黄帝问于伯高曰。余愿闻六腑传谷者。肠胃之小大长短。受谷之多少奈何。伯高曰。请尽言之。
谷所从出入浅深远近长短之度。唇至齿长九分。口广二寸半。齿以后至会厌。深三寸半。大容五合。
舌重十两。长七寸。广二寸半。咽门重十两。广二寸半。至胃长一尺六寸。胃纡曲屈伸之。长二尺六
寸。大一尺五寸。径五寸。大容三斗五升。小肠后附脊左。环回周叠。积其注于回肠者。外附于脐
上。回运环十六曲。大二寸半。径八分分之少半。长三丈三尺。回肠当脐左环回周叶。积而下回运环
反十六曲。大四寸。径一寸寸之少半。长二丈一尺。广肠传脊。以受回肠。左环叶脊上下辟大八寸。
径二寸寸之大半。长二尺八寸。肠胃所入至所出。长六丈四寸四分。回曲环反三十二曲也。
此言有生之后。总藉水谷之所生养。故专论其肠胃。胃主受纳水谷。肠主传导变化。其精液血
气。由此而生焉。越人曰。唇为飞门。齿为户门。会厌为吸门。胃为贲门。太仓下口为幽门。大小肠
会为阑门。下极为魄门。盖
唇齿乃始受水谷之门。故先论唇齿之广长。舌者。主为卫使之迎粮。舌和而后能知五味。会厌者。
喉之上套。所以分别咽喉。咽乃胃之门。主受纳水谷。喉乃肺之窍。以司呼吸者也。
Huangdi asked Bo Gao: I wish to learn about the transmission of grain through the six fu organs, specifically regarding the size, length, and capacity of the stomach and intestines. Bo Gao replied: Please allow me to explain fully.
The measurements for the depth, distance, length, and breadth of the path where grain enters and exits are as follows: From the lips to the teeth is 9 fen; the width of the mouth is 2.5 cun; from behind the teeth to the epiglottis (Huiyan) is 3.5 cun in depth, with a capacity of 5 he.
The tongue weighs 10 liang, is 7 cun long, and 2.5 cun wide. The pharyngeal gate (Yanmen) weighs 10 liang, is 2.5 cun wide, and extends 1 chi 6 cun to the stomach. The stomach, when uncoiled and straightened, is 2 chi 6 cun long, has a circumference of 1 chi 5 cun, a diameter of 5 cun, and a maximum capacity of 3 dou 5 sheng.
The small intestine (Xiaochang) attaches posteriorly to the left side of the spine, looping and overlapping. Its portion that gathers and directs contents into the ileum attaches externally above the navel. It loops around sixteen times, with a circumference of 2.5 cun, a diameter of 8 fen plus one-third of a fen, and a length of 3 zhang 3 chi.
The ileum (Hui chang) loops on the left side of the navel, arranging in leaf-like folds, accumulating downwards and looping back sixteen times in reverse direction. It has a circumference of 4 cun, a diameter of 1 cun plus two-thirds of a cun, and a length of 2 zhang 1 chi.
The large intestine (Guochang, specifically the lower part/rectum) runs along the spine to receive contents from the ileum, spreading left and right around the spine. It has a circumference of 8 cun, a diameter of 2 cun plus two-thirds of a cun, and a length of 2 chi 8 cun.
From the entry to the exit of the gastrointestinal tract, the total length is 6 zhang 4 cun 4 fen, comprising thirty-two loops and turns.
This passage discusses how life after birth relies entirely on water and grain for nourishment, thus focusing specifically on the stomach and intestines. The stomach is primarily responsible for receiving and storing food and drink, while the intestines are responsible for conducting and transforming waste. Essence, fluid, blood, and qi are generated from this process.
The *Nanjing* (Classic of Difficult Issues) states: The lips are the Flying Gate (Feimen); the teeth are the Door Gate (Humen); the epiglottis is the Suction Gate (Ximen); the cardia of the stomach is the Constrictor Gate (Benmen); the lower opening of the Tai Cang (stomach) is the Navel Gate (Youmen); the junction of the small and large intestines is the Screen Gate (Lanmen); and the anus is the Corporeal Soul Gate (Pomen).
The lips and teeth are the initial gates for receiving water and grain, so their dimensions are discussed first. The tongue serves as the guardian messenger to welcome food; only when the tongue's function is harmonized can the five flavors be discerned. The epiglottis is the upper hood of the larynx, used to distinguish between the pharynx and the larynx. The pharynx is the gate of the stomach, primarily responsible for receiving food and drink; the larynx is the orifice of the lung, primarily responsible for governing respiration.