Classica Sinica Medica

A Discourse on Blood, Qi, Form and Will

血氣形志

Xuè qì xíng zhì lùn

Chapter 24 is short and does three separate things, and the three have been quoted separately ever since. It opens with the table every acupuncture student still learns: each of the six channels has its own regular allotment of blood and qi, and the allotment is what decides whether you may let blood at that channel or only let qi. It then gives the oldest surviving account of how the back transport points are found — a length of straw folded from the nipples, halved, and laid as a triangle down the spine, each fold marking one viscus — which is also the oldest description of measuring a body against itself rather than against a rule. It closes with the five forms and wills, the book's most quoted piece of social observation: ease of body with bitterness of mind makes disease in the vessels, labour of body with ease of mind makes it in the sinews, and a life of repeated fright makes it in numbness. The treatments are matched to the tissue and not to the complaint, and they run from cautery through needle and stone, hot pressing, drugs, and finally rubbing and wine. The chapter's last line is a set of six needling rules, and it only makes sense read against the opening table: the channel that is plentiful in blood is the one you may bleed, and the graph the text writes for 'not fitting' is the verb of that permission.

View
12 paragraphs
夫人之常數，太陽常多血少氣，少陽常少血多氣，陽明常多氣多血，少陰常少血多氣，厥陰常多血少氣，太陰常多氣少血，此天之常數。 夫人之常数，太阳常多血少气，少阳常少血多气，阳明常多气多血，少阴常少血多气，厥阴常多血少气，太阴常多气少血，此天之常数。
Fú rén zhī cháng shù, tài yáng cháng duō xuè shǎo qì, shào yáng cháng shǎo xuè duō qì, yáng míng cháng duō qì duō xuè, shào yīn cháng shǎo xuè duō qì, jué yīn cháng duō xuè shǎo qì, tài yīn cháng duō qì shǎo xuè, cǐ tiān zhī cháng shù.
人身气血各有常度：太阳经通常血多气少，少阳经血少气多，阳明经气多血多，少阴经血少气多，厥阴经血多气少，太阴经气多血少，这是禀受于天的常数。
The constants of a person: greater yang is regularly plentiful in blood and scant in qi; lesser yang is scant in blood and plentiful in qi; yang brightness is plentiful in both qi and blood; lesser yin is scant in blood and plentiful in qi; ceasing yin is plentiful in blood and scant in qi; greater yin is plentiful in qi and scant in blood. These are the constants of heaven.
足太陽與少陰爲表裏，少陽與厥陰爲表裏，陽明與太陰爲表裏，是爲足陰陽也。 足太阳与少阴为表里，少阳与厥阴为表里，阳明与太阴为表里，是为足阴阳也。
Zú tài yáng yǔ shào yīn wéi biǎo lǐ, shào yáng yǔ jué yīn wéi biǎo lǐ, yáng míng yǔ tài yīn wéi biǎo lǐ, shì wéi zú yīn yáng yě.
