Large intestine

大腸 or 大肠 dàcháng is the hollow, yang organ (府 fǔ) related to the metal phase. It receives food and fluids from the small intestine, reabsorbs some fluids, then excretes the remainder as faeces.

Further to this, its meridian ascends along the arm to mouth and nose, and it is compared to an official who transmits the way (道 dào), with its pathology often related to mental disturbance, implying a role in abdominal breathing meditation practices.

Its yin–yang property is considered yang brilliance (陽明 or 阳明 yángmíng).