The Measure of the Bones

骨度

Gǔ dù

This is the shortest chapter in the Lingshu and one of the most quoted, because it is the only place in the canon where the proportions of the human body are set out as a table. It answers a question that the Mai Du had left open: if the channels have fixed lengths, what fixes them? The answer is bone. Measure the joints and the channel measure follows.The method is stated in a single line and then applied. A man of seven chi five cun is taken as the standard, and the chapter measures him from the crown to the sole: the circumference of the head, chest and waist; the length from the hairline to the nape and from the hair to the chin; the distances from the Adam's apple to the supraclavicular fossa, from there to the sword bone, to the navel, to the pubic bone; the segments of the leg from the inner shin bone to the ankle and from the instep to the ground; the spans from the corner of the forehead to the collar bone, from the axilla to the lateral ribs, from the hip joint to the knee and to the outer ankle. Breadths follow lengths: between the cheekbones, the nipples, the hips.What makes the chapter more than a list is its use of excess and deficiency. Almost every vertical measurement is followed by a consequence — beyond nine cun the lung is large, short of it the lung is small; beyond eight cun the stomach is large; beyond six and a half the intestine is wide and long. The skeleton, in other words, is a diagnostic surface: the length of a segment tells you the size of the organ beneath it. The chapter closes by turning the same eye on the channels themselves, where floating and hard means much blood and fine and deep means much qi.

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9 paragraphs

黃帝問于伯高曰：《脉度》言經脉之長短，何以立之？黄帝问于伯高曰：《脉度》言经脉之长短，何以立之？

Huáng Dì wèn yú Bó Gāo yuē: mài dù yán jīng mài zhī cháng duǎn, hé yǐ lì zhī?

黄帝问伯高说：脉度篇讲经脉的长短，是根据什么立出来的？

Huang Di asked Bo Gao: the Mai Du speaks of the length of the channels — on what is that based?

伯高曰：先度其骨節之大小、廣狹、長短，而脉度定矣。伯高曰：先度其骨节之大小、广狭、长短，而脉度定矣。

Bó Gāo yuē: xiān dù qí gǔ jié zhī dà xiǎo, guǎng xiá, cháng duǎn, ér mài dù dìng yǐ.

伯高说：先量骨节的大小、广狭、长短，脉度就可以定了。

Bo Gao said: first measure the size, breadth and length of the joints, and the channel measure is fixed.

黃帝曰：願問衆人之度，人長七尺五寸者，其骨節之大小、長短各㡬何？黄帝曰：愿问众人之度，人长七尺五寸者，其骨节之大小、长短各㡬何？

Huáng Dì yuē: yuàn wèn zhòng rén zhī dù, rén cháng qī chǐ wǔ cùn zhě, qí gǔ jié zhī dà xiǎo, cháng duǎn gè jǐ hé?

黄帝说：我想问问一般人的度量。人身长七尺五寸的，他的骨节大小、长短各是多少？

Huang Di said: I should like to ask the measure of an ordinary man. When a man is seven chi five cun tall, what are the sizes and lengths of his joints?

伯高曰：頭之大骨圍二尺六寸，胸圍四尺五寸，腰圍四尺三寸，髮所覆者，顱至項尺二寸，髮以下至頤長一尺。君子終折。伯高曰：头之大骨围二尺六寸，胸围四尺五寸，腰围四尺三寸，发所覆者，颅至项尺二寸，发以下至颐长一尺。君子终折。

Bó Gāo yuē: tóu zhī dà gǔ wéi èr chǐ liù cùn, xiōng wéi sì chǐ wǔ cùn, yāo wéi sì chǐ sān cùn, fà suǒ fù zhě, lú zhì xiàng chǐ èr cùn, fà yǐ xià zhì yí cháng yī chǐ. jūn zi zhōng zhé.

伯高说：头的大骨围二尺六寸，胸围四尺五寸，腰围四尺三寸。头发所覆盖的地方，从颅顶到项部是一尺二寸；发以下到颐长一尺。这是君子立身的终始折中。

Bo Gao said: the great bone of the head is two chi six cun around; the chest is four chi five cun; the waist is four chi three cun. What the hair covers, from the crown to the nape, is one chi two cun; from below the hair to the chin is one chi. This is the final standard of the noble man.

