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Chapter 72 of 81
黄帝内经·灵枢
Overall Paraphrase
The Yellow Emperor asked Shaoshi: "I have often heard that people are divided into Yin and Yang. What exactly is meant by a Yin person, and what by a Yang person?" Shaoshi replied: "Between Heaven and Earth, within the four directions and above and below, all things are inseparable from the number 'five' — and human beings are no exception. It is not merely a matter of simple Yin-Yang dichotomy. This principle is profound and cannot be fully explained in a few words." The Yellow Emperor said: "Please give a general account of the profound meaning so that sages and wise men may understand it clearly in their minds and put it into practice in their lives."
Shaoshi then said: "There are five types of people: the Great Yin type, the Lesser Yin type, the Great Yang type, the Lesser Yang type, and the Yin-Yang Balanced type. These five types differ in constitution and temperament, and their sinews and bones vary in strength, their qi and blood in abundance and deficiency."
The Yellow Emperor asked: "What are these differences specifically?" Shaoshi replied:
The Great Yin type: insatiably greedy and devoid of benevolence; outwardly humble but concealing deep schemes within; preferring to take rather than give; keeping thoughts deeply hidden without easy revelation; acting without seizing the right moment, always moving behind others. This is the Great Yin type.
The Lesser Yin type: covetous of small gains, harboring hidden malice; rejoicing at others' losses as if gaining advantage oneself; delighting in harming and injuring others; feeling vexed when others are honored; envious by nature and lacking magnanimity. This is the Lesser Yin type.
The Great Yang type: generally carefree and self-satisfied in demeanor, fond of boastful speech; having little real ability yet speaking extravagantly; ambitions spread grandly and distantly; acting without regard for right or wrong; self-opinionated and always believing oneself correct; never regretting even when things fail. This is the Great Yang type.
The Lesser Yang type: meticulous in conduct and self-aggrandizing; becoming self-important and inflated upon gaining even a minor official post; fond of socializing and networking externally, yet unwilling to engage in solid practical work and neglecting inner cultivation. This is the Lesser Yang type.
The Yin-Yang Balanced type: dwelling in tranquility with a calm state of mind; neither given to unfounded fear nor excessive elation; going along with external things with ease and contentment; not contentious in dealing with others; adapting to the times and circumstances; the higher the position, the more humble; transforming others through virtue rather than forceful governance. This is the highest attainment, called "supreme governance." The ancient masters of acupuncture, before treating, first distinguished the constitutions of these five types, then applied treatment — using reduction for excess of pathogenic qi and supplementation for deficiency of righteous qi.
The Yellow Emperor asked again: "How specifically should treatment be adjusted for these five types?" Shaoshi said:
The Great Yin type has more Yin and less Yang; the Yin blood is turbid, the defensive qi (qi that circulates at the surface and protects the body) flows poorly, Yin and Yang are not harmonized, the sinews and vessels are lax, and the skin is thick. If this constitution is not quickly treated with reducing methods to eliminate turbid pathogens, the pathological state will be difficult to change.
The Lesser Yin type has more Yin and less Yang; the stomach is small while the intestines are large; the six bowels are not well coordinated; the qi of the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian is on the small side, while the qi of the Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian is on the large side. Treatment must be carefully examined and adjusted, because people of this type are prone to loss of blood and decline of qi.
The Great Yang type has more Yang and less Yin. Treatment must be cautious — one must not deplete the already insufficient Yin qi, and should only reduce the excessive Yang qi. If Yang qi is excessively lost, it readily leads to mania; if both Yin and Yang are depleted, the person may suddenly faint and lose consciousness.
The Lesser Yang type has more Yang and less Yin; the main meridians are small while the collateral vessels are large; blood is stored within while qi floats externally. Treatment should supplement the Yin and drain the Yang. If one only reduces the collateral vessels, qi will be rapidly lost; severe qi depletion leads to insufficiency of middle qi, and the illness becomes difficult to resolve.
