灵枢·五变 Miraculous Pivot·Five Variations
黄帝问于少俞曰：“余闻百疾之始期也，必生于风雨寒暑，循毫毛而入腠理。The Yellow Emperor asked Shao Yu, saying, "I have heard that the initial onset of various diseases must be caused by wind, rain, cold, and heat. They enter the interstices of the skin and muscles through the hair on the body.
或复还，或留止，或为风肿汗出，或为消瘅，或为寒热，或为留痹，或为积聚。Some may recede, some may stay, some may cause swelling due to wind and sweating, some may lead to wasting-thirst (Xiaodan), some may result in chills and fever, some may cause lingering impediment, and some may lead to accumulations.
奇邪淫溢，不可胜数，愿闻其故。夫同时得病，或病此，或病彼，意者，天之为人生风乎，何其异也？”The strange pathogenic factors are excessive and countless. I would like to know the reasons. When people get sick at the same time, some get this disease, while others get that disease. Could it be that Heaven creates wind specifically for people? Why are there such differences?"
少俞曰：夫天之生风者，非以私百姓也，其行公平正直，犯者得之，避者得无殆，非求人而人自犯之。Shao Yu replied, "The wind created by Heaven is not to favor or harm the common people. Its operation is fair and just. Those who are exposed to it will get sick, while those who avoid it will be safe. It is not that the wind seeks people out, but people expose themselves to it."
黄帝曰：一时遇风，同时得病，其病各异，愿闻其故。The Yellow Emperor said, "When people are exposed to the wind at the same time and get sick simultaneously, yet their diseases are different. I would like to know the reasons."
少俞曰：“善乎哉问！请论以比匠人。匠人磨斧斤、砺刀，削斵材木。Shao Yu said, "What an excellent question! Let me explain it by comparing it to a carpenter. A carpenter sharpens his axes and knives to cut and shape wood.
木之阴阳，尚有坚脆，坚者不入，脆者皮弛，至其交节，而缺斤斧焉。Even in the yin and yang aspects of a piece of wood, there are differences in firmness and brittleness. The firm part cannot be easily penetrated, while the brittle part has loose bark. When it comes to the joints of the wood, the axes may get chipped.
夫一木之中，坚脆不同，坚者则刚，脆者易伤，况其材木之不同，皮之厚薄，汁之多少，而各异耶。In a single piece of wood, there are different degrees of firmness and brittleness. The firm part is strong, while the brittle part is easily damaged. Moreover, different types of wood have different thicknesses of bark, amounts of sap, and so on.
夫木之蚤（早的通假字）花先生叶者，遇春霜烈风，则花落而叶萎；For those trees that bloom and put out leaves early, when encountering severe spring frost and strong winds, the flowers will fall and the leaves will wither.
久曝大旱，则脆木薄皮者，枝条汁少而叶萎；During a long period of drought and intense sun exposure, for those brittle trees with thin bark, the branches will have less sap and the leaves will wither.
久阴淫雨，则薄皮多汁者，皮渍而漉；卒风暴起，则刚脆之木，枝折杌伤；During a long period of continuous rain, for those trees with thin bark and abundant sap, the bark will become soaked and seep water. When a sudden storm arises, for those brittle and firm trees, the branches will break and get damaged.
秋霜疾风，则刚脆之木，根摇而叶落。凡此五者，各有所伤，况于人乎！”When autumn frost and strong winds come, for those brittle and firm trees, the roots will shake and the leaves will fall. All these five situations cause different damages to the trees. How much more so for human beings!"
黄帝曰：以人应木，奈何？The Yellow Emperor asked, "How can we compare human beings to trees?"
少俞答曰：木之所伤也，皆伤其枝。枝之刚脆而坚，未成伤也。Shao Yu replied, "When trees are damaged, it is usually their branches that are affected. If the branches are firm and brittle but strong enough, they will not be damaged.
人之有常病也，亦因其骨节皮肤腠理之不坚固者，邪之所舍也，故常为病也。When people have chronic diseases, it is also because the joints, skin, and interstices of the skin and muscles are not firm enough, and pathogenic factors lodge there, so they often get sick."
黄帝曰：人之善病风厥漉汗者，何以候之？The Yellow Emperor asked, "How can we detect those who are prone to wind syncope and sweating?"
少俞答曰：肉不坚，腠理疏，则善病风。Shao Yu replied, "If the muscles are not firm and the interstices of the skin and muscles are loose, they are prone to be affected by wind."
黄帝曰：何以候肉之不坚也？The Yellow Emperor asked, "How can we detect that the muscles are not firm?"
少俞答曰：腘（别本作䐃）肉不坚，而无分理。Shao Yu replied, "If the muscles at the back of the knee (or according to some versions, the biceps brachii) are not firm and there is no clear texture.
