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Huangdi asked Bo Gao, "The *Mai Du* (Measure of Vessels) chapter discusses the lengths of the meridians. On what basis are these measurements established?" Bo Gao replied, "First measure the size, width, and length of the bone joints, and then the lengths of the vessels will be determined." (*Du* means to measure; *Ye* is an ancient phonetic particle).

This passage explains that the lengths of the meridians are determined by the size, width, and length of the bone joints. Therefore, it is said that bones are the trunk, and the vessels are the channels through which Ying Qi (Nutritive Qi) circulates, much like vines attaching themselves to the trunk of a tree.

Huangdi said, "I wish to hear about the body measurements of ordinary people. For a person who is seven chi five cun tall, what are the sizes and lengths of their various bone joints?" Bo Gao replied, "The circumference of the largest part of the skull is two chi six cun."

This describes the measurement of the skull. "Ordinary people" refers to the general population. A height of seven chi five cun represents the average stature in ancient times. For those of average stature, the skull is also average. If the skull is average, the bones of the entire body are average.

The chest circumference is four chi five cun, and the waist circumference is four chi two cun.

These figures represent the total circumference around the chest and lumbar vertebrae.

The area covered by hair, from the top of the skull to the nape of the neck, measures one chi two cun. From the anterior hairline down to the chin, the length is one chi. For gentlemen (those with square faces and high hairlines), a median value is taken.

This describes the anterior-posterior and superior-inferior dimensions of the skull. "The area covered by hair" refers to the region from the anterior hairline, up to the vertex, and back to the posterior hairline at the nape, measuring one chi two cun. "From the hairline down to the chin" refers to the distance from the anterior hairline to the mandibular angles on both sides, measuring one chi. "Gentlemen take the median" means that for individuals with high hairlines, the measurement from the start to the end of the hairline can be averaged. Typically, for such individuals, the hair-covered area from the skull to the nape is one chi one cun, and the area from the hairline to the chin is also one chi one cun. This indicates that among the population, there are differences between gentlemen and commoners, and variations ranging from excess to deficiency.

From the laryngeal prominence below to the Quepen (Locket Basin, central depression of the supraclavicular fossa) is four cun. From Quepen below to the Jiuwei (Tail Shield, xiphoid process) is nine cun. If this exceeds the standard, the lungs are large; if it is less, the lungs are small. From Jiuwei below to the Tianshu (Heavenly Pivot, 2 cun lateral to the umbilicus) is eight cun. If this exceeds the standard, the stomach is large; if it is less, the stomach is small. From Tianshu below to the Henggu (Horizontal Bone, upper border of the pubic symphysis) is six and a half cun. If this exceeds the standard, the ileum is wide and long; if it is less, it is narrow and short. The Henggu itself is six and a half cun long. From the upper border of the Henggu to the upper border of the Neifu (Inner Accessory Bone, medial condyle of the tibia) is one chi eight cun. From the upper border of the Neifu to its lower border is three and a half cun. From the lower border of the Neifu to the medial malleolus is one chi three cun. From below the medial malleolus to the ground is three cun. From below the popliteal fossa to the dorsum-foot junction is one chi six cun. From the dorsum-foot junction to the ground is three cun. Therefore, if the bone circumference is large, it indicates excess; if small, it indicates deficiency. (*Ji* sounds like 'patella'; *Ye* is an ancient phonetic particle).

This describes the bone measurements taken while supine. The depressions on either side of the laryngeal prominence, near the clavicle, are called Quepen because their shape resembles a basin with a missing section. The *Jiuwei* is a bone name, also known as Wei Yi, referring to the xiphoid process. From the bilateral Quepen down to the Jiuwei measures nine cun. Excess implies large lungs; deficiency implies small lungs, as this internal area houses the heart and lungs. Tianshu is located two cun lateral to the umbilicus and belongs to the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian. From the bilateral Jiuwei down to Tianshu measures eight cun. Excess implies a large stomach; deficiency implies a small stomach, as this region from the xiphoid to the umbilicus houses the stomach organ. The Henggu is located in the transverse crease of the pubic hair line. From Tianshu down to the Henggu measures six and a half cun. Excess implies a wide ileum; deficiency implies a narrow one, as this region from the umbilicus to the lower abdomen corresponds to the large intestine. The transverse length of the Henggu is also six and a half cun. "Neifu" refers to the accessory bone on the medial side. The upper border of the Neifu being one chi eight cun long refers to the upper leg measurement. The distance from the upper to the lower border of the Neifu is three and a half cun, referring to the knee connection, also known as the patella. The distance from the lower border of the Neifu to the medial malleolus is one chi three cun, referring to the lower leg measurement. They are called Neifu and medial malleolus because when the feet stand in a splayed position, the inner bones face inward. The "malleolus" refers to the concave area where the lower leg bone connects with the foot bone; the inner one is the medial malleolus, and the outer one is the lateral malleolus. The distance from below the medial malleolus to the ground is three cun, representing the calcaneus. The bone below the knee is referred to as *Xi*, and the bone on the dorsum of the foot is the tarsal bone, specifically the site of the Foot-Yangming artery pulse. From the front of the knee down to the dorsum measures one chi six cun. "Shu" generally refers to the dorsum of the foot. The distance from the dorsum to the ground is three cun, representing the bones from the dorsum down to the sole. Large bone circumference indicates robust bones; small indicates slender bones.

From the ear angle above to the Zhugu (Pillar Bone, spinous process of C7) is one chi. The portion running within the abdomen and not visible is four cun. From the axilla to the Ji Xie (Seasonal Costal Margin, end of the 12th rib) is one chi two cun. From the Ji Xie to the Bitshu (Hip Pivot, greater trochanter of the femur) is six cun. From the Bitshu to the middle of the knee is one chi nine cun. From the knee to the lateral malleolus is one chi six cun. From the lateral malleolus to the Jinggu (Capital Bone, tuberosity of the fifth metatarsal) is three cun. From the Jinggu to the ground is one cun.

