Classica Sinica Medica

分理

fēn lǐ

The partings of the flesh · fen li

Also rendered: the partings of the flesh (Plain and literal) · the interstitial spaces (Anatomical) · the grain of the flesh (Keeps 理's origin in working jade)

Physiology

Reviewed · 2026-09

At a glance

Pinyin
fēn lǐ
Simplified
分理
Literal
分 to divide (《說文》: 別也 — to separate, and the character carries a knife); 理 to work jade along its grain, and so the grain itself, the order inside a thing (《說文》: 治玉也). The seams the flesh is laid out along.
Shuowen
《說文解字》：分，別也（段注：从刀，引申為分界、分辨）；理，治玉也（段注：引申為文理、肌理、腠理）。

In brief

Where the chapter says the needle goes, in every season but at different depths: 及與分理 in spring, 循理 in autumn, 於分理 in winter. It is the same word that gives 腠理, the interstices of the skin, from chapter 1 onwards. The chapter’s point is that the seams of the body are the map — you follow them, you do not measure your way in.

Senses in the classical corpus

1
The seams of the flesh 分理
肌肉之分理，即腠理之類
春刺散俞，及與分理 — Suwen 16
2
Followed, in autumn 秋刺皮膚循理
循其分理而刺，因勢而入
秋刺皮膚循理，上下同法 — Suwen 16
3
Entered deeply, in winter 冬刺俞竅於分理
冬氣在裡，故直下其分理間
冬刺俞竅於分理 — Suwen 16
4
The same word elsewhere in the book 腠理
第一篇以降常見；與「分理」同以肌理為言
（第一篇等） — Suwen 1

Occurrences in the classics

Passages where the term does real work, with the original, pinyin and English on the same line.

Display
1 passages
素問·診要經終論 Suwen 16 · 診要經終論 Read in context →
故春刺散俞，及與分理，血出而止，甚者傳氣，閒者環也。夏刺絡俞，見血而止，盡氣閉環，痛病必下。秋刺皮膚循理，上下同法，神變而止。冬刺俞竅於分理，甚者直下，閒者散下。 故春刺散俞，及与分理，血出而止，甚者传气，间者环也。夏刺络俞，见血而止，尽气闭环，痛病必下。秋刺皮肤循理，上下同法，神变而止。冬刺俞窍于分理，甚者直下，间者散下。
gù chūn cì sǎn shù, jí yǔ fēn lǐ, xuè chū ér zhǐ, shèn zhě chuán qì, jiàn zhě huán yě. xià cì luò shù, jiàn xuè ér zhǐ, jìn qì bì huán, tòng bìng bì xià. qiū cì pí fū xún lǐ, shàng xià tóng fǎ, shén biàn ér zhǐ. dōng cì shù qiào yú fēn lǐ, shèn zhě zhí xià, jiàn zhě sǎn xià.
Therefore in spring needle the scattered transport points and the partings of the flesh, and stop when blood comes; where the illness is severe, let the qi be transmitted, where it is light, one circuit suffices. In summer needle the transport points of the network vessels, stop when blood is seen, close the circuit once the qi is spent, and the painful illness will surely descend. In autumn needle the skin, following the partings, the same method above and below, and stop when the spirit changes. In winter needle the orifices of the transport points at the partings: where severe, go straight down; where light, scatter the insertion downward.
本篇「春刺散俞，及與分理」「秋刺皮膚循理」「冬刺俞竅於分理」，四時之刺皆以分理為所。理，說文「治玉也」，引申為肌理；分謂分界。與第一篇以降之「腠理」同條。

Compounds built on this term

分
fēn
to divide; a division
說文：別也
理
lǐ
the grain, the order inside a thing
說文：治玉也
腠理
còu lǐ
the interstices of the skin
第一篇以降；與「分理」同條
俞
shù
transport point
本篇「冬刺俞竅於分理」
皮膚
pí fū
the skin
本篇「秋刺皮膚循理」

How it has been translated

Every rendering below is a decision about which reader is being addressed. There is no neutral option.

Common Englishthe interstices, or the partingsBoth circulate; interstices is the more technical of the two.
This sitethe partings of the flesh理 is the grain in jade that a lapidary follows — the character is 玉 with 里. The chapter's instruction is 循理, follow the grain, and that verb only makes sense if 理 is a grain. Interstices would make it a space you locate; partings keeps it a seam you follow, which is what the needle is being told to do.

Entry status

Review pending — who reviews this?

2026-09

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