足太阳与足少阴相为表里，足少阳与足厥阴相为表里，足阳明与足太阴相为表里，这是足经的三阴三阳。
The foot greater yang and lesser yin are exterior and interior to one another; lesser yang and ceasing yin are exterior and interior to one another; yang brightness and greater yin are exterior and interior to one another. These are the yin and yang of the foot.
手太陽與少陰爲表裏，少陽與心主爲表裏，陽明與太陰爲表裏，是爲手之陰陽也。 手太阳与少阴为表里，少阳与心主为表里，阳明与太阴为表里，是为手之阴阳也。
Shǒu tài yáng yǔ shào yīn wéi biǎo lǐ, shào yáng yǔ xīn zhǔ wéi biǎo lǐ, yáng míng yǔ tài yīn wéi biǎo lǐ, shì wéi shǒu zhī yīn yáng yě.
手太阳与手少阴相为表里，手少阳与心主，即手厥阴心包络，相为表里，手阳明与手太阴相为表里，这是手经的三阴三阳。
The hand greater yang and lesser yin are exterior and interior to one another; lesser yang and the heart master are exterior and interior to one another; yang brightness and greater yin are exterior and interior to one another. These are the yin and yang of the hand.
今知手足陰陽所苦，凡治病必先去其血，乃去其所苦，伺之所欲，然後寫有餘，補不足。 今知手足阴阳所苦，凡治病必先去其血，乃去其所苦，伺之所欲，然后写有余，补不足。
Jīn zhī shǒu zú yīn yáng suǒ kǔ, fán zhì bìng bì xiān qù qí xuè, nǎi qù qí suǒ kǔ, sì zhī suǒ yù, rán hòu xiě yǒu yú, bǔ bù zú.
既知手足三阴三阳各有所苦之病，凡治病必先去其瘀血，然后解除其所苦；观察病者之所欲，而后泻其有余、补其不足。
Now that you know what the yin and yang of the hand and foot suffer from: in treating any illness you must first remove the blood, and only then remove what it suffers from. Watch for what it wants, and thereafter drain the surplus and supplement the insufficiency.
欲知背俞，先度其兩乳間，中折之，更以他草度去半已，即以兩隅相拄也，乃舉以度其背，令其一隅居上，齊脊大椎，兩隅在下，當其下隅者，肺之俞也，復下一度，心之俞也，復下一度，左角肝之俞也，右角脾之俞也。 欲知背俞，先度其两乳间，中折之，更以他草度去半已，即以两隅相拄也，乃举以度其背，令其一隅居上，齐脊大椎，两隅在下，当其下隅者，肺之俞也，复下一度，心之俞也，复下一度，左角肝之俞也，右角脾之俞也。
Yù zhī bèi shù, xiān duó qí liǎng rǔ jiān, zhōng zhé zhī, gèng yǐ tā cǎo duó qù bàn yǐ, jí yǐ liǎng yú xiāng zhǔ yě, nǎi jǔ yǐ duó qí bèi, lìng qí yī yú jū shàng, qí jǐ dà zhuī, liǎng yú zài xià, dāng qí xià yú zhě, fèi zhī shù yě, fù xià yī dù, xīn zhī shù yě, fù xià yī dù, zuǒ jiǎo gān zhī shù yě, yòu jiǎo pí zhī shù yě.
要取背部的五脏俞穴，先量两乳之间的距离，从中间对折；再另取一草，量至一半的长度为止，然后把两端相撑成三角形，拿来量背部：使一角在上、与脊骨的大椎相齐，两角在下，两下角所当之处就是肺俞；再向下一度是心俞，再下一度则左角是肝俞、右角是脾俞。
To find the back transport points: first measure the span between the two nipples and fold it in the middle; then take another straw, measure off half of it and stop, and let its two ends prop against each other. Raise it to measure the back, placing one corner at the top, level with the great vertebra of the spine, and the two corners below. What the lower corners fall upon is the transport point of the lung; one measure further down is the transport point of the heart; one measure further down again, the left corner is the transport point of the liver and the right corner that of the spleen.
