1
黃帝問于歧伯曰：經脉十二者，外合于十二經水，而内屬于五藏六府。夫十二經水者，其有大小、深淺、廣狹、遠近各不固，五藏六府之高下小大，受榖之多少亦不等，相應奈何？夫經水者，受水而行之；五藏者，合神氣魂魄而藏之；六府者，受榖而行之，受氣而揚之；經脉者，受血而營之。合而以治，奈何？刺之深淺，灸之壯數，可得聞乎？
黄帝问于歧伯曰：经脉十二者，外合于十二经水，而内属于五藏六府。夫十二经水者，其有大小、深浅、广狭、远近各不固，五藏六府之高下小大，受榖之多少亦不等，相应奈何？夫经水者，受水而行之；五藏者，合神气魂魄而藏之；六府者，受榖而行之，受气而扬之；经脉者，受血而营之。合而以治，奈何？刺之深浅，灸之壮数，可得闻乎？ Huáng Dì wèn yú Qí Bó yuē: jīng mài shí èr zhě, wài hé yú shí èr jīng shuǐ, ér nèi zhǔ yú wǔ zàng liù fǔ. fū shí èr jīng shuǐ zhě, qí yǒu dà xiǎo, shēn qiǎn, guǎng xiá, yuǎn jìn gè bù gù, wǔ zàng liù fǔ zhī gāo xià xiǎo dà, shòu gǔ zhī duō shǎo yì bù děng, xiāng yīng nài hé? fū jīng shuǐ zhě, shòu shuǐ ér xíng zhī; wǔ zàng zhě, hé shén qì hún pò ér zàng zhī; liù fǔ zhě, shòu gǔ ér xíng zhī, shòu qì ér yáng zhī; jīng mài zhě, shòu xuè ér yíng zhī. hé ér yǐ zhì, nài hé? cì zhī shēn qiǎn, jiǔ zhī zhuàng shù, kě dé wén hū?
黄帝问岐伯说：十二经脉，在外与十二经水相合，在内连属于五脏六府。那十二经水，各有大小、深浅、广狭、远近的不同；五脏六府的高下小大，受谷的多少也不相等，它们是怎样相应的？经水，是受水而流行；五脏，是合神气魂魄而藏于内；六府，是受谷而传行，受气而布扬；经脉，是受血而营运。把这些合起来治病，该怎样做？针刺的深浅、艾灸的壮数，可以讲给我听吗？
Huang Di asked Qi Bo: the twelve channels correspond outwardly to the twelve water-courses and inwardly connect with the five zang and six fu. Now the twelve water-courses differ in size, depth, breadth and distance, and the five zang and six fu differ in height and size and in how much grain they receive. How do they correspond? The water-courses receive water and move it; the five zang gather spirit, qi, hun and po and store them; the six fu receive grain and transmit it, receive qi and spread it; the channels receive blood and nourish with it. How are these combined in treatment? May I hear about the depth of needling and the number of moxa cones?
2
歧伯答曰：善哉問也！天至高不可度，地至廣不可量，此之謂也。且夫人生于天地之間，六合之内，此天之高，地之廣也，非人力之所能度量而至也。若夫八尺之士，皮肉在此，外可度量切循而得之，其死可解剖而視之。其藏之堅脆，府之大小，榖之多少，脉之長短，血之清濁，氣之多少，十二經之多血少氣，與其少血多氣，與其皆多血氣，與其皆少血氣，皆有大數。其治以鍼艾，各調其經氣，固其常有合乎？
歧伯答曰：善哉问也！天至高不可度，地至广不可量，此之谓也。且夫人生于天地之间，六合之内，此天之高，地之广也，非人力之所能度量而至也。若夫八尺之士，皮肉在此，外可度量切循而得之，其死可解剖而视之。其藏之坚脆，府之大小，榖之多少，脉之长短，血之清浊，气之多少，十二经之多血少气，与其少血多气，与其皆多血气，与其皆少血气，皆有大数。其治以针艾，各调其经气，固其常有合乎？ Qí Bó dá yuē: shàn zāi wèn yě! tiān zhì gāo bù kě dù, dì zhì guǎng bù kě liàng, cǐ zhī wèi yě. qiě fū rén shēng yú tiān dì zhī jiān, liù hé zhī nèi, cǐ tiān zhī gāo, dì zhī guǎng yě, fēi rén lì zhī suǒ néng dù liàng ér zhì yě. ruò fū bā chǐ zhī shì, pí ròu zài cǐ, wài kě dù liàng qiè xún ér dé zhī, qí sǐ kě jiě pōu ér shì zhī. qí zàng zhī jiān cuì, fǔ zhī dà xiǎo, gǔ zhī duō shǎo, mài zhī cháng duǎn, xuè zhī qīng zhuó, qì zhī duō shǎo, shí èr jīng zhī duō xuè shǎo qì, yǔ qí shǎo xuè duō qì, yǔ qí jiē duō xuè qì, yǔ qí jiē shǎo xuè qì, jiē yǒu dà shù. qí zhì yǐ zhēn ài, gè tiáo qí jīng qì, gù qí cháng yǒu hé hū?
