Classica Sinica Medica

On the Blood Luo

血絡論

Xuè luò lùn

The blood luo are the small superficial vessels, and this chapter is a catalogue of what happens when they are bled. Nine questions are put in a row, and each receives a one-line answer; the whole reads like a manual of complications, written by someone who had watched them all.The answers are consistently physiological. Fainting is loss of qi where blood was already deficient. Spurting is slippery blood in a full body with much yin. Black turbid blood that will not spurt is stored yang qi that has not been drained. Watery blood is fluid that has just entered and has not yet blended. Swelling is qi arriving before blood. Pallor is a separation of yin and yang. Vexation is a channel emptied through its luo. And the patient who loses much blood and does not falter is the one whose yin and yang were both full to begin with.What unites them is a single idea: bleeding a luo is not a local act. It moves qi, it can empty a channel through its outlet, and its effects depend on what was in the vessel before the needle arrived. The chapter closes with the practical sign — vessels that stand out firm and red, small as needles or large as chopsticks — and with the warning that the measure, once lost, is answered by the case itself.

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黃帝曰：願聞其奇邪而不在經者。 黄帝曰：愿闻其奇邪而不在经者。
Huáng Dì yuē: yuàn wén qí qí xié ér bù zài jīng zhě.
黄帝说：想听听那种奇邪而不在经脉之中的情形。
The Yellow Emperor said: I should like to hear of that strange evil which is not in the channels.
歧伯曰：血絡是也。 歧伯曰：血络是也。
Qí Bó yuē: xuè luò shì yě.
歧伯说：血络就是。
Qi Bo said: It is the blood luo.
黃帝曰：刺血絡而仆者，何也？血出而射者，何也？血少黑而濁者，何也？血出清而半爲汁者，何也？發鍼而腫者，何也？血出若多若少，而面色蒼蒼者，何也？發鍼而面色不變，而煩悗者，何也？多出血而不動摇者，何也？願聞其故。 黄帝曰：刺血络而仆者，何也？血出而射者，何也？血少黑而浊者，何也？血出清而半为汁者，何也？发针而肿者，何也？血出若多若少，而面色苍苍者，何也？发针而面色不变，而烦悗者，何也？多出血而不动摇者，何也？愿闻其故。
Huáng Dì yuē: cì xuè luò ér pū zhě, hé yě? xuè chū ér shè zhě, hé yě? xuè shǎo hēi ér zhuó zhě, hé yě? xuè chū qīng ér bàn wéi zhī zhě, hé yě? fā zhēn ér zhǒng zhě, hé yě? xuè chū ruò duō ruò shǎo, ér miàn sè cāng cāng zhě, hé yě? fā zhēn ér miàn sè bù biàn, ér fán náo zhě, hé yě? duō chū xuè ér bù dòng yáo zhě, hé yě? yuàn wén qí gù.
黄帝说：刺血络而使人仆倒的，为什么？血出而喷射的，为什么？血少色黑而浊的，为什么？血出清而一半是汁液的，为什么？出针而局部肿胀的，为什么？出血或多或少而面色苍白的，为什么？出针而面色不变却心中烦闷的，为什么？出血很多而人不动摇的，为什么？想听听其中的缘故。
The Emperor said: Why does bleeding a luo make a person faint? Why does the blood spurt out? Why is the blood scanty, black and turbid? Why is it clear with half of it watery? Why does swelling follow the withdrawal of the needle? Why does the face turn pale whether much or little blood comes? Why is there vexation with the complexion unchanged? Why does a man remain unmoved though much blood is lost? I should like to hear the reasons.
歧伯曰：脉氣盛而血虚者，刺之則脱氣，脱氣則仆。 歧伯曰：脉气盛而血虚者，刺之则脱气，脱气则仆。
Qí Bó yuē: mài qì shèng ér xuè xū zhě, cì zhī zé tuō qì, tuō qì zé pū.
歧伯说：脉气盛而血虚的，刺之就脱气，脱气就仆倒。
Qi Bo said: When vessel qi is full and blood deficient, needling loses the qi, and losing qi one faints.
血氣俱盛而陰氣多者，其血滑，刺之則射。 血气俱盛而阴气多者，其血滑，刺之则射。
xuè qì jù shèng ér yīn qì duō zhě, qí xuè huá, cì zhī zé shè.
血气俱盛而阴气多的，血行滑利，刺之就喷射而出。
When blood and qi are both full and yin qi is much, the blood is slippery and spurts when needled.
陽氣畜積，久留而不寫者，其血黑以濁，故不能射。 阳气畜积，久留而不写者，其血黑以浊，故不能射。
yáng qì xù jī, jiǔ liú ér bù xiè zhě, qí xuè hēi yǐ zhuó, gù bù néng shè.
阳气蓄积，久留而不泻的，血黑而浊，所以不能喷射。
When yang qi is stored and long retained without being drained, the blood is black and turbid, and so cannot spurt.
