Lingshu · On the Seas

The text

The Yellow Emperor asked Qi Bo: I have heard the method of needling from you, Master. What you, Master, speak does not leave ying and wei, blood and qi. The twelve channel vessels belong within to the fu and zang, and network without at the limbs and joints. Do you, Master, then join them to the four seas? Qi Bo answered: A person also has four seas, and twelve channel-waters. The channel-waters all pour into the sea. The seas have east, south, west, and north — they are named the four seas. The Yellow Emperor said: How does the person answer to them? Qi Bo said: A person has a sea of marrow, a sea of blood, a sea of qi, and a sea of water and grain. These four in all answer to the four seas. The Yellow Emperor said: How far this is. You, Master, join the person to heaven and earth and the four seas. I wish to hear how they answer. Qi Bo answered: You must first clearly know yin and yang, outer and inner, and where the brooks and transports sit — then the four seas are settled. The Yellow Emperor said: How does one settle them? Qi Bo said: The stomach is the sea of water and grain; its transports are above at the qi-street, and below they reach three-li. The rushing vessel is the sea of the twelve channels; its transports are above at the great shuttle, and below they issue at the upper and lower edges of the great vacancy. The chest-center is the sea of qi; its transports are above at the upper and lower of the pillar bone, and in front at the person's welcome. The brain is the sea of marrow; its transports are above at its cover, and below at the wind-mansion. The Yellow Emperor said: Of all these four seas, what benefits, what harms, what gives life, what ruins? Qi Bo said: Those who obtain following live; those who obtain going against are ruined. Those who know how to regulate benefit; those who do not know how to regulate are harmed. The Yellow Emperor said: How is going against and going with in the four seas? Qi Bo said: When the sea of qi has a remainder, qi fills the chest, breath is oppressed, the face red. When the sea of qi is insufficient, qi is little, not enough to speak. When the sea of blood has a remainder, one always imagines the body large, swollen, not knowing what illness it is. When the sea of blood is insufficient, one also always imagines the body small, cramped, not knowing what illness it is. When the sea of water and grain has a remainder, the abdomen is full. When the sea of water and grain is insufficient, one is hungry and will not receive grain-food. When the sea of marrow has a remainder, one is light, vigorous, and of much strength, exceeding one's own measure. When the sea of marrow is insufficient, the brain turns, the ears ring, the shins ache, dizziness covers the eyes, the eyes have nothing they see, one slacks and lies at ease. The Yellow Emperor said: I have already heard going against and going with. How does one regulate them? Qi Bo said: Examine and guard their transports, and regulate their vacuity and repletion; do not offend against their harm. Those who follow obtain return. Those who go against will surely be ruined. The Yellow Emperor said: Good.

The line

Qi Bo answered: A person also has four seas, and twelve channel-waters. The channel-waters all pour into the sea. The seas have east, south, west, and north — they are named the four seas.

The note

A person has four seas: marrow, blood, qi, water and grain. A sea with remainder fills; a sea insufficient empties. First ask which sea is rising, which is falling.