手之六阳经脉从手至头,长五尺,共计五六合三丈。
手之六阴经脉从胸走手,长三尺五寸,共计三六一丈八尺,五六合三尺,合二丈一尺。
足之六阳经脉从头走至足,长八尺,共计六八四丈八尺。
足之六阴经脉从足走入胸中,长六尺五寸,共计六六三十六,五六当三尺,合三丈九尺。
督脉、任脉各长四尺五寸,共合九尺。
两跷脉从足至目,各长七尺五寸,共合一丈五尺。
十四脉都合十六丈二尺,此气之大经隧也。
夫所谓经者,以其气血流行之大经常而不息者。谓之脉者,以其血理分袤(音谋,言相去也。)
行体者而言也。谓之络者,本经之旁支而别出以联系于十二经者也。如手太阴经之支者,从腕后
出次指端而交于阳明经者是也。
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凡量四肢穴道必用此中指寸法,盖四肢长短无不同者。量身上穴当同身。
男左女右,手中指第二内廷两横纹头相去为一寸,取稻秆心量,或用薄篾量,皆易折而不伸
缩为准,用绳则伸缩不便,故多不准。
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\r手太阴肺经穴图\ps127a62.bmp\r
《内经》曰∶西方白色,入通于肺,开窍于鼻,藏精于肺,故病在背。其味辛,其类金,其
畜马,其谷稻,其音商,其数九,其臭腥,其液涕。肺主鼻,其在天为燥,在地为金,在体为皮
毛,在脏为肺,在色为白,在音为商,在声为哭,在变动为咳,在窍为鼻,在味为辛,在志为忧。
忧伤肺,喜胜忧。热伤皮毛,寒胜热。辛
伤皮毛,苦胜辛。其应四时,上为太白星。是以知病之在皮毛也。
肺者,气之本,魄之处也,其华在毛,其充在皮,为阳中之太阳,通于秋气。
肺者,相傅之官,治节出焉。肺之合皮也,其荣毛也,其主心也。肺色白,欲如鹅毛,不欲如盐。
肺气绝则皮毛焦,皮毛焦则津液去,津液去则皮节伤,皮节伤则皮枯毛折,毛折者死不治。
手太阴肺脉起于中焦,下络大肠,还循胃口,上膈属肺,从肺系(喉咙是也)横出腋下,循
内,行少阴心主之前,下肘中,循臂内上骨下廉,入寸口,上鱼,循鱼际,出大指之端,其支者,
从腕后直出次指内廉,出其端。凡十一穴,左右共二十二穴。
The six Yang meridians of the hand run from the hand to the head, each measuring five chi, totaling three zhang (ten chi) for all six.
The six Yin meridians of the hand run from the chest to the hand, each measuring three chi and five cun, totaling one zhang and eight chi for all six; adding the extra three chi from the calculation with the Yang meridians, the total is two zhang and one chi.
The six Yang meridians of the foot run from the head to the foot, each measuring eight chi, totaling four zhang and eight chi for all six.
The six Yin meridians of the foot run from the foot into the chest, each measuring six chi and five cun, totaling three zhang and nine chi for all six.
The Du Mai (Governing Vessel) and Ren Mai (Conception Vessel) each measure four chi and five cun, totaling nine chi.
The two Qiao Mai (Yang and Yin Heel Vessels) run from the foot to the eye, each measuring seven chi and five cun, totaling one zhang and five chi.
These fourteen meridians together measure sixteen zhang and two chi; these are the great channels through which Qi flows.
The term "Jing" (Meridian) refers to the major pathways where Qi and Blood flow continuously and rhythmically. The term "Mai" (Vessel) refers to the blood vessels based on their distribution and course within the body. The term "Luo" (Collateral) refers to the side branches of the main meridians that diverge to connect with the twelve regular meridians. For example, the branch of the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian emerges from behind the wrist, reaches the tip of the index finger, and connects with the Yangming Meridian.
When measuring acupoints on the limbs, this "Middle Finger Same-Body Cun" method must be used, as limb lengths are consistent among individuals. When measuring acupoints on the trunk, one's own body proportions should be used. The method is: for men, use the left hand; for women, use the right hand. The distance between the two transverse creases at the middle joint of the middle finger constitutes one cun. One may use the pith of a rice stalk or a thin bamboo splint for measurement, ensuring it breaks easily without stretching or shrinking. If rope is used, its tendency to stretch makes it inaccurate.
The *Neijing* states: The West corresponds to white, internally connecting to the Lung, opening into the nose, storing essence in the Lung, so diseases often manifest in the back. Its flavor is pungent, its element is Metal, its animal is the horse, its grain is rice, its musical note is Shang, its number is nine, its odor is fishy, and its fluid is mucus. The Lung governs the nose; in nature, it corresponds to Dryness; in earth, to Metal; in the body, to skin and hair; in the zang-fu, to the Lung; in color, to white; in sound, to Shang; in vocalization, to crying; in pathological change, to coughing; in orifice, to the nose; in flavor, to pungent; and in emotion, to sorrow. Sorrow damages the Lung, while Joy overcomes Sorrow. Heat damages skin and hair, while Cold overcomes Heat. Pungency damages skin and hair, while Bitterness overcomes Pungency. It corresponds to the four seasons, specifically Autumn, and in the heavens, to the planet Venus (Tai Bai). Thus, one can know that disease resides in the skin and hair.
The Lung is the root of Qi and the residence of Po (Corporeal Soul); its brilliance manifests in the hair, and it nourishes the skin. It is considered Taiyang within Yang, communicating with the Qi of Autumn.
The Lung is like the Prime Minister, responsible for regulation and coordination. The Lung harmonizes with the skin, its brilliance is in the hair, and it is controlled by the Heart. The color of the Lung should be white, resembling goose feathers (lustrous), not salt (dull). If Lung Qi is exhausted, the skin and hair become dry; if dry, fluids are lost; if fluids are lost, the skin joints are damaged; if damaged, the skin becomes withered and hair breaks. If hair breaks, death occurs and cannot be cured.
The pulse of the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian originates in the Middle Jiao, descends to connect with the Large Intestine, returns along the stomach opening, ascends through the diaphragm, and enters the Lung. From the Lung system (the throat), it emerges horizontally under the axilla, runs down the medial aspect of the arm, anterior to the Shaoyin Heart and Jueyin Pericardium meridians, descends to the elbow, follows the medial aspect of the forearm along the lower border of the radius, enters the Cun Kou (radial artery pulse point), ascends to the Thenar eminence (Yu Ji), follows the border of the thenar eminence, and emerges at the tip of the thumb. Its branch emerges straight from behind the wrist to the medial side of the index finger, reaching its tip. There are eleven acupoints on this meridian, totaling twenty-two points on both sides.