平按∶此篇自篇首至三十二曲，见《灵枢》卷六第三十一《肠胃》篇。自黄帝曰愿闻人之不食
至末，见《灵枢》卷六第三十二《平人绝谷》篇。《甲乙》同上编。
黄帝问伯高曰∶余愿闻六腑传谷者，肠胃之大小长短，受谷之多少奈何？（三焦腑传于谷
气，胆腑受于谷精，三肠及胃传谷糟粕。传糟粕者，行谷之要，故肠胃有六种之别者。）伯高答
曰∶请尽言之。谷之所从出入浅深远近长短之度∶（黄帝问六种也，外更请说四种，故曰尽言之
也。谷行从口曰入，泄肛曰出，自唇至齿为浅，从咽至肠曰深，谷至于胃曰近，从胃向 曰远，肠
十六曲曰长，咽一尺六寸曰短也。）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。（会厌，舌后喉咙上，出气入鼻口之孔，上有肉厌盖孔，开阖气之出入也。）咽大二寸半，
至胃长一尺六寸。（咽，会厌后下食孔也。下至胃，长一尺六寸。平按∶咽上《灵枢》有“舌重
十两，长七寸，广二寸半”十一字，咽下有“门重十两”四字，大作广，《甲乙》同。二寸半《灵
枢》作一寸半。至胃长一尺六寸，原抄长字上脱至胃二字，长字下脱一尺二字，谨根据《灵枢》、
《甲乙》补入。）胃纡曲屈，伸之，长二尺六寸，大一尺五寸，径五寸，大容三斗。（胃中央大，
两头小，伸而度之，二尺六寸也。围之，有一尺五寸，曰大。量径，有五寸也。容水谷，三斗也。平
按∶大容三斗《灵枢》作二斗五升，《甲乙》作三斗五升，注云∶一作二。）小肠后傅脊，左环
叶积，其注于回肠者，外傅于齐上，回运环反十六曲，大二寸半，径八分分之少半，长三丈二尺。
（傅，附也。糟粕从胃传入小肠，小肠附脊，外注回肠于齐上也。平按∶傅《灵枢》、《甲乙》
均作附。叶积《灵枢》作回周叠积，《甲乙》作回周叶积。）回肠当齐，左环回周叶积而下，回
运环反十六曲，大四寸，径一寸少半，长二丈一尺。（回肠，大肠也。小肠附脊而
在后，大肠近齐而在前，故大肠输在上，小肠输在其下也。平按∶少半上《灵枢》、《甲乙》有寸
之二字。）广肠傅脊以受回肠，左环叶积上下辟，大八寸，径二寸大半，长二尺八寸。（广肠，
白也，附脊以受大肠糟粕。辟，着脊也。谓白 当中宽八寸，上受大肠之处、下出泄处皆径有
二寸半，总长二尺八寸也。平按∶叶积《灵枢》作叶脊。大半上《灵枢》、《甲乙》有寸之二字。）
肠胃所入至所出，长六丈四寸四分，（咽之上口为所入，广肠之下以为所出，唇齿相去九分，齿
与会厌相去三寸半，会厌至胃咽长一尺六寸，胃之终始长二尺六寸，小肠终始长二丈一尺，广肠
终始长二尺八寸，故有六丈四寸四分也。平按∶注小肠终始下，原抄作长二丈一尺，检上文经云小
肠长三丈二尺，回肠长二丈一尺，应于小肠终始下补注“长三丈二尺，回肠终始”九字，方与经
文六丈四寸四分之数合，当系传抄脱此九字也。）其回曲环反三十二曲。（胃有一曲，小肠十六
曲，大肠十六曲，合而言之，计有三十三曲，其胃大曲短，不入其数，故有三十二曲，皆以七尺
五寸中度之人为准也。）
黄帝曰∶愿闻人之不食，七日而死，其故何也？（七日不食而死，余时之言，既闻肠胃大小，
未知所盛水谷多少而尽，至七日而死之也。）伯高曰∶臣请言其故。胃大尺五寸，径五寸，长二
尺六寸，横屈受三斗，其中之谷常留者二斗，水一斗而满。（故事所由，水谷合有三斗，满于胃
中也。平按∶横屈受三斗《灵枢》、《甲乙》作横屈受水谷三斗五升。水一斗而满均作水一斗五
升而满。）上焦泄气，出其精微， 悍滑疾，（上焦之气，从胃上口而出，其气精微， 悍滑疾，
昼夜行身五十周，即卫气也。平按∶上焦下原缺一字，根据《灵枢》、《甲乙》补作泄，袁刻作中
