(下文皆《骨度》篇古数,然骨之大者则大,过小者则不及,此亦言其则耳)
头部
头之大骨围二尺六寸。发所覆者,颅至项一尺二寸。(颅额颅覆者,言前发际至后项发际也。)
发以下至颐长─尺。(颔中为颐,颔,腮也。)两颧相去七寸。角以下至柱骨,长一尺。(耳上侧旁曰角。
肩膺上际颈根曰柱骨。)耳前当耳门者,广一尺三寸。耳后当完骨者,广九寸。(完骨,耳后发际高骨也。)
项发以下至背骨长三寸半。(自后发际以至大椎项骨三节处也。)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,以眼内角至外角比为一寸。
头部横直寸法。并根据此。
督脉神庭至太阳曲差,曲差至少阳本神,本神至阳明头维,各开一寸半。自神庭至头维,共开四寸半。
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。)
缺盆以下至 之中,长九寸。 中至天枢,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,以今用上下穴参较多有未
合,宜从后胸腹折法为当。)胸围四尺五寸,腰围四尺二寸,两乳之间,广九寸半。(当折八寸为当。)
两髀之间,广六寸半。(此当两股之中,横骨两头之处,俗名髀缝。)胸腹折法∶直寸,以中行为三。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,女子者平。)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。总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,凡云第二行夹脊一寸半,三行夹脊三寸者,
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。
侧部
自柱骨下行腋中不见者,长四寸。(柱骨,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。捷骨之下,大股之上,两骨合缝之所,曰髀枢,当足少
阳之环跳穴处也。髀枢下至膝中,长一尺九寸。)
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。
)本节至其末,长四寸半。(指之后节曰本节。)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,长一尺三寸。踝骨(义见前。)内踝以下至地,长三寸。膝以下至外踝,长一尺六寸。外
踝以下至京骨,长三寸。京骨以下至地,长一寸。膝 以下至跗属,长一尺二寸。( ,腿弯也。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。足长
一尺二寸,广四寸半。手足折量并用后中指同身寸法。
同身寸法说
同身寸者,谓同于人身之尺寸也。人之长短肥瘦,各自不同,而穴之横直,尺寸亦不能一。如今以中指同
身寸法一概混用,则人瘦而指长,人肥而指短。岂不谬误?故必因其形而取
之,方得其当。如标幽赋曰∶取五穴用一穴而必端,取三经用一经而可正。盖谓并邻经而正一经,联邻穴而正
一穴。譬之切字之法,上用一音,下用一韵,而夹其声于中,则其经穴之情,自无所遁矣。故头必因于头,
腹必因于腹,背必因于背,手足必因于手足,总其长短大小而折中之,庶得谓之同身寸法。法附前各条
之下,而后之所谓中指同身寸法者,虽不可混用。而亦有当用之处,并列于后。
中指同身寸法
以男左女右手大指中指,圆曲交接如环,取中指小节横纹两头尽处,比为一寸。凡手足尺寸及背部横寸,
无折法之处,乃用此法,其他不必混用。
古今尺寸不同说
《骨度》篇曰∶人长七尺五寸者,其骨节之大小长短各几何?伯高曰∶头之大骨围二尺六寸。盖古之
尺小,大约古之一尺,得今之八寸。其言七尺五寸者,得今之六尺,其言二尺六寸
者,得今之二尺零八分也,其余仿此。然骨大者,必有太过;骨小者,必有不及。凡用折法者,但随人之
大小而为盈缩,庶尽其善。
(The following content is derived from the ancient measurement data in the "Bone Measurement" chapter. However, individuals with larger bones will have larger measurements, while those with smaller bones will have smaller measurements; this text merely outlines general principles.)
Head
The maximum circumference of the head is 2 chi 6 cun. The area covered by hair, from the frontal bone to the nape, measures 1 chi 2 cun. ("Frontal bone covered by hair" refers to the distance from the anterior hairline to the posterior hairline at the nape.)
From below the hairline to the chin (Yi) is 1 chi. (The middle part of the mandible is called Yi; Han refers to the cheek/jaw area.) The distance between the two zygomatic bones is 7 cun. From the side of the ear (Jiao) down to the pillar bone (Zhu Gu, root of the neck) is 1 chi. (The lateral side above the ear is called Jiao. The area above the shoulder and chest connecting to the root of the neck is called Zhu Gu.) At the position in front of the ear corresponding to Er Men, the width is 1 chi 3 cun. At the position behind the ear corresponding to Wan Gu, the width is 9 cun. (Wan Gu is the prominent bone behind the ear at the hairline.)
