Classica Sinica Medica

On the Seas

海論

Hǎi lùn

A short cosmological chapter that does one thing well: it gives the body its own oceans. Heaven and earth have four seas, the twelve channel-waters flow into them, and Qi Bo maps the same four onto the body — marrow, blood, qi, and water-and-grain — each with a point above and a point below where its influence surfaces.The mapping is not decorative. Every sea is given a place to be needled: Qijie and Sanli for the stomach, Dazhu and the lian of Juxu for the thoroughfare vessel, the pillar bone and Renying for the chest, the crown and Fengfu for the brain. The chapter thus converts a metaphor into an address.Its clinical half is a set of excess-and-deficiency pictures that clinicians have quoted ever since: the full chest and red face of qi, the bodily inflation and shrinking of blood, the hunger that cannot eat, and the lightness, dizziness and lassitude of the marrow. The rule that closes it is deliberately modest — hold the points, adjust excess and deficiency, and do not injure what is already following.The blood sea is the strangest of the four, and the most instructive. Its patient cannot say where the trouble is, only that the whole body has changed size — swollen when full, cramped when empty. A sea, after all, is felt everywhere and located nowhere, and that is exactly how these four patterns present.

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黃帝問于歧伯曰：余聞刺法于夫子，夫子之所言，不離于營衛血氣。夫十二經脉者，内屬于府藏，外絡于肢節，夫子乃合之于四海乎？ 黄帝问于歧伯曰：余闻刺法于夫子，夫子之所言，不离于营卫血气。夫十二经脉者，内属于府藏，外络于肢节，夫子乃合之于四海乎？
Huáng Dì wèn yú Qí Bó yuē: yú wén cì fǎ yú fū zǐ, fū zǐ zhī suǒ yán, bù lí yú yíng wèi xuè qì. fū shí èr jīng mài zhě, nèi shǔ yú fǔ zàng, wài luò yú zhī jié, fū zǐ nǎi hé zhī yú sì hǎi hū?
黄帝问歧伯说：我从先生这里听到刺法，先生所讲的，总离不开营卫血气。十二经脉，在内连属脏腑，在外联络肢节，先生能把它们与四海相合吗？
The Yellow Emperor asked Qi Bo: I have heard the method of needling from you, Master, and all you say turns on camp and guard, blood and qi. The twelve channels within join the fu and zang, without they net the limbs and joints: can you join them to the four seas?
歧伯答曰：人亦有四海，十二經水，經水者皆注于海，海有東西南北，命曰四海。 歧伯答曰：人亦有四海，十二经水，经水者皆注于海，海有东西南北，命曰四海。
Qí Bó dá yuē: rén yì yǒu sì hǎi, shí èr jīng shuǐ, jīng shuǐ zhě jiē zhù yú hǎi, hǎi yǒu dōng xī nán běi, mìng yuē sì hǎi.
歧伯回答说：人也有四海，与十二经水相应，经水都注入海中，海有东西南北，这就叫做四海。
Qi Bo answered: Man too has four seas, answering to the twelve channel-waters; the channel-waters all pour into the sea, and the sea has east, west, south and north. This is called the four seas.
黃帝曰：以人應之奈何？ 黄帝曰：以人应之奈何？
Huáng Dì yuē: yǐ rén yīng zhī nài hé?
黄帝说：拿人体来对应，是怎样的？
The Emperor said: How does man answer to them?
歧伯曰：人有髓海，有血海，有氣海，有水榖之海，凡此四者，以應四海也。 歧伯曰：人有髓海，有血海，有气海，有水榖之海，凡此四者，以应四海也。
Qí Bó yuē: rén yǒu suǐ hǎi, yǒu xuè hǎi, yǒu qì hǎi, yǒu shuǐ gǔ zhī hǎi, fán cǐ sì zhě, yǐ yīng sì hǎi yě.
歧伯说：人有髓海，有血海，有气海，有水谷之海，这四者，用来对应四海。
Qi Bo said: Man has a sea of marrow, a sea of blood, a sea of qi, and a sea of water and grain. These four answer to the four seas.
黃帝曰：遠乎哉！夫子之合人天地四海也！願聞應之奈何？ 黄帝曰：远乎哉！夫子之合人天地四海也！愿闻应之奈何？
Huáng Dì yuē: yuǎn hū zāi! fū zǐ zhī hé rén tiān dì sì hǎi yě! yuàn wén yīng zhī nài hé?
黄帝说：深远啊！先生把人与天地的四海相合！我想听听怎样对应。
The Emperor said: How far-reaching! You join man to the four seas of heaven and earth. I should like to hear how they answer.
歧伯答曰：必先明知陰陽表裏，滎輸所在，四海定矣。 歧伯答曰：必先明知阴阳表里，荥输所在，四海定矣。
Qí Bó dá yuē: bì xiān míng zhī yīn yáng biǎo lǐ, xíng shū suǒ zài, sì hǎi dìng yǐ.
歧伯回答说：一定要先明白阴阳表里，以及荥输所在，四海就确定了。
Qi Bo answered: One must first clearly know yin and yang, inner and outer, and where the xing and shu points lie; then the four seas are fixed.
黃帝曰：定之奈何？ 黄帝曰：定之奈何？
Huáng Dì yuē: dìng zhī nài hé?
黄帝说：怎样确定呢？
The Emperor said: How are they fixed?
歧伯曰：胃者，水榖之海，其輸上在氣街，下至三里。 歧伯曰：胃者，水榖之海，其输上在气街，下至三里。
Qí Bó yuē: wèi zhě, shuǐ gǔ zhī hǎi, qí shū shàng zài qì jiē, xià zhì sān lǐ.
歧伯说：胃是水谷之海，它的输注之处，上在气街，下到三里。
Qi Bo said: The stomach is the sea of water and grain; its point of infusion is above at Qijie and below at Sanli.