焦二字。又注上焦袁刻作二焦，均与原抄不合。）下焦下溉诸肠。（下焦别回
肠，注膀胱，譬之沟渎，下溉诸肠，膀胱为黑肠，及广肠等也。平按∶诸肠《甲乙》作泄诸小肠。）
小肠大二寸半，径八分分之少半，长三丈二尺，受一斗三合合之大半，谷四升，水六升三合合之
大半。（一二为三，则二为大半，一为少半也。平按∶“受一斗三合合之大半，谷四升”十二字
《灵枢》、《甲乙》作“受谷二斗四升”六字。）回肠大四寸，径一寸（平按∶《灵枢》、《甲
乙》有寸之二字。）少半，长二丈一尺，受一斗七升升之半，谷一斗，水七升升之半。（升之半，
半升也。平按∶“受一斗七升升之半，谷一斗，水七升升之半”十七字《灵枢》、《甲乙》作“受
谷一斗，水七升半”八字。）广肠大八寸，径二寸大半，长二尺八寸，受九升三合八分合之一。
（广肠受水谷之数也。平按∶《灵枢》大半上有寸之二字，受下有谷字，《甲乙》同。）肠胃之
长、凡长六丈四寸四分，受水谷六斗六升六合八分合之一，此肠胃所受水谷之数。（计肠胃所受
之数，垂升之半，合之大半也。平按∶六丈四寸四分《灵枢》、《甲乙》作五丈八尺四寸，受水
谷六斗六升六合八分合之一作受水谷九斗二升一合合之大半十三字。注垂袁刻作乘，其义均未详。）
平人则不然，胃满则肠虚，肠满则胃虚，更满更虚，故气得上下，（前之所论，乃据肠胃之量□
受数。若言生平之人，则肠胃之中，盈虚更起，不得一时则有前数也。食满胃中，则胃实肠虚也，
肠虚故气得下也；糟入肠中，则胃虚肠实也，胃虚故气得上也。以其肠胃盈虚，气得上下之也。平
按∶注量下所缺一字，谨拟作容。）五脏安定，欲资水谷之味，故须盈也。（欲受水谷之气，故待
虚也。气味内和，故五脏安定也。）血脉和利，（气味通于上下，故脉和利。）精神乃居，（脏安
脉和，则五神五精居其脏也。）故神者水谷之精气。（水谷精气，资成五神，故水谷竭，神乃亡
也。）故肠
胃之中，常留谷二斗四升，水一斗一升。（计肠胃所受六斗六升六合八分合之一，据其盈虚，在
人常须三斗五升也。平按∶谷二斗四升《灵枢》作二斗。水一斗一升《灵枢》作一斗五升。《甲
乙》作谷二斗四升，水一斗五升。）故平人日再后，后二升半，一日中五升，七日五七三斗五升，
而留水谷尽矣。（再后五升，还须资食，合有三斗五升。若一日不食后五升者，则少五升也。若七
日常后，七日不食，则五升三斗五升皆尽。）故平人不饮食，七日而死者，水谷精气津液皆尽矣，
故七日而死矣。（命门所藏，谓之精也。上焦宣五谷味，熏肤充身泽毛，如雾露之溉，遂谓之气。
腠理发泄出汗，谓之津。谷气淖泽注于骨，骨属屈伸，淖泽补益髓脑，皮肤润泽，谓之为液。水
谷既尽，精气津液四物□尽，故七日死。平按∶注四物下所缺一字，谨根据经文作皆。）
平按：本篇从篇首至“三十二曲”部分，见于《灵枢》卷六第三十一《肠胃》篇。从“黄帝曰愿闻人之不食”至文末，见于《灵枢》卷六第三十二《平人绝谷》篇。《甲乙经》编排与此相同。
黄帝问伯高说：我希望了解六腑传导水谷的情况，特别是肠胃的大小、长短以及受纳水谷的多少，是怎么回事？（三焦腑传导谷气，胆腑受纳谷精，大肠、小肠、回肠及胃传导糟粕。传导糟粕是运行水谷的关键环节，因此肠胃有六种区别。）
伯高回答说：请让我详尽地说明。水谷从口进入、从肛门排出的深浅远近和长短尺度如下：（黄帝询问的是六种情况，此处又补充说明四种情况，所以说“尽言之”。水谷从口进入叫入，从泄肛排出叫出，从嘴唇到牙齿为浅，从咽喉到肠道为深，水谷到达胃部为近，从胃部向肠道方向为远，肠道十六个弯曲为长，咽部一尺六寸为短。）
