Below I have copied chapter 15 of the Classic of Difficulties (Nan-Ching), as translated by Paul U. Unschuld. This chapter serves as the main classical underpinning for the ‘Stomach Qi’ treatment described in my previous blog post titled “Stomach Qi – an acupuncture discussion”. Enjoy!
The fifteenth difficult issue:
"In spring the [movement in the] vessels is stringy; in summer the [movement in the] vessels is hook-like; in autumn the [movement in the] vessels is hairy; in winter the [movement in the] vessels is stony. Do these [movements in the] vessels [indicate the normal presence of the] governing [influences of the respective seasons], or do these [movements in the] vessels [indicate] illness?
It is like this. Stringy, hook-like, hairy, and stony [movements in the] vessels are [those in accordance with] the four seasons. In spring [the movement in] the vessels is stringy because [it corresponds to] the liver, the eastern region, [and to the phase of] wood. [During that season] all things come to life; [trees] have no branches or leaves yet. Hence, the respective [movement in the] vessels is soft, weak, and extended. Hence, it is called "stringy.” ln summer the [movement in the] vessels is hook-like because [it corresponds to] the heart, the southern region, [and to the phase of] fire. [During that season] all things flourish; the branches and the leaves are spread out, and they all point downward and are curved like hooks. Hence, the [respective movement in the] vessels comes swiftly and goes slowly. Hence, it is called "hook-like." ln autumn [the movement in] the vessels is hairy because [it corresponds to] the lung, the western region, [and to the phase of] metal. [During that season] all things come to an end. All the blossoms and leaves of herbs and trees fall in autumn. Only the branches remain, resembling fine hair. Hence, [the movement in] the vessels comes light, depleted, and is at the surface. Hence, it is called "hairy." ln winter [the movement in] the vessels is stony because [it corresponds to] the kidneys, the northern region, [and to the phase of] water. [During that season] all things are stored. When winter is at its peak, the water congeals to resemble stones. Hence, [the movement in] the vessels comes in the depth, is soft, and smooth. Hence, it is called "stony." These are the [movements in the] vessels [in accordance with] the four seasons.
What about variations?
It is like this. In spring the [normal movement in the] vessels is stringy. [A movement] contrary [to this] indicates illness.
What does "contrary" mean?
It is like this. If the influences come replete and vigorous, that is called "greatly excessive"; [in this case] an illness is located in the external [sections of the organism]. If the influences come depleted and slight, that is called "insufficient"; [in this case] an illness is located in the internal [sections of the organism]. If the influences come serene and whispering, as if they followed [the movement of] elm leaves [in a spring breeze], that implies a normal state. [If they come] increasingly replete, as if they followed [the movement of] long canes, that implies illness. [If the influences come] tense and are unyielding and increasingly vigorous, like a new bowstring that implies death. [If the movement in] the vessels in spring is slightly stringy, that implies a normal state; if it is mostly stringy, and if few influences of the stomach are present, that implies illness. But if it is stringy in the absence of influences of the stomach, that implies death. In spring [the organism needs] the influences of the stomach as its basis.
In summer the [normal movement in the] vessels is hook-like. [A movement] contrary [to this] indicates illness. What does "contrary" mean [in this case]?
It is like this. If the influences come replete and vigorous, that is called "greatly excessive"; [in this case] an illness is located in the external [sections of the organism]. If the influences come depleted and slight, that is called "insufficient"; [in this case] an illness is located in the internal [sections of the organism]. [If the influences in] the vessels come tied together like rings, or as if they were following [in their movement a chain of] lang-kan stones, that implies a normal state. [If they come] in increasing frequency, resembling chickens lifting their feet, that implies illness. [If the movement is felt to be] curved in front [of the gate and] settled behind [the gate], like a hook holding a belt, that means death. [If the movement in] the vessels in summer is slightly hook-like, that implies a normal state. If it is mostly hook-like, and if few influences of the stomach are present, that implies illness. But if it is hook-like in the absence of influences of the stomach, that implies death, [because in] summer [the organism needs] the influences of the stomach as its basis.
In autumn the [normal movement in the] vessels is hairy. [A movement] contrary [to this] indicates illness. What does "contrary" mean [in this case]?
