| | 生氣通天... : |
黃帝曰：夫自古通天者生之本，本於陰陽天地之間，六合之內，其氣九州九竅五藏十二節，皆通乎天氣。其生五，其氣三，數犯此者，則邪氣傷人，此壽命之本也。蒼天之氣清淨，則志意治，順之則陽氣固，雖有賊邪，弗能害也，此因時之序。故聖人傳精神，服天氣，而通神明。失之則內閉九竅，外壅肌肉，衛氣散解，此謂自傷，氣之削也。 |
| | The Yellow Emperor said: Since ancient times, the vital essence of life is connected to heaven. This connection originates from the interplay of yin and yang between heaven and earth, within the 六合 (the six directions or universe). The qi of the nine provinces, the nine orifices, the five zang organs, and the twelve joints all communicate with the atmospheric conditions of heaven. There are five manifestations of life and three types of qi. Those who repeatedly violate these principles will suffer from pathogenic influences that harm the body; this is the fundamental basis of longevity and lifespan. When the qi of heaven is pure and clean, one's will and intentions remain in order. Following this principle strengthens yang energy, making it impervious to harmful pathogenic influences; this is in accordance with the natural sequence of time. Therefore, a sage preserves his spirit and energy, harmonizes with the atmospheric conditions of heaven, and thus attains communion with divine wisdom. If one fails to maintain this harmony, the nine orifices will become internally blocked and the muscles externally obstructed; the defensive qi will disperse and dissipate. This is called self-inflicted harm, a depletion of vital energy.
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| | 生氣通天... : |
陽氣者若天與日，失其所，則折壽而不彰，故天運當以日光明。是故陽因而上，衛外者也。因於寒，欲如運樞，起居如驚，神氣乃浮。因於暑，汗煩則喘喝，靜則多言，體若燔炭，汗出而散。因於濕，首如裹，濕熱不攘，大筋緛短，小筋弛長，緛短為拘，弛長為痿。因於氣，為腫，四維相代，陽氣乃竭。 |
| | Yang qi is like the sky and the sun; if it loses its proper place, life will be shortened and vitality diminished. Therefore, the movement of heaven should manifest through the brightness of the sun. For this reason, yang rises upward by nature and serves to protect the exterior of the body. If one is affected by cold, it is as if a door hinge becomes stuck; movement and rest become disrupted, and the spirit and qi become unsettled. If one is affected by heat, perspiration increases, leading to panting and thirst; even when at rest, the person speaks excessively. The body feels as hot as burning charcoal, and sweat emerges profusely to dissipate the heat. If one is affected by dampness, the head feels as if wrapped in something heavy. If damp-heat remains unresolved, the large tendons become contracted and shortened, while the small tendons become relaxed and elongated; contraction and shortening lead to stiffness (拘), whereas relaxation and elongation result in atrophy or weakness (痿). If one is affected by qi stagnation, swelling occurs. When the four directions of movement alternate repeatedly, yang energy becomes exhausted.
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陽氣者，煩勞則張，精絕辟積，於夏使人煎厥。目盲不可以視，耳閉不可以聽，潰潰乎若壞都，汨汨乎不可止。陽氣者，大怒則形氣絕，而血菀於上，使人薄厥。有傷於筋縱，其若不容，汗出偏沮，使人偏枯。汗出見濕，乃生痤疿。高梁之變，足生大丁，受如持虛。勞汗當風，寒薄為皻，鬱乃痤。 |
| | Yang qi, when overexerted or burdened by excessive toil, becomes overly active; this leads to the depletion of essence and stagnation. In summer, it can cause a condition known as "Jianjue," characterized by heat-induced collapse. The eyes become blind and unable to see, the ears closed and unable to hear; it is as if a ruined capital lies in ruins, with confusion and disorder that cannot be stopped. Yang qi, when one experiences intense anger, causes the form and qi to become severed; blood stagnates in the upper part of the body, leading to a condition known as "Baojue," or sudden fainting due to upward rushing qi. If there is injury to the tendons, they become relaxed and lax; the body feels as if it cannot bear itself, with perspiration occurring unevenly on one side of the body, which can lead to hemiplegia or partial paralysis. When sweat is exposed to dampness, boils and skin eruptions arise. Excessive consumption of rich or greasy foods can lead to the formation of large abscesses on the feet; such conditions develop as if into a hollow vessel, easily invaded by pathogens. Exertion followed by perspiration and exposure to wind causes cold to invade the skin, resulting in rashes; if this stagnates, it leads to boils.
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陽氣者，精則養神，柔則養筋。開闔不得，寒氣從之，乃生大僂。陷脈為瘻，留連肉腠。俞氣化薄，傳為善畏，及為驚駭。營氣不從，逆於肉理，乃生癰腫。魄汗未盡，形弱而氣爍，穴俞以閉，發為風瘧。故風者，百病之始也，清靜則肉腠閉拒，雖有大風苛毒，弗之能害，此因時之序也。故病久則傳化，上下不并，良醫弗為。故陽畜積病死，而陽氣當隔，隔者當寫，不亟正治，粗乃敗之。 |
| | Yang qi, when refined, nourishes the spirit; when gentle and harmonious, it nourishes the tendons. If the body's openings and closings (such as pores or channels) do not function properly, cold qi will invade, leading to severe hunchback or curvature of the spine. When blood vessels become depressed and stagnant, it results in sores that linger within the flesh and skin layers. lø If the qi at the 俞 (shu) points becomes weakened or impaired, it may develop into a condition of constant fearfulness, and eventually lead to sudden frights or panic. If the nutritive qi does not flow properly but instead becomes obstructed within the muscle tissues, it gives rise to abscesses and swellings. If perspiration has not fully dissipated, the body becomes weak and the qi is scorched; the acupoints become closed off, leading to the onset of wind-induced malaria. Therefore, wind is the beginning of all diseases. When one maintains inner tranquility and stillness, the muscle tissues remain closed and resistant; even if exposed to strong winds or harmful toxins, they cannot cause harm. This is in accordance with the sequence of natural time. Therefore, when a disease persists for a long time, it spreads and transforms; if the conditions above and below do not harmonize, even an excellent physician cannot treat it effectively. Therefore, if yang accumulates excessively and becomes stagnant, the condition can lead to death; when yang qi is obstructed, it should be purged. If treatment is not promptly administered with proper methods, a careless or unskilled physician will worsen the condition.
