1
黃帝問于歧伯曰：余聞人之合于天道也，内有五藏，以應五音、五色、五時、五味、五位也；外有六府，以應六律，六律建陰陽諸經，而合之十二月、十二辰、十二節、十二經水、十二時、十二經脉者，此五藏六府之所以應天道。夫十二經脉者，人之所以生，病之所以成，人之所以治，病之所以起，學之所始，工之所止也。麤之所易，上之所難也。請問其離合出入奈何？
黄帝问于歧伯曰：余闻人之合于天道也，内有五藏，以应五音、五色、五时、五味、五位也；外有六府，以应六律，六律建阴阳诸经，而合之十二月、十二辰、十二节、十二经水、十二时、十二经脉者，此五藏六府之所以应天道。夫十二经脉者，人之所以生，病之所以成，人之所以治，病之所以起，学之所始，工之所止也。麤之所易，上之所难也。请问其离合出入奈何？ Huáng Dì wèn yú Qí Bó yuē: yú wén rén zhī hé yú tiān dào yě, nèi yǒu wǔ zàng, yǐ yīng wǔ yīn, wǔ sè, wǔ shí, wǔ wèi, wǔ wèi yě; wài yǒu liù fǔ, yǐ yīng liù lǜ, liù lǜ jiàn yīn yáng zhū jīng, ér hé zhī shí èr yuè, shí èr chén, shí èr jié, shí èr jīng shuǐ, shí èr shí, shí èr jīng mài zhě, cǐ wǔ zàng liù fǔ zhī suǒ yǐ yīng tiān dào. fū shí èr jīng mài zhě, rén zhī suǒ yǐ shēng, bìng zhī suǒ yǐ chéng, rén zhī suǒ yǐ zhì, bìng zhī suǒ yǐ qǐ, xué zhī suǒ shǐ, gōng zhī suǒ zhǐ yě. cū zhī suǒ yì, shàng zhī suǒ nán yě. qǐng wèn qí lí hé chū rù nài hé?
黄帝问岐伯说：我听说人身与天道相合，内有五脏，用来应五音、五色、五时、五味、五位；外有六府，用来应六律。六律建立阴阳诸经，又与十二月、十二辰、十二节、十二经水、十二时辰、十二经脉相合，这就是五脏六府所以应天道的地方。那十二经脉，是人赖以生存、病赖以形成、人赖以得治、病赖以兴起的所在，是学医的起点，也是高明医工所止的境地。粗浅的人以为容易，高明的人反以为难。请问经脉的离、合、出、入是怎样的？
Huang Di asked Qi Bo: I have heard that man corresponds to the Way of Heaven. Within he has the five zang, which answer to the five tones, the five colours, the five seasons, the five flavours and the five directions; without he has the six fu, which answer to the six pitch-pipes. The six pitch-pipes establish the yin and yang channels and join them to the twelve months, the twelve double-hours, the twelve joints, the twelve water-courses, the twelve hours and the twelve channels. This is how the five zang and six fu answer to the Way of Heaven. As for the twelve channels, they are that by which man lives and by which disease is formed, that by which man is cured and by which disease arises; they are where study begins and where the skilled physician stops. The coarse find them easy; the highest find them hard. I beg to ask how they separate, join, go out and come in.
2
歧伯稽首再拜曰：明乎哉問也！此麤之所過，上之所息也，請卒言之。足太陽之正，别入于膕中，其一道下尻五寸，别入于肛，屬于膀胱，散之腎，循膂，當心入散；直者，從膂上出于項，復屬于太陽，此爲一經也。
歧伯稽首再拜曰：明乎哉问也！此麤之所过，上之所息也，请卒言之。足太阳之正，别入于腘中，其一道下尻五寸，别入于肛，属于膀胱，散之肾，循膂，当心入散；直者，从膂上出于项，复属于太阳，此为一经也。 Qí Bó jī shǒu zài bài yuē: míng hū zāi wèn yě! cǐ cū zhī suǒ guò, shàng zhī suǒ xī yě, qǐng zú yán zhī. zú tài yáng zhī zhèng, bié rù yú guó zhōng, qí yī dào xià kāo wǔ cùn, bié rù yú gāng, zhǔ yú bǎng guāng, sàn zhī shèn, xún lǚ, dāng xīn rù sàn; zhí zhě, cóng lǚ shàng chū yú xiàng, fù zhǔ yú tài yáng, cǐ wéi yī jīng yě.
岐伯叩头再拜说：问得真高明啊！这是粗浅的人所忽略、高明的人所留心的，请让我把它说完。足太阳的正经，别行入于膕中，其中一支下到尻骨五寸处，别入肛门，属于膀胱，散布于肾，沿着膂脊，当心处入内散布；直行的一支，从膂脊上行出于项部，再属于太阳，这是一经。
Qi Bo bowed his head twice and said: a brilliant question! This is what the coarse pass by and what the highest rest in. Allow me to finish it. The proper channel of foot taiyang separates and enters the middle of the popliteal fossa. One branch goes down five cun below the sacrum and enters the anus, belongs to the bladder, disperses to the kidney, follows the spinal musculature, and disperses inward at the level of the heart. The straight branch ascends from the spinal musculature and emerges at the nape, rejoining taiyang. This makes one channel.