It is like this. If the influences come replete and vigorous, that is called "greatly excessive"; [in this case] an illness is located in the external [sections of the organism]. If the influences come depleted and slight, that is called "insufficient"; [in this case] an illness is located in the internal [sections of the organism]. [If the influences in] the vessels come luxuriously, resembling the canopy on a carriage, and if their strength increases under pressure, that implies a normal state. [If the influences remain] neither above nor below [the gate, but flap up and down] as if they followed [the movement of] chicken wings, that implies illness. If under pressure [the movement feels like] a loose rope, resembling hair blown by the wind, that implies death. [If the movement in] the vessels in autumn is slightly hairy, that implies a normal state. If it is mostly hairy, and if few influences of the stomach are present, that implies illness. But if it is hairy in the absence of influences of the stomach, that implies death, [because in] autumn [the organism needs] the influences of the stomach as its basis.
In winter the [normal movement in the] vessels is stony. [A movement] contrary [to this] indicates illness. What does "contrary" mean [in this case]?
It is like this. If the influences come replete and vigorous, that is called "greatly excessive"; [in this case] an illness is located in the external [sections of the organism]. If the influences come depleted and slight, that is called "insufficient"; [in this case] an illness is located in the internal [sections of the organism]. [If the influences in] the vessels come strongly above [the gate and] sharply below [the gate], and if they are soft and smooth, resembling a bird's beak, that implies a normal state. [If the movement in the vessels resembles] continuous pecking, and if it is slightly curved in between, that implies illness. [If the movement in the vessels] comes like a loose rope, and if it goes like a stone ball, that implies death. [If the movement in] the vessels in winter is slightly stony, that implies a normal state. If it is mostly stony, and if few influences of the stomach are present, that implies illness. But if it is stony in the absence of influences of the stomach, that implies death, [because in] winter [the organism needs] the influences of the stomach as its basis. The stomach is the sea of water and grains; it is responsible for supplying [the depots during all] four seasons. Hence, the influences of the stomach constitute the basis for all [the depots]. This is [what is] meant by variations [in the movements in the vessels] and by illnesses related to the four seasons; these are the essential criteria [for recognizing a person's impending] death or survival. The spleen is the central region. Its balanced and normal state cannot be recognized [through feeling the movement in the vessels. Only its] exhaustion can be recognized. [In this case, the movement in the vessels] comes like the pecking of birds, like the dripping of water. This is how one may recognize exhaustion of the spleen." (Unschuld 1986, p. 200 -204)
Please feel free to contact me with any questions & be sure to take a look at my “Stomach Qi” post if you have not read it yet. (Click the button below)
Warm regards,
Giancarlo Nerini – Acupuncturist (Melbourne & Safety Beach)
(Unschuld, PU 1986, Nan-Ching The Classic Of Difficult Issues, University of California Press, London.)
The fifteenth difficult issue:
"In spring the [movement in the] vessels is stringy; in summer the [movement in the] vessels is hook-like; in autumn the [movement in the] vessels is hairy; in winter the [movement in the] vessels is stony. Do these [movements in the] vessels [indicate the normal presence of the] governing [influences of the respective seasons], or do these [movements in the] vessels [indicate] illness?
It is like this. Stringy, hook-like, hairy, and stony [movements in the] vessels are [those in accordance with] the four seasons. In spring [the movement in] the vessels is stringy because [it corresponds to] the liver, the eastern region, [and to the phase of] wood. [During that season] all things come to life; [trees] have no branches or leaves yet. Hence, the respective [movement in the] vessels is soft, weak, and extended. Hence, it is called "stringy.” ln summer the [movement in the] vessels is hook-like because [it corresponds to] the heart, the southern region, [and to the phase of] fire. [During that season] all things flourish; the branches and the leaves are spread out, and they all point downward and are curved like hooks. Hence, the [respective movement in the] vessels comes swiftly and goes slowly. Hence, it is called "hook-like." ln autumn [the movement in] the vessels is hairy because [it corresponds to] the lung, the western region, [and to the phase of] metal. [During that season] all things come to an end. All the blossoms and leaves of herbs and trees fall in autumn. Only the branches remain, resembling fine hair. Hence, [the movement in] the vessels comes light, depleted, and is at the surface. Hence, it is called "hairy." ln winter [the movement in] the vessels is stony because [it corresponds to] the kidneys, the northern region, [and to the phase of] water. [During that season] all things are stored. When winter is at its peak, the water congeals to resemble stones. Hence, [the movement in] the vessels comes in the depth, is soft, and smooth. Hence, it is called "stony." These are the [movements in the] vessels [in accordance with] the four seasons.
What about variations?
It is like this. In spring the [normal movement in the] vessels is stringy. [A movement] contrary [to this] indicates illness.
What does "contrary" mean?