新飲而液滲于絡，而未合和于血也，故血出而汁别焉。其不新飲者，身中有水，久則爲腫。 新饮而液渗于络，而未合和于血也，故血出而汁别焉。其不新饮者，身中有水，久则为肿。
xīn yǐn ér yè shèn yú luò, ér wèi hé hé yú xuè yě, gù xuè chū ér zhī bié yān. qí bù xīn yǐn zhě, shēn zhōng yǒu shuǐ, jiǔ zé wéi zhǒng.
刚刚饮水而液渗入络中，还没有与血和合的，所以血出而汁液分离。那些不是新饮的，身中有水，久了就成为肿。
When one has just drunk and the fluid has seeped into the luo but is not yet blended with the blood, the blood comes out with the fluid separate. In one who has not just drunk, water is in the body and in time becomes swelling.
陰氣積于陽，其氣因于絡，故刺之血未出而氣先行，故腫。 阴气积于阳，其气因于络，故刺之血未出而气先行，故肿。
yīn qì jī yú yáng, qí qì yīn yú luò, gù cì zhī xuè wèi chū ér qì xiān xíng, gù zhǒng.
阴气积聚在阳分，其气依附于络，所以刺时血还未出而气先行，因此发肿。
When yin qi accumulates in the yang and its qi attaches to the luo, then at the needle the qi moves before the blood comes out, and so there is swelling.
陰陽之氣，其新相得而未和合，因而寫之，則陰陽俱脱，表裏相離，故脱色而蒼蒼然。 阴阳之气，其新相得而未和合，因而写之，则阴阳俱脱，表里相离，故脱色而苍苍然。
yīn yáng zhī qì, qí xīn xiāng dé ér wèi hé hé, yīn ér xiè zhī, zé yīn yáng jù tuō, biǎo lǐ xiāng lí, gù tuō sè ér cāng cāng rán.
阴阳之气，刚刚相合而尚未调和，因而泻之，就阴阳俱脱，表里相离，所以面色脱而苍白。
When the qi of yin and yang have just met and are not yet harmonised, and one drains them, both are lost and inner and outer separate; so the colour is lost and turns pale.
刺之血出多，色不變而煩悗者，刺絡而虚經。虚經之屬于陰者，陰脱故煩悗。 刺之血出多，色不变而烦悗者，刺络而虚经。虚经之属于阴者，阴脱故烦悗。
cì zhī xuè chū duō, sè bù biàn ér fán náo zhě, cì luò ér xū jīng. xū jīng zhī shǔ yú yīn zhě, yīn tuō gù fán náo.
刺之血出多，面色不变而烦闷的，是刺络而使经虚。虚经属于阴的，阴脱所以烦闷。
When much blood comes and the complexion does not change but there is vexation, the luo has been drained and the channel emptied. If the emptied channel belongs to the yin, the yin is lost, and so there is vexation.
陰陽相得而合爲痺者，此爲内溢于經，外注于絡，如是者，陰陽俱有餘，雖多出血，而弗能虚也。 阴阳相得而合为痹者，此为内溢于经，外注于络，如是者，阴阳俱有余，虽多出血，而弗能虚也。
yīn yáng xiāng dé ér hé wéi bì zhě, cǐ wéi nèi yì yú jīng, wài zhù yú luò, rú shì zhě, yīn yáng jù yǒu yú, suī duō chū xuè, ér fú néng xū yě.
阴阳相得而合为痹的，这是内溢于经、外注于络，这样的人阴阳俱有余，虽然出血很多，也不能使他虚。
When yin and yang have come together and formed a bi, this is an overflow inward into the channels and outward into the luo; in such a case both are in excess, and though much blood be lost, he cannot be emptied.
黃帝曰：相之奈何？ 黄帝曰：相之奈何？
Huáng Dì yuē: xiāng zhī nài hé?
黄帝说：怎样观察呢？
The Emperor said: How is it observed?
歧伯曰：血脉者，盛堅横以赤，上下無常處，小者如鍼，大者如筯，則而寫之，萬全也，故無失數矣。失數而反，各如其度。 歧伯曰：血脉者，盛坚横以赤，上下无常处，小者如针，大者如箸，则而写之，万全也，故无失数矣。失数而反，各如其度。
Qí Bó yuē: xuè mài zhě, shèng jiān héng yǐ chì, shàng xià wú cháng chù, xiǎo zhě rú zhēn, dà zhě rú zhù, zé ér xiè zhī, wàn quán yě, gù wú shī shù yǐ. shī shù ér fǎn, gè rú qí dù.
歧伯说：血脉盛满坚硬而横呈红色，上下没有固定之处，小的像针，大的像筷子，就着它泻之，可以万全，不会失掉度数。失掉度数而反其常的，各如其度数。
Qi Bo said: The blood vessel stands out full, firm and red across, with no fixed place above or below; the small ones are like needles, the large ones like chopsticks. Drain them as they appear and all is safe, and the measure is not lost. If the measure is lost and the reverse follows, each case answers to its own measure.
黃帝曰：鍼入而肉著者，何也？ 黄帝曰：针入而肉著者，何也？
Huáng Dì yuē: zhēn rù ér ròu zhuó zhě, hé yě?
黄帝说：针入而肉裹住针的，为什么？
The Emperor said: When the needle enters and the flesh grips it, why is that?
歧伯曰：𤍠氣因于鍼，則鍼𤍠，𤍠則肉著于鍼，故堅焉。 歧伯曰：𤍠气因于针，则针𤍠，𤍠则肉著于针，故坚焉。
Qí Bó yuē: rè qì yīn yú zhēn, zé zhēn rè, rè zé ròu zhuó yú zhēn, gù jiān yān.
歧伯说：热气随针而入，针就发热，针热则肉裹住针，所以坚紧。
Qi Bo said: Heat qi follows the needle, the needle grows hot, and hot needle makes the flesh grip it, so it is tight.