From the posterior hairline down to the dorsal vertebrae (Da Zhui) is 3.5 cun. (Referring to the position from the posterior hairline to the third cervical spinous process at Da Zhui.) Method for measuring the head: The distance from the anterior hairline to the posterior hairline is折算 (converted/measured) as 1 chi 2 cun. If the hairline is unclear, take the straight vertical distance from the glabella up to the Da Zhu bone and convert it to 1 chi 8 cun. This is the method for vertical Cun. For horizontal Cun, the distance from the inner canthus to the outer canthus is used as a reference for 1 cun.
Both horizontal and vertical Cun methods for the head are based on these standards.
From Shen Ting (DU-24) on the Governor Vessel to Qu Cha (BL-7) on the Bladder Meridian, from Qu Cha to Ben Shen (GB-13) on the Gallbladder Meridian, and from Ben Shen to Tou Wei (ST-8) on the Stomach Meridian, each interval is 1.5 cun. The total distance from Shen Ting to Tou Wei is 4.5 cun.
Chest and Abdomen
From the laryngeal prominence to the center of Que Pen is 4 cun. (This refers to the depression above Ju Gu, which is the location of Tian Tu CV-22.)
From Que Pen to the center of Ji Wei (epigastrium/xiphoid area) is 9 cun. From Ji Wei to Tianshu ST-25 is 8 cun. (Tianshu is an acupoint of the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian, located beside the umbilicus; here it refers to the level of the umbilicus.)
From Tianshu to Heng Gu is 6.5 cun. The transverse length of Heng Gu is 6.5 cun. (The bone below the pubic hair is called Heng Gu. Note: These are ancient measurements. Comparing them with current clinical acupoints reveals many discrepancies; therefore, the later method for folding/measurements of the chest and abdomen should be adopted as appropriate.) The chest circumference is 4 chi 5 cun, the waist circumference is 4 chi 2 cun, and the width between the two breasts is 9.5 cun. (It is more appropriate to convert this to 8 cun.)
The width between the two thighs is 6.5 cun. (This refers to the space between the two legs, at the ends of the Heng Gu, commonly known as the groin crease.) Method for measuring the chest and abdomen: For vertical Cun, using the midline. Starting from Tian Tu CV-22 in Que Pen up to Zhong Ting CV-17 at the upper end of the costal junction, measure 8.4 cun. From the lower end of the costal junction above Ji Wei to the center of the umbilicus, measure 8 cun. From the center of the umbilicus down to Qu Gu CV-4 at the pubic hairline, measure 5 cun. For horizontal Cun, the distance between the two breasts is converted to 8 cun. Both horizontal and vertical Cun methods for the chest and abdomen are based on these standards.
Back
From the spinal column (Lu Gu) down to the coccyx, comprising 21 segments, the length is 3 chi. (Lu Gu refers to the vertebral column. The vertebrae are small externally but large internally; humans can bear weight because of the magnitude of these bones. There are 24 vertebrae in total; the mention of 21 excludes the 3 cervical vertebrae not included here. The coccyx is pointed in males and flat in females.) Method for measuring the back: From Da Zhui GV-14 to the coccyx, the total length is 3 chi. The upper 7 segments each measure 1.41 cun, totaling 9.87 cun; the middle 7 segments each measure 1.61 cun, totaling 11.27 cun, with the 14th segment level with the umbilicus; the lower 7 segments each measure 1.26 cun, totaling 8.82 cun. The total is 2 chi 9.96 cun. The remaining 0.04 cun is an uncalculated remainder. Vertical Cun follows this standard. For horizontal Cun, use the Middle Finger Body-Cun method. The internal width of the vertebral column is 1 cun. Whenever it mentions "1.5 cun from the second row paravertebral" or "3 cun from the third row paravertebral," one must exclude the 1 cun width of the spine itself, calculating purely based on 1.5 cun or 3 cun. Therefore, in the second row, it should be calculated as 2 cun. In the third row, it should be calculated as 3.5 cun.