The Yin-Yang Balanced type has harmonious Yin and Yang qi, with free-flowing blood and vessels. Treatment only requires careful examination of the excess and deficiency of Yin and Yang, the strength of pathogenic and righteous qi, observing whether the bearing and countenance are calm and settled, and examining whether qi and blood are in surplus or deficiency. Reduce when pathogenic qi is exuberant, supplement when righteous qi is deficient, and when neither excess nor deficiency is present, simply regulate by selecting points along the meridians.
The Yellow Emperor asked: "If, among these five types, people do not know one another and meet for the first time — before understanding their behavior — how can one distinguish which type they belong to?"
Shaoshi replied: "Among the general populace, not everyone conforms precisely to these five archetypes. According to the Five Element classification, one can derive twenty-five constitutional types (5 × 5), and these 'five categories of persons' are the most extreme archetypes that do not conform to the general population."
The Yellow Emperor asked: "Then how does one concretely distinguish these five types?" Shaoshi said:
The Great Yin type: complexion dark and gloomy; outwardly submissive while thoughts are deeply hidden; the body may be large but habitually stoops with bent knees, feigning humility. These are the physical characteristics of the Great Yin type.
The Lesser Yin type: appearance cold and aloof, movements furtive, with deep schemes and concealed ruthlessness; restless and agitated when standing; when walking, the body seems to crouch or bend forward. These are the physical characteristics of the Lesser Yin type.
The Great Yang type: imposing bearing, exuding high spirits; chest thrust out and belly protruding, body leaning backward as if displaying one's own grandeur. These are the physical characteristics of the Great Yang type.
The Lesser Yang type: when standing, likes to tilt the head back; when walking, likes to sway and swing; the arms and elbows habitually swing backward as if clasped behind the body, displaying an air of self-satisfaction. These are the physical characteristics of the Lesser Yang type.
The Yin-Yang Balanced type: appearance gentle and composed, movements cultured and refined; demeanor dignified and amiable, gaze warm and soft; interacting with others naturally and appropriately, praised by all as a person of virtue and integrity. These are the physical characteristics of the Yin-Yang Balanced type.
This chapter presents the foundational framework of constitution theory in Chinese medicine — the five categories of persons. The core principles are:
Yin-Yang is not a dichotomy but a fivefold classification: the Chinese medical view of Yin-Yang is not a simple "binary opposition," but rather subdivides constitutional types according to the quantity and proportion of Yin and Yang qi. Great Yin = most Yin and least Yang; Lesser Yin = more Yin and less Yang; Great Yang = most Yang and least Yin; Lesser Yang = more Yang and less Yin; Yin-Yang Balanced = equilibrium of Yin and Yang. This "quantitative difference" reflects the philosophy of "change and transformation" from the Book of Changes applied to constitutional typing.
Unity of form and spirit: the five types each possess temperamental tendencies (psychological dimension, e.g., the Great Yin type's "greed without benevolence"), physical characteristics (physiological dimension, e.g., the Great Yin type's "lax sinews and thick skin"), and qi-blood characteristics (pathophysiological dimension, e.g., the Great Yin type's "turbid Yin blood and sluggish defensive qi"). These three dimensions correspond to one another, forming a triadic integrated understanding of "constitution-temperament-physiology."
Constitution determines treatment principles: the ancients always "examined the five states of persons before treating," meaning they selected supplementation or reduction strategies according to constitutional type, embodying an individualistic approach of "treating according to the person" and "administering therapy according to constitution." This is also the theoretical origin of later "constitution-based pattern differentiation."
This chapter has both notable value and clear limitations.
Valuable aspects:
Limitations that should be candidly acknowledged:
Setting aside the medical treatment dimension, this chapter offers several reference points for daily self-cultivation:
This content is based on classical Chinese medical texts and is provided solely for traditional cultural study and research. It does not constitute any medical diagnosis, medication, or treatment advice. If you feel unwell, please seek medical attention promptly.