Huang Di Nei Jing Su Wen: An Annotated Translation of Huang Di’s Inner Classic – Basic Questions: 2 volumes

Chapter 27. Discourse on the Division and Union of True [Qi] and Evil [Qi]

Chapter 27 Discourse on the Division and Union of True [Qi] and evil [Qi]1 27-169-2 Huang Di asked: “I have heard of [the art of] the nine needles [outlined in] nine chapters.2 you, sir, have subsequently multiplied them by nine.3 nine times nine is 81 chapters. I have understood their meaning entirely. The classic says: [In case of] qi abundance and weakness, [in case of] a shift towards imbalance left and right, regulate the below with the above, regulate the right with the left. [In case] there are surplus and insufficiency, supplement and drain at the brooks and transporters.4 This I have come to know. all these shifts towards imbalance of the camp and guard [qi] are generated by depletion and repletion, 1 see 451/39 for a discussion of the wording of this title. 478/33 and 541/1: “lin yi et al.: originally there existed two chapters: 經合論 and 真邪論, with identical contents. Wang Bing eliminated the chapter 經合論 and established the new title 離 合真邪論 [for the second].” Ma shi: “[This chapter] discusses how the conduit (經) vessels conform (合) with the zodiacal constellations and the rivers, and it also deals with the meaning of true (真) qi and evil (邪) qi. Hence the title of this chapter.”Wu Kun: “真 stands for 正氣,‘proper qi.’ 邪 stands for 外邪,‘external evil.’ When external evil enters [the body] and unites with the proper qi, this is called 合.To pierce such a [situation] and eliminate the evil, this is called 離.” NJCD agrees. 2 for a discussion of the various meanings of the phrase “nine needles”in the Nei jing, see 802/10.The author interprets “nine needles”in the present context as the title of a scripture on acupuncture. 3 因而 is read here as 因之而, i.e. 根據九針九篇而 .. 4 The Tai su has 滎, ‘brooks,’ instead of 榮. We follow the Tai su and the 1983 edition by ren min wei sheng chu ban she. Wu Kun: “all the twelve conduits have 滎, ‘brooks,’ and 輸, ‘transporters.’ Where they flow, these are the 滎; where they rush, these are the 輸.” 448 Huang Di nei jing su wen not because an evil qi has entered the conduits from the outside.5 I should like to hear [the following]: when evil qi is present in the conduits, how does it cause diseases to a person,6 and how can it be seized?” Qi Bo responded: “now, the degrees and numbers introduced by the sages, they definitely corresponded to heaven and earth.7 Hence, heaven has the [lunar] lodges and the [365] degrees; the earth has the main waters. man has the [main] conduit vessels.8 27-169-8 When heaven and earth are warm and harmonious, then the main waters are quiet and calm. When heaven is cold and the earth is frozen, then the main waters congeal so that [their flow] is impeded.9 When heaven has summerheat and the earth is hot, then the main waters [gush forth as if] boiling and overflow. When a sudden wind rises violently, then the main waters gush up in breakers and rise [like] ridges [in the fields].10 5 Zhang Jiebin: “營衛傾移 is to say: in case of a unilaterial dominance of yin or yang, depletion and repletion emerge internally and cause disease. That is, there is no evil qi in the conduits.” 6 病 is used here as a verb. 7 Compare with Ling shu 78: 聖人之起天地之數也. 8 Wang Bing:“宿 is to say: the 28 zodiacal constellations.度 is to say: the 365 degrees of heaven.as for 經水,this is to say: the seas,the large rivers,the Wei [river],the lakes, the Mian [river], the ru [river], the yangzi [river], the Huai [river], the lo [river], the [Huang-]he [river], the Zhang [river], and the Ji [river]. Because they correspond to the main conduit vessels in [the body], one calls them 經水, ‘main waters.’ ” 9 Wang Bing: “泣 is to say: 血行不行, ‘the blood flow does not flow.’ ” Zhang Jiebin agrees.Ma shi: “泣 is read 澀,‘rough.’ ”yu yue and 2588/23: “The character 泣 should be the character 冱,‘to freeze,’ ‘to congeal.’ ”for detailed discussions of this argument, see there. 10 This metaphor refers to the common sight in agricultural regions where certain fields have alternating lines of mounds and drains, appearing like motionless waves Chapter 27 449 now, when evil enters the vessels, if it is cold, then the blood congeals so that [its flow] is impeded. If it is summerheat, then the qi is saturated with moisture...