1
雷公問于黃帝曰：細子得受業，通于九鍼六十篇，旦暮勤服之，近者編絶，久者簡垢，然尚諷誦弗置，未盡解於意矣。《外揣》言渾束爲一，未知所謂也。夫大則無外，小則無内，大小無極，高下無度，束之奈何？士之才力，或有厚薄，智慮𥚹淺，不能博大深奥，自强于學若細子，細子恐其散于後世，絶于子孫，敢問約之奈何？
雷公问于黄帝曰：细子得受业，通于九针六十篇，旦暮勤服之，近者编绝，久者简垢，然尚讽诵弗置，未尽解于意矣。《外揣》言浑束为一，未知所谓也。夫大则无外，小则无内，大小无极，高下无度，束之奈何？士之才力，或有厚薄，智虑𥚹浅，不能博大深奥，自强于学若细子，细子恐其散于后世，绝于子孙，敢问约之奈何？ Léi Gōng wèn yú Huáng Dì yuē: xì zǐ dé shòu yè, tōng yú jiǔ zhēn liù shí piān, dàn mù qín fú zhī, jìn zhě biān jué, jiǔ zhě jiǎn gòu, rán shàng fěng sòng fú zhì, wèi jìn jiě yú yì yǐ. wài chuǎi yán hún shù wéi yī, wèi zhī suǒ wèi yě. fū dà zé wú wài, xiǎo zé wú nèi, dà xiǎo wú jí, gāo xià wú dù, shù zhī nài hé? shì zhī cái lì, huò yǒu hòu bó, zhì lǜ biǎn qiǎn, bù néng bó dà shēn ào, zì qiáng yú xué ruò xì zǐ, xì zǐ kǒng qí sàn yú hòu shì, jué yú zǐ sūn, gǎn wèn yuē zhī nài hé?
雷公问黄帝说：弟子接受学业，通晓九针六十篇，早晚勤加研习，近的编绳断绝，久的简册生垢，然而仍然讽诵不止，还没有完全解悟其中的意思。外揣篇说浑束为一，不知道指的是什么。大则无外，小则无内，大小无极，高下无度，怎样约束它呢？士人的才力，或有厚薄，智虑狭浅，不能博大深奥，像弟子这样自强的，弟子怕它散失于后世，断绝于子孙，敢问怎样约束它呢？
Lei Gong asked the Yellow Emperor: This disciple has received the teaching and is versed in the sixty chapters of the nine needles. Morning and evening I have applied myself to them, until the near cords are broken and the old slips soiled, and still I recite without setting them down, yet have not fully understood their meaning. The Outer Examination speaks of binding into one; I do not know what it refers to. Great, there is no outside; small, there is no inside; great and small have no limit, high and low no measure — how is one to bind it? The strength of a scholar is thick or thin, and his wit narrow or shallow; he cannot be broad, great, deep and profound. One who forces himself to learn as this disciple does fears that it will scatter in later ages and be cut off from sons and grandsons. I venture to ask how it is to be bound.
2
黃帝曰：善乎哉問也！此先師之所禁，坐私傳之也，割臂歃血之盟也。子若欲得之，何不齋乎？
黄帝曰：善乎哉问也！此先师之所禁，坐私传之也，割臂歃血之盟也。子若欲得之，何不斋乎？ Huáng Dì yuē: shàn hū zāi wèn yě! cǐ xiān shī zhī suǒ jìn, zuò sī chuán zhī yě, gē bì shà xuè zhī méng yě. zǐ ruò yù dé zhī, hé bù zhāi hū?
黄帝说：问得好啊！这是先师所禁的，因为私自传授，所以要割臂歃血立盟。你如果想得到它，为什么不斋戒呢？
The Emperor said: How good the question! This is what the former masters forbade, because it was privately transmitted; hence the covenant of cutting the arm and smearing the blood. If you wish to obtain it, why do you not fast?
