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《針灸大成•卷三•玉龍賦》《聚英》
Ode of the Jade Dragon1 from The Great Compendium of Acupuncture-Moxibustion2
(from Zhēn Jiǔ Jù Yīng)3 4
translated by Lorraine Wilcox L.Ac.
Now, I consulted a master and took [his teaching] as essential; when I compiled his work, I was
夫參博以為要,輯簡而舍煩;總玉龍以成賦,信金針以獲安。
原夫卒暴中風,頂門百會;腳氣連延,里絕三交。
The source! For sudden violent windstroke: Dǐng Mén (Du 22) and Bǎi Huì (Du 20); (YLF1)
頭風鼻淵,上星可用;耳聾腮腫,聽會偏高。
For leg qì spreading further: Zú Sān Lǐ (ST 36), Jué Gǔ (GB 39), and Sān Yīn Jiāo (SP 6);
(YLF2)
For head-wind and deep-source nasal congestion [sinusitis], Shàng Xīng (Du 23) can be used;
(YLF3)
For deafness and swollen cheeks [mumps], Tīng Huì (GB 2) stands tall. (YLF4)
攢竹頭維,治目疼頭痛;乳根俞府,療氣嗽痰哮。
Zǎn Zhú (UB 2) and Tóu Wéi (ST 8) treat eye pain and headaches; (YLF5)
風市陰市,驅腿腳之乏力;陰陵陽陵,除膝腫之難熬。
Rǔ Gēn (ST 18) and Shù Fǔ (KI 27) cure qì cough and phlegm wheezing. (YLF6)
Fēng Shì (GB 31) and Yīn Shì (ST 33) drive fatigue from the legs and feet; (YLF7)
Yīn Líng Quán (SP 9) and Yáng Líng Quán (GB 34) eliminate unendurable swelling of the
knees. (YLF8)
1
An ode (賦 fù) is a work of rhymed prose or prose-poetry. The ancient Chinese encoded information into poetry
and rhythmic prose to make it easier to memorize. This ode generally does not rhyme and the meter changes
throughout. However, in the attempt to make it concise and rhythmic, the original author added or left out words.
The fill words and connecting words have little importance and are often hard to translate. Because of this, my
translation is as precise as possible with the technical terms (indications and points), but may alter the non-technical
words to make the English a little easier to read.
2
《針灸大成》 The Great Compendium of Acupuncture-Moxibustion – Zhēn Jiǔ Dà Chéng, by 楊繼洲 Yáng
Jìzhōu, pubished in 1601 (Míng). This comes from Volume 3.
3
《針灸聚英》 Gatherings from Eminent Acupuncture-Moxibustionists – Zhēn Jiǔ Jù Yīng, by 高武 Gāo Wǔ,
published in 1529 (Míng). This ode was first recorded in Volume 4 of Jù Yīng, which states that it author is
unknown.
4
A number of apparent typographical errors in the text of Zhēn Jiǔ Dà Chéng were corrected based on the text in
Zhēn Jiǔ Jù Yīng.
