灵枢·天年 Miraculous Pivot·The Natural Span of Life
黄帝问于岐伯曰：愿闻人之始生，何气筑为基？何立而为楯？何失而死？何得而生？The Yellow Emperor asked Qi Bo, "I'd like to know that when a person is first born, what kind of qi builds the foundation? What establishes itself as a shield? What is lost that leads to death? And what is gained that enables one to live?"
岐伯曰：以母为基，以父为楯；失神者死，得神者生也。Qi Bo replied, "The mother's essence serves as the foundation, and the father's essence serves as the shield. Those who lose their spirit will die, while those who possess it will live."
黄帝曰：何者为神？The Yellow Emperor asked, "What is meant by spirit?"
岐伯曰：血气已和，荣卫已通，五脏已成，神气舍心，魂魄毕具，乃成为人。Qi Bo said, "When the blood and qi are in harmony, the nutrient qi (ying qi) and defensive qi (wei qi) are flowing smoothly, the five zang-organs are fully developed, the spirit resides in the heart, and the hun (ethereal soul) and po (corporeal soul) are all present, then a person is formed."
黄帝曰：人之寿夭各不同，或夭寿，或卒死，或病久，愿闻其道。The Yellow Emperor said, "People's lifespans vary greatly. Some die young, some die suddenly, and some suffer from long-term illnesses. I'd like to know the reasons behind these."
岐伯曰：“五脏坚固，血脉和调，肌肉解利，皮肤致密，营卫之行，不失其常，Qi Bo said, "When the five zang-organs are firm, the blood vessels are in harmonious condition, the muscles are smooth and supple, the skin is dense, the circulation of the nutrient qi and defensive qi follows the normal routine,
呼吸微徐，气以度行，六腑化谷，津液布扬，各如其常，故能长久。”the breathing is gentle and slow, the qi moves in accordance with its proper measure, the six fu-organs can transform food, and the body fluids are distributed and spread properly, everything being in its normal state, one can enjoy a long life."
黄帝曰：人之寿百岁而死，何以致之？The Yellow Emperor asked, "How can a person live to be a hundred years old before passing away?"
岐伯曰：使道隧以长，基墙高以方，通调营卫，三部三里起，骨高肉满，百岁乃得终。Qi Bo said, "When the nasal passage is long and straight, the facial bones are high and square, the nutrient qi and defensive qi are in harmonious circulation, the three sections of the face and the Sanli points on the limbs are well-developed, the bones are tall and the muscles are full, then one can live to be a hundred years old before reaching the end of life."
黄帝曰：其气之盛衰，以至其死，可得闻乎？The Yellow Emperor asked, "Can I hear about the process of the rise and fall of qi until death?"
岐伯曰：“人生十岁，五脏始定，血气已通，其气在下，故好走。Qi Bo said, "At the age of ten, the five zang-organs begin to stabilize, the blood and qi are already flowing, and the qi is concentrated in the lower part of the body, so children at this age like to run.
二十岁，血气始盛，肌肉方长，故好趋。At the age of twenty, the blood and qi start to flourish, the muscles are just beginning to grow, so people at this age like to walk briskly.
三十岁，五脏大定，肌肉坚固，血脉盛满，故好步。At the age of thirty, the five zang-organs are mostly stabilized, the muscles are firm, and the blood vessels are full, so people at this age like to walk at a normal pace.
四十岁，五脏六腑十二经脉，皆大盛以平定，腠理始疏，荣华颓落，发颇斑白，平盛不摇，故好坐。At the age of forty, the five zang-organs and six fu-organs as well as the twelve regular meridians are all in a state of great prosperity and stability. The striae and interstices of the skin start to become loose, the luster begins to fade, the hair starts to turn grayish-white, and people at this age are in a state of moderate prosperity without much movement, so they like to sit.
五十岁，肝气始衰，肝叶始薄，胆汁始灭，目始不明。At the age of fifty, the liver qi starts to decline, the liver lobes start to become thin, the bile starts to decrease, and the eyes start to lose their clarity.
六十岁，心气始衰，苦忧悲，血气懈惰，故好卧。At the age of sixty, the heart qi starts to decline, people start to experience feelings of bitterness, worry, and sadness, the blood and qi become sluggish, so people at this age like to lie down.
七十岁，脾气虚，皮肤枯。八十岁，肺气衰，魄离，故言善误。At the age of seventy, the spleen qi is deficient, and the skin becomes withered. At the age of eighty, the lung qi declines, the po (corporeal soul) starts to separate, so people at this age are prone to making mistakes when speaking.
九十岁，肾气焦，四脏经脉空虚。At the age of ninety, the kidney qi is scorched, and the meridians of the other four zang-organs are empty.
百岁，五脏皆虚，神气皆去，形骸独居而终矣。”At the age of a hundred, all the five zang-organs are deficient, the spirit is gone, and the body is left alone until the end of life."
黄帝曰：其不能终寿而死者，何如？The Yellow Emperor asked, "What about those who don't live out their full lifespan and die prematurely?"
岐伯曰：“其五脏皆不坚，使道不长，空外以张，喘息暴疾；Qi Bo said, "When the five zang-organs are not firm, the nasal passage is not long, the nostrils are dilated outwardly, the breathing is rapid and violent;
又卑基墙，薄脉少血，其肉不石，数中风寒，血气虚，脉不通，真邪相攻，乱而相引，故中寿而尽也。”Also, the facial bones are low, the blood vessels are thin with little blood, the muscles are not firm, they are frequently attacked by wind and cold, the blood and qi are deficient, the meridians are blocked, the pathogenic factors and the healthy qi attack each other, causing chaos and mutual attraction, so they die in middle age."
