1
黃帝問于歧伯曰：願聞人之始生，何氣築爲基？何立而爲楯？何失而死？何得而生？
黄帝问于歧伯曰：愿闻人之始生，何气筑为基？何立而为楯？何失而死？何得而生？
Huáng Dì wèn yú Qí Bó yuē: yuàn wén rén zhī shǐ shēng, hé qì zhù wéi jī? hé lì ér wéi dùn? hé shī ér sǐ? hé dé ér shēng?
黄帝问岐伯说：我想听一听人初生的时候，依靠什么气筑成根基？又依靠什么立起外卫？失去什么就会死？得到什么就能生？
The Yellow Emperor asked Qi Bo: I should like to hear what qi builds the foundation at the beginning of a human life, what is set up as its shield, what lost brings death, and what kept brings life.
2
歧伯曰：以母爲基，以父爲楯，失神者死，得神者生也。
歧伯曰：以母为基，以父为楯，失神者死，得神者生也。
Qí Bó yuē: yǐ mǔ wéi jī, yǐ fù wéi dùn, shī shén zhě sǐ, dé shén zhě shēng yě.
岐伯说：以母亲的阴血为根基，以父亲的阳气为外卫。失去神气的就死，得到神气的就生。
Qi Bo said: The mother is the foundation, the father the shield. Lose the spirit and you die; keep the spirit and you live.
3
黃帝曰：何者爲神？歧伯曰：血氣已和，榮衛已通，五藏已成，神氣舍心，魂魄畢具，乃成爲人。
黄帝曰：何者为神？歧伯曰：血气已和，荣卫已通，五藏已成，神气舍心，魂魄毕具，乃成为人。 Huáng Dì yuē: hé zhě wéi shén? Qí Bó yuē: xuè qì yǐ hé, róng wèi yǐ tōng, wǔ zàng yǐ chéng, shén qì shè xīn, hún pò bì jù, nǎi chéng wéi rén.
黄帝说：什么叫做神？岐伯说：血气已经调和，营卫已经通畅，五脏已经成形，神气安住在心中，魂魄全都具备，这才成为一个人。
The Emperor said: What is the spirit? Qi Bo said: When blood and qi are already harmonious, when the nutritive and guarding qi already run freely, when the five viscera are already formed, when the spirit qi dwells in the heart and both souls are complete — then a human being is made.
4
黃帝曰：人之壽夭各不同，或夭壽，或卒死，或病久，願聞其道。
黄帝曰：人之寿夭各不同，或夭寿，或卒死，或病久，愿闻其道。 Huáng Dì yuē: rén zhī shòu yāo gè bù tóng, huò yāo shòu, huò cù sǐ, huò bìng jiǔ, yuàn wén qí dào.
黄帝说：人的寿命长短各不相同，有的短命，有的长寿，有的突然死亡，有的病了很久，我想听听其中的道理。
The Emperor said: Human lives differ in length: some die young, some live long, some die suddenly, some are ill for years. I should like to hear the reason.
5
歧伯曰：五藏堅固，血脉和調，肌肉解利，皮膚緻密，營衛之行，不失其常，呼吸微徐，氣以度行，六府化穀，津液布揚，各如其常，故能長久。
歧伯曰：五藏坚固，血脉和调，肌肉解利，皮肤致密，营卫之行，不失其常，呼吸微徐，气以度行，六府化谷，津液布扬，各如其常，故能长久。 Qí Bó yuē: wǔ zàng jiān gù, xuè mài hé tiáo, jī ròu jiě lì, pí fū zhì mì, yíng wèi zhī xíng, bù shī qí cháng, hū xī wēi xú, qì yǐ dù xíng, liù fǔ huà gǔ, jīn yè bù yáng, gè rú qí cháng, gù néng cháng jiǔ.
岐伯说：五脏坚固，血脉调和，肌肉舒展滑利，皮肤致密，营卫的运行不失去常规，呼吸细微而缓慢，气的运行合于度数，六腑传化水谷，津液布散输扬，各按常度，所以能够长久。
Qi Bo said: When the five viscera are firm, the blood vessels harmonious, the flesh supple and free, the skin dense, the course of nutritive and guarding qi never losing its norm, the breathing fine and slow, the qi moving by measure, the six palaces transforming grain, and the fluids spread and diffused each as usual — then one can last long.
