Suwen · On the Skin Regions

The text

The Yellow Emperor asked: I have heard that the skin has divided regions, the vessels have warp and weft, the sinews have knots and networks, the bones have measures — and the illnesses they give birth to are each unlike. Distinguish their regions, left and right, above and below, yin and yang, and where the illness begins and ends. I wish to hear their Dao. Qi Bo answered: If you wish to know the skin regions, take the channel vessels as the warp. All the channels are thus. The yang of yangming is named Blocking-flight. Above and below share one method. Look in its region for floating collaterals: all are the collaterals of yangming. If the color is much green, there is pain; if much black, there is impediment; if yellow and red, there is heat; if much white, there is cold; if all five colors appear, there is cold and heat. When the collaterals are abundant, it enters as a guest into the channel. Yang governs the outer; yin governs the inner. The yang of shaoyang is named Pivot-hold. Above and below share one method. Look in its region for floating collaterals: all are the collaterals of shaoyang. When the collaterals are abundant, it enters as a guest into the channel. Thus what is in yang governs the inner; what is in yin governs going out, so as to seep inward. All the channels are thus. The yang of taiyang is named Gate-pivot. Above and below share one method. Look in its region for floating collaterals: all are the collaterals of taiyang. When the collaterals are abundant, it enters as a guest into the channel. The yin of shaoyin is named Pivot-soft. Above and below share one method. Look in its region for floating collaterals: all are the collaterals of shaoyin. When the collaterals are abundant, it enters as a guest into the channel. Its entering the channel: from the yang region it pours into the channel. What goes out: from yin within it pours into the bone. The yin of the heart-governor is named Blocking-shoulder. Above and below share one method. Look in its region for floating collaterals: all are the collaterals of the heart-governor. When the collaterals are abundant, it enters as a guest into the channel. The yin of taiyin is named Gate-hiding. Above and below share one method. Look in its region for floating collaterals: all are the collaterals of taiyin. When the collaterals are abundant, it enters as a guest into the channel. The twelve channel-collateral vessels in all are the regions of the skin. Thus the first arising of the hundred illnesses is always first at the skin and hair. When pathogen strikes them, the interstices open; when they open, it enters as a guest into the collateral vessels. If it stays and does not leave, it is passed into the channels. If it stays and does not leave, it is passed into the fu, and stores in the intestines and stomach. When pathogen first enters the skin and hair, the fine hairs rise of a sudden, and the interstices open. When it enters the collaterals, the collateral vessels become abundant and the color changes. When it enters as a guest into the channels, it meets vacancy and then sinks. When it stays between the sinews and bones: if cold is much, the sinews cramp and the bones ache; if heat is much, the sinews slacken and the bones waste, the flesh is scorched and splits as if cut, the hair stands and fails. The Emperor said: You have spoken of the twelve regions of the skin. How is it when they give birth to illness? Qi Bo said: The skin is the region of the vessels. When pathogen is a guest in the skin, the interstices open; when they open, pathogen enters as a guest into the collateral vessels; when the collateral vessels are full, they pour into the channel vessels; when the channel vessels are full, it enters and lodges in the fu and zang. Thus the skin has divided regions. If one does not meet them, a great illness is born. The Emperor said: Good.

The line

The Yellow Emperor asked: I have heard that the skin has divided regions, the vessels have warp and weft, the sinews have knots and networks, the bones have measures — and the illnesses they give birth to are each unlike. Distinguish their regions, left and right, above and below, yin and yang, and where the illness begins and ends. I wish to hear their Dao.

The note

The skin has divided regions; they join the channels. Pathogen enters from the skin and hair, and from the skin regions one can also see. The shallowest layer is already a map.