（灵枢脉度篇）
黄帝曰∶愿闻脉度。岐伯答曰∶手之六阳，从手至头，长五尺，五六三丈。（手有三阳，以左右言之，则为六阳。凡
后六阴及足之六阴六阳皆仿此。手太阳起小指少泽，至头之听宫。手阳明起次指商阳，至头之迎香。手少阳起四指关冲，
至头之丝竹空。六经各长五尺，五六共长三丈。）手之六阴，从手至胸中，三尺五寸，三六一丈八尺，五六三尺，合二丈
一尺。（手太阴起大指少商，至胸中中府。手少阴起小指少冲，至胸中极泉。手厥阴起中指中冲，至胸中天池。各长三尺
五寸，六阴经共长二丈一尺。按∶手足十二经脉，手之三阴从脏走手，手之三阳从手走头，足之三阳从头走足，足之三
阴从足走腹，此其起止之度。今云手之六阴，从手至胸中，盖但计其丈尺之数，俱以四末为始而言，非谓其行度如此也。
后仿此。）足之六阳，从足上至头，八尺，六八四丈八尺。（足太阳起小趾至阴，至头之睛明。足阳明起次趾厉兑，至头
之头维。足少阳起四趾窍阴，至头之瞳子 。各长八尺，六八共长四丈八尺。）尺之六阴，从足至胸中，六尺五寸，六六
三丈六尺，五六三尺，合三丈九尺。（足太阴起大趾隐白，至胸中大包。足少阴起足心涌泉，至胸中俞府。足厥阴起大趾
大敦，至胸中期门。各长六尺五寸，六阴经共长三丈九尺。）跷脉从足至目，七尺五寸，二七一丈四尺，二五一尺，合一
丈五尺。（跷脉者，足少阴太阳之别，从足至目内 ，各长七尺五寸，左右共长一丈五尺。玄台马氏曰∶按跷脉有阴跷阳
跷，阳跷自足申脉行于目，阴跷自足照海行于目。然阳跷左右相同，阴跷亦左右相同，则跷脉宜乎有四。今曰二七一丈
四尺，二五一尺，则止于二脉者何也？观本篇末云∶跷脉有阴阳，何脉当其数？岐伯答曰∶男子数其阳，女子数其阴。
则知男子之所数者左右阳跷，女子之所数者左右阴跷也。详见后二十八。）督脉任脉各四尺五寸，二四八尺，二五一尺，
合九尺。凡都合一十六丈二尺，此气之大经隧也。（督行于背，任行于腹，各长四尺五寸，共长九尺。右连前共二十八脉，
通长一十六丈二尺，此周身经隧之总数也。愚按∶人身经脉之行，始于水下一刻，昼夜五十周于身，总计每日气候凡百
刻，则二刻当行一周。故卫气行篇曰∶日行一舍，人气行一周与十分身之八。五十营篇曰∶二百七十息，气行十六丈二
尺，一周于身。此经脉之常度也。而后世子午流注针灸等书，因水下一刻之纪，遂以寅时定为肺经，以十二时挨配十二
经，而为之歌曰∶肺寅大卯胃辰宫，脾巳心午小未中，膀申肾酉心包戌，亥三子胆丑肝通。继后张世贤、熊宗立复为分
时注释，遂致历代相传，用为模范。殊不知纪漏者以寅初一刻为始，而经脉营运之度起于肺经，亦以寅初一刻为纪，故
首言水下一刻，而一刻之中，气脉凡半周于身矣，焉得有大肠属卯时、胃属辰时等次也？且如手三阴脉长三尺五寸，足
三阳脉长八尺，手少阴、厥阴左右俱止十八穴，足太阳左右凡一百二十六穴，此其长短多寡，大相悬绝，安得以十二经
均配十二时？其失经旨也远矣，观者须知辨察。）
《灵枢·脉度篇》
黄帝说：我想听听关于经脉长度的知识。岐伯回答说：手部的六条阳经，从手部走向头部，每条长五尺，六条合计三丈。（手部有三条阳经，分左右两侧计算则为六条阳经。此后六条阴经以及足部的六条阴经、六条阳经的长度计算都依此类推。手太阳膀胱经起于小指端的少泽穴，止于头部的听宫穴。手阳明大肠经起于食指端的商阳穴，止于头部的迎香穴。手少阳三焦经起于无名指端的关冲穴，止于头部的丝竹空穴。这六条经脉各长五尺，六乘以五共长三丈。）手部的六条阴经，从手部走向胸中，每条长三尺五寸，三条合计一丈八尺，六条再加三尺，总共二丈一尺。（手太阴肺经起于拇指端的少商穴，止于胸中的中府穴。手少阴心经起于小指端的少冲穴，止于胸中的极泉穴。手厥阴心包经起于中指端的中冲穴，止于胸中的天池穴。各长三尺五寸，六条阴经共长二丈一尺。按语：手足十二经脉中，手部的三条阴经从内脏走向手部，手部的三条阳经从手部走向头部，足部的三条阳经从头部走向足部，足部的三条阴经从足部走向腹部，这是它们起止的长度标准。现在说手部的六条阴经从手部走向胸中，这只是计算丈尺的数量，都是以四肢末端为起点来说的，并非指经脉实际行走的路径如此。后文依此类推。）足部的六条阳经，从足部向上走到头部，每条长八尺，六条合计四丈八尺。（足太阳膀胱经起于小趾外侧的至阴穴，止于头部的睛明穴。足阳明胃经起于第二趾外侧的厉兑穴，止于头部的头维穴。足少阳胆经起于第四趾外侧的窍阴穴，止于头部的瞳子髎穴。各长八尺，六条合计共长四丈八尺。）足部的六条阴经，从足部走向胸中，每条长六尺五寸，六条合计三丈六尺，再加三尺，总共三丈九尺。（足太阴脾经起于大趾内侧的隐白穴，止于胸中的大包穴。足少阴肾经起于足心的涌泉穴，止于胸中的俞府穴。足厥阴肝经起于大趾内侧的大敦穴，止于胸中的期门穴。各长六尺五寸，六条阴经共长三丈九尺。）跷脉从足部走到眼睛，每条长七尺五寸，两条合计一丈四尺，再加一尺，总共一丈五尺。（跷脉是足少阴肾经和足太阳膀胱经的别支，从足部走到目内眦，每条长七尺五寸，左右两侧共长一丈五尺。玄台马氏说：按跷脉有阴跷脉和阳跷脉之分，阳跷脉从足部的申脉穴行至于眼部，阴跷脉从足部的照海穴行至于眼部。然而阳跷脉左右相同，阴跷脉左右也相同，那么跷脉似乎应该有四条。现在说“二七一丈四尺，二五一尺”，只计算两条脉是怎么回事呢？看本篇末尾说：“跷脉有阴阳，哪条脉符合这个数值？”岐伯回答说：“男子计算阳跷脉的数值，女子计算阴跷脉的数值。”由此可知，男子所计算的是左右两条阳跷脉，女子所计算的是左右两条阴跷脉。详见后文第二十八篇。）督脉和任脉各长四尺五寸，二四得八尺，二五一尺，合计九尺。所有经脉加起来总共十六丈二尺，这是人体气机运行的大通道。（督脉行于背部，任脉行于腹部，各长四尺五寸，共长九尺。以上连同前面的二十八条经脉，总长度为一十六丈二尺，这是周身经隧的总长度。愚按：人身经脉的运行，始于水下一刻（古代计时单位），昼夜在体内循环五十周，总计每日气候凡一百刻，那么两刻应当运行一周。所以《卫气行篇》说：“日行一舍，人气行一周与十分身之八。”《五十营篇》说：“二百七十息，气行十六丈二尺，一周于身。”这是经脉运行的常规度数。而后世子午流注针灸等书籍，因为以水下一刻作为纪时开始，于是将寅时定为肺经，用十二个时辰依次配属十二条经脉，并编成歌诀说：“肺寅大卯胃辰宫，脾巳心午小未中，膀申肾酉心包戌，亥三子胆丑肝通。”后来张世贤、熊宗立又进行分时注释，导致历代相传，用作模范。却不知道记漏壶时间是以寅初一刻为开始，而经脉营运的度数起于肺经，也是以寅初一刻为纪时起点，所以说“水下一刻”，而在这一刻之中，气脉已经在体内运行了半周，哪里会有大肠属卯时、胃属辰时这样的次序呢？况且如手部的三条阴经长三尺五寸，足部的三条阳经长八尺，手少阴心经、手厥阴心包经左右各只有十八个穴位，足太阳膀胱经左右共有第一百二十六个穴位，这些经脉长短多少相差极大，怎么能用十二条经脉平均配属十二个时辰呢？这种说法背离经旨很远，读者需要仔细辨别考察。）
