灵枢·玉版 Miraculous Pivot·Jade Plates
黄帝曰：余以小针为细物也，夫子乃言上合之于天，下合之于地，中合之于人，余以为过针之意矣，愿闻其故。The Yellow Emperor said, "I thought the small needle was a tiny thing. But you, sir, said that it corresponds to heaven above, to earth below, and to man in the middle. I thought it was overstating the significance of the needle. I'd like to hear the reasons."
岐伯曰：“何物大于天乎？夫大于针者，惟五兵者焉。五兵者，死之备也，非生之具。Qi Bo said, "Is there anything greater than heaven? Among the things greater than the needle, there are only the five weapons. The five weapons are for the preparation of death, not for the means of life.
且夫人者，天地之镇也，其不可不参乎？夫治民者，亦唯针焉。夫针之与五兵，其孰小乎？”Moreover, man is the essence of heaven and earth. Can it not be taken into consideration? For those who govern the people, only the needle is used. Between the needle and the five weapons, which one is smaller?"
黄帝曰：病之生时，有喜怒不测，饮食不节，阴气不足，阳气有余，营气不行，乃发为痈疽。阴阳不通，两热相搏，乃化为浓，小针能取之乎？The Yellow Emperor said, "When diseases occur, there are unpredictable emotions of joy and anger, improper diet, insufficiency of yin qi, excess of yang qi, stagnation of nutrient qi, and then carbuncles and abscesses develop. When yin and yang are blocked and two kinds of heat contend with each other, pus is formed. Can the small needle treat them?"
岐伯曰：“圣人不能使化者，为之邪不可留也。故两军相当，旗帜相望，白刃陈于中野者，此非一日之谋也。Qi Bo said, "Even sages cannot make things that have already formed disappear. Because pathogenic factors should not be left behind. Just like when two armies face each other, with their banners in sight and sharp blades displayed in the open field, this is not the result of a one-day plan.
能使其民，令行禁止，士卒无白刃之难者，非一日之教也，须臾之得也。To be able to command the people so that they can act on orders and stop when prohibited, and to ensure that soldiers do not face the danger of sharp blades, this is not the result of a one-day training or an instant achievement.
夫至使身被痈疽之病，脓血之聚者，不亦离道远乎？When one's body is afflicted with carbuncles and abscesses, with the accumulation of pus and blood, isn't it far from the right way?
夫痈疽之生，脓血之成也，不从天下，不从地出，积微之所生也。The occurrence of carbuncles and abscesses and the formation of pus and blood do not come from heaven or earth. They are caused by the accumulation of tiny factors.
故圣人自治于未有形也，愚者遭其已成也。”Therefore, sages take preventive measures before the diseases take shape, while fools only encounter them when they have already formed."
黄帝曰：其已形，不予遭；脓已成，不予见，为之奈何？The Yellow Emperor said, "If they have already taken shape and I haven't encountered them; if the pus has already formed and I haven't seen it, what should be done?"
岐伯曰：脓已成，十死一生，故圣人弗使已成，而明为良方，著之竹帛，使能者踵而传之后世，无有终时者，为其不予遭也。Qi Bo said, "Once the pus has formed, the chance of survival is one in ten. Therefore, sages do not let the situation reach this stage. They clearly write down good prescriptions and record them on bamboo slips and silk, so that capable people can inherit and pass them on to future generations without an end. This is because they do not want to encounter such situations."
黄帝曰：其已有脓血而后遭乎？不导之以小针治乎？The Yellow Emperor said, "If there is already pus and blood and then it is encountered, shouldn't it be treated with the small needle?"
岐伯曰：以小治小者，其功小；以大治大者，多害，故其已成脓血者，其唯砭石、铍锋之所取也。Qi Bo said, "Treating a small problem with a small method has a small effect. Treating a large problem with a large method often causes harm. Therefore, for those with already formed pus and blood, only the bian stone and the sharp blade of the pi can be used to treat them."
黄帝曰：多害者其不可全乎？The Yellow Emperor said, "Can those who often cause harm not be cured completely?"
岐伯曰：其在逆顺焉。Qi Bo said, "It depends on whether it is favorable or unfavorable."
黄帝曰：愿闻逆顺。The Yellow Emperor said, "I'd like to hear about favorable and unfavorable."
岐伯曰：“以为伤者，其白眼青，黑眼小，是一逆也；Qi Bo said, "For those who are injured, if their white part of the eyes is bluish and their black part of the eyes is small, this is the first unfavorable sign;
内（纳通假字）药而呕者，是二逆也；腹痛，渴甚，是三逆也；if taking medicine makes one vomit, this is the second unfavorable sign; if there is abdominal pain and severe thirst, this is the third unfavorable sign;
肩项中不便，是四逆也；音嘶，色脱，是五逆也。除此五者，为顺矣。”if there is inconvenience in the shoulder and neck area, this is the fourth unfavorable sign; if the voice is hoarse and the complexion fades, this is the fifth unfavorable sign. Except for these five situations, it is considered favorable."
黄帝曰：诸病皆有逆顺，可得闻乎？The Yellow Emperor said, "All diseases have favorable and unfavorable conditions. Can I hear about them?"