3
雷公再拜而起曰：請聞命于是也。乃齋宿三日而請曰：敢問今日正陽，細子願以受盟。黃帝乃與俱入齋室，割臂歃血。
雷公再拜而起曰：请闻命于是也。乃斋宿三日而请曰：敢问今日正阳，细子愿以受盟。黄帝乃与俱入斋室，割臂歃血。 Léi Gōng zài bài ér qǐ yuē: qǐng wén mìng yú shì yě. nǎi zhāi sù sān rì ér qǐng yuē: gǎn wèn jīn rì zhèng yáng, xì zǐ yuàn yǐ shòu méng. Huáng Dì nǎi yǔ jù rù zhāi shì, gē bì shà xuè.
雷公再拜而起说：请让我听从命令。于是斋宿三天而请求说：敢问今日正阳，弟子愿意受盟。黄帝就与他一起进入斋室，割臂歃血。
Lei Gong bowed twice and rose, saying: I ask to receive the command. He fasted and lodged for three days, then asked: I venture to ask, on this day of full yang, that this disciple be allowed to receive the covenant. The Emperor then entered the fasting chamber with him, and they cut the arm and smeared the blood.
4
黃帝親祝曰：今日正陽，歃血傳方，有敢背此言者，反受其殃。雷公再拜曰：細子受之。
黄帝亲祝曰：今日正阳，歃血传方，有敢背此言者，反受其殃。雷公再拜曰：细子受之。 Huáng Dì qīn zhù yuē: jīn rì zhèng yáng, shà xuè chuán fāng, yǒu gǎn bèi cǐ yán zhě, fǎn shòu qí yāng. Léi Gōng zài bài yuē: xì zǐ shòu zhī.
黄帝亲自祝祷说：今日正阳，歃血传方，有敢违背这誓言的，反受其殃。雷公再拜说：弟子接受。
The Emperor himself prayed: On this day of full yang, we smear the blood and transmit the method; whoever dares to turn against these words shall receive the calamity in return. Lei Gong bowed twice and said: This disciple receives it.
5
黃帝乃左握其手，右授之書，曰：慎之慎之！吾爲子言之。凡刺之理，經脉爲始，營其所行，知其度量。内刺五藏，外刺六府，審察衛氣，爲百病母。調其虚實，虚實乃止。寫其血絡，血盡不殆矣。
黄帝乃左握其手，右授之书，曰：慎之慎之！吾为子言之。凡刺之理，经脉为始，营其所行，知其度量。内刺五藏，外刺六府，审察卫气，为百病母。调其虚实，虚实乃止。写其血络，血尽不殆矣。 Huáng Dì nǎi zuǒ wò qí shǒu, yòu shòu zhī shū, yuē: shèn zhī shèn zhī! wú wèi zǐ yán zhī. fán cì zhī lǐ, jīng mài wéi shǐ, yíng qí suǒ xíng, zhī qí dù liàng. nèi cì wǔ zàng, wài cì liù fǔ, shěn chá wèi qì, wéi bǎi bìng mǔ. tiáo qí xū shí, xū shí nǎi zhǐ. xiè qí xuè luò, xuè jìn bù dài yǐ.
黄帝就左手握着他的手，右手授给他书，说：谨慎啊谨慎！我给你讲。大凡刺的道理，以经脉为始，营运其所行，知道其度量。内刺五脏，外刺六腑，审察卫气，是百病之母。调其虚实，虚实就止。泻其血络，血尽就不危了。
The Emperor then took his hand with the left and gave him the book with the right, saying: Be careful, be careful! I shall speak to you of it. In all needling, the channels are the beginning: nourish what they move, and know their measures. Within, needle the five viscera; without, the six fu; examine the defensive qi, which is the mother of a hundred diseases. Regulate vacuity and repletion, and they stop. Drain the blood vessels, and when the blood is gone there is no danger.
6
雷公曰：此皆細子之所以通，未知其所約也。
雷公曰：此皆细子之所以通，未知其所约也。
Léi Gōng yuē: cǐ jiē xì zǐ zhī suǒ yǐ tōng, wèi zhī qí suǒ yuē yě.
雷公说：这些都是弟子所通晓的，不知道它所约束的。
Lei Gong said: All this the disciple already understands; what I do not know is what binds it.
