Author: caiwj27

黃帝問曰：余聞方士，或以腦髓為藏，或以腸胃為藏，或以為府，敢問更相反皆自謂是不知其道，願聞其說。

黄帝问道：我听说方士之中，有人以脑髓为脏,有人以肠胃为脏，也有的把这些都称为腑，如果向它们提出相反的意见，却又都坚持自己的看法，不知哪那种理论是对的，希望你谈一谈这个问题。

歧伯對曰：腦髓骨脈膽女子胞，此六者地氣之所生也，皆藏於陰而象於地，故藏而不寫，名曰奇恆之府。夫胃大腸小腸三焦膀胱，此五者，天氣之所生也，其氣象天故寫而不藏，此受五藏濁氣，名曰傳化之府，此不能久留輸寫者也。魄門亦為五藏，使水穀不得久藏。所謂五藏者，藏精氣而不寫也，故滿而不能實。六府者，傳化物而不藏，故實而不能滿也。所以然者，水穀入口，則胃實而腸虛；食下，則腸實而胃虛。故曰：實而不滿，滿而不實也。

岐伯回答说：脑、髓、骨、脉、胆、女子胞，这六种是禀承地气而生的，都能贮藏阴质，就象大地包藏万物一样，所以它们的作用是藏而不泻，叫做奇恒之腑。胃、大肠、小肠、三焦、膀胱，这五者是禀承天气所生的，它们的作用，像天一样的健运周转，所以是泻而不藏的，它们受纳五脏的浊气，所以称为传化之腑。这是因为浊气不能久停其间，而必须及时转输和排泄的缘故。此外，肛门也为五脏行使输泻浊气，这样，水谷的糟粕就不会久留于体内了。所谓五脏，它的功能是贮藏经气而不向外发泻的，所以它是经常地保持精神饱满，而不是一时地得到充实。六腑，它的功能是将水谷加以传化，而不是加以贮藏，所以它有时显的充实，但却不能永远保持盛满。所以出现这种情况，是因为水谷入口下行，胃充实了，但肠中还是空虚的，食物再下行，肠充实了，而胃中就空虚了，这样依次传递。所以说六腑是一时的充实，而不是持续的盛满，五脏则是持续盛满而不是一时的充实。

帝曰：氣口何以獨為五藏主。歧伯曰：胃者水穀之海，六府之大源也。五味入口，藏於胃以養五藏氣，氣口亦太陰也。是以五藏六府之氣味，皆出於胃，變見於氣口。故五氣入鼻，藏於心肺，心肺有病而鼻為之不利也。

黄帝问道：为什麽气口脉可以独主五脏的病变呢？

岐伯说：胃是水谷之海，为六腑的泉源，饮食五味入口，留在胃中，经足太阴脾的运化输转，而能充养五脏之气。脾为太阴经，主输布津液，气口为手太阴肺经过之处，也属太阴经脉，主朝白脉，所以五脏六腑的水谷精微，都出自胃，反映于气口的。而五气入鼻，藏留于心肺，所以心肺有了病变，则鼻为之不利。

凡治病必察其下，適其脈，觀其志意，與其病也。拘於鬼神者，不可與言至德。惡於鍼石者，不可與言至巧。病不許治者病必不治，治之無功矣。

凡治病并观察其上下的变化，审视其脉侯的虚实，查看起情志精神的状态以及痴情的表现。

对那些拘守鬼神迷信观念的人，是不能与其谈论至深的医学理论的，对那些讨厌针石治疗的人，也不可能和他们讲什麽医疗技巧。有病不许治疗的人，他的病是治不好的，勉强治疗也收不到应有的功效。

心之合脈也，其榮色也，其主腎也。肺之合皮也，其榮毛也，其主心也。肝之合筋也，其榮爪也，其主肺也。脾之合肉也，其榮脣也，其主肝也。腎之合骨也，其榮髮也，其主脾也。

心脏与脉相应，它的荣华表现在面色上，肾水可以制约心火；肺脏与皮肤相应，它的荣华表现在毫毛上，心火制约肺金；肝脏与筋相应，它的荣华表现在爪甲上，肺金制约肝木；脾脏与肌肉相应，它的荣华表现在口唇上，肝木制约脾土；肾与骨骼相应，它的荣华表现在头发上，脾土制约肾水。

是故多食鹹則脈凝泣而變色；多食苦則皮槁而毛拔；多食辛則筋急而爪枯；多食酸則肉胝䐢而脣揭；多食甘則骨痛而髮落，此五味之所傷也。故心欲苦，肺欲辛，肝欲酸，脾欲甘，腎欲鹹，此五味之所合也。

正因为如此，所以过食咸味，则使血脉凝塞不畅，而颜面色泽发生变化。过食苦味，则使皮肤枯槁而毫毛脱落。过食辛味，则使筋脉劲急而爪甲枯干。过食酸味，则使肌肉粗厚皱缩而口唇掀揭。过食甘味，则使骨骼疼痛而头发脱落。这是偏食五味所造成的损害。所以心欲得苦味，肺欲得辛味，肝欲得酸味，脾欲得肝味，肾欲得咸味，这是五味分别与五脏之气相合的对应关系。

五藏之氣，故色見青如草茲者死，黃如枳實者死，黑如尚炱者死，赤如衃血者死，白如枯骨者死，此五色之見死也。青如翠羽者生，赤如雞冠者生，黃如蟹腹者生，白如豕膏者生，黑如烏羽者生，此五色之見生也。生於心，如以縞裹朱；生於肺，如以縞裹紅；生於肝，如以縞裹紺；生於脾，如以縞裹栝樓實，生於腎，如以縞裹紫，此五藏所生之外榮也。

面色出现青如死草，枯暗无华的，为死症。出现黄如枳实的，为死症；出现黑如烟灰的，为死症；出现红如凝血的，为死症；出现白如枯骨的，为死症；这是五色中表现为死症的情况。面色青如翠鸟的羽毛，主生；红如鸡冠的，主生；黄如蟹腹的，主生；白如猪脂的，主生；黑如乌鸦毛的，主生。这是五色中表现有生机而预后良好的情况。心有生机，面色就象细白的薄绢裹着朱砂；肺有生机，面色就象细白的薄绢裹着粉红色的丝绸；肝有生机面色就象细白的薄绢裹着天青色的丝绸；脾有生机，面色就象细白的薄绢裹着栝蒌实；肾有生机，面色就象细白的薄绢裹着天紫色的丝绸。这些都是五脏的生机显露于外的荣华。

色味當五藏：白當肺，辛，赤當心，苦，青當肝，酸，黃當脾，甘，黑當腎，鹹，故白當皮，赤當脈，青當筋，黃當肉，黑當骨。

色、味与五脏相应：白色和辛味应于肺，赤色和苦味应于心，青色和酸味应于肝，黄色和甘味应于脾，黑色和咸味应于肾。因五脏外合五体，所以白色应于皮，赤色应于脉，青色应于筋，黄色应于肉，黑色应于骨。

諸脈者皆屬於目，諸髓者皆屬於腦，諸筋者皆屬於節，諸血者皆屬於心，諸氣者皆屬於肺，此四支八谿之朝夕也。故人臥，血歸於肝，肝受血而能視，足受血而能步，掌受血而能握，指受血而能攝。臥出而風吹之，血凝於膚者為痺，凝於脈者為泣，凝於足者為厥。此三者，血行而不得反其空，故為痺厥也。人有大谷十二分，小谿三百五十四名，少十二俞，此皆衛氣之所留止，邪氣之所客也，鍼石緣而去之。

各条脉络，都属于目，而诸髓都属于脑，诸筋都属于骨节，诸血都属于心，诸气都属于肺。同时，气血的运行则朝夕来往，不离于四肢八溪的部位。所以当人睡眠时，血归藏于肝，肝得血而濡养于目，则能视物；足得血之濡养，就能行走；手掌得血之濡，就能握物；手指得血之濡养就能拿取。如果刚刚睡醒就外出受风，血液的循环就要凝滞，凝于肌肤的，发生痹证；凝于经脉的，发生气血运行的滞涩；凝于足部的，该部发生厥冷。这三种情况，都是由于气血运行的不能返回组织间隙的孔穴之处，所以造成痹厥等症。全身有大谷十二处，小溪三百五十四处，这里面减除了十二脏腑各自的逾穴数目。这些都是卫气留止的地方，也是邪气客居之所。治病时，可循着这些部位施以针石，以祛除邪气。

診病之始五決為紀，欲知其始，先建其母，所謂五決者五脈也。是以頭痛巔疾，下虛上實過在足少陰，巨陽甚則入腎。徇蒙招尤目冥耳聾，下實上虛，過在足少陽，厥陰甚則入肝。腹滿䐜脹，支鬲胠脇，下厥上冒，過在足太陰，陽明。欬嗽上氣，厥在胸中，過在手陽明太陰。心煩頭痛病在鬲中，過在手巨陽，少陰。

诊病的根本，要以五决为纲纪。想要了解疾病的关键，必先确定病变的原因。所谓五决，就是五脏之脉，以此诊病，即可决断病本的所在。

比如头痛等巅顶部位的疾患，属于下虚上实的，病变在足少阴和足太阳经，病甚的，可内传于肾。头晕眼花，身体摇动，目暗耳聋，属下实上虚的，病变在足少阳和足厥阴经，病甚的，可内传于肝。腹满瞋胀，支持胸膈协助，属于下部逆气上犯的，病变在足太阴和足阳明经。咳嗽气喘，气机逆乱于胸中，病变在手阳明和手太阳经。心烦头痛，胸膈不适的，病变在手太阳和手少阴经。

夫脈之小大滑濇浮沈，可以指別；五藏之象，可以類推；五藏相音，可以意識；五色微診，可以目察。能合脈色，可以萬全。

脉象的小、大、滑、浮、沉等，可以通过医生的手指加以鉴别；五脏功能表现于外，可以通过相类事物的比象，加以推测；五脏各自的声音，可以凭意会而识别，五色的微小变化，可以用眼睛来观察。诊病时，如能将色、脉两者合在一起进行分析，就可以万无一失了。

赤脈之至也喘而堅，診曰有積氣在中，時害於食，名曰心痺，得之外疾，思慮而心虛，故邪從之。白脈之至也喘而浮，上虛下實。驚，有積氣在胸中，喘而虛名曰肺痺寒熱，得之醉而使內也。青脈之至也長而左右彈有積氣在心下支胠，名曰肝痺，得之寒濕，與疝同法，腰痛足清頭痛。黃脈之至也大而虛，有積氣在腹中，有厥氣名曰厥疝，女子同法，得之疾使四支汗出當風。黑脈之至也上堅而大有積氣在小腹與陰，名曰腎痺，得之沐浴清水而臥。

外现赤色，脉来急疾而坚实的，可诊为邪气积聚于中脘，常表现为妨害饮食，病名叫做心痹。这种病得之于外邪的侵袭，是由于思虑过度以至心气虚弱，邪气才随之而入的。外现白色，脉来急疾而浮，这是上虚下实，故常出现惊骇，病邪积聚于胸中，迫肺而作喘，但肺气本身是虚弱的，这种病的病名叫做肺痹，它有时发寒热，常因醉后行房而诱发。青色外现，脉来长而左右搏击手指，这是病邪积聚于心下，支撑协助，这种病的病名叫做肝痹，多因受寒湿而得，与疝的病理相同，它的症状有腰痛、足冷、头痛等。外现黄色，而脉来虚大的，这是病邪积聚在腹中，有逆气产生，病名叫做厥疝，女子也有这种情况，多由四肢剧烈的活动，汗出当风所诱发。外现黑色，脉象尺上坚实而大，这是病邪积聚在小腹与前阴，病名叫做肾痹，多因冷水沐浴后睡卧受凉所引起。

凡相五色之奇脈，面黃目青，面黃目赤，面黃目白，面黃目黑者，皆不死也。面青目赤，面赤目白，面青目黑，面黑目白，面赤目青，皆死也。

大凡观察五色，面黄目青、面黄目赤、面黄目白、面黄目黑的、皆为不死，因面带黄色，是尚有土气。如见面青目赤、面赤目白、面青目黑、面黑目白、面赤木青的，皆为死亡之征象，因面无黄色，是土气以败。

黃帝問曰：余聞天以六六之節，以成一歲，人以九九制會，計人亦有三百六十五節以為天地久矣，不知其所謂也。歧伯對曰：昭乎哉問也，請遂言之。夫六六之節，九九制會者，所以正天之度、氣之數也。天度者，所以制日月之行也；氣數者，所以紀化生之用也。

黄帝问道：我听说天体的运行是以六个甲子构成一年，人则以九九极数的变化来配合天道的准度，而人又有三百六十五穴，与天地相应，这些说法，已听到很久了，但不知是什麽道理？

岐伯答到：你提的问题很高明啊！请让我就此问题谈谈看法。六六之节和九九制会，是用来确定天度和气数的。天度，是计算日月行程的。气数，是标志万物化生之用的。

天為陽，地為陰；日為陽，月為陰。行有分紀，周有道理，日行一度，月行十三度而有奇焉，故大小月三百六十五日而成歲積氣餘而盈閏矣。立端於始，表正於中，推餘於終，而天度畢矣。

天属阳，地属阴，日属阳，月属阴。它们的运行有一定的部位和秩序，其环周也有一定的道路。每一昼夜，日行一度，月行十三度有余，所以大月、小月和起来三百六十五天成一年，由于月份的不足，节气有盈余，于是产生了闰月。确定了岁首冬至并以此为开始，用圭表的日影以推正中气的时间，随着日月的运行而推算节气的盈余，直到岁尾，整个天度的变化就可以完全计算出来了。

帝曰：余已聞天度矣，願聞氣數何以合之。歧伯曰：天以六六為節，地以九九制會，天有十日，日六竟而周甲，甲六復而終歲，三百六十日法也。夫自古通天者，生之本，本於陰陽。其氣九州九竅，皆通乎天氣。故其生五，其氣三，三而成天，三而成地，三而成人，三而三之，合則為九，九分為九野，九野為九藏，故形藏四，神藏五，合為九藏以應之也。

黄帝说：我已经明白了天度，还想知道气数是怎样与天度配合的？

岐伯说：天以六六为节制，地以九九之数，配合天道的准度，天有十干，代表十日，十干循环六次而成一个周甲，周甲重复六次而一年终了，这是三百六十日的计算方法。自古以来，都以通于天气而为生命的根本，而这个根本不外天之阴阳。地的九州，人的九窍，都与天气相通，天衍生五行，而阴阳有依盛衰消长而各分为三。三气合而成天，三气合而成地，三气合而成|人，三三而合成九气，在地分为九野，在人体分为九脏，形脏四，神脏五，合成九脏，以应天气。

帝曰：余已聞六六九九之會也，夫子言積氣盈閏，願聞何謂氣。請夫子發蒙解惑焉。歧伯曰：此上帝所秘，先師傳之也。帝曰：請遂聞之。歧伯曰：五日謂之候，三候謂之氣，六氣謂之時，四時謂之歲，而各從其主治焉。五運相襲，而皆治之，終朞之日，周而復始，時立氣布，如環無端，候亦同法。故曰：不知年之所加，氣之盛衰，虛實之所起，不可以為工矣。

黄帝说：我已经明白了六六九九配合的道理，先生说气的盈余积累成为闰月，我想听您讲一下是什麽气？请您来启发我的蒙昧，解释我的疑惑！

岐伯说：这是上帝秘而不宣的理论，先师传授给我的。

黄帝说：就请全部讲给我听。

岐伯说：五日称为候，三候称为气，六气称为时，四时称为岁，一年四时，各随其五行的配合而分别当旺。木、火、土、金、水五行随时间的变化而递相承袭，各有当旺之时，到一年终结时，再从头开始循环。一年分力四时，四时分布节气，逐步推移，如环无端，节气中再分候，也是这样的推移下去。所以说，不知当年客气加临、气的盛衰、虚实的起因等情况，就不能做个好医生。

帝曰：五運之始，如環無端，其太過不及何如。歧伯曰：五氣更立，各有所勝，盛虛之變，此其常也。帝曰：平氣何如？歧伯曰：無過者也。帝曰：太過不及奈何。歧伯曰：在經有也。

黄帝说：五行的推移，周而复始，如环无端，它的太过与不及是怎样的呢？

岐伯说：五行之气更迭主时，互有胜克，从而有盛衰的变化，这是正常的现象。

黄帝说：平气是怎样的呢？

岐伯说：这是没有太过和不及。

黄帝说：太过和不及的情况怎样呢？

岐伯说：这些情况在经书中已有记载。

帝曰：何謂所勝。歧伯曰：春勝長夏，長夏勝冬，冬勝夏，夏勝秋，秋勝春，所謂得五行時之勝，各以氣命其藏。帝曰：何以知其勝。歧伯曰：求其至也，皆歸始春，未至而至，此謂太過，則薄所不勝，而乘所勝也，命曰氣淫。不分邪僻內生，工不能禁。至而不至，此謂不及，則所勝妄行，而所生受病，所不勝薄之也，命曰氣迫。所謂求其至者，氣至之時也。謹候其時，氣可與期，失時反候，五治不分，邪僻內生，工不能禁也。

黄帝说：什麽叫做所胜？

岐伯说：春胜长夏，长夏胜冬，冬胜夏，夏胜秋，秋胜春，这就是时令根据五行规律而互相胜负的情况。同时，时令有依其五行之气的属性来分别影响各脏。

黄帝说：怎样知道它们之间的相胜情况呢？

岐伯说：首先要推求气候到来的时间，一般从立春开始向下推算。如果时令未到而气候先期来过，称为太过，某气太过就会侵侮所不胜之气，欺凌其所胜之气，这就叫做气淫；时令以到而气候未到，称为不及，某气不及，则其所胜之气因缺乏制约而妄行，其所生之气因缺乏资助而困弱，其所不胜则更会加以侵迫，这就叫做气迫。所谓求其至，就是要根据时令推求气候到来的早晚，要谨慎地等候时令的变化，气候的到来是可以预期的。如果搞错了时令或违反了时令与气候相合的关系，以致于分不出五行之气当旺的时间，那麽，当邪气内扰，病及于人的时候，好的医生也不能控制了。

帝曰：有不襲乎。歧伯曰：蒼天之氣，不得無常也。氣之不襲，是謂非常，非常則變矣。帝曰：非常而變柰何。歧伯曰：變至則病所，勝則微，所不勝則甚，因而重感於邪，則死矣。故非其時則微，當其時則甚也。

黄帝说：五行之气有不相承袭的吗？

岐伯说：天的五行之气，在四时中的分布不能没有常规如果五行之气不按规律依次相承，就是反常的现象，反常就会使人发生病变，如在某一时令出现的反常气候，为当旺之气之所胜者，则其病轻微，若为当旺之气之所不胜者，则其病深重，而若同时感受其他邪气，就会造成死亡。

