灵枢·动输
On the Pulsation and Transportation of Qi in the Meridians
黄帝曰：经脉十二，而手太阴、足少阴、阳明独动不休，何也？The Yellow Emperor asked: "There are twelve regular meridians. However, the Hand-Taiyin, Foot-Shaoyin, and Yangming meridians are in constant motion without rest, why is that?
岐伯曰：“是明胃脉也。胃为五脏六腑之海，其清气上注于肺，肺气从太阴而行之，Qi Bo replied: "What you mentioned are related to the stomach meridians. The stomach is like the sea for the five zang-organs and six fu-organs. Its clear qi ascends and infuses into the lungs. The lung qi moves along the Taiyin meridian.
其行也以息往来，故人一呼脉再动，一吸脉亦再动，呼吸不已，故动而不止。”Its movement corresponds to the inhalation and exhalation. Therefore, when a person exhales, the pulse pulsates twice, and when a person inhales, the pulse also pulsates twice. Since inhalation and exhalation continue without cessation, the pulse keeps pulsating continuously."
黄帝曰：气之过于寸口也，上十焉息，下八焉伏，何道从还？不知其极。The Yellow Emperor asked again: "When the qi passes through the Cunkou (the radial artery at the wrist), it rises for ten fen (a unit of measurement in traditional Chinese medicine) during inhalation and descends for eight fen during exhalation. Through which pathway does it return? I don't know its limits."
岐伯曰：气之离脏也，卒然如弓弩之发，如水之下岸，上于鱼以反衰，其余气衰散以逆上，故其行微。Qi Bo replied: "When the qi leaves the zang-organs, it suddenly shoots out like an arrow from a bow or water flowing down a bank. It ascends to the Yuji point (a point on the hand) and then gradually weakens. The remaining qi weakens and disperses as it ascends in a reverse direction, so its movement is slight."
黄帝曰：足之阳明，何因而动？The Yellow Emperor asked: "What causes the pulsation of the Foot-Yangming meridian?"
岐伯曰：“胃气上注于肺，其悍气上冲头者，循咽，上走空窍，循眼系，入络脑。Qi Bo replied: "The stomach qi ascends and infuses into the lungs, and its fierce qi that rushes upward to the head follows the pharynx, ascends to the orifices, follows the eye system, enters the brain and forms a network.
出顑，下客主人，循牙车，合阳明，并下人迎，此胃气别走于阳明者也。exits from the Kan (a point on the face), descends to the Xiaguan (a point on the face), follows the mandible, combines with the Yangming meridian, and then descends to the Renying (a point on the neck). This is the way the stomach qi branches off to the Yangming meridian.
故阴阳上下，其动也若一。故阳病而阳脉小者，为逆；阴病而阴脉大者，为逆。Therefore, whether it is the yin or yang aspect, whether above or below, their pulsations are almost the same. So, if a yang disorder occurs and the yang pulse is small, it is an adverse condition; if a yin disorder occurs and the yin pulse is large, it is also an adverse condition.
故阴阳俱静俱动，若引绳相倾者病。”Therefore, if both the yin and yang are either completely still or pulsating abnormally as if being pulled by a rope and tilting, it indicates a disease."
黄帝曰：足少阴何因而动？The Yellow Emperor asked: "What causes the pulsation of the Foot-Shaoyin meridian?"
岐伯曰：“冲脉者，十二经之海也，与少阴之大络，起于肾下，出于气街。Qi Bo replied: "The Chongmai (the Penetrating Vessel) is the sea of the twelve regular meridians. It starts from below the kidney together with the large collateral of the Shaoyin meridian, emerges from the Qijie (a point on the abdomen).
循阴股内廉，邪入腘中，循胫骨内廉，并少阴之经，下入内踝之后，入足下；follows the inner side of the thigh, obliquely enters the popliteal fossa, follows the inner side of the tibia, combines with the Shaoyin meridian, descends behind the medial malleolus, and enters the sole of the foot.
其别者，邪入踝，出属跗上，入大趾之间，注诸络，以温足胫，此脉之常动者也。”Its branch enters the ankle obliquely, exits and belongs to the dorsum of the foot, enters between the big toe, infuses into various collaterals to warm the lower leg and foot. This is the meridian that usually pulsates."
帝曰：“营卫之行也，上下相贯，如环之无端。The Yellow Emperor asked: "The movement of yingqi (nutritive qi) and weiqi (defensive qi) is continuous, like a ring without an end.
今有其卒然遇邪风，及逢大寒，手足懈惰，其脉阴阳之道，相输之会，行相失也，气何由还？”Now, if suddenly encountering pathogenic wind or extreme cold, the hands and feet become slack and lazy, and the pathways of the yin and yang meridians, the places where they communicate and transport each other, lose their normal connection. How does the qi return to its normal state?"
岐伯曰：“夫四末阴阳之会者，此气之大络也。Qi Bo replied: "The places where the four extremities meet the yin and yang are the large collaterals of this qi.
四街者，气之径路也。故络绝则径通，四末解则气从合，相输如环。”The four streets are the direct pathways of the qi. Therefore, if the collaterals are blocked, the direct pathways will be open. When the four extremities are relaxed, the qi will combine again and transport each other like a ring."
黄帝曰：善。此所谓如环无端，莫知其纪，终而复始，此之谓也。TThe Yellow Emperor said: "Good. This is what is meant by being like a ring without an end, with no one knowing its order, starting over again after ending. That's exactly what it means."