从嘴唇到牙齿长九分，口腔宽二寸半，从牙齿后方到会厌深三寸半，容量可容纳五合。（会厌位于舌头后方的喉咙上方，是气体出入鼻孔和口腔的孔道，上面有肉质的会厌覆盖孔洞，控制气体的进出。）
咽部宽二寸半，从咽部到胃部长一尺六寸。（咽是会厌后方食物下行通过的孔道。从咽部向下至胃部，长一尺六寸。【平按】：咽字之上，《灵枢》原文有“舌重十两，长七寸，广二寸半”这十一个字，咽字之下有“门重十两”这四个字，大字本作“广”，《甲乙经》同。二寸半在《灵枢》中作一寸半。至胃长一尺六寸，原抄本在“长”字上脱漏了“至胃”二字，在“长”字下脱漏了“一尺”二字，谨根据《灵枢》、《甲乙经》补入。）
胃迂回曲折，拉直测量，长二尺六寸，周长一尺五寸，直径五寸，容量可容纳三斗。（胃中央大，两头小，拉直度量长度为二尺六寸。环绕测量周长为一尺五寸，称为大。量取直径为五寸。容纳水谷的容量为三斗。【平按】：“大容三斗”在《灵枢》中作二斗五升，《甲乙经》作三斗五升，注云：一作二斗。）
小肠后方附着于脊柱，左侧环绕叶片状堆积，其注入回肠的部分，外部附着于肚脐上方，回肠运转环反十六个弯曲，直径二寸半，径八分分之少半（即八分之二分之一），长三丈二尺。（傅，通附，附着之意。糟粕从胃传入小肠，小肠附着于脊柱，向外注入回肠于肚脐上方。【平按】：傅字在《灵枢》、《甲乙经》中均作“附”。叶积在《灵枢》中作“回周叠积”，《甲乙经》作“回周叶积”。）
回肠位于肚脐处，左侧环绕叶片状堆积而下，运转环反十六个弯曲，直径四寸，径一寸少半（即一寸的二分之一），长二丈一尺。（回肠即大肠。小肠附着于脊柱在后，大肠靠近肚脐在前，所以大肠的输注部位在上，小肠的输注部位在其下。【平按】：少半之上，《灵枢》、《甲乙经》有“寸之”二字。）
广肠附着于脊柱以接受回肠，左侧环绕叶片状堆积上下开合，直径八寸，径二寸大半（即二寸的二分之一），长二尺八寸。（广肠即白肠，附着于脊柱以接受大肠的糟粕。辟，着脊之意。指白肠当中宽八寸，上部接受大肠之处、下部排出排泄物之处直径均为二寸半，总长二尺八寸。【平按】：叶积在《灵枢》中作“叶脊”。大半之上，《灵枢》、《甲乙经》有“寸之”二字。）
肠胃从入口到出口，总长六丈四寸四分，（咽的上口为所入之处，广肠的下端为所出之处，唇齿相距九分，牙齿与会厌相距三寸半，会厌至胃咽长一尺六寸，胃的终始长二尺六寸，小肠终始长三丈二尺，广肠终始长二尺八寸，所以总计六丈四寸四分。【平按】：注文中“小肠终始”下，原抄本作“长二丈一尺”，检查上文经文云小肠长三丈二尺，回肠长二丈一尺，应在“小肠终始”下补注“长三丈二尺，回肠终始”九个字，才能与经文六丈四寸四分的总数相合，应当是传抄时脱漏了这九个字。）
其回转弯曲环反共三十二个弯曲。（胃有一个弯曲，小肠十六个弯曲，大肠十六个弯曲，合计有三十三曲，但胃的大弯曲较短，不计入在内，所以有三十二个弯曲，这都是以身高七尺五寸的人为标准来衡量的。）
黄帝说：我希望了解人如果不进食，七天就会死亡，这是什么缘故呢？（七天不进食而死，是我之前的疑问，既然已经知道了肠胃的大小，还不知道其中盛装的水谷多少才会耗尽，直到七天死亡的原因。）
伯高说：臣请说明其中的缘故。胃周长一尺五寸，直径五寸，长二尺六寸，横向弯曲可受纳三斗，其中常留存的谷物为二斗，水一斗从而充满。（这是故事的原由，水谷合计有三斗，充满于胃中。【平按】：“横屈受三斗”在《灵枢》、《甲乙经》中作“横屈受水谷三斗五升”。水一斗而满均作“水一斗五升而满”。）
上焦宣泄气机，散发出精微物质，慓悍滑疾，（上焦之气，从胃上口而出，其气精微，慓悍滑疾，昼夜在身体运行五十周，这就是卫气。【平按】：上焦下原缺一字，根据《灵枢》、《甲乙经》补作“泄”，袁刻本作“中焦”二字。又注文中上焦袁刻作“二焦”，均与原抄不合。）
