项发以下至脊骨长二寸半(自后发际以至大椎项骨三节处也)。
按∶头部折法,以前发际至后发际,折为一尺二寸。如发际不明,则取眉心直上,后至
大杼骨,折作一尺八寸,此为直寸。横寸法以眼内角至外角,此为一寸。头部横直寸法,并
根据此。
结喉以下至缺盆中,长四寸(此以巨骨上陷中而言,即天突空处)。
缺盆之下 之中,长九寸。
胸围四尺五寸。
两乳之间广九寸半(当折八寸为当)
中下至天枢,长八寸(天枢,足阳明穴名,在脐旁,此指平脐而言)
天枢以下至横骨,长六寸半。横骨横长六寸半(毛际下骨曰横骨)
按∶此古数,以今用上下穴法参较,多有未合,宜从后胸腹折为当。
两脾之间广六寸半(此当两股之中,横骨两头之处,俗名髀缝)
按∶胸腹折法,直寸以中行为之。自缺盆中天突穴起,至歧骨际上中庭穴止,折作八寸
四分。自 上歧骨际下至脐心,折作八寸。脐心下至毛际曲骨穴,折作五寸。横寸以两乳相去
,折作八寸。胸腹横直寸法,并根据此。
膂骨以下至尾 二十一节,长三尺(膂骨脊骨也,脊骨外小而内巨。人之所以能负任者
,以是骨之巨也。脊骨二十四节,今云二十一节者,除项骨三节不在内也)
腰围四尺二寸
按∶背部折法,自大椎至尾 ,通折三尺。上七节各长一寸四分一厘,共九寸八分七厘
。中七节各一寸六分一厘,共一尺一寸二分七厘。第十四节与脐相平,
下七节各一寸二分六厘,共八寸八分二厘。共二尺九寸九分六厘,不足四厘者,有零未尽也
。直寸根据此,横寸用中指同身寸法。脊骨内阔一寸,凡云第二行;挟脊一寸半,三行。挟脊
三寸者,皆除脊一寸外,净以寸半三寸论。故在二行当为二寸,在三行当为三寸半也。
项部发际以下至脊骨长二寸半(指从后发际线直到大椎穴所在的颈椎第三节处)。
按语:头部折量法,以前发际至后发际,折为一尺二寸。如果发际界限不清,则取眉心直上,后至大杼骨,折作一尺八寸,这称为直寸。横寸法以眼内角至外角,此为一寸。头部的横向和纵向折量法,均依据此标准。
喉结以下至缺盆中,长四寸(这是指巨骨上方的凹陷处,即天突穴的空陷处)。
缺盆之下至胸剑联合中,长九寸。
胸围四尺五寸。
两乳之间宽九寸半(应当折为八寸才恰当)。
中脘下至天枢,长八寸(天枢是足阳明胃经的穴位名,位于脐旁,这里指平齐于肚脐而言)。
天枢以下至横骨,长六寸半。横骨横向长六寸半(阴毛下方的骨头称为横骨)。
按语:这些是古代的数值,用现在的上下穴位折量法参照比较,大多不相符合,适宜采用后面所述的胸腹折量法才恰当。
两髀缝之间宽六寸半(这是在两腿中间,横骨两端的位置,俗称髀缝)。
按语:胸腹折量法,直寸以身体中线为准。自缺盆中的天突穴起,至歧骨际上的中庭穴止,折作八寸四分。自歧骨际下至脐心,折作八寸。脐心下至阴毛际的曲骨穴,折作五寸。横寸以两乳头之间的距离,折作八寸。胸腹的横向和纵向折量法,均依据此标准。
脊柱(膂骨)以下至尾骨二十一节,长三尺(膂骨即脊骨,脊骨外形小内部巨大。人之所以能负重,是因为这块骨头巨大。脊骨共二十四节,现在说二十一节,是因为排除了颈部的三节不在计算之内)。
腰围四尺二寸。
按语:背部折量法,自大椎至尾骨,总共折三尺。上部七节每节长一寸四分一厘,共九寸八分七厘。中部七节每节长一寸六分一厘,共一尺一寸二分七厘。第十四节与肚脐相平齐。下部七节每节长一寸二分六厘,共八寸八分二厘。合计二尺九寸九分六厘,不足四厘的部分,是有零头未完全计入。直寸依据此标准,横寸使用中指同身寸法。脊骨内部宽度一寸,凡是提到第二行;挟脊一寸半,为第三行。挟脊三寸者,都是除去脊骨一寸之外,净以一寸半或三寸来计算。所以在第二行应当算作二寸,在第三行应当算作三寸半。
From the nape hairline below to the spinal bone is two and a half cun (referring to the area from the posterior hairline to the third cervical vertebra where Dazhui GV14 is located).
