and Overcoming of Yin and Yang and the Five Elements
Chapter Three: Reversing Heaven to Give Birth - Raising Children: Half Nature, Half Nurture
Chapter Four: Longevity and Short Life - What Determines a Person's Lifespan?
Chapter Five: The Essence of Life - Jing, Qi, and Shen are the Foundation of Life
Chapter Six: Saving the Mother - Nourishing the Liver and Kidneys as the Foundation for Raising Children
Chapter Seven: The Deception of Red Lead - The Lie of Alchemists: Red Lead's Benefits and Harms are a Hoax
Chapter Eight: A Brief Discussion on the Newborn - Preserving the Innate Jing and Qi is the Key to a Child's Growth and Development
Chapter Nine: The Yin of Bones - Are People Doomed to Bear Heavenly Punishment from Birth?

Volume Two
Chapter on Conception and Fertilization - The Union of Yin and Yang, Giving Rise to New Life
Chapter on Hair at Birth - Why Some Babies Are Born with Hair
Chapter on Congenital Defects - Why Some People Are Born with Defects
Chapter on the Flow of Meridians - The Forward and Reverse Flow of the Twelve Meridians
Chapter on the Origin and Termination of Meridians - The Starting and Ending Points of the Twelve Meridians
Chapter on the Root and Branch of Meridians - The Fundamental and Branch Meridians of the Twelve Meridians
Chapter on the Explanation of the Zang-Fu Organs - The Six Fu Organs, the Uterus, and the Pericardium
Chapter on the Association of the Pericardium with a Fu Organ - The Pericardium as a Fu Organ and Its Correspondence with the Triple Burner

Volume Three
Chapter on the Names of the Internal Organs - The Eleven Organs Depend on the Gallbladder
Chapter on the Ren and Du Meridians - The Ren and Du Meridians, the Pathway of Life and Death
Chapter on Yin and Yang - Yin and Yang, the Distinction Between Men and Women
Chapter on the Extraordinary Organs - The Extraordinary Organs, Capable of Storing Essence
Chapter on the Minor Meridians - The Difference Between Membrane Origin and Muscle Tissue
Chapter on the Lungs - The Lungs, a Delicate Organ, Intolerant of Cold and Heat
Chapter on the Liver - If the Liver is Affected by Evil, It Will Affect the Five Organs
Chapter on the Kidneys - The Relationship Between the Kidneys and the Five Organs
Chapter on the Heart - A Calm Heart, Peaceful and Unfaltering

Volume Four
Spleen and Earth Element Chapter - The prosperity or decline of the Life Gate is the same as that of the Spleen and Earth Element
Stomach and Earth Element Chapter - Stomach Fire can be purged, and the Stomach and Earth Element should be nourished
Pericardium Fire Chapter - The Fire of the Pericardium can generate the Stomach, but it can also kill the Stomach
Triple Burner Fire Chapter - The Qi of all the internal organs needs the Triple Burner to circulate up and down
Gallbladder Wood Chapter - Kidney Water nourishes Liver Wood, and the Gallbladder and Liver are exterior-interior related
Bladder Water Chapter - The Bladder is the water organ and is exterior-interior related to the Kidney
Large Intestine Metal Chapter - The Lung and Large Intestine are exterior-interior related, and the Qi of the Kidney generates the Lung and thus the Large Intestine
Small Intestine Fire Chapter - The Fire of the Small Intestine is balanced by Water
Life Gate True Fire Chapter - The Life Gate is located between Water and Fire, and is of utmost importance

Volume Five
The Main Chapter on the Life Gate - The Life Gate, the Master of the Twelve Meridians
The Chapter on the Mutual Generation and Overcoming of the Five Elements - The mutual generation and overcoming of the five elements, their changes are inexhaustible
The Chapter on Being Careful of the Lord - Being careful also refers to the Life Gate, which is within the heart and body
The Chapter on Water Not Overcoming Fire - Uncontrolled fire requires the supplementation of intangible water

Volume Six
Three Passages Ascending and Descending - The Qi of Life, the Ascending and Descending of the Three Passages
Subtle Manifestation - A Single Yang Does Not Congeal, a Single Yin Does Not Congeal
Breathing - Responding to Heaven, Inhaling to Respond to Earth
Pulse Movement - Pulse Movement, the Fluctuation of Qi in the Meridians
Dilated Pupils - Insufficient Kidney Water, Dilated Pupils
Diagnosis Origin - Why Pulse Diagnosis Can Understand the Condition
Essence and Qi Leading Blood - Bleeding from the Nine Orifices, Supplement Essence and Qi
Heaven and Man as One Qi - The Rotation of Heaven's Time, Heaven and Man as One
Earth Qi Merging with Man - The Nine Provinces Correspond to the Nine Orifices, Earth Qi Merges with Man
Three Talents Together - Five Movements and Six Qi, Heaven, Earth, and Man as One
Five Movements and Six Qi Separation and Union - Five Movements and Six Qi Separation and Union, the Two Cannot Be Separated
Six Qi Division - Among the Six Qi, Summer Heat and Fire Are Different

Volume Seven
Similarities and Differences of the Six Qi and Four Seasons - The heavens have six qi and four seasons, while humans have six meridians and five zang organs.
The Division of the Celestial and Terrestrial Qi - The celestial qi governs the first half of the year, while the terrestrial qi governs the second half.
The Principle of Adaptation - Adapt to the qi changes and understand the interrelationships.
Heat in Winter and Summer - Distinguish the authenticity of heat regardless of the season.
The Two Qi of Heat and Fire - Heat arises in summer, while fire emerges from the abundance of yang.
The Upper and Lower Aspects of Yin and Yang - Yang is upper, while yin is lower.
The Importance of Ying and Wei Qi - Both ying and wei qi are crucial and should not be given unequal weight.
The Mutual Rooting of the Five Zang Organs - The zang organs are interrelated and mutually nourish each other through yin and yang.
Strengthening the Foundation Against the Eight Winds - The eight winds require surface dispersion, while internal wind demands strengthening the root.

