Lingshu · What the Teacher Transmitted

The text

The Yellow Emperor said: I have heard that the former teachers had something stored in the heart, not written on the squares. I wish to hear it and store it, take it as a rule and walk it — above, to put the people in order; below, to put the body in order — so the hundred surnames have no illness, above and below are at peace and close, virtue and moisture flow downward, sons and grandsons have no worry, and it is passed to later ages with no time of ending. May I hear it? Qi Bo said: How far a question this is. To put the people in order and to put oneself in order, to put that in order and to put this in order, to put the small in order and to put the large in order, to put a state in order and to put a household in order — there has never been one who went against and could put them in order. There is only following, that is all. Following is not only the yin and yang vessels, the discourse of qi going against and going with. The hundred surnames, the people — all wish their will to be followed. The Yellow Emperor said: How does one follow? Qi Bo said: Entering a state, ask the customs. Entering a household, ask the taboos. Ascending the hall, ask the rites. Coming before one who is ill, ask what eases them. The Yellow Emperor said: How does one ease one who is ill? Qi Bo said: Heat in the center and wasting-thirst are eased by cold. What belongs to cold in the center is eased by heat. Heat in the stomach melts grain, makes the heart hang and one readily hungry; the skin above the navel is hot. Heat in the intestines: what comes out is yellow like gruel; the skin below the navel is cold. Cold in the stomach: the abdomen distends. Cold in the intestines: the intestines sound, and there is dawn diarrhea of untransformed food. Cold in the stomach and heat in the intestines: distention and also discharge. Heat in the stomach and cold in the intestines: swift hunger, pain and distention in the lower abdomen. The Yellow Emperor said: The stomach desires cold drink, the intestines desire hot drink — the two go against each other. How does one ease them? And the kings, dukes, and great men, lords who eat blood, proud and willful, following desire, making light of others, and none can forbid them — forbid them and you go against their will; follow them and you add to their illness. How does one ease them? In treatment, what comes first? Qi Bo said: In the feeling of people, there is none who does not hate death and delight in life. Tell them of what ruins them; speak to them of what is good for them; guide them by what eases them; open them by what they suffer. Even among those without the Dao, how would there be one who would not listen? The Yellow Emperor said: How does one treat? Qi Bo said: In spring and summer, first treat the branch, then treat the root. In autumn and winter, first treat the root, then treat the branch. The Yellow Emperor said: When what eases them goes against — how is it? Qi Bo said: To ease these, food and drink and clothes also wish to fit cold and warmth. In cold, no bitter chill; in heat, no going out in sweat. In food and drink: heat, not scorching; cold, not icy. Cold and warmth fitting in the center — thus qi will hold, and will not bring the irregular pathogen. The Yellow Emperor said: The Root Zang watch the small and large of the five zang and six fu by the body's form, the limbs and joints, and the gathered flesh. Now the kings, dukes, and great men, lords who face the court and take the seat — if one asks of them, who may press and follow, and then answer? Qi Bo said: The body's form and the limbs and joints are the covers of the zang and fu; they are not the inspection of the face. The Yellow Emperor said: That the qi of the five zang is inspected on the face, I already know. To know by the limbs and joints and inspect them — how is it? Qi Bo said: Of the five zang and six fu, the lung is the cover. Great shoulders sunken, the throat is seen without. The Yellow Emperor said: Good. Qi Bo said: Of the five zang and six fu, the heart is the master. The empty basin is its road. Surplus at the gleaming bone is how one watches the neck and the chest-opening. The Yellow Emperor said: Good. Qi Bo said: The liver governs as general; it is sent to watch without. If you wish to know its firmness, look at the small and large of the eyes. The Yellow Emperor said: Good. Qi Bo said: The spleen governs as guard; it is sent to meet the grain. Look at whether the lips and tongue are well or ill, and so know the auspicious and the not. The Yellow Emperor said: Good. Qi Bo said: The kidney governs the outer; it is sent to hear far. Look at whether the ears are well or ill, and so know its nature. The Yellow Emperor said: Good. I wish to hear the watching of the six fu. Qi Bo said: Of the six fu, the stomach is the sea. A broad frame, a large neck, an opened chest — then the five grains have room. A long nose-tunnel is how one watches the large intestine. Thick lips, a long philtrum, is how one watches the small intestine. The fruit below the eyes large: the gallbladder then lies across. Nostrils turned outward: the bladder leaks. The bridge of the nose risen in the center: the sanjiao then binds. This is how one watches the six fu. Above and below in three equal parts — the zang are at rest and well.

The line

The Yellow Emperor said: I have heard that the former teachers had something stored in the heart, not written on the squares. I wish to hear it and store it, take it as a rule and walk it — above, to put the people in order; below, to put the body in order — so the hundred surnames have no illness, above and below are at peace and close, virtue and moisture flow downward, sons and grandsons have no worry, and it is passed to later ages with no time of ending. May I hear it?

The note

The former teachers had something stored in the heart, not written on the squares. What the teacher transmitted sets putting the people in order and putting the body in order on one principle: follow what they love and hate — do not hold them down.