下焦向下灌溉各个肠道。（下焦别行于回肠，注入膀胱，如同沟渠，向下灌溉各个肠道，膀胱为黑肠，以及广肠等。【平按】：诸肠在《甲乙经》中作“泄诸小肠”。）
小肠直径二寸半，径八分分之少半，长三丈二尺，受纳一斗三合之大半（即一斗三合三分之二），谷物四升，水六升三合之大半。（一二为三，则二为大半，一为少半。【平按】：“受一斗三合合之大半，谷四升”这十二字在《灵枢》、《甲乙经》中作“受谷二斗四升”六字。）
回肠直径四寸，径一寸少半，长二丈一尺，受纳一斗七升之半（即一斗七升二分之一），谷物一斗，水七升之半。（升之半，即半升。【平按】：“受一斗七升升之半，谷一斗，水七升升之半”这十七字在《灵枢》、《甲乙经》中作“受谷一斗，水七升半”八字。）
广肠直径八寸，径二寸大半，长二尺八寸，受纳九升三合八分合之一。（这是广肠受纳水谷的数量。【平按】：《灵枢》大半上有“寸之”二字，受下有“谷”字，《甲乙经》同。）
肠胃的长度，总共长六丈四寸四分，受纳水谷六斗六升六合八分合之一，这是肠胃所受纳水谷的数量。（计算肠胃受纳的数量，折合升之半，合之大半。【平按】：六丈四寸四分在《灵枢》、《甲乙经》中作五丈八尺四寸，受水谷六斗六升六合八分合之一作“受水谷九斗二升一合合之大半”十三字。注文中垂字袁刻作乘，其含义均未详明。）
普通人则不是这样，胃满的时候肠子空虚，肠子满的时候胃空虚，更替充盈和空虚，所以气能够上下流通，（前面所论述的，是根据肠胃的容量受纳数量而言。如果说平常的人，那么肠胃之中，盈虚交替兴起，不会同时具有前面的数量。食物充满胃中，则胃实肠虚，肠虚故气得以向下；糟粕进入肠中，则胃虚肠实，胃虚故气得以向上。因为肠胃的盈虚变化，使得气能够上下流通。【平按】：注文中“量”下所缺一字，谨拟作“容”。）
五脏安定，想要资助水谷的味道，所以需要充盈。（想要受纳水谷之气，所以需要等待虚空。气味内部调和，所以五脏安定。）
血脉调和通畅，（气味通达上下，所以脉象调和通畅。）
所以神是水谷的精气。（水谷精气，资助成就五神，所以水谷竭尽，神也就灭亡了。）
所以在肠胃之中，常留存的谷物为二斗四升，水一斗一升。（计算肠胃所受纳的六斗六升六合八分合之一，根据其盈虚状态，在人身上常须保持三斗五升。【平按】：谷二斗四升在《灵枢》中作二斗。水一斗一升在《灵枢》中作一斗五升。《甲乙经》作谷二斗四升，水一斗五升。）
所以普通人每天排便两次，每次二升半，一天中排出五升，七天累计五七三斗五升，而留存的水谷就耗尽了。（两次排便五升，还需要资助饮食，合计有三斗五升。如果一天不进食排便五升，那就少了五升。如果七天持续排便，七天不进食，那么五升和三斗五升都耗尽了。）
所以普通人如果不饮食，七天就会死亡，是因为水谷精气津液都耗尽了，所以七天死亡。（命门所藏的，叫做精。上焦宣发五谷的气味，熏肤充身泽毛，如雾露之灌溉，遂称之为气。腠理发泄出汗，叫做津。谷气淖泽注入骨骼，骨属屈伸，淖泽补益髓脑，皮肤润泽，称之为液。水谷既已尽尽，精气津液四物皆尽，所以七天死亡。【平按】：注文中“四物”下所缺一字，谨根据经文作“皆”。）