岐伯回答说：问得好啊！天极高而不可测度，地极广而不可丈量，说的正是这个。况且人生活在天地之间、六合之内，这是天的高、地的广，不是人力所能度量达到的。至于八尺高的人，皮肉就在眼前，在外面可以用度量、切按、循摸而测得；他死了，可以解剖来看。五脏的坚脆，六府的大小，受谷的多少，脉的长短，血的清浊，气的多少，十二经的多血少气、少血多气、皆多血气、皆少血气，都有一定的大数。用针艾治疗，各自调其经气，本来就有常法相合吗？
Qi Bo replied: a good question! Heaven is so high it cannot be measured, Earth so broad it cannot be surveyed — this is what that saying means. Man lives between Heaven and Earth, within the six directions, under this high Heaven and broad Earth, and no human strength can measure or reach them. But an eight-foot man has skin and flesh here before us; from outside one can measure, press and trace them, and when he is dead one can dissect and look. The hardness or brittleness of the zang, the size of the fu, how much grain they receive, the length of the vessels, the clarity or turbidity of the blood, the amount of qi, and which of the twelve channels have much blood and little qi, which little blood and much qi, which much of both and which little of both — all have their fixed numbers. In treating with needle and moxa, each harmonising the qi of its own channel, is there not a constant rule that fits?
3
黃帝曰：余聞之，快于耳不解于心，願卒聞之。歧伯答曰：此人之所以參天地而應陰陽也，不可不察。足太陽外合清水，内屬膀胱，而通水道焉；足少陽外合于渭水，内屬于膽；足陽明外合于海水，内屬于胃；足太陰外合于湖水，内屬于脾；足少陰外合于汝水，内屬于腎；足厥陰外合于澠水，内屬于肝；手太陽外合淮水，内屬小腸，而水道出焉。手少陽外合于漯水，内屬于三焦；手陽明外合于江水，内屬于大腸；手太陰外合于河水，内屬于肺；手少陰外合于濟水，内屬于心；手心主外合于漳水，内屬于心包。
黄帝曰：余闻之，快于耳不解于心，愿卒闻之。歧伯答曰：此人之所以参天地而应阴阳也，不可不察。足太阳外合清水，内属膀胱，而通水道焉；足少阳外合于渭水，内属于胆；足阳明外合于海水，内属于胃；足太阴外合于湖水，内属于脾；足少阴外合于汝水，内属于肾；足厥阴外合于渑水，内属于肝；手太阳外合淮水，内属小肠，而水道出焉。手少阳外合于漯水，内属于三焦；手阳明外合于江水，内属于大肠；手太阴外合于河水，内属于肺；手少阴外合于济水，内属于心；手心主外合于漳水，内属于心包。 Huáng Dì yuē: yú wén zhī, kuài yú ěr bù jiě yú xīn, yuàn zú wén zhī. Qí Bó dá yuē: cǐ rén zhī suǒ yǐ cān tiān dì ér yīng yīn yáng yě, bù kě bù chá. zú tài yáng wài hé qīng shuǐ, nèi zhǔ bǎng guāng, ér tōng shuǐ dào yān; zú shào yáng wài hé yú wèi shuǐ, nèi zhǔ yú dǎn; zú yáng míng wài hé yú hǎi shuǐ, nèi zhǔ yú wèi; zú tài yīn wài hé yú hú shuǐ, nèi zhǔ yú pí; zú shào yīn wài hé yú rǔ shuǐ, nèi zhǔ yú shèn; zú jué yīn wài hé yú miǎn shuǐ, nèi zhǔ yú gān; shǒu tài yáng wài hé huái shuǐ, nèi zhǔ xiǎo cháng, ér shuǐ dào chū yān. shǒu shào yáng wài hé yú luò shuǐ, nèi zhǔ yú sān jiāo; shǒu yáng míng wài hé yú jiāng shuǐ, nèi zhǔ yú dà cháng; shǒu tài yīn wài hé yú hé shuǐ, nèi zhǔ yú fèi; shǒu shào yīn wài hé yú jì shuǐ, nèi zhǔ yú xīn; shǒu xīn zhǔ wài hé yú zhāng shuǐ, nèi zhǔ yú xīn bāo.