*Ling Shu: Mai Du Chapter*
The Yellow Emperor said: I wish to hear about the lengths of the meridians. Qibo replied: The six Yang meridians of the hand, running from the hands to the head, are each five chi long; six times five equals three zhang. (There are three Yang meridians in the hand; counting left and right sides, there are six Yang meridians. The subsequent six Yin meridians, as well as the six Yin and six Yang meridians of the foot, follow this pattern. The Hand-Taiyang Bladder Meridian starts at Shaoyang (SI1) on the little finger and ends at Tinggong (SI19) on the head. The Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian starts at Shangyang (LI1) on the index finger and ends at Yingxiang (LI20) on the head. The Hand-Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian starts at Guanchong (TE1) on the ring finger and ends at Sizhukong (TE23) on the head. Each of these six meridians is five chi long, totaling three zhang.) The six Yin meridians of the hand, running from the hands to the chest center, are each three chi and five cun long; three times six equals one zhang and eight chi, plus another three chi for the six meridians, totaling two zhang and one chi. (The Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian starts at Shaoshang (LU11) on the thumb and ends at Zhongfu (LU1) in the chest. The Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian starts at Shaochong (HT9) on the little finger and ends at Jiquan (HT1) in the chest. The Hand-Jueyin Pericardium Meridian starts at Zhongchong (PC9) on the middle finger and ends at Tianchi (PC1) in the chest. Each is three chi and five cun long, totaling two zhang and one chi for the six Yin meridians. Note: Among the twelve primary meridians of the hand and foot, the three Yin meridians of the hand run from the Zang organs to the hands, the three Yang meridians of the hand run from the hands to the head, the three Yang meridians of the foot run from the head to the feet, and the three Yin meridians of the foot run from the feet to the abdomen; these are the standard lengths of their origins and terminations. The statement that the six Yin meridians of the hand run from the hands to the chest center refers only to the calculation of length, starting from the extremities, not implying that this is their actual pathway. The following follows this logic.) The six Yang meridians of the foot, running from the feet up to the head, are each eight chi long; six times