A Discourse on the Qi Houses

氣府論

Qì fǔ lùn

Fifty-nine closes the run of four chapters on the exterior of the body, and it is the only one of them with nothing spoken in it. There is no question and no answer, none of the bowing and hesitation with which chapter fifty-eight opens: only a ledger. Vessel by vessel the text says where the qi issues onto the surface, counts the places, and adds them up, and the last line gives the sum — three hundred and sixty-five, the number of days in the year. 府, the word in the title, is a house: a place where something is stored. Chapter fifty-eight was about the openings, the 穴 where the needle goes. This one sees the same places from inside, as though each vessel kept a fixed number of doors and the count of them belonged to the vessel rather than to the surface. Almost nothing here is named. Apart from a handful — 天窗, 客主人, 大迎, 三里, 委中 — the points have no names at all; they are counted by the part of the body they sit on. One at either end of the brows. Five rows of five in the skin of the scalp. Twenty-one joints down the spine with fifteen spaces between them. Six from the elbow to the root of the little finger. The counting is the description: what it argues is that the surface of the body is not a scattering of places but an arrangement, and that the arrangement can be summed. And then the sum does not come even. Counted item by item, the lines give more than the total set at their head, and the totals themselves give more than three hundred and sixty-five. The tradition has one answer for both: some points belong to two vessels and are entered twice, and the number is reached after the repetitions are taken out. The chapter states the number it intends, lists more than that, and leaves the reader to reconcile them. Seven notes on the text as printed here. The base text writes 齀 once, in the hand lesser yang line; this edition writes 鼽, the received form, which is also what the chapter itself writes for the same part of the face in the other two lines — it is the one emendation here and it is recorded below. 鋭, 菟 and 郭 are kept exactly as the base writes them, each with its own collation entry. 空 is read kōng as written, not kǒng, although all six occurrences mean an opening in the bone. 齊 is read qí, being 臍. 行 is háng, since both occurrences count rows. 藏 is zàng in 五藏之俞. In Wang Bing's recension this is the last of the four chapters in his fifteenth scroll, together with 皮部論, 經絡論 and 氣穴論.