7
黃帝曰：夫約方者，猶約囊也。囊滿而弗約，則輸泄；方成弗約，則神與弗俱。
黄帝曰：夫约方者，犹约囊也。囊满而弗约，则输泄；方成弗约，则神与弗俱。 Huáng Dì yuē: fū yuē fāng zhě, yóu yuē náng yě. náng mǎn ér fú yuē, zé shū xiè; fāng chéng fú yuē, zé shén yǔ fú jù.
黄帝说：约束方，就像约束口袋。口袋满了不约束，就会漏泄；方成了不约束，神就不能与它俱在。
The Emperor said: Binding the method is like binding a bag. If the bag is full and not bound, it leaks; if the method is complete and not bound, the spirit is not with it.
8
雷公曰：願爲下材者，勿滿而約之。
雷公曰：愿为下材者，勿满而约之。
Léi Gōng yuē: yuàn wéi xià cái zhě, wù mǎn ér yuē zhī.
雷公说：愿意为下材的人，不要满就约束它。
Lei Gong said: Let one of lesser capacity bind it before it is full.
9
黃帝曰：未滿而知約之以爲工，不可以爲天下師。
黄帝曰：未满而知约之以为工，不可以为天下师。
Huáng Dì yuē: wèi mǎn ér zhī yuē zhī yǐ wéi gōng, bù kě yǐ wéi tiān xià shī.
黄帝说：未满就知道约束它而成为良工，不可以做天下的师。
The Emperor said: To know how to bind it before it is full makes a skilled craftsman, but not one fit to be a teacher of the world.
10
雷公曰：願聞爲工。
雷公曰：愿闻为工。
Léi Gōng yuē: yuàn wén wéi gōng.
雷公说：愿意听听为工。
Lei Gong said: I should like to hear what makes a craftsman.
11
黃帝曰：寸口主中，人迎主外，兩者相應，俱徃俱來，若引繩大小齊等。春夏人迎微大，秋冬寸口微大，如是者名曰平人。
黄帝曰：寸口主中，人迎主外，两者相应，俱往俱来，若引绳大小齐等。春夏人迎微大，秋冬寸口微大，如是者名曰平人。 Huáng Dì yuē: cùn kǒu zhǔ zhōng, rén yíng zhǔ wài, liǎng zhě xiāng yìng, jù wǎng jù lái, ruò yǐn shéng dà xiǎo qí děng. chūn xià rén yíng wēi dà, qiū dōng cùn kǒu wēi dà, rú shì zhě míng yuē píng rén.
黄帝说：寸口主内，人迎主外，两者相应，同往同来，像引绳一样大小齐等。春夏人迎微大，秋冬寸口微大，这样的叫平人。
The Emperor said: The inch mouth governs within, the ren ying governs without. The two answer each other, going and coming together, equal in size as a stretched cord. In spring and summer the ren ying is slightly greater; in autumn and winter the inch mouth is slightly greater. Such a one is called a normal person.
rén yíng dà yī bèi yú cùn kǒu, bìng zài zú shào yáng; yī bèi ér zào, zài shǒu shào yáng. rén yíng èr bèi, bìng zài zú tài yáng; èr bèi ér zào, bìng zài shǒu tài yáng. rén yíng sān bèi, bìng zài zú yáng míng; sān bèi ér zào, bìng zài shǒu yáng míng.
人迎大于寸口一倍，病在足少阳；一倍而躁，在手少阳。人迎二倍，病在足太阳；二倍而躁，在手太阳。人迎三倍，病在足阳明；三倍而躁，在手阳明。
When the ren ying is one times greater than the inch mouth, the disease is in the foot shao yang; if one times and agitated, in the hand shao yang. When it is two times, the disease is in the foot tai yang; if two times and agitated, in the hand tai yang. When three times, in the foot yang ming; if three times and agitated, in the hand yang ming.
