Classica Sinica Medica

The Five Prohibitions

五禁

Wǔ jìn

A short chapter of lists. It opens with a rapid exchange that names five sets of five — the prohibitions, the drainings, the excesses, the counterflows, and the nine suitabilities — and then spells out only three of them. The prohibitions are calendrical: each pair of heavenly stems governs a region of the body, and on its day that region is not to be needled, so that the head, the throat, the abdomen, the joints, and the shins each have their forbidden time. The five drainings are states in which the body has already lost its substance, and no reducing needle may be added to the loss. The five counterflows are cases in which pulse and disease contradict each other, and the chapter closes on the last of them, a hard pounding pulse in a wasted body.

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29 paragraphs
黃帝問于歧伯曰：余聞刺有五禁，何謂五禁？ 黄帝问于歧伯曰：余闻刺有五禁，何谓五禁？
Huáng Dì wèn yú Qí Bó yuē: yú wén cì yǒu wǔ jìn, hé wèi wǔ jìn?
黄帝问岐伯说：我听说针刺有五禁，什么叫五禁？
The Yellow Emperor asked Qi Bo: I have heard that needling has five prohibitions. What are they?
歧伯曰：禁其不可刺也。 歧伯曰：禁其不可刺也。
Qí Bó yuē: jìn qí bù kě cì yě.
岐伯说：就是禁止针刺那些不可刺的部位。
Qi Bo said: They are the prohibitions against needling what must not be needled.
黃帝曰：余聞刺有五奪。 黄帝曰：余闻刺有五夺。
Huáng Dì yuē: yú wén cì yǒu wǔ duó.
黄帝说：我听说针刺有五夺。
The Emperor said: I have heard that needling has five drainings.
歧伯曰：無寫其不可奪者也。 歧伯曰：无写其不可夺者也。
Qí Bó yuē: wú xiè qí bù kě duó zhě yě.
岐伯说：不要用泻法去泻那些不可夺的东西。
Qi Bo said: Do not reduce what must not be reduced.
黃帝曰：余聞刺有五過。 黄帝曰：余闻刺有五过。
Huáng Dì yuē: yú wén cì yǒu wǔ guò.
黄帝说：我听说针刺有五过。
The Emperor said: I have heard that needling has five excesses.
歧伯曰：補寫無過其度。 歧伯曰：补写无过其度。
Qí Bó yuē: bǔ xiè wú guò qí dù.
岐伯说：补泻都不可超过常度。
Qi Bo said: In tonifying and reducing, do not exceed the measure.
黃帝曰：余聞刺有五逆。 黄帝曰：余闻刺有五逆。
Huáng Dì yuē: yú wén cì yǒu wǔ nì.
黄帝说：我听说针刺有五逆。
The Emperor said: I have heard that needling has five counterflows.
歧伯曰：病與脉相逆，命曰五逆。 歧伯曰：病与脉相逆，命曰五逆。
Qí Bó yuē: bìng yǔ mài xiāng nì, mìng yuē wǔ nì.
岐伯说：病与脉象相逆，就叫作五逆。
Qi Bo said: When disease and pulse run counter to each other, this is called the five counterflows.
黃帝曰：余聞刺有九宜。 黄帝曰：余闻刺有九宜。
Huáng Dì yuē: yú wén cì yǒu jiǔ yí.
黄帝说：我听说针刺有九宜。
The Emperor said: I have heard that needling has nine suitabilities.
歧伯曰：明知九鍼之論，是謂九宜。 歧伯曰：明知九针之论，是谓九宜。
Qí Bó yuē: míng zhī jiǔ zhēn zhī lùn, shì wèi jiǔ yí.
岐伯说：明白九针的理论，就叫作九宜。
Qi Bo said: To understand the doctrine of the nine needles clearly — that is what is called the nine suitabilities.
黃帝曰：何謂五禁？願聞其不可刺之時。 黄帝曰：何谓五禁？愿闻其不可刺之时。
Huáng Dì yuē: hé wèi wǔ jìn? yuàn wén qí bù kě cì zhī shí.
黄帝说：什么叫五禁？希望听一听那些不可针刺的时日。
The Emperor said: What are the five prohibitions? I should like to hear the days on which needling is forbidden.
歧伯曰：甲乙日自乘，無刺頭，無發矇于耳内。 歧伯曰：甲乙日自乘，无刺头，无发蒙于耳内。
Qí Bó yuē: jiǎ yǐ rì zì chéng, wú cì tóu, wú fā méng yú ěr nèi.
岐伯说：甲日乙日天干自乘，不可刺头部，也不可用发蒙法刺耳内。
Qi Bo said: On the jia and yi days, when the stems stand on their own, do not needle the head, and do not open the ear within by the method of releasing the blind.
丙丁日自乘，無振埃于肩喉廉泉。 丙丁日自乘，无振埃于肩喉廉泉。
