灵枢·决气 Miraculous Pivot · Discrimination of Qi
黄帝曰：余闻人有精、气、津、液、血、脉，余意以为一气耳，今乃辨为六名，余不知其所以然。The Yellow Emperor said: I have heard that people have essence, qi, body fluids, liquid, blood, and vessels. I originally thought they were just one kind of qi, but now they are differentiated into six names. I don't understand why this is so.
黄帝说：我听说人体有精、气、津、液、血、脉的说法，我认为这些不过是一种气罢了，现在却把它分为六种，我不懂这是怎么回事。
岐伯曰：两神相搏，合而成形，常先身生，是谓精。Qi Bo said: When the two primordial spirits interact and combine to form a physical body, and it usually exists before the body is formed, this is called essence.
岐伯说：男女交合之后，可以产生新的生命体，在形体出现以前，构成人体的基本物质，就叫做精。
何谓气？What is meant by qi?
（黄帝问：）什么是气？
岐伯曰：上焦开发，宣五谷味，熏肤、充身、泽毛，若雾露之溉，是谓气。Qi Bo said: The upper energizer disperses and spreads the flavors of the five grains, nourishes the skin, fills the body, and moistens the hair, just like the irrigation of mist and dew. This is called qi.
岐伯说：上焦把饮食精微物质宣发布散到全身，可以温煦皮肤、充实形体、滋润毛发，就像雾露灌溉各种生物一样，这就叫做气。
何谓津？What is meant by body fluids?
（黄帝问：）什么是津？
岐伯曰：腠理发泄，汗出溱溱，是谓津。Qi Bo said: When the striae of the skin are open and sweating profusely, this is called body fluids.
岐伯说：肌腠疏泄太过，汗出过多，这样的汗就叫做津。
何谓液？What is meant by liquid?
（黄帝问：）什么是液？
岐伯曰：谷入气满，淖泽，注于骨，骨属屈伸，泄泽补益脑髓，皮肤润泽，是谓液。Qi Bo said: When the grains are digested and the qi is full, it becomes a turbid and moist substance, which is poured into the bones. When the joints of the bones bend and stretch, it discharges the moisture to supplement the brain marrow and moisten the skin. This is called liquid.
岐伯说：饮食入胃，水谷精微充满于周身，外溢部分输注于骨髓中，使筋骨关节可以曲伸灵活，渗出的部分可以补益脑髓，散布到皮肤，保持皮肤润泽的物质，就叫做液。
何谓血？What is meant by blood?
（黄帝问：）什么是血？
岐伯曰：中焦受气取汁，变化而赤，是谓血。Qi Bo said: The middle energizer receives qi and extracts the essence, which then transforms into a red substance. This is called blood.
岐伯说：位于中焦的脾胃接纳饮食物，吸收其中的精微物质，经过气化变成红色的液体，这就叫做血。
何谓脉？What is meant by vessels?
（黄帝问：）什么是脉？
岐伯曰：壅遏营气，令无所避，是谓脉。Qi Bo said: To contain and restrain the nutrient qi so that it has no way to escape. This is called vessels.
岐伯说：向隧道一样约束着营血的运行，不使它泛滥妄行，就叫做脉。
黄帝曰：六气者，有余不足，气之多少，脑髓之虚实，血脉之清浊，何以知之？The Yellow Emperor said: For these six kinds of qi, how can one know if there is excess or deficiency, the amount of qi, the deficiency or excess of the brain marrow, and the clarity or turbidity of the blood vessels?
黄帝问：上述精、气、津、液、血、脉六气的有余和不足各有什么表现？如何才能了解气的多少、脑髓的虚实、血脉的清浊呢？
岐伯曰：“精脱者，耳聋。气脱者，目不明。津脱者，腠理开，汗大泄。Qi Bo said: "In those who have essence depletion, there is deafness. In those who have qi depletion, there is blurred vision. In those who have body fluid depletion, the striae of the skin are open and sweating is excessive.
岐伯说：精的大量耗损，会使人耳聋；气虚的，可使人的眼睛看不清东西；津虚的，腠理开泄，使人大量汗出；
液脱者，骨属屈伸不利，色夭，脑髓消，胫酸，耳数鸣。In those who have liquid depletion, the joints of the bones have difficulty in bending and stretching, the complexion is sallow, the brain marrow is depleted, the shins are sore, and the ears ring frequently.
液虚的，四肢关节屈伸不利，面色枯槁没有光泽，脑髓不充满，小腿酸软，经常耳鸣；
血脱者，色白，夭然不泽。（脉脱者，）其脉空虚。此其候也。”In those who have blood depletion, the complexion is pale and dull. (In those who have vessel depletion,) the vessels are empty. These are the manifestations."
血虚的，面色苍白而不润泽；脉虚的，脉管空虚下陷。从这些就可以了解六气异常的表现。
黄帝曰：六气者，贵贱何如？The Yellow Emperor said: Among these six kinds of qi, which are more important and which are less important?
黄帝问：六气对人体作用的重要性有何不同呢？
岐伯曰：六气者，各有部主也，其贵贱善恶，可为常主，然五谷与胃为大海也。Qi Bo said: Each of these six kinds of qi has its own governing part. Their importance, goodness, and badness can be regarded as the regular governing factors. However, the five grains and the stomach are like a vast sea.
岐伯说：六气，分别由各自的脏器主管，它们在人体中的重要性及功能的正常与否，可以了解这些脏器的工作状态。但是，六气都是五谷精微所化生的，而这些精微物质又化生于胃，因此胃是六气化生的源泉。