復下一度，腎之俞也。是謂五藏之俞，灸剌之度也。 复下一度，肾之俞也。是谓五藏之俞，灸刺之度也。
Fù xià yī dù, shèn zhī shù yě. Shì wèi wǔ zàng zhī shù, jiǔ cì zhī dù yě.
再向下一度是肾俞。这就是五脏的背俞，是灸刺取穴的法度。
One measure further down again is the transport point of the kidney. These are the transport points of the five viscera, and the measure for cautery and puncture.
形樂志苦，病生於脉，治之以灸剌。 形乐志苦，病生于脉，治之以灸刺。
Xíng lè zhì kǔ, bìng shēng yú mài, zhì zhī yǐ jiǔ cì.
形体安逸而心志劳苦的人，病多生于脉，用灸法与刺法治疗。
Form at ease and will embittered: the disease arises in the vessels; treat it with cautery and puncture.
形樂志樂，病生於肉，治之以鍼石。 形乐志乐，病生于肉，治之以针石。
Xíng lè zhì lè, bìng shēng yú ròu, zhì zhī yǐ zhēn shí.
形体安逸、心志也安逸的人，病多生于肌肉，用针与砭石治疗。
Form at ease and will at ease: the disease arises in the flesh; treat it with needle and stone.
形苦志樂，病生於筋，治之以熨引。 形苦志乐，病生于筋，治之以熨引。
Xíng kǔ zhì lè, bìng shēng yú jīn, zhì zhī yǐ yùn yǐn.
形体劳苦而心志安逸的人，病多生于筋，用热熨与导引治疗。
Form embittered and will at ease: the disease arises in the sinews; treat it with hot pressing and pulling.
形苦志苦，病生於咽嗌，治之以百藥。 形苦志苦，病生于咽嗌，治之以百药。
Xíng kǔ zhì kǔ, bìng shēng yú yān yì, zhì zhī yǐ bǎi yào.
形体劳苦、心志也劳苦的人，病多生于咽喉，用各种药物治疗。
Form embittered and will embittered: the disease arises in the throat; treat it with the hundred drugs.
形數驚恐，經絡不通，病生於不仁，治之以按摩醪藥。是謂五形志也。 形数惊恐，经络不通，病生于不仁，治之以按摩醪药。是谓五形志也。
Xíng shuò jīng kǒng, jīng luò bù tōng, bìng shēng yú bù rén, zhì zhī yǐ àn mó láo yào. Shì wèi wǔ xíng zhì yě.
形体屡受惊恐、经络运行不畅的人，病多生于麻木不仁，用按摩与药酒治疗。这就是五种形志之病。
Form given repeatedly to fright and fear: the channels and networks do not pass through, and the disease arises in insensitivity; treat it with pressing, rubbing and medicated wine. These are the five forms and wills.
剌陽明出血氣，剌太陽出血惡氣，剌少陽出氣惡血，剌太陰出氣惡血，剌少陰出氣，惡血，剌厥陰出血，惡氣也。 刺阳明出血气，刺太阳出血恶气，刺少阳出气恶血，刺太阴出气恶血，刺少阴出气，恶血，刺厥阴出血，恶气也。
Cì yáng míng chū xuè qì, cì tài yáng chū xuè wù qì, cì shào yáng chū qì wù xuè, cì tài yīn chū qì wù xuè, cì shào yīn chū qì, wù xuè, cì jué yīn chū xuè, wù qì yě.
刺阳明可以出血出气，刺太阳只可出血、不宜出气，刺少阳只可出气、不宜出血，刺太阴只可出气、不宜出血，刺少阴只可出气、不宜出血，刺厥阴只可出血、不宜出气。
Puncture yang brightness and both blood and qi may be let; puncture greater yang and blood may be let but the qi is not to be touched; puncture lesser yang and qi may be let but not the blood; puncture greater yin and qi may be let but not the blood; puncture lesser yin and qi may be let, but not the blood; puncture ceasing yin and blood may be let, but not the qi.

