头部 项发以下至背骨,长二寸半(自后发际以至大椎项骨三节处也)。
【按】 头部折法∶以前发际至后发际,折为一尺二寸。如发际不明,则取眉心直上,后
至大杼骨,折作一尺八寸,此为直寸。横寸法,以眼内角至外角,此为一寸。头部横直寸法,并根据此。
督脉神庭至太阳曲差穴,曲差至少阳本神穴,本神至阳明头维穴,各开一寸半。自神庭至头维,
各开四寸半。
胸腹部 结喉以下至缺盆,中长四寸。(此以巨骨上陷中而言,即天突穴处)缺盆以下
之中,长九寸。胸围四尺五寸。两乳之间,广九寸半。(当折八寸为当) 中下至天枢,长八寸。(天枢足
阳明穴名,在脐旁,此指平脐而言)天枢以下至横骨,长六寸半。横骨横长六寸半。(毛际下骨曰横骨)
【按】 此古数也。以今用上、下穴法参较,多有未合,宜从后胸腹折法为当。
两髀之间,广六寸半。(此当两股之中横骨两头之处,俗名髀缝)
【按】 胸腹折法∶直寸以中行为之,自缺盆中天突穴起,至岐骨际上中庭穴止,折作
八寸四分;自 上岐骨际,下至脐心,折作八寸;脐心下至毛际曲骨穴,折作五寸。横寸以两乳相去,折
作八寸。胸腹横直寸法,并根据此。
背部 膂骨以下至尾 ,二十一节,长三尺。(膂骨,脊骨也。脊骨外小而内巨,人之所以能负
任者,以是骨之巨也。脊骨二十四节,今云二十一节者,除项骨三节不在内。尾 骨男子者尖,女人者平)腰围
四尺二寸。
【按】 背部折法∶自大椎至尾 ,通折三尺。上七节各长一寸四分一厘,共九寸八分
七厘。中七节各一寸六分一厘,共一尺一寸二分七厘。第十四节与脐平,下七节各一寸
二分六厘,共八寸八分二厘,共二尺九寸九分六厘。不足四厘者,有零未尽也。直寸根据
此,横寸用中指同身寸法。
脊骨内阔一寸。凡云第二行侠脊一寸半,三行侠脊三寸者,皆除脊一寸外,净以寸半
三寸论,故在二行当为二寸,在三行当为三寸半也。
侧部 自拄骨下行腋中不见者,长四寸。(拄骨,颈项根骨也)腋以下至季胁,长一尺二
寸。(季胁,小肋也)季胁以下至髀枢,长六寸。(大腿曰股,股上曰髀,楗骨之下,大腿之上,两骨合缝之
所曰髀枢,当足少阳环跳穴处也。)髀枢下至膝中,长一尺九寸。横骨上廉下至内辅之上廉,长
一尺八寸。(骨际曰廉,膝旁之骨突出者曰辅骨,内曰内辅,外曰外辅)内辅之上廉以下至下廉,长三
寸半。(上廉、下廉,可摸而得)内辅下廉下至内踝,长一尺二寸。内踝以下至地,长三寸。
四肢部 肩至肘,长一尺七寸。肘至腕,长一尺二寸半。(臂之中节曰肘)腕至中指本节,长四寸。
(臂掌之交曰腕)本节至末,长四寸半。(指之后节曰本节)膝以下至外踝,长一尺六寸。膝 以下至跗属,长
一尺六寸。( ,腿湾也,跗足面也。膝在前, 在后。跗属者,凡两踝前后胫掌所交之处,皆为跗之属也)跗
属以下至地,长三寸。外踝以下至地,长一寸。足长一尺二寸,广四寸半。
【按】 骨度乃《灵枢经·骨度篇》文所论之长短,皆古数也。然骨之大者太过,小者
不及,此亦但言其则耳。至于周身手足折量之法,当用前中指同身寸法为是。
\r正面骨度尺寸图\p06-d43a33.bmp\r
\r背面骨度尺寸图\p06-d43a34.bmp\r
Head: From the posterior hairline to the Da Zhui bone (the depression below the spinous process of the seventh cervical vertebra), the length is 2.5 cun.
[Note] The proportional measurement method for the head: From the anterior hairline to the posterior hairline, it is measured as 12 cun. If the hairline is unclear, measure from the midpoint between the eyebrows straight up to the Da Zhu bone (located 1.5 cun lateral to the spinous process of the first thoracic vertebra), which is measured as 18 cun; this serves as the standard for vertical cun. For horizontal cun, the distance from the inner canthus to the outer canthus of the eye is defined as 1 cun. The horizontal and vertical cun measurements for the head are based on these standards. From Shen Ting (DU24) of the Du Meridian to Qu Cha (BL7) of the Taiyang Meridian, from Qu Cha to Ben Shen (GB13) of the Shaoyang Meridian, and from Ben Shen to Tou Wei (ST8) of the Yangming Meridian, each is 1.5 cun lateral. From Shen Ting to Tou Wei, each is 4.5 cun lateral.