Ping An: This section from the beginning of the chapter to "thirty-two curves" is found in Volume 6, Chapter 31 "Gastrointestinal Tract" (Chang Wei) of the *Ling Shu* (Spiritual Pivot). From "The Yellow Emperor said, I wish to hear about people who do not eat" to the end, it is found in Volume 6, Chapter 32 "Normal People Fasting from Grain" (Ping Ren Jue Gu) of the *Ling Shu*. The *Jia Yi Jing* (Classified Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion) arranges this similarly.
The Yellow Emperor asked Bo Gao: I wish to understand how the Six Fu Organs (Six Hollow Organs) transport grain. Specifically, what are the sizes, lengths, and capacities for receiving grain in the stomach and intestines? (The San Jiao (Triple Burner) transports grain qi; the Gallbladder receives grain essence; the Large Intestine, Small Intestine, Rectum, and Stomach transport grain dregs. Transporting dregs is the key process of moving grain through the system, hence the distinction among these six parts.)
Bo Gao replied: Please allow me to explain in detail. The measurements of depth, proximity, length, and shortness regarding the entry and exit of grain are as follows: (The Yellow Emperor asked about six aspects, and here four additional ones are explained, hence "explaining fully." Entry of grain into the mouth is called "entering"; exit from the anus is called "exiting"; from lips to teeth is "shallow"; from pharynx to intestines is "deep"; grain reaching the stomach is "near"; from stomach towards intestines is "far"; sixteen curves in the intestines constitute "long"; the pharynx at one chi six cun constitutes "short".)
