大哉医乎，其来远矣。粤自混沌既判，鸿荒始分。阳之轻清者，以气而上浮为天；阴之重浊者，以形
而下凝为地。天确然而位乎上，地 然而位乎下。于是阳之精者为日，东升而西坠；阴之精者为月，夜见而
昼隐，两仪立矣，二曜行焉。于是玄气凝空，水始生也；赤气炫空，火始生也；苍气浮空，木始生也；素气
横空，金始生也；黄气际空，土始生也。五行备万物生，三才之道着矣。是以人之生也，禀天地阴阳，假
父母之精血，交感凝结而为胞胎也。干道成男，坤道成女，始自襁褓，以致龆龀，迨其成童，与夫壮年，岂易
然哉？故一月之孕，有白露之称；二月之胚，有桃花之譬。及至三月，则先生右肾而为男，阴包阳也；先生左肾
则为女，阳包阴也。其次肾生脾，脾生肝，肝生肺，肺生心，以生其胜己者，肾属水，故五脏由是为阴。其
次心生小肠，小肠生大肠，大肠生胆，胆生胃，胃生膀胱，膀胱生三焦，以生其胜己者，小肠属火，六腑
由是为阳。其次三焦生八脉，八脉生十二经，十二经生十二络，十二络生一百八十丝络，丝络生一百八十
缠络，缠络生三万四千孙络，孙络生三百六十五骨节，骨节生三百六十五大穴，大穴生八万四千毛窍，则耳、
目、口、鼻、四肢、百骸之身皆备矣。所谓四月形象具，五月骨节成，六月毛发生，七月游其魂，儿能动左
手，八月游其魄，儿能动右手，九月三转身，十月满足，母子分解。其中延月生者，必生贵子；不足日月
生者，必生贫薄之人，诞生之后，有变蒸之热，长其精神，壮其筋骨，生其意志。三十二日一变蒸，生肾气
焉；六十四日二变蒸，生膀胱之气焉，肾与膀胱属水，其数一也；九十六日三变蒸，生心气焉；一百二十八日
四变蒸，生小肠之气焉，心与小肠属火，其数二也；一百六十日五变蒸，生肝气焉；一百九十二日六变蒸，
生胆气焉，肝与胆属木，其数三也；二百二十四日七变蒸，生肺气焉；二百五十六日八变蒸，生大肠之气焉，
肺与大肠属金，其数四也；二百八十八日九变蒸，生脾气焉；三百二十日十变蒸，生胃气焉，脾与胃属土，其
数五也。变蒸已毕，一期岁焉，齿生发长，神智有异于前也。故曰∶齿者，肾之余也；发者，血之余也；爪
者，筋之余也，吁！人身之难得也如此哉。方其幼也，有如水面之泡，草头之露，气血未定，易寒易热，肠
胃软脆，易饥易饱。为母者，调摄不得其宜，必不能免乎吐泻惊疳之病矣。及其长也，嗜欲既开，不能修养，
是以六气迭侵于其外，七情交战于其中，百忧累其心，万事劳其神，一蜗之气，安能无病焉。小儿之疮疹，大
人之伤寒，尤其甚也。所以黄帝问于歧伯曰∶余闻上古之人，春秋皆度百岁，而动作不衰；今时之人，年至
半百，而动作衰矣。时世异耶，人将失之？歧伯对曰∶上古之人，其知道者，和于阴阳，法于术数，饮
食有节，起居有常，不妄作劳，故能形与神俱，而尽终其天年，度百岁乃去；今时之人
不然也，以酒为浆，以妄为常，以欲竭其精，以耗散其真，不知持满，不时御神，务快其心，逆于生乐，起
居无节，故半百而衰矣。是故圣人不治已病治未病，不治已乱治未乱。夫病已成而后药之，
乱已成而后治之，譬犹渴而穿井，斗而铸兵，不亦晚乎？
医学真是伟大啊，它的渊源非常久远。自从混沌分开，洪荒时代开始划分。阳气中轻清的部分，凭借气的性质向上漂浮而成为天；阴气中重浊的部分，凭借形的性质向下凝结而成为地。天稳固地位于上方，地安稳地位于下方。于是，阳气中精华的部分化为太阳，从东方升起向西方落下；阴气中精华的部分化为月亮，夜间出现白天隐没，两仪确立，日月运行。于是玄色的气凝聚在天空中，水由此产生；赤色的气闪耀在天空中，火由此产生；苍色的气浮游在天空中，木由此产生；素色的气横亘在天空中，金由此产生；黄色的气弥漫在天空中，土由此产生。五行具备则万物生长，天、地、人三才的道理彰显出来了。因此人的出生，禀受了天地的阴阳之气，借助父母的精血，通过交感凝结而形成胞胎。乾道成就男性，坤道成就女性，从襁褓婴儿时期，到儿童换牙时期，再到成童时期，以及壮年时期，难道容易吗？所以怀孕一个月称为“白露”；怀孕两个月称为“胚”，有桃花的比喻。到了第三个月，先生右肾则为男孩，这是阴包裹阳；先生左肾则为女孩，这是阳包裹阴。其次肾生脾，脾生肝，肝生肺，肺生心，以相生其克制自己的脏器（注：此处原文逻辑似有误或特指某种生成顺序，通常五行相生为木火土金水，相克为木土水火金，原文“胜己者”通常指克我者，但后文列举顺序为肾→脾→肝→肺→心，即水→土→木→金→火，此为相克顺序中的逆推或特定理论，此处直译），肾属水，所以五脏由此属于阴。其次心生小肠，小肠生大肠，大肠生胆，胆生胃，胃生膀胱，膀胱生三焦，以相生其克制自己的腑，小肠属火，所以六腑由此属于阳。其次三焦生奇经八脉，八脉生十二正经，十二正经生十二络脉，十二络脉生一百八十条丝状络脉，丝状络脉生一百八十条缠状络脉，缠状络脉生三万四千条孙络，孙络生三百六十五个骨节，骨节生三百六十五个大穴，大穴生八万四千个毛窍，这样耳、目、口、鼻、四肢、全身骨骼都具备了。所谓四个月形象具全，五个月骨节形成，六个月毛发生长，七个月魂游动，胎儿能活动左手，八个月魄游动，胎儿能活动右手，九个月三次转身，十个月足月，母子分离。其中超过预产期出生的，必定是贵子；不足预产期出生的，必定是贫寒之人。出生后，有变蒸之热，用来增长精神，强壮筋骨，生发意志。三十二日第一次变蒸，产生肾气；六十四日第二次变蒸，产生膀胱之气，肾与膀胱属水，其数为1；九十六日第三次变蒸，产生心气；一百二十八日第四次变蒸，产生小肠之气，心与小肠属火，其数为2；一百六十日第五次变蒸，产生肝气；一百九十二日第六次变蒸，产生胆气，肝与胆属木，其数为3；二百二十四日第七次变蒸，产生肺气；二百五十六日第八次变蒸，产生大肠之气，肺与大肠属金，其数为4；二百八十八日第九次变蒸，产生脾气；三百二十日第十次变蒸，产生胃气，脾与胃属土，其数为5。变蒸结束，满一岁，牙齿生长头发长长，神智与之前不同。所以说：牙齿是肾的余气所生；头发是血的余气所生；指甲是筋的余气所生，唉！人身体的难得如此啊。在他年幼时，就像水面上的泡沫，草头上的露水，气血未定，容易受寒也容易发热，肠胃软脆，容易饥饿也容易饱胀。做母亲的，如果调摄护理不得当，一定不能避免呕吐、腹泻、惊风、疳积等疾病。等到他长大，嗜欲打开，不能修养身心，因此六淫邪气交替侵袭于外，七情内伤交战于内，百忧劳累其心，万事劳损其神，仅有一口气，怎么能不生病呢？小儿的疮疹，大人的伤寒，尤其严重。所以黄帝问岐伯说：我听说上古时代的人，春秋都能活过百岁，而动作不衰退；现在的人，年龄只到半百，而动作就衰退了。是时代不同呢，还是人们自己失去了养生之道？岐伯回答说：上古时代的人，那些懂得大道的人，与阴阳和谐相处，效法正确的养生术数，饮食有节制，起居有规律，不妄自劳作，所以能形体与精神俱在，从而享尽天然赋予的年寿，度过百岁才离世；现在的人却不是这样，把酒当作浆液喝，把妄为当作常态，用欲望耗竭精气，用散漫消耗真元，不知道保持精气充盈，不按时调养精神，只求心意快乐，违背生命的乐趣，起居没有节制，所以半百就衰老了。因此圣人不治疗已经发生的疾病，而是预防尚未发生的疾病；不乱治已经发生的混乱，而是预防尚未发生的混乱。疾病已经形成而后用药治疗，混乱已经发生而后去治理，这就像口渴了才去挖井，打仗了才去铸造兵器，不也太晚了吗？