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足太陽脉氣所發者,七十八穴,兩眉頭各一。 足太阳脉气所发者,七十八穴,两眉头各一。
Zú tài yáng mài qì suǒ fā zhě, qī shí bā xué, liǎng méi tóu gè yī.
足太阳经脉气所发的是七十八穴:两眉头陷中各一穴。
What the qi of the foot greater yang vessel sends forth is seventy-eight points: one at each of the two ends of the brows.
入髮至項三寸半,傍五,相去三寸,其浮氣在皮中者凡五行,行五,五五二十五,項中大筋兩傍各一,風府兩傍各一,俠背以下至尻尾二十一節,十五間各一。 入发至项三寸半,傍五,相去三寸,其浮气在皮中者凡五行,行五,五五二十五,项中大筋两傍各一,风府两傍各一,侠背以下至尻尾二十一节,十五间各一。
Rù fà zhì xiàng sān cùn bàn, bàng wǔ, xiāng qù sān cùn, qí fú qì zài pí zhōng zhě fán wǔ háng, háng wǔ, wǔ wǔ èr shí wǔ, xiàng zhōng dà jīn liǎng bàng gè yī, fēng fǔ liǎng bàng gè yī, xié bèi yǐ xià zhì kāo wěi èr shí yī jié, shí wǔ jiān gè yī.
自入发际至后项为三寸半,其两旁各有五列,列与列相距三寸;浮行于皮中的脉气共五行,每行五穴,五五二十五穴;后项大筋两旁各一穴,风府两旁各一穴;挟脊向下至尻尾有二十一节,其中十五个椎间隙各有二穴。
From where it enters the hair to the nape is three and a half inches, with five [rows] beside it, three inches apart. Of the floating qi that travels within the skin: five rows in all, five to a row, five fives making twenty-five. One each on the two sides of the great sinew at the centre of the nape; one each on the two sides of wind house. Down the back to the tail bone are twenty-one joints, fifteen spaces of them holding one point each.
五藏之俞各五,六府之俞各六。 五脏之俞各五,六府之俞各六。
Wǔ zàng zhī shù gè wǔ, liù fǔ zhī shù gè liù.
五脏在背部的俞穴,左右各五;六腑之俞,左右各六。
Five transport points each for the five depots, six each for the six palaces.
委中以下至足小指傍,各六俞。 委中以下至足小指傍,各六俞。
Wěi zhōng yǐ xià zhì zú xiǎo zhǐ bàng, gè liù shù.
自委中以下至足小趾旁,各有井、荥、俞、原、经、合六穴。
From the bend in the middle down to the side of the little toe, six transport points each.
足少陽脉氣所發者六十二穴:兩角上各二,直目上髮際内各五,耳前角上各一,耳前角下各一,鋭髮下各一,客主人各一,耳後陷中各一,下關各一,耳下牙車之後各一,缺盆各一,掖下三寸、脅下至胠八閒各一,髀樞中傍各一。 足少阳脉气所发者六十二穴:两角上各二,直目上发际内各五,耳前角上各一,耳前角下各一,锐发下各一,客主人各一,耳后陷中各一,下关各一,耳下牙车之后各一,缺盆各一,掖下三寸、胁下至胠八间各一,髀枢中傍各一。
Zú shào yáng mài qì suǒ fā zhě liù shí èr xué: liǎng jiǎo shàng gè èr, zhí mù shàng fà jì nèi gè wǔ, ěr qián jiǎo shàng gè yī, ěr qián jiǎo xià gè yī, ruì fà xià gè yī, kè zhǔ rén gè yī, ěr hòu xiàn zhōng gè yī, xià guān gè yī, ěr xià yá chē zhī hòu gè yī, quē pén gè yī, yè xià sān cùn, xié xià zhì qū bā jiān gè yī, bì shū zhōng bàng gè yī.
足少阳经脉气所发的有六十二穴:头两角上各二穴;瞳孔直上入发际内各五穴;耳前角上各一穴;耳前角下各一穴;锐发,即鬓发,下各一穴;客主人,即上关,各一穴;耳后陷中各一穴;下关各一穴;耳下牙车之后各一穴;缺盆各一穴;腋下三寸,从胁下至胠,八肋之间各一穴;髀枢当中两旁各一穴。
What the qi of the foot lesser yang vessel sends forth is sixty-two points: two each on the two corners of the head; five each inside the hairline straight above the eye; one each above the corner in front of the ear; one each below it; one each beneath the sharp hair; one each at guest and host; one each in the hollow behind the ear; one each at the lower gate; one each behind the jaw carriage below the ear; one each in the empty basin; one each three inches below the armpit, and one each in the eight spaces from the flank down to the armpit sweep; one each beside the centre of the hip pivot.