結喉以下至缺盆中長四寸，缺盆以下至𩩲骬長九寸，過則肺大，不滿則肺小。𩩲骬以下至天樞長八寸，過則胃大，不及則胃小。天樞以下至横骨長六寸半，過則迴腸廣長，不滿則狹短。横骨長六寸半。横骨上廉以下至内輔之上廉長一尺八寸，内輔之上廉以下至下廉長三寸半，内輔下廉下至内踝長一尺三寸，内踝以下至地長三寸。膝膕以下至跗屬長一尺六寸，跗屬以下至地長三寸。故骨圍大則大過，小則不及。结喉以下至缺盆中长四寸，缺盆以下至𩩲骬长九寸，过则肺大，不满则肺小。𩩲骬以下至天枢长八寸，过则胃大，不及则胃小。天枢以下至横骨长六寸半，过则回肠广长，不满则狭短。横骨长六寸半。横骨上廉以下至内辅之上廉长一尺八寸，内辅之上廉以下至下廉长三寸半，内辅下廉下至内踝长一尺三寸，内踝以下至地长三寸。膝腘以下至跗属长一尺六寸，跗属以下至地长三寸。故骨围大则大过，小则不及。

jié hóu yǐ xià zhì quē pén zhōng cháng sì cùn, quē pén yǐ xià zhì hé yú cháng jiǔ cùn, guò zé fèi dà, bù mǎn zé fèi xiǎo. hé yú yǐ xià zhì tiān shū cháng bā cùn, guò zé wèi dà, bù jí zé wèi xiǎo. tiān shū yǐ xià zhì héng gǔ cháng liù cùn bàn, guò zé huí cháng guǎng cháng, bù mǎn zé xiá duǎn. héng gǔ cháng liù cùn bàn. héng gǔ shàng lián yǐ xià zhì nèi fǔ zhī shàng lián cháng yī chǐ bā cùn, nèi fǔ zhī shàng lián yǐ xià zhì xià lián cháng sān cùn bàn, nèi fǔ xià lián xià zhì nèi huái cháng yī chǐ sān cùn, nèi huái yǐ xià zhì dì cháng sān cùn. xī guó yǐ xià zhì fū zhǔ cháng yī chǐ liù cùn, fū zhǔ yǐ xià zhì dì cháng sān cùn. gù gǔ wéi dà zé dà guò, xiǎo zé bù jí.

结喉以下到缺盆中长四寸；缺盆以下到𩩲骬长九寸，超过九寸肺就大，不满九寸肺就小。𩩲骬以下到天枢长八寸，超过八寸胃就大，不及八寸胃就小。天枢以下到横骨长六寸半，超过则回肠广长，不满则狭短。横骨长六寸半。横骨上廉以下到内辅之上廉长一尺八寸；内辅上廉以下到下廉长三寸半；内辅下廉以下到内踝长一尺三寸；内踝以下到地长三寸。膝膕以下到跗属长一尺六寸；跗属以下到地长三寸。所以骨围大的就太过，小的就不及。

From the Adam’s apple down to the middle of the supraclavicular fossa is four cun. From the fossa down to the sword bone is nine cun: beyond that the lung is large, short of it the lung is small. From the sword bone down to the heavenly pivot is eight cun: beyond that the stomach is large, short of it the stomach is small. From the heavenly pivot down to the pubic bone is six cun and a half: beyond that the returning intestine is wide and long, short of it narrow and short. The pubic bone is six cun and a half long. From the upper edge of the pubic bone down to the upper edge of the inner shin bone is one chi eight cun; from the upper to the lower edge of the inner shin bone is three cun and a half; from the lower edge of the inner shin bone down to the inner ankle is one chi three cun; from the inner ankle down to the ground is three cun. From below the knee hollow to the instep is one chi six cun; from the instep to the ground is three cun. Thus where the bone measure is large it is excessive, and where small it falls short.

角以下至柱骨長一尺，行腋中不見者長四寸。腋以下至季脅長一尺二寸，季脅以下至髀樞長六寸，髀樞以下至膝中長一尺九寸。膝以下至外踝長一尺六寸，外踝以下至京骨長三寸，京骨以下至地長一寸。角以下至柱骨长一尺，行腋中不见者长四寸。腋以下至季胁长一尺二寸，季胁以下至髀枢长六寸，髀枢以下至膝中长一尺九寸。膝以下至外踝长一尺六寸，外踝以下至京骨长三寸，京骨以下至地长一寸。

jiǎo yǐ xià zhì zhù gǔ cháng yī chǐ, xíng yè zhōng bù jiàn zhě cháng sì cùn. yè yǐ xià zhì jì xié cháng yī chǐ èr cùn, jì xié yǐ xià zhì bì shū cháng liù cùn, bì shū yǐ xià zhì xī zhōng cháng yī chǐ jiǔ cùn. xī yǐ xià zhì wài huái cháng yī chǐ liù cùn, wài huái yǐ xià zhì jīng gǔ cháng sān cùn, jīng gǔ yǐ xià zhì dì cháng yī cùn.