13
盛則爲𤍠，虚則爲寒，緊則爲痛痺，代則乍甚乍間。盛則冩之，虚則補之，緊痛則取之分肉，代則取血絡，且飲藥。陷下則灸之。不盛不虚，以經取之，名曰經刺。
盛则为𤍠，虚则为寒，紧则为痛痹，代则乍甚乍间。盛则冩之，虚则补之，紧痛则取之分肉，代则取血络，且饮药。陷下则灸之。不盛不虚，以经取之，名曰经刺。 shèng zé wéi rè, xū zé wéi hán, jǐn zé wéi tòng bì, dài zé zhà shèn zhà jiàn. shèng zé xiè zhī, xū zé bǔ zhī, jǐn tòng zé qǔ zhī fēn ròu, dài zé qǔ xuè luò, qiě yǐn yào. xiàn xià zé jiǔ zhī. bù shèng bù xū, yǐ jīng qǔ zhī, míng yuē jīng cì.
盛就为热，虚就为寒，紧就为痛痹，代就乍轻乍重。盛就泻它，虚就补它，紧痛就取分肉，代就取血络，并且饮药。陷下就灸它。不盛不虚，用经取它，叫经刺。
Abundance means heat; vacuity means cold; tightness means painful blockage; the intermittent means sometimes severe and sometimes remitting. For abundance drain it; for vacuity supplement it; for tight pain take the flesh; for the intermittent take the blood vessels and also drink decoctions. Where there is sinking, use moxa. Where there is neither abundance nor vacuity, take it by the channels, which is called channel needling.
14
人迎四倍者，且大且數，名曰溢陽。溢陽爲外格，死不治。必審按其本末，察其寒𤍠，以驗其藏府之病。
人迎四倍者，且大且数，名曰溢阳。溢阳为外格，死不治。必审按其本末，察其寒𤍠，以验其藏府之病。 rén yíng sì bèi zhě, qiě dà qiě shuò, míng yuē yì yáng. yì yáng wéi wài gé, sǐ bù zhì. bì shěn àn qí běn mò, chá qí hán rè, yǐ yàn qí zàng fǔ zhī bìng.
人迎四倍，又大又数，叫溢阳。溢阳是外格，死不治。必须审按它的本末，察其寒热，以验其脏腑之病。
When the ren ying is four times greater, both large and rapid, it is called overflowing yang. Overflowing yang is an outer barrier, and death is not to be treated. One must examine its root and branch, observe cold and heat, and so verify the disease of the viscera and fu.
cùn kǒu dà gān rén yíng yī bèi, bìng zài zú jué yīn; yī bèi ér zào, zài shǒu xīn zhǔ. cùn kǒu èr bèi, bìng zài zú shào yīn; èr bèi ér zào, zài shǒu shào yīn. cùn kǒu sān bèi, bìng zài zú tài yīn; sān bèi ér zào, zài shǒu tài yīn.
寸口大于人迎一倍，病在足厥阴；一倍而躁，在手心主。寸口二倍，病在足少阴；二倍而躁，在手少阴。寸口三倍，病在足太阴；三倍而躁，在手太阴。
When the inch mouth is one times greater than the ren ying, the disease is in the foot jue yin; if one time and agitated, in the hand master of the heart. When two times, in the foot shao yin; if two times and agitated, in the hand shao yin. When three times, in the foot tai yin; if three times and agitated, in the hand tai yin.
16
盛則脹滿，寒中，食不化；虚則𤍠中，出縻，少氣，溺色變；緊則痛痺，代則乍痛乍止。盛則寫之，虚則補之。緊則先刺而後灸之，代則取血絡而後調之，陷下則徒灸之。陷下者，脉血結于中，中有著血，血寒，故宜灸之。不盛不虚，以經取之。
盛则胀满，寒中，食不化；虚则𤍠中，出縻，少气，溺色变；紧则痛痹，代则乍痛乍止。盛则写之，虚则补之。紧则先刺而后灸之，代则取血络而后调之，陷下则徒灸之。陷下者，脉血结于中，中有着血，血寒，故宜灸之。不盛不虚，以经取之。 shèng zé zhàng mǎn, hán zhōng, shí bù huà; xū zé rè zhōng, chū mí, shǎo qì, niào sè biàn; jǐn zé tòng bì, dài zé zhà tòng zhà zhǐ. shèng zé xiè zhī, xū zé bǔ zhī. jǐn zé xiān cì ér hòu jiǔ zhī, dài zé qǔ xuè luò ér hòu tiáo zhī, xiàn xià zé tú jiǔ zhī. xiàn xià zhě, mài xuè jié yú zhōng, zhōng yǒu zhuó xuè, xuè hán, gù yí jiǔ zhī. bù shèng bù xū, yǐ jīng qǔ zhī.
