关格之说不一,而各有理。经谓寸口(即手寸关尺之总名)主中,(寸口本肺脉,属脏,以候内。)
人迎(在结喉旁,乃胃脉,属腑,以候外)主外,两者相应,大小齐等。春夏人迎微大,秋冬寸
口微大,曰平人。(说见四诊。)人迎一盛,(大于气口一倍也。下仿此。)病在
足少阳,一盛而躁,
病在手少阳。二盛,病在足太阳,二盛而躁,病在手太阳。三盛,病在足阳明,三
盛而躁,病在手阳明。四盛,且大且数,(数即躁也。)名曰溢阳,(阳盛而溢。)为外格。
(拒饮食
不得入。)寸口脉一盛,病在足厥阴,一盛而躁,病在手厥阴。二盛,病在足少阴,二
盛而躁,病在手少阴。三盛,病在足太阴,三盛而躁,病在手太阴。四盛,且大且
数,名曰溢阴,为内关,(溲溺不通。)皆死不治。人迎、寸口俱盛四倍以上,命曰关格,
与之短期。(按此皆以躁数为言,是主热立论,乃举隅之词。观其又一条云∶必审按寒热,
以验脏腑之病,可知
此证有寒有热矣。)又谓五脏不和,则七窍(耳目口鼻)不通,(气不通矣。)六腑不和,则留结为痈。
故邪在腑,则阳脉不和,不和则气留而阳盛矣。气太盛,则阴脉不利,(此二句,当根据《难
经》云∶邪在脏,则阴脉不利,接下不利则血留而阴盛,与上文邪在腑对讲。今云阳太盛则阴
不利者,以见阴阳相
关,彼此脉络传注之理,古人文本往往如此。)不利则血留而阴气盛矣。阴气太盛,阳气不能
荣也,(气血相和则荣茂,今血不行,而邪聚于阴经,则阳气不能与通。)故曰关阳。(言闭关不使阳
入也。)阳气太盛,则阴气不能荣也,故曰格阴。(拒格其阴不得入也。)阴阳俱盛,不得相
荣,故曰关格,不得尽期而死。按经言阴阳之邪,偏盛或俱盛,则其经脉不和,
而见于人迎、寸口如此。后世独诊寸口,故秦越人以上鱼为溢,(阳被阴格,脉从寸
溢上鱼际也。)为外关内格;(外阳为内阴所拒格,不得下通,如被关闭然。)入尺为覆,(
阴被阳格,脉从尺覆,
向臂上。覆,退却之义。)为内关外格。(阴被格不上通,如被关闭也。)仲景则谓,寸口脉
浮而大,浮
为虚,(正气内虚,故外浮越。)大为实。(邪气实也。)在尺为关,在寸为格,关则不得小便,格
则吐逆。(此与越人同意。越人以脉之长而有余言,仲景以脉之大而有余言,皆邪盛也。)又谓
下微本大者。
(下谓沉分,本谓尺言。沉分脉微小,惟尺略大也。)则为关格不通,不得尿,(沉而微小,阴
虚,尺大寒邪盛。
虚寒无阳则不化,故小便不能出,不言格食者,省文也。)头无汗者可治,有汗者死。(阳脱也。)又
谓趺阳脉伏而涩,(伏则气不行,涩则血不流,无以出纳施化。)伏则吐逆,
水谷不化,涩则食不得入,(血枯胃腕稿也。)名曰关格。(不言小便不通,亦省文也。上
二条以尺、寸言,此以趺阳言也。)详此二家所云,各有其理,亦推展《内经》未尽之
意也。又云岐子谓,关格为阴阳易位,盖阳上阴下,定位也。今寒反在胸
中,舌有白胎,而水浆不下,热在丹田,而小便不通,曰关格。上寒治以热,
下热治以寒。若兼有寒热,分主客治之,治主宜缓,治客宜急,此亦一说也。由此
论之,则夫阳极于上,阴极于下,否隔不交者,当通其阴阳,转否为泰,可知矣。
又张景岳谓,《内经》谓人迎盛四倍以上,为有阳无阴;寸口盛四倍以上,为有阴
无阳;二者俱盛四倍以上,为阳极于上,下焦无阳,阴极于下,上焦无阴,阴阳离
绝。多由酒色伤其精气,以致阳飞于上,阴走于下,脉浮豁无根,散大躁动如此,
为欲脱危候。凡见六脉如弦如革,洪大异常,而且躁数,脉动则身亦动,乳下之虚
里及脐旁,皆有动气,舂舂筑筑,与脉相应。上气微喘,动作则甚,肢体无力。谓
为虚损,则本无咳嗽失血等证,谓为痰火,则又无实邪发热等证,此真阴败竭,元
海无根,最危之候也。彼不纳食,不得小便,自有本证,与关格何涉哉?其说虽与
前人异,然理甚精。(按诸家皆就吐食不溺之证言,而无一定之脉,景岳则指定大数之脉
言,而无吐食不溺
之证,各如其说,施治可也。)
The concept of "Guan Ge" (Obstruction and Rejection) varies in interpretation, yet each has its rationale. The *Classic of Internal Medicine* (*Neijing*) states: Cun Kou (the collective term for the Cun, Guan, and Chi positions on the radial artery) governs the interior, (Cun Kou originally belongs to the Lung meridian, associated with Zang organs, used to inspect internal conditions.) Ren Ying (located beside the Adam's apple, belonging to the Stomach meridian, associated with Fu organs, used to inspect exterior conditions) governs the exterior. The two should correspond, with equal magnitude. In spring and summer, Ren Ying is slightly larger; in autumn and winter, Cun Kou is slightly larger; this is called a healthy person. (This explanation is found in the chapter on Four Diagnostic Methods.) If Ren Ying is one-fold larger than Qi Kou, (meaning one times larger than Qi Kou. The following follows this pattern.) the disease is in the Foot Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian; if Ren Ying is one-fold larger and restless, the disease is in the Hand Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian. If two-fold larger, the disease is in the Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian; if two-fold larger and restless, the disease is in the Hand Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian. If three-fold larger, the disease is in the Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian; if three-fold larger and restless, the disease is in the Hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian. If four-fold larger, and both large and rapid, (Rapid means restless.) it is named Yi Yang (Overflowing Yang), (Yang qi is excessive and overflowing.) manifesting as Wai Ge (Exterior Rejection), (Rejecting food and drink, preventing entry.) If Cun Kou is one-fold larger, the disease is in the Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian; if one-fold larger and restless, the disease is in the Hand Jueyin Pericardium Meridian. If two-fold larger, the disease is in the Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian; if