Chest and Abdomen: From the laryngeal prominence to Que Pen (Clavicular Fossa Central), the middle length is 4 cun. (This refers to the depression above Ju Gu, which is the location of Tian Tu (CV22)). Below Que Pen, the middle length is 9 cun. The chest circumference is 4 chi 5 cun. The distance between the two nipples is 9.5 cun wide. (It should be calculated as 8 cun for accuracy). From Zhong Wan to Tian Shu, the length is 8 cun. (Tian Shu is an acupoint of the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian, located beside the umbilicus; here it refers to the level of the umbilicus). From Tian Shu to Heng Gu (Suprapubic Eminence), the length is 6.5 cun. The horizontal length of Heng Gu is 6.5 cun. (The bone below the pubic hair is called Heng Gu).
[Note] These are ancient numerical values. Comparing them with current methods for locating upper and lower acupoints, they often do not match. It is appropriate to adopt the subsequent proportional measurement method for the chest and abdomen.
Between the two thighs, the width is 6.5 cun. (This refers to the position of both ends of the transverse bone in the middle of the two thighs, commonly known as the thigh seam).
[Note] The proportional measurement method for the chest and abdomen: Vertical cun is based on the midline. Starting from Tian Tu (CV22) at Que Pen up to Zhong Ting (CV12) at the upper end of the sternal angle (xiphisternal junction), it is measured as 8.4 cun; from the sternal angle down to the center of the umbilicus, it is measured as 8 cun; from the center of the umbilicus down to Qu Gu (CV4) at the pubic symphysis, it is measured as 5 cun. Horizontal cun is based on the distance between the two nipples, measured as 8 cun. The horizontal and vertical cun measurements for the chest and abdomen are based on these standards.
Back: From the spine (vertebral column) to the sacrococcygeal region, comprising 21 segments, the length is 3 chi. (Lu bone refers to the spinal bone. The spine is small externally but large internally; humans can bear heavy loads because of the magnitude of this bone. There are 24 vertebral segments in total; the mention of 21 segments excludes the three cervical segments). The waist circumference is 4 chi 2 cun.
[Note] The proportional measurement method for the back: From Da Zhui (DU14) to the sacrococcygeal region, the total length is 3 chi. The upper seven segments are each 1.41 cun long, totaling 9.87 cun. The middle seven segments are each 1.61 cun long, totaling 11.27 cun. The fourteenth segment is level with the umbilicus. The lower seven segments are each 1.26 cun long, totaling 8.82 cun, summing to 2 chi 9.96 cun. The remaining 0.04 cun is a fractional remainder not fully accounted for. Vertical cun is based on this standard; horizontal cun uses the middle finger proportional cun method.
The internal width of the spinal column is 1 cun. Whenever the second row of acupoints 1.5 cun from the spine or the third row 3 cun from the spine is mentioned, the 1-cun width of the spine itself is excluded, and the calculation is made purely based on 1.5 cun or 3 cun. Therefore, the second row should be considered as 2 cun wide, and the third row as 3.5 cun wide.
Lateral Aspect: From the Zhu Gu (bone at the root of the neck/shoulder) descending to the invisible part in the axilla, the length is 4 cun. (Zhu Gu refers to the bone at the root of the neck). From the axilla to Ji Xie (the ninth rib end), the length is 1 chi 2 cun. (Ji Xie refers to the floating ribs). From Ji Xie to Bi Shu (root of the thigh, corresponding to Huan Tiao (GB30)), the length is 6 cun. (The thigh is called Gu; the upper part of the thigh is called Bi. The area below the Jian bone and above the thigh, where the two bones meet, is called Bi Shu, located at the acupoint Huan Tiao (GB30) of the Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian). From Bi Shu to the center of the knee, the length is 1 chi 9 cun. From the upper margin of Heng Gu to the upper margin of the Neifu bone (medial condyle of tibia), the length is 1 chi 8 cun. (The edge of a bone is called Lian; the protruding bone beside the knee is called Fu Gu; the medial side is Neifu, and the lateral side is Waifu). From the upper margin of Neifu to its lower margin, the length is 3.5 cun. (Upper and lower margins can be palpated). From the lower margin of Neifu to the medial malleolus, the length is 1 chi 2 cun. From the medial malleolus to the ground, the length is 3 cun.
Limbs: From the shoulder to the elbow, the length is 1 chi 7 cun. From the elbow to the wrist, the length is 1 chi 2.5 cun. (The middle section of the arm is called Elbow). From the wrist to the base of the middle finger (metacarpophalangeal joint), the length is 4 cun. (The junction of the arm and palm is called Wrist). From the base of the finger to the tip, the length is 4.5 cun. (The distal phalanx is called the base segment). From the knee to the lateral malleolus, the length is 1 chi 6 cun. From the knee to the foot dorsum (Shu Shu), the length is 1 chi 6 cun. (The popliteal fossa is posterior; the foot dorsum is anterior. Shu Shu refers to the areas where the tibia and tarsus meet anteriorly and posteriorly around the ankles, all belonging to the dorsum). From Shu Shu to the ground, the length is 3 cun. From the lateral malleolus to the ground, the length is 1 cun. The length of the foot is 1 chi 2 cun, and its width is 4.5 cun.
[Note] The bone proportions discussed are from the "Bone Proportions" chapter of the *Ling Shu Jing* (Spiritual Pivot), representing ancient numerical standards. However, individuals with larger bones exceed these standards, while those with smaller bones fall short; thus, these figures merely provide general guidelines. For measuring the limbs and extremities of the whole body, the middle finger proportional cun method described earlier should be used.