Suwen · Records of Needling

The text

The Yellow Emperor asked: I wish to hear the essentials of vacuity and repletion. Qi Bo answered: When qi is replete the form is replete; when qi is vacuous the form is vacuous. This is the ordinary. The reverse of this is illness. When grain is full, qi is full; when grain is vacuous, qi is vacuous. This is the ordinary. The reverse of this is illness. When the pulse is replete, blood is replete; when the pulse is vacuous, blood is vacuous. This is the ordinary. The reverse of this is illness. The Emperor said: How is it the reverse? Qi Bo said: Qi vacuous and the body hot — this is called the reverse. Much grain entering and little qi — this is called the reverse. No grain entering and much qi — this is called the reverse. The pulse full and blood little — this is called the reverse. The pulse little and blood much — this is called the reverse. Qi full and the body cold: gotten from being wounded by cold. Qi vacuous and the body hot: gotten from being wounded by summer heat. Much grain entering and little qi: gotten from a loss of blood, or damp dwelling below. Little grain entering and much qi: what is irregular is in the stomach and also with the lung. The pulse small and blood much: drink, and heat in the center. The pulse large and blood little: there is wind-qi in the vessels; water and broth do not enter. This is what is meant. Repletion is qi entering. Vacuity is qi leaving. When qi is replete, there is heat. When qi is vacuous, there is cold. Entering the replete: the left hand opens the needle hole. Entering the vacuous: the left hand closes the needle hole.

The line

Qi Bo answered: When qi is replete the form is replete; when qi is vacuous the form is vacuous. This is the ordinary. The reverse of this is illness.

The note

Qi and form usually travel together. The reverse of this is illness. Record here means writing vacuity and repletion on the body, not on a formula in the mouth.