角以下到柱骨长一尺，行于腋中看不见的部分长四寸。腋以下到季胁长一尺二寸；季胁以下到髀枢长六寸；髀枢以下到膝中长一尺九寸。膝以下到外踝长一尺六寸；外踝以下到京骨长三寸；京骨以下到地长一寸。

From the corner of the forehead to the collar bone is one chi; the part that runs inside the axilla and is not seen is four cun. From the axilla down to the lateral ribs is one chi two cun; from the lateral ribs down to the hip joint is six cun; from the hip joint down to the middle of the knee is one chi nine cun. From the knee down to the outer ankle is one chi six cun; from the outer ankle down to the capital bone is three cun; from the capital bone to the ground is one cun.

耳後當完骨者廣九寸，耳前當耳門者廣一尺三寸，兩顴之間相去七寸，兩乳之間廣九寸半，兩髀之間廣六寸半。耳后当完骨者广九寸，耳前当耳门者广一尺三寸，两颧之间相去七寸，两乳之间广九寸半，两髀之间广六寸半。

ěr hòu dāng wán gǔ zhě guǎng jiǔ cùn, ěr qián dāng ěr mén zhě guǎng yī chǐ sān cùn, liǎng quán zhī jiān xiāng qù qī cùn, liǎng rǔ zhī jiān guǎng jiǔ cùn bàn, liǎng bì zhī jiān guǎng liù cùn bàn.

耳后当完骨处广九寸；耳前当耳门处广一尺三寸；两颧之间相距七寸；两乳之间广九寸半；两髀之间广六寸半。

Behind the ear at the mastoid the breadth is nine cun; in front of the ear at the ear gate the breadth is one chi three cun; between the two cheekbones the distance is seven cun; between the two nipples the breadth is nine cun and a half; between the two hips the breadth is six cun and a half.

足長一尺二寸，廣四寸半。肩至肘長一尺七寸。肘至腕長一尺二寸半，腕至中指本節長四寸。本節至其末長四寸半。足长一尺二寸，广四寸半。肩至肘长一尺七寸。肘至腕长一尺二寸半，腕至中指本节长四寸。本节至其末长四寸半。

zú cháng yī chǐ èr cùn, guǎng sì cùn bàn. jiān zhì zhǒu cháng yī chǐ qī cùn. zhǒu zhì wàn cháng yī chǐ èr cùn bàn, wàn zhì zhōng zhǐ běn jié cháng sì cùn. běn jié zhì qí mò cháng sì cùn bàn.

足长一尺二寸，广四寸半。肩到肘长一尺七寸。肘到腕长一尺二寸半；腕到中指本节长四寸；本节到指端长四寸半。

The foot is one chi two cun long and four cun and a half broad. From the shoulder to the elbow is one chi seven cun. From the elbow to the wrist is one chi two cun and a half; from the wrist to the middle finger joint is four cun; from that joint to the tip is four cun and a half.

項髮以下至背骨長二寸半。膂骨以下至尾骶二十一節，長三尺。上節長一寸四分分之一，奇分在下，故上七節至于膂骨九寸八分分之七。此衆人骨之度也，所以立經脉之長短也。是故視其經脉之在于身也，其見浮而堅，其見眀而大者，多血；細而沉者，多氣也。项发以下至背骨长二寸半。膂骨以下至尾骶二十一节，长三尺。上节长一寸四分分之一，奇分在下，故上七节至于膂骨九寸八分分之七。此众人骨之度也，所以立经脉之长短也。是故视其经脉之在于身也，其见浮而坚，其见眀而大者，多血；细而沉者，多气也。

xiàng fà yǐ xià zhì bèi gǔ cháng èr cùn bàn. lǚ gǔ yǐ xià zhì wěi dǐ èr shí yī jié, cháng sān chǐ. shàng jié cháng yī cùn sì fēn fēn zhī yī, qí fēn zài xià, gù shàng qī jié zhì yú lǚ gǔ jiǔ cùn bā fēn fēn zhī qī. cǐ zhòng rén gǔ zhī dù yě, suǒ yǐ lì jīng mài zhī cháng duǎn yě. shì gù shì qí jīng mài zhī zài yú shēn yě, qí xiàn fú ér jiān, qí xiàn míng ér dà zhě, duō xuè; xì ér chén zhě, duō qì yě.

项发以下到背骨长二寸半。膂骨以下到尾骶共二十一节，长三尺。上节长一寸四分分之一，奇零之数在下，所以上七节到膂骨共九寸八分分之七。这是一般人骨的长度，正是用来立经脉长短的依据。所以看那经脉在人身，浮而坚、明而大的，是多血；细而沉的，是多气。

From the hairline at the nape down to the spinal bone is two cun and a half. From the spinal bone down to the sacrum there are twenty-one vertebrae, three chi long. The upper vertebra is one cun and a fraction of four; the odd fraction lies below, so the upper seven vertebrae down to the spinal bone come to nine cun and seven eighths. This is the bone measure of an ordinary man, and it is what the length of the channels is based on. Hence when one looks at the channels in the body, those that appear floating and hard, or bright and large, have much blood; those fine and deep have much qi.