岐伯曰：“腹胀、身热、脉大，是一逆也；腹鸣而满，四肢清泄，其脉大，是二逆也；衄而不止，脉大，是三逆也；Qi Bo said, "Abdominal distension, body heat, and a large pulse are the first unfavorable sign; abdominal gurgling and fullness, cold limbs with diarrhea, and a large pulse are the second unfavorable sign; epistaxis that does not stop and a large pulse are the third unfavorable sign;
咳而溲血脱形，其脉小劲，是四逆也；咳，脱形，身热，脉小以疾，是谓五逆也。如是者，不过十五日而死矣。coughing with bloody urine and emaciation, and a small but forceful pulse are the fourth unfavorable sign; coughing, emaciation, body heat, and a small but rapid pulse are the fifth unfavorable sign. In such cases, one will die within fifteen days."
其腹大，胀，四末清，脱形，泄甚，是一逆也；"If the abdomen is large and distended, the four extremities are cold, there is emaciation, and severe diarrhea, this is the first unfavorable sign;
腹胀便血，其脉大时绝，是二逆也；abdominal distension with bloody stools, and a large pulse that sometimes disappears, this is the second unfavorable sign;
咳，溲血，形肉脱，脉搏，是三逆也；coughing with bloody urine, emaciation of the body and muscles, and a pulsating pulse are the third unfavorable sign;
呕血，胸满引背，脉小而疾，是四逆也；咳，呕，腹胀，且飧泄，其脉绝，是五逆也。vomiting blood, fullness in the chest extending to the back, and a small but rapid pulse are the fourth unfavorable sign; coughing, vomiting, abdominal distension, and loose stools, and a pulse that disappears, this is the fifth unfavorable sign.
如是者，不及一时而死矣。工不察此者而刺之，是谓逆治。In such cases, one will die within an hour. If a physician does not observe these situations and performs acupuncture, it is called unfavorable treatment."
黄帝曰：夫子之言针甚骏，以配天地，上数天文，下度地纪，内别五脏，外次六腑，经脉二十八会，尽有周纪。能杀生人，不能起死者，子能反之乎？The Yellow Emperor said, "Your words about the needle are very powerful, matching it with heaven and earth, counting the astronomical phenomena above, measuring the geographical features below, distinguishing the five zang-organs inside, arranging the six fu-organs outside, and the twenty-eight confluences of the meridians, all having their own rules. It can kill the living but cannot revive the dead. Can you reverse this situation?"
岐伯曰：能杀生人，不能起死者也。Qi Bo said, "It can kill the living but cannot revive the dead."
黄帝曰：余闻之则为不仁，然愿闻其道，弗行于人。The Yellow Emperor said, "When I heard this, I thought it was unkind. However, I'd like to hear the relevant principles, even if I don't practice them on people."
岐伯曰：是明道也，其必然也，其如刀剑之可以杀人，如饮酒使人醉也，虽勿诊，犹可知矣。Qi Bo said, "This is the clear principle. It is inevitable. It is like a sword that can kill people and like drinking alcohol that can make people drunk. Even without diagnosis, it can be known."
黄帝曰：愿卒闻之。The Yellow Emperor said, "I'd like to hear it completely."
岐伯曰：“人之所受气者，谷也。谷之所注者，胃也。胃者，水谷气血之海也。海之所行云气者，天下也。Qi Bo said, "What people receive as qi is from grains. What grains pour into is the stomach. The stomach is the sea of water, grains, blood, and qi. What the sea sends out as cloud qi is like the sky.
胃之所出气血者，经隧也。而隧者，五脏六腑之大络也，迎而夺之而已矣。”What the stomach sends out as blood and qi is through the meridians. And the meridians are the large collaterals of the five zang-organs and six fu-organs. One just needs to meet and take away the qi."
黄帝曰：上下有数乎？The Yellow Emperor said, "Are there limits above and below?"
岐伯曰：“迎之五里，中道而止。五至而已，五往而脏之气尽矣。Qi Bo said, "Meeting at Wuli (a certain acupoint), the qi will stop halfway. Five times of meeting and five times of going back, and the qi of the zang-organs will be exhausted.
故五五二十五而竭其输矣，此所谓夺其天气者也。非能绝其命而倾其寿者也。”So five times five, which is twenty-five, and the transportation points will be exhausted. This is what is called taking away the heavenly qi. It is not about cutting off one's life or shortening one's lifespan."
黄帝曰：愿卒闻之。The Yellow Emperor said, "I'd like to hear it completely."
岐伯曰：窥门而刺之者，死于家中；入门而刺之者，死于堂上。Qi Bo said, "Those who perform acupuncture by peeking through the door will die at home; those who enter the door and perform acupuncture will die in the hall."
黄帝曰：善乎方，明哉道，请著之玉版，以为重宝，传之后世，以为刺禁，令民勿敢犯也。The Yellow Emperor said, "Good prescriptions, clear principles. Please write them on the jade plates, regard them as precious treasures, pass them on to future generations, and make them acupuncture prohibitions so that the people do not dare to violate them."
