Historical narrative of "relationship between body surface and target organs": the spiritual connection between Qibo and Galenus

In light of Huangdi Neijing (The Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic), compiled in the name of Qibo, the founder of Chinese medicine, the theory of "relationship between meridians and zangfu" within meridian-collateral system has been systematically refined. Under the guidance of this theory, acupuncture-moxibustion therapy has made an indelible contribution to safeguarding health of the Chinese nation throughout its long historical development. Notably, during nearly the same historical period, Galenus, a representative figure in ancient Greek and Roman medicine, proposed a theory of surface-viscus connection known as "homoeomeria". Although stemming from distinct Eastern and Western cultural and philosophical frameworks, both theories collectively reveal a natural correlation between specific "regions" on the human body surface and their corresponding internal "target organs", and regard these "regional domains" as the key "therapeutic sites" for treating the corresponding diseases. This consensus that transcends cultural and geographical boundaries not only reflects the profound exploration of holistic view of life in ancient medicine, but also demonstrates the collective wisdom of humanity in elucidating patterns between the body and diseases. Furthermore, it provides invaluable historical origins and theoretical foundations for subsequent research in related fields.