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Ping An: This chapter, from the beginning to the end, is found in Volume 4, Chapter 13 "Yi Jing Bian Qi Lun" (Treatise on Shifting Spirit and Changing Qi) of the *Suwen* (Basic Questions).

Yellow Emperor asked Qibo: I have heard that in ancient times, those who treated diseases could cure them merely by shifting spirit and changing qi through Zhuyou (a therapeutic method involving incantation to explain the cause of illness). In modern times, however, people treat diseases internally with medicinal herbs and externally with needles and stones. Some recover while others do not; why is this? (In ancient times, when people had illnesses, they simply used Zhuyou to remove the cause of the disease, and the illness would resolve. People today suffer from needle and herb treatments but fail to recover; is it because the severity of the disease varies? Or is it because the medical techniques are inadequate? Ping An: The phrase "yu Qibo" does not appear in the *Suwen*. The character "zhe" in "gu zhi zhi bing zhe" is absent in the *Suwen*, and the character "ye" after "er yi ye" is also missing.)

Qibo replied: In ancient times, people lived among beasts and birds. (In antiquity, there were many beasts and few humans. Humans lived among beasts, dwelling in nests to avoid them, hence the title Youshao Shi [Lord of Nests]. Ping An: The *Suwen* includes the character "dui" before "shang", and omits the character "min" before "ren".) They moved about to ward off cold and dwelled in shady places to escape heat. (By being active, one overcomes cold; thus, movement is used to avoid cold. By being still, one overcomes heat; thus, dwelling in shade is used to avoid heat.) Internally, there was no burden of longing and attachment; externally, there was no physical strain from seeking official positions. This was an era of tranquility and emptiness, where pathogenic factors could not enter. Therefore, internal treatment with medicinal herbs and external treatment with needles and stones were unnecessary, and curing through shifting spirit and Zhuyou sufficed. (Since it was an era of tranquility and emptiness, human nature was naturally tranquil and content. Being tranquil and content, there was no emotional attachment internally; being peaceful and joyful, there was no servitude to official duties externally. Seeking office did not enslave the body, so external things did not take shape; longing did not exhaust the will, so internal desires did not become a burden. With both internal and external states being tranquil and empty, natural harmony was achieved. When external pathogens entered slightly, how deep could they go? Thus, for illnesses, one relied on Zhuyou to shift spirit and change qi to eliminate them, without needing needles or herbs. Ping An: "Shen huan" appears as "Shen guan" in the *Suwen*, and "Yuan" appears as "Yu". Xin Zheng Jiao states: Quan Yuanqi's version has "Shen" as "Yu". The commentary is printed as such here. Xin Zheng Jiao states: "Quan Yuanqi says: Zhuyou refers to the Southern God.")

The current era is different. Worries and anxieties torment us internally, and physical suffering damages us externally. (Longing arises in the heart, causing sorrow internally; seeking office causes physical hardship, causing damage externally. Ping An: The *Suwen* adds the character "zhi" after "shi", and changes "zhuo" to "yuan".) Furthermore, people deviate from the proper顺应 (compliance) of the four seasons and the appropriateness of cold and heat. Zefeng (treacherous winds/abnormal climatic factors) arrive frequently, and Xuexie (deficiency pathogens) invade morning and night. They penetrate inward to the five zang organs and bone marrow, and outwardly injure the orifices and skin. Consequently, minor illnesses inevitably worsen, and major illnesses inevitably lead to death. Therefore, Zhuyou alone cannot cure these conditions.

Yellow Emperor said: Excellent. (In summer, cool breezes comfort the temperament; in winter, warmth satisfies desires. If one fails to understand the compliance with the reversal and progression of the four seasons, and does not align with the suitability of winter cold and summer heat, then treacherous winds reach the couli (interstices), and deficiency pathogens harm the body morning and night. Deficiency pathogens harming the body enter inwardly into the zang organs and lodge in the marrow; treacherous winds open the couli and affect the exterior muscles, injuring the orifices. Thus, slight ailments accumulate into major diseases. Adding to this, leading to death, even bitter needles and herbs may fail to cure, let alone the mild method of Zhuyou. Ping An: "Ni shun" appears as "Cong ni" in the *Suwen*, and the character "yin" before "xu" is omitted.)