It is like this. If the influences come replete and vigorous, that is called "greatly excessive"; [in this case] an illness is located in the external [sections of the organism]. If the influences come depleted and slight, that is called "insufficient"; [in this case] an illness is located in the internal [sections of the organism]. If the influences come serene and whispering, as if they followed [the movement of] elm leaves [in a spring breeze], that implies a normal state. [If they come] increasingly replete, as if they followed [the movement of] long canes, that implies illness. [If the influences come] tense and are unyielding and increasingly vigorous, like a new bowstring that implies death. [If the movement in] the vessels in spring is slightly stringy, that implies a normal state; if it is mostly stringy, and if few influences of the stomach are present, that implies illness. But if it is stringy in the absence of influences of the stomach, that implies death. In spring [the organism needs] the influences of the stomach as its basis.
In summer the [normal movement in the] vessels is hook-like. [A movement] contrary [to this] indicates illness. What does "contrary" mean [in this case]?
It is like this. If the influences come replete and vigorous, that is called "greatly excessive"; [in this case] an illness is located in the external [sections of the organism]. If the influences come depleted and slight, that is called "insufficient"; [in this case] an illness is located in the internal [sections of the organism]. [If the influences in] the vessels come tied together like rings, or as if they were following [in their movement a chain of] lang-kan stones, that implies a normal state. [If they come] in increasing frequency, resembling chickens lifting their feet, that implies illness. [If the movement is felt to be] curved in front [of the gate and] settled behind [the gate], like a hook holding a belt, that means death. [If the movement in] the vessels in summer is slightly hook-like, that implies a normal state. If it is mostly hook-like, and if few influences of the stomach are present, that implies illness. But if it is hook-like in the absence of influences of the stomach, that implies death, [because in] summer [the organism needs] the influences of the stomach as its basis.
In autumn the [normal movement in the] vessels is hairy. [A movement] contrary [to this] indicates illness. What does "contrary" mean [in this case]?
It is like this. If the influences come replete and vigorous, that is called "greatly excessive"; [in this case] an illness is located in the external [sections of the organism]. If the influences come depleted and slight, that is called "insufficient"; [in this case] an illness is located in the internal [sections of the organism]. [If the influences in] the vessels come luxuriously, resembling the canopy on a carriage, and if their strength increases under pressure, that implies a normal state. [If the influences remain] neither above nor below [the gate, but flap up and down] as if they followed [the movement of] chicken wings, that implies illness. If under pressure [the movement feels like] a loose rope, resembling hair blown by the wind, that implies death. [If the movement in] the vessels in autumn is slightly hairy, that implies a normal state. If it is mostly hairy, and if few influences of the stomach are present, that implies illness. But if it is hairy in the absence of influences of the stomach, that implies death, [because in] autumn [the organism needs] the influences of the stomach as its basis.
In winter the [normal movement in the] vessels is stony. [A movement] contrary [to this] indicates illness. What does "contrary" mean [in this case]?
It is like this. If the influences come replete and vigorous, that is called "greatly excessive"; [in this case] an illness is located in the external [sections of the organism]. If the influences come depleted and slight, that is called "insufficient"; [in this case] an illness is located in the internal [sections of the organism]. [If the influences in] the vessels come strongly above [the gate and] sharply below [the gate], and if they are soft and smooth, resembling a bird's beak, that implies a normal state. [If the movement in the vessels resembles] continuous pecking, and if it is slightly curved in between, that implies illness. [If the movement in the vessels] comes like a loose rope, and if it goes like a stone ball, that implies death. [If the movement in] the vessels in winter is slightly stony, that implies a normal state. If it is mostly stony, and if few influences of the stomach are present, that implies illness. But if it is stony in the absence of influences of the stomach, that implies death, [because in] winter [the organism needs] the influences of the stomach as its basis. The stomach is the sea of water and grains; it is responsible for supplying [the depots during all] four seasons. Hence, the influences of the stomach constitute the basis for all [the depots]. This is [what is] meant by variations [in the movements in the vessels] and by illnesses related to the four seasons; these are the essential criteria [for recognizing a person's impending] death or survival. The spleen is the central region. Its balanced and normal state cannot be recognized [through feeling the movement in the vessels. Only its] exhaustion can be recognized. [In this case, the movement in the vessels] comes like the pecking of birds, like the dripping of water. This is how one may recognize exhaustion of the spleen." (Unschuld 1986, p. 200 -204)
Please feel free to contact me with any questions & be sure to take a look at my “Stomach Qi” post if you have not read it yet. (Click the button below)
Warm regards,
Giancarlo Nerini – Acupuncturist (Melbourne & Safety Beach)
(Unschuld, PU 1986, Nan-Ching The Classic Of Difficult Issues, University of California Press, London.)
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