Textual notes

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

各㡬何各幾何
「㡬」为「幾」之异体，底本此篇一见。今存底本字形，读 jǐ，谓各是多少。此句承上「骨節之大小、長短」而问，下文所答即依此序。
君子終折君子終折也
「終折」二字注家解说不一，或谓终始折中，或谓以身长为折准。此句总结上文头胸腰之围与颅颐之长，谓常人之度以此为断。他本或有「也」字，文气较足。
過則肺大，不滿則肺小過則肺大，不及則肺小
此句底本作「不滿」，下文「𩩲骬以下至天樞」作「不及」，又作「不滿」，三处互出。义皆谓不及其度，非有异义，今仍底本，不复画一。
故骨圍大則大過故骨圍大則太過
「大過」即「太過」，底本作「大」，与《易》大过之字同。此总结上文诸围，谓骨围大者其度太过，小者不及，示人量骨当以中度为准，不可执一。
其見眀而大者，多血其見明而大者，多血
「眀」为「明」之异写，底本此篇一见。此谓经脉显于身者，浮而坚、明而大则多血，细而沉则多气，与《經水》篇血多少之说相足。
尾骶尾氐
「骶」读 dǐ，即尾骶骨，底本从骨从氐。脊骨二十一节之数，与《素問·氣府論》所记相合。「氐」为本字，「骶」为后起之形声字。
上節長一寸四分分之一上節長一寸四分分之一寸
此句义谓每节长一寸四分，而以其一分之零数分在下节。底本「分之一」下无「寸」字，文省，注家多以意补。今仍底本，不加臆补。
横骨長六寸半。横骨上廉横骨長六寸半，横骨上廉
此句底本重出「横骨長六寸半」，盖承上文而申言，非衍文。句末作句号，则「横骨上廉以下」另起一读，层次较然。今仍底本句读。
願問衆人之度願聞衆人之度
「問」「聞」形近，底本作「問」，谓愿问众人之度。他篇问语多作「願聞」，此独作「問」，于义亦通，今仍底本，不改字。

Cite this page

APA

Huangdi Neijing · Lingshu 黃帝內經靈樞 (Compiled over the same span as the Suwen; the present text was put in order in the Tang.). Gǔ dù 骨度 [The Measure of the Bones], Chapter 14. In Classica Sinica Medica. Base text: 《黃帝素問靈樞經》十二卷八十一篇，宋·史崧校定并音釋。據上海涵芬樓《四部叢刊》子部影印明趙府居敬堂刊本錄入，卷首牌記題「上海涵芬樓景明趙府居敬堂刊本」，並記原書版匡高營造尺六寸三分、寬四寸四分。目錄末行作「元二十四卷今併爲十二卷計八十一篇」。底本與影印本均屬公有領域。 Retrieved 29 October 2026, from https://classicstcm.com/classics/huangdi-neijing-lingshu/the-measure-of-the-bones/

MLA

"Gǔ dù 骨度 [The Measure of the Bones]." Huangdi Neijing · Lingshu 黃帝內經靈樞, chapter 14, Classica Sinica Medica, 2026, https://classicstcm.com/classics/huangdi-neijing-lingshu/the-measure-of-the-bones/. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026. Base text: 《黃帝素問靈樞經》十二卷八十一篇，宋·史崧校定并音釋。據上海涵芬樓《四部叢刊》子部影印明趙府居敬堂刊本錄入，卷首牌記題「上海涵芬樓景明趙府居敬堂刊本」，並記原書版匡高營造尺六寸三分、寬四寸四分。目錄末行作「元二十四卷今併爲十二卷計八十一篇」。底本與影印本均屬公有領域。

Chinese scholarly

《黃帝內經靈樞·骨度》（Huángdì Nèijīng Língshū）。《黃帝素問靈樞經》十二卷八十一篇，宋·史崧校定并音釋。據上海涵芬樓《四部叢刊》子部影印明趙府居敬堂刊本錄入，卷首牌記題「上海涵芬樓景明趙府居敬堂刊本」，並記原書版匡高營造尺六寸三分、寬四寸四分。目錄末行作「元二十四卷今併爲十二卷計八十一篇」。底本與影印本均屬公有領域。Classica Sinica Medica，2026 年 10 月 29 日存取，https://classicstcm.com/classics/huangdi-neijing-lingshu/the-measure-of-the-bones/。

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