6
黃帝曰：人之壽百歲而死，何以致之？歧伯曰：使道隧以長，基牆高以方，通調營衛，三部三里起，骨高肉滿，百歲乃得終。
黄帝曰：人之寿百岁而死，何以致之？歧伯曰：使道隧以长，基墙高以方，通调营卫，三部三里起，骨高肉满，百岁乃得终。 Huáng Dì yuē: rén zhī shòu bǎi suì ér sǐ, hé yǐ zhì zhī? Qí Bó yuē: shǐ dào suì yǐ cháng, jī qiáng gāo yǐ fāng, tōng tiáo yíng wèi, sān bù sān lǐ qǐ, gǔ gāo ròu mǎn, bǎi suì nǎi dé zhōng.
黄帝说：人活到百岁才死，是怎样达到的？岐伯说：气息出入的道路深长，根基与墙垣高而方正，营卫通调，三部三里的脉气隆起，骨骼高起，肌肉丰满，就能活到百岁才终其天年。
The Emperor said: How does one reach a hundred years and then die? Qi Bo said: The passage is deep and long, the foundation and wall high and square, the nutritive and guarding qi freely regulated, the three regions and three miles raised, the bones high and the flesh full — then a hundred years is reached before the end.
7
黃帝曰：其氣之盛衰，以至其死，可得聞乎？歧伯曰：人生十歲，五藏始定，血氣已通，其氣在下，故好走。
黄帝曰：其气之盛衰，以至其死，可得闻乎？歧伯曰：人生十岁，五藏始定，血气已通，其气在下，故好走。 Huáng Dì yuē: qí qì zhī shèng shuāi, yǐ zhì qí sǐ, kě dé wén hū? Qí Bó yuē: rén shēng shí suì, wǔ zàng shǐ dìng, xuè qì yǐ tōng, qí qì zài xià, gù hào zǒu.
黄帝说：气的盛衰，一直到死亡，可以讲给我听吗？岐伯说：人活到十岁，五脏刚刚安定，血气已经通畅，气在下部，所以喜欢奔跑。
The Emperor said: May I hear of the rise and fall of qi up to death? Qi Bo said: At ten years the five viscera are first settled, blood and qi already flow freely, and the qi is low, so one loves to run.
8
二十歲，血氣始盛，肌肉方長，故好趨。
二十岁，血气始盛，肌肉方长，故好趋。
èr shí suì, xuè qì shǐ shèng, jī ròu fāng cháng, gù hào qū.
二十岁，血气开始旺盛，肌肉正在生长，所以喜欢快走。
At twenty, blood and qi first flourish and the flesh is just growing, so one loves to walk briskly.
9
三十歲，五藏大定，肌肉堅固，血脉盛滿，故好步。
三十岁，五藏大定，肌肉坚固，血脉盛满，故好步。 sān shí suì, wǔ zàng dà dìng, jī ròu jiān gù, xuè mài shèng mǎn, gù hào bù.
三十岁，五脏完全安定，肌肉坚固，血脉盛满，所以喜欢从容步行。
At thirty, the five viscera are fully settled, the flesh firm, the blood vessels full, so one loves to stroll.
10
四十歲，五藏六府十二經脉，皆大盛以平定，腠理始疏，榮華頽落，髮頗斑白，平盛不摇，故好坐。
四十岁，五藏六府十二经脉，皆大盛以平定，腠理始疏，荣华颓落，发颇斑白，平盛不摇，故好坐。 sì shí suì, wǔ zàng liù fǔ shí èr jīng mài, jiē dà shèng yǐ píng dìng, còu lǐ shǐ shū, róng huá tuí luò, fà pō bān bái, píng shèng bù yáo, gù hào zuò.
四十岁，五脏六腑十二经脉都盛到极点而趋于平定，腠理开始疏松，荣华颓落，头发花白，精气平盛而不再动摇，所以喜欢安坐。
At forty, the five viscera, six palaces and twelve channels are all at their height and settling; the interstices begin to loosen, the bloom falls away, the hair greys, and the prime is full and no longer restless, so one loves to sit.
