Lingshu · The Five Disorders

The text

The Yellow Emperor said: The twelve channel vessels are told apart as the five phases, divided as the four seasons. What is lost, that there is disorder? What is obtained, that there is order? Qi Bo said: The five phases have their sequence; the four seasons have their divisions. Follow one another, and there is order; go against one another, and there is disorder. The Yellow Emperor said: What is called following one another? Qi Bo said: The twelve channel vessels answer to the twelve months; the twelve months are divided as the four seasons; the four seasons are spring, summer, winter, autumn; their qi each differ. Ying and wei follow one another; yin and yang are already even; clear and turbid do not interfere. Like this, one follows them, and there is order. The Yellow Emperor said: What is called going against, and disorder? Qi Bo said: Clear qi in yin, turbid qi in yang; ying-qi following the vessels, wei-qi traveling against; clear and turbid interfering with each other, disordered in the chest — this is called great oppression. Thus when qi is disordered in the heart, the heart is vexed, silent and closed, the head bowed, lying still. Disordered in the lung: bowing and looking up, panting hoarse, taking the hands to help the breath. Disordered in the intestines and stomach: sudden turmoil. Disordered in the arms and shins: reversal of the four. Disordered in the head: reversal rising, the head heavy, dizziness and falling. The Yellow Emperor said: For the five disorders, is there a Dao of needling? Qi Bo said: There is a Dao by which it comes, a Dao by which it goes. To examine and know that Dao — this is called the body's treasure. The Yellow Emperor said: Good. I wish to hear that Dao. Qi Bo said: When qi is in the heart, take the transports of hand shaoyin and the heart-governor. When qi is in the lung, take the brook of hand taiyin and the transport of foot shaoyin. When qi is in the intestines and stomach, take foot taiyin and yangming; if it does not descend, take three-li. When qi is in the head, take heavenly-pillar and the great shuttle; if one does not know, take the brook and transport of foot taiyang. When qi is in the arms and feet, first take away the blood vessels, then take the brooks and transports of yangming and shaoyang. The Yellow Emperor said: How is filling and draining? Qi Bo said: Enter slowly, leave slowly — this is called guiding qi. Fill and drain without form — this is called joining jing. This is not remainder and insufficiency. It is disordered qi meeting and crossing. The Yellow Emperor said: How true this Dao, how clear this discourse. Please write it on the jade tablets; name it Ordering Disorder.

The line

Qi Bo said: The five phases have their sequence; the four seasons have their divisions. Follow one another, and there is order; go against one another, and there is disorder.

The note

Follow one another, and there is order; go against one another, and there is disorder. The five disorders are qi not sitting in the seats of the five phases. Disorder is first a seat gone wrong.