黄帝说：如果气候变化又该怎么办？

所以反常气候的出现，不在其所克制的某气当旺之时令，病就轻微，若恰在其所克制的某气当旺之时令发病，则病深重。

帝曰：善。余聞氣合而有形，因變以正名。天地之運，陰陽之化，其於萬物，孰少孰多，可得聞乎。歧伯曰：悉哉問也，天至廣不可度，地至大不可量，大神靈問，請陳其方。草生五色，五色之變，不可勝視；草生五味，五味之美，不可勝極，嗜欲不同，各有所通。天食人以五氣，地食人以五味。五氣入鼻，藏於心肺，上使五色脩明，音聲能彰。五味入口，藏於腸胃，味有所藏，以養五氣，氣和而生津液相成，神乃自生。

黄帝说：好。我听说由于天地之气的和合而有万物的形体，又由于其变化多端以至万物形态差异而定有不同的名称。天地的气运，阴阳的变化，它们对于万物的生成，就其作用而言，哪个多，哪个少，可以听你讲一讲吗？

岐伯说：问的实在详细呀！天及其广阔，不可测度，地极其博大，也很难计量，像您这样伟大神灵的圣主既然发问，就请让我陈述一下其中的道理吧。草木显现五色，而五色的变化，是看也看不尽的；草木产生五味，而五味的醇美，是尝也尝不完的。人们对色味是分别与五脏相通的。天供给人们以五味。五味由鼻吸入，贮藏于心肺，其气上升，使面部五色明润，声音洪亮。五味入于口中，贮藏于肠胃，经消化吸收，五味精微内注五脏以养五脏之气，脏气和谐而保有生化机能，津液随之生成，神气也就在此基础上自然产生了。

帝曰：藏象何如。歧伯曰：心者，生之本，神之變也，其華在面，其充在血脈，為陽中之太陽，通於夏氣。肺者，氣之本，魄之處也，其華在毛，其充在皮，為陽中之太陰，通於秋氣。腎者，主蟄封藏之本，精之處也，其華在髮，其充在骨，為陰中之少陰，通於冬氣。肝者，罷極之本，魂之居也，其華在爪，其充在筋，以生血氣，其味酸，其色蒼，此為陽中之少陽，通於春氣。脾胃大腸小腸三焦膀胱者，倉廩之本，營之居也，名曰器，能化糟粕，轉味而入出者也，其華在脣四白，其充在肌，其味甘，其色黃，此至陰之類通於土氣。凡十一藏取決於膽也。

黄帝说：脏象是怎样的呢？

岐伯说：心，是生命的根本，为神所居之处，其荣华表现于面部，其充养的组织在血脉，为阳中的太阳，与夏气相通。肺是气的根本，为魄所居之处，其荣华表现在毫毛，其充养的组织在皮肤，是阳中的太阴，与秋气相通。肾主蛰伏，是封藏经气的根本，为精所居之处，其荣华表现在头发，其充养的组织在骨，为阴中之少阴，与冬气相通。肝，是罢极之本，为魄所居之处，其荣华表现在爪甲，其充养的组织在筋，可以生养血气，其味酸，其色苍青，为阳中之少阳，与春气相通。脾、胃、大肠、小肠、三焦、膀胱，是仓廪之本，为营气所居之处，因其功能象是盛贮食物的器皿，故称为器，它们能吸收水谷精微，化生为糟粕，管理饮食五味的转化、吸收和排泄，其荣华在口唇四旁的白肉，其充养的组织在肌肉，其味甘，其色黄，属于至阴之类，与土气相通。以上十一脏功能的发挥，都取决于胆气的升发。

故人迎一盛病在少陽，二盛病在太陽，三盛病在陽明，四盛已上為格陽。寸口一盛，病在厥陰，二盛病在少陰，三盛病在太陰，四盛已上為關陰。人迎與寸口俱盛四倍已上為關格，關格之脈贏，不能極於天地之精氣，則死矣。

人迎脉大于平时一倍，病在厥阴；大两倍，病在少阴；病在太阳；大三倍，病在阳明；大四倍以上，为阳气太过，阴无以通，是为格阳。寸口脉大于平时一倍，病在厥阴；大两倍，病在少阴；大三倍，病在太阴；大四倍以上，为阴气太过，阳无以交，是为关阴。若人迎脉与寸口脉俱大与常时四倍以上，为阴阳气俱盛，不得相荣，是为关格。关格之脉盈盛太过，标志着阴阳极亢，不再能够达于天地阴阳经气平调的胜利状态，会很快死去。

黃帝問曰：願聞十二藏之相使，貴賤何如。歧伯對曰：悉乎哉問也，請遂言之。

黄帝问道：我想听你谈一下人体六脏六腑这十二个器官的责任分工，高低贵贱是怎样的呢？岐伯回答说：你问的真详细呀！请让我谈谈这个问题。

心者，君主之官也，神明出焉。肺者，相傅之官，治節出焉。肝者，將軍之官，謀慮出焉。膽者，中正之官，決斷出焉。膻中者，臣使之官，喜樂出焉。脾胃者，倉廩之官，五味出焉。大腸者，傳道之官，變化出焉。小腸者，受盛之官，化物出焉。腎者，作強之官，伎巧出焉。三焦者，決瀆之官，水道出焉。膀胱者，州都之官，津液藏焉，氣化則能出矣。

心，主宰全身，是君主之官，人的精神意识思维活动都由此而出。肺，是相傅之官，犹如相傅辅佐着君主，因主一身之气而调节全身的活动。肝，主怒，像将军一样的勇武，称为将军之官，谋略由此而出。膻中，维护着心而接受其命令，是臣使之官，心志的喜乐，靠它传佈出来。脾和胃司饮食的受纳和布化，是仓廪之官，无味的阴阳靠它们的作用而得以消化、吸收和运输。大肠是传导之官，它能传送食物的糟粕，使其变化为粪便排除体外。小肠是受盛之官，它承受胃中下行的食物而进一步分化清浊。肾，是作强之官，它能够使人发挥强力而产生各种伎巧。三焦，是决渎之官，它能够通行水道。膀胱是州都之官，蓄藏津液，通过气化作用，方能排除尿液。

凡此十二官者，不得相失也。故主明則下安，以此養生則壽，歿世不殆，以為天下則大昌。主不明則十二官危，使道閉塞而不通，形乃大傷，以此養生則殃，以為天下者，其宗大危，戒之戒之。

以上这十二官，虽有分工，但其作用应该协调而不能相互脱节。所以君主如果明智顺达，则下属也会安定正常，用这样的道理来养生，就可以使人长寿，终生不会发生危殆，用来治理天下，就会使国家昌盛繁荣。君主如果不明智顺达，那麽，包括其本身在内的十二官就都要发生危险，各器官发挥正常作用的途径闭塞不通，形体就要受到严重伤害。在这种情况下，谈养生续命是不可能的，只会招致灾殃，缩短寿命。同样，以君主之昏聩不明来治理天下，那政权就危险难保了，千万要警惕再警惕呀！

至道在微，變化無窮，孰知其原；窘乎哉，消者瞿瞿，孰知其要；閔閔之當，孰者為良。恍惚之數，生於毫氂，毫氂之數，起於度量，千之萬之，可以益大，推之大之，其形乃制。黃帝曰：善哉，余聞精光之道，大聖之業，而宣明大道，非齋戒擇吉日，不敢受也。黃帝乃擇吉日良兆，而藏靈蘭之室，以傳保焉。

至深的道理是微渺难测的，其变化也没有穷尽，谁能清楚地知道它的本源！实在是困难得很呀！有学问的人勤勤恳恳地探讨研究，可是谁能知道它的要妙之处！那些道理暗昧难明，就象被遮蔽着，怎能了解到它的精华是什麽！那似有若无的数量，是产生于毫蹻也是起于更小的度量，只不过把它们千万倍地积累扩大，推衍增益，才演变成了形形色色的世界。

黄帝说：好啊！我听到了精纯明彻的道理，这真是大圣人建立事业的基础，对于这宣畅明白的宏大理论，如果不专心修省而选择吉祥的日子，把这些著作珍藏在灵台兰室，很快地保存起来，以便流传后世。

黃帝問曰：人有四經十二從，何謂。歧伯對曰：四經應四時，十二從應十二月，十二月應十二脈。脈有陰陽，知陽者知陰，知陰者知陽。凡陽有五，五五二十五陽。

黄帝问道：人有四经十二从，这是什麽意思？

歧伯回答说：四经，是指与四时相应的正常脉象，十二从，是指与十二个月相应的十二经脉。脉有阴有阳，能了解什麽是阳脉，就能知道什么是阴脉，能了解什么是阴脉，就能知道什么是阳脉。阳脉有五种，就是春微弦，夏微钩，长夏微缓，秋微毛，冬微石。五时各有五脏的阳脉，所以五时配合五脏，则为二十五种阳脉。

所謂陰者，真藏也，見則為敗，敗必死也；所謂陽者，胃脘之陽也。別於陽者，知病處也；別於陰者，知死生之期。三陽在頭，三陰在手，所謂一也。別於陽者，知病忌時；別於陰者，知死生之期。謹熟陰陽，無與眾謀。

所谓阴脉，就是脉没有胃气，称为真脏脉象真脏脉是胃气已经败坏的象征，败象已见，就可以断其必死。

所谓阳脉，就是指有胃气之脉。

辨别阳脉的情况，就可以知道病变的所在；辨别真脏脉的情况，就可以知道死亡的时期。

三阳经脉的诊察部位，在结喉两旁的人迎穴，三阴经脉的诊察部位，在手鱼际之后的寸口。一般在健康状态之下，人迎与寸口的脉象是一致的。辨别属阳的胃脉，能知道时令气候和疾病的宜忌；辨别属阴的真脏脉，能知道病人的死生时期。临证时应谨慎而熟练地辨别阴脉与阳脉，就不致疑惑不绝而众议纷纭了。

所謂陰陽者，去者為陰，至者為陽；靜者為陰，動者為陽；遲者為陰，數者為陽。凡持真脈之藏脈者，肝至懸絕急，十八日死；心至懸絕，九日死；肺至懸絕，十二日死；腎至懸絕，七日死；脾至懸絕，四日死。

那么如何区分脉的阴阳呢？脉搏沉浮的为阴，脉搏偏于盛隆的为阳，也就是去为阴至为阳;脉象偏于沉静的为阴，脉搏偏于躁动的为阳，脉搏频率慢的为阴，脉搏频率快的为阳。也就是迟者为阴，数者为阳。

凡诊得无胃气的真藏脉，例如：肝脉来的形象，如一线孤悬，似断似绝，或者来得弦急而硬，十八日当死；心脉来时，孤悬断绝，九日当死；脉脉来时，孤悬断绝，十二日当死；肾脉来时，孤悬断绝，七日当死；脾脉来时，孤悬断绝，四日当死。

曰：二陽之病，發心脾，有不得隱曲，女子不月；其傳為風消，其傳為息賁者，死不治。曰：三陽為病，發寒熱，下為癰腫，及為痿厥腨㾓；其傳為索澤，其傳為頹疝。曰：一陽發病，少氣善欬善泄；其傳為心掣，其傳為隔。二陽一陰發病，主驚駭背痛，善噫善欠，名曰風厥。二陰一陽發病，善脹心滿善氣。三陽三陰發病，為偏枯痿易，四支不舉。

一般地说：胃肠有病，则可影响心脾，病人往往有难以告人的隐情，如果是女子就会月经不调，甚至经闭。若病久传变，或者形体逐渐消瘦，成为“风消”，或者呼吸短促，气息上逆，成为“息贲”，就不可治疗了。

一般地说：太阳经发病，多有寒热的症状，或者下部发生痈肿，或者两足痿弱无力而逆冷，腿肚酸痛。若病久传化，或为皮肤干燥而不润泽，或变为颓疝。

一般的说：少阳经发病，生发之气即减少，或易患咳嗽，或易患泄泻。若病久传变，或为心虚掣痛，或为饮食不下，阻塞不通。

阳明与厥隐发病，主病惊骇，背痛，常常嗳气、呵欠，名曰风厥。

少阴和少阳发病，腹部作胀，心下满闷，时欲叹气。

太阳和太阴发病，则为半身不遂的偏枯症，或者变易常用而痿弱无力，或者四肢不能举动。

鼓一陽曰鉤，鼓一陰曰毛，鼓陽勝急曰絃，鼓陽至而絕曰石，陰陽相過曰溜。陰爭於內，陽擾於外，魄汗未藏，四逆而起，起則熏肺，使人喘鳴。陰之所生，和本曰和。是故剛與剛，陽氣破散，陰氣乃消亡。淖則剛柔不和，經氣乃絕。

脉搏鼓动于指下，来时有力，去时力衰，叫做钩脉；稍无力，来势轻虚而浮，叫做毛脉；有力而紧张，如按琴瑟的弦，叫做弦脉；有力而必须重按，轻按不足，叫做石脉；既非无力，又不过于有力，一来一去，脉象和缓，流通平顺，叫做滑脉。

阴阳失去平衡，以致阴气争胜于内，阳气扰乱于外，汗出不止，四肢厥冷，下厥上逆，浮阳熏肺，发生喘鸣。

阴之所以不能生化，由于阴阳的平衡，是谓正常。如果以刚与刚，则阳气破散，阴气亦必随之消亡；倘若阴气独盛，则寒湿偏胜，亦为刚柔不和，经脉气血亦致败绝。

死陰之屬，不過三日而死；生陽之屬，不過四日而死。所謂生陽死陰者，肝之心，謂之生陽。心之肺，謂之死陰。肺之腎，謂之重陰。腎之脾，謂之辟陰，死不治。結陽者，腫四支。結陰者便血一升，再結二升，三結三升。陰陽結斜，多陰少陽曰石水，少腹腫。二陽結謂之消，三陽結謂之隔，三陰結謂之水，一陰一陽結謂之喉痺。

属于死阴的病，不过三日就要死；属于生阳的病，不过四天就会痊愈。所谓生阳、死阴：例如肝病传心，为木生火，得其生气，叫做生阳；心病传肺，为火克金，金被火消亡，叫做死阴，肺病传肾，以饮传阴，无阳之候，叫做重阴；肾病传脾，水反侮土，叫做辟阴，是不治的死症。

邪气郁结于阳经，则四肢浮肿，以四肢为诸阳之本；邪气郁结于阴经，则大便下血，以阴络伤则血下溢，初结一升，再结二升，三结三升；阴经阳经都有邪气郁结，而偏重于阴经方面的，就会发生“石水”之病，少腹肿胀；邪气郁结于二阳（足阳明胃、手阳明大肠），则肠胃俱热，多为消渴之症；邪气郁结于三阳（足太阳膀胱、手太阳小肠），则多为上下不通的隔症；邪气郁结于三阴（足太阴脾、手太阴肺），多为水肿膨胀的病；邪气郁结于一阴一阳（指厥阴和少阳）多为喉痹之病。

陰搏陽別謂之有子。陰陽虛腸辟死。陽加於陰謂之汗。陰虛陽搏謂之崩。三陰俱搏，二十日夜半死。二陰俱搏，十三日夕時死。一陰俱搏，十日死。三陽俱搏且鼓，三日死。三陰三陽俱搏，心腹滿。發盡不得隱曲，五日死。二陽俱搏，其病溫，死不治，不過十日死。

阴脉搏动有力，与阳脉有明显的区别，这是怀孕的现象；阴阳脉（尺脉、寸脉）具虚而患痢疾的，是为死症；阳脉加倍于阴脉，当有汗出，阴脉虚而阳脉搏击，火迫血行，在妇人为血崩。

三阴（指手太阴肺、足太阴脾）之脉，俱搏击于指下，大约到二十天半夜时死亡；二阴就（指手少阴心、足少阴肾）之脉俱搏击于指下，大约到十三天傍晚时死亡；一阴（指手厥阴心胞络、足厥阴肝）之脉俱搏击于指下，而鼓动过甚的，三天就要死亡；三阴三阳之脉俱搏，心腹胀满，阴阳之气发泄已尽，大小便不通，则五日死；三阳（指足阳明胃、手阳明大肠）之脉俱搏击于指下，患有温病的，无法治疗，不过十日就要死了。

CHAPTER 5 Jia Bao-yu visits the Land of Illusion And the fairy Disenchantment performs the ‘Dream of Golden Days’ 

第四回中既將薛家母子在榮府中寄居等事略已表明，此回暫可不寫了。如今且說林黛玉自在榮府以來，賈母萬般憐愛，寢食起居一如寶玉，迎春、探春、惜春三個親孫女倒且靠後了。就是寶玉黛玉二人的親密友愛，也較別人不同，日則同行同坐，夜則同止同息，真是言和意順，略無參商。不想如今忽然來了一個薛寶釵，年紀雖大不多，然品格端方，容貌豐美，人多謂黛玉所不及。那寶釵卻又行為豁達，隨分從時，不比黛玉孤高自許，目無下塵，故深得下人之心。就是小丫頭們，亦多和寶釵親近。因此，黛玉心中便有些不忿。寶釵卻是渾然不覺。

From the moment Lin Dai-yu entered the Rong mansion, Grandmother Jia’s solicitude for her had manifested itself in a hundred different ways. The arrangements made for her meals and accommodation were exactly the same as for Bao-yu. The other three granddaughters, Ying-chun, Tan-chun and Xi-chun, were relegated to a secondary place in the old lady’s affections, and the objects of her partiality themselves began to feel an affection for each other which far exceeded what they felt for any of the rest. Sharing each other’s company every minute of the day and sleeping in the same room at night, they developed an understanding so intense that it was almost as if they had grown into a single person. And now suddenly this Xue Bao-chai had appeared on the scene—a young lady who, though very little older than Dai-yu, possessed a grown-up beauty and aplomb in which all agreed Dai-yu was her inferior. Moreover, in contrast to Dai-yu with her alt of lofty self-sufficiency and total obliviousness to all who did not move on the same exalted level as herself, Bao-chai had a generous, accommodating disposition which greatly endeared her to subordinates, so that even the tiniest maid looked on Miss Bao-chai as a familiar friend. Dai-yu could not but feel somewhat put out by this—a fact of which Bao-chai herself, however, was totally unaware.

