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Huangdi Neijing · The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon
Lingshu 30 · Distinguishing the Six Qi
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The Yellow Emperor said: “I have heard that people possess essence, qi, jin fluid, ye fluid, blood and vessels. I thought they were simply one qi, yet they are distinguished by six names. I do not understand why.”
Qi Bo said: “Two spirits join and combine to form a body. What invariably comes into being before the body is called essence.” What is called qi?
Qi Bo said: “The upper burner opens and spreads the flavors of the five grains, steaming the skin, filling the body and moistening the hair like irrigation by mist and dew. This is called qi.” What is called jin fluid?
Qi Bo said: “When the interstices open and release, and sweat emerges profusely, this is called jin fluid.” What is called ye fluid?
Qi Bo said: “Grain enters and qi becomes full. Thick moisture pours into the bones, allowing their joints to bend and stretch; its moistening flow supplements brain and marrow and makes the skin lustrous. This is called ye fluid.” What is called blood?
Qi Bo said: “The middle burner receives qi, takes its juice and transforms it to redness. This is called blood.” What is called a vessel?
Qi Bo said: “What encloses and restrains nutritive qi, leaving it nowhere to escape, is called a vessel.”
The Yellow Emperor said: “How can one know excess and insufficiency in these six qi, the amount of qi, emptiness and repletion of brain and marrow, and clarity and turbidity of blood and vessels?”
Qi Bo said: “Loss of essence brings deafness. Loss of qi brings unclear vision. Loss of jin fluid opens the interstices and causes a great outpouring of sweat. Loss of ye fluid makes bending and stretching of the joints difficult, leaves the complexion withered, diminishes brain and marrow, aches the shins and brings frequent ringing in the ears. Loss of blood leaves the complexion white, withered and without luster, and the vessels empty. These are their signs.”
The Yellow Emperor said: “What is the relative standing of the six qi?”
Qi Bo said: “Each of the six qi has its own governing domain. Their higher and lower standing and their good and bad conditions can each provide a regular guide. Yet the five grains and the Stomach form the great sea.”
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