示从容论篇/Shi Cong Rong Lun

(Diagnose According to the Established Norm in a Leisured Way)

黄帝燕坐，召雷公而问之日:汝受术诵书者，若能览观杂学，及于比类，通合道理，为余言子所长，五藏六府，胆胃大小肠脾胞膀胱，脑髓涕唾，哭泣悲哀，水所从行，此皆人之所生，治之过失，子务明之，可以十全，即不能知，为世所怨。雷公日:臣请诵《脉经・上下篇》甚众多矣，别异比类，犹未能以十全，又安足以明之。

When Yellow Emperor was sitting and resting leisurely, he summoned Lei Gong and said:"You have read many medical books and learned many medical skills, you must have understood the medical principle thoroughly and be able to reason the diseases by analogy. Now tell me your understanding from study. As the five solid organs, the six hollow organs, gallbladder, stomach, the large and small intestine, spleen, uterus, urinary bladder, brain and spinal cord, nasal mucus and saliva, crying, sorrow and the operation of the body fluid are all dispensable to the existence of man, and it is easy to make mistake in treating, you must understand the medical principles in advance, so that the treating may not have a chance of error, and not be blamed by."

Lei Gong said: "I have read a lot of contents in the first and last volumes of the book《On Channels》, but I still can not reason the disease by analogy, so, in treating, I can not achieve complete curative effect. How can you say that I have understood it thoroughly?"

帝日:子别试通五藏之过，六府之所不和，针石之败，毒药所宜，汤液滋味，具言其状，悉言以对，请问不知。雷公日:肝虚肾虚脾虚，皆令人体重烦冤，当投毒药刺灸砭石汤液，或己，或不己，愿闻其解。帝日:公何年之长而问[于鬯说“问”当作“闻”]之少，余真问以自谬也。吾问子窈冥，子言《上下篇》以对，何也?夫脾虚浮似肺，肾小浮似脾，肝急沉散似肾，此皆工之所时乱也。然从容得之。若夫三藏土木水参居，此童子之所知，问之何也?

Yellow Emperor said:"Then you can tell me what you have understood besides the first and last volumes of 《On Channels》, such as the disease pertaining to the affections of the five viscera, the disharmony of the six bowels, the deteriorated case of acupuncture, the proper application of the toxicant, and the tastes of the decoctions. You may relate them in details so that I can explain to you in details.  Now, bring up the questions what you do not understand."

Lei Gong said:"All the liver asthenia, kidney asthenia and spleen asthenia cause the heaviness of the body, restlessness, and mental depression. I have treated them with toxicant, acupuncture, stone needle and decoctions, some of the treatments are effective, but some are not, please explain the reason to me."

Yellow Emperor said:"You are advanced in years, but why the medical theory you have heard is so superficial?

"May be I have made an improper question. The question I asked is pertaining to the more profound medical theory, and why do you answer me with the words of asthenia of liver, kidney and spleen in the first and last volumns of 《On Channels》?

"When the condition of the spleen pulse is empty and floating like the lung pulse, when the kidney pulse is weak and floating like the spleen pulse and when the liver pulse is rapid and sunken like the kidney pulse, they are often confused by the common physicians. But if one sets his mind at ease and diagnoses leisurely, he can distinguish them one by one.

"The viscera of spleen, liver and kidney are all under the diaphram, and their positions to each other are quite near, they can be distinguished even by a child, why do you ask me?"