通评虚实论篇/Tong Ping Xu Shi Lun

(On the Asthenia and Sthenia)

黄帝问日:何谓虚实?岐伯日:邪气盛则实，精[《难经・七十五难》虞注引“精”作“真”]气夺则虚。

Yellow Emperor asked:"What is Asthenia and Sthenia?" Qibo answered:"When the evil-energy is overabundant, it is sthenia, when the healthy-energy is injured, it is asthenia."

帝日:虚实何如?岐伯日:气虚者，肺虚也，气逆者，足寒也，非其时则生，当其时则死。余藏皆如此。

Yellow Emperor asked: "What are the conditions of asthenia and sthenia respectively?" Qibo said:"The lung takes charge of the energy, when the energy is deficient, it is the asthenia of the lung energy which will cause the adverseness of vital energy and cold feet. If the lung disease encounters the season of summer of which its associated element (fire)is subjugating the lung metal, the patient will die. If other season of which its associated element does not subjugate lung metal is encountered,ie. , spring, autumn or winter, the patient will survive. The conditions in other viscera are all the same."

帝日:何谓重实?岐伯日:所谓重实者，言大热病，气热脉满，是谓重实。

Yellow Emperor asked:"What is double Sthenia?" Qibo answered:"When the patienthas a high fever with hot evil-energy and a full pulse, it is called the double sthenia."

帝日:经络俱实何如?何以治之?岐伯日:经络皆实，是寸[莫文泉说:“按王注‘脉急谓脉口’是王本原无‘寸’字]脉急而尺缓也，皆当治之，故曰滑则从，濇则逆也。夫虚实者，皆从其物类[“类”字衍]始，故五藏骨肉滑利，可以长久也。

Yellow Emperor asked:"What is the condition when both the channel-energy and the collateral-energy are sthenic, and how to treat it?" Qibo said:"The so called both the channel-energy and the collateral-energy are sthenic indicates the condition when the pulse is rapid but the skin of antero-lateral side of the forearm is relaxed. In this case, both the channel and the collateral should be treated. When the pulse condition is slippery and flourishing, it is called the favourable condition, when the pulse is choppy which shows the energy and blood are deficient and stagnated, it is called the adverse condition. The condition of asthenia and sthenia of a human body is like that of all other living things, it will survive when the condition of the pulse is slippery and flourishing, and will die when it is choppy and stagnated. When one's viscera, bones and muscle are slippery and flourishing, his life will last long."

帝曰:络气不足，经气有余，何如?岐伯日:络气不足，经气有余者，脉口[《太素》卷三十《经络虚实》“脉”下无“口”字]热而尺寒也，秋冬为逆，春夏为从，治主病者。

Yellow Emperor asked: "What is the condition when the collateral-energy is deficient but the channel-energy is having a surplus?" Qibo said: "When the collateral-energy is deficient and the channel-energy is having a surplus, hot in pulse and cold in the skin of antero-lateral side of forearm will appear. If it appears in autumn or winter, it is an adverse condition¡ if it appears in spring or summer, it is a favourable condition. It is the adverse condition of the main disease which should be treated."