Textual notes

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

  1. 願聞其奇邪而不在經者願聞其奇邪而不在經者

    奇邪，謂不由經脉常道而入之邪，留於絡而不在經，故刺之出血。此章所論皆血絡之變，與《經脉》《經别》諸篇言常行者異。

  2. 脉氣盛而血虚者，刺之則脱氣脉氣盛而血虛者，刺之則脱氣

    脉氣盛者，氣有餘；血虚者，血不足。刺之出血則氣隨血泄，故曰脱氣。此與下文「血氣俱盛」對舉，一虛一實，仆與射之分在此。

  3. 血出而射者血出而射者

    射，噴射而出也。血氣俱盛而陰氣多，則血滑而易行，故一出如射。下文「其血黑以濁，故不能射」，正從反面見義。

  4. 血出清而半爲汁者血出清而半爲汁者

    汁，水液也。新飲之水滲入絡中，未與血和，故血出而水分爲半。此條最見古人觀察之細，非親見不能道。

  5. 陰氣積于陽，其氣因于絡陰氣積於陽，其氣因於絡

    陰氣積於陽分，其氣依附於絡而行，故刺之血未出而氣先至，氣至則壅而爲腫。與上條「新飲」之腫，一因水一因氣，當分別看。

  6. 故脱色而蒼蒼然故脱色而蒼蒼然

    蒼蒼，青白而無血色也。陰陽新合未和而遽寫之，則表裏相離，色隨氣脱，故蒼蒼然。此非血少之故，乃陰陽驟分之故。

  7. 刺絡而虚經刺絡而虛經

    絡爲經之支，刺絡出血過多，則經氣隨之而虛，故曰虚經。下文「虚經之屬于陰者，陰脱故煩悗」，正申此義。

  8. 陰陽相得而合爲痺者陰陽相得而合爲痺者

    痺，閉也，血氣閉阻而成痺。此爲内溢於經、外注於絡，經絡俱實，故雖多出血而弗能虚；與上條虚經之煩悗，一實一虛相對。

  9. 盛堅横以赤，上下無常處盛堅橫以赤，上下無常處

    横，讀若橫，謂脈横亘而見。盛堅而赤者，血實之徵；上下無常處者，不專在一經，隨絡所在而見，故曰「相之」。

  10. 大者如筯大者如筋

    筯，當作筋，形近而訛，謂脈之粗大者如筋。小者如鍼、大者如筋，皆狀血絡之形，與上文「盛堅横以赤」同爲刺絡之準。

  11. 鍼入而肉著者鍼入而肉著者

    著，讀若着，附着也。熱氣因針而入，針熱則肉着而難拔，故曰堅。此條言針後滯針之理，末章附見，與全篇刺絡之旨相足。

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.). Xuè luò lùn 血絡論 [On the Blood Luo], Chapter 39. 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 30 October 2026, from https://classicstcm.com/classics/huangdi-neijing-lingshu/on-the-blood-luo/

MLA

"Xuè luò lùn 血絡論 [On the Blood Luo]." Huangdi Neijing · Lingshu 黃帝內經靈樞, chapter 39, Classica Sinica Medica, 2026, https://classicstcm.com/classics/huangdi-neijing-lingshu/on-the-blood-luo/. Accessed 30 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·血絡論》（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 30 日 存取，https://classicstcm.com/classics/huangdi-neijing-lingshu/on-the-blood-luo/。

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