Classica Sinica Medica

The Five Readings and Five Envoys

五閲五使

Wǔ yuè wǔ shǐ

A short chapter on reading the face, and one of the few places where the book tells you what a physician should look at before touching the pulse. The five offices are the nose, eyes, lips, tongue and ears; each is the outward post of one zang, and each shows that zang's disorder in a single sign — panting nose, blue canthus, yellow lips, curled tongue, blackened cheek.The chapter's other half is a piece of physiognomy. A broad bright hall, a high foundation, square cheeks and ears whose lobes hang free are read as signs of abundant blood and firm flesh, and therefore of a patient who will bear needling and recover. The reverse picture — a pinched hall, a low wall without foundation, lobes turned outward — is read as danger even before illness arrives.Both halves rest on the same assumption: the face is not a mask but a surface on which the interior is legible. The text calls the offices 閲, readings, and the envoys 使, which is to say that colour is something the zang sends out rather than something the skin produces. It is a small chapter, but it fixes the vocabulary that later face-diagnosis would use.

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15 paragraphs
黃帝問于歧伯曰：余聞刺有五官五閲，以觀五氣。五氣者，五藏之使也，五時之副也。願聞其五使當安出？ 黄帝问于歧伯曰：余闻刺有五官五阅，以观五气。五气者，五藏之使也，五时之副也。愿闻其五使当安出？
Huáng Dì wèn yú Qí Bó yuē: yú wén cì yǒu wǔ guān wǔ yuè, yǐ guān wǔ qì. wǔ qì zhě, wǔ zàng zhī shǐ yě, wǔ shí zhī fù yě. yuàn wén qí wǔ shǐ dāng ān chū?
黄帝问歧伯说：我听说针刺有五官五阅，用来观察五气。五气，是五脏的使者，五时的副佐。想听听五使从何处显现？
The Yellow Emperor asked Qi Bo: I have heard that in needling there are five offices and five readings by which the five qi are observed. The five qi are the envoys of the five zang and the counterparts of the five seasons. I should like to hear where the five envoys come forth.
歧伯曰：五官者，五藏之閲也。 歧伯曰：五官者，五藏之阅也。
Qí Bó yuē: wǔ guān zhě, wǔ zàng zhī yuè yě.
歧伯说：五官，就是五脏的外阅。
Qi Bo said: The five offices are the outward readings of the five zang.
黃帝曰：願聞其所出，令可爲常。 黄帝曰：愿闻其所出，令可为常。
Huáng Dì yuē: yuàn wén qí suǒ chū, lìng kě wéi cháng.
黄帝说：想听听它们显现之处，好让它成为常法。
The Emperor said: I should like to hear where they come forth, so that it may be made a constant rule.
歧伯曰：脉出于氣口，色見于明堂，五色更出，以應五時，各如其常，經氣入藏，必當治裏。 歧伯曰：脉出于气口，色见于明堂，五色更出，以应五时，各如其常，经气入藏，必当治里。
Qí Bó yuē: mài chū yú qì kǒu, sè xiàn yú míng táng, wǔ sè gēng chū, yǐ yīng wǔ shí, gè rú qí cháng, jīng qì rù zàng, bì dāng zhì lǐ.
歧伯说：脉出于气口，色见于明堂，五色交替出现，与五时相应，各如它的常度；经气内入于脏，就必须治其里。
Qi Bo said: The pulse comes forth at the qi mouth, the colour appears at the bright hall; the five colours come out in turn, answering to the five seasons, each according to its constancy. When channel qi enters the zang, one must treat the interior.
帝曰：善。五色獨决于明堂乎？ 帝曰：善。五色独决于明堂乎？
dì yuē: shàn. wǔ sè dú jué yú míng táng hū?
黄帝说：好。五色只从明堂来判断吗？
The Emperor said: Good. Are the five colours judged at the bright hall alone?
歧伯曰：五官已辨，闕庭必張，乃立明堂。明堂廣大，蕃蔽見外，方壁高基，引垂居外，五色乃治，平博廣大，壽中百歲。見此者，刺之必已。如是之人者，血氣有餘，肌肉堅緻，故可苦已鍼。 歧伯曰：五官已辨，阙庭必张，乃立明堂。明堂广大，蕃蔽见外，方壁高基，引垂居外，五色乃治，平博广大，寿中百岁。见此者，刺之必已。如是之人者，血气有余，肌肉坚致，故可苦已针。
Qí Bó yuē: wǔ guān yǐ biàn, què tíng bì zhāng, nǎi lì míng táng. míng táng guǎng dà, fán bì xiàn wài, fāng bì gāo jī, yǐn chuí jū wài, wǔ sè nǎi zhì, píng bó guǎng dà, shòu zhòng bǎi suì. jiàn cǐ zhě, cì zhī bì yǐ. rú shì zhī rén zhě, xuè qì yǒu yú, jī ròu jiān zhì, gù kě kǔ yǐ zhēn.
歧伯说：五官已经分明，阙庭必然开阔，然后才立明堂。明堂广大，蕃蔽显露在外，两颊方正如壁，地基高厚，耳垂居外，五色才平正，平正广博，寿可满百岁。见到这样的人，刺之必愈。这样的人，血气有余，肌肉坚致，所以能耐受针刺之苦。