那寶玉也在孩提之間，況他天性所稟，一片愚拙偏僻，視姊妹兄弟皆出一意，並無親疏遠近之別。如今與黛玉同隨賈母一處坐臥，故略比別的姊妹熟慣些；既熟慣，便更覺親密；既親密，便不免一時有不虞之隙，求全之毀。這日，不知為何，二人言語有些不和起來，黛玉又在房中獨自垂淚。寶玉也自悔言語冒撞，前去俯就，那黛玉方漸漸的回轉過來。

As for Bao-yu, he was still only a child, moreover, whom nature had endowed with the eccentric obtuseness of a simpleton. Brothers, sisters, cousins, were all one to him. In his relationships with people he made no distinction between one person and another. If his relationship with Dai-yu was exceptional, it was because greater proximity—since she was living with him in his grandmother’s quarters—made her more familiar to him than the rest; and greater familiarity bred greater intimacy. And of course, with greater intimacy came the occasional tiffs and misunderstandings that are usual with people who have a great deal to do with each other. One day the two of them had fallen out over something or other and the argument had ended with Dai-yu crying alone in her room and Bao-yu feeling remorsefully that perhaps he had spoken too roughly. Presently he went in to make his peace with her and gradually, very gradually, Dai-yu’s equanimity was restored.

因東邊寧府花園內梅花盛開，賈珍之妻尤氏乃治酒請賈母、邢夫人、王夫人等賞花。是日，先帶了賈蓉夫妻二人來面請賈母等於早飯後過來，就在會芳園遊玩，先茶後酒。不過是寧榮二府眷屬家宴，並無別樣新文趣事可記。

The Winter plum in the gardens of the Ning Mansion was now at its best, and this particular day Cousin Zhen’s wife, You-shi, had some wine taken into the gardens and came over in person, bringing her son Jia Rong and his young wife with her, to invite Grandmother Jia, Lady Xing and Lady Wang to a flower-viewing party. Grandmother Jia and the rest went round as soon as they had finished their breakfast. The party was in the All-scents Garden. It began with tea and continued with Wine, and as it was a family gathering confined to the ladies of the Ning and Rong households, nothing particularly worth recording took place.

一時，寶玉倦怠，欲睡中覺。賈母命人好生哄著，歇息一回再來。賈蓉之妻秦氏便忙笑道：「我們這裡有給寶二叔收拾下的屋子，老祖宗放心，只管交給我就是了。」因向寶玉的奶娘丫鬟等道：「嬤嬤姐姐們，請寶二叔跟我這裡來。」賈母素知秦氏是極妥當的人，－－因他生得嬝娜纖巧，行事又溫柔和平，乃重孫媳中第一個得意之人－－見他去安置寶玉，自然是放心的了。

At one point in the party Bao-yu was overcome with tiredness and heaviness and expressed a desire to take an afternoon nap. Grandmother Jia ordered some of the servants to go back to the house with him and get him comfortably settled, adding that they might return with him later when he was rested; but Qin-shi, the little wife of Jia Rong, smilingly proposed an alternative. ‘We have got just the room here for Uncle Bao. Leave him to me, Grannie dear! He will be quite safe in my hands.’ She turned to address the nurses and maidservants who were in attendance on Bao-yu. ‘Come, my dears! Tell Uncle Bao to follow me.’ Grandmother Jia had always had a high opinion of Qin-shi’s trustworthiness—she was such a charming, delightful little creature, the favourite among her great-granddaughters-in-law—and was quite content to leave the arrangements to her.

當下秦氏引了一簇人來至上房內間，寶玉抬頭看見是一幅畫貼在上面，人物固好，其故事乃是「燃藜圖」，心中便有些不快。又有一副對聯，寫的是：「世事洞明皆學問，人情練達即文章。」及看了這兩句，縱然室宇精美，鋪陳華麗，亦斷斷不肯在這裡了，忙說：「快出去！快出去！」

Qin-shi conducted Bao-yu and his little knot of attendants to an inner room in the main building. As they entered, Bao-yu glanced up and saw a painting hanging above them on the opposite wall. The figures in it were very finely executed. They represented Scholarly Diligence in the person of the Han philosopher Liu Xiang at his book, obligingly illuminated for him by a supernatural being holding a large flaming torch. Bao-yu found the painting—or rather its subject—distasteful. But the pair of mottoes which flanked it proved the last straw:

True learning implies a clear insight into human activities. Genuine culture involves the skillful manipulation of human relationships.

In vain the elegant beauty and splendid furnishings of the room! Qin-shi was given to understand in no uncertain terms that her uncle Bao-yu wished to be out of it at once.

秦氏聽了，笑道：「這裡還不好，往那裡去呢？要不，就往我屋裡去罷。」寶玉點頭微笑。一個嬤嬤說道：「那裡有個叔叔往侄兒房裡睡覺的禮呢？」秦氏笑道：「不怕他惱，他能多大了？就忌諱這些個？上月你沒有看見我那個兄弟來了？雖然和寶二叔同年，兩個人要站在一處，只怕那一個還高些呢。」寶玉道：「我怎麼沒有見過？你帶他來我瞧瞧。」眾人笑道：「隔著二三十里，那裡帶去？見的日子有呢。」

‘If this is not good enough for you,’ said Qin-shi with a laugh, ‘where are  we going to put you? — unless you would like to have your rest in my bedroom.’ A little smile played over Bao-yu’s face and he nodded. The nurses were shocked. ‘An uncle sleep in the bedroom of his nephew’s wife! Who ever heard of such a thing!’ Qin-shi laughed again. ‘He won’t misbehave. Good gracious, he’s only a little boy! We don’t have to worry about that sort of thing yet! You know my little brother who came last month: he’s the same age as Uncle Bao, but if you stood them side by side I shouldn’t be a bit surprised if he wasn’t the taller of the two.’ ‘Why haven’t I seen your brother yet?’ Bao-yu demanded. ‘Bring him in and let me have a look at him!’ The servants all laughed. ‘Bring him in? Why, he’s ten or twenty miles away! But I expect you’ll meet him one of these days.’

說著大家來至秦氏臥房。剛至房中，便有一股細細的甜香襲人。寶玉便覺眼餳骨軟，連說：「好香！」入房，向壁上看時，有唐伯虎畫的「海棠春睡圖」，兩邊有宋學士秦太虛寫的一副對聯云：「嫩寒鎖夢因春冷，芳氣襲人是酒香。」案上設著武則天當日鏡室中設的寶鏡。一邊擺著趙飛燕立著舞過的金盤，盤內盛著安祿山擲過傷了太真乳的木瓜。上面設著壽昌公主於含章殿下臥的寶榻，懸的是同昌公主製的連珠帳。寶玉含笑道：「這裡好，這裡好！」秦氏笑道：「我這屋子大約神仙也可以住得了。」說著，親自展開了西施浣過的紗衾，移了紅娘抱過的鴛枕。於是眾奶母伏侍寶玉臥好了，款款散去，只留下襲人、媚人、晴雯、麝月四個丫鬟為伴。秦氏便叫小丫鬟們好生在簷下看著貓兒打架。

In the course of this exchange the party had made its way to Qin-shi’s bedroom. As Bao-yu entered, a subtle whiff of the most delicious perfume assailed his nostrils, making a sweet stickiness inside his drooping eyelids and causing all the joints in his body to dissolve. ‘What a lovely smell!’ He repeated the words several times over. Inside the room there was a painting by Tang Yin entitled ‘Spring Slumber’ depicting a beautiful woman asleep under a crab-apple tree, whose buds had not yet opened. The painting was flanked on either side by a pair of calligraphic scrolls inscribed with a couplet from the brush of the Song poet Qin Guan:

(on one side) The coldness of spring has imprisoned the soft buds in a wintry

dream; (on the other side) The fragrance of wine has intoxicated the beholder with imagined flower-scents.

On a table stood an antique mirror that had once graced the tiring-room of the lascivious empress Wu Ze-tian. Beside it stood the golden platter on which Flying Swallow once danced for her emperor’s delight. And on the platter was that very quince which the villainous An Lu-shan threw at beautiful Yang Gui-fei, bruising her plump white breast. At the far end of the room stood the priceless bed on which Princess Shou-yang was sleeping out of doors under the eaves of the

Han-zhang Palace when the plum-flower lighted on her forehead and set a new fashion for coloured patches. Over it hung a canopy commissioned by Princess Tong-chang entirely fashioned out of ropes of pearls.

‘I like it here,’ said Bao-yu happily. ‘My room,’ said Qin-shi with a proud smile, ‘is lit for an immortal to sleep in.’ And she unfolded a quilted coverlet, whose silk had been laundered by the fabulous Xi Shi, and arranged the double head-rest that Hong-niang once carried for her amorous mistress, The nurses now helped Bao-yu into bed and then tiptoed out, leaving him attended only by his four young maids: Aroma, Skybright, Musk, and Ripple. Qin-shi told them to go outside and stop the cats from lighting on the eaves.

那寶玉纔合上眼，便恍恍惚惚的睡去，猶似秦氏在前，悠悠蕩蕩，跟著秦氏到了一處。但見朱欄玉砌，綠樹清溪，真是人跡不逢，飛塵罕到。寶玉在夢中歡喜，想道：「這個地方兒有趣！我若能在這裡過一生，雖然失了家也願意，強如天天被父母先生管束呢！」正在胡思之間，聽見山後有人作歌曰：       

春夢隨雲散，飛花逐水流。寄言眾兒女，何必覓閒愁？

As soon as Bao-yu closed his eyes he sank into a confused sleep in which Qin-shi was still there yet at the same time seemed to be drifting along weightlessly in front of him. He followed her until they came to a place of marble terraces and vermilion balustrades where there were green trees and crystal streams. Everything in this place was so clean and so pure that it seemed as if no human foot could ever have trodden there or floating speck of dust ever blown into it. Bao-yu’s dreaming self rejoiced. ‘What a delightful place!’ he thought. ‘If only I could spend all my life here! How much nicer it would be than living under the daily restraint of my parents and teachers!’ These idle reflections were interrupted by someone singing a song on the other side of a hill:

‘Spring’s dream-time will like drifting clouds disperse, Its flowers snatched by a flood none can reverse. Then tell each nymph and swain ‘Tis folly to invite love’s pain!’

寶玉聽了，是個女孩兒的聲氣。歌音未息，早見那邊走出一個麗人來，蹁躚嬝娜，與凡人大不相同。有賦為證：

方離柳塢，乍出花房。但行處，鳥驚庭樹；將到時，影度迴廊。仙袂乍飄兮，聞麝蘭之馥郁；荷衣欲動兮，聽環珮之鏗鏘。靨笑春桃兮，雲髻堆翠；唇綻櫻顆兮，榴齒含香。盼纖腰之楚楚兮，風迴雪舞；耀珠翠之的的兮，鴨綠鵝黃。出沒花間兮，宜嗔宜喜；徘徊池上兮，若飛若揚。蛾眉欲顰兮，將言而未語；蓮步乍移兮，欲止而仍行。羨美人之良質兮，冰清玉潤；慕美人之華服兮，熌爍文章。愛美人之容貌兮，香培玉篆；比美人之態度兮，鳳翥龍翔。其素若何？春梅綻雪。其潔若何？秋蕙披霜。其靜若何？松生空谷。其豔若何？霞映澄塘。其文若何？龍遊曲沼。其神若何？月射寒江。－－遠慚西子，近愧王嬙。奇矣哉！生於孰地？來自何方？信矣乎瑤池不二，紫府無雙。果何人哉若斯之美也？

It was the voice of a girl. Before its last echoes had died away, a beautiful woman appeared in the quarter from which the voice had come, approaching him with a floating, fluttering motion. She was quite unlike any earthly lady, as the following poem will make clear:

She has left her willow-tree house, from her blossoming bower stepped out; For the birds betray where she walks through the trees that cluster about, And a shadow athwart the winding walk announces that she is near, And a fragrance of musk and orchid from fluttering fairy sleeves, And a tinkle of girdle-gems that falls on the ear At each movement of her dress of lotus leaves.

A peach-tree blossoms in her dimpling cheek; Her cloud-coiled tresses are halcyon-sleek; And she reveals, through parted cherry lips, Teeth like pomegranate pips. Her slim waist’s sinuous swaying calls to mind The dance of snowflakes with the waltzing wind; Hair ornaments of pearl and halcyon blue Outshine her painted forehead’s golden hue. Her face, through blossoms fleetingly disclosed, To mirth or ire seems equally disposed; And as by the waterside she goes, Hovering on light-stepping toes, A half-incipient look of pique Says she would speak, yet would not speak; While her feet, with the same irresolution, Would halt, yet would not interrupt their motion. I contemplate her rate complexion, Ice-pure and lade-like in perfection;

I marvel at her glittering dress, Where art lends grace to sumptuousness;

I wonder at her fine-cut featured—Marble, which fragrance marks as one with living creatures; And I admire her queenly gait, Like stately dance of simurgh with his mate. Her purity I can best show In plum-trees flowering in the snow

Her chastity I shall recall In orchids white at first frost-fall; Her tranquil nature will prevail, Constant as lone pine in an empty vale; Her loveliness as dazzled make As sunset gilding a pellucid lake; Her glittering elegance I can compare With dragons in an ornamental mere; Her dreamy soulfulness most seems Like wintry waters in the moon’s cold beams. The beauties of days gone by by her beauty are all abashed.

Where was she born, and from whence descended? Immortal I judge her, fresh come from fairy feastings by the Jasper Pool, Or from fluting in starry balls, some heavenly concert ended.

寶玉見是一個仙姑，喜的忙來作揖，笑問道：「神仙姐姐，不知從那裡來，如今要往那裡去？我也不知這裡是何處，望乞攜帶，攜帶。」那仙姑道：「吾居離恨天之上，灌愁海之中，乃放春山遣香洞太虛幻境警幻仙姑是也。司人間之風情月債，掌塵世之女怨男癡。因近來風流冤孽，纏綿於此，是以前來訪察機會，佈散相思。今日與爾相逢，亦非偶然。此離吾境不遠，別無他物，僅有自採仙茗一盞，親釀美酒一甕，素練魔舞歌姬數人，新填《紅樓夢》仙曲十二支。可試隨吾一遊否？」

Observing delightedly that the lady was a fairy, Bao-yu hurried forward and saluted her with a smile. ‘Madam Fairy, I don’t know where you have come from or where you are going to, but as I am quite lost in this place, will you please take me with you and be my guide?’ ‘I am the fairy Disenchantment,’ the fairy woman replied. ‘I live beyond the Realm of Separation, in the Sea Of Sadness. There is a Mountain of Spring Awakening which rises from the midst of that sea, and on that mountain is the Paradise of the Full-blown Flower, and in that paradise is the Land of Illusion, which is my home. My business is with the romantic passions, love-debts, girlish heartbreaks and male philandering of your dust-stained, human world.

The reason I have come here today is that recently there has been a heavy concentration of love-karma in this area, and I hope to be able to find an opportunity of distributing a quantity of an amorous thoughts by implanting them in the appropriate breasts. My meeting you here today is no accident but a part of the same project.

‘This place where we are now is not so very far from my home. I have not much to offer you, but would you like to come back with me and let me try to entertain you? I have some fairy tea, which I picked myself. You could have a cup of that. And I have a few jars of choice new wine of my own brewing. I have also been rehearsing a fairy choir and a troupe of fairy dancers in a twelve-part suite which I recently composed called A Dream of Golden Days”. I could get them to perform it for you. What do you think?’

寶玉聽了，喜躍非常，便忘了秦氏在何處了，竟隨了仙姑至一個所在。忽然前面有一座石牌橫建，上書「太虛幻境」四大字，兩邊一副對聯，乃是：「假作真時真亦假，無為有處有還無。」轉過牌坊，便是一座宮門，上面橫書著四個大字，道是：「孽海情天」，也有一副對聯，大書云：「厚地高天，堪歎古今情不盡；痴男怨女，可憐風月債難酬。」

Bao-yu was so excited by this invitation that he quite forgot to wonder what had become of Qin-shi in his eagerness to accompany the fairy. As he followed her, a big stone archway suddenly loomed up in front of them on which THE LAND OF ILLUSION was Written in large characters. A couplet in smaller characters was inscribed on either side of the arch:

Truth becomes fiction when the fiction’s true; Real becomes not-real when the unreal’s real.

Having negotiated the archway, they presently came to the gateway of a palace. The following words were inscribed horizontally above the lintel: SEAS OF PAIN AND SKIES OF PASSION whilst the following words were inscribed vertically on the two sides:

Ancient earth and sky Marvel that love’s passion should outlast all time.

Star-crossed men and maids Groan that love’s debts should be so hard to pay.

寶玉看了，心下自思道：「原來如此。但不知何為『古今之情』？又何為『風月之債』？從今倒要領略，領略。」寶玉只顧如此一想，不料早把些邪魔招入膏肓了。當下隨了仙姑，進入二層門內，只見兩邊配殿皆有匾額對聯。一時看不盡許多，惟見幾處寫著的是：「癡情司」，「結怨司」，「朝啼司」，「暮哭司」，「春感司」，「秋悲司」。看了，因向仙姑道：「敢煩仙姑引我到那各司中遊玩遊玩，不知可使得麼？」仙姑道：「此中各司存的是普天下所有的女子過去未來的簿冊，爾乃凡眼塵軀，未便先知的。」寶玉聽了，那裡肯捨？又再四的懇求。那警幻便說：「也罷，就在此司內略隨喜隨喜罷。」寶玉喜不自勝，抬頭看這司的匾上，乃是「薄命司」三字，兩邊寫著對聯道：「春恨秋悲皆自惹，花容月貌為誰妍？」

‘I see,’ said Bao-yu to himself. ‘I wonder what the meaning of “passion that outlasts all time” can be. And what are “love’s debts”? From now on I must make an effort to understand these things.’ He could not, of course, have known it, but merely by thinking this he had invited the attentions of the demon Lust, and at that very moment a little of the demon’s evil poison had entered Bao-yu’s body and lodged itself in the innermost recesses of his heart.

Wholly unconscious of his mortal peril, Bao-yu continued to follow the fairy woman. They passed through a second gateway, and Bao-yu saw a range of palace buildings ahead of them on either hand. The entrance to each building had a board above it proclaiming its name, and there were couplets on either side of the doorways. Bao-yu did not have time to read all of the names, but he managed to make out a few, viz:

DEPARTMENT OF FOND INFATUATION

DEPARTMENT OF CRUEL REJECTION

DEPARTMENT OF EARLY MORNING WEEPING

DEPARTMENT OP LATE NIGHT SOBBING

DEPARTMENT OF SPRING FEVER

DEPARTMENT OF AUTUMN GRIEF

寶玉看了，便知感歎。進入門中，只見有十數個大櫥，皆用封條封著。看那封條上，皆有各省地名。寶玉一心只揀自己家鄉的封條看，只見那邊櫥上封條大書「金陵十二釵正冊」。寶玉因問：「何為『金陵十二釵正冊』？」警幻道：「即爾省中十二冠首女子之冊，故為正冊。」寶玉道：「常聽人說，金陵極大，怎麼只十二個女子？如今單我們家裡，上上下下就有幾百個女孩兒。」警幻微笑道：「一省女子固多，不過擇其緊要者錄之。兩邊二櫥則又次之，餘者庸常之輩便無冊可錄了。」

‘Madam Fairy,’ said Bao-yu, whose interest had been whetted by what he had managed to read, ‘couldn’t you take me inside these offices to have a look around?’ ‘In these offices,’ said the fairy woman, ‘are kept registers in which are recorded the past, present and future of girls from all over the world. It is not permitted that your earthly eyes should look on things that are yet to come.’