Lateral Side
From Zhu Gu down to the invisible part under the axilla is 4 cun. (Zhu Gu is the bone at the root of the neck.) From the axilla to the Ji Xie (hypochondriac region) is 1 chi 2 cun. (Ji Xie refers to the floating ribs.)
From Ji Xie to Bi Shu is 6 cun. (The thigh is called Gu. The upper part of the thigh is called Bi. The junction where the bones meet below the greater trochanter and above the thigh is called Bi Shu, corresponding to the location of Huan Tiao GB-30 on the Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian. From Bi Shu down to the knee joint is 1 chi 9 cun.)
Limbs
From the shoulder to the elbow is 1 chi 7 cun. From the elbow to the wrist is 1 chi 2.5 cun. (The middle section of the arm is called Elbow.) From the wrist to the proximal interphalangeal joint of the middle finger is 4 cun. (The junction of the arm and palm is called Wrist.) From this joint to the tip of the finger is 4.5 cun. (The distal phalanx is called the proximal joint in this context, referring to the last segment of the finger.) From the upper margin of Heng Gu down to the upper margin of the Neifu (medial condyle) is 1 chi 8 cun. (The bone edge 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 down to the lower margin is 3.5 cun. (The upper and lower margins can be palpated.) From the lower margin of Neifu down to the medial malleolus is 1 chi 3 cun. (Malleolus meaning seen previously.) From the medial malleolus down to the ground is 3 cun. From the knee down to the lateral malleolus is 1 chi 6 cun. From the lateral malleolus down to Jing Gu (the fifth metatarsal base) is 3 cun. From Jing Gu down to the ground is 1 cun. From the popliteal fossa (Nao) down to the Shu Shu (dorsum of foot attachment) is 1 chi 2 cun. (Nao refers to the popliteal fossa. Fu refers to the dorsum of the foot. The knee is anterior, and Nao is posterior. Shu Shu refers to any area anterior and posterior to the malleoli where the tibia/fibula meets the foot sole, all belonging to the category of Fu.) From Shu Shu down to the ground is 3 cun. The foot length is 1 chi 2 cun, and the width is 4.5 cun. Measurements for hands and feet all use the Middle Finger Body-Cun method described later.
Theory of Body-Cun
Body-Cun refers to measurements proportional to the individual's own body dimensions. People vary in height and build, so the horizontal and vertical distances for acupoints cannot be uniform. If the Middle Finger Body-Cun method is applied indiscriminately, then thin people with long fingers and fat people with short fingers would lead to errors. Therefore, one must select measurements according to the individual's physique to be accurate. As stated in *Biao You Fu*: "When selecting five points, use one point as a standard; when selecting three meridians, use one meridian as a standard." This means aligning one meridian with adjacent ones and one point with adjacent points. It is like phonetic notation: using a specific initial and final sound to bracket the pronunciation, thereby revealing the true nature of the meridians and acupoints. Thus, head measurements must be taken from the head, abdominal measurements from the abdomen, back measurements from the back, and limb measurements from the limbs, averaging their lengths and sizes to achieve the Body-Cun method. This method is attached below the previous sections. The later "Middle Finger Body-Cun method," although not to be used indiscriminately, has its applicable contexts and is listed below.
Middle Finger Body-Cun Method
For men, use the left hand; for women, use the right hand. Curve the thumb and middle finger to form a ring. Measure the distance between the two ends of the transverse crease of the middle phalanx (middle joint) of the middle finger as 1 cun. This method is used only for hand and foot dimensions and back horizontal Cun where no other folding method exists; it should not be mixed elsewhere.
Discussion on Differences Between Ancient and Modern Measurements
The "Bone Measurement" chapter states: "For a person seven chi five cun tall, what are the sizes and lengths of their bone joints?" Bo Gao replied: "The maximum circumference of the head is two chi six cun." Generally, the ancient chi was smaller; approximately one ancient chi equals eight modern cun. Therefore, a height of seven chi five cun corresponds to six modern chi, and a circumference of two chi six cun corresponds to two chi eight fen (0.8 cun) in modern terms. The rest follow this pattern. However, individuals with larger bones will necessarily exceed these standards, and those with smaller bones will fall short. When using folding/measurements methods, one should adjust proportionally according to the individual's size to achieve the best accuracy.