膝以下至足小指次指各六俞。 膝以下至足小指次指各六俞。
Xī yǐ xià zhì zú xiǎo zhǐ cì zhǐ gè liù shù.
自膝以下至足小趾与次趾,各有六穴。
From the knee down to the little toe and the next toe, six transport points each.
足陽明脉氣所發者六十八穴:額顱髮際傍各三,面鼽骨空各一,大迎之骨空各一,人迎各一,缺盆外骨空各一,膺中骨間各一,俠鳩尾之外當乳下三寸,俠胃脘各五,俠齊廣三寸各三,下齊二寸俠之各三,氣街動脉各一,伏菟上各一,三里以下至足中指各八俞,分之所在穴空。 足阳明脉气所发者六十八穴:额颅发际傍各三,面鼽骨空各一,大迎之骨空各一,人迎各一,缺盆外骨空各一,膺中骨间各一,侠鸠尾之外当乳下三寸,侠胃脘各五,侠脐广三寸各三,下脐二寸侠之各三,气街动脉各一,伏菟上各一,三里以下至足中指各八俞,分之所在穴空。
Zú yáng míng mài qì suǒ fā zhě liù shí bā xué: é lú fà jì bàng gè sān, miàn qiú gǔ kōng gè yī, dà yíng zhī gǔ kōng gè yī, rén yíng gè yī, quē pén wài gǔ kōng gè yī, yīng zhōng gǔ jiān gè yī, xié jiū wěi zhī wài dāng rǔ xià sān cùn, xié wèi wǎn gè wǔ, xié qí guǎng sān cùn gè sān, xià qí èr cùn xié zhī gè sān, qì jiē dòng mài gè yī, fú tú shàng gè yī, sān lǐ yǐ xià zhì zú zhōng zhǐ gè bā shù, fēn zhī suǒ zài xué kōng.
足阳明经脉气所发的有六十八穴:额颅发际旁各三穴;面部颧骨骨空中各一穴;大迎骨空中各一穴;人迎各一穴;缺盆外骨空中各一穴;膺中骨间各一穴;夹鸠尾之外、当乳下三寸处起,夹胃脘两旁各有五穴;夹脐横开三寸各三穴;脐下二寸夹之两旁各三穴;气街动脉处各一穴;伏菟上各一穴;三里以下至足中趾各有八穴;以上诸穴都在其所当之处。
What the qi of the foot yang brilliance vessel sends forth is sixty-eight points: three each beside the hairline at the brow; one each in the bone opening of the cheek bone on the face; one each in the bone opening at the great welcome; one each at the man’s welcome; one each in the bone opening outside the empty basin; one each between the bones in the chest; five each alongside the stomach duct, running outside the dove’s tail and level with the breast three inches below it; three each alongside the width of three inches at the navel; three each flanking it two inches below the navel; one each at the throbbing vessel of the qi street; one each above the crouching hare; from three li down to the middle toe eight transport points each — every one of them set in the opening of the point where it belongs.
手太陽脉氣所發者三十六穴:目内眦各一,目外各一,鼽骨下各一,耳郭上各一,耳中各一,巨骨穴各一,曲掖上骨穴各一,柱骨上陷者各一,上天窗四寸各一,肩解各一,肩解下三寸各一。 手太阳脉气所发者三十六穴:目内眦各一,目外各一,鼽骨下各一,耳郭上各一,耳中各一,巨骨穴各一,曲掖上骨穴各一,柱骨上陷者各一,上天窗四寸各一,肩解各一,肩解下三寸各一。
Shǒu tài yáng mài qì suǒ fā zhě sān shí liù xué: mù nèi zì gè yī, mù wài gè yī, qiú gǔ xià gè yī, ěr guō shàng gè yī, ěr zhōng gè yī, jù gǔ xué gè yī, qū yè shàng gǔ xué gè yī, zhù gǔ shàng xiàn zhě gè yī, shàng tiān chuāng sì cùn gè yī, jiān jiě gè yī, jiān jiě xià sān cùn gè yī.
手太阳经脉气所发的有三十六穴:目内眦各一穴;目外眦各一穴;颧骨下各一穴;耳郭上各一穴;耳中各一穴;巨骨穴各一穴;曲掖上骨穴各一穴;柱骨上陷中各一穴;天窗上四寸处各一穴;肩解部各一穴;肩解下三寸各一穴。