Note: For head measurement, the distance from the anterior hairline to the posterior hairline is measured as one chi two cun. If the hairline is indistinct, measure from the midpoint between the eyebrows straight up to the Dabu BL11 bone, measuring as one chi eight cun; this is referred to as vertical cun. For horizontal cun, the distance from the inner canthus to the outer canthus of the eye is taken as one cun. The horizontal and vertical measurement methods for the head are based on these standards.
From below the laryngeal prominence to the center of Quepen (supraclavicular fossa) is four cun (this refers to the depression above Gugu SI12, which is the hollow at Tiantu CV22).
Below Quepen to the center of the chest is nine cun.
The circumference of the chest is four chi five cun.
The width between the two nipples is nine and a half cun (it should be measured as eight cun for accuracy).
From Zhongwan CV12 down to Tianshu ST25 is eight cun (Tianshu is the name of an acupoint in the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian, located beside the umbilicus; here it refers to the level of the umbilicus).
From Tianshu down to Henggu (pubic symphysis) is six and a half cun. The transverse length of Henggu is six and a half cun (the bone below the pubic hair is called Henggu).
Note: These are ancient measurements. When compared with current upper and lower acupoint measurement methods, they often do not coincide. It is more appropriate to adopt the later described chest and abdomen measurement method.
The width between the two thighs (bifeng) is six and a half cun (this is located in the middle of the two legs, at the ends of the Henggu bone, commonly known as the bifeng or thigh seam).
Note: For chest and abdomen measurement, vertical cun is based on the midline. Starting from Tiantu CV22 in Quepen to Zhongting CV12 at the junction of the xiphoid process, the measurement is eight chi four fen. From the lower end of the xiphoid process to the center of the umbilicus, the measurement is eight cun. From the center of the umbilicus to Qugu CV22 at the pubic hairline, the measurement is five cun. For horizontal cun, the distance between the two nipples is measured as eight cun. The horizontal and vertical measurement methods for the chest and abdomen are based on these standards.
From the lumbar spine (Lv Gu) down to the coccyx, consisting of twenty-one segments, is three chi (Lv Gu refers to the spinal column; the spinal column is small externally but large internally. The reason humans can bear weight is due to the magnitude of this bone. There are twenty-four vertebral segments in total; the mention of twenty-one excludes the three cervical segments).
The waist circumference is four chi two cun.
Note: For back measurement, from Dazhui GV14 to the coccyx, the total length is measured as three chi. The upper seven segments each measure one cun four fen one li, totaling nine cun eight fen seven li. The middle seven segments each measure one cun six fen one li, totaling one chi one cun two fen seven li. The fourteenth segment is level with the umbilicus. The lower seven segments each measure one cun two fen six li, totaling eight cun eight fen two li. The sum is two chi nine cun nine fen six li; the missing four li represents uncalculated fractions. Vertical cun is based on this standard; horizontal cun uses the middle finger proportional cun method. The internal width of the spinal column is one cun; any reference to the "second line" implies this width. One and a half cun lateral to the spine constitutes the "third line." Three cun lateral to the spine excludes the one cun of the spine itself, calculating purely based on one and a half or three cun distances. Therefore, in the second line, the distance should be considered two cun; in the third line, it should be considered three and a half cun.