In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:

Chapter 57 Discourse on Conduits and network [Vessels] 57-291-6 Huang Di asked: “now, the network vessels differ with respect to the five colors they manifest.1 They vary in that they are green-blue, yellow, red, white, or black. What is the reason?” Qi Bo responded: “The conduits have a regular color, while the network vessels have no regular [color.Their color] undergoes changes.”2 [Huang] Di: “What are the regular colors of the conduits like?” Qi Bo: “The [color associated with the] heart is red. The [color associated with the] lung is white. The [color associated with the] liver is green-blue. The [color associated with the] spleen is yellow. The [color associated with the] kidneys is black. all these [colors] are also reflected in the colors of the respective conduit vessels.” 57-291-9 [Huang] Di: “Do the yin and yang [sections] of the network [vessels] reflect [the colors of] these conduits, too?” 1 Hu Tianxiong: “見也 should be understood as 見者.” 2 Wang Bing: “The conduits move the qi. Hence, they appear in the regular colors corresponding to the [four] seasons.The network vessels rule the blood. Hence, when they receive evil [qi] their color changes to more than one.”Gao shishi: “The conduit vessels are tied to the palaces and depots internally; hence, they display the regular colors of the five agents.The network vessels, in contrast, are at the surface and can be seen from outside.Their [color] is not regular and undergoes frequent changes.” 44 Huang Di nei jing su wen Qi Bo: “The colors of the yin network [vessels] reflect those of the respective conduits; the colors of the yang network [vessels] change.They have no permanence. [The colors] are activitated in accordance with the four seasons.3 57-291-11 When there is plenty of cold, [the contents of the vessels] congeal so that [their flow] is impeded. When they have congealed so that [their flow] is impeded, then [the vessels assume a color of] green-blue to black. When there is plenty of heat, [the contents of the vessels] are saturated with moisture.4 When they are saturated with moisture, then [the vessels assume a color of] yellow to red. 3 Zhang Zhicong: “The yin-network [vessels] are the network [vessels] of the six yin conduits; they correspond to the conduits of the five depots. each has its regular color which does not change. The yang-network [vessels] are the network [vessels] of the six yang conduits.They are tied to the yang of the six palaces.They undergo changes in accordance with the [pairings of] spring-green-blue,summer-red,autumn-white,and winter-black.” Zhang Jiebin: “Ling shu 17 states: The conduit vessels are inside; those [vessels] branching away and running transversely are the network [vessels]. Those parting from the network [vessels] are the tertiary [vessels]. Hence, if stated in terms of conduits and network [vessels] seen together, then the conduits are inside and yin and the network [vessels] are outside and yang. If stated only in terms of the network vessels, one distinguishes again between the large network [vessels] and the tertiary network [vessels], between those in the interior and those in the exterior. Those located in the depth and in the interior, these are the yin network [vessels]. The yin network [vessels] are located close to the conduits. Hence, they correspond to them in their colors. Hence, their colors are regular, in accordance with the association of the five agents with the five depots.Those located near the surface and in the exterior, these are the yang network [vessels]. The yang network [vessels] are visible near the surface; their color does not correspond to the conduits. Hence, it changes irregularly in accordance with the coming and going of the qi of the four seasons.”Hu Tianxiong: “How can Zhang Jiebin say ‘it changes irregularly’when [these changes occur] ‘in accordance with the coming and going of the qi of the four seasons’? This paragraph is corrupt; Zhang Jiebin’s mistake results from his closely following, in his commentary, the [present version of the] text.”li Guoqing: “Zhang Jiebin’s comments are most accurate and should be followed.”These observations on a regularity despite the preceding affirmation of the lack of a regularity, may have been added by a later author. 4 Wang Bing: “淖 is 濕,‘damp.’澤 is 潤液,‘moist.’That is to say,‘slightly moistened.’” Cheng shide et al.: “The Zi lin 字林 states: ‘extreme moisture is called 淖.’ [The term...

Share