two-fold larger and restless, the disease is in the Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian. If three-fold larger, the disease is in the Foot Taiyin Spleen Meridian; if three-fold larger and restless, the disease is in the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian. If four-fold larger, and both large and rapid, it is named Yi Yin (Overflowing Yin), manifesting as Nei Guan (Interior Obstruction), (Urination is blocked.) All these cases are fatal and incurable. If both Ren Ying and Cun Kou are more than four times larger than normal, it is named Guan Ge, and a short life expectancy can be predicted. (Note: These descriptions focus on restlessness and rapidity, establishing a theory based on Heat patterns, serving as illustrative examples. Observing another passage stating: "One must carefully examine cold and heat to verify Zang-Fu diseases," it is known that this syndrome involves both Cold and Heat.) It is also stated that when the five Zang organs are not harmonious, the seven orifices (eyes, ears, mouth, nose) become blocked, (Qi mechanism is obstructed.) When the six Fu organs are not harmonious, pathogens remain and knot to form abscesses. Therefore, if pathogens are in the Fu organs, the Yang meridians are disharmonious; disharmony leads to Qi stagnation and Yang excess. Excessive Yang makes the Yin meridians unfavorable; (These two sentences should follow the statement in the *Classic of Difficult Issues* (*Nanjing*): "If pathogens are in the Zang organs, the Yin meridians are unfavorable," connecting to "unfavorable leads to blood stasis and Yin excess," contrasting with the preceding text about pathogens in Fu organs. The current text says "excessive Yang makes Yin unfavorable" to illustrate the interconnection of Yin and Yang and the transmission of meridians, a common feature in ancient texts.) Unfavorable Yin leads to blood stasis and Yin excess. Excessive Yin prevents Yang from nourishing it, (When Qi and Blood are harmonious, they flourish; now blood flow is impaired, and pathogens gather in Yin meridians, so Yang cannot communicate with them.) thus it is called Guan Yang (Closing Yang). (Meaning closing the gate to prevent Yang from entering.) Excessive Yang prevents Yin from nourishing it, thus it is called Ge Yin (Rejecting Yin). (Repelling Yin so it cannot enter.) When both Yin and Yang are excessive and cannot nourish each other, it is called Guan Ge, leading to death before the natural lifespan ends. According to the classics, when Yin-Yang pathogens are either excessively dominant or mutually excessive, their meridians become disharmonious, manifesting in Ren Ying and Cun Kou as described above. Later generations only palpate Cun Kou, so Qin Yue (Bian Que) considered pulse overflowing from Cun to Yu Ji (fish belly) as Yi Pulse, (Yang is rejected by Yin, pulse overflows from Cun to Yu Ji.), manifesting as Wai Guan Nei Ge (Exterior Obstruction, Interior Rejection); (Exterior Yang is rejected by Interior Yin, unable to descend, like being closed off.) Pulse covering from Chi towards the arm as Fu Pulse, (Yin is rejected by Yang, pulse covers from Chi upwards. Fu means retreat or cover.), manifesting as Nei Guan Wai Ge (Interior Obstruction, Exterior Rejection). (Yin is rejected and cannot ascend, like being closed off.) Zhang Zhongjing stated that if Cun Kou pulse is floating and large, Floating indicates deficiency, (Internal deficiency of righteous Qi causes external floating.) Large indicates excess. (Pathogenic excess.) Located at Chi, it is Guan (Obstruction); located at Cun, it is Ge (Rejection). Guan results in inability to urinate; Ge results in vomiting and reflux. (This agrees with Bian Que. Bian