3
足少陰之正，至膕中，别走太陽而合，上至腎，當十四顀，出屬帶脉；直者繫舌本，復出于項，合于太陽，此爲一合。成以諸陰之别，皆爲正也。
足少阴之正，至腘中，别走太阳而合，上至肾，当十四顀，出属带脉；直者系舌本，复出于项，合于太阳，此为一合。成以诸阴之别，皆为正也。 zú shào yīn zhī zhèng, zhì guó zhōng, bié zǒu tài yáng ér hé, shàng zhì shèn, dāng shí sì chuí, chū zhǔ dài mài; zhí zhě xì shé běn, fù chū yú xiàng, hé yú tài yáng, cǐ wéi yī hé. chéng yǐ zhū yīn zhī bié, jiē wéi zhèng yě.
足少阴的正经，到膕中，别走太阳而与之相合，上行至肾，当十四椎处，出而属于带脉；直行的一支系于舌本，再出于项，与太阳相合，这是一合。凡诸阴经的别行，都称为正经。
The proper channel of foot shaoyin reaches the popliteal fossa, separates to taiyang and joins it, ascends to the kidney, and at the fourteenth vertebra emerges and belongs to the girdle vessel. Its straight branch ties at the root of the tongue, emerges again at the nape, and joins taiyang. This makes one union. In general, all the divergent branches of the yin channels are called proper channels.
4
足少陽之正，繞髀入毛際，合于厥陰；别者，入季脅之間，循胸裏，屬膽，散之上肝，貫心，以上挾咽，出頤頷中，散于面，繫目系，合少陽于外眦也。
足少阳之正，绕髀入毛际，合于厥阴；别者，入季胁之间，循胸里，属胆，散之上肝，贯心，以上挟咽，出颐颔中，散于面，系目系，合少阳于外眦也。 zú shào yáng zhī zhèng, rào bì rù máo jì, hé yú jué yīn; bié zhě, rù jì xié zhī jiān, xún xiōng lǐ, zhǔ dǎn, sàn zhī shàng gān, guàn xīn, yǐ shàng xié yān, chū yí hàn zhōng, sàn yú miàn, xì mù xì, hé shào yáng yú wài zì yě.
足少阳的正经，绕髀入毛际，与厥阴相合；别出的一支，入季胁之间，循胸里，属胆，散布而上至肝，贯心，向上挟咽，出于颐颔之中，散于面，系于目系，在目外眦与少阳相合。
The proper channel of foot shaoyang winds about the hip, enters the pubic region and joins jueyin. Its divergent branch enters the space of the lateral costal region, runs inside the chest, belongs to the gallbladder, disperses upward to the liver, pierces the heart, ascends to grip the throat, emerges in the cheek and chin, disperses over the face, ties at the eye system, and joins shaoyang at the outer canthus.
5
足厥陰之正，别跗上，上至毛際，合于少陽，與别俱行，此爲一合也。
足厥阴之正，别跗上，上至毛际，合于少阳，与别俱行，此为一合也。 zú jué yīn zhī zhèng, bié fū shàng, shàng zhì máo jì, hé yú shào yáng, yǔ bié jù xíng, cǐ wéi yī hé yě.
足厥阴的正经，别于跗上，上至毛际，与少阳相合，与别支一同行走，这是一合。
The proper channel of foot jueyin separates at the dorsum of the foot, ascends to the pubic region, joins shaoyang and runs together with its divergent branch. This makes one union.
6
足陽明之正，上至髀，入于腹裏，屬胃，散之脾，上通于心，上循咽，出于口，上頞䪼，還繫目系，合于陽明也。
足阳明之正，上至髀，入于腹里，属胃，散之脾，上通于心，上循咽，出于口，上頞䪼，还系目系，合于阳明也。 zú yáng míng zhī zhèng, shàng zhì bì, rù yú fù lǐ, zhǔ wèi, sàn zhī pí, shàng tōng yú xīn, shàng xún yān, chū yú kǒu, shàng è zhuō, hái xì mù xì, hé yú yáng míng yě.
足阳明的正经，上至髀，入于腹里，属胃，散于脾，上通于心，上循咽，出于口，上至鼻根和眼眶下方，回还系于目系，与阳明相合。
The proper channel of foot yangming ascends to the hip, enters the abdominal cavity, belongs to the stomach, disperses to the spleen, communicates upward with the heart, ascends along the throat, emerges at the mouth, rises to the root of the nose and below the orbit, returns to tie at the eye system, and joins yangming.
7
足太陰之正，上至髀，合于陽明，與别俱行，上結于咽，貫舌中，此爲三合也。
足太阴之正，上至髀，合于阳明，与别俱行，上结于咽，贯舌中，此为三合也。 zú tài yīn zhī zhèng, shàng zhì bì, hé yú yáng míng, yǔ bié jù xíng, shàng jié yú yān, guàn shé zhōng, cǐ wéi sān hé yě.