Volume Eight
Chapter on the Eight Winds' Names - The names of the eight winds are derived from the main wind names, and they are formed by the changes of the four seasons.
Chapter on Taiyi - The art of Taiyi is not to be delved into deeply.
Chapter on Affinity for Yang and Yin - Yang is close to true Yang, and Yin is close to true Yin.
Chapter on Different Transmission - There are differences in the transmission of diseases through the meridians, and the time of death varies.
Chapter on Understanding Changes in Cold Damage - It discusses both cold damage and its variations.
Chapter on Similarities and Differences in Cold Damage - It explores the similarities and differences between the broad and narrow definitions of cold damage.
Chapter on the Distinctiveness of Wind and Cold - Wind and cold, as two different pathogenic factors, have many differences.
Chapter on Yin Cold Repelling Yang - When Yin is excessive, Yang is used to dispel it; when Yang is excessive, Yin is used to dispel it.
Chapter on Spring Heat Resembling Epidemic - Spring heat resembles an epidemic but is not an epidemic.

Volume Nine
Supplementation and Drainage of Yin and Yang - Supplementing and Draining Qi and Blood, Coordinating Yin and Yang
Good Nourishment - Adapting to the Four Seasons, Treating Yourself Well
Loss of Yang and Loss of Yin - Loss of Yang is the exhaustion of Yang Qi, Loss of Yin is the depletion of Yin Fluids
Lightness and Severity by Day and Night - The Changes in the Severity of Diseases by Day and Night
Eliminating Yang and Yin - Yang Diseases and Yin Diseases, Elimination Related to Time
True and False, Similar and Doubtful - Cold, Heat, Deficiency, and Excess, True and False Diagnosis
Following and Contrary to the Source - Diseases Follow or Contrary to the Source, Changes in Water and Fire in the Kidneys
Shifting Cold - When the Zang Organs are Weak and Cannot Bear Cold, It Shifts to Other Organs
Cold and Heat to Soothe the Liver - Cold and Heat Syndromes, Both Start with Soothing the Liver
Appendix - Examination and Verification of Meridians

"The Yellow Emperor's Outer Classic (Huangdi Waijing)" was compiled during the Han Dynasty and is complementary to the Inner Classic. Both are among the "Seven Medical Classics". The book consists of nine volumes and eighty-one chapters, presenting medical theories and concepts such as yin and yang, the natural order, the essence of life, offspring, internal organs, meridians, tonification and purgation, the six qi and eight winds, and seasonal health preservation through dialogues between the Yellow Emperor and his ministers like Qi Bo. It provides a profound theoretical foundation for diagnosis and treatment in traditional Chinese medicine and is thus regarded as a practical classic for clinical practice in TCM.

The title "Outer Classic" of this work can be traced back to the records in the "History of the Han Dynasty: Catalogue of Arts and Literature". Unfortunately, the original text has been lost and its true appearance is unknown. The only surviving version is "The Outer Classic: Microscopic Words", originally titled "The Transmission of Qi Bo, the Celestial Teacher", written by Chen Shiduo. However, some scholars believe that this work is a pseudonymous work and the true author remains unknown. As a result, the authenticity of this work has been questioned by some scholars, leading to it not receiving the attention and research it deserves. However, in 1999, the China Traditional Chinese Medicine Publishing House published "The Complete Works of Chen Shiduo", which includes "The Outer Classic: Microscopic Words" (9 volumes), with the title "The Transmission of Qi Bo, the Celestial Teacher" at the beginning. Most subsequent research on the Yellow Emperor's Outer Classic has been based on this version.

The book "Comics to Understand the Yellow Emperor's Outer Classic" is based on "The Outer Classic: Microscopic Words" published by Tianjin Science and Technology Press (authored by Chen Shiduo and annotated by Wang Huiru). It respects the original text while explaining and restoring the obscure ancient Chinese descriptions in modern language and presenting them in comic form, making this ancient medical classic more accessible to modern readers' reading habits and aesthetic preferences. At the same time, we hope that through this novel expression method, more people can understand and appreciate the unique charm of this work in a relaxed and pleasant reading atmosphere.

During the compilation of this book, we have paid close attention to maintaining the accuracy and integrity of the original content. For this purpose, we have not only referred to many versions but also extensively collected other related medical literature to comprehensively present the historical status and academic value of this medical classic. At the same time, we have invited many experts in traditional Chinese medicine and historians to participate in the review and proofreading work, conducting in-depth discussions and interpretations of possible doubts and difficulties in the book, striving to provide readers with an accurate and authoritative version.

As a treasure in the treasury of traditional Chinese medicine, the Yellow Emperor's Outer Classic, with its profound medical thoughts and rich clinical experience, has immeasurable value for the development and inheritance of contemporary traditional Chinese medicine. Of course, due to its special time of compilation, some of its viewpoints are not scientific. We should read it selectively, taking the essence and discarding the dross. We hope that the publication of this book can inspire more people's interest and love for traditional Chinese medicine and jointly promote the prosperity and development of traditional Chinese medicine.