盛就胀满，寒中，食不化；虚就热中，出糜，少气，溺色变；紧就痛痹，代就乍痛乍止。盛就泻它，虚就补它。紧就先刺而后灸，代就取血络而后调，陷下就只灸。陷下的，脉血结于中，中有著血，血寒，所以宜灸。不盛不虚，用经取它。
Abundance means distension and fullness, cold in the middle, food not transformed; vacuity means heat in the middle, discharge of gruel, little qi, and changed colour of urine; tightness means painful blockage; the intermittent means pain that comes and goes. For abundance drain it; for vacuity supplement it. For tightness needle first and moxa after; for the intermittent take the blood vessels and then regulate; where there is sinking, use moxa alone. Where there is sinking, the blood of the channels knots within, and there is blood adhering inside; the blood is cold, and so moxa is fitting. Where there is neither abundance nor vacuity, take it by the channels.
cùn kǒu sì bèi zhě, míng yuē nèi guān. nèi guān zhě, qiě dà qiě shuò, sǐ bù zhì.
寸口四倍，叫内关。内关，又大又数，死不治。
When the inch mouth is four times greater, it is called inner closure. Inner closure, both large and rapid, is death without cure.
18
必審察其本末之寒温，以驗其藏府之病，通其營輸，乃可傳于大數。大數曰：盛則徒寫之，虚則徒補之。緊則灸，刺且飲藥，陷下則徒灸之。不盛不虚，以經取之。
必审察其本末之寒温，以验其藏府之病，通其营输，乃可传于大数。大数曰：盛则徒写之，虚则徒补之。紧则灸，刺且饮药，陷下则徒灸之。不盛不虚，以经取之。
bì shěn chá qí běn mò zhī hán wēn, yǐ yàn qí zàng fǔ zhī bìng, tōng qí yíng shū, nǎi kě chuán yú dà shù. dà shù yuē: shèng zé tú xiě zhī, xū zé tú bǔ zhī. jǐn zé jiǔ, cì qiě yǐn yào, xiàn xià zé tú jiǔ zhī. bù shèng bù xū, yǐ jīng qǔ zhī.
必须审察它的本末寒温，以验其脏腑之病，通其营输，才可以传其大数。大数说：盛就只泻，虚就只补。紧就灸，刺并且饮药；陷下就只灸。不盛不虚，用经取它。
One must examine the cold and warmth of its root and branch, verify the disease of the viscera and fu, and open its nutritive and transporting points; only then may the great numbers be transmitted. The great numbers say: for abundance drain alone; for vacuity supplement alone. For tightness use moxa, needle and drink decoctions; where there is sinking, use moxa alone. Where there is neither abundance nor vacuity, take it by the channels.
19
所謂經治者，飲藥，亦曰灸刺。脉急則引，脉大以弱，則欲安静，用力無勞也。
所谓经治者，饮药，亦曰灸刺。脉急则引，脉大以弱，则欲安静，用力无劳也。 suǒ wèi jīng zhì zhě, yǐn yào, yì yuē jiǔ cì. mài jí zé yǐn, mài dà yǐ ruò, zé yù ān jìng, yòng lì wú láo yě.
所谓经治，是饮药，也叫灸刺。脉急就引，脉大而弱，就想安静，用力不要过劳。
What is called channel treatment is drinking decoctions, and also moxa and needling. When the pulse is urgent, draw it out; when the pulse is large and weak, one should be quiet, and not labour in the use of strength.