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บทที่ 80 จาก 81
黄帝内经·灵枢
Overall Paraphrase
The original text of this chapter contains some copying errors from transmission; the following is a paraphrase based on the commonly circulated version after textual correction.
The Yellow Emperor asked Qi Bo: I once climbed a tall, clear terrace. When I reached the middle of the steps and turned back to look, then bowed forward, I felt dizzy and my mind became confused. I privately found this strange. Alone, I closed my eyes and focused my gaze, calming my breath and settling my mind, but for a long time it would not resolve. Then I felt palpitations and dizziness. I loosened my hair, knelt upright, and looked down; after a long time it still did not stop, but eventually it suddenly ceased on its own. What kind of qi caused this?
Qi Bo replied: The essential qi of the five viscera and six bowels all pours upward into the eyes, forming the bright function of vision. The socket where essence gathers is called the orb; the essence of bone pours into the pupil; the essence of sinews pours into the dark of the eye; the essence of blood pours into the blood vessels; the essence of qi pours into the white of the eye; the essence of the flesh binds and governs the eye, wrapping the essence of sinew, bone, blood, and qi, uniting with the blood vessels to form the mu xi (the fascial bundle of vessels connecting behind the eyeball to the brain), which connects upward to the brain and emerges posteriorly at the nape of the neck. Therefore, when evil qi attacks the nape, and coincides with the body being truly vacuous, the evil qi penetrates deeply and enters the brain along the mu xi; when evil enters the brain, the brain turns; when the brain turns, it draws the mu xi into spasm; when the mu xi is in spasm, the eyes become dizzy and roll. If evil qi disrupts the essence qi, the essence qi of the affected region cannot harmonize with each other, and the essence qi scatters in disorder, resulting in seeing things split, one object appearing as two. The eyes are the place where the essence qi of the five viscera and six bowels converges, and are also where camp and guard (the two kinds of qi in the body with nourishing and defensive functions) and the ethereal and corporeal souls regularly operate; spirit qi arises from this. Therefore, when the spirit labors excessively, the ethereal and corporeal souls scatter, and the will and intent become disordered.
The pupil and the dark of the eye pertain to yin; the white of the eye and the red vessels pertain to yang. When yin and yang qi harmoniously combine and transmit, vision is bright. The eyes are the external envoy of the heart; the heart is the residence of the spirit. If the spirit and essence become disordered and cannot transmit normally, and one suddenly sees an unusual environment, the spirit, ethereal soul, and corporeal soul scatter without mutual coordination, then "confusion" (huo) arises.
The Yellow Emperor said: I doubt this principle. Every time I go to the Eastern Garden, there is not one occasion when I am not confused, and after leaving I recover. Is it only the Eastern Garden that labors my spirit? Why is it so strange? Qi Bo said: It is not so. The heart has what it delights in, the spirit has what it dislikes; when these two emotions suddenly interfere with each other, the essence qi becomes disordered and the vision becomes disturbed, therefore confusion arises; when the spirit and intent shift, one recovers. Therefore, the lighter case is called "bewilderment" (mi), and the heavier case is called "confusion" (huo).
The Yellow Emperor asked: When a person is forgetful, what qi causes this? Qi Bo said: The qi of the upper region is insufficient, the qi of the lower region is excessive; the intestines and stomach are replete and obstructed while the heart and lungs are vacuous. Camp and guard qi stagnates in the lower region and for a long time cannot ascend in time, therefore forgetfulness occurs.
The Yellow Emperor asked: When a person is easily hungry but does not want to eat, what qi causes this? Qi Bo said: The essence qi moves together into the spleen, and heat lingers in the stomach. Stomach heat causes the easy digestion of water and grains; because water and grains are digested, one is easily hungry. Stomach qi rises in counterflow, and the gastric cavity becomes cold and stagnant, therefore one does not want to eat.
The Yellow Emperor asked: When sick and unable to fall asleep, what qi causes this? Qi Bo said: Guard qi cannot enter the yin aspect and constantly stays in the yang aspect. Staying in the yang causes yang qi to be full; when yang qi is full, then the yang qiao vessel (the channel related to activity and wakefulness) is predominant on one side. When unable to enter the yin, yin qi becomes deficient, therefore the eyes cannot close and one cannot fall asleep.
The Yellow Emperor asked: When sick and the eyes cannot open to see things, what qi causes this? Qi Bo said: Guard qi stays in the yin aspect and cannot move into the yang aspect. Staying in the yin causes yin qi to be abundant; when yin qi is abundant, the yin qiao vessel is full on one side. When unable to enter yang, yang qi becomes deficient, therefore the eyes close and cannot see.
The Yellow Emperor asked: When a person sleeps excessively, what qi causes this? Qi Bo said: Such a person has a large intestine and stomach, moist skin, and the flesh division (the texture between muscles) is not smooth and lubricated. With large intestines and stomach, guard qi remains for a long time; with moist skin and flesh divisions not smooth, guard qi moves slowly. Guard qi normally moves in the yang aspect during the day and in the yin aspect at night; when yang qi is exhausted one lies down, and when yin qi is exhausted one awakens. Therefore, in those with large intestines and stomach, guard qi remains long; in those with moist skin and flesh divisions not smooth, guard qi moves slowly and stays long in the yin aspect; their qi is not clear and sharp, so they readily want to close their eyes, thus they sleep more. If the intestines and stomach are small, the skin moist but loose, and the flesh divisions smooth, then guard qi remains longer in the yang aspect and sleep is less.
The Yellow Emperor asked: If one is not of ordinary constitution but suddenly sleeps more, what qi causes this? Qi Bo said: Evil qi stays in the upper burner (the region above the diaphragm and chest), the upper burner becomes blocked and not free-flowing. After eating or after drinking hot water, guard qi remains for a long time in the yin aspect and cannot move normally, therefore sudden excessive sleep occurs.
The Yellow Emperor said: Good. What is the method of treating these diseases caused by evil qi? Qi Bo said: First examine the viscera and bowels, dispel the minor evil qi, then harmonize the qi. For exuberant evil qi use drainage; for vacuous proper qi use supplementation. One must also first understand the patient's physical exertion or ease and emotional suffering or joy, and only after determining these apply point selection and treatment. This is the principle of differentiation and treatment proposed by the ancients; it belongs to scholarly doctrine and is provided for study only, not as medication guidance.
The core of this chapter is the holistic view that "the eyes are the essence of the five viscera and six bowels" and the "camp–guard and yin–yang qiao vessels—sleep and wakefulness" relationship.
Related Concepts
Further Reading
— Bu Gua This content is based on Chinese medicine classics and ancient literature; it is provided solely for traditional culture learning and study, not as any medical diagnosis, medication instructions, or therapeutic recommendation. If you feel unwell, please seek medical attention promptly.