Bao-yu was most unwilling to accept this answer, and begged and pleaded so persistently that at last Disenchantment gave in. ‘Very well. You may make a very brief inspection of this office here.’ Delighted beyond measure, Bao-yu raised his head and read the notice above the doorway: DEPARTMENT OP THE ILL-FATED FAIR

The couplet inscribed vertically on either side of the doorway was as follows:

Spring grieves and autumn sorrows were by yourselves provoked. Flower faces, moonlike beauty were to what end disclosed? Bao-yu grasped enough of the meaning to be affected by its melancholy.

Passing inside, he saw a dozen or more large cupboards with paper strips pasted on their doors on which were written the names of different provinces. He was careful to look out for the one belonging to his own area and presently found one on which the paper strip said ‘Jinling, Twelve Beauties of; Main Register’. Bao-yu asked Disenchantment what this meant, and she explained that it was a register of the twelve most out-standing girls of his home province.

‘People all say what a big place Jinling is,’ said Bao-yu. ‘Surely there should be more than just twelve names? Why, even in my own home, if you count the servants, there must be altogether several hundred girls.’  ‘Certainly there area great many girls in the whole province,’ said Disenchantment with a smile, ‘but only the most important ones have been selected for recording in this register. The registers in the cupboards on either side contain two other selections from the same area. But of the host of ordinary girls outside those three dozen we keep no records.’

寶玉再看下首一櫥，上寫著「金陵十二釵副冊」；又一櫥，上寫著「金陵十二釵又副冊」。寶玉便伸手先將又副冊櫥門開了，拿出一本冊來。揭開看時，只見這首頁上畫的，既非人物，亦非山水，不過是水墨滃染，滿紙烏雲濁霧而已。後有幾行字跡，寫道是：

Bao-yu glanced at the other two cupboards referred to by Disenchantment. One was labelled ‘Jinling, Twelve Beauties of; Supplementary Register No.1’; the other was labelled ‘Jinling, Twelve Beauties of; Supplementary Register No.2’. Stretching out his hand he opened the door of the second one, took out Supplementary Register No.2, which was like a large album, and opened it at the first page. It was a picture, but not of a person or a view. The whole page was covered with dark ink washes representing storm-clouds or fog, followed on the next page by a few lines of verse:

霽月難逢，彩雲易散。心比天高，身為下賤。風流靈巧招人怨。壽夭多因誹謗生，多情公子空牽念。

Seldom the moon shines in a cloudless sky, And days of brightness all too soon pass by. A noble and aspiring mind In a base-born frame confined, Your charm and wit did only hatred gain, And in the end you were by slanders slain, Your gentle lord’s solicitude in vain.

寶玉看了不甚明白。又見後面畫著一簇鮮花，一床破蓆。也有幾句言詞，寫道是：

枉自溫柔和順，空云似桂如蘭。堪羨優伶有福，誰知公子無緣！

Bao-yu could not make much sense of this, and turned to the next page. It was another picture, this time of a bunch of fresh flowers and a worn-out mat, again followed by a few limes of verse.

What price your kindness and compliance, Of sweetest flower the rich perfume? You chose the player fortune favoured, Unmindful of your master’s doom.

寶玉看了，益發解說不出是何意思。遂將這一本冊子擱起來，又去開了副冊櫥門，拿起一本冊來，打開看時，只見首頁也是畫，卻畫著一株桂花，下面有一方池沼，其中水涸泥乾，蓮枯藕敗。後面書云：

根並荷花一莖香，平生遭際實堪傷。自從兩地生孤木，致使香魂返故鄉。

Bao-yu was even more mystified by this than by the first page, and laying the album aside, opened the door of the cupboard marked ‘Supplementary Register No. I’ and took out the album from that.

As in the previous album, the first page was a picture. It represented a branch of cassia with a pool underneath. The water in the pool had dried up and the mud in the bottom was dry and cracked. Growing from it was a withered and broken lotus plant. The picture was followed by these lines:

Your stem grew from a noble lotus root, Yet your life passed, poor flower, in low repute. The day two earths shall bear a single tree, Your soul must fly home to its own country.

Once more failing to make any sense of what he saw, Bao-yu picked up the Main Register to look at. In this album the picture on the first page represented two dead trees with a jade belt hanging in their branches and on the ground beneath them a pile of snow in which a golden hairpin lay half-buried. This was followed by a quatrain:

One was a pattern of female virtue, One a wit who made other wits seem slow.

The jade belt in the greenwood hangs, The gold pin is buried beneath the snow.

Bao-yu could not make much sense of this, and turned to the next page. It was another picture, this time of a bunch of fresh flowers and a worn-out mat, again followed by a few limes of verse.

What price your kindness and compliance, Of sweetest flower the rich perfume? You chose the player fortune favoured, Unmindful of your master’s doom.

Bao-yu was even more mystified by this than by the first page, and laying the album aside, opened the door of the cupboard marked ‘Supplementary Register No. I’ and took out the album from that.

As in the previous album, the first page was a picture. It represented a branch of cassia with a pool underneath. The water in the pool had dried up and the mud in the bottom was dry and cracked. Growing from it was a withered and broken lotus plant. The picture was followed by these lines:

Your stem grew from a noble lotus root, Yet your life passed, poor flower, in low repute. The day two earths shall bear a single tree, Your soul must fly home to its own country.

寶玉看了又不解。又去取那正冊看時，只見頭一頁上畫著是兩株枯木，木上懸著一圍玉帶；地下又有一堆雪，雪中一股金簪。也有四句詩道：       

可歎停機德，堪憐詠絮才！玉帶林中掛，金簪雪裡埋。

Once more failing to make any sense of what he saw, Bao-yu picked up the Main Register to look at. In this album the picture on the first page represented two dead trees with a jade belt hanging in their branches and on the ground beneath them a pile of snow in which a golden hairpin lay half-buried. This was followed by a quatrain:

One was a pattern of female virtue, One a wit who made other wits seem slow.

The jade belt in the greenwood hangs, The gold pin is buried beneath the snow.

寶玉看了仍不解，待要問時，知他必不肯洩漏天機，待要丟下，又不捨，遂往後看。只見畫著一張弓，弓上掛著一個香櫞。也有一首歌詞云：

二十年來辨是非，榴花開處照宮闈。三春爭及初春景？虎兔相逢大夢歸。

Still Bao-yu was unable to understand the meaning. He would have liked to ask, but he knew that Disenchantment would be unwilling to divulge the secrets of her immortal world. Yet though he could make no sense of the book, for some reason he found himself unable this time to lay it down, and continued to look through it to the end.

The picture that followed was of a bow with a citron hanging from it, followed by what looked like the words of a song:

You shall, when twenty years in life’s hard school are done, In pomegranate-time to palace halls ascend. Though three springs never could with your first spring compare, When hare meets tiger your great dream shall end.

後面又畫著兩個人放風箏，一片大海，一隻大船，船中有一女子，掩面泣涕之狀。畫後也有四句，寫著道：       

才自精明志自高，生於末世運偏消。清明涕送江邊望，千里東風一夢遙。後面又畫著幾縷飛雲，一灣逝水。其詞曰：

富貴又何為？襁褓之間父母違。展眼弔斜暉，湘江水逝楚雲飛。後面又畫著一塊美玉，落在泥污之中。其斷語云：

欲潔何曾潔？云空未必空。可憐金玉質，終陷淖泥中！後面忽畫一惡狼，追撲一美女，有欲啖之意。其下書云：

子係中山狼，得志便猖狂。金閨花柳質，一載赴黃粱！後面便是一所古廟，裡面有一美人在內看經獨坐。其判云：

勘破三春景不長，緇衣頓改昔年粧。可憐繡戶侯門女，獨臥青燈古佛旁！後面是一片冰山，山上有一只雌鳳。其判云：

凡鳥偏從末世來，都知愛慕此生才。一從二令三人木，哭向金陵事更哀！後面又是一座荒村野店，有一美人在那裡紡績。其判曰：

勢敗休云貴，家亡莫論親。偶因濟劉氏，巧得遇恩人。詩後又畫一盆茂蘭。旁有一位鳳冠霞帔的美人。也有判云：

桃李春風結子完，到頭誰似一盆蘭？如冰水好空相妒，枉與他人作笑談。詩後又畫一座高樓，上有一美人懸梁自盡。其判云：

情天情海幻情身，情既相逢必主淫。漫言不肖皆榮出，造釁開端實在寧。

Next was a picture of two people flying a kite. There was also a large expanse of sea with a boat in it and a girl in the boat who had buried her face in her hands and appeared to be crying. This was followed by a quatrain:

Blessed with a shrewd mind and a noble heart, Yet born in time of twilight and decay, In spring through tears at river’s bank you gaze, Borne by the wind a thousand miles away.

The next picture showed some scudding wisps of cloud and a stretch of running water followed by these words:

What shall avail you rank and riches, Orphaned while yet in swaddling bands you lay? Soon you must mourn your bright sun’s early setting. The Xiang flows and the Chu clouds sail away.

Next was a picture showing a beautiful jade which had fallen into the mud, followed by words of judgement:

For all your would-be spotlessness And vaunted otherworldliness, You that look down on common flesh and blood, Yourself impure, shall end up in the mud.

Next was a striking picture of a savage wolf pursuing a beautiful girl. He had just seized her with his jaws and appeared to be about to eat her. Underneath it was written:

Paired with a brute like the wolf in the old fable, Who on his saviour turned when he was able, To cruelty not used, your gentle heart Shall, in a twelvemonth only, break apart.

After this was an old temple with a beautiful girl sitting all on her own inside it reading a Buddhist sutra. The words said:

When you see through the spring scene’s transient state, A nun’s black habit shall replace your own. Alas, that daughter of so great a house By Buddha’s altar lamp should sleep alone!

Next was an iceberg with a hen phoenix perched on the top of it, and these words:

This phoenix in a bad time came; All praised her great ability. ‘Two’ makes my riddle with a man and tree: Returning south in tears she met calamity.

Next was a cottage in a deserted village inside which a beautiful girl sat spinning, followed by these words:

When power is lost, rank matters not a jot; When families fall, kinship must be forgot. Through a chance kindness to a country wife Deliverance came for your afflicted life.

This was followed by a picture of a vigorously growing orchid in a pot, beside which stood a lady in full court dress. The words said:

The plum-tree bore her fruit after the rest, Yet, when all’s done, her Orchid was the best. Against your ice-pure nature all in vain The tongues of envy wagged; you felt no pain.

The picture after that showed an upper room in a tail building in which a beautiful girl was hanging by her neck from a beam, having apparently taken her own life. The words said:

Love was her sea, her sky; in such excess Love, meeting with its like, breeds wantonness. Say not our troubles all from Rong’s side came; For their beginning Ning must take the blame.

寶玉還欲看時，那仙姑知他天分高明，性情穎慧，恐泄漏天機，便掩了卷冊，笑向寶玉道：「且隨我去遊玩奇景，何必在此打這悶葫蘆？」

Bao-yu would have liked to see some more, but the fairy woman, knowing how intelligent and sharp-witted he was, began to fear that she was in danger of becoming responsible for a leakage of celestial secrets, and so, snapping the album shut, she said with a laugh, ‘Come with me and we will do some more sight-seeing. Why stay here puzzling your head over these silly riddles?’

寶玉恍恍惚惚，不覺棄了卷冊，又隨警幻來至後面。但見畫棟雕簷，珠簾繡幕，仙花馥郁，異草芬芳，真好所在也！正是：「光搖朱戶金鋪地，雪照瓊窗玉作宮。」又聽警幻笑道：「你們快出來迎接貴客！」一言未了，只見房中走出幾個仙子來，荷袂蹁躚，羽衣飄舞，嬌若春花，媚如秋月。見了寶玉，都怨謗警幻道：「我們不知係何貴客，忙的接出來。姐姐曾說今日今時必有個絳珠妹子的生魂前來遊玩，故我等久待，何故反引這濁物來污染清淨女兒之境？」

Next moment, without quite knowing how it happened, Bao-yu found that he had left the place of registers behind him and was following Disenchantment through the rear parts of the palace. Everywhere there were buildings with ornately carved and painted eaves and rafters, their doorways curtained with strings of pearls and their interiors draped with embroidered hangings. The courtyards outside them were full of deliciously fragrant fairy blooms and rare aromatic herbs.

Gleam of gold pavement flashed on scarlet doors, And in jade walls jewelled casements snow white shone.

‘Hurry, hurry! Come out and welcome the honoured guest!’ he heard Disenchantment calling to someone inside, and almost at once a bevy of fairy maidens came running from the palace, lotus-sleeves fluttering and feather-skirts billowing, each as enchantingly beautiful as the flowers of spring or the autumn moon. Seeing Bao-yu, they began to reproach Disenchantment angrily.

‘So this is your “honoured guest”! What do you mean by making us hurry out to meet him? You told us that today at this very hour the dream-soul of our darling Crimson Pearl was coming to play with us, and we have been waiting I don’t know how long for her arrival. And now, instead, you have brought this disgusting creature to pollute our pure, maidenly precincts. What’s the idea ?’

寶玉聽如此說，便嚇的欲退不能，果覺自形污穢不堪。警幻忙攜住寶玉的手，向眾仙姬笑道：「你等不知原委。今日原欲往榮府去接絳珠，適從寧府經過，偶遇榮寧二公之靈，囑吾云：『吾家自國朝定鼎以來，功名奕世，富貴流傳，已歷百年；奈運終數盡，不可挽回！我等之子孫雖多，竟無可以繼業者。惟嫡孫寶玉一人，稟性乖張，用情怪譎，雖聰明靈慧，略可望成，無奈吾家運數合終，恐無人規引入正。幸仙姑偶來，望先以情欲聲色等事警其癡頑，或能使他跳出迷人圈子，入於正路，亦吾兄弟之幸矣。』

At these words Bao-yu was suddenly overwhelmed with a sense of the uncleanness and impurity of his own body and sought in vain for somewhere to escape to; but Disenchantment held him by the hand and advanced towards the fairy maidens with a conciliatory smile.

‘Let me tell you the reason for my change of plan. It is true that I set off for the Rong mansion with the intention of fetching Crimson Pearl, but as I was passing through the Ning mansion on my way, I happened to run into the Duke of Ning–guo and his brother the Duke of Rong-guo and they laid a solemn charge on me which I found it hard to refuse. ‘“In the hundred years since the foundation of the present dynasty,” they said, “several generations of our house have distinguished themselves by their services to the Throne and have covered themselves with riches and honours; but now its stock of good fortune has run out, and nothing can be done to replenish it. And though our descendants are many, not one of them is worthy to carry on the line. The only possible exception, our great-grandson Bao-yu, has inherited a perverse, intractable nature and is eccentric and emotionally unstable; and although his natural brightness and intelligence augur well, we fear that owing to the fated eclipse of our family’s fortunes there will be no one at hand to give the lad proper guidance and to start him off along the right lines. ‘“May we profit from the fortunate accident of this encounter, Madam, to entreat you to take the boy in hand for us? Could you perhaps initiate him in the pleasures of the flesh and all that sort of thing in such a way as to shock the silliness out of him? In that way he might stand a chance of escaping some of the traps that people fall into and be able to devote himself single-mindedly to the serious things of life. It would be such a kindness if you would do this for us.”

如此囑吾，故發慈心，引彼至此。先以他家上中下三等女子的終身冊籍，令其熟玩，尚未覺悟；故引了再到此處，遍歷那飲饌聲色之幻，或冀將來一悟，未可知也。」說畢，攜了寶玉入室。但聞一縷幽香，不知所焚何物，寶玉不禁相問。警幻冷笑道：「此香乃塵世所無，爾如何能知！此係諸名山勝境初生異卉之精，合各種寶林珠樹之油所製：名為『群芳髓』。」

‘Hearing the old gentlemen so earnest in their entreaty, I was moved to compassion and agreed to bring the boy here. I began by letting him have a good look at the records of the three grades of girls belonging to his own household; but the experience did not bring any awareness; and so I have brought him to this place for another attempt. It is my hope that a full exposure to the illusions of feasting, drinking, music and dancing may succeed in bringing about an awakening in him some time in the future.’

Having concluded her explanation, she led Bao-yu indoors. At once he became aware of a faint, subtle scent, the source of which he was quite unable to identify and about which he felt impelled to question Disenchantment. ‘How could you possibly know what it was,’ said Disenchantment with a somewhat scornful smile, ‘since this perfume is not to be found anywhere in your mortal world? It is made from the essences of rare plants found on famous mountains and other places of great natural beauty, culled when they are new-grown and blended with gums from the pearl-laden trees that grow in the jewelled groves of paradise. It is called “Belles Se Fanent”.’

寶玉聽了，自是羨慕。於是大家入座，小鬟捧上茶來。寶玉覺得香清味美，迥非常品，因又問何名。警幻道：「此茶出在放春山遣香洞，又以仙花靈葉上所帶的宿露烹了，名曰『千紅一窟』。」寶玉聽了，點頭稱賞，因看房內，瑤琴、寶鼎、古畫、新詩，無所不有。更喜窗下亦有唾絨，奩間時漬粉污。壁上也掛著一副對聯，書云：「幽微靈秀地，無可奈何天。」寶玉看畢，因又請問眾仙姑姓名：一名癡夢仙姑，一名鍾情大士，一名引愁金女，一名度恨菩提，各各道號不一。

Bao-yu expressed his admiration. The company now seated themselves, and some little maids served them with tea. Bao-yu found its fragrance fresh and clean and its flavour delicious, totally unlike those of any earthly blend he knew. He asked Disenchantment for the name. ‘The leaves are picked in the Paradise of the Full-blown Flower on the Mountain of Spring Awakening,’ Disenchantment informed him. ‘It is infused in water collected from the dew that lies on fairy flowers and leaves. The name is “Maiden’s Tears”.’

Bao-yu nodded attentively and commended the tea. Looking around the room he noticed various musical instruments, antique bronzes, paintings by old masters, poems by new poets, and other hallmarks of gracious living. He was particularly delighted to observe some rouge-stained pieces of cotton-wool lying on the window-sill—evidently the aftermath of some fairy-woman’s toilet. A pair of calligraphic scrolls hung on the wall, making up the following couplet:

Earth’s choicest spirits in the dark lie hid: Heaven ineluctably enforced their fate.

After reading the scrolls, Bao-yu asked to be introduced to the fairy maidens. They had a strange assortment of names. One was called Dream-of-bliss, another was called Loving-heart, a third Ask-for-trouble, a fourth Past-regrets, and the rest all had names that were equally bizarre.