11
五十歲，肝氣始衰，肝葉始薄，膽汁始滅，目始不明。
五十岁，肝气始衰，肝叶始薄，胆汁始灭，目始不明。 wǔ shí suì, gān qì shǐ shuāi, gān yè shǐ bó, dǎn zhī shǐ miè, mù shǐ bù míng.
五十岁，肝气开始衰退，肝叶开始变薄，胆汁开始减少，眼睛开始看不清楚。
At fifty, the liver qi begins to decline, the liver lobes begin to thin, the bile begins to diminish, and the eyes begin to fail.
12
六十歲，心氣始衰，苦憂悲，血氣懈惰，故好臥。
六十岁，心气始衰，苦忧悲，血气懈惰，故好卧。 liù shí suì, xīn qì shǐ shuāi, kǔ yōu bēi, xuè qì xiè duò, gù hào wò.
六十岁，心气开始衰退，常常忧愁悲伤，血气懈惰，所以喜欢躺卧。
At sixty, the heart qi begins to decline, one suffers grief and sadness, blood and qi grow slack, so one loves to lie down.
13
七十歲，脾氣虚，皮膚枯。
七十岁，脾气虚，皮肤枯。
qī shí suì, pí qì xū, pí fū kū.
七十岁，脾气虚弱，皮肤枯槁。
At seventy, the spleen qi is vacuous and the skin withers.
14
八十歲，肺氣衰，魄離，故言善誤。
八十岁，肺气衰，魄离，故言善误。 bā shí suì, fèi qì shuāi, pò lí, gù yán shàn wù.
八十岁，肺气衰退，魄离开形体，所以说话常常出错。
At eighty, the lung qi declines, the corporeal soul departs, so one often speaks amiss.
jiǔ shí suì, shèn qì jiāo, sì zàng jīng mài kōng xū.
九十岁，肾气焦枯，其余四脏的经脉空虚。
At ninety, the kidney qi is scorched and the channels of the other four viscera are empty.
16
百歲，五藏皆虚，神氣皆去，形骸獨居而終矣。
百岁，五藏皆虚，神气皆去，形骸独居而终矣。 bǎi suì, wǔ zàng jiē xū, shén qì jiē qù, xíng hái dú jū ér zhōng yǐ.
百岁，五脏都虚，神气都离去，只剩形骸独居，然后终了。
At a hundred, the five viscera are all empty, the spirit qi all gone, and the bodily frame remains alone until the end.
17
黃帝曰：其不能終壽而死者，何如？
黄帝曰：其不能终寿而死者，何如？
Huáng Dì yuē: qí bù néng zhōng shòu ér sǐ zhě, hé rú?
黄帝说：那些不能活满天年就死去的，又是怎样？
The Emperor said: What of those who die before completing their natural span?
18
歧伯曰：其五藏皆不堅，使道不長，空外以張，喘息暴疾，又卑基牆，薄脉少血，其肉不石，數中風寒，血氣虚，脉不通，真邪相攻，亂而相引，故中壽而盡也。
歧伯曰：其五藏皆不坚，使道不长，空外以张，喘息暴疾，又卑基墙，薄脉少血，其肉不石，数中风寒，血气虚，脉不通，真邪相攻，乱而相引，故中寿而尽也。 Qí Bó yuē: qí wǔ zàng jiē bù jiān, shǐ dào bù cháng, kōng wài yǐ zhāng, chuǎn xī bào jí, yòu bēi jī qiáng, bó mài shǎo xuè, qí ròu bù shí, shuò zhòng fēng hán, xuè qì xū, mài bù tōng, zhēn xié xiāng gōng, luàn ér xiāng yǐn, gù zhōng shòu ér jìn yě.
岐伯说：他们五脏都不坚固，气息出入的道路不深长，空窍外张，喘息急暴，根基墙垣又低矮，脉薄血少，肌肉不坚实，屡屡伤于风寒，血气虚弱，脉道不通，正气与邪气互相攻伐，扰乱而互相牵引，所以到了中年就尽了。
Qi Bo said: Their five viscera are all un-firm, the passage is not long, the orifices stand open, the breathing is violent and quick, the foundation and wall are low, the vessels thin and the blood scanty, the flesh not firm. Repeatedly struck by wind and cold, with blood and qi vacuous and the vessels obstructed, true and evil qi attack one another, disorder draws disorder on, and so they end in middle life.