平按∶此篇自篇首至末,俱见《素问》卷八第二十八《通评虚实论》篇,惟自问曰
形度至何以知其度也一节在后,脉浮而涩二句在前,与《甲乙经》卷七第一中篇同,在
经文春秋则生冬夏则死之下。详《素问》新校正云∶“按《甲乙经》移续于此,旧在后
帝曰形度骨度脉度筋度何以知其度也下,王氏以为错简,移附于此。”据新校正所云,
则本书编次,与旧时无异也。
问曰∶形度骨度脉度筋度,何以知之其度也?曰∶脉浮而涩,涩者而身有热者,死
也。(形骨筋等有病,于身节度,可诊脉而知,故脉浮而涩者,身必有热,身热脉浮涩
者死也。平按∶《素问》、《甲乙》而身上无者字。)
平按∶此篇自篇首至末,见《素问》卷八第二十八《通评虚实论》篇,又见《甲乙
经》卷七第一中篇。
问曰∶络气之不足,经气有余何如?答曰∶络气不足,经气有余,脉热而尺寒,秋
冬为逆,春秋为顺,治主病者。(络虚经实,何以得知?络为阳也,经为阴也。寸为阳
也,外也;尺为阴也,内也。秋冬,阴也;春夏,阳也。络气不足,阳气虚也;经气有
余,阴气盛也。于秋冬时,诊寸口得缓脉,尺之皮肤寒,为逆;春夏缓脉,尺之皮肤寒,
为顺。缓脉,热也。以秋冬阳气在内,阴气在外;春夏阴气在内,阳气在外故也。于尺
寸在内时寒热,取经络虚实也。平按∶《素问》、《甲乙》脉下有口字。《素问》顺作
从。)问曰∶经虚络满何如?答曰∶经虚络满者,尺热满,脉寒涩,此春夏则死,秋冬
则生。(满,盛也。经虚络盛,春夏诊得尺之皮肤热盛,寸口得急脉,为逆,故死。秋
冬得尺热脉急,故生。脉急多寒,脉缓多热也。平按∶《素问》、《甲乙》脉下有口字,
死生上无两则字。)问曰∶治此者奈何?答曰∶络满经虚,灸阴刺阳;经满络虚,刺阴
灸阳。(经虚阴虚,故灸阴;络满阳满,故刺阳也。经满阴满,故刺阴;络虚阳虚,故
灸阳也。)
[Ping An]: This section, from the beginning to the end, is found in Volume 8, Chapter 28 "Tong Ping Xu Shi Lun" (Comprehensive Evaluation of Deficiency and Excess) of the *Suwen* (Basic Questions). However, the section starting from "The question arises: What are Xing Du, Gu Du, Mai Du, and Jin Du..." to "...how can one know their measures?" appears later in the text, while the two phrases "Mai Fu Er Se" (Pulse floating and choppy) appear earlier. This arrangement is identical to that in Volume 7, First Middle Section of the *Jiayi Jing* (Systematic Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion), located below the sentence "In spring and autumn, life; in winter and summer, death." A detailed examination of the New Corrections in the *Suwen* states: "According to the *Jiayi Jing*, this passage was moved here; in the old version, it was located after 'The Yellow Emperor said: What are Xing Du, Gu Du, Mai Du, and Jin Du, and how can one know their measures?' Wang Bing considered this a case of misplaced bamboo slips (cuojian) and moved it to its current position." Based on the New Corrections, the compilation order of this book is consistent with the old version.
Question: What are Xing Du (Form Measure), Gu Du (Bone Measure), Mai Du (Pulse Measure), and Jin Du (Sinew Measure)? How can one determine their limits?
Answer: If the pulse is floating and choply (Se), and the body has heat, it indicates a fatal condition. (When diseases affect the form, bones, sinews, etc., one can diagnose via the pulse at the body's joints/measures. Therefore, if the pulse is floating and choply, the body must have heat. If the body is hot and the pulse is floating and choply, it is fatal. [Ping An]: The *Suwen* and *Jiayi Jing* do not contain the character 'wu' (no/without) after 'shen shang' (on the body).)
[Ping An]: This section, from beginning to end, is found in Volume 8, Chapter 28 "Tong Ping Xu Shi Lun" of the *Suwen*, and also in Volume 7, First Middle Section of the *Jiayi Jing*.
Question: What happens when Luo Qi (Collateral Qi) is deficient and Jing Qi (Meridian Qi) is excessive?
Answer: When Luo Qi is deficient and Jing Qi is excessive, the pulse feels hot while the skin at the Chi (Cun-Chi measurement point, specifically the radial artery distal portion) is cold. In autumn and winter, this is contrary (Ni); in spring and autumn, this is compliant (Shun). Treatment should target the primary diseased area. (How to distinguish between deficiency in the Luo and excess in the Jing? The Luo vessels belong to Yang, while the Jing meridians belong to Yin. The Cun (proximal) position belongs to Yang and governs the exterior; the Chi (distal) position belongs to Yin and governs the interior. Autumn and winter belong to Yin; spring and summer belong to Yang. Deficiency in Luo Qi implies deficiency of Yang Qi; excess in Jing Qi implies abundance of Yin Qi. During autumn and winter, if a slow (Huan) pulse is felt at the Cun position and the skin at the Chi position is cold, it is contrary (Ni); if a slow pulse is felt during spring and summer with cold skin at the Chi position, it is compliant (Shun). A slow pulse indicates heat. This is because in autumn and winter, Yang Qi is internal and Yin Qi is external; in spring and summer, Yin Qi is internal and Yang Qi is external. Thus, the coldness and heat observed internally at the Cun and Chi positions are derived from the deficiency and excess of the meridians. [Ping An]: The *Suwen* and *Jiayi Jing* add the character 'kou' (mouth/orifice) after 'mai' (pulse). The *Suwen* uses 'cong' (follow/comply) instead of 'shun'.)
Question: What happens when Jing Qi is deficient and Luo Qi is excessive?
Answer: In the case of Jing deficiency and Luo excess, the skin at the Chi position is hot and full, while the pulse is cold and choply. This leads to death in spring and summer, but survival in autumn and winter. ('Man' means full/excessive. With Jing deficiency and Luo excess, if in spring and summer one diagnoses excessive heat at the Chi skin and an urgent (Ji) pulse at the Cun position, it is contrary, hence fatal. If in autumn and winter one finds Chi heat and an urgent pulse, there is survival. Urgent pulses often indicate cold, while slow pulses often indicate heat. [Ping An]: The *Suwen* and *Jiayi Jing* add 'kou' after 'mai'. There are no two 'ze' characters before 'si' (death) and 'sheng' (life).)
Question: How should these conditions be treated?
Answer: For Luo excess and Jing deficiency, moxa the Yin meridians and needle the Yang meridians; for Jing excess and Luo deficiency, needle the Yin meridians and moxa the Yang meridians. (Jing deficiency implies Yin deficiency, so moxa the Yin meridians; Luo excess implies Yang excess, so needle the Yang meridians. Jing excess implies Yin excess, so needle the Yin meridians; Luo deficiency implies Yang deficiency, so moxa the Yang meridians.)