This describes the bone measurements taken from the side, counted longitudinally. The side above the ear is the angle; the cervical bone above the scapula is the Zhugu. From the angle below to the Zhugu measures one chi. The interior of the ribs below the armpit is the axilla. From the Zhugu to the center of the axilla measures four cun. Below the rib cage is the Ji Xie. From the axilla to the Ji Xie measures one chi two cun. Below the Jiegǔ (hip joint) is the Bitshu, also known as Biyan, located on both sides of the buttocks, corresponding to the Huantiao point of the Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian. From the Ji Xie to the Bitshu measures six cun. From the Bitshu to the mid-point of the inner side of the patella measures one chi nine cun, which is the upper leg measurement. From the knee to the lateral malleolus is one chi six cun, which is the lower leg measurement. Jinggu is a point name in the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian, located in the depression between red and white flesh below the large bone on the lateral side of the foot. From the lateral malleolus to the Jinggu is three cun; from the Jinggu to the ground is one cun. This is the lateral bone measurement. Note: The costal bones are flat bones lying horizontally under the ribs, having texture but no marrow cavity. This section does not measure the length of the costal bones themselves but uses the distance from the axilla to the Ji Xie (one chi two cun) as a proxy. This is because body measurements generally assess the skin, flesh, vessels, and bones together, with meridians running vertically along the bone structures. Behind the ear, at the Wangu (Complete Bone, mastoid process), the width is nine cun. In front of the ear, at the Ermen (Ear Gate), the width is one chi three cun. Between the two zygomatic arches, the distance is seven cun.

This describes the horizontal dimensions of the side of the head. The high bone behind the ear is the Wangu, extending four fen into the hairline. "Guang" refers to transverse width. "Behind the ear at the Wangu" extends from the ear to the back of the head. "In front of the ear at the Ermen" extends from the ear to the tip of the nose. This is the horizontal dimension of the side of the head. The distance between the two zygomatic arches is seven cun, which is the horizontal dimension of the face. Note: The meridians of the Hand and Foot Shaoyang and Yangming traverse the head and face horizontally and vertically, so the width of the head and face is measured again. The distance between the two nipples is nine and a half cun.

This is the horizontal dimension of the anterior body.

The distance between the two thighs (groin) is six and a half cun.

This is the horizontal dimension of the posterior body.

The foot is one chi two cun long and four and a half cun wide.

These are the longitudinal and transverse measurements of the feet.

From the shoulder to the elbow is one chi seven cun. From the elbow to the wrist is one chi two and a half cun. From the wrist to the root knuckle of the middle finger is four cun. From the root knuckle to the fingertip is four and a half cun.

These are the bone measurements of the arms and hands. The "root knuckle" refers to the joint connecting the finger and palm; the "tip" refers to the fingertip.

From below the hairline to the back bone (Dazhui) is two and a half cun. From the Lügu (Spinal Bone) down to the twenty-one segments of the coccyx is three chi. Each segment is one cun four fen and one-quarter fen long, with the fractional part calculated in the lower segment. Thus, the upper seven segments up to the Lügu measure nine cun eight fen and seven-eighths of a fen. (*Di* sounds like 'bottom').

This describes the bone measurements of the spine and back. From the posterior hairline to the back bone (Dazhui point) measures two cun five fen. The Lügu is the spinal column. From the Dazhui along the spine down to the coccyx comprises twenty-one segments, totaling three chi. Each upper segment is one cun four fen one li long. The remaining nine li of the fraction are calculated in the lowest segment. Therefore, above the Lügu, there are seven segments. At one cun four fen one li per segment, seven segments yield seven cun. Four times seven yields two cun eight fen, totaling nine cun eight fen. Adding one li per segment totals nine cun eight fen seven li. Hence, it is stated as "nine cun eight fen and seven-eighths." Master Yu asked, "Why are only the upper seven segments detailed among the twenty-one vertebral segments?" The answer is, "Beside the seventh segment lies the Ge Shu (Diaphragm Shu) point. The Qi of the zang and fu organs emerges from the internal diaphragm. Injury to Zang Qi from above is fatal; injury to Fu Qi is considered injury to the Middle Jiao. Therefore, it is said, 'Beside the seventh segment, there is the Small Heart.' Furthermore, this chapter discusses the Back-Shu points of the Five Zang organs and also mentions the Diaphragm Shu at the seventh segment, which must not be needled recklessly."

These are the bone measurements of ordinary people, used to establish the lengths of the meridians. Therefore, observing the meridians in the body: those that appear floating, firm, bright, and large indicate abundant Blood; those that appear thin and deep indicate abundant Qi.

This summarizes the bone measurements to determine meridian lengths. Meridians appearing floating, firm, bright, and large indicate abundant Blood; those thin and deep indicate abundant Qi. This chapter discusses Bone Qi and concludes with the Blood and Qi of the meridians. Blood vessels originate from the Kidney; when the essence and Qi of the bones are vigorous, the Blood and Qi of the meridians are also vigorous. Shang Yugong said, "The Kidneys store Essence and govern the bones. Blood is the manifestation of Shen Qi." These six chapters discuss tendons, bones, blood, and vessels, rooted in the Yin and Yang of the Shaoyin channel. Zhang Kaizhi stated, "The fluids stored in the Kidneys are transformed by the Heart Spirit into red Blood. Qi is Essence. Therefore, floating indicates Yang and governs Blood; sinking indicates Yin and governs Qi."