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故陽氣者，一日而主外，平旦人氣生，日中而陽氣隆，日西而陽氣已虛，氣門乃閉。是故暮而收拒，無擾筋骨，無見霧露，反此三時，形乃困薄。 |
| | Therefore, yang qi governs the exterior of the body throughout the day. At dawn, human qi begins to rise; at noon, yang reaches its peak; by dusk, yang becomes weakened and the pores close. Therefore, in the evening one should conserve and protect the body, avoiding disturbance to the tendons and bones, and not exposing oneself to mist or dew. To act contrary to these three times of day will lead to physical exhaustion and weakness.
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歧伯曰：陰者，藏精而起亟也，陽者，衛外而為固也。陰不勝其陽，則脈流薄疾，并乃狂。陽不勝其陰，則五藏氣爭，九竅不通。是以聖人陳陰陽，筋脈和同，骨髓堅固，氣血皆從。如是，則內外調和，邪不能害，耳目聰明，氣立如故。 |
| | Qibo said: Yin stores essence and supports the body's internal functions; yang protects the exterior and provides stability. When yin cannot withstand excessive yang, the blood vessels become agitated and the flow becomes rapid and shallow, leading to mania or madness. When yang cannot overcome yin, the five zang organs' qi contend with one another, resulting in blockage of the nine orifices. Therefore, a sage regulates yin and yang so that tendons and vessels harmonize, bones and marrow become strong, and qi and blood flow in accordance. In this way, the interior and exterior of the body remain harmonized; pathogenic influences cannot cause harm, the ears and eyes become sharp and clear, and vital energy remains stable as before.
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風客淫氣，精乃亡，邪傷肝也。因而飽食，筋脈橫解，腸澼為痔。因而大飲，則氣逆。因而強力，腎氣乃傷，高骨乃壞。凡陰陽之要，陽密乃固，兩者不和，若春無秋，若冬無夏，因而和之，是謂聖度。故陽強不能密，陰氣乃絕，陰平陽秘，精神乃治，陰陽離決，精氣乃絕，因於露風，乃生寒熱。 |
| | When wind invades and disturbs the qi excessively, essence is lost; this is a pathogenic injury to the liver. If one then consumes excessive food, the tendons and vessels become relaxed and loose, leading to intestinal disorders and hemorrhoids. If one indulges in excessive drinking, it causes reversal of qi flow. If one overexerts physically, the kidney qi is injured, and the vertebrae or spinal column may be damaged. The essential principle of yin and yang is that when yang is properly sealed, the body remains stable. If yin and yang are disharmonious, it is like having spring without autumn or winter without summer; only by harmonizing them can one attain the wisdom of a sage. Therefore, if yang is excessive and cannot be properly sealed, yin will be depleted. When yin remains balanced and yang is well contained, the spirit and qi remain in harmony; when yin and yang separate completely, essence and qi are cut off. Exposure to wind or cold may then give rise to alternating chills and fever.
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| | 生氣通天... : |
是以春傷於風，邪氣留連，乃為洞泄。夏傷於暑，秋為痎瘧。秋傷於濕，上逆而欬，發為痿厥。冬傷於寒，春必溫病。四時之氣，更傷五藏。 |
| | Therefore, if one is harmed by wind in spring, pathogenic qi lingers within the body, eventually leading to diarrhea with loose stools or even dysentery. Injury from heat in summer may manifest as malaria-like symptoms in autumn. Injury from dampness in autumn causes upward reversal of qi and coughing, which can develop into atrophy or cold extremities (wēijué). Injury from cold in winter will inevitably lead to a warm disease in spring. The qi of the four seasons alternately harms the five zang organs.
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陰之所生，本在五味，陰之五宮，傷在五味。是故味過於酸，肝氣以津，脾氣乃絕。味過於鹹，大骨氣勞，短肌，心氣抑。味過於甘，心氣喘滿，色黑腎氣不衡。味過於苦，脾氣不濡，胃氣乃厚。味過於辛，筋脈沮弛，精神乃央，是故謹和五味，骨正筋柔，氣血以流，湊理以密，如是，則骨氣以精，謹道如法，長有天命。 |
| | Yin is generated from the Five Flavors; however, the Five Palaces of Yin (the internal organs) are harmed by excessive consumption of these same flavors. Therefore, if sour flavor is consumed in excess, the liver qi becomes excessive, and the spleen qi may be cut off or impaired. Therefore, excessive salty flavor causes exhaustion of the great bones' qi, shortens the muscles, and suppresses heart qi. Excessive sweet flavor causes the heart's qi to become labored and full, darkens the complexion, and disrupts the balance of kidney qi. Excessive bitter flavor dries out the spleen's qi, making the stomach's qi thickened or congested. Excessive pungent flavor causes the tendons and vessels to become dry and lax, and impairs mental clarity. Therefore, one must carefully balance the Five Flavors so that bones remain straight, tendons supple, qi and blood flow smoothly, and the skin pores remain tightly sealed. In this way, bone and qi will be refined; by strictly following these principles with care, one may enjoy a long life in harmony with heaven's will.
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