咳嗽風痰,太淵列缺宜刺;尪羸喘促,璇璣氣海當知。
For cough with wind phlegm, Tài Yuān (LU 9) and Liè Quē (LU 7) are suitable to prick;
期門大敦,治堅痃疝氣;勞宮大陵,可療心悶瘡痍。
(YLF15)
For lameness, emaciation, weakness, and hasty panting, Xuán Jī (Ren 21) and Qì Hǎi (Ren 6)
should be known. (YLF16)
Qī Mén (LV 14) and Dà Dūn (LV 1) treat hard strings [a type of mass] and shàn qì; (YLF17)
Láo Gōng (PC 8) and Dà Líng (PC 7) can cure heart oppression and sores. (YLF18)
心悸虛煩刺三里;時疫痎瘧尋後溪。
For heart palpitations and vacuity vexation, prick Zú Sān Lǐ (ST 36); (YLF19)
絕骨三里陰交,腳氣宜此;睛明太陽魚尾,目症憑茲。
For seasonal epidemics and malaria, seek out Hòu Xī (SI 3). (YLF20)
Jué Gǔ (GB 39), Zú Sān Lǐ (ST 36), and Yīn Jiāo (Ren 7), 5 are suitable for leg qì; (YLF21)
Depend on Jīng Míng (UB 1), Tài Yáng, and Yú Wěi [‘fish tail,’ more or less Sī Zhú Kōng (SJ
23)] for eye diseases. (YLF22)
老者便多,命門兼腎俞而著艾;
For an old person who goes to the bathroom a lot, light mugwort on Mìng Mén (Du 4) and Shèn
婦人乳腫,少澤與太陽之可推。
身柱蠲嗽,能除膂痛;至陽卻疸,善治神疲。
Shēn Zhù (Du 12) reduces cough and can eliminate pain of the spinal muscles; (YLF25)
長強承山,灸痔最妙;豐隆肺俞,痰嗽稱奇。
Zhì Yáng (Du 9) drives back jaundice and is good at treating spirit exhaustion. (YLF26)
Moxibustion on Cháng Qiáng (Du 1) and Chéng Shān (UB 57) is most wonderful for
hemorrhoids; (YLF27)
Fēng Lóng (ST 40) and Fèi Shù (UB 13) are extraordinary for phlegm cough. (YLF28)
5
陰交 Yīn Jiāo is the name of Ren 7, but this may mean 三陰交 Sān Yīn Jiāo (SP 6). If so, this is the same point
formula as in YLF2, which is also for leg qì.
Fēng Mén (UB 12) governs cough from external damage cold evils; (YLF29)
風池絕骨,而療乎傴僂;人中曲池,可知其痿傴。
Tiān Shū (ST 25) regulates the danger of contracting and suffering spleen diarrhea. (YLF30)
Fēng Chí (GB 20) and Jué Gǔ (GB 39) cure hunchback; (YLF31)
Rén Zhōng (Du 26) and Qū Chí (LI 11) are known for wěi-wilting and hunchback. (YLF32)
期門刺傷寒未解,經不再傳;鳩尾針癲癇已發,慎其妄施。
Prick Qī Mén (LV 14) for unresolved cold damage, the channel will not pass it on [to the next
陰交水分三里,蠱脹宜刺;商邱解谿丘墟,腳痛堪追。
channel]; (YLF33)
Needle Jiū Wěi (Ren 15) for episodes of epilepsy in progress, but be careful of the frenetic
movements [of the patient]. (YLF34)
Yīn Jiāo (Ren 7), Shuǐ Fēn (Ren 9) and Zú Sān Lǐ (ST 36) are suitable to prick for gǔ distention;
(YLF35)
Shāng Qiū (SP 5), Jiě Xī (ST 41), and Qiū Xū (GB 40) can chase away leg pain. (YLF36)
尺澤理筋急之不用;腕骨療手腕之難移。
風濕傳於兩肩,肩髃療;雍熱盛於三焦,關沖最宜。
手臂紅腫,中渚液門要辨;脾虛黃疸,腕骨中脘何疑。
For congested heat exuberance in the sān jiāo, Guān Chōng (SJ 1) is most suitable. (YLF42)
For red swollen arms, it is important to distinguish Zhōng Zhǔ (SJ 3) and Yè Mén (SJ 2);
(YLF43)
For spleen vacuity with jaundice, why doubt Wàn Gǔ (SI 4) and Zhōng Wǎn (Ren 12)? (YLF44)
For cold damage without sweating, attack Fù Liū (KI 7), draining is suitable; (YLF45)
For cold damage with sweating, selecting Hé Gǔ (LI 4) should be followed. (YLF46)
欲調飽滿之氣逆,三里可勝;要起六脈之沉匿,復溜稱神。
If you want to regulate qì counterflow from satiety and fullness, Zú Sān Lǐ (ST 36) can triumph;
照海支溝,通大便之秘;內庭臨泣,理小腹之〔月真〕。
(YLF47)
If you wish to raise up the six pulses when they are deep and hidden, Fù Liū (KI 7) is called
miraculous. (YLF48)
Zhào Hǎi (KI 6) and Zhī Gōu (SJ 6) free constipated stool; (YLF49)
6
This point is directly above the end of the posterior axillary fold, level with the spinous process of the fourth
thoracic vertebra.