Qi Bo said: When the five offices are distinct and the court and forehead are open, then the bright hall is established. When the bright hall is broad and large, when the screen and barrier show outside, when the cheeks are square as a wall and the foundation is high, when the lobes hang outside, then the five colours are well ordered, broad and level, and life reaches a hundred years. One who shows this will surely be cured by needling, for his blood and qi are in excess and his flesh is firm, so that he can bear the needle.
黃帝曰：願聞五官。 黄帝曰：愿闻五官。
Huáng Dì yuē: yuàn wén wǔ guān.
黄帝说：想听听五官。
The Emperor said: I should like to hear of the five offices.
歧伯曰：鼻者，肺之官也；目者，肝之官也；口脣者，脾之官也；舌者，心之官也；耳者，腎之官也。 歧伯曰：鼻者，肺之官也；目者，肝之官也；口唇者，脾之官也；舌者，心之官也；耳者，肾之官也。
Qí Bó yuē: bí zhě, fèi zhī guān yě; mù zhě, gān zhī guān yě; kǒu chún zhě, pí zhī guān yě; shé zhě, xīn zhī guān yě; ěr zhě, shèn zhī guān yě.
歧伯说：鼻是肺的官；目是肝的官；口唇是脾的官；舌是心的官；耳是肾的官。
Qi Bo said: The nose is the office of the lungs; the eyes the office of the liver; the lips the office of the spleen; the tongue the office of the heart; the ears the office of the kidneys.
黃帝曰：以官何𠉀？ 黄帝曰：以官何𠉀？
Huáng Dì yuē: yǐ guān hé hòu?
黄帝说：从五官怎样诊候？
The Emperor said: How are the offices used to read?
歧伯曰：以𠉀五藏。 歧伯曰：以𠉀五藏。
Qí Bó yuē: yǐ hòu wǔ zàng.
歧伯说：用来诊候五脏。
Qi Bo said: They are used to read the five zang.
故肺病者，喘息鼻脹；肝病者，𦙼青；脾病者，脣黃；心病者，舌卷短，顴赤；腎病者，顴與顔黑。 故肺病者，喘息鼻胀；肝病者，𦙼青；脾病者，唇黄；心病者，舌卷短，颧赤；肾病者，颧与颜黑。
gù fèi bìng zhě, chuǎn xī bí zhàng; gān bìng zhě, zì qīng; pí bìng zhě, chún huáng; xīn bìng zhě, shé juǎn duǎn, quán chì; shèn bìng zhě, quán yǔ yán hēi.
所以肺病的，喘息而鼻胀；肝病的，眼角发青；脾病的，口唇发黄；心病的，舌卷短缩，颧骨发红；肾病的，颧骨与颜面发黑。
So in lung disease there is panting with swelling of the nose; in liver disease the canthus is blue; in spleen disease the lips are yellow; in heart disease the tongue is curled and short and the cheekbones red; in kidney disease the cheekbones and face are black.
黃帝曰：五脉安出？五色安見？其常色殆者如何？ 黄帝曰：五脉安出？五色安见？其常色殆者如何？
Huáng Dì yuē: wǔ mài ān chū? wǔ sè ān jiàn? qí cháng sè dài zhě rú hé?
黄帝说：五脏的脉气从哪里显现？五色从哪里显现？平素色泽正常而病情危殆的，是怎样的？
The Emperor said: Where do the five pulses come forth, where do the five colours appear, and what of one whose colour is ordinary yet who is in danger?
歧伯曰：五官不辨，闕庭不張，小其明堂，蕃蔽不見，又埤其牆，牆下無基，垂角去外，如是者，雖平常殆，况加疾哉？ 歧伯曰：五官不辨，阙庭不张，小其明堂，蕃蔽不见，又埤其墙，墙下无基，垂角去外，如是者，虽平常殆，况加疾哉？
Qí Bó yuē: wǔ guān bù biàn, què tíng bù zhāng, xiǎo qí míng táng, fán bì bù xiàn, yòu bēi qí qiáng, qiáng xià wú jī, chuí jiǎo qù wài, rú shì zhě, suī píng cháng dài, kuàng jiā jí zāi?
歧伯说：五官不分明，阙庭不开阔，明堂狭小，蕃蔽不见，墙又低塌，墙下没有地基，耳垂向外反张，这样的人，即使平常也危殆，何况加上疾病呢？
Qi Bo said: When the five offices are not distinct, the court and forehead not open, the bright hall small, the screen and barrier unseen, the wall again low and without foundation, and the lobes turned outward, such a person is in danger even in ordinary health — how much more with illness added?
黃帝曰：五色之見于明堂，以觀五藏之氣，左右高下，各有形乎？ 黄帝曰：五色之见于明堂，以观五藏之气，左右高下，各有形乎？
Huáng Dì yuē: wǔ sè zhī xiàn yú míng táng, yǐ guān wǔ zàng zhī qì, zuǒ yòu gāo xià, gè yǒu xíng hū?
黄帝说：五色显现于明堂，用来观察五脏之气，左右高下，各有一定的形状吗？
The Emperor said: When the five colours appear at the bright hall and are used to observe the qi of the five zang, do left and right, above and below each have their form?
歧伯曰：府藏之在中也，各以次舍，左右上下，各如其度也。 歧伯曰：府藏之在中也，各以次舍，左右上下，各如其度也。
Qí Bó yuē: fǔ zàng zhī zài zhōng yě, gè yǐ cì shè, zuǒ yòu shàng xià, gè rú qí dù yě.
歧伯说：脏腑在体内，各有次序居处，左右上下，各如它的尺度。
Qi Bo said: The zang and fu within have each their ordered place; left and right, above and below, each follows its measure.

