心者。君主之官也。神明出焉(心为一身之主)肺者相傅之官。治节出焉(肺与心皆居隔
上。
故曰相傅。肺主气。气调则荣卫。脏腑无所不治。故曰治节出焉)肝者将军之官。谋肤出焉(
肝性急而志怒。故为将军之官。木主发生故为谋肤所出)胆者中正之官。决断出焉(胆性刚直
。为中正之官。主决断)膻中者。臣使之官。喜乐出焉(膻中亦名气海。主化气而承治节宣神
明者也。是行君相之令。故曰臣使。然膻中气舒则喜乐。气不舒则悲愁故为喜乐所出。膻中
。即包络也)脾胃者。仓廪之官。五味出焉(脾主运化。胃司受纳。故为仓廪之官。脾胃和则
知五味。不和则诸物无味。故曰五味出焉)大肠者。传道之官。变化出焉(主出糟粕)小肠者
。受盛之官。化物出焉(小肠居胃之下。受盛水谷。厘清浊而下降。故曰化物出焉)肾者。作
强之官。伎(技同)巧出焉肾脏精。精盛形成。则作用强力。水能化。生万物。故出伎巧)三
焦
者。决渎之官。水道出焉(决。通也。渎水道也。上焦不治水溢高原。中焦不治。水停中脘
。下焦不治。水蓄膀胱。三焦气治。则水道刺)膀胱者。州都之官。津液藏焉。气化则能出
矣(三焦水液俱出膀胱是为都会之地。津液所藏。膀胱有下口而无上口。津液之入者为水。
水之化者由气。有化而入。而后有出。是谓气化则能出矣。入气不化。则水归大肠而为泄泻
。出气不化。则闭塞下窍而为癃肿)凡此十二官者不得相失也。
The Heart is the official of the Sovereign. Shenming (Spirit and Consciousness) emanates from it (The Heart is the master of the whole body). The Lung is the official of the Chancellor. Zhijie (Regulation and Governance) emanates from it (The Lung and Heart both reside above the diaphragm, hence called the Chancellor. The Lung governs Qi; when Qi is regulated, Ying and Wei are harmonious, and the Zang-Fu organs are properly managed, hence Zhijie emanates from it). The Liver is the official of the General. Moulu (Strategizing and Planning) emanates from it (The Liver's nature is urgent and its emotion is anger, thus it is the official of the General. Wood governs growth and generation, hence Moulu emanates from it). The Gallbladder is the official of Integrity. Jueduan (Decision-making) emanates from it (The Gallbladder's nature is upright and resolute, serving as the official of Integrity, governing decision-making). The Danzhong (Chest/Pericardium) is the official of the Envoy. Xile (Joy and Happiness) emanates from it (Danzhong is also known as Qihai, governing Qi transformation and receiving regulation to disseminate Shenming. It executes the orders of the Sovereign and Chancellor, hence called the Envoy. When Danzhong Qi is smooth, there is joy; when stagnant, there is sorrow, hence Xile emanates from it. Danzhong is the Pericardium). The Spleen and Stomach are the officials of the Granary. Wuwei (The Five Flavors) emanate from them (The Spleen governs transportation and transformation, the Stomach governs reception and decomposition, hence they are the officials of the Granary. When Spleen and Stomach are harmonious, one perceives the five flavors; when disharmonious, all foods taste bland, hence Wuwei emanate from them). The Large Intestine is the official of Transmission. Bianhua (Transformation and Change) emanates from it (Primarily responsible for discharging waste). The Small Intestine is the official of Reception and Fulfillment. Huawu (Transformation of Substances) emanates from it (The Small Intestine resides below the Stomach, receiving and storing food and fluids, separating the clear from the turbid and descending them, hence Huawu emanates from it). The Kidney is the official of Strength and Vigor. Jiqiao (Skill and Dexterity) emanates from it (The Kidney stores Jing; when Jing is abundant, the form is strong, actions are powerful, and Water can transform and generate all things, hence Jiqiao emanates from it). The Sanjiao (Triple Burner) is the official of Irrigation. Shuidao (Water Pathways) emanates from it (Jue means to open/unblock; Du means waterway. If the Upper Sanjiao is not treated, water overflows like a high plateau; if the Middle Sanjiao is not treated, water stagnates in the Zhongwan region; if the Lower Sanjiao is not treated, water accumulates in the Bladder. When Sanjiao Qi is regulated, the water pathways are unobstructed). The Bladder is the official of the Prefecture. Jinye (Body Fluids) are stored here. When Qi transforms, they can be discharged (Fluids from the Sanjiao all exit via the Bladder, making it a gathering place where Body Fluids are stored. The Bladder has an outlet but no inlet; the entering fluid is water, and its transformation is driven by Qi. Only through transformation can entry lead to exit, which is called "when Qi transforms, it can be discharged." If the entering Qi does not transform, water returns to the Large Intestine causing diarrhea; if the exiting Qi does not transform, the lower orifices become blocked causing strangury and edema). All these twelve officials must not lose harmony with one another.