From lips to teeth: length nine fen; mouth width two and a half cun; from behind teeth to epiglottis: depth three and a half cun; capacity five he. (The epiglottis is located above the throat behind the tongue, serving as the aperture for air entering the nose and mouth. A fleshy flap covers this aperture, controlling the entry and exit of air.)
Pharynx width: two and a half cun; from pharynx to stomach: length one chi six cun. (The pharynx is the food passage behind the epiglottis. From the pharynx down to the stomach, the length is one chi six cun. [Ping An]: The *Ling Shu* text includes eleven characters before "pharynx": "Tongue weighs ten liang, length seven cun, width two and a half cun," and four characters after "pharynx": "Gate weighs ten liang." The character "Da" (large) is written as "Guang" (broad) in the main text, consistent with the *Jia Yi Jing*. Two and a half cun is written as one and a half cun in the *Ling Shu*. In the original manuscript, the characters "Zhi Wei" (to stomach) were omitted before "Chang" (length), and "Yi Chi" (one chi) were omitted after "Chang". These have been supplemented based on the *Ling Shu* and *Jia Yi Jing*.)
Stomach: tortuous and curved; when straightened, length is two chi six cun; circumference one chi five cun; diameter five cun; capacity three dou. (The stomach is large in the center and small at both ends. Straightened measurement is two chi six cun. Circumference is one chi five cun. Diameter is five cun. Capacity for water and grain is three dou. [Ping An]: "Capacity three dou" is written as "two dou five sheng" in the *Ling Shu* and "three dou five sheng" in the *Jia Yi Jing*, with a note stating one version is two dou.)
Small Intestine: attached posteriorly to the spine, looping left with leaf-like accumulations; its connection to the ileum attaches externally above the umbilicus. The ileum loops and reverses sixteen times. Diameter two and a half cun; radius eight fen plus one-third of a fen (8.66 fen); length three zhang two chi. (Fu means attached. Dregs pass from the stomach to the small intestine, which attaches to the spine and externally connects to the ileum above the umbilicus. [Ping An]: "Fu" is written as "Fu" (attach) in both *Ling Shu* and *Jia Yi Jing*. "Ye Ji" is written as "Hui Zhou Die Ji" in the *Ling Shu* and "Hui Zhou Ye Ji" in the *Jia Yi Jing*.)
Ileum (Large Intestine): located at the umbilicus, looping left with leaf-like accumulations downwards, reversing sixteen times. Diameter four cun; radius one cun plus one-half cun; length two zhang one chi. (The ileum refers to the large intestine. The small intestine attaches to the spine posteriorly; the large intestine is anterior near the umbilicus. Thus, the output of the large intestine is superior, and that of the small intestine is inferior. [Ping An]: The *Ling Shu* and *Jia Yi Jing* include the characters "Cun Zhi" before "Shao Ban".)
Rectum (Broad Intestine): attaches to the spine to receive the ileum, looping left with leaf-like accumulations opening and closing上下. Diameter eight cun; radius two cun plus one-half cun; length two chi eight cun. (The rectum, also called Bai Chang, attaches to the spine to receive dregs from the large intestine. Bi means adhering to the spine. It refers to the middle part being eight cun wide, with the upper reception point and lower expulsion point having a diameter of two and a half cun, totaling a length of two chi eight cun. [Ping An]: "Ye Ji" is written as "Ye Ji" in the *Ling Shu*. The *Ling Shu* and *Jia Yi Jing* include "Cun Zhi" before "Da Ban".)