What the qi of the hand greater yang vessel sends forth is thirty-six points: one each at the inner corner of the eye; one each at the outer corner; one each below the cheek bone; one each on the rim of the ear; one each within the ear; one each at the great bone point; one each at the bone point above the bend of the armpit; one each where the pillar bone hollows above; one each four inches above the sky window; one each at the shoulder parting; one each three inches below the shoulder parting.
肘以下至手小指本各六俞。 肘以下至手小指本各六俞。
Zhǒu yǐ xià zhì shǒu xiǎo zhǐ běn gè liù shù.
自肘以下至手小指根部的爪甲之端,各有六穴。
From the elbow down to the root of the little finger, six transport points each.
手陽明脉氣所發者二十二穴:鼻空外廉、項上各二,大迎骨空各一,柱骨之會各一,髃骨之會各一。 手阳明脉气所发者二十二穴:鼻空外廉、项上各二,大迎骨空各一,柱骨之会各一,髃骨之会各一。
Shǒu yáng míng mài qì suǒ fā zhě èr shí èr xué: bí kōng wài lián, xiàng shàng gè èr, dà yíng gǔ kōng gè yī, zhù gǔ zhī huì gè yī, yú gǔ zhī huì gè yī.
手阳明经脉气所发的有二十二穴:鼻孔外廉、项部左右各二穴;大迎骨空中各一穴;柱骨之会各一穴;髃骨之会各一穴。
What the qi of the hand yang brilliance vessel sends forth is twenty-two points: two each on the outer ridge of the nostril and on the nape; one each in the bone opening at the great welcome; one each where the pillar bone meets; one each where the shoulder bone meets.
肘以下至手大指、次指本,各六俞。 肘以下至手大指、次指本,各六俞。
Zhǒu yǐ xià zhì shǒu dà zhǐ, cì zhǐ běn, gè liù shù.
自肘以下至手大指与次指根部的爪甲之端,各有六穴。
From the elbow down to the thumb and the root of the next finger, six transport points each.
手少陽脉氣所發者三十二穴:鼽骨下各一,眉後各一,角上各一,下完骨後各一,項中、足太陽之前各一,俠扶突各一,肩貞各一,肩貞下三寸分間各一,肘以下至手小指、次指本各六俞。 手少阳脉气所发者三十二穴:鼽骨下各一,眉后各一,角上各一,下完骨后各一,项中、足太阳之前各一,侠扶突各一,肩贞各一,肩贞下三寸分间各一,肘以下至手小指、次指本各六俞。
Shǒu shào yáng mài qì suǒ fā zhě sān shí èr xué: qiú gǔ xià gè yī, méi hòu gè yī, jiǎo shàng gè yī, xià wán gǔ hòu gè yī, xiàng zhōng, zú tài yáng zhī qián gè yī, xié fú tū gè yī, jiān zhēn gè yī, jiān zhēn xià sān cùn fēn jiān gè yī, zhǒu yǐ xià zhì shǒu xiǎo zhǐ, cì zhǐ běn gè liù shù.
手少阳经脉气所发的有三十二穴:颧骨下各一穴;眉后各一穴;头角上各一穴;完骨下后方各一穴;项中、足太阳之前各一穴;扶突两旁各一穴;肩贞各一穴;肩贞下三寸分肉间各一穴;自肘以下至手小指与次指根部的爪甲之端,各有六穴。
What the qi of the hand lesser yang vessel sends forth is thirty-two points: one each below the cheek bone; one each behind the brow; one each on the corner; one each below and behind the completed bone; one each in the nape in front of the foot greater yang; one each flanking supporting protuberance; one each at shoulder constancy; one each in the parting three inches below it; and from the elbow down to the little finger and the root of the next finger, six transport points each.
督脉氣所發者二十八穴:項中央二,髮際後中八。 督脉气所发者二十八穴:项中央二,发际后中八。
Dū mài qì suǒ fā zhě èr shí bā xué: xiàng zhōng yāng èr, fà jì hòu zhōng bā.
督脉气所发的有二十八穴:项中央二穴;前发际向后中行八穴。
What the qi of the governing vessel sends forth is twenty-eight points: two at the centre of the nape; eight along the middle line behind the hairline.