黄帝说：我听了这些，耳朵里觉得痛快，心里却还没解开，希望你把话说完。岐伯回答说：这是人所以参配天地、应合阴阳的道理，不可不明察。足太阳在外与清水相合，在内连属膀胱，而通调水道；足少阳外合于渭水，内属于胆；足阳明外合于海水，内属于胃；足太阴外合于湖水，内属于脾；足少阴外合于汝水，内属于肾；足厥阴外合于澠水，内属于肝；手太阳外合于淮水，内属于小肠，而水道由此而出；手少阳外合于漯水，内属于三焦；手阳明外合于江水，内属于大肠；手太阴外合于河水，内属于肺；手少阴外合于济水，内属于心；手心主外合于漳水，内属于心包。
Huang Di said: hearing this delights my ear but does not untie my heart. I beg you to finish it. Qi Bo replied: this is how man takes his place beside Heaven and Earth and answers to yin and yang; it must be examined. Foot taiyang corresponds outwardly to the clear water and inwardly belongs to the bladder, and it opens the water passage. Foot shaoyang corresponds to the Wei; foot yangming to the sea water; foot taiyin to the lake water; foot shaoyin to the Ru; foot jueyin to the Mian, each belonging inwardly to its zang — gallbladder, stomach, spleen, kidney and liver. Hand taiyang corresponds to the Huai and belongs to the small intestine, and the water passage comes out from it; hand shaoyang to the Luo and belongs to the triple burner; hand yangming to the Jiang and belongs to the large intestine; hand taiyin to the He and belongs to the lung; hand shaoyin to the Ji and belongs to the heart; hand xinzhu to the Zhang and belongs to the pericardium.
4
凡此五藏六府十二經水者，外有源泉，而内有所禀，此皆内外相貫，如環無端，人經亦然。
凡此五藏六府十二经水者，外有源泉，而内有所禀，此皆内外相贯，如环无端，人经亦然。 fán cǐ wǔ zàng liù fǔ shí èr jīng shuǐ zhě, wài yǒu yuán quán, ér nèi yǒu suǒ bǐng, cǐ jiē nèi wài xiāng guàn, rú huán wú duān, rén jīng yì rán.
以上五脏六府与十二经水，在外各有源泉，在内各有所禀受，都是内外贯通、如环无端的，人身经脉也是这样。
All these twelve water-courses of the five zang and six fu have their sources outside and their reception within. They penetrate one another inside and out, like a ring without end, and so do the channels of man.
5
故天爲陽，地爲陰；腰以上爲天，腰以下爲地。故海以北者爲陰，湖以北者爲陰中之陰；漳以南者爲陽，河以北至漳者，爲陽中之陰；漯以南至江者，爲陽中之太陽。此一隅之陰陽也，所以人與天地相參也。
故天为阳，地为阴；腰以上为天，腰以下为地。故海以北者为阴，湖以北者为阴中之阴；漳以南者为阳，河以北至漳者，为阳中之阴；漯以南至江者，为阳中之太阳。此一隅之阴阳也，所以人与天地相参也。 gù tiān wéi yáng, dì wéi yīn; yāo yǐ shàng wéi tiān, yāo yǐ xià wéi dì. gù hǎi yǐ běi zhě wéi yīn, hú yǐ běi zhě wéi yīn zhōng zhī yīn; zhāng yǐ nán zhě wéi yáng, hé yǐ běi zhì zhāng zhě, wéi yáng zhōng zhī yīn; luò yǐ nán zhì jiāng zhě, wéi yáng zhōng zhī tài yáng. cǐ yī yú zhī yīn yáng yě, suǒ yǐ rén yǔ tiān dì xiāng cān yě.