Total length from entry to exit of the gastrointestinal tract: six zhang four cun four fen. (The upper opening of the pharynx is the entry; the lower end of the rectum is the exit. Distance from lips to teeth is nine fen; teeth to epiglottis is three and a half cun; epiglottis to stomach pharynx is one chi six cun; stomach start to end is two chi six cun; small intestine start to end is three zhang two chi; rectum start to end is two chi eight cun. Summing these gives six zhang four cun four fen. [Ping An]: In the commentary under "Small Intestine Start to End," the original manuscript reads "Length two zhang one chi." Checking the main text, the small intestine is three zhang two chi, and the ileum is two zhang one chi. Nine characters "Length three zhang two chi, Ileum Start to End" should be added after "Small Intestine Start to End" to match the total of six zhang four cun four fen. These nine characters were likely lost during transcription.)
Total number of loops and reversals: thirty-two. (One loop in the stomach, sixteen in the small intestine, sixteen in the large intestine, totaling thirty-three. However, the large loop of the stomach is short and excluded from the count, resulting in thirty-two loops. This is standardized for a person seven chi five cun tall.)
The Yellow Emperor said: I wish to know why a person who does not eat dies after seven days. What is the reason? (Having learned the size of the gastrointestinal tract, I still do not know how long it takes for the contained water and grain to be exhausted, leading to death on the seventh day.)
Bo Gao said: Allow me to explain the reason. The stomach has a circumference of one chi five cun, diameter five cun, and length two chi six cun. Horizontally curved, it holds three dou. Typically, it retains two dou of grain and one dou of water, filling it up. (This explains the origin: water and grain total three dou, filling the stomach. [Ping An]: "Horizontally curved holding three dou" is written as "Horizontally curved holding water and grain three dou five sheng" in the *Ling Shu* and *Jia Yi Jing*. "Water one dou fills it" is written as "Water one dou five sheng fills it" in both texts.)
The Upper Jiao (Upper Burner) vents qi, releasing fine essences; it is vigorous, rapid, and slippery. (Qi of the Upper Jiao exits from the upper orifice of the stomach. Its essence is fine, vigorous, rapid, and slippery. It circulates through the body fifty times day and night, which is the Wei Qi (Defensive Qi). [Ping An]: One character is missing after "Upper Jiao" in the original. Based on the *Ling Shu* and *Jia Yi Jing*, it is supplemented as "Xie" (vent). Yuan edition writes "Zhong Jiao" (Middle Jiao). Also, the note writes "Er Jiao" instead of "Shang Jiao", inconsistent with the original manuscript.)
The Lower Jiao (Lower Burner) irrigates downward to all intestines. (The Lower Jiao separates from the ileum, pouring into the bladder, like a ditch, irrigating downward to all intestines. The bladder is the Black Intestine, along with the Broad Intestine, etc. [Ping An]: "Zhu Chang" (all intestines) is written as "Xie Zhu Xiao Chang" (drain to small intestines) in the *Jia Yi Jing*.)
Small Intestine: diameter two and a half cun; radius eight fen plus one-third of a fen; length three zhang two chi. Capacity: one dou three he plus two-thirds of a he. Grain: four sheng; Water: six sheng three he plus two-thirds of a he. (One-third is Shao Ban (minor half), two-thirds is Da Ban (major half). [Ping An]: The twelve characters "Receiving one dou three he plus major half, grain four sheng" are summarized as "Receiving grain two dou four sheng" in the *Ling Shu* and *Jia Yi Jing*.)
Ileum: diameter four cun; radius one cun plus one-half cun; length two zhang one chi. Capacity: one dou seven sheng plus one-half sheng. Grain: one dou; Water: seven sheng plus one-half sheng. (Half sheng means 0.5 sheng. [Ping An]: The seventeen characters "Receiving one dou seven sheng plus half sheng, grain one dou, water seven sheng plus half sheng" are summarized as "Receiving grain one dou, water seven sheng half" in the *Ling Shu* and *Jia Yi Jing*.)
Rectum: diameter eight cun; radius two cun plus one-half cun; length two chi eight cun. Capacity: nine sheng three he plus one-eighth of a he. (This is the quantity of water and grain received by the rectum. [Ping An]: The *Ling Shu* includes "Cun Zhi" before "Da Ban" and "Gu" (grain) after "Shou" (receive). The *Jia Yi Jing* is the same.)