面中三,大椎以下至尻尾及傍十五穴,至骶下凡二十一節,脊椎法也。 面中三,大椎以下至尻尾及傍十五穴,至骶下凡二十一节,脊椎法也。
Miàn zhōng sān, dà zhuī yǐ xià zhì kāo wěi jí bàng shí wǔ xué, zhì dǐ xià fán èr shí yī jié, jǐ zhuī fǎ yě.
面部中央三穴;自大椎以下至尻尾及其两旁共十五穴;从大椎至骶下共二十一节,这是脊椎取穴之法。
Three in the middle of the face; fifteen points from the great vertebra down to the tail bone and beside it; twenty-one joints in all down to the base of the spine — this is the method of counting by the spine.
任脉之氣所發者二十八穴:喉中央二,膺中骨陷中各一,鳩尾下三寸,胃脘五寸,胃脘以下至横骨六寸半一,腹脉法也。 任脉之气所发者二十八穴:喉中央二,膺中骨陷中各一,鸠尾下三寸,胃脘五寸,胃脘以下至横骨六寸半一,腹脉法也。
Rèn mài zhī qì suǒ fā zhě èr shí bā xué: hóu zhōng yāng èr, yīng zhōng gǔ xiàn zhōng gè yī, jiū wěi xià sān cùn, wèi wǎn wǔ cùn, wèi wǎn yǐ xià zhì héng gǔ liù cùn bàn yī, fù mài fǎ yě.
任脉气所发的有二十八穴:喉部中央二穴;膺部骨陷中各一穴;自鸠尾下行三寸至胃脘,胃脘以下至横骨六寸半,每寸一穴,这是腹部取穴之法。
What the qi of the conception vessel sends forth is twenty-eight points: two at the centre of the throat; one each in the hollow of the bone in the chest; three inches from the dove’s tail down to the stomach duct, five inches on; from the stomach duct down to the cross bone, six and a half inches, one point to the inch — this is the method of counting by the belly vessels.
下陰别一,目下各一,下脣一。 下阴别一,目下各一,下唇一。
Xià yīn bié yī, mù xià gè yī, xià chún yī.
下部前后二阴之间另有一穴;目下各一穴;下唇一穴。
Set apart below, in the private region, one; one each below the eyes; one at the lower lip.
齗交一。 龈交一。
Yín jiāo yī.
齿龈交合之处一穴。
One where the gums meet.
衝脉氣所發者二十二穴:俠鳩尾外各半寸至齊寸一,俠齊下傍各五分至横骨寸一,腹脉法也。 冲脉气所发者二十二穴:侠鸠尾外各半寸至脐寸一,侠脐下傍各五分至横骨寸一,腹脉法也。
Chōng mài qì suǒ fā zhě èr shí èr xué: xié jiū wěi wài gè bàn cùn zhì qí cùn yī, xié qí xià bàng gè wǔ fēn zhì héng gǔ cùn yī, fù mài fǎ yě.
冲脉气所发的有二十二穴:自鸠尾外旁开半寸下行至脐,每一寸一穴;自脐下两旁各开五分下行至横骨,每一寸一穴;这是腹部取穴之法。
What the qi of the thoroughfare vessel sends forth is twenty-two points: one to each inch from half an inch outside the dove’s tail down to the navel; one to each inch from five fen beside the navel down to the cross bone — this is the method of counting by the belly vessels.
足少陰,舌下、厥陰毛中急脉各一,手少陰各一,陰、陽蹻各一,手足諸魚際脉氣所發者,凡三百六十五穴也。 足少阴,舌下、厥阴毛中急脉各一,手少阴各一,阴、阳跷各一,手足诸鱼际脉气所发者,凡三百六十五穴也。
Zú shào yīn, shé xià, jué yīn máo zhōng jí mài gè yī, shǒu shào yīn gè yī, yīn, yáng qiāo gè yī, shǒu zú zhū yú jì mài qì suǒ fā zhě, fán sān bǎi liù shí wǔ xué yě.
足少阴经在舌下者左右各一穴;足厥阴经在毛际中的急脉左右各一穴;手少阴经左右各一穴;阴蹻、阳蹻各一穴;再加手足鱼际诸处所发的脉气,总计三百六十五穴。
Of the foot lesser yin, one each below the tongue; of ceasing yin, one each at the hurried vessel amid the hair; one each of the hand lesser yin; one each of the yin and yang springing vessels; and what the qi of all the fish borders of the hands and feet sends forth — three hundred and sixty-five points in all.