衝脉者，爲十二經之海，其輸上在于大杼，下出于巨虚之上下廉。 冲脉者，为十二经之海，其输上在于大杼，下出于巨虚之上下廉。
chōng mài zhě, wéi shí èr jīng zhī hǎi, qí shū shàng zài yú dà zhù, xià chū yú jù xū zhī shàng xià lián.
冲脉是十二经之海，它的输注之处，上在大杼，下出于巨虚的上下廉。
The thoroughfare vessel is the sea of the twelve channels; its point of infusion is above at Dazhu and below where it emerges at the upper and lower lian of Juxu.
膻中者，爲氣之海，其輸上在于柱骨之上下，前在于人迎。 膻中者，为气之海，其输上在于柱骨之上下，前在于人迎。
shān zhōng zhě, wéi qì zhī hǎi, qí shū shàng zài yú zhù gǔ zhī shàng xià, qián zài yú rén yíng.
膻中是气之海，它的输注之处，上在柱骨的上下，前在人迎。
The chest is the sea of qi; its point of infusion is above at the upper and lower parts of the pillar bone, and in front at Renying.
腦爲髓之海，其輸上在于其蓋，下在風府。 脑为髓之海，其输上在于其盖，下在风府。
nǎo wéi suǐ zhī hǎi, qí shū shàng zài yú qí gài, xià zài fēng fǔ.
脑是髓之海，它的输注之处，上在头顶的骨盖，下在风府。
The brain is the sea of marrow; its point of infusion is above at its cover and below at Fengfu.
黃帝曰：凡此四海者，何利何害？何生何敗？ 黄帝曰：凡此四海者，何利何害？何生何败？
Huáng Dì yuē: fán cǐ sì hǎi zhě, hé lì hé hài? hé shēng hé bài?
黄帝说：这四海，什么是利，什么是害？什么使人生，什么使人败？
The Emperor said: Of these four seas, what benefits and what harms, what gives life and what brings ruin?
歧伯曰：得順者生，得逆者敗；知調者利，不知調者害。 歧伯曰：得顺者生，得逆者败；知调者利，不知调者害。
Qí Bó yuē: dé shùn zhě shēng, dé nì zhě bài; zhī tiáo zhě lì, bù zhī tiáo zhě hài.
歧伯说：顺的就生，逆的就败；懂得调养的有利，不懂调养的有害。
Qi Bo said: To follow gives life, to oppose brings ruin; to know regulation benefits, not to know it harms.
黃帝曰：四海之逆順奈何？ 黄帝曰：四海之逆顺奈何？
Huáng Dì yuē: sì hǎi zhī nì shùn nài hé?
黄帝说：四海的逆顺是怎样的？
The Emperor said: What is the following and opposing of the four seas?
歧伯曰：氣海有餘者，氣滿胸中，悗息面赤；氣海不足，則氣少不足以言。 歧伯曰：气海有余者，气满胸中，悗息面赤；气海不足，则气少不足以言。
Qí Bó yuē: qì hǎi yǒu yú zhě, qì mǎn xiōng zhōng, mèn xī miàn chì; qì hǎi bù zú, zé qì shǎo bù zú yǐ yán.
歧伯说：气海有余的，气满胸中，烦闷喘息，面色发红；气海不足的，气少，说话都接不上。
Qi Bo said: When the sea of qi is in excess, qi fills the chest, with oppressed breathing and a red face; when it is deficient, qi is scant and there is not enough to speak.
血海有餘，則常想其身大，怫然不知其所病；血海不足，亦常想其身小，狹然不知其所病。 血海有余，则常想其身大，怫然不知其所病；血海不足，亦常想其身小，狭然不知其所病。
xuè hǎi yǒu yú, zé cháng xiǎng qí shēn dà, fú rán bù zhī qí suǒ bìng; xuè hǎi bù zú, yì cháng xiǎng qí shēn xiǎo, xiá rán bù zhī qí suǒ bìng.
血海有余的，常觉得自己的身体胀大，郁滞不舒，却说不清病在哪里；血海不足的，也常觉得自己的身体缩小，紧束不舒，也说不清病在哪里。
When the sea of blood is in excess, one constantly feels the body to be large and is sullenly uneasy without knowing where the trouble is; when it is deficient, one also constantly feels the body to be small and cramped, again without knowing where the trouble is.
水榖之海有餘，則腹滿；水榖之海不足，則饑不受榖食。 水榖之海有余，则腹满；水榖之海不足，则饥不受榖食。
shuǐ gǔ zhī hǎi yǒu yú, zé fù mǎn; shuǐ gǔ zhī hǎi bù zú, zé jī bù shòu gǔ shí.
水谷之海有余的，腹部胀满；水谷之海不足的，虽然饥饿却吃不下谷食。
When the sea of water and grain is in excess, the belly is full; when it is deficient, one is hungry yet cannot take grain.
髓海有餘，則輕勁多力，自過其度；髓海不足，則腦轉耳鳴，脛痠眩冒，目無所見，懈怠安臥。 髓海有余，则轻劲多力，自过其度；髓海不足，则脑转耳鸣，胫酸眩冒，目无所见，懈怠安卧。
suǐ hǎi yǒu yú, zé qīng jìng duō lì, zì guò qí dù; suǐ hǎi bù zú, zé nǎo zhuǎn ěr míng, jìng suān xuàn mào, mù wú suǒ jiàn, xiè dài ān wò.
髓海有余的，身体轻健强劲，气力超过常人；髓海不足的，头晕耳鸣，小腿发酸，眼前昏黑，看不见东西，懈怠嗜卧。
When the sea of marrow is in excess, the body is light and strong with more power than usual, going beyond its measure; when it is deficient, there is giddiness and tinnitus, aching shins, dimness of vision, blindness, slackness and a desire to lie down.
黃帝曰：余已聞逆順，調之奈何？ 黄帝曰：余已闻逆顺，调之奈何？
Huáng Dì yuē: yú yǐ wén nì shùn, tiáo zhī nài hé?
黄帝说：我已听了逆顺，怎样调治呢？
The Emperor said: I have heard of the following and opposing; how is it regulated?
歧伯曰：審守其輸，而調其虚實，無犯其害。順者得復，逆者必敗。 歧伯曰：审守其输，而调其虚实，无犯其害。顺者得复，逆者必败。
Qí Bó yuē: shěn shǒu qí shū, ér tiáo qí xū shí, wú fàn qí hài. shùn zhě dé fù, nì zhě bì bài.
歧伯说：审慎地守住各海的输穴，调它的虚实，不要触犯它的害处。顺的就能恢复，逆的必然败亡。
Qi Bo said: Carefully hold to their points of infusion and regulate deficiency and excess, without offending what harms them. What follows recovers; what opposes is sure to fail.
黃帝曰：善。 黄帝曰：善。
Huáng Dì yuē: shàn.
黄帝说：好。
The Emperor said: Good.