bǐng dīng rì zì chéng, wú zhèn āi yú jiān hóu lián quán.
丙日丁日自乘，不可用振埃法刺肩部、喉部与廉泉。
On the bing and ding days, do not use the method of shaking the dust on the shoulders, the throat, or Lianquan.
戊巳日自乘四季，無刺腹去爪寫水。 戊巳日自乘四季，无刺腹去爪写水。
wù sì rì zì chéng sì jì, wú cì fù qù zhǎo xiè shuǐ.
戊日己日自乘，正当四季之土，不可刺腹部，也不可用去爪法泻水。
On the wu and ji days, which stand for the four seasons, do not needle the abdomen, nor drain water by the method of removing the claw.
庚辛日自乘，無刺關節于股膝。 庚辛日自乘，无刺关节于股膝。
gēng xīn rì zì chéng, wú cì guān jié yú gǔ xī.
庚日辛日自乘，不可刺关节与大腿膝部。
On the geng and xin days, do not needle the joints, the thighs, or the knees.
壬癸日自乘，無刺足脛。 壬癸日自乘，无刺足胫。
rén guǐ rì zì chéng, wú cì zú jìng.
壬日癸日自乘，不可刺足胫。
On the ren and gui days, do not needle the legs and shins.
是謂五禁。 是谓五禁。
shì wèi wǔ jìn.
这就是五禁。
These are the five prohibitions.
黃帝曰：何謂五奪？ 黄帝曰：何谓五夺？
Huáng Dì yuē: hé wèi wǔ duó?
黄帝说：什么叫五夺？
The Emperor said: What are the five drainings?
歧伯曰：形肉已奪，是一奪也。 歧伯曰：形肉已夺，是一夺也。
Qí Bó yuē: xíng ròu yǐ duó, shì yī duó yě.
岐伯说：形体肌肉已经消夺，这是第一夺。
Qi Bo said: When the flesh and body have already been drained — that is the first.
大奪血之後，是二奪也。 大夺血之后，是二夺也。
dà duó xuè zhī hòu, shì èr duó yě.
大失血之后，是第二夺。
After a great loss of blood — that is the second.
大汗出之後，是三奪也。 大汗出之后，是三夺也。
dà hàn chū zhī hòu, shì sān duó yě.
大汗出之后，是第三夺。
After a great sweat — that is the third.
大泄之後，是四奪也。 大泄之后，是四夺也。
dà xiè zhī hòu, shì sì duó yě.
大泄泻之后，是第四夺。
After a great purging — that is the fourth.
新産及大血之後，是五奪也。此皆不可寫。 新产及大血之后，是五夺也。此皆不可写。
xīn chǎn jí dà xuè zhī hòu, shì wǔ duó yě. cǐ jiē bù kě xiè.
新产之后以及大出血之后，是第五夺。这些都不可用泻法。
After recent childbirth, and after great hemorrhage — that is the fifth. None of these may be reduced.
黃帝曰：何謂五逆？ 黄帝曰：何谓五逆？
Huáng Dì yuē: hé wèi wǔ nì?
黄帝说：什么叫五逆？
The Emperor said: What are the five counterflows?
歧伯曰：𤍠病永静，汗已出，脉盛躁，是一逆也。 歧伯曰：𤍠病永静，汗已出，脉盛躁，是一逆也。
Qí Bó yuē: rè bìng yǒng jìng, hàn yǐ chū, mài shèng zào, shì yī nì yě.
岐伯说：热病脉象沉静，汗已出而脉反盛躁，这是第一逆。
Qi Bo said: In a heat disease the pulse is quiet, yet after sweat has come out the pulse turns full and agitated — that is the first counterflow.
病泄，脉洪大，是二逆也。 病泄，脉洪大，是二逆也。
bìng xiè, mài hóng dà, shì èr nì yě.
泄泻而脉洪大，是第二逆。
Diarrhea with a flooding great pulse — that is the second.
著痺不移，䐃肉破，身𤍠，脉偏絶，是三逆也。 著痹不移，䐃肉破，身𤍠，脉偏绝，是三逆也。
zhù bì bù yí, jùn ròu pò, shēn rè, mài piān jué, shì sān nì yě.
著痹疼痛不移，小腿肌肉破溃，身体发热，脉象偏绝，是第三逆。
Fixed painful obstruction that does not move, with the flesh of the shin broken and the body hot, the pulse partially cut off — that is the third.
淫而奪形，身𤍠，色夭然白，及後下血衃，血衃篤重，是謂四逆也。 淫而夺形，身𤍠，色夭然白，及后下血衃，血衃笃重，是谓四逆也。
yín ér duó xíng, shēn rè, sè yāo rán bái, jí hòu xià xuè pēi, xuè pēi dǔ zhòng, shì wèi sì nì yě.
过度耗损而形体消夺，身热，面色枯白，以及后来下血成块，血块沉重，这是第四逆。
Excessive indulgence that drains the form, with heat in the body, a withered white complexion, and afterwards blood clots passed below, heavy and sinking — that is the fourth.
寒𤍠奪形，脉堅摶，是謂五逆也。 寒𤍠夺形，脉坚抟，是谓五逆也。
hán rè duó xíng, mài jiān tuán, shì wèi wǔ nì yě.
寒热交作而形体消夺，脉象坚搏，这是第五逆。
Cold and heat alternating while the form is drained, with a hard, pounding pulse — that is the fifth.

