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Nan Jing is the abbreviation of Huangdi Bashiyinan Jing, also known as Bashiyi Nan. It is traditionally attributed to Qin Yue-ren and is believed to have been compiled between the late Western Han and Eastern Han periods. Earlier extant versions include the Ming Dynasty medical compendium and the Japanese edition by Takehara Ichibei, which annotates the Song Dynasty Wang Jiu-siHuangdi Bashiyi Nan among others. Over the generations, approximately 50 scholars have annotated and expanded upon it.

The book addresses the profound theories of Chinese medicine in Neijing, summarizing them into 81 questions to resolve doubts. It covers topics such as pulse diagnosis, zang-fu organs, yin-yang, five elements, disease mechanisms, nutrient-defense, back transport points, acupuncture and moxibustion, as well as theoretical challenges like the triple energizer, Mingmen (GV4), and the eight extraordinary meridians. It discusses various aspects of human physiology, anatomy, diseases, syndromes, diagnosis, acupuncture and moxibustion treatments, and the theories of yin-yang and the five phases. The content is extensive and holds a significant position in elucidating the fundamental theories of Chinese medicine.

The entire book consists of 3 volumes (some say 5), divided into 81 difficulties. Difficulties 1 to 22 mainly discuss pulse studies, introducing the basics of pulse diagnosis, foundational theories of pulse studies, and normal versus abnormal pulse manifestations. It first proposes the method of diagnosing solely by the cus kou, simplifying the ancient complex methods of three positions and nine pulse-takings into a single method of "solely taking the cus kou". It establishes the pulse diagnosis method of "three positions and nine pulse-takings" based on the wrist's cun, guan, and chi positions, each divided into floating, middle, and deep levels. Nan Jing elaborates on the significance of normal pulses and abnormal pulses in disease diagnosis, and the differentiation of various pulse manifestations, further developing the theories of Huangdi Neijing to make them more accessible to scholars.

Difficulties 23 to 29 discuss the origins and endings of meridians, the lengths of meridians and collaterals, the degrees of nutrient-defense, the eight extraordinary meridians, the fifteen collateral vessels, and related diseases. It provides an in-depth explanation of the Lingshu?meridian chapter, focusing on the symptoms of meridian qi exhaustion. Nan Jing extensively develops the Neijing theories on the meanings, contents, pathways, and origins and terminations of the eight extraordinary meridians, their relationships with the twelve meridians, and disease manifestations.

Difficulties 30 to 47 primarily focus on the theory of zang-fu organs, introducing the anatomical forms, physiological functions, and the circulation of nutrient-defense. It explains the triple energizer, Mingmen (GV4), the seven important portals (such as the lips as the flying gate, teeth as the door gate, epiglottis as the inhalation gate, stomach as the cardia gate, the lower stomach opening as Youmen (KI21), the junction of the large and small intestines as the barrier gate, and the root of the nose as the anus), and the theory of eight gatherings. Nan Jing provides such an excellent discussion on the "seven important portals" from the lips to the anus in the human digestive tract, which can be said to benefit from the scientific data obtained by physicians of that time through actual dissections.

Difficulties 48 to 61 mainly discuss diseases, emphasizing the importance of differentiation based on the four examinations and eight principles, and using the generating and restraining relationships of the five elements to explain disease progression and prognosis. It lists diseases such as cold-damage disease, diarrhea, manic and depressive psychosis, heart pain, and abdominal mass as examples of differentiation, along with many scientific conclusions.

Difficulties 62 to 68 mainly discuss acupuncture and moxibustion points, focusing on the treatment of the front-mu points and back transport points of the five zang-organs, and the main diseases treated by the five transport points. It emphasizes the relationship between the narrow sense of back transport points and the movement of meridian qi, as well as their relationship with zang-fu organs.

Difficulties 69 to 81 mainly discuss needle techniques, such as directional reinforcement and reduction, draining the well and supplementing the brook, supplementing the mother and draining the child, draining fire and supplementing water, as well as the application, contraindications, and precautions of these methods. It points out that acupuncture therapy should be adapted to the times and should focus on treating diseases before they occur.

Nan Jing not only enriched the content of traditional Chinese medicine in theory, but also provided extensive discussions in clinical aspects. In addition to acupuncture and moxibustion, it also proposed the theory of "five types of cold-damage disease," which had a certain influence on the development of later theories of cold-damage disease and warm diseases. Nan Jing has also been consistently followed by medical practitioners in its discussions on diagnostics and acupuncture and moxibustion. It has had a broad and profound impact on the theoretical thinking and medical research of medical scholars throughout the ages.