所以天为阳，地为阴；腰以上为天，腰以下为地。海以北属阴，湖以北属阴中之阴；漳以南属阳，河以北到漳属阳中之阴；漯以南到江属阳中之太阳。这只是举一隅以见阴阳，正是人与天地相参的道理。
Thus Heaven is yang and Earth is yin; above the waist is Heaven and below the waist is Earth. North of the sea is yin, and north of the lake is yin within yin; south of the Zhang is yang, and from north of the He to the Zhang is yang within yin; from south of the Luo to the Jiang is the taiyang of yang. This is yin and yang seen from one corner only, and it is how man is set beside Heaven and Earth.
6
黃帝曰：夫經水之應經脉也，其遠近淺深，水血之多少，各不同，合而以刺之，奈何？
黄帝曰：夫经水之应经脉也，其远近浅深，水血之多少，各不同，合而以刺之，奈何？ Huáng Dì yuē: fū jīng shuǐ zhī yīng jīng mài yě, qí yuǎn jìn qiǎn shēn, shuǐ xuè zhī duō shǎo, gè bù tóng, hé ér yǐ cì zhī, nài hé?
黄帝说：经水与经脉相应，其远近浅深、水与血的多少各不相同，合起来用以针刺，该怎样办？
Huang Di said: the water-courses answer to the channels, yet their distance and depth, and the amount of water and of blood, all differ. How are they combined when one needles?
7
歧伯答曰：足陽明，五藏六府之海也，其脉大血多，氣盛𤍠壯，刺此者，不深弗散，不留不寫也。足陽明，刺深六分，留十呼；足太陽，深五分，留七呼；足少陽，深四分，留五呼；足太陰，深三分，留四呼；足少陰，深二分，留三呼；足厥陰，深一分，留二呼。手之陰陽，其受氣之道近，其氣之來疾，其刺深者，皆無過二分，其留皆無過一呼，其少長、大小肥瘦，以心撩之，命曰法天之常，灸之亦然。灸而過此者，得惡火，則骨枯脉濇；刺而過此者，則脱氣。
歧伯答曰：足阳明，五藏六府之海也，其脉大血多，气盛𤍠壮，刺此者，不深弗散，不留不写也。足阳明，刺深六分，留十呼；足太阳，深五分，留七呼；足少阳，深四分，留五呼；足太阴，深三分，留四呼；足少阴，深二分，留三呼；足厥阴，深一分，留二呼。手之阴阳，其受气之道近，其气之来疾，其刺深者，皆无过二分，其留皆无过一呼，其少长、大小肥瘦，以心撩之，命曰法天之常，灸之亦然。灸而过此者，得恶火，则骨枯脉涩；刺而过此者，则脱气。 Qí Bó dá yuē: zú yáng míng, wǔ zàng liù fǔ zhī hǎi yě, qí mài dà xuè duō, qì shèng rè zhuàng, cì cǐ zhě, bù shēn fú sàn, bù liú bù xiè yě. zú yáng míng, cì shēn liù fēn, liú shí hū; zú tài yáng, shēn wǔ fēn, liú qī hū; zú shào yáng, shēn sì fēn, liú wǔ hū; zú tài yīn, shēn sān fēn, liú sì hū; zú shào yīn, shēn èr fēn, liú sān hū; zú jué yīn, shēn yī fēn, liú èr hū. shǒu zhī yīn yáng, qí shòu qì zhī dào jìn, qí qì zhī lái jí, qí cì shēn zhě, jiē wú guò èr fēn, qí liú jiē wú guò yī hū, qí shào zhǎng, dà xiǎo féi shòu, yǐ xīn liáo zhī, mìng yuē fǎ tiān zhī cháng, jiǔ zhī yì rán. jiǔ ér guò cǐ zhě, dé wù huǒ, zé gǔ kū mài sè; cì ér guò cǐ zhě, zé tuō qì.