理者麤理，麤理而皮不致者，腠理疏。此言其浑然者。The texture here refers to the coarse texture. If the coarse texture is not smooth on the surface, the interstices of the skin and muscles are loose. This is a general description."
黄帝曰：人之善病消瘅者，何以候之？The Yellow Emperor asked, "How can we detect those who are prone to wasting-thirst (Xiaodan)?"
少俞答曰：五脏皆柔弱者，善病消瘅。Shao Yu replied, "Those whose five zang-organs are all weak are prone to wasting-thirst (Xiaodan)."
黄帝曰：何以知五脏之柔弱也？The Yellow Emperor asked, "How can we know that the five zang-organs are weak?"
少俞答曰：夫柔弱者，必有刚强，刚强多怒，柔者易伤也。Shao Yu replied, "Those who are weak must have something strong. Those who are strong are often angry, and the weak are easily damaged."
黄帝曰：何以候柔弱之与刚强？The Yellow Emperor asked, "How can we detect the difference between the weak and the strong?"
少俞答曰：“此人薄皮肤，而目坚固以深者，长冲直肠（别本作扬），其心刚，刚则多怒。Shao Yu replied, "For those with thin skin and deep-set and firm eyes, with a long and straight rectum (or according to some versions, 'Yang'), their hearts are strong. Being strong means being often angry.
怒则气上逆，胸中蓄积，血气逆留，髋皮充肌，血脉不行，转而为热。When angry, the qi ascends in reverse, accumulates in the chest, the blood and qi flow in reverse and stay, the hips are filled with skin and muscles, the blood vessels do not function properly, which turns into heat.
热则消肌肤，故为消瘅。此言其人暴刚而肌肉弱者也。”The heat then consumes the muscles and skin, so it leads to wasting-thirst (Xiaodan). This is a description of those who are suddenly strong-tempered and have weak muscles."
黄帝曰：人之善病寒热者，何以候之？The Yellow Emperor asked, "How can we detect those who are prone to chills and fever?"
少俞答曰：小骨弱肉者，善病寒热。Shao Yu replied, "Those with small bones and weak muscles are prone to chills and fever."
黄帝曰：何以候骨之小大，肉之坚脆，色之不一也？The Yellow Emperor asked, "How can we detect the size of the bones, the firmness of the muscles, and the different colors?"
少俞答曰：“颧骨者，骨之本也。颧大则骨大，颧小则骨小。Shao Yu replied, "The zygomatic bone is the foundation of the bones. If the zygomatic bone is large, the bones are large;
皮肤薄而其肉无䐃，其臂懦懦然，其地色殆然，不与其天同色，污然独异，此其候也。If the zygomatic bone is small, the bones are small. If the skin is thin and there is no biceps brachii muscle, the arms are weak and limp, the color of the local area is dull, different from the normal color, and looks dirty and distinct. This is the sign.
然后臂薄者，其髓不满，故善病寒热也。”Moreover, if the arms are thin, the marrow is not full, so they are prone to chills and fever."
黄帝曰：何以候人之善病痹者？The Yellow Emperor asked, "How can we detect those who are prone to impediment?"
少俞答曰：麤理而肉不坚者，善病痹。Shao Yu replied, "Those with coarse texture and un-firm muscles are prone to impediment."
黄帝曰：痹之高下有处乎？The Yellow Emperor asked, "Are there specific locations for the height of the impediment?"
少俞答曰：欲知其高下者，各视其部。Shao Yu replied, "To know the height of the impediment, one should examine each part."
黄帝曰：人之善病肠中积聚者，何以候之？The Yellow Emperor asked, "How can we detect those who are prone to accumulations in the intestines?"
少俞答曰：“皮肤薄而不泽，肉不坚而淖泽，如此，则肠胃恶，恶则邪气留止，积聚乃伤（别本作：作）。Shao Yu replied, "If the skin is thin and not lustrous, the muscles are not firm and are moist and slippery. In such a case, the intestines and stomach are in a bad condition. When the intestines and stomach are in a bad condition, pathogenic factors will stay, and accumulations will occur.
脾胃之间，寒温不次，邪气稍至，蓄积留止，大聚乃起。”Between the spleen and the stomach, if the cold and heat are not in order, when pathogenic factors gradually arrive, they will accumulate and stay, and large accumulations will form."
黄帝曰：余闻病形，已知之矣！愿闻其时。The Yellow Emperor said, "I have heard about the manifestations of diseases and already understand them! I would like to know about the timing."
少俞答曰：“先立其年，以知其时，时高则起，时下则殆。Shao Yu replied, "First determine the year, so as to know the timing. When the timing is favorable, the disease will subside; when the timing is unfavorable, the disease will be dangerous.
虽不陷下，当年有冲道，其病必起，是谓因形而生病。五变之纪也。”Even if there is no sinking, if there is a rush path in the year, the disease will definitely occur. This is called getting sick due to the body's condition. This is the principle of the Five Variations."