足太阴的正经，上至髀，与阳明相合，与别支一同行走，上结于咽，贯舌中，这是三合。
The proper channel of foot taiyin ascends to the hip, joins yangming and runs with its divergent branch, ties upward at the throat and pierces the middle of the tongue. This makes the third union.
8
手太陽之正，指地，别于肩解，入腋，走心，繫小腸也。
手太阳之正，指地，别于肩解，入腋，走心，系小肠也。 shǒu tài yáng zhī zhèng, zhǐ dì, bié yú jiān jiě, rù yè, zǒu xīn, xì xiǎo cháng yě.
手太阳的正经，指向地，别于肩解，入腋，走心，系于小肠。
The proper channel of hand taiyang points to earth. It separates at the shoulder joint, enters the axilla, runs to the heart and ties to the small intestine.
9
手少陰之正，别入于淵腋兩筋之間，屬于心，上走喉嚨，出于面，合目内眦，此爲四合也。
手少阴之正，别入于渊腋两筋之间，属于心，上走喉咙，出于面，合目内眦，此为四合也。 shǒu shào yīn zhī zhèng, bié rù yú yuān yè liǎng jīn zhī jiān, zhǔ yú xīn, shàng zǒu hóu lóng, chū yú miàn, hé mù nèi zì, cǐ wéi sì hé yě.
手少阴的正经，别入于渊腋两筋之间，属心，上走喉咙，出于面，在目内眦相合，这是四合。
The proper channel of hand shaoyin separates and enters the deep axilla between the two sinews, belongs to the heart, ascends to the throat, emerges at the face and joins at the inner canthus. This makes the fourth union.
10
手少陽之正，指天，别于巔，入缺盆，下走三焦，散于胸中也。
手少阳之正，指天，别于巅，入缺盆，下走三焦，散于胸中也。 shǒu shào yáng zhī zhèng, zhǐ tiān, bié yú diān, rù quē pén, xià zǒu sān jiāo, sàn yú xiōng zhōng yě.
手少阳的正经，指向天，别于巅顶，入缺盆，下走三焦，散于胸中。
The proper channel of hand shaoyang points to heaven. It separates at the vertex, enters the supraclavicular fossa, runs down to the triple burner and disperses in the chest.
11
手心主之正，别下淵腋三寸，入胸中，别屬三焦，出循喉嚨，出耳後，合少陽完骨之下，此爲五合也。
手心主之正，别下渊腋三寸，入胸中，别属三焦，出循喉咙，出耳后，合少阳完骨之下，此为五合也。 shǒu xīn zhǔ zhī zhèng, bié xià yuān yè sān cùn, rù xiōng zhōng, bié zhǔ sān jiāo, chū xún hóu lóng, chū ěr hòu, hé shào yáng wán gǔ zhī xià, cǐ wéi wǔ hé yě.
手心主的正经，别下渊腋三寸，入胸中，别属三焦，出而循喉咙，出于耳后，在完骨之下与少阳相合，这是五合。
The proper channel of hand xinzhu separates three cun below the deep axilla, enters the chest, diverges to belong to the triple burner, emerges and runs along the throat, comes out behind the ear, and joins shaoyang below the mastoid. This makes the fifth union.
12
手陽明之正，從手循膺乳，别于肩髃，入柱骨，下走大腸，屬于肺，上循喉嚨，出缺盆，合于陽明也。
手阳明之正，从手循膺乳，别于肩髃，入柱骨，下走大肠，属于肺，上循喉咙，出缺盆，合于阳明也。 shǒu yáng míng zhī zhèng, cóng shǒu xún yīng rǔ, bié yú jiān yú, rù zhù gǔ, xià zǒu dà cháng, zhǔ yú fèi, shàng xún hóu lóng, chū quē pén, hé yú yáng míng yě.
手阳明的正经，从手循膺乳，别于肩髃，入柱骨，下走大肠，属于肺，上循喉咙，出于缺盆，与阳明相合。
The proper channel of hand yangming runs from the hand along the breast and nipple, separates at the shoulder point, enters the clavicle, runs down to the large intestine, belongs to the lung, ascends along the throat, emerges at the supraclavicular fossa and joins yangming.
shǒu tài yīn zhī zhèng, bié rù yuān yè shào yīn zhī qián, rù zǒu fèi, sàn zhī tài yáng, shàng chū quē pén, xún hóu lóng, fù hé yáng míng, cǐ liù hé yě.
手太阴的正经，别入渊腋少阴之前，入走肺，散于太阳，上出缺盆，循喉咙，再与阳明相合，这是六合。
The proper channel of hand taiyin separates and enters the deep axilla in front of shaoyin, enters and runs to the lung, disperses to the large intestine, emerges upward at the supraclavicular fossa, runs along the throat and again joins yangming. This makes the sixth union.