少刻，有小鬟來調桌安椅，擺設酒饌。正是：「瓊漿滿泛玻璃盞，玉液濃斟琥珀杯。」寶玉因此酒香冽異常，又不禁相問。警幻道：「此酒乃以百花之蕊，萬木之汁，加以麟髓鳳乳釀成，因名為『萬艷同杯』。」寶玉稱賞不迭。

Presently the little maids came in again and proceeded to arrange some chairs around a table and to lay it with food and wine for a feast. In the words of the poet, Celestial nectar filled the crystal cup, and liquid gold in amber goblets glowed. The wine’s bouquet was delectable, and once again Bao-yu could not resist asking about it. ‘This wine,’ said Disenchantment, ‘is made from the petals of hundreds of different kinds of flowers and extracts from thousands of different sorts of trees. These are blended and fermented with kylin’s marrow and phoenix milk. Hence its name, “Lachrymae Rerum”’ Bao-yu praised it enthusiastically.

飲酒間，又有十二個舞女上來請問演何詞曲。警幻道：「就將新制紅樓夢十二支演上來。」舞女們答應了，便輕敲檀板，款按銀箏。聽他歌道是：「開闢鴻蒙，」方歌了一句，警幻道：「此曲不比塵世中所填傳奇之曲，必有生旦淨末之則，又有南北九宮之限。此或詠歎一人，或感懷一事，偶成一曲，即可譜入管弦，若非個中人，不知其中之妙。料爾亦未必深明此調，若不先閱其稿，後聽其歌，反成嚼蠟矣。」說畢，回頭命小鬟取了紅樓夢原稿來，遞與寶玉。寶玉接過來，一面目視其文，耳聆其歌曰：

紅樓夢引子

開闢鴻濛，誰為情種？都只為風月情濃，趁著這奈何天，傷懷日，寂寥時，試遣愚衷：因此上，演出這懷金悼玉的紅樓夢。

As they sat drinking wine, a troupe of twelve dancers entered and inquired what pieces they should perform for the company’s entertainment. ‘You can do the twelve songs of my new song-and-dance suite “A Dream of Golden Days”,’ said Disenchantment.

At once the sandalwood clappers began, very softly, to beat out a rhythm, accompanied by the sedate twang of the Zheng’s silver strings and by the voice of a singer.

‘When first the world from chaos rose…’

The singer had got no further than the first line of the first song when Disenchantment interrupted. ‘This suite,’ she told Bao-yu, ‘is not like the music-dramas of your earthly composers in which there are always the fixed parts of sheng, dan, jing, mo and so on, and set tunes in the various Northern and Southern modes. In my suite each song is an elegy on a single person or event and the tunes are original compositions which we have orchestrated ourselves. You need to know what the songs are about in order to appreciate them properly. I should not imagine you are very familiar with this sort of entertainment; so unless you read the libretto of the songs first before listening to them, I fear you may find them rather insipid.’

Turning to one of the maids, she ordered her to fetch the manuscript of her libretto of ‘A Dream of Golden Days’ and gave it to Bao-yu to read, so that he could listen to the songs with one eye on the text. These were the words in Disenchantment’s manuscript:  

Prelude: A Dream of Golden Days

When first the world from chaos rose, Tell me, how did love begin?

The wind and moonlight first did love compose. Now woebegone And quite cast down In low estate I would my foolish heart expose, And so perform This Dream of Golden Days,

And all my grief for my lost loves disclose.

終身誤

都道是金玉良緣，俺只念木石前盟。空對著山中高士晶瑩雪，終不忘世外仙姝寂寞林。歎人間，美中不足今方信：縱然是齊眉舉案，到底意難平！

First Song: The Mistaken Marriage

Let others all Commend the marriage rites of gold and jade; I still recall The bond of old by stone and flower made; And while my vacant eyes behold Crystalline snows of beauty pure and cold, From my mind can not be banished That fairy wood forlorn that from the world has vanished. How true I find That every good some imperfection bolds! Even a wife so courteous and so kind No comfort’ brings to my afflicted mind.

枉凝眉

一個是閬苑仙葩，一個是美玉無瑕。若說沒奇緣，今生偏又遇著他；若說有奇緣，如何心事終虛化？一個枉自嗟呀，一個空勞牽掛。一個是水中月，一個是鏡中花。想眼中能有多少淚珠兒，怎禁得秋流到冬盡，春流到夏？

卻說寶玉聽了此曲，散漫無稽，未見得好處，但其聲韻悽惋，竟能銷魂醉魄。因此也不問其原委，也不究其來歷，就暫以此釋悶而已。因又看下面道：

Second Song: Hope Betrayed

One was a flower from paradise, One a pure jade without spot or stain.

If each for the other one was not intended, Then why in this life did they meet again? And yet if fate bad meant them for each other, Why was their earthly meeting all in vain? In vain were all her sighs and tears, In vain were all his anxious fears: All, insubstantial, doomed to pass, As moonlight mirrored in the water Or flowers reflected in a glass. Row many tears from those poor eyes could flow, Which every season rained upon her woe?

恨無常

喜榮華正好，恨無常又到。眼睜睜，把萬事全拋。蕩悠悠，芳魂銷耗。望家鄉，路遠山高，故向爹娘夢裡相尋告：兒命已入黃泉，天倫呵，須要退步抽身早！

Third Song: Mutability,

In the full flower of her prosperity Once more came mortal mutability, Bidding her, with both eyes wide, All earthly things to cast aside, And her sweet soul upon the airs to glide. So far the road back home did seem That to her parents in a dream Thus she her final duty paid: ‘I that now am but a shade, Parents dear, For your happiness I fear: Do not tempt the hand of fate! Draw back, draw back, before it is too late!’

分骨肉

一帆風雨路三千，把骨肉家園齊來拋閃。恐哭損殘年，告爹娘，休把兒懸念：自古窮通皆有定，離合豈無緣？從今分兩地，各自保平安。奴去也，莫牽連！

Fourth Song: From Dear Ones Parted

Sail, boat, a thousand miles through rain and wind, Leaving my home and dear ones far behind. I fear that my remaining years will waste away in homesick tears. Father dear and mother mild, Be not troubled for your child! From of old our rising, falling Was ordained; so now this parting. Each in another land must be; Each for himself must fend as best he may; Now I am gone, oh. do not weep for me!

樂中悲

襁褓中，父母歎雙亡。縱居那綺羅叢，誰知嬌養？幸生來英豪闊大寬宏量，從未將兒女私情，略縈心上，好一似霽月光風耀玉堂。廝配得才貌仙郎，博得個地久天長，準折得幼年時坎坷形狀。終久是雲散高唐，水涸湘江：這是塵寰中消長數應當，何必枉悲傷？

Fifth Song: Grief Amidst Gladness  

While you still in cradle lay, Both your parents passed away Though born to silken luxury, No warmth or kind indulgence came your way. Yet yours was a generous, open-hearted nature, And never could be snared or soured By childish piques and envious passions—You were a crystal house by wind and moonlight scoured. Matched to a perfect, gentle husband, Security of bliss at last it seemed, And all your childish miseries redeemed. But soon alas! the clouds of Gao-tang faded, The waters of the Xiang ran dry. In our grey world so are things always ordered: What then avails it to lament and sigh?

世難容

氣質美如蘭，才華馥比仙，天生成孤癖人皆罕。你道是啖肉食腥膻，視綺羅俗厭；卻不知太高人愈妒，過潔世同嫌。可歎這青燈古殿人將老，孤負了紅粉朱樓春色闌！到頭來，依舊是風塵骯髒違心願，好一似無瑕白玉遭泥陷。又何須王孫公子歎無緣？

Sixth Song: All at Odds

Heaven made you like a flower, With grace and wit to match the gods, Adding a strange, contrary nature That set you with the test at odds. Nauseous to you the world’s rank diet, Vulgar its fashion’s gaudy dress: But the world envies the superior And hates a too precious daintiness. Sad it seemed that your life should in dim-lit shrines be wasted, All the sweets of spring untasted: Yet, at the last, Down into mud and shame your hopes were cast, Like a white, flawless jade dropped in the muck, Where only wealthy rakes might bless their luck.

喜冤家

中山狼，無情獸，全不念當日根由，一味的驕奢淫蕩貪歡媾。覷著那侯門豔質同蒲柳，作踐的公府千金似下流。歎芳魂豔魄，一載蕩悠悠！

Seventh Song: Husband and Enemy

Zhong-shan wolf, Inhuman sot, Who for past kindnesses cared not a jot! Bully and spendthrift, reckless in debauch, For riot or for whoring always hot! A delicate young wife of gentle stock To you was no more than a lifeless block, And bore, when you would rant and rave, Treatment fat worse than any slave; So that her delicate, sweet soul In just a twelvemonth from its body stole.

虛花悟

將那三春看破，桃紅柳綠待如何？把這韶華打滅，覓那清淡天和。說什麼天上夭桃盛，雲中杏蕊多？到頭來，誰見把秋捱過？則看那白楊村裡人嗚咽，青楓林下鬼吟哦，更兼著連天衰草遮墳墓。這的是昨貧今富人勞碌，春榮秋謝花折磨。似這般生關死劫誰能躲？聞說道西方寶樹喚婆娑，上結著長生果。

Eighth Song: The Vanity of Spring

When triple spring as vanity was seen, What use the blushing flowers, the willows green? From youth’s extravagance you sought release To win chaste quietness and heavenly peace. The hymeneal peach-blooms in the sky, The flowering almond’s blossoms seen on high Dismiss, since none, for sure, Can autumn’s blighting frost endure. Amidst sad aspens mourners sob and sigh, In maple woods the poor ghosts thinly cry, And under the dead grasslands lost graves lie. Now poor, now rich, men’s lives in toil are passed To be, like summer’s pride, cut down at last. The doors of life and death all must go through. Yet this I know is true: In Paradise there grows a precious tree Which bears the fruit of immortality.

聰明累

機關算盡太聰明，反算了卿卿性命！生前心已碎，死後性空靈。家富人寧，終有個家亡人散各奔騰。枉費了意懸懸半世心，好一似蕩悠悠三更夢。忽喇喇，似大廈傾，昏慘慘，似燈將盡。呀！一場歡喜忽悲辛，歎人世，終難定！

Ninth Song: Caught By Her Own Cunning

Too shrewd by half, with such finesse you wrought That your own life in your own toils was caught; But long before you died your heart was slain, And when you died your spirit walked in vain. Fall’n the great house once so secure in wealth, Each scattered member shifting for himself; And half a life-time’s anxious schemes Proved no more than the stuff of dreams. Like a great building’s tottering crash, Like flickering lampwick burned to ash, Your scene of happiness concludes in grief: For worldly bliss is always insecure and brief.

留餘慶

留餘慶，留餘慶，忽遇恩人。幸娘親，幸娘親，積得陰功。勸人生：濟困扶窮，休似俺那愛銀錢忘骨肉的狠舅奸兄！正是乘除加減，上有蒼穹。

Tenth Song: The Survivor

Some good remained, Some good remained: The daughter found a friend in need Through her mother’s one good deed. So let all men the poor and meek sustain, And from the example of her cruel kin refrain, Who kinship scorned and only thought of gain. For far above the constellations One watches all and makes just calculations.

晚韶華

鏡裡恩情，更那堪夢裡功名！那美韶華去之何迅？再休提繡帳鴛衾，只這戴珠冠，披鳳襖，也抵不了無常性命！雖說是人生莫受老來貧，也須要陰騭積兒孫。氣昂昂頭戴簪纓，光燦燦胸懸金印，威赫赫爵祿高登，昏慘慘黃泉路近。問古來將相可還存？也只是虛名兒與後人欽敬。

Eleventh Song: Splendour Come Late

Favour, a shadow in the glass; Fame, a dream that soon would pass: The blissful flowering-time of youth soon fled, Soon, too, the pleasures of the bridal bed. A pearl-encrusted crown and robes of state Could not for death untimely compensate; And though each man desires Old age from want made free, True blessedness requires A clutch of young heirs at the knee. Proudly upright

The head with cap and hands of office on, And gleaming bright Upon his breast the gold insignia shone. An awesome sight To see him so exalted stand! – Yet the black night Of death’s dark frontier lay close at hand. All those whom history calls great Left only empty names for us to venerate.

好事終

畫梁春盡落香塵。擅風情，秉月貌，便是敗家的根本。箕裘頹墮皆從敬，家事消亡首罪寧，宿孽總因情！

Twelfth Song: The Good Things Have An End  

Perfumed was the dust that fell From painted beams where springtime ended. Her sportive heart And amorous looks The ruin of a mighty house portended. The weakness in the line began with Jing; The blame for the decline lay first in Ning; But retribution all was of Love’s fashioning.

飛鳥各投林

為官的，家業凋零；富貴的，金銀散盡；有恩的，死裡逃生；無情的，分明報應；欠命的，命已還；欠淚的，淚已盡：冤冤相報實非輕，分離聚合皆前定。欲知命短問前生，老來富貴也真徼倖。看破的，遁入空門；痴迷的，枉送了性命：好一似食盡鳥投林，落了片白茫茫大地真乾淨！

Epilogue: The Birds Into The Wood Have Flown

The office jack’s career is blighted, The rich man’s fortune now all vanished, The kind with life have been requited, The cruel exemplarily punished; The one who owed a life is dead, The tears one owed have all been shed. Wrongs suffered have the wrongs done expiated; The couplings and the sundering were fated. Untimely death sin in some past life shows, But only luck a blest old age bestows. The disillusioned to their convents fly, The still deluded miserably die. Like birds who, having fed, to the woods repair, They leave the landscape desolate and bare.

歌畢，還要歌副曲。警幻見寶玉甚無趣味，因歎：「癡兒竟尚未悟！」那寶玉忙止歌姬，不必再唱，自覺朦朧恍惚，告醉求臥。警幻便命撤去殘席，送寶玉至一香閨繡閣中。其間鋪陳之盛乃素所未見之物。更可駭者，早有一位仙姬在內，其鮮豔嫵媚，大似寶釵，嬝娜風流，又如黛玉。正不知是何意，忽見警幻說道：「塵世中多少富貴之家，那些綠窗風月，繡閣煙霞，皆被那些淫污紈袴與流蕩女子玷辱了。更可恨者，自古來，多少輕薄浪子皆以好色不淫為飾，又以情而不淫作案，此皆飾非掩醜之語耳。好色即淫，知情更淫。是以巫山之會、雲雨之歡，皆由既悅其色、復戀其情所致。吾所愛汝者，乃天下古今第一淫人也。」

Having reached the end of this suite, the singers showed signs of embarking on another one. Disenchantment observed with a sigh that Bao-yu was dreadfully bored. ‘Silly boy! You still don’t understand, do you?, Bao-yu hurriedly stopped the girls and told them that they need not sing any more. He felt dizzy and his head was spinning. He explained to Disenchantment that he had drunk too much and would like to lie down. At once she ordered the remains of the feast to be removed and conducted Bao-yu to a dainty bedroom. The furnishings and hangings of the bed were more sumptuous and eautiful than anything he had ever seen. To his intense surprise there was a fairy girl sitting in the middle of it. Her rose-fresh beauty reminded him strongly of Bao-chai, but there was also something about her of Dai-yu’s delicate charm. As he was pondering the meaning of this apparition, he suddenly became aware that Disenchantment was addressing him.

‘In the rich and noble households of your mortal world, too many of those bowers and boudoirs where innocent tenderness and sweet girlish fantasy should reign are injuriously defiled by coarse young voluptuaries and loose, wanton girls. And what is even more detestable, there are lways any number of worthless philanderers to protest that it is woman’s beauty alone that inspires them, or loving feelings alone, unsullied by any taint of lust. They lie in their teeth! To be moved by woman’s beauty is itself a kind of lust. To experience loving feelings is, even more assuredly, a kind of lust. Every act of love, every carnal congress of the sexes is brought about precisely because sensual delight in beauty has kindled the feeling of love.

‘The reason I like you so much is because you are full of lust. You are the most lustful person I have ever known in the whole world!’

寶玉聽了，嚇的慌忙答道：「仙姑差了。我因懶於讀書，家父母尚每垂訓飭，豈敢再冒『淫』字？況且年紀尚幼，不知『淫』為何事。」警幻道：「非也。淫雖一理，意則有別。如世之好淫者，不過悅容貌，喜歌舞，調笑無厭，雲雨無時，恨不能盡天下之美女供我片時之趣興，此皆皮膚濫淫之蠢物耳。如爾，則天分中生成一段癡情，吾輩推之為意淫。惟『意淫』二字可心會而不可口傳，可神通而不可語達。汝今獨得此二字，在閨閣中雖可為良友，卻於世道中未免迂闊怪詭，百口嘲謗，萬目睚眥。今既遇爾祖寧榮二公，剖腹深囑，吾不忍子獨為我閨閣增光，而見棄於世道，故引子前來，醉以美酒，沁以仙茗，警以妙曲，再將吾妹一人－－乳名兼美，表字可卿者－－許配與汝。今夕良時，即可成姻。不過令汝領略此仙閨幻境之風光尚然如此，何況塵世之情景呢？從今後，萬萬解釋，改悟前情，留意於孔孟之間，委身於經濟之道。」說畢，便秘授以「雲雨」之事，推寶玉入房中，將門掩上自去。

Bao-yu was scared by the vehemence of her words. ‘Madam Fairy, you are wrong! Because I am lazy over my lessons, Mother and Father still have to scold me quite often; but surely that doesn’t make me lustful? I’m still too young to know what they do, the people they use that word about.’ ‘Ah, but you are lustful!’ said Disenchantment. ‘In principle, of course, all lust is the same. But the word has many different meanings.

For example, the typically lustful man in the common sense of the word is a man who likes a pretty face, who is fond of singing and dancing, who is inordinately given to flirtation; one who makes love in season and out of season, and who, if he could, would like to have every pretty girl in the world at his disposal, to gratify his desires whenever he felt like it. Such a person is a mere brute. His is a shallow, promiscuous kind of lust. ‘But your kind of lust is different. That blind, defenceless love with which nature has filled your being is what we call here “lust of the mind”. “Lust of the mind” cannot be explained in words, nor, if it could, would you be able to grasp their meaning. Either you know what it means or you don’t.

‘Because of this “lust of the mind” women will find you a kind and understanding friend; but in the eyes of the world I am afraid it is going to make you seem unpractical and eccentric. It is going to earn you the jeers of many and the angry looks of many more.

‘Today I received a most touching request on your behalf from your ancestors the Duke of Ning-guo and the Duke of Rong-guo. And as I cannot bear the idea of your being rejected by the world for the greater glory of us women, I have brought you here. I have made you drunk with fairy wine. I have drenched you with fairy tea. I have admonished you with fairy songs. And now I am going to give you my little sister Two-in-one—”Ke-qing” to her friends—to be your bride.