How great is medicine! Its origins are remote. Since the chaos was separated and the primeval era began to divide, the light and clear aspects of Yang Qi (vital energy) floated upward by nature to form Heaven; the heavy and turbid aspects of Yin Qi (substantial energy) condensed downward by form to form Earth. Heaven stands firmly in the upper position, and Earth rests steadily in the lower position. Thus, the essence of Yang became the Sun, rising in the East and setting in the West; the essence of Yin became the Moon, appearing at night and hiding during the day. The Two Modes (Yin and Yang) were established, and the two luminaries moved. Then, the dark Qi condensed in the sky, and Water began to generate; the red Qi shone in the sky, and Fire began to generate; the blue-green Qi floated in the sky, and Wood began to generate; the white Qi stretched across the sky, and Metal began to generate; the yellow Qi filled the sky, and Earth began to generate. With the Five Elements complete, all things were born, and the Way of the Three Powers (Heaven, Earth, and Humanity) was manifested. Therefore, human life is formed by inheriting the Yin and Yang of Heaven and Earth, borrowing the essence and blood of parents, and condensing through interaction into a fetus. The Dao of Qian (Heaven) creates males, and the Dao of Kun (Earth) creates females. From infancy to childhood, to adolescence, and then to adulthood, is it easy? Hence, one month of pregnancy is called "White Dew"; two months of gestation is called "embryo," compared to peach blossoms. By the third month, if the right Kidney forms first, it is a male, as Yin envelops Yang; if the left Kidney forms first, it is a female, as Yang envelops Yin. Next, the Kidney generates the Spleen, the Spleen generates the Liver, the Liver generates the Lung, and the Lung generates the Heart, generating those that overcome them. The Kidney belongs to Water, so the Zang Organs (solid organs) are thus considered Yin. Next, the Heart generates the Small Intestine, the Small Intestine generates the Large Intestine, the Large Intestine generates the Gallbladder, the Gallbladder generates the Stomach, the Stomach generates the Bladder, and the Bladder generates the Sanjiao (Triple Burner), generating those that overcome them. The Small Intestine belongs to Fire, so the Fu Organs (hollow organs) are thus considered Yang. Next, the Sanjiao generates the Eight Extraordinary Vessels, the Eight Extraordinary Vessels generate the Twelve Primary Meridians, the Twelve Primary Meridians generate the Twelve Luo Collaterals, the Twelve Luo Collaterals generate 180 Silk Collaterals, the Silk Collaterals generate 180 Coiled Collaterals, the Coiled Collaterals generate 34,000 Sun Collaterals, the Sun Collaterals generate 365 Bone Joints, the Bone Joints generate 365 Major Acupoints, and the Major Acupoints generate 84,000 Hair Pores. Thus, the ears, eyes, mouth, nose, limbs, and entire skeletal structure are complete. It is said: At four months, the image is complete; at five months, bone joints form; at six months, hair grows; at seven months, the Hun (Ethereal Soul) wanders, and the fetus can move its left hand; at eight months, the Po (Corporeal Soul) wanders, and the fetus can move its right hand; at nine months, it turns three times; at ten months, it is full-term, and mother and child separate. Those born after the due date will surely be noble children; those born before the due date will surely be poor individuals. After birth, there is Bianzheng fever (a physiological fever in infants), which nourishes spirit, strengthens bones and muscles, and develops willpower. At thirty-two days, the first Bianzheng occurs, generating Kidney Qi; at sixty-four days, the second