天突顫中醫喘咳;地倉頰車療口喎。
Tiān Tū (Ren 22) and Dàn Zhōng (Ren 17) doctor panting and cough; (YLF51)
迎香攻鼻窒為最;肩井除臂痛如拿。
Dì Cāng (ST 4) and Jiá Chē (ST 6) cure deviation of the mouth. (YLF52)
Yíng Xiāng (LI 20) is best to attack nasal congestion; (YLF53)
Jiān Jǐng (GB 21) eliminates arm pain as if seizing it. (YLF54)
二間治牙疼;中魁理翻胃而即愈。
Zhōng Kuí (non-channel) rectifies stomach reflux and it is promptly cured. (YLF56)
Bǎi Láo (non-channel) stops vacuity sweating; (YLF57)
Tōng Lǐ (HT 5) cures frightened heart and it promptly recovers. (YLF58)
Dà Gǔ Kōng and Xiǎo Gǔ Kōng (both non-channel) treat erosions of the eyes and can stop cold
大小骨空治眼爛,能止冷淚;左右太陽醫目疼,善除血翳。
tearing; (YLF59)
Left and right Tài Yáng (non-channel) doctor eye pain and are good at eliminating blood screens
[of the eyes]. (YLF60)
心俞腎俞,治腰腎虛乏之夢遺;人中委中,除腰脊痛閃之難制。
Xīn Shù (UB 15) and Shèn Shù (UB 23) treat lower back and dream emissions from kidney
太溪崑崙申脈,最療足腫之迍;湧泉關元豐隆,為治屍癆之例。
印堂治其驚搐;神庭理乎頭風。
腿腳重疼,針髖骨膝關膝眼;行步艱楚,刺三里中封太沖。
取內關於照海,醫腹疾之塊;搐迎香於鼻內,消眼熱之紅。
肚痛秘結,大陵合外關於支溝;腿風濕痛,居髎兼環跳於委中。
For belly pain with constipation, join Dà Líng (PC 7) with Wài Guān (SJ 5) and Zhī Gōu (SJ 6);
上脘中脘,治九種之心痛;赤帶白帶,求中極之異同。
(YLF73)
For wind-damp leg pain, Jū Liáo (GB 29) along with Huán Tiào (GB 30) and Wěi Zhōng (UB
40). (YLF74)
Shàng Wǎn (Ren 13) and Zhōng Wǎn (Ren 12) treat the nine types of heart pain; (YLF75)
For red or white vaginal discharge, select the similarities and differences of Zhōng Jí (Ren 3).
(YLF76)
Moreover if heart is congested by vacuity heat, Shào Chōng (HT 9) is bright in assisting the
又若心虛熱壅,少沖明於濟奪;目昏血溢,肝俞辨其實虛。
fight; (YLF77)
For clouded vision or blood spilling over, Gān Shù (UB 18) differentiates its repletion or vacuity.
(YLF78)
***
當心傳之玄要,究手法之疾徐。
或值挫閃疼痛之不定,比為難擬定穴之可祛。
One should pass on the teachings of profound importance, study the techniques of fast and slow.
輯管見以便誦讀,幸高明而無哂諸。
Perhaps you come across contusions and wrenching pain that cannot be settled, this can drive
away difficulty in formulating a point [prescription].
I compiled my humble opinions so that it can be recited from memory, fortunately brilliance has
arrived and there is no [need to] sneer at it.
7
陰交 Yīn Jiāo is the name of Ren 7, but this may mean 三陰交 Sān Yīn Jiāo (SP 6). If so, this is the same point
formula as in YLF2, which is also for leg qì.