Textual notes

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

  1. 夫人之常數夫人之常数

    「夫」讀 fú，發語詞，非丈夫之夫（fū）；「數」讀 shù，定數、常度之義，與下文「形數驚恐」讀 shuò（屢也）者同形異讀。

  2. 太陽常多血少氣太阳常多血少气

    「少」於「少血」「少氣」讀 shǎo；「少陽」「少陰」之少讀 shào。本篇「少」十三見而二音並見，讀者宜辨。

  3. 然後寫有餘，補不足然后写有余，补不足

    底本此作「寫」，讀 xiè，通「瀉」；本篇「寫」惟此一見，與第二十二篇肝、心作「冩」而脾、肺、腎作「寫」者異，各从底本。

  4. 先度其兩乳間先度其两乳间

    「度」讀 duó，量也；下文「復下一度」之「度」則讀 dù（一度即一折之長），本篇「度」七見而二音並見。

  5. 更以他草度去半已更以他草度去半已

    「已」讀 yǐ，止也，謂量去其半而止；《太素》作「以」，屬下句讀，與底本異。

  6. 即以兩隅相拄也即以两隅相拄也

    「隅」讀 yú，角也；「拄」讀 zhǔ，撐拄、相抵也；《太素》作「柱」，義近而字異。

  7. 左角肝之俞也，右角脾之俞也左角肝之俞也，右角脾之俞也

    肝在左、脾在右，《甲乙經》以下諸本並同；一說傳寫互易，當以肝右脾左為誤。姑從底本而存其疑。

  8. 是謂五藏之俞，灸剌之度也是谓五藏之俞，灸刺之度也

    底本作「剌」（音 là），「刺」（音 cì）之形近字，本篇「剌」八見，皆當讀 cì。

  9. 治之以熨引治之以熨引

    「熨」讀 yùn（一讀 wèi），以熱物熨貼也；「引」讀 yǐn，牽引、導引也。

  10. 病生於不仁病生于不仁

    「不仁」謂肌膚麻木、不知痛癢，非仁義之仁；《太素》「不仁」上有「肉」字而屬上讀，與底本異。

  11. 剌太陽出血惡氣刺太阳出血恶气

    「惡」讀 wù，忌也、不宜也，謂可出血而不可出氣。舊亦讀 è，以「惡氣」為敗惡之氣；然本篇六脈之例，所出者必其多者、所惡者必其少者，六條無一不合，則「惡」當讀 wù 無疑。

Cite this page

APA

Huangdi Neijing · Suwen 黃帝內經素問 (c. 3rd c. BCE – 1st c. CE; recension c. 762 CE). Xuè qì xíng zhì lùn 血氣形志 [A Discourse on Blood, Qi, Form and Will], Chapter 24. In Classica Sinica Medica. Base text: 《重廣補註黃帝內經素問》二十四卷，唐·王冰注，宋·林億、孫奇、高保衡等校正，宋·孫兆重改誤。據上海涵芬樓《四部叢刊初編》影印明嘉靖二十九年（1550）顧從德覆宋刊本錄入，卷一牌記題「上海涵芬樓景印明顧氏翻宋本」。底本與影印本均屬公有領域。 Retrieved 12 October 2026, from https://classicstcm.com/classics/huangdi-neijing-suwen/blood-qi-form-and-will/

MLA

"Xuè qì xíng zhì lùn 血氣形志 [A Discourse on Blood, Qi, Form and Will]." Huangdi Neijing · Suwen 黃帝內經素問, chapter 24, Classica Sinica Medica, 2026, https://classicstcm.com/classics/huangdi-neijing-suwen/blood-qi-form-and-will/. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026. Base text: 《重廣補註黃帝內經素問》二十四卷，唐·王冰注，宋·林億、孫奇、高保衡等校正，宋·孫兆重改誤。據上海涵芬樓《四部叢刊初編》影印明嘉靖二十九年（1550）顧從德覆宋刊本錄入，卷一牌記題「上海涵芬樓景印明顧氏翻宋本」。底本與影印本均屬公有領域。

Chinese scholarly

《黃帝內經素問·血氣形志》（Huángdì Nèijīng Sùwèn）。《重廣補註黃帝內經素問》二十四卷，唐·王冰注，宋·林億、孫奇、高保衡等校正，宋·孫兆重改誤。據上海涵芬樓《四部叢刊初編》影印明嘉靖二十九年（1550）顧從德覆宋刊本錄入，卷一牌記題「上海涵芬樓景印明顧氏翻宋本」。底本與影印本均屬公有領域。Classica Sinica Medica，2026 年 10 月 12 日 存取，https://classicstcm.com/classics/huangdi-neijing-suwen/blood-qi-form-and-will/。

For classical material the edition is what makes a citation checkable: cite the base text, not the web page alone.

Passage credits

This passage has not been attributed yet.

Not yet reviewed — unreviewed passages are published as transcribed, not as reviewed.