Concept

Kidney

肾shen
1 source

In Chinese medicine, the kidney (shen) is a functional zang system, not the biomedical organ. The Neijing calls it the root of sealing and storage and the dwelling of essence (腎者，主蟄，封藏之本，精之處也); its bloom shows in the head hair, it fills the bones, and it stores essence and governs growth, reproduction and water metabolism.

Source

Huangdi Neijing (Inner Canon of the Yellow Emperor)《素问·六节藏象论》（内经选读下篇·藏象·脏腑·原文2102）

References
  • 《内经》五藏别论/六节藏象论/太阴阳明论等综合理解（藏象=功能系统，非西医解剖器官）
Full definition

Classical source text (Chinese) — English summary above.

腎者，主蟄，封藏之本，精之處也；其華在髮，其充在骨，爲陰中之少陰，通於冬氣

Citations
  • Huangdi Neijing (Inner Canon of the Yellow Emperor) · 托名黄帝/岐伯（先秦—西汉医家辑） · 《素问·六节藏象论》（内经选读下篇·藏象·脏腑·原文2102）Cited from Huangdi Neijing (Inner Canon of the Yellow Emperor) for its definition.