本输/Ben Shu

(On Acupoints)

黄帝问于岐伯曰:凡刺之道，必通十二经络[十二经络:《太素》卷十一《本输》“经络”作“经脉”。]之所终始，络脉之所别处[《太素》卷十一《本输》“处”作“起”]，五输之所留[《太素》卷十一《本输》“留”下有“止”字]，六腑之所与合，四时之所出入，五脏[《太素》卷十一《本输》“六腑”上有“五脏”二字]之所溜处，阔数之度，浅深之状，高下所至。愿闻其解。

Yellow Emperor asked Qibo and said:"In pricking, one must understand the beginnings and the terminals of the twelve channels, the extra branches of the collaterals, the places where the five kinds of Jing, Xing, Shu, Jing and He acupoints stop, the corresponding relations of the five solid organs and the six hollow organs, the going out and the coming in of the Yin and Yang energies in different seasons, the energy-circulations of the five viscera, the width and the depth of the channels, collaterrals, and minute collaterals from head to foot. I hope you can explain them to me."

岐伯曰:请言其次也。肺出于少商，少商者，手大指端[《太素》卷十一《本输》“指”下无“端”字]内侧也，为井木;溜于鱼际，鱼际者，手鱼也，为荥;注于太渊，太渊，鱼后一寸陷者中也，为腧;行于经渠，经渠，寸口中也，动而不居，为经;入于尺泽，尺泽，肘中之动脉也，为合，手太阴经也。

Qibo said:"Let me tell you in order. The channel-energy of lung channel issues from Shaoshang point (LU.11), the Shaoshang point is on the inner flank of the thumb, and it is called Jing Wood; from here, the channel-energy flows into the Yuji point (LU.10), the Yuji point is behind the hand thenar eminence, and it is called Xing; from here, the channel-energy pours into Taiyuan point (LU.9), the Taiyuan point is in the cave-in one inch behind the thenar eminence, and it is called Shu; from here, the channel-energy passes through the Jingqu point (LU.8), the Jingqu point is in the cave-in of Cunkou where the Taiyin Channel pulsates unceasingly, and it is called Jing; from here, the channel-energy gets into the Chize point (LU.5), Chize is on the artery of the elbow, and it is called He. These are the five acupoints belonging to the Hand Taiyin Channel of Lung.

心出于中冲，中冲，手中指之端也，为井木;溜于劳宫，劳官，掌中中指本节之内间也，为荥;注于大陵，大陵，掌后两骨之间方下者也，为腧;行于间使，间使之道，两筋之间，三寸之中也，有过则至，无过则止，为经;入于曲泽，曲泽，肘内廉下陷者之中也，屈而得之，为合，手少阴也。

"The channel-energy of the Heart Channel issues from the Zhongchong point (PC.9), the Zhongchong point is on the tip of the middle finger, and it is called Jing Wood; from here, the channel-energy flows into Laogong point (PC.8), the Laogong point is on the inner side of the basic joint of middle finger in the centre of the palm, and it is called Xing : from here, the channel-energy pours into the Daling point (PC. 7), the Daling point is in the cave-in between the two bones behind the palm, and it is called Shu; from here, the channel-energy passes through the Jianshi point (PC. 5), the Jianshi point is in the cave-in between the two tendons three inches behind the palm, when the associated viscus is ill, reactions will appear, and when there is no disease in the related viscus, the channel is calm, and it is called Jing: from here, the channel-energy gets into the Quze point (PC. 3), the Quze point is in the cave-in of the elbow, it can be found when the patient is bending his elbow, and it is called He. These are the five acupoints belonging to the Hand Shaoyin Channel of Heart (Pericardium).