eight equals four zhang and eight chi. (The Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian starts at Zhiyin (BL67) on the little toe and ends at Jingming (BL1) on the head. The Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian starts at Lidui (ST45) on the second toe and ends at Touwei (ST8) on the head. The Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian starts at Qiaoyin (GB44) on the fourth toe and ends at Tongziliao (GB1) on the head. Each is eight chi long, totaling four zhang and eight chi.) The six Yin meridians of the foot, running from the feet to the chest center, are each six chi and five cun long; six times six equals three zhang and six chi, plus another three chi, totaling three zhang and nine chi. (The Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian starts at Yinbai (SP1) on the big toe and ends at Dabao (SP21) in the chest. The Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian starts at Yongquan (KI1) on the sole of the foot and ends at Shufu (KI27) in the chest. The Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian starts at Dadun (LR1) on the big toe and ends at Qimen (LR14) in the chest. Each is six chi and five cun long, totaling three zhang and nine chi for the six Yin meridians.) The Qiao meridians run from the feet to the eyes, each seven chi and five cun long; two times seven equals one zhang and four chi, plus one chi, totaling one zhang and five chi. (The Qiao meridians are branch vessels of the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney and Foot-Taiyang Bladder meridians, running from the feet to the inner canthus of the eye, each seven chi and five cun long, totaling one zhang and five chi for both left and right sides. Master Ma Xuantai stated: Regarding the Qiao meridians, there are Yin Qiao and Yang Qiao. The Yang Qiao runs from Shenmai (BL62) on the foot to the eye, and the Yin Qiao runs from Zhaohai (KI6) on the foot to the eye. However, since the Yang Qiao is identical on both sides and the Yin Qiao is also identical on both sides, there should theoretically be four Qiao meridians. Why does the text say "two times seven equals one zhang and four chi, plus one chi," referring to only two meridians? Looking at the end of this chapter, it asks: "The Qiao meridians have Yin and Yang; which meridian corresponds to this number?" Qibo answered: "For men, count the Yang Qiao; for women, count the Yin Qiao." Thus, we know that what is counted for men is the left and right Yang Qiao meridians, and for women, the left and right Yin Qiao meridians. See Chapter 28 for details.) The Du Mai (Governor Vessel) and Ren Mai (Conception Vessel) are each four