Que spoke of pulse length and surplus; Zhongjing spoke of pulse magnitude and surplus; both indicate pathogenic excess.) He also stated that if the deep pulse is minute but the Chi position is relatively large, (Deep refers to the deep pressure level; Ben refers to Chi. Deep pulse is minute, only Chi is slightly large.) it is Guan Ge obstruction, inability to urinate, (Deep and minute indicates Yin deficiency; Chi large indicates Cold pathogen excess. Deficiency-Cold without Yang fails to transform fluids, hence urine cannot exit. The mention of food rejection is omitted for brevity.) If the head has no sweat, it is treatable; if there is sweat, it is fatal. (Yang collapse.) He also stated that if the Zu Yang (Dazu) pulse is hidden and choppy, (Hidden means Qi does not move; Choppy means Blood does not flow, unable to perform intake/output and transformation.) Hidden pulse leads to vomiting and reflux, undigested food and water; Choppy pulse leads to inability to ingest food, (Blood dryness, stomach wall withered.) named Guan Ge. (Inability to urinate is not mentioned, also for brevity. The previous two points discussed Chi and Cun; this one discusses Zu Yang.) Examining these two schools of thought, each has its logic, extending the未尽 (unfinished) meaning of the *Neijing*. Another view attributed to Qi Bo's son states that Guan Ge is the reversal of Yin and Yang positions. Yang should be upper, Yin lower, which is the fixed position. Now, Cold is in the chest, tongue has white coating, and fluids cannot pass down; Heat is in the Dantian, and urination is blocked; this is called Guan Ge. Upper Cold is treated with Hot methods; Lower Heat is treated with Cold methods. If Cold and Heat coexist, treat the primary and secondary factors separately; treating the primary should be gradual, treating the secondary urgent. This is another perspective. From this argument, it is clear that when Yang extremity is at the top and Yin extremity is at the bottom, causing blockage and lack of interaction, one should regulate Yin and Yang, turning Pi (Stagnation) into Tai (Peace). Zhang Jingyue further argued that the *Neijing* states Ren Ying exceeding four times is having Yang without Yin; Cun Kou exceeding four times is having Yin without Yang; both exceeding four times is Yang extremity at the top (no Yang in Lower Jiao) and Yin extremity at the bottom (no Yin in Upper Jiao), representing Yin-Yang separation. This often results from alcohol and sexual excess damaging Essence and Qi, causing Yang to fly upward and Yin to drain downward, resulting in floating, rootless, scattered, large, and restless pulses, indicating impending collapse. Whenever six pulses are wiry or like leather, exceptionally洪大 (Surging-Large), and restless/rapid, where pulse movement causes body tremors, and there is pulsation at Xu Li (below the nipple) and beside the umbilicus, beating vigorously corresponding to the pulse, accompanied by slight panting, worsening with movement, and limb weakness: if diagnosed as Xu Sun (Deficiency Damage), there are typically no cough or hemoptysis symptoms; if diagnosed as Tan Huo (Phlegm-Fire), there are no excess Heat fever symptoms. This represents true Yin exhaustion and Yuan Hai (Sea of Origin) lacking roots, a critical condition. Those who cannot eat or urinate have their own primary syndromes; what does this have to do with Guan Ge? Although his theory differs from predecessors, the reasoning is profound. (Note: Previous experts focused on symptoms of vomiting/reflux and urinary retention without specifying a fixed pulse; Jingyue specified large/rapid pulses without focusing on vomiting/retention symptoms. Treatment can proceed according to either theory.)