‘The time is propitious. You may consummate the marriage this very night. My motive in arranging this is to help you grasp the fact that, ‘since even in these immortal precincts love is an illusion, the love of your dust-stained, mortal world must be doubly an illusion. It is my earnest hope that, knowing this, you will henceforth be able to shake yourself free of its entanglements and change your previous way of thinking, devoting your mind seriously to the teachings of Confucius and Mencius and your person wholeheartedly to the betterment of society.’

Disenchantment then proceeded to give him secret instructions in the art of love; then, pushing him gently inside the room, she closed the door after him and went away.

那寶玉恍恍惚惚，依著警幻所囑，未免有兒女之事，難以盡述。至次日，便柔情繾綣，軟語溫存，與可卿難解難分。因二人攜手出去遊玩之時，忽至一個所在，但見荊榛遍地，狼虎同群，迎面一道黑溪阻路，並無橋梁可通。正在猶豫之間，忽見警幻從後追來，說道：「快休前進！作速回頭要緊！」寶玉忙止步問道：「此係何處？」警幻道：「此乃迷津，深有萬丈，遙亙千里，中無舟楫可通，只有一個木筏，乃木居士掌柁，灰侍者撐篙，不受金銀之謝，但遇有緣者渡之。爾今偶遊至此，設如墜落其中，便深負我從前諄諄警戒之語了。」話猶未了，只聽迷津內響如雷聲，有許多夜叉海鬼，將寶玉拖將下去。嚇得寶玉汗下如雨，一面失聲喊叫：「可卿救我！」嚇得襲人輩眾丫鬟忙上來摟住，叫：「寶玉，不怕，我們在這裡呢。」

Dazed and confused, Bao-yu nevertheless proceeded to follow out the instructions that Disenchantment had given him, which led him by predictable stages to that act which boys and girls perform together and which it is not my intention to give a full account of here. Next morning he lay for a long time locked in blissful tenderness with Ke-qing, murmuring sweet endearments in her ear and unable to tear himself away from her. Eventually they emerged from the bedroom hand in hand to walk together out-of-doors.

Their walk seemed to take them quite suddenly to a place where only thorn-trees grew and wolves and tigers prowled around in pairs. Ahead of them the road ended at the edge of a dark ravine. No bridge connected it with the other side. As they hesitated, wondering what to do, they suddenly became aware that Disenchantment was running up behind them. ‘Stop! Stop!’ she was shouting. ‘Turn back at once! Turn back!’ Bao-yu stood still in alarm and asked her what place this was.

‘This is the Ford of Error,’ said Disenchantment. ‘It is ten thousand fathoms deep and extends hundreds of miles in either direction. No boat can ever cross it; only a raft manned by a lay-brother called Numb and an acolyte called Dumb. Numb holds the steering-paddle and Dumb wields the pole. They won’t ferry anyone across for money, but only take those who are fated to cross over.

‘If you had gone on walking just now and had fallen in, all the good advice I was at such pains to give you would have been wasted!’ Even as she spoke there was a rumbling like thunder from inside the abyss and a multitude of demons and water monsters reached up and clutched at Bao-yu to drag him down into its depths. In his terror the sweat broke out over his body like rain and a great cry burst from his lips, ‘Ke-qing! Save me!’

Aroma and his other maids rushed upstairs in alarm and clung to him. Don’t be frightened, Bao-yu! We are here!’

卻說秦氏正在房外囑咐小丫頭們好生看著貓兒狗兒打架，忽聞寶玉在夢中喚他的小名兒，因納悶道：「我的小名兒，這裡從無人知道，他如何得知，在夢中叫出來？」

But Qin-shi, who was out in the courtyard telling the maids to be sure that the cats and dogs didn’t fight, marvelled to hear him call her name out in his sleep. ‘“Ke-qing” was the name they called me back at home when I was a little girl. Nobody here knows it. I wonder how he could have found it out?’

未知何因，下回分解。

If you have not yet fathomed the answer to her question, you must read the next chapter.

黃帝問曰：余聞天為陽，地為陰，日為陽，月為陰，大小月三百六十日成一歲，人亦應之。今三陰三陽，不應陰陽，其故何也。歧伯對曰：陰陽者，數之可十，推之可百，數之可千，推之可萬，萬之大不可勝數，然其要一也。天覆地載，萬物方生，未出地者，命曰陰處，名曰陰中之陰；則出地者，命曰陰中之陽。陽予之正，陰為之主。故生因春，長因夏，收因秋，藏因冬，失常則天地四塞。陰陽之變，其在人者，亦數之可數。

黄帝问道：我听说天属阳，地属阴，日属阳，月属阴，大月和小月合起来三百六十天而成为一年，人体也与此相应。如今听说人体的三阴三阳，和天地阴阳之数不相符合，这是什麽道理？

歧伯回答说：天地阴阳的范围，及其广泛，在具体运用时，经过进一步推演，则可以由十到百，由百到千，由千到万，再演绎下去，甚至是数不尽的，然而其总的原则仍不外乎对立统一的阴阳道理。天地之间，万物初生，未长出地面的时候，叫做居于阴处，称之为阴中之阴；若已长出地面的，就叫做阴中之阳。有阳气，万物才能生长，有阴气，万物才能成形。所以万物的发生，因于春气的温暖，万物的盛长，因于夏气的炎热，万物的收成，因于秋气的清凉，万物的闭藏，因于冬气的寒冷。如果四时阴阳失序，气候无常，天地间的生长收藏的变化就要失去正常。这种阴阳变化的道理，在人来说，也是有一定的规律，并且可以推测而知的。

帝曰：願聞三陰三陽之離合也。歧伯曰：聖人南面而立，前曰廣明，後曰太衝，太衝之地，名曰少陰，少陰之上，名曰太陽，太陽根起於至陰，結於命門，名曰陰中之陽。中身而上，名曰廣明，廣明之下，名曰太陰，太陰之前，名曰陽明，陽明根起於厲兌，名曰陰中之陽。厥陰之表，名曰少陽，少陽根起於竅陰，名曰陰中之少陽。是故三陽之離合也，太陽為開，陽明為闔，少陽為樞。三經者，不得相失也，搏而勿浮，命曰一陽。

黄帝说：我愿意听你讲讲三阴三阳的离合情况。

歧伯说：圣人面向南方站立，前方名叫广明，后方名叫太冲，行于太冲部位的经脉，叫做少阴。在少阴经上面的经脉，名叫太阳，太阳经的下端起于足小趾外侧的至阴穴，其上端结于情明穴，因太阳为少阴之表，故称为阴中之阳。再以人身上下而言，上半身属于阳，称为广明，广明之下称为太阴，太阴前面的经脉，名叫阳明，阳明经的下端起于族大指侧次指之端的历兑穴，因阴阳是太阴之表，故称为阴中之阳。厥阴为里，少阳为表，故厥阴精之表，为少阳经，少阳经下端起于窍阴穴，因少阳居厥阴之表，故称为阴中之少阳。因此，三阳经的离合，分开来说，太阳主表为开，阴明主里为阖，少阳介于表里之间为枢。但三者之间，不是各自为政，而是相互紧密联系着的，所以合起来称为一阳。

帝曰：願聞三陰。歧伯曰：外者為陽，內者為陰，然則中為陰，其衝在下，名曰太陰，太陰根起於隱白，名曰陰中之陰。太陰之後，名曰少陰，少陰根起於涌泉，名曰陰中之少陰。少陰之前，名曰厥陰，厥陰根起於大敦，陰之絕陽，名曰陰之絕陰。是故三陰之離合也，太陰為開，厥陰為闔，少陰為樞。三經者，不得相失也。搏而勿沈，名曰一陰。陰陽𩅞𩅞，積傳為一周，氣裏形表而為相成也。

黄帝说：愿意再听你讲讲三阴的离合情况。

歧伯说：在外的为阳，在内的为阴，所以在里的经脉称为阴经，行于少阴前面的称为太阴，太阴经的根起于足大指之端的隐白穴，称为阴中之阴。太阴的后面，称为少阴，少阴经的根起于足心的涌泉穴，称为阴中之少阴。少阴的前面，称为厥阴，厥隐经的根起于足大指之端的大敦穴，由于两阴相合而无阳，厥阴又位于最里，所以称之为阴之绝阴。因此，三阴经之离合，分开来说，太阴为三阴之表为开，厥阴为主阴之里为阖，少阴位于太、厥表里之间为枢。但三者之间，不能各自为政，而是相互协调紧密联系着的，所以合起来称为一阴。

阴阳之气，运行不息，递相传注于全身，气运于里，形立于表，这就是阴阳离合、表里相成的缘故。

黃帝曰：陰陽者，天地之道也，萬物之綱紀，變化之父母，生殺之本始，神明之府也，治病必求於本。故積陽為天，積陰為地。陰靜陽躁，陽生陰長，陽殺陰藏。陽化氣，陰成形。寒極生熱，熱極生寒。寒氣生濁，熱氣生清。清氣在下，則生飱泄，濁氣在上，則生䐜脹。此陰陽反作，病之逆從也。

黄帝道：阴阳是宇宙间的一般规律，是一切事物的纲纪，万物变化的起源，生长毁灭的根本，有很大道理在乎其中。凡医治疾病，必须求得病情变化的根本，而道理也不外乎阴阳二字。拿自然界变化来比喻，清阳之气聚于上，而成为天，浊阴之气积于下，而成为地。阴是比较静止的，阳是比较躁动的；阳主生成，阴主成长；阳主肃杀，阴主收藏。阳能化生力量，阴能构成形体。寒到极点会生热，热到极点会生寒；寒气能产生浊阴，热气能产生清阳；清阳之气居下而不升，就会发生泄泻之病。浊阴之气居上而不降，就会发生胀满之病。这就是阴阳的正常和反常变化，因此疾病也就有逆证和顺证的分别。

故清陽為天，濁陰為地；地氣上為雲，天氣下為雨；雨出地氣，雲出天氣。故清陽出上竅，濁陰出下竅；清陽發腠理，濁陰走五藏；清陽實四支，濁陰歸六府。

所以大自然的清阳之气上升为天，浊阴之气下降为地。地气蒸发上升为云，天气凝聚下降为雨；雨是地气上升之云转变而成的，云是由天气蒸发水气而成的。人体的变化也是这样，清阳之气出于上窍，浊阴之气出于下窍；清阳发泄于腠理，浊阴内注于五脏；清阳充实与四肢，浊阴内走于六腑。

水為陰，火為陽，陽為氣，陰為味。味歸形，形歸氣，氣歸精，精歸化，精食氣，形食味，化生精，氣生形。味傷形，氣傷精，精化為氣，氣傷於味。

水分为阴阳，则水属阴，火属阳。人体的功能属阳，饮食物属阴。饮食物可以滋养形体，而形体的生成又须赖气化的功能，功能是由精所产生的，就是精可以化生功能。而精又是由气化而产生的，所以形体的滋养全靠饮食物，饮食物经过生化作用而产生精，再经过气化作用滋养形体。如果饮食不节，反能损伤形体，机能活动太过，亦可以使经气耗伤，精可以产生功能，但功能也可以因为饮食不节而受损伤。

陰味出下竅，陽氣出上竅。味厚者為陰，薄為陰之陽。氣厚者為陽，薄為陽之陰。味厚則泄，薄則通。氣薄則發泄，厚則發熱。壯火之氣衰，少火之氣壯。壯火食氣，氣食少火。壯火散氣，少火生氣。氣味，辛甘發散為陽，酸苦涌泄為陰。

味属于阴，所以趋向下窍，气属于阳，所以趋向上窍。味厚的属纯阴，味薄的属于阴中之阳；气厚的属纯阳，气薄的属于阳中之阴。味厚的有泄下的作用，味薄的有疏通的作用；气薄的能向外发泄，气厚的能助阳生热。阳气太过，能使元气衰弱，阳气正常，能使元气旺盛，因为过度亢奋的阳气，会损害元气，而元气却依赖正常的阳气，所以过度抗盛的阳气，能耗散元气，正常的阳气，能增强元气。凡气味辛甘而有发散功用的，属于阳，气味酸苦而有通泄功用的，属于阴。

陰勝則陽病，陽勝則陰病。陽勝則熱，陰勝則寒。重寒則熱，重熱則寒。寒傷形，熱傷氣。氣傷痛，形傷腫。故先痛而後腫者，氣傷形也；先腫而後痛者，形傷氣也。風勝則動，熱勝則腫，燥勝則乾，寒勝則浮，濕勝則濡寫。

人体的阴阳是相对平衡的，如果阴气发生偏生，则阳气受损而为病阳气发生了偏生，则阴气耗损而为病。阳气发生了偏生，则阴气耗损而为病。阳偏生则表现为热性病症，阴偏生则表现为寒性病症。寒到极点，会表现热象。寒能伤形体，热能伤气分；气分受伤，可以产生疼痛形体受伤，形体可以发生肿胀。所以先痛而后肿的，是气分先伤而后及于形体；先肿而后痛的，是形体先病后及于气分。风邪太过，则能发生痉挛动摇；热邪太过，则能发生红肿；燥气太过，则能发生干枯；寒气太过，则能发生浮肿；湿气太过，则能发生濡泻。

天有四時五行，以生長收藏，以生寒暑燥濕風。人有五藏，化五氣，以生喜怒悲憂恐。故喜怒傷氣，寒暑傷形。暴怒傷陰，暴喜傷陽。厥氣上行，滿脈去形。喜怒不節，寒暑過度，生乃不固。故重陰必陽，重陽必陰。故曰：冬傷於寒，春必溫病；春傷於風，夏生飱泄；夏傷於暑，秋必痎瘧；秋傷於濕，徘生欬嗽。

大自然的变化，有春、夏、秋、冬四时的交替，有木、火、土、金、水五行的变化，因此，产生了寒、暑、燥、湿、风的气候，它影响了自然界的万物，形成了生、长、化、收藏的规律。人有肝、心、脾、肺、肾五脏，五脏之气化生五志，产生了喜、怒、悲、忧、恐五种不同的情志活动。喜怒等情志变化，可以伤气，寒暑外侵，可以伤形。突然大怒，会损伤阴气，突然大喜，会损伤阳气。气逆上行，充满经脉，则神气浮越，离去形体了。所以喜怒不加以节制，寒暑不善于调适，生命就不能牢固。阴极可以转化为阳，阳极可以转化为阴。所以冬季受了寒气的伤害，春天就容易发生温病；春天受了风气的伤害夏季就容易发生飧泄；夏季受了暑气的伤害，秋天就容易发生疟疾；秋季受了湿气的伤害，冬天就容易发生咳嗽。

帝曰：余聞上古聖人，論理人形，列別藏府，端絡經脈，會通六合，各從其經，氣穴所發各有處名，谿谷屬骨皆有所起，分部逆從，各有條理，四時陰陽，盡有經紀，外內之應，皆有表裏，其信然乎。歧伯對曰：東方生風，風生木，木生酸，酸生肝，肝生筋，筋生心，肝主目。其在天為玄，在人為道，在地為化。化生五味，道生智，玄生神，神在天為風，在地為木，在體為筋，在藏為肝，在色為蒼，在音為角，在聲為呼，在變動為握，在竅為目，在味為酸，在志為怒。怒傷肝，悲勝怒；風傷筋，燥勝風；酸傷筋，辛勝酸。南方生熱，熱生火，火生苦，苦生心，心生血，血生脾，心主舌。其在天為熱，在地為火，在體為脈，在藏為心，在色為赤，在音為徵，在聲為笑，在變動為憂，在竅為舌，在味為苦，在志為喜。喜傷心，恐勝喜；熱傷氣，寒勝熱，苦傷氣，鹹勝苦。中央生濕，濕生土，土生甘，甘生脾，脾生肉，肉生肺，脾主口。其在天為濕，在地為土，在體為肉，在藏為脾，在色為黃，在音為宮，在聲為歌，在變動為噦，在竅為口，在味為甘，在志為思。思傷脾，怒勝思；濕傷肉，風勝濕；甘傷肉，酸勝甘。西方生燥，燥生金，金生辛，辛生肺，肺生皮毛，皮毛生腎，肺主鼻。其在天為燥，在地為金，在體為皮毛，在藏為肺，在色為白，在音為商，在聲為哭，在變動為欬，在竅為鼻，在味為辛，在志為憂。憂傷肺，喜勝憂；熱傷皮毛，寒勝熱；辛傷皮毛，苦勝辛。北方生寒，寒生水，水生鹹，鹹生腎，腎生骨髓，髓生肝，腎主耳。其在天為寒，在地為水，在體為骨，在藏為腎，在色為黑，在音為羽，在聲為呻，在變動為慄，在竅為耳，在味為鹹，在志為恐。恐傷腎，思勝恐；寒傷血，燥勝寒；鹹傷血，甘勝鹹。故曰：天地者，萬物之上下也；陰陽者，血氣之男女也；左右者，陰陽之道路也；水火者，陰陽之徵兆也；陰陽者，萬物之能始也。故曰：陰在內，陽之守也；陽在外；陰之使也。

黄帝问道：我听说上古时代的圣人，讲求人体的形态，分辨内在的脏腑，了解经脉的分布，交会、贯通有六合，各依其经之许循行路线；气穴之处，各有名称；肌肉空隙以及关节，各有其起点；分属部位的或逆或顺，各有条理；与天之四时阴阳，都有经纬纪纲；外面的环境与人体内部相关联，都有表有里。这些说法都正确吗？

歧伯回答说：东方应春，阳生而日暖风和，草木生发，木气能生酸味，酸味能滋养肝气，肝气又能滋养于筋，筋膜柔和则又能生养于心，肝气关联于目。它在自然界是深远微妙而无穷的，在人能够知道自然界变化的道理，在地为生化万物。大地有生化，所以能产生一切生物；人能知道自然界变化的道理，就能产生一切智慧；宇宙间的深远微妙，是变化莫测的。变化在天空中为风气，在地面上为木气，在人体为筋，在五脏为肝，在五色为苍，在五音为角，在五声为呼，在病变的表现为握，在七窍为目，在五味为酸，在情志的变动为怒。怒气能伤肝，悲能够抑制怒；风气能伤筋，燥能够抑制风；过食酸味能伤筋，辛味能抑制酸味。

南方应夏，阳气盛而生热，热甚则生火，火气能产生苦味，苦味能滋长心气，心气能化生血气，血气充足，则又能生脾，心气关联于舌。它的变化在天为热气，在地为火气，在人体为血脉，在五脏为心，在五色为赤，在五音为徽，在五声为笑，在病变的表现为忧，在窍为舌，在五味为苦，在情志的变动为喜。喜能伤心，以恐惧抑制喜；热能伤气，以寒气抑制热；苦能伤气，咸味能抑制苦味。