chi and five cun long; two times four equals eight chi, plus one chi, totaling nine chi. All together, they sum to sixteen zhang and two chi; these are the great conduits of Qi. (The Du Mai runs along the back, and the Ren Mai runs along the abdomen, each four chi and five cun long, totaling nine chi. Combined with the previous twenty-eight meridians, the total length is sixteen zhang and two chi, which is the total length of all meridians in the body. Commentary: The circulation of meridians in the human body begins at "Shui Xia Yi Ke" (the first quarter-hour mark in ancient water-clock time), completing fifty cycles around the body day and night. Since a full day consists of one hundred ke (quarter-hours), two ke correspond to one cycle. Therefore, the *Wei Qi Xing* chapter states: "When the sun travels one mansion, the body's Qi completes one cycle plus eight-tenths of a cycle." The *Wu Shi Ying* chapter states: "In two hundred and seventy breaths, Qi travels sixteen zhang and two chi, completing one cycle around the body." This is the constant measure of meridian circulation. Later acupuncture books such as those on Zi Wu Liu Zhu (Midnight-Noon Ebb-Flow) used the start of Shui Xia Yi Ke as the beginning, assigning the Yin hour to the Lung Meridian and matching the twelve hours sequentially to the twelve meridians, creating a rhyme: "Lung at Yin, Large Intestine at Mao, Stomach at Chen; Spleen at Si, Heart at Wu, Small Intestine at Wei; Bladder at Shen, Kidney at You, Pericardium at Xu; Triple Burner at Hai, Gallbladder at Zi, Liver at Chou." Later, Zhang Shixian and Xiong Zongli added hourly annotations, leading to its adoption as a model through generations. Little do they know that the water clock starts at the first moment of the Yin hour, and the operation of meridians also begins with the Lung Meridian at the first moment of the Yin hour. Thus, it says "Shui Xia Yi Ke," and within that one ke, Qi and blood have already circulated half a cycle around the body. How could there be an order where the Large Intestine belongs to the Mao hour and the Stomach to the Chen hour? Moreover, the three Yin meridians of the hand are three chi and five cun long, while the three Yang meridians of the foot are eight chi long. The Hand-Shaoyin and Hand-Jueyin meridians have only eighteen acupoints on each side, whereas the Foot-Taiyang meridian has one hundred and twenty-six acupoints on both sides. These differences in length and number of points are vast; how can the twelve meridians be evenly matched to the twelve hours? Such interpretations deviate far from the original intent of the classics, and readers must discern this carefully.)