Textual notes

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

  1. 五氣者，五藏之使也五氣者，五藏之使也

    使，所遣之使也。五氣本在藏中，而其華見於外，若遣使以出，故曰使。下文「五使」即承此而言，非別有一物。

  2. 五時之副也五時之副也

    副，副貳也。五氣應五時，如賓主相副，春見青、夏見赤之類。此句與上句對舉，一言其出於藏，一言其應於時。

  3. 脉出于氣口，色見于明堂脈出於氣口，色見於明堂

    氣口，寸口也；明堂，鼻也。脉與色對舉，一以按之而得，一以望之而得，此章所以名「五閲」者，正取望色之義。

  4. 五色獨决于明堂乎五色獨決於明堂乎

    决，讀爲決，判定也。底本作「决」，全書「決」「决」並見，各依其形，不強爲歸一，此用字之例也。

  5. 闕庭必張，乃立明堂闕庭必張，乃立明堂

    闕，兩眉之間；庭，額也。闕庭開張而後明堂可立，猶堂必有庭乃成氣象。此以宮室爲喻，與《脹論》以郭城喻胸腹同法。

  6. 蕃蔽見外，方壁高基蕃蔽見外，方壁高基

    蕃蔽，頰側與耳前之蔽也；方壁，兩頰方正；高基，下頷充厚。三者皆相家語，此借以言血氣之充，非論貴賤。

  7. 壽中百歲壽中百歲

    中，讀若重，合也，謂壽合百歲之數。此句承上形色而言，與《素問·上古天真論》「盡終其天年」義同，皆以形骨候壽。

  8. 肝病者，𦙼青肝病者，眥青

    𦙼，形與「眥」近而訛，眥即眼角。五藏病各見其色於其官，肝開竅於目，故青見於眥。此字無音，今依形讀 zì，錄文仍存底本。

  9. 又埤其牆，牆下無基又卑其牆，牆下無基

    埤，讀若卑，下也，謂牆低塌。上句言明堂小，此言牆卑而無基，皆狀面骨之薄削，與前段「方壁高基」正相反對。

  10. 垂角去外垂角去外

    垂角，耳垂也。去外，向外反張而不貼頰。耳爲腎官，垂角反張則腎氣不固，故雖無病亦危，此相法之要語。

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 yuè wǔ shǐ 五閲五使 [The Five Readings and Five Envoys], Chapter 37. 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-five-readings-and-envoys/

MLA

"Wǔ yuè wǔ shǐ 五閲五使 [The Five Readings and Five Envoys]." Huangdi Neijing · Lingshu 黃帝內經靈樞, chapter 37, Classica Sinica Medica, 2026, https://classicstcm.com/classics/huangdi-neijing-lingshu/the-five-readings-and-envoys/. 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·五閲五使》（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-five-readings-and-envoys/。

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