Textual notes

Readings follow the base edition; significant variants are recorded here.

  1. 鼽骨下各一鼽骨下各一

    底本此處作鼻旁之「齀」(字書音 wù,《康熙字典》以為「鼿」之訛字);此从通行本改作「鼽」,讀 qiú,是本篇唯一改字之處。本篇「鼽」三見,皆指顴骨,即今之顴髎穴,非鼻塞之鼽。

  2. 鋭髮下各一锐发下各一

    底本作从兌之「鋭」,讀 ruì,指鬢髮;通行本作「銳」。此从底本,本篇一見。

  3. 伏菟上各一伏菟上各一

    底本作「菟」,讀 tú,即今之伏兔穴;通行本作「伏兔」。此从底本,本篇一見。

  4. 耳郭上各一耳郭上各一

    底本作「郭」,讀 guō,郭即廓之本字,耳郭今作耳廓;通行本多作「廓」。此从底本,本篇一見。

  5. 目内眦各一目内眦各一

    底本作「眦」,讀 zì,目之內角;通行本作从此之「眥」。此从底本,本篇一見。

  6. 下脣一下唇一

    底本作肉旁之「脣」,讀 chún;通行本作口旁之「唇」。此从底本,本篇一見。

  7. 齗交一龈交一

    底本作「齗」,讀 yín,齒本肉也,即今之齦交穴;通行本作「齦交」。此从底本,本篇一見。

  8. 掖下三寸、脅下至胠八閒各一掖下三寸、胁下至胠八间各一

    底本此處作「閒」,讀 jiān;本篇「閒」一見而「間」三見,同篇二形並存,各因其處不改,皆讀 jiān。通行本多統作「間」。

  9. 面鼽骨空各一面鼽骨空各一

    「空」讀 kōng,如字;本站第二十四篇「鍼空」讀 kǒng 通「孔」,本篇「空」六見皆骨空、穴空之義,此從如字之讀,故存此說。

  10. 凡五行,行五凡五行,行五

    「行」讀 háng,行列也,頭皮之上五行、每行五穴;第五十八篇「頭上五行,行五」同例。本篇「行」二見,皆此一讀。

  11. 五藏之俞各五五脏之俞各五

    「藏」讀 zàng,五藏之俞;本站既往「藏」多見一作 cáng(如第五十八篇「藏之金匱」),本篇一見,獨此一讀。

  12. 髃骨之會各一髃骨之会各一

    「髃」讀 yú,肩髃之髃,此取其穴名之讀,不作 ǒu、yǔ;本篇一見。

  13. 俠齊廣三寸各三侠脐广三寸各三

    「齊」讀 qí,通「臍」,即神闕;本篇四見(俠齊、下齊)。第五十三篇「齊」同讀,第四十、四十七、五十八篇同例。

  14. 肩解各一肩解各一

    「解」讀 jiě,肩骨之解會處,本篇二見;不讀 xiè(本站「解」有通「懈」讀 xiè 之例),故存此說。

Cite this page

APA

Huangdi Neijing · Suwen 黃帝內經素問 (c. 3rd c. BCE – 1st c. CE; recension c. 762 CE). Qì fǔ lùn 氣府論 [A Discourse on the Qi Houses], Chapter 59. In Classica Sinica Medica. Base text: 《重廣補註黃帝內經素問》二十四卷,唐·王冰注,宋·林億、孫奇、高保衡等校正,宋·孫兆重改誤。據上海涵芬樓《四部叢刊初編》影印明嘉靖二十九年(1550)顧從德覆宋刊本錄入,卷一牌記題「上海涵芬樓景印明顧氏翻宋本」。底本與影印本均屬公有領域。 Retrieved 12 October 2026, from https://classicstcm.com/classics/huangdi-neijing-suwen/qi-houses/

MLA

"Qì fǔ lùn 氣府論 [A Discourse on the Qi Houses]." Huangdi Neijing · Suwen 黃帝內經素問, chapter 59, Classica Sinica Medica, 2026, https://classicstcm.com/classics/huangdi-neijing-suwen/qi-houses/. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026. Base text: 《重廣補註黃帝內經素問》二十四卷,唐·王冰注,宋·林億、孫奇、高保衡等校正,宋·孫兆重改誤。據上海涵芬樓《四部叢刊初編》影印明嘉靖二十九年(1550)顧從德覆宋刊本錄入,卷一牌記題「上海涵芬樓景印明顧氏翻宋本」。底本與影印本均屬公有領域。

Chinese scholarly

《黃帝內經素問·氣府論》(Huángdì Nèijīng Sùwèn)。《重廣補註黃帝內經素問》二十四卷,唐·王冰注,宋·林億、孫奇、高保衡等校正,宋·孫兆重改誤。據上海涵芬樓《四部叢刊初編》影印明嘉靖二十九年(1550)顧從德覆宋刊本錄入,卷一牌記題「上海涵芬樓景印明顧氏翻宋本」。底本與影印本均屬公有領域。Classica Sinica Medica,2026 年 10 月 12 日 存取,https://classicstcm.com/classics/huangdi-neijing-suwen/qi-houses/。

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