灵枢·五味 Miraculous Pivot·Five Flavors
黄帝曰：愿闻谷气有五味，其入五脏，分别奈何？The Yellow Emperor said, "I'd like to know that the qi of grains has five flavors. How do they enter the five zang-organs respectively?"
伯高曰：“胃者，五脏六腑之海也，水谷皆入于胃，五脏六腑，皆禀气于胃。Bo Gao said, "The stomach is the sea of the five zang-organs and the six fu-organs. All water and grains enter the stomach, and the five zang-organs and the six fu-organs all receive qi from the stomach.
五味各走其所喜，谷味酸，先走肝；谷味苦，先走心；Each of the five flavors goes to the organ it prefers. The sour flavor of grains first enters the liver; the bitter flavor of grains first enters the heart;
谷味甘，先走脾；谷味辛，先走肺；谷味咸，先走肾。the sweet flavor of grains first enters the spleen; the pungent flavor of grains first enters the lungs; the salty flavor of grains first enters the kidneys.
谷气津液已行，营卫大通，乃化糟粕，以次传下。”When the qi of grains and body fluids are in circulation and the nutrient qi (ying qi) and defensive qi (wei qi) are flowing freely, the waste products are then transformed and transmitted downward in sequence."
黄帝曰：营卫之行奈何？The Yellow Emperor asked, "How do the nutrient qi and defensive qi circulate?"
伯高曰：“谷始入于胃，其精微者，先出于胃之两焦，以溉五脏，别出两行，营卫之道；Bo Gao said, "When grains first enter the stomach, their refined essence first emerges from the upper and lower jiao of the stomach to nourish the five zang-organs. Two separate paths are formed, which are the ways of the nutrient qi and defensive qi.
其大气之搏（别本作抟）而不行者，积于胸中，命曰气海，出于肺，循咽喉，故呼则出，吸则入。The part of the great qi that accumulates without flowing is stored in the chest and is called the Sea of Qi. It emerges from the lungs, follows the throat, so it is exhaled when breathing out and inhaled when breathing in.
天地之精气，其大数常出三入一，故谷不入，半日则气衰，一日则气少矣。”The essence qi of heaven and earth generally has a ratio of exhaling three parts and inhaling one part. Therefore, if no grains are taken in, the qi will decline in half a day and become scarce in one day."
黄帝曰：谷之五味，可得闻乎？The Yellow Emperor asked, "May I hear about the five flavors of grains?"
伯高曰：“请尽言之。Bo Gao said, "Let me explain them in detail.
五谷：糠（别本作秔，秔同粳，下同）米甘，麻酸，大豆咸，麦苦，黄黍辛。Among the five grains: japonica rice is sweet, sesame is sour, soybeans are salty, wheat is bitter, and yellow millet is pungent.
五果：枣甘，李酸，栗咸，杏苦，桃辛。Among the five fruits: dates are sweet, plums are sour, chestnuts are salty, apricots are bitter, and peaches are pungent.
五畜：牛甘，犬酸，猪咸，羊苦，鸡辛。Among the five domestic animals: beef is sweet, dog meat is sour, pork is salty, lamb is bitter, and chicken is pungent.
五菜：葵甘，韭酸，藿咸，薤苦，葱辛。Among the five vegetables: sunflower is sweet, leeks are sour, mung bean sprouts are salty, Chinese chives are bitter, and scallions are pungent.
五色：黄色宜甘，青色宜酸，黑色宜咸，赤色宜苦，白色宜辛。Among the five colors: yellow is suitable for sweet flavor, green is suitable for sour flavor, black is suitable for salty flavor, red is suitable for bitter flavor, and white is suitable for pungent flavor.
凡此五者，各有所宜。All of these five aspects have their respective suitability.
五宜：所言五色者，脾病者，宜食糠（被本作秔）米饭、牛肉、枣、葵；Five Suitabilities: Regarding the aforementioned five colors, for those with spleen diseases, it is advisable to eat japonica rice, beef, dates, and sunflower;
心病者，宜食麦、羊肉、杏、薤；肾病者，宜食大豆黄卷、猪肉、栗、藿；for those with heart diseases, it is advisable to eat wheat, lamb, apricots, and Chinese chives; for those with kidney diseases, it is advisable to eat soybean sprouts, pork, chestnuts, and mung bean sprouts;
肝病者，宜食麻、犬肉、李、韭；肺病者，宜食黄黍、鸡肉、桃、葱。五禁：for those with liver diseases, it is advisable to eat sesame, dog meat, plums, and leeks; for those with lung diseases, it is advisable to eat yellow millet, chicken, peaches, and scallions. Five Prohibitions:
肝病禁辛，心病禁咸，脾病禁酸，肾病禁甘，肺病禁苦。For those with liver diseases, pungent flavor is prohibited; for those with heart diseases, salty flavor is prohibited; for those with spleen diseases, sour flavor is prohibited; for those with kidney diseases, sweet flavor is prohibited; for those with lung diseases, bitter flavor is prohibited.
肝色青，宜食甘，糠（别本作秔）米饭、牛肉、枣、葵皆甘。The liver is of green color and is suitable for sweet flavor. Japonica rice, beef, dates, and sunflower are all sweet.
心色赤，宜食酸，犬肉、麻、李、韭皆酸。The heart is of red color and is suitable for sour flavor. Dog meat, sesame, plums, and leeks are all sour.
脾黄色，宜食咸，大豆、猪肉、栗、藿皆咸。The spleen is of yellow color and is suitable for salty flavor. Soybeans, pork, chestnuts, and mung bean sprouts are all salty.
肺白色，宜食苦，麦、羊肉、杏、薤皆苦。The lung is of white color and is suitable for bitter flavor. Wheat, lamb, apricots, and Chinese chives are all bitter.
肾色黑，宜食辛，黄黍、鸡肉、桃、葱皆辛。”The kidney is of black color and is suitable for pungent flavor. Yellow millet, chicken, peaches, and scallions are all pungent."