Textual notes

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

  1. 無發矇于耳内無發蒙于耳内

    矇與蒙通，謂以鍼開其耳竅之蒙，使聾者復聞。底本从目作矇，乃昏蒙之本字；通行本多作蒙。發蒙與下文振埃、去爪，皆古刺法之名。

  2. 無振埃于肩喉廉泉無振埃于肩喉廉泉

    振埃，刺法之名，取振落塵埃之義，用於陽氣怫鬱於上者。肩、喉、廉泉皆近頭項，丙丁屬火，火氣升騰，故其日禁之。

  3. 戊巳日自乘四季戊己日自乘四季

    巳當作己。戊己屬土，土旺四季，故戊己日自乘而禁刺腹。底本形近誤作巳，此從底本錄文，僅於校記正之。

  4. 𤍠病永静熱病脉静

    永當作脉。脉从月从永，底本奪其月旁，止存永字。熱病脈靜而汗出，汗後脈反盛躁，是脈與病相逆。通行本正作脉静。

  5. 病泄，脉洪大病泄，脉洪大

    泄而脈宜小，今反洪大，是邪盛而正已奪，故爲二逆。此與上條汗後脈躁，皆以脈反其常爲斷。

  6. 著痺不移著痺不移

    著痺謂濕邪附着而痛有定處，不移者其痛不遷。䐃肉，膝後肉也，肉破而身熱脈絕，則形壞而氣竭，故爲三逆。

  7. 脉堅摶脉堅搏

    摶當作搏。摶、搏形近，古書多混。脈堅而搏指，邪盛而胃氣將竭，故列五逆之末。底本作摶，仍錄。

  8. 新産及大血之後新產及大血之後

    産，通行本作產。大血謂大出血。新產之後血已大去，復加出血，則血氣兩竭，故與大汗、大泄同列五奪，皆禁瀉。

  9. 色夭然白色夭然白

    夭然，枯槁無華之貌。色白而夭，是血脫不能榮於面。四逆以血病爲主，與前三逆之脈證相次。

  10. 病與脉相逆，命曰五逆病與脉相逆，命曰五逆

    此爲五逆之總釋：病寒脈熱、病虛脈實，皆謂相逆。下文五者則就形肉、血氣、癥瘕言，與此總義相足。

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.). Wǔ jìn 五禁 [The Five Prohibitions], Chapter 61. 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 28 October 2026, from https://classicstcm.com/classics/huangdi-neijing-lingshu/five-prohibitions/

MLA

"Wǔ jìn 五禁 [The Five Prohibitions]." Huangdi Neijing · Lingshu 黃帝內經靈樞, chapter 61, Classica Sinica Medica, 2026, https://classicstcm.com/classics/huangdi-neijing-lingshu/five-prohibitions/. Accessed 28 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·五禁》（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 28 日 存取，https://classicstcm.com/classics/huangdi-neijing-lingshu/five-prohibitions/。

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