岐伯回答说：足阳明，是五脏六府的海，它的脉大血多，气盛热壮，刺这一经，不深刺邪就不散，不留针邪就不泻。足阳明，刺深六分，留针十呼；足太阳，深五分，留七呼；足少阳，深四分，留五呼；足太阴，深三分，留四呼；足少阴，深二分，留三呼；足厥阴，深一分，留二呼。手三阴三阳，受气的道路近，气来得快，所以刺的深度都不过二分，留针都不过一呼。人的老少、大小、肥瘦，要用心去料度，这叫取法于天的常道，灸法也是这样。灸超过这个限度，就会招来酷烈的火邪，以致骨枯脉涩；刺超过这个限度，就会脱气。
Qi Bo replied: foot yangming is the sea of the five zang and six fu; its vessel is large and its blood abundant, its qi full and its heat strong. To needle it, if one does not go deep the evil will not disperse, and if the needle is not retained the evil will not be drained. For foot yangming pierce six fen and retain ten breaths; for foot taiyang five fen and seven breaths; for foot shaoyang four fen and five breaths; for foot taiyin three fen and four breaths; for foot shaoyin two fen and three breaths; for foot jueyin one fen and two breaths. In the yin and yang channels of the hand the path of qi is short and its coming is swift, so the depth never exceeds two fen and retention never exceeds one breath. As for the young and old, the large and small, the fat and thin, weigh them in your mind — this is called following the constant of Heaven, and moxa is the same. If moxa goes beyond this one draws a fierce fire, and the bones wither and the vessels turn rough; if the needle goes beyond it, qi escapes.
8
黃帝曰：夫經脉之小大，血之多少，膚之厚薄，肉之堅脆，及膕之大小，可爲量度乎？
黄帝曰：夫经脉之小大，血之多少，肤之厚薄，肉之坚脆，及腘之大小，可为量度乎？ Huáng Dì yuē: fū jīng mài zhī xiǎo dà, xuè zhī duō shǎo, fū zhī hòu bó, ròu zhī jiān cuì, jí guó zhī dà xiǎo, kě wéi liàng dù hū?
黄帝说：经脉的小大、血的多少、肤的厚薄、肉的坚脆，以及膕窝的大小，可以度量吗？
Huang Di said: the smallness or largeness of the channels, the amount of blood, the thickness of the skin, the hardness of the flesh, and the size of the popliteal hollow — can these be measured?
9
歧伯答曰：其可爲度量者，取其中度也，不甚脱肉而血氣不衰也。若夫度之人，痟瘦而形肉脱者，惡可以度量刺乎？審切循捫，按視其寒温盛衰而調之，是謂因適而爲之真也。
歧伯答曰：其可为度量者，取其中度也，不甚脱肉而血气不衰也。若夫度之人，痟瘦而形肉脱者，恶可以度量刺乎？审切循扪，按视其寒温盛衰而调之，是谓因适而为之真也。 Qí Bó dá yuē: qí kě wéi dù liàng zhě, qǔ qí zhōng dù yě, bù shèn tuō ròu ér xuè qì bù shuāi yě. ruò fū duó zhī rén, xiāo shòu ér xíng ròu tuō zhě, wū kě yǐ dù liàng cì hū? shěn qiè xún mén, àn shì qí hán wēn shèng shuāi ér tiáo zhī, shì wèi yīn shì ér wéi zhī zhēn yě.
岐伯回答说：可以度量的，是取那中等之度，也就是肉不甚脱、血气不衰的人。至于所度量的人，消瘦而形肉已脱，怎么可以用常度去量而针刺呢？要审慎地切按、循摸、扪察，察看他的寒温盛衰而加以调治，这才叫因其所宜而合于真道。
Qi Bo replied: what can be measured is the middle measure — one whose flesh is not much wasted and whose blood and qi are not yet declined. But as for the man being measured, if he is emaciated and his flesh is gone, how can one measure him by the constant rule and needle him? Examine carefully, press, trace and feel, look at his cold and warmth, his fullness and decline, and harmonise accordingly. This is called suiting the occasion and making it true.