Total length of stomach and intestines: six zhang four cun four fen. Total capacity for water and grain: six dou six sheng liu he plus one-eighth of a he. This is the total amount of water and grain received by the gastrointestinal tract. (Calculating the total received, considering fractions of sheng and he. [Ping An]: "Six zhang four cun four fen" is written as "Five zhang eight chi four cun" in the *Ling Shu* and *Jia Yi Jing*. "Receiving water and grain six dou six sheng liu he plus one-eighth of a he" is written as "Receiving water and grain nine dou two sheng one he plus major half" (thirteen characters). In the note, "Chui" is written as "Cheng" by Yuan edition; the meaning is unclear.)
A normal person is different. When the stomach is full, the intestines are empty; when the intestines are full, the stomach is empty. They alternate between full and empty, allowing Qi to move up and down. (The previous discussion was based on the static capacity of the gastrointestinal tract. For a living person, fullness and emptiness alternate within the stomach and intestines, so they do not simultaneously hold the maximum amounts described earlier. When food fills the stomach, the stomach is solid and intestines empty; emptiness in intestines allows Qi to descend. When dregs enter the intestines, the stomach becomes empty and intestines solid; emptiness in stomach allows Qi to ascend. Due to this alternation of fullness and emptiness, Qi moves up and down. [Ping An]: The missing character after "Liang" (measure/capacity) in the note is conjectured to be "Rong" (contain).)
The Five Zang Organs (Five Solid Organs) remain stable, desiring to nourish themselves with the flavor of water and grain, thus requiring fullness. (To receive the Qi of water and grain, emptiness is required. Internal harmony of flavors ensures stability of the Five Zang Organs.)
Blood vessels are harmonious and unobstructed. (Flavors circulate up and down, ensuring harmonious vessels.)
Spirit (Shen) resides therein. (With stable organs and harmonious vessels, the Five Spirits and Five Essences reside in their respective organs.)
Thus, Spirit is the refined essence of water and grain. (Refined essence of water and grain nourishes the Five Spirits. Therefore, when water and grain are exhausted, Spirit perishes.)
Therefore, within the stomach and intestines, there is typically retained grain: two dou four sheng; water: one dou one sheng. (Calculating the total received six dou six sheng liu he plus one-eighth, considering fullness and emptiness, a normal person requires three dou five sheng. [Ping An]: "Grain two dou four sheng" is "two dou" in the *Ling Shu*. "Water one dou one sheng" is "one dou five sheng" in the *Ling Shu*. The *Jia Yi Jing* states "Grain two dou four sheng, Water one dou five sheng".)
Thus, a normal person defecates twice a day, each time two and a half sheng, totaling five sheng per day. Over seven days, this amounts to five times seven, three dou five sheng, exhausting the retained water and grain. (Two bowel movements equal five sheng, needing replenishment from diet, totaling three dou five sheng. If one does not eat for a day but excretes five sheng, five sheng are lacking. If one continues to excrete for seven days without eating, the five sheng and three dou five sheng are all exhausted.)
Therefore, a normal person who does not eat or drink will die after seven days because the essence of water and grain, Jin Ye (Body Fluids), are all exhausted. Hence, death occurs after seven days. (What is stored in the Gate of Life is called Jing (Essence). The Upper Jiao disseminates the flavors of grain, warming the skin, filling the body, and moistening hair, like mist and dew irrigating, thus called Qi. Sweat released from pores is called Jin. Grain essence moistens bones, aiding flexion and extension, nourishing marrow and brain, and moistening skin, thus called Ye. Once water and grain are exhausted, the four substances—Jing, Qi, Jin, and Ye—are all depleted, hence death after seven days. [Ping An]: The missing character after "Si Wu" (four substances) in the note is supplemented as "Jie" (all) based on the main text.)