Bianzheng occurs, generating Bladder Qi. The Kidney and Bladder belong to Water, their number being one. At ninety-six days, the third Bianzheng occurs, generating Heart Qi; at one hundred twenty-eight days, the fourth Bianzheng occurs, generating Small Intestine Qi. The Heart and Small Intestine belong to Fire, their number being two. At one hundred sixty days, the fifth Bianzheng occurs, generating Liver Qi; at one hundred ninety-two days, the sixth Bianzheng occurs, generating Gallbladder Qi. The Liver and Gallbladder belong to Wood, their number being three. At two hundred twenty-four days, the seventh Bianzheng occurs, generating Lung Qi; at two hundred fifty-six days, the eighth Bianzheng occurs, generating Large Intestine Qi. The Lung and Large Intestine belong to Metal, their number being four. At two hundred eighty-eight days, the ninth Bianzheng occurs, generating Spleen Qi; at three hundred twenty days, the tenth Bianzheng occurs, generating Stomach Qi. The Spleen and Stomach belong to Earth, their number being five. Once Bianzheng is complete, one year has passed; teeth grow, hair lengthens, and mental clarity differs from before. Thus it is said: Teeth are the surplus of the Kidney; hair is the surplus of Blood; nails are the surplus of Sinews. Alas! How rare and precious is the human body. In infancy, like bubbles on water or dew on grass, Qi and Blood are not yet settled, prone to cold and heat, with soft and fragile intestines and stomachs, prone to hunger and satiety. If mothers do not care for them properly, they cannot avoid diseases such as vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, and infantile malnutrition (Gan syndrome). As they grow, desires open, and self-cultivation fails; thus, the Six Evils (pathogenic factors) invade alternately from outside, and the Seven Emotions clash within. A hundred worries tire the heart, and myriad affairs exhaust the spirit. With merely a breath of Qi, how can one not fall ill? Infantile exanthems in children and Cold Damage (Shanghan) in adults are particularly severe. Therefore, the Yellow Emperor asked Qibo: I have heard that people in ancient times lived over a hundred years without decline in movement; now, people reach only half that age and their movements decline. Is it due to different times, or did people lose their way? Qibo replied: People in ancient times who understood the Great Way harmonized with Yin and Yang, followed proper methods, had regulated diets, regular起居 (daily routines), and did not labor recklessly. Thus, their form and spirit remained united, allowing them to fulfill their natural lifespan and pass away after a hundred years. People today are different. They treat wine as water, make recklessness a habit, exhaust their essence through desire, and dissipate their true Qi. They do not know how to maintain fullness, fail to regulate their spirit timely, seek only momentary pleasure, go against the joy of life, and lack regularity in daily routines. Thus, they decline by half a century. Therefore, sages do not treat disease after it has formed, but prevent it before it arises; they do not govern chaos after it has occurred, but prevent it before it happens. To medicate after disease has formed, or to govern after chaos has occurred, is like digging a well when thirsty or forging weapons when battle begins. Is this not too late?