Textual notes

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

  1. 命曰四海名曰四海

    命曰，猶言名之曰，與「名曰」同。底本引號已去。此句承上東西南北而言，謂海有四，人亦有四，故以「四海」爲名。

  2. 下出于巨虚之上下廉下出于巨虚之上下廉

    底本原作「下出于巨虚之上。下廉膻中者」，於「上」字斷句則「下廉」無所屬，且「膻中者」另起一海。今移句讀，字未增損。

  3. 膻中者，爲氣之海膻中者，爲氣之海

    膻中，胸中也，讀若「扇」。此以部位言，非穴名；其輸上在柱骨上下，前在人迎，皆胸中氣所出入之處。

  4. 其輸上在于柱骨之上下其輸上在于柱骨之上下

    柱骨，天柱骨也，即項後脊骨上段。氣海之輸上及於此，下前及於人迎，正見胸中大氣前後相應之勢。

  5. 其輸上在于其蓋其輸上在于其蓋

    蓋，頭蓋也，謂腦之上骨。髓海之輸上在顛頂，下在風府，一上一下，與針家取風府治腦之說相合。

  6. 則常想其身大則常想其身大

    想，自覺也，非思念。血海有餘則自覺身脹，不足則自覺身縮，皆無形可指，故曰「不知其所病」，此爲血海虛實之的特徵。

  7. 自過其度自過其度

    度，常度也。髓海有餘則輕勁多力，超乎常人之度；與下「腦轉耳鳴」「懈怠安臥」對看，一實一虛，皆從髓海立論。

  8. 審守其輸，而調其虚實審守其輸，而調其虛實

    輸即上文四海之輸穴。審守者，先審其處而後守之，不可泛取；調其虛實，則寫補隨證，此全章治法之總綱。

  9. 無犯其害無犯其害

    害，即「不知調者害」之害。虛者不可寫，實者不可補，逆其性則爲害，故戒之曰無犯。

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.). Hǎi lùn 海論 [On the Seas], Chapter 33. 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/on-the-seas/

MLA

"Hǎi lùn 海論 [On the Seas]." Huangdi Neijing · Lingshu 黃帝內經靈樞, chapter 33, Classica Sinica Medica, 2026, https://classicstcm.com/classics/huangdi-neijing-lingshu/on-the-seas/. 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·海論》（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 29 日 存取，https://classicstcm.com/classics/huangdi-neijing-lingshu/on-the-seas/。

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