中央应长夏，长夏生湿，湿与土气相应，土气能产生甘味，甘味能滋养脾气，脾气能滋养肌肉，肌肉丰满，则又能养肺，脾气关联于口。它的变化在天为湿气，在地为土气，在人体为肌肉，在五脏为脾，在五色为黄，在五音为宫，在五声为歌，在病变的表现为哕，在窍为口，在五味为甘，在情志的变动为思。思虑伤脾，以怒气抑制思虑；湿气能伤肌肉，以风气抑制湿气，甘味能伤肌肉，酸味能抑制甘味。

西方应秋，秋天天气急而生燥，燥与金气相应，金能产生辛味，辛味能滋养肺气，肺气能滋养皮毛，皮毛润泽则又能养肾，肺气关联于鼻。它的变化在天为燥气，在地为金气，在人体为皮毛，在五脏为肺，在五色为白，在五音为商，在五声为哭，在病变的表现为咳，在窍为鼻，在五味为辛，在情致的变动为忧。忧能伤肺，以喜抑制忧；热能伤皮毛，寒能抑制热；辛味能伤皮毛，苦味能抑制辛味。

北方应冬，冬天生寒，寒气与水气相应，水气能产生咸味，咸味能滋养肾气，肾气能滋长骨髓，骨髓充实，则又能养肝，肾气关联于耳。它的变化在天为寒气，在地为水气，在人体为骨髓，在五脏为肾，在五色为黑，在五音为羽，在五声为呻，在病变的表现为战栗，在窍为耳，在五味为咸，在情致的变动为恐。恐能伤肾，思能够抑制恐；寒能伤血，燥（湿）能够抑制寒；咸能伤血，甘味能抑制咸味。

所以说：天地是在万物的上下；阴阳如血气与男女之相对待；左右为阴阳运行不息的道路；水性寒，火性热，是阴阳的象征；阴阳的变化，是万物生长的原始能力。所以说：阴阳是互相为用的，阴在内，为阳之镇守；阳在外，为阴之役使。

帝曰：法陰陽柰何。歧伯曰：陽勝則身熱，腠理閉，喘麤為之俛仰，汗不出而熱，齒乾以煩冤腹滿，死，能冬不能夏。陰勝則身寒汗出，身常清，數慄而寒，寒則厥，厥則腹滿，死，能夏不能冬。此陰陽更勝之變，病之形能也。

黄帝道：阴阳的法则怎样运用于医学上呢？

歧伯回答说：如阳气太过，则身体发热，腠理紧闭，气粗喘促，呼吸困难，身体亦为之俯仰摆动，无汗发热，牙齿干燥，烦闷，如见腹部帐满，是死症，这是属于阳性之病，所以冬天尚能支持，夏天就不能耐受了。阴气盛则身发寒而汗多，或身体常觉冷而不时战栗发寒，甚至手足厥逆，如见手足厥逆而腹部胀满的，是死症，这是属于阴盛的病，所以夏天尚能支持，冬天就不能耐受了。这就是阴阳互相胜负变化所表现的病态。

帝曰：調此二者，柰何。歧伯曰：能知七損八益，則二者可調，不知用此，則早衰之節也。年四十，而陰氣自半也，起居衰矣。年五十，體重，耳目不聰明矣。年六十，陰痿，氣大衰，九竅不利，下虛上實，涕泣俱出矣。故曰：知之則強，不知則老，故同出而名異耳。智者察同，愚者察異，愚者不足，智者有餘，有餘則耳目聰明，身體輕強，老者復壯，壯者益治。是以聖人為無為之事，樂恬憺之能，從欲快志於虛无之守，故壽命无窮，與天地終，此聖人之治身也。

黄帝问道：调摄阴阳的办法怎样？

歧伯说：如果懂得了七损八益的养生之道，则人身的阴阳就可以调摄，如其不懂得这些道理，就会发生早衰现象。一般的人，年到四十，阴气已经自然的衰减一半了，其起居动作，亦渐渐衰退；到了五十岁，身体觉得沉重，耳目也不够聪明了；到了六十岁，阴气萎弱，肾气大衰，九窍不能通利，出现下虚上实的现象，会常常流着眼泪鼻涕。所以说：知道调摄的人身体就强健，不知到调摄的人身体就容易衰老；本来是同样的身体，结果却出现了强弱不同的两种情况。懂得养生之道的人，能够注意共有的健康本能；不懂得养生之道的人，只知道强弱异形。不善于调摄的人，常感不足，而重视调摄的人，就常能有余；有余则耳目聪明，身体轻强，即使已经年老，亦可以身体强壮，当然本来强壮的就更好了。所以圣人不作勉强的事情，不胡思乱想，有乐观愉快的旨趣，常使心旷神怡，保持着宁静的生活，所以能够寿命无穷，尽享天年。这是圣人保养身体的方法。

天不足西北，故西北方陰也，而人右耳目不如左明也。地不滿東南，故東南方陽也，而人左手足不如右強也。帝曰：何以然。歧伯曰：東方陽也，陽者其精并於上，并於上，則上明而下虛，故使耳目聰明，而手足不便也。西方陰也，陰者其精并於下，并於下，則下盛而上虛，故其耳目不聰明，而手足便也。故俱感於邪，其在上則右甚，在下則左甚，此天地陰陽所不能全也，故邪居之。故天有精，地有形，天有八紀，地有五里，故能為萬物之父母。清陽上天，濁陰歸地，是故天地之動靜，神明為之綱紀，故能以生長收藏，終而復始，惟賢人上配天以養頭，下象地以養足，中傍人事以養五藏。天氣通於肺，地氣通於嗌，風氣通於肝，雷氣通於心，谷氣通於脾，雨氣通於腎。六經為川，腸胃為海，九竅為水注之氣。以天地為之陰陽，陽之汗，以天地之雨名之；陽之氣，以天地之疾風名之。暴氣象雷，逆氣象陽。故治不法天之紀，不用地之理，則災害至矣。

天气是不足与西北方的，所以西北方属阴，而人的右耳也不及左边的聪明；地气是不足于东南方的，所以东南方属阳，而人的左手足也不及右边的强。

黄帝问道，这是什麽道理？

歧伯说：东方属阳，阳性向上，所以人体的精神集合于下部，集合于下部则夏部强盛而上部虚弱，所以耳目不聪明而手足便利。如虽左右同样感受了外邪，但在上部则身体的右侧较重，在下部则身体的左侧较重，这是天地阴阳之所不能全，而人身亦有阴阳左右之不同，所以邪气就能乘虚而居留了。

所以天有精气，地有形体；天有八节之纲纪，地有五方的道理，因此天地是万物生长的根本。无形的清阳上生于天，有形的浊阴下归于地，所以天地的运动与静止，是由阴阳的神妙变化为纲纪，而能始万物春生、夏长、秋收、冬藏，终而复始，循环不休。懂得这些道理的人，他把人体上部的头来比天，下部的足来比地，中部的五脏来比人事以调养身体。天的轻清通于肺，地的水谷之气通于嗌，风木之气通于肝，雷火之气通于心，溪谷之气通于脾，雨水之气通于肾。六经犹如河流，肠胃犹如大海，上下九窍以水津之气贯注。如以天地来比类人体的阴阳，则阳气发泄的汗，象天的下雨；人身的阳气，象天地疾风。人的暴怒之气，像天有雷霆；逆上之气，象阳热的火。所以调养身体而不取法于自然的道理，那麽疾病就要发生了。

故邪風之至，疾如風雨，故善治者治皮毛，其次治肌膚，其次治筋脈，其次治六府，其次治五藏。治五藏者，半死半生也。故天之邪氣，感則害人五藏；水穀之寒熱，感則害於六府；地之濕氣，感則害皮肉筋脈。故善用鍼者，從陰引陽，從陽引陰，以右治左，以左治右，以我知彼，以表知裏，以觀過與不及之理，見微得過，用之不殆。善診者，察色按脈，先別陰陽；審清濁，而知部分；視喘息，聽音聲，而知所苦；觀權衡規矩，而知病所主。按尺寸，觀浮沈滑濇，而知病所生；以治無過，以診則不失矣。故曰：病之始起也，可刺而已；其盛，可待衰而已。故因其輕而揚之，因其重而減之，因其衰而彰之。形不足者，溫之以氣，精不足者，補之以味。其高者，因而越之；其下者，引而竭之；中滿者，寫之於內；其有邪者，漬形以為汗；其在皮者，汗而發之；其慓悍者，按而收之；其實者，散而寫之。審其陰陽，以別柔剛，陽病治陰，陰病治陽，定其血氣，各守其鄉，血實宜決之，氣虛宜𤙲引之。

所以外感致病因素伤害人体，急如疾风暴雨。善于治病的医生，于邪在皮毛的时候，就给予治疗；技术较差的，至邪在肌肤才治疗；又更差的，至邪在五脏才治疗。假如病邪传入到五脏，就非常严重，这时治疗的效果，只有半死半生了。

所以自然界中的邪气，侵袭了人体就能伤害五脏；饮食之或寒或热，就会损害人的六腑；地之湿气，感受了就能损害皮肉筋脉。

所以善于运针法的，病在阳，从阴以诱导之，病在阴，从阳以诱导之；取右边以治疗左边的病，取左边以治疗右边的病，以自己的正常状态来比较病人的异常状态，以在表的症状，了解里面的病变；并且判断太过或不及，就能在疾病初起的时候，便知道病邪之所在，此时进行治疗，不致使病情发展到危险的地步了。所以善于诊治的医生，通过诊察病人的色泽和脉搏，先辨别病症的属阴属阳；审察五色的浮泽或重浊，而知道病的部位；观察呼吸，听病人发出的声音，可以得知所患的病苦；诊察四时色脉的正常是否，来分析为何脏何腑的病，诊察寸口的脉，从它的浮、沉、滑、涩，来了解疾病所产生之原因。这样在诊断上就不会有差错，治疗也没有过失了。

所以说：病在初起的时候，可用刺法而愈；及其病势正盛，必须待其稍微衰退，然后刺之而愈。所以病轻的，使用发散轻扬之法治之；病重的，使用消减之法治之；其气血衰弱的，应用补益之法治之。形体虚弱的，当以温补其气；精气不足的，当补之以厚味。如病在上的，可用吐法；病在下的，可用疏导之法；病在中为胀满的，可用泻下之法；其邪在外表，可用汤药浸渍以使出汗；邪在皮肤，可用发汗，使其外泄；病势急暴的，可用按得其状，以制伏之；实症，则用散法或泻法。观察病的在阴在阳，以辨别其刚柔，阳病应当治阴，阴病应当治阳；确定病邪在气在血，更防其血病再伤及气，气病再伤及血，所以血适宜用泻血法，气虚宜用导引法。

黃帝問曰：天有八風，經有五風，何謂。歧伯對曰：八風發邪，以為經風，觸五藏，邪氣發病。所謂得四時之勝者，春勝長夏，長夏勝冬，冬勝夏，夏勝秋，秋勝春，所謂四時之勝也。東風生於春，病在肝，俞在頸項；南風生於夏，病在心，俞在胸脇；西風生於秋，病在肺，俞在肩背；北風生於冬，病在腎，俞在腰股；中央為土，病在脾；俞在脊。故春氣者病在頭，夏氣者病在藏，秋氣者病在肩背，冬氣者病在四支。

黄帝问道：自然界有八风，人的经脉病变又有五风的说法，这是怎麽回事呢？

歧伯答说：自然界的八风是外部的致病邪气，他侵犯经脉，产生经脉的风病，风邪还会继续经脉而侵害五脏，使五脏发生病变。一年的四个季节，有相克的关系，如春胜长夏，长夏胜冬，冬胜夏，夏胜秋，冬胜春，某个季节出现了克制它的季节气候，这就是所谓四时相胜。

东风生于春季，病多发生在肝，肝的经气输注于颈项。南风生于夏季，病多发生于心，心的经气输注于胸胁。西风生于秋季，病多发生在肺，肺的经气输注于肩背。北风生于冬季，病多发生在肾，肾的经气输注于腰股。长夏季节和中央的方位属于土，病多发生在脾，脾的经气输注于脊。

所以春季邪气伤人，多病在头部：夏季邪气伤人，多病在心：秋季邪气伤人，多病在肩背：冬季邪气伤人，多病在四肢。

故春善病鼽衄，仲夏善病胸脇，長夏善病洞泄寒中，秋善病風瘧，冬善病痺厥。故冬不按蹻，春不鼽衄，春不病頸項，仲夏不病胸脇，長夏不病洞泄寒中，秋不病風瘧，冬不病痺厥飱泄，而汗出也。夫精者身之本也，故藏於精者春不病溫。夏暑汗不出者，秋成風瘧。此平人脈法也。

春天多发生嬶衄，夏天多发生在胸胁方面的疾患，长夏季多发生冬泄等里寒证，秋天多发生风疟，冬天多发生痹厥。

• 嬶衄： 鼻出血
• 痹厥：肢体疼痛麻木之病

若冬天不进行按等扰动阳气的活动，来年春天就不会发生颈项部位的疾病，夏天就不会发生胸胁的疾患，长夏季节就不会发生洞泄一类的里寒病，秋天就不会发生风疟病，冬天也不会发生痺厥、飨泄、汗出过多等病症。

精，是人体的根本，所以阴精内藏而不妄泄，春天就不会得温热病。夏暑阳盛，如果不能排汗散热，到秋天就会酿成风疟病。这是诊察普通人四时发病的一般律。

故曰：陰中有陰，陽中有陽。平旦至日中，天之陽，陽中之陽也；日中至黃昏，天之陽，陽中之陰也；合夜至雞鳴，天之陰，陰中之陰也；雞鳴至平旦，天之陰，陰中之陽也。故人亦應之。

所以说：阴阳之中，还各有阴阳。白昼属阳，平旦到中午，为阳中之阳。中午到黄昏，则束阳中之阴。黑夜属阴，合夜到鸡鸣，为阴中之阴。鸡鸣到平旦，则属阴中之阳。黑夜属阴，合夜到鸡鸣，为阴中之阴。鸡鸣到平旦，则属阴中之阳。人的情况也与此相应。

夫言人之陰陽，則外為陽，內為陰。言人身之陰陽，則背為陽，腹為陰。言人身之藏府中陰陽，則藏者為陰，府者為陽。肝心脾肺腎五藏，皆為陰。膽胃大腸小腸膀胱三焦六府，皆為陽。所以欲知陰中之陰，陽中之陽者何也。為冬病在陰，夏病在陽，春病在陰，秋病在陽，皆視其所在，為施鍼石也。故背為陽，陽中之陽，心也；背為陽，陽中之陰，肺也；腹為陰，陰中之陰，腎也；腹為陰，陰中之陽，肝也；腹為陰，陰中之至陰，脾也。此皆陰陽表裏內外雌雄相輸應也，故以應天之陰陽也。

就人体阴阳而论，外部属阳，内部属阴。就身体的部位来分阴阳，则背为阳，腹为阴。从脏腑的阴阳划分来说，则脏属阴，腑属阳，肝、心、脾、肺、肾五脏都属阴。胆、胃、大肠、小肠、膀胱三焦六腑都属阳。了解阴阳之中复有阴阳的道理是什麽呢？这是要分析四时疾病的在阴在阳，以作为治疗的依据，如冬病在阴，夏病在阳，春病在阴，秋病在阳，都要根据疾病的部位来施用针刺和贬石的疗法。

此外，背为阳，阳中之阳为心，阳中之阴为肺。腹为阴，阴中之阴为肾，阴中之阳为肝，阴中的至阴为脾。以上这些都是人体阴阳表里、内外雌雄相互联系又相互对应的例证，所以人与自然界的阴阳是相应的。

帝曰：五藏應四時，各有收受乎，歧伯曰：有。東方青色，入通於肝，開竅於目，藏精於肝，其病發驚駭，其味酸，其類草木，其畜雞，其穀麥，其應四時，上為歲星，是以春氣在頭也，其音角，其數八，是以知病之在筋也，其臭臊。南方赤色，入通於心，開竅於耳，藏精於心，故病在五藏，其味苦，其類火，其畜羊，其穀黍，其應四時，上為熒惑星，是以知病之在脈也，其音徵，其數七，其臭焦。中央黃色，入通於脾，開竅於口，藏精於脾，故病在舌本，其味甘，其類土，其畜牛，其穀稷，其應四時，上為鎮星，是以知病之在肉也，其音宮，其數五，其臭香。西方白色，入通於肺，開竅於鼻，藏精於肺，故病在背，其味辛，其類金，其畜馬，其穀稻，其應四時，上為太白星，是以知病之在皮毛也，其音商，其數九，其臭腥。北方黑色，入通於腎，開竅於二陰，藏精於腎，故病在谿，其味鹹，其類水，其畜彘，其穀豆，其應四時，上為辰星，是以知病之在骨也，其音羽，其數六，其臭腐。故善為脈者，謹察五藏六府，一逆一從，陰陽表裏，雌雄之紀，藏之心意，合心於精，非其人勿教，非其真勿授，是謂得道。

黄帝说：五脏除与四时相应外，它们各自还有相类的事物可以归纳起来吗？

歧伯说：有。比如东方青色，与肝相通，肝开窍于目，经气内藏于肝，发病常表现为惊骇，在五味为酸，与草木同类，在五蓄为鸡，在五谷为麦，与四时中的夏季相应，在天体为岁星，春天阳气上升，所以其气在头，在五音为角，其成数为八，因肝主筋。此外，在嗅味为臊。

南方赤色，与心相通，心开窍于耳，经气内藏与心，在五味为苦，与火同类，在五畜为羊，在五谷为黍，与四时中的夏季相应，在天体为荧惑星，他的疾病多发生在脉和五脏，在五音为徽，其成数为七。此外，在嗅味为焦。

中央黄色，与脾相通，脾开窍于口，经气内藏于脾，在五味为甘，与土同类，在五畜为牛，在五谷为稷，与四时中的长夏相应，在天体为镇星，他的疾病多发生在舌根和肌肉，在五音为宫，其生数为五。此外，在嗅味为香。

西方白色，与肺相通，肺开窍于鼻，经气内藏于肺，在五味为辛，与金同类，在五畜为马，在五谷为稻，与四时中的秋季相应，在天体为太白星，他的疾病多发生在背部和皮毛，在五音为商，其成数为九。此外，在嗅味为腥。

北方黑色，与肾相同，肾开窍于前后二阴，经气内藏于肾，在五味为咸，与水同类，在五畜为＃，在五谷为豆，与四时中的冬季相应，在天体为辰星，他的疾病多发生在溪和骨，在五音为羽，其成数为六。此外，其嗅味为腐。

所以善于诊脉的医生，能够谨慎细心地审查五脏六腑的变化，了解其顺逆的情况，把阴阳、表里、雌雄的对应和联系，纲目分明地加以归纳，并把这些精深的道理，深深地记在心中。这些理论，至为宝贵，对于那些不是真心实意地学习而又不具备一定条件的人，切勿轻易传授，这才是爱护和珍视这门学问的正确态度。

CHAPTER 4 The Bottle-gourd girl meets an unfortunate young man And the Bottle-gourd monk settles a protracted lawsuit

卻說黛玉同姐妹們至王夫人處，見王夫人正和兄嫂處的來使計議家務，又說姨母家遭人命官司等語。因見王夫人事情冗雜，姐妹們遂出來，至寡嫂李氏房中來了。

When Dai-yu and the girls went to call on Lady Wang, they found her in the midst of discussing family affairs with the messengers from her elder brother and his wife and heard talk of their aunt’s family in Nanking being involved in a case of manslaughter. Since Lady Wang was obviously preoccupied with this matter, the girls went off to call on Li Wan.

