Translated version

The Yellow Emperor said: Since ancient times, those who connect with the heavens, the root of life, is rooted in Yin-Yang.

Between heaven and earth, within the six directions, its [1] Qi penetrates the nine regions, [2] nine orifices, [3] five viscera, and twelve joints, all connected with the heavenly Qi.

It generates five, its Qi three; frequently violating this, then [4] evil Qi harms people, this is the root of longevity.

The Qi of the azure heavens, when clear and tranquil, then Will is governed; following it, [5] Yang Qi is solidified; although there are thief evils, they cannot harm, this is the order of time.

Therefore, the sages transmit Spirit and Essence, serve heavenly Qi and connect with [6] divine brilliance. Losing this, internally closes the nine orifices, externally obstructs the muscles, [7] Defensive Qi disperses, this is called self-injury, the depletion of Qi.

[5] Yang Qi, like heaven and the sun, losing its place, then life is shortened and not illustrious. Therefore, heavenly movement relies on the sun's light. Thus, Yang ascends upward, it is what defends externally.

Due to cold, desiring like turning a pivot, daily activities as if startled, [8] Spirit Qi then floats.

Due to summerheat, sweating; restless then panting and gasping, quiet then talkative, body like burning charcoal, sweating disperses it.

Due to dampness, head as if wrapped; damp-heat not dispelled, large tendons contract and shorten, small tendons slacken and lengthen. Contraction causes stiffness, slackening causes atrophy.

Due to Qi, it causes swelling; the four dimensions mutually replace, [5] Yang Qi is then exhausted.

[5] Yang Qi, with excessive labor, expands, Essence is exhausted, accumulating in summer, causing a person scorching reversal; eyes blind cannot see, ears blocked cannot hear, crumbling like a breached dam, gushing uncontrollably.

[5] Yang Qi, with great anger, then body Qi is cut off and blood stagnates upward, causing a person sudden reversal.

Injured in tendons, slackening, it becomes unmanageable.

Sweating unilaterally hindered, causes a person hemiplegia.

Sweating encountering dampness, then gives rise to pimples and miliaria.

Rich food changes, foot gives rise to large boils, as if holding emptiness.

Labor sweat facing wind, cold pressing causes red spots, stagnation then gives rise to acne.

[5] Yang Qi, refined then nourishes Spirit, soft then nourishes tendons.

Opening and closing not proper, cold Qi follows it, then gives rise to great hunching.

Sinking in meridians becomes fistulas, lingering in muscular striae, [9] Shu Qi transforms and presses, transmitting to frequent fear and startling frights.

[10] Nutritive Qi not following, counterflowing in flesh texture, then gives rise to abscesses.

Soul sweat not fully excreted, body weak and Qi scorched, acupoints closed, manifesting as wind malaria.

Therefore, wind is the beginning of all diseases; clear and tranquil then muscular striae close and resist, although there are great winds and virulent toxins, they cannot harm, this is the order of time.

Therefore, disease prolonged then transmits and transforms, upper and lower not joining, good physicians cannot treat.

Therefore, Yang accumulated leads to death from illness, and [5] Yang Qi should be blocked. Blocked should be drained; not urgently correct treatment, crude physicians ruin it.

Therefore, [5] Yang Qi, in one day governs the exterior. Dawn human Qi is born, midday [5] Yang Qi prospers, sunset [5] Yang Qi already vacuous, Qi gate then closes.

Thus at dusk withdraw and resist, do not disturb sinews and bones, do not see mist and dew; opposing these three times, body then becomes distressed and thin.

Qibo said: Yin is what stores Essence and arises urgently; Yang is what defends externally and makes solid. Yin not conquering its Yang, then vessel flow rapid and urgent, converging causes mania. Yang not conquering its Yin, then [3] five viscera Qi contend, nine orifices not pass.

Therefore, sages arrange Yin-Yang, sinews and vessels harmonize, marrow and bones solidify, Qi and blood both follow. Thus internal and external are regulated and harmonized, evils cannot harm, ears and eyes clear and bright, Qi stands as before.

Wind guesting excessive Qi, Essence then perishes, evil injures liver.

Therefore overeating, sinews and vessels transverse and unravel, intestinal flux becomes hemorrhoids.

Therefore heavy drinking, then Qi counterflows.

Therefore forceful exertion, kidney Qi then injured, high bones then damaged.

All essentials of Yin-Yang, Yang dense then solid; the two not harmonizing, like spring without autumn, winter without summer.

Therefore harmonizing it, this is called the sage's measure. Therefore Yang strong cannot be dense, Yin Qi then exhausts.

Yin peaceful Yang secret, Spirit and Essence then governed; Yin-Yang separating and cutting off, Essence Qi then perishes.

Due to dew and wind, then gives rise to cold and heat.

Therefore spring injured by wind, evil Qi lingering, then becomes watery diarrhea.

Summer injured by summerheat, autumn becomes malaria.

Autumn injured by dampness, ascending counterflow then coughs, manifesting as atrophy reversal.

Winter injured by cold, spring must warm disease.

Qi of the four seasons, in turn injure the [3] five viscera.

What generates Yin, roots in five flavors; Yin's five palaces, injured in five flavors.

Therefore flavor excessive sour, liver Qi then overflowing, spleen Qi then cuts off.

Flavor excessive salty, large bones Qi laboring, short muscles, heart Qi depressed.

Flavor excessive sweet, heart Qi panting and full, black complexion, kidney Qi not balanced.

Flavor excessive bitter, spleen Qi not moistened, stomach Qi then thick.

Flavor excessive pungent, sinews and vessels slacken, Spirit and Essence then decline.

Therefore cautiously harmonize five flavors, bones upright sinews soft, Qi and blood flowing, muscular striae dense; thus then bone Qi refined. Cautiously follow the method, long possess heavenly mandate.