脐之为言。齐也。以其当两肾之中。前直神阙。后直命门。而上下齐也。脐也者。人之命蒂也。或谓胎中之息
在脐。道家之息在脐。殊不知鸡乳而卵中不闭。水胀而脐内不通。况观于剪脐而带中血出。怀孕而腹中
子鸣。益可知母气通于儿鼻。母血通于儿脐矣。然此特论脐之理。非望脐之法也。望之之法。诸书谓脐大
者多寿。脐小者多夭。以脐中为神阙。相体之本也。妇人脐深者子多。脐浅者子少。以脐内为子宫。冲任之
属也。人病脐肿反出者。死。以仓廪之本既竭。饮食之精不输也。水病脐肿突出者死。以决渎之令不行。州
都之气不化也。积聚肿胀。脐不凸者可治。脐凸者不可治。微则在于脏腑血脉之间。甚则舍于脏腑血脉
之外也。怀孕三四月。脐便平满者。女胎也。怀孕八九月。脐方平满者。男胎也。女胎背母而怀。男胎面母而
怀也。小儿多啼而脐凸者。气逆于内也。小儿撮口而脐黑者。气绝于中也。怀孕之外证。脐色当红黑。脐风
之死候。脐府当青硬。此谓诚于中。形于外。知微之显也。脓从脐出。疮绕脐生。肠痈之候也。任脉循脐而上。
冲脉侠脐而行。又察脐之所宜知者。若合病症而观之。亦诊家之一助云尔。
尝谓肝脉络阴器。囊形属肾脏。故以肾为名也。然任脉起于会阴之分。督脉络于合篡之间。是二经亦各
有所主焉。察之之法。其惟形色乎。以形言之。囊宜小。纹宜细。小儿囊紧实者。多寿。气胜形也。囊坠下者。多
病。形胜气也。伤寒六七日。囊缩者。厥阴病甚。邪气传入其经也。伤寒十二日。囊纵者。厥阴病衰。邪气传出
其经也。囊胀者谓之疝。任脉为病也。囊肿者谓之水。关门不利也。阴囊更加肿胀。渐渐溃腐者。病水死征。
睾丸偏有大小。时时上下者。阴狐疝气。此观形之法也。以色言之。小儿肾囊紧细色紫者多寿。气血足也。
宽大色白者多疾。气血亏也。阴囊绉黑有弦者易养。形色皆顺也。阴囊色赤无纹者难养。形色皆逆也。此
察色之法也。合而诊之。可通变矣。
The navel, or Shenque (Shenque, 神阙), signifies "alignment" because it is located between the two kidneys, directly anterior to the Shenque point and posterior to the Mingmen point, maintaining upper-lower alignment. The navel is the life-tether of a human being. Some claim that fetal respiration occurs at the navel, and Daoist breathing exercises also focus on the navel. However, one should not overlook that during chicken incubation, the qi within the egg remains unsealed; in cases of water swelling edema, the qi within the navel becomes obstructed. Furthermore, observing the bleeding from the umbilical cord upon cutting it, and the fetal movement sounds within the abdomen during pregnancy, it can be further understood that the mother's vital qi connects to the infant's nasal passages, and the mother's blood connects to the infant's navel. Nevertheless, this merely discusses the principle of the navel, not the method of inspecting it. Regarding inspection methods, various texts state that those with larger navels tend to live longer, while those with smaller navels tend to die young, as the navel center is the Shenque point, the root for assessing constitution. For women, a deep navel indicates many offspring, while a shallow navel indicates few, as the interior of the navel corresponds to the uterus, which is governed by the Chong Mai (Penetrating Vessel) and Ren Mai (Conception Vessel). If a patient suffers from navel swelling protruding outward, it indicates death, because the foundation of the granaries (Spleen/Stomach) is exhausted, and the essence of food and drink cannot be distributed. In water diseases, if the navel swells and protrudes, it indicates death, because the directive function of the San Jiao (Triple Burner) fails, and the qi transformation of the Zhou Du (Bladder) does not occur. In cases of accumulation and swelling, if the navel is not convex, it is treatable; if convex, it is untreatable. Mildly, the pathogen resides between the zang-fu organs and blood vessels; severely, it lodges outside them. During the third or fourth month of pregnancy, if the navel becomes flat and full, it is a female fetus. During the eighth or ninth month, if the navel only then becomes flat and full, it is a male fetus. A female fetus faces away from the mother, while a male fetus faces the mother. If an infant cries frequently and the navel protrudes, it indicates rebellious qi internally. If an infant has mouth contraction and the navel turns black, it indicates the exhaustion of central qi. External signs of pregnancy include red-black discoloration of the navel. Terminal signs of Umbilical Wind (Neonatal Tetanus) include a cyanotic and hard navel area. This illustrates that internal reality manifests externally, revealing the significant through the subtle. Pus discharging from the navel and sores growing around the navel are signs of Intestinal Abscess. The Ren Mai ascends along the navel, and the Chong Mai runs alongside the navel. Additionally, what should be known about inspecting the navel, when combined with symptom observation, serves as an aid for diagnosticians.
I have stated that the Liver meridian connects to the genitalia, and the scrotal form belongs to the Kidney, hence named after the Kidney. However, the Ren Mai originates at the Huiyin region, and the Du Mai connects at the Hejian area; these two meridians also have their respective domains. The method of examination lies primarily in form and color. Regarding form: the scrotum should be small, and the skin texture fine. Infants with tight and firm scrota tend to live long, indicating qi overcoming form. Those with sagging scrota tend to be ill, indicating form overcoming qi. In Cold Damage disease, if the scrotum retracts after six or seven days, it indicates severe Jue Yin disease, with pathogenic qi entering its meridian. If the scrotum relaxes and elongates after twelve days, it indicates the decline of Jue Yin disease, with pathogenic qi exiting its meridian. Scrotal distension is called Hernia, caused by Ren Mai pathology. Scrotal edema is called Water, due to failure of the "gate" (bladder qi transformation). If the scrotum becomes increasingly swollen and gradually ulcerates and rots, it is a sign of death in water diseases. Testicles of unequal size that move up and down intermittently indicate Yin Hu Hernia Qi. This is the method of observing form. Regarding color: infants with tight, fine, purple scrota tend to live long, indicating sufficient qi and blood. Those with wide, white scrota tend to be diseased, indicating deficient qi and blood. Scrota that are wrinkled, black, and tense are easy to raise, as both form and color are favorable. Scrota that are red without wrinkles are difficult to raise, as both form and color are unfavorable. This is the method of observing color. Combining these examinations allows for flexible adaptation.