Loading...
Chapter 14 of 81
黄帝内经·灵枢
Holistic Paraphrase
The Yellow Emperor asked Bo Gao: "The chapter 'Vessel Measurements' speaks of the length of the meridians—on what basis is this determined?" Bo Gao replied: "First measure the size, width, and length of the bone joints, and the length of the meridians can then be established."
The Yellow Emperor said: "I wish to understand the standard bone measurements of an ordinary person. Taking a person of seven chi five cun in height as an example, what are the sizes and lengths of his bone joints?" Bo Gao then enumerated in detail a set of ancient anthropometric data:
The largest circumference of the head is two chi six cun; the chest circumference is four chi five cun; the waist circumference is four chi two cun. The area covered by hair, from the crown of the skull to the hairline at the back of the neck, is one chi two cun; from the hairline to the chin is one chi, and the three divisions of the face are proportionally calculated according to this. Below the Adam's apple to the supraclavicular fossa is four cun; below the supraclavicular fossa to the xiphoid process is nine cun—if it exceeds nine cun, it may indicate that the lungs are large; if less than nine cun, it may indicate that the lungs are small. Below the xiphoid process to Tianshu (the level of the navel) is eight cun—if it exceeds, the stomach may be large; if insufficient, the stomach may be small. Below Tianshu to the transverse bone (superior border of the pubic symphysis) is six cun and a half—if it exceeds, the ileum may be broad and long; if insufficient, the ileum may be narrow and short.
The transverse bone itself is six cun and a half long. From the upper border of the transverse bone downward to the upper border of the medial femoral condyle is one chi eight cun; from the upper border of the medial condyle to its lower border is three cun and a half; from the lower border of the medial condyle downward to the medial malleolus is one chi three cun; from the medial malleolus downward to the ground is three cun. From the popliteal fossa downward to the dorsum-metatarsal junction is one chi six cun; from the dorsum-metatarsal junction downward to the ground is three cun. Therefore, if the bone circumference is larger, it belongs to "excess"; if the bone circumference is smaller, it belongs to "insufficiency."
From the angle of the forehead downward to the clavicular acromial end is one chi; the portion hidden within the armpit is four cun; from the armpit downward to the floating ribs is one chi two cun; from the floating ribs downward to the hip pivot (greater trochanter of the femur) is six cun; from the hip pivot downward to the middle of the knee is one chi nine cun; from the knee downward to the lateral malleolus is one chi six cun; from the lateral malleolus downward to Jinggu (fifth metatarsal tuberosity on the lateral foot) is three cun; from Jinggu downward to the ground is one cun.
Behind the ear, at the mastoid process, the width is nine cun; in front of the ear, at the ear gate, the width is one chi three cun; between the two zygomatic bones is seven cun; between the two breasts is nine cun and a half; between the two thighs is six cun and a half. The foot is one chi two cun long and four cun and a half wide. From the shoulder to the elbow is one chi seven cun; from the elbow to the wrist is one chi two cun and a half; from the wrist to the base joint of the middle finger is four cun; from the base joint to the tip of the finger is four cun and a half.
From the hairline at the back of the neck downward to the Dazhui vertebra is two cun and a half; from the spine downward to the sacrum and coccyx there are twenty-one segments, measuring three chi in total; the upper segments each measure approximately one cun four fen one li, with the fractional remainder distributed below, so the upper seven segments to the dorsum (vertebral column) total nine cun eight fen seven li. These are the standard bone measurements of an ordinary person and the basis for determining the length of the meridians.
Therefore, when observing the external manifestations of the meridians on the body: if the vessels are superficially visible and firm, distinct and large, they typically indicate abundant blood; if the vessels are fine and deep, they typically indicate abundant qi.
The core idea of this chapter is "bone measurements serve as the foundation for vessel measurements." The ancients believed that although the meridians run deep within the body, their course length and acupuncture point locations must be determined with the aid of visible and palpable bone landmarks on the body surface. By establishing a standard system of bone-joint proportional measurements for the human body, physicians could proportionally adjust for different body types, thereby accurately locating meridians and acupuncture points.
This reflects the diagnostic approach of Traditional Chinese Medicine—"inferring the interior from the exterior" and "determining qi through bodily form." Bone measurements were used not only for locating meridians but also for inferring the size of internal organs and the abundance or deficiency of qi and blood. For example, "below the supraclavicular fossa to the xiphoid process is nine cun—if it exceeds, the lungs are large; if insufficient, the lungs are small," represents an early recognition that links thoracic skeletal landmarks with internal organ conditions.
The final passage on external manifestations of meridians—vessels that are superficial and firm, conspicuous and large indicate abundant blood, while those that are fine and deep indicate abundant qi—reflects the ancients' method of judging abundance or deficiency of qi and blood from the observable morphology of superficial vessels, representing the embryonic form of inspection and palpation diagnosis.
From a modern perspective, this chapter constitutes an important early Chinese medical document on surface anatomy and anthropometry. It systematically records the distances between bony landmarks of the head, chest, abdomen, and extremities, demonstrating that the ancients possessed considerable powers of anatomical observation.
This system of "bone measurement proportional cun" remains a fundamental method for locating acupuncture points today. For example, "between the two breasts is nine cun and a half" and "from the elbow to the wrist is one chi two cun and a half" have been successively revised over the centuries to evolve into today's methods of proportional bone measurement and individual cun positioning. Its value lies in not relying on absolute lengths but rather using the individual's own body proportions for localization, allowing adaptation to different body types.
However, it is equally important to recognize its historical limitations:
The general health insight this chapter offers to ordinary people is: a well-proportioned physique and harmonious skeletal structure can serve as a reference for daily health observation. The ancients emphasized that "larger bone circumference indicates excess, smaller indicates insufficiency," suggesting that the proportions of various body parts should not be excessively overdeveloped or underdeveloped.
In daily life, one may pay attention to:
These are general principles of health maintenance and are not directed at any specific disease.
Related Concepts: Bone measurement proportional cun method, individual cun, vessel measurement, meridian pathways, external manifestation of internal organs, abundance of qi and blood, inspection diagnosis, palpation diagnosis
Further Reading:
This content is based on classical Chinese medical texts and is provided solely for the study and appreciation of traditional culture. It does not constitute any medical diagnosis, medication, or treatment advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional if you experience any discomfort.