原來這李氏即賈珠之妻。珠雖夭亡，幸存一子，取名賈蘭，今方五歲，已入學攻書。這李氏亦係金陵名宦之女，父名李守中，曾為國子祭酒。族中男女無不讀詩書者。至李守中繼續以來，便謂「女子無才便是德」，故生了此女，不曾叫他十分認真讀書，只不過將些《女四書》、《列女傳》讀讀，認得幾個字，記得前朝這幾個賢女便了。卻以紡績女紅為要，因取名為李紈，字宮裁。所以這李紈雖青春喪偶，且居處於膏粱錦繡之中，竟如槁木死灰一般，一概無聞無見；惟知侍親養子，閒時陪侍小姑等針黹誦讀而已。今黛玉雖客居於此，已有這幾個姑嫂相伴，除老父之外，餘者也就無庸慮及了。

Li Wan’s husband Jia Zhu had died young, but fortunately not without issue. He left her a son called Jia Lan who was now’ just five years old and had already begun his schooling. Like most of the Jia women, Li Wan was the daughter of a distinguished Nanking official. Her father, Li Shou-zhong, had been a Director of Education. Up to Li Shou-zhong’s time, all members of the clan, including the women, had been given a first-class education; but when Li Shou-zhong became head of the family, he founded his educational policy for girls on the good old maxim ‘a stupid woman is a virtuous one’ and, when he had a daughter of his own, refused to let her engage in serious study. She was permitted to work her way through The Four Books for Girls and Lives of Noble Women, so that she might be able to recognize a few characters and be familiar with some of the models of female virtue of former ages; but overriding importance was to be attached to spinning and sewing, and even her name ‘Wan’, which means a kind of silk, was intended to symbolize her dedication to the needle. Thanks to her upbringing, this young widow living in the midst of luxury and self-indulgence was able to keep herself like the ‘withered tree and dead ashes’ of the philosopher, shutting out everything that did not concern her and attending only to the duties of serving her husband’s parents and bringing up her child. Whatever leisure this left her was devoted to her little sister-in-law and cousins, accompanying them at their embroidery or hearing them recite their lessons. With such gentle companions to console her, Dai-yu, though a stranger and far from home, soon had nothing apart from her old father that she need worry about.

如今且說賈雨村授了應天府，一到任，就有件人命官司詳至案下，卻是兩家爭買一婢，各不相讓，以致毆傷人命。彼時雨村即傳原告來審，那原告道：「被打死的乃是小人的主人。因那日買了個丫頭，不想係拐子拐來賣的。這拐子先已得了我家的銀子，我家小主人原說第三日方是好日，再接入門。這拐子又悄悄的賣與了薛家，被我們知道了，去找拿賣主，奪取丫頭。無奈薛家原係金陵一霸，倚財仗勢，眾豪奴將我小主人竟打死了。凶身主僕已皆逃走，無有蹤跡，只剩了幾個局外的人。小人告了一年的狀，竟無人作主。求太老爺拘拿凶犯，以扶善良，存歿感激大恩不盡！」

Let us now turn to the affairs of Jia Yu-cun, newly installed in the yamen at Ying-tian-fu. No sooner had he arrived at his new post than a case involving manslaughter was referred to his tribunal. It concerned two parties in dispute over the purchase of a slave-girl. Neither had been willing to give way to the other, and in the ensuing affray one of the parties had been wounded and had subsequently died. After reading the papers in the case, Yu-cun summoned the plaintiff for questioning and received from him the following account of what had happened:

‘The murdered man was my master, Your Honour. Although he did not realize it at the time, the girl he purchased had been kidnapped by the man who was selling her. My master paid him in advance, and arranged to receive the girl into his house three days from the date of purchase, the third day being a lucky day. The kidnapper, having already pocketed my young master’s money, then quietly went off and sold her again to Xue. When we found this out, we went along to seize him and to collect the girl. ‘But unfortunately this Xue turned out to be a powerful Nanking boss, who evidently thought that by money and influence he could get away with anything. He set a crowd of his henchmen on to my young master and beat him up so badly that he died.

‘Xue and his henchmen have now disappeared without trace, leaving only a few retainers who were not involved in the crime. But though it is a year since I first brought this charge, no one has yet done anything to help me. I beseech Your Honour to arrest the criminals and to uphold the course of justice! Both the living and the dead will be everlastingly grateful to you if you do!’

雨村聽了大怒道：「那有這等事！打死人竟白白的走了？拿不來的？」便發籤差公人立刻將凶犯家屬拿來拷問。只見案旁站著一個門子，使眼色不令他發籤。雨村心下狐疑，只得停了手，退堂至密室，令從人退去。只留這門子一人伏侍。門子忙上前請安。笑問：「老爺一向加官進祿，八九年來，就忘了我了？」雨村道：「我看你十分眼熟，但一時總想不起來。」門子笑道：「老爺怎麼把出身之地竟忘了？老爺不記得當年葫蘆廟裡的事麼？」

‘This is monstrous!’ said Yu-cun in a towering rage. ‘Am I to understand that a man can be beaten to death and the murderer walks off scot-free with nobody lifting a finger to arrest him?’ and he took up a warrant and was on the point of sending his runners to seize the murderer’s dependants and bring them to court so that they might be put to the torture, when he observed one of the ushers signaling to him with his eyes not to issue the warrant. His resolution somewhat shaken, he put it down again and adjourned to his private chambers, dismissing everyone except the usher, whom he ordered to remain behind in attendance.

When they were alone together the usher, with a broad smile on his face, came forward and touched his hand and knee to the ground in the Manchu salute.

‘Your Honour has gone a long way up in the world during these past eight or nine years! I don’t expect you would remember me!’

‘Your face is certainly familiar,’ said Yu-cun, ‘but for the moment I simply can’t place it.’ The usher smiled again. ‘Has Your Honour forgotten the place you started from? Do you remember nothing of the old times in Bottle-gourd Temple?’

雨村大驚，方想起往事。原來這門子本是葫蘆廟裡一個小沙彌，因廟被火燒之後，無處安身，想這件生意倒還輕省，耐不得寺院淒涼，遂趁年紀輕蓄了髮，充當門子。雨村那裡想得是他？便忙攜手，笑道：「原來還是故人。」因賞他坐了說話，這門子不敢坐。雨村笑道：「你我也算貧賤之交了，此係私室，但坐不妨。」門子纔斜簽著坐下。

With a start of recognition, Yu-cun remembered. The usher had been a little novice in the temple where he once lodged finding himself homeless after the fire, and bethinking himself that a post in a yamen was a fine, gentlemanly way of earning a living, and being furthermore heartily sick of the rigours of monastic life, the little novice had taken advantage of his youth to grow his hair again and get himself a post as an usher. Small wonder that Yu-cun had failed to recognize him! ‘Ah, so it was an old acquaintance!’ said Yu-cun, grasping him warmly by the hand and urging him to sit down for a chat. But the usher would not be seated.

‘Come,’ said Yu-cun, ‘as a friend of my early, hard-up days you are entitled to. After all, this is a private room. Why not?’ The usher permitted himself to perch one of his haunches sideways on the edge of a chair.

雨村道：「方才何故不令發籤？」門子道：「老爺榮任到此，難道就沒抄一張本省的『護官符』來不成？」雨村忙問：「何為『護官符』？」門子道：「如今凡作地方官的，都有一個私單，上面寫的是本省最有權勢極富貴的大鄉紳名姓，各省皆然。倘若不知，一時觸犯了這樣的人家，不但官爵，只怕連性命也難保呢。－－所以叫做『護官符』。方纔所說的這薛家，老爺如何惹得他！他這件官司，並無難斷之處，從前的官府都因礙著情分臉面，所以如此。」一面說，一面從順袋中取出一張抄的「護官符」來，遞與雨村。看時，上面皆是本地大族名宦之家的俗諺口碑，云：

‘Tell me,’ said Yu-cun, ‘why did you stop me issuing that warrant just now?’ ‘Your Honour is new to this post. Surely you must have provided yourself before you left with a copy of the Mandarin’s Life-Preserver for this province?’ ‘What is the Mandarin’s Lift-Preserver?’  Yu-cun inquired curiously. ‘Nowadays every provincial official carries a private hand-list with the names of all the richest, most influential people in his area. There is one for every province. They list those families which are so powerful that if you were ever to run up against one of them unknowingly, not only your job, but perhaps even your life might be in danger. That’s why they are called “life-preservers”.

‘Now take this Xue you were dealing with just now. Your Honour couldn’t possibly try conclusions with him! Why do you suppose this case has remained unsettled for so long? It’s a straightforward enough case. The reason is simply that none of your predecessors dared touch it because of the unpleasantness and loss of face it would have caused them.’ While he was speaking he had been fishing for a copy of the Mandarin’s Lift-Preserver in his pocket. This he now presented to Yu-cun for his inspection. It contained a set of doggerel verses in which were listed the big families and most powerful magnates of the area in which he was working. It went some-thing like this:

賈不假，白玉為堂金作馬。

阿房宮，三百里，住不下金陵一個史。

東海缺少白玉床，龍王來請金陵王。

豐年好大雪，珍珠如土金如鐵。

Shout hip hurrah For the Nanking Jia!

They weigh their gold out By the jar.

The Ah-bang Palace Scrapes the sky, But it could not house The Nanking Shi.

The King of the Ocean Goes along, When he’s short of gold beds, To the Nanking Wang.

The Nanking Xue So rich are they, To count their money Would take all day…

雨村尚未看完，忽聞傳點報：「王老爺來拜。」雨村忙具衣冠出去迎接，有頓飯工夫方回來。問這門子，門子道：「這四家皆連絡有親，一損俱損，一榮俱榮。今告打死人之薛，就是『豐年大雪』之『薛』。不單靠這三家，他的世交親友在都在外的本也不少。老爺如今拿誰去？」雨村聽說，便笑問門子道：「這樣說來，卻怎麼了結此案？你大約也深知這凶犯躲的方向了？」

Before Yu-cun had time to read further, a warning chime from the inner gate and a shout outside the door announced the arrival of a Mr Wang on an official call. Yu-cun hastily donned the hat and robe of office which he had temporarily laid aside and went out to meet the visitor. About the length of time it would take to eat a meal elapsed before he returned and resumed his conversation with the usher.

‘Those four families,’ said the usher in answer to a question from Yu-cun, ‘are all closely connected with each other. A loss for one is a loss for all. A gain for one is a gain for all. The Xue who has been charged with the manslaughter is one of the “Nanking Xue so rich are they”. Not only can he count on the support of the other three Nanking families, he also has any number of family friends and connections of his own both at the capital and in the provinces. Now who are you going to arrest?’

‘That’s all very well,’ said Yu-cun with an uneasy laugh, ‘but how am I going to settle this case? Incidentally, I assume you know perfectly well where the criminal is hiding?’

門子笑道：「不瞞老爺說，不但這凶犯躲的方向，並這拐賣的人我也知道，死鬼買主也深知道。待我細說與老爺聽：這個被打死的乃是一個小鄉宦之子，名喚馮淵，父母俱亡，又無兄弟，守著些薄產度日。年紀十八九歲，酷愛男風，不好女色。這也是前生冤孽：可巧遇見這丫頭，他便一眼看上了，立意買來作妾，立誓不近男色，也不再娶第二個了。所以鄭重其事，必得三日後方過門。誰知這拐子又偷賣與薛家。他意欲捲了兩家的銀子逃去，誰知又走不脫，兩家拿住，打了個半死，都不肯收銀，只要領人。那薛公子便喝令下人動手，將馮公子打了個稀爛。抬回去，三日竟死了。這薛公子原已擇定日子要上京的，既打了人，奪了丫頭，他便沒事人一般，只管帶了家眷走他的路，並非為此而逃。這人命些些小事，自有他弟兄奴僕在此料理。－－這且別說，老爺可知這被賣的丫頭是誰？」雨村道：「我如何曉得？」門子冷笑道：「這人還是老爺的大恩人呢！他就是葫蘆廟旁住的甄老爺的女兒，小名英蓮的。」雨村駭然道：「原來是他！聽聞他自五歲被人拐去，怎麼如今纔賣呢？」

‘I wouldn’t deceive Your Honour,’ replied the usher with a grin, ‘not only do I know where the criminal has gone but I also know who the kidnapper is and all about the poor devil who was killed. Let me tell you the whole story.

‘The man who was killed was a poor country squire’s son called Feng Yuan. His father and mother were both dead and he had no brothers. He lived off the income of a very small estate. He was eighteen or nineteen when he died. He was a confirmed queer and not interested in girls. Which shows that the whole business must have been fated, because no sooner did he set eyes on this girl than he at once fell in love with her—swore he would never have anything more to do with boys and never have any other woman but her. That was the idea of this waiting three days before she came to him. To make it seem more like a wedding and less like a sale. ‘What he couldn’t foresee, of course, was that the kidnapper would use this interval to resell her on the sly to Xue, hoping to pocket the money from both parties and then do a flit. Only he didn’t get away with it. The two parties nabbed him before he could disappear and beat the daylights out of him. Both refused to take back their money, and both insisted that they wanted the girl. It was at this point that our young friend Xue called for his roughs to get to work on Feng Yuan. They beat him till he was hardly recognizable. Then they picked him up and carried him home. He died three days later.

‘Now long before any of this happened, young Xue had made arrangements for a journey to the capital. So after killing Feng and carrying off the girl, he set off with his family, calm as you please, on the appointed day. There was no question of his running away because of the killing. In his eyes a trifling matter like taking another man’s life was something for his junior clansmen or the servants to clear up in his absence.

‘But never mind him. Who do you think the slave-girl is?’ ‘How in the world should I know?’ said Yu-cun. The usher smiled maliciously. ‘You ought to, Your Honour! She is your great benefactress Ying-lian, the little daughter of Mr Zhen, who used to live next door to Bottle-gourd Temple.’

‘Good gracious!’ said Yu-cun in astonishment. ‘I had heard that she was kidnapped at the age of five. But how did she come to be sold so long after the kidnapping?’

門子道：「這種拐子，單拐幼女，養至十二三歲，帶至他鄉轉賣。當日這英蓮，我們天天哄他玩耍，極相熟的，所以隔了七八年，雖模樣兒出脫的齊整些，然大概相貌未改，所以認得。且他眉心中原有米粒大的一點胭脂痣，從胎裡帶來的。偏這拐子又租了我的房子居住。那日，拐子不在家，我也曾問他。他是被打怕了的，萬不敢說，只說拐子是他的親爹，因無錢還債，纔賣的。再四哄他，他又哭了，只說：『我原不記得小時的事！』這可無疑了。那日馮公子相看了，兌了銀子，因拐子醉了，英蓮自歎說：『我今日罪孽可滿了！』後又聽見三日後纔過門，他又轉有憂愁之態。我又不忍，等拐子出去，叫內人去解勸他：『這馮公子必待好日期來接，可知必不以丫鬟相看。況他是個絕風流人品，家裡頗過得，素性又最厭惡堂客，今竟破價買你，後事不言可知。只耐得三兩日，何必憂悶？』他聽如此說，方略解些，自謂從此得所。誰料天下竟有這等不如意事！第二日，他偏又賣與了薛家。若賣與第二家還好，這薛公子的混名：人稱他『獃霸王』，最是天下第一個弄性尚氣的人，而且使錢如土，只打了個落花流水，生拖死拽，把個英蓮拖去，如今也不知死活。這馮公子空喜一場，一念未遂，反花了錢，送了命，豈不可歎！」

‘This type of kidnapper specializes in kidnapping very young girls and rearing them until they are twelve or thirteen for sale in other parts of the country. When she was little we used to play with Ying-lian at the temple nearly every day, so I knew her very well; and when I saw her again, even though it was after an interval of seven or eight years, I could tell it was her. She’d grown into a little woman in the meantime, but her features were still the same; and to confirm it there was a tiny red birthmark right in the middle of her brow which I remembered.

‘By a strange coincidence the kidnapper had rented one of my rooms, and one day when he was out I put it to her who she was. But she said she was scared of being beaten and nothing would induce her to talk. She just kept insisting that the kidnapper was her real father, selling her because he had no money to pay his debts with. I kept on at her, cajoling and persuading, and in the end she broke down and cried. Said she didn’t remember anything about her childhood. But there’s no doubt in my mind. It’s her, all right. ‘The day young Feng met her and paid out the money for her, the kidnapper got drunk, and she opened up to me a bit. She was feeling very relieved. She said, “Today I think my tribulations are at last coming to an end.” But then later, when she heard that she wasn’t to be installed until after another three days, she began to look worried and despondent again. I felt truly sorry for her, and sent the wife round to have a talk with her while the kidnapper was out and give her a bit of encouragement.

‘The wife said to her, “Mr Feng’s insistence on waiting three days before taking you in shows that he doesn’t intend to treat you like a servant. Besides,” she said, “he’s a very nice, handsome gentleman, and quite comfortably off. Normally he doesn’t like the fair sex, yet here he is spending everything he has on your purchase. You can tell from that,” she said, “how much he must care for you. You only have to be patient for another day or two,” she said. “You’ve no cause to be downcast.”

‘Well, that seemed to cheer her up a bit, and she began to feel that life was going to be worth living. ‘But only the day after that, by the most accursed stroke of bad luck which no one could possibly have foreseen, she was sold to Xue. Now if it had been anyone else, it wouldn’t have mattered so much, but this young Xue, whose nickname is the Oaf King, is the world’s most bad-tempered bully; and having spent money like water on buying the girl only to find that she wasn’t willing, he knocked her about until she was half unconscious and dragged her off with him more dead than alive. Whether she’s alive or dead now, I have no idea. ‘And young Feng is really to be pitied! After a brief moment of happiness, before anything had come his way, he spent all his money and laid down his life for nothing!’

雨村聽了也歎道：「這也是他們的孽障，遭遇亦非偶然。不然，這馮淵如何偏只看上了這英蓮！這英蓮受了拐子這幾年折磨，纔得了個路頭，且又是個多情的，若果聚合了，倒是件美事，偏又生出這段事來！這薛家縱比馮家富貴，想其為人，自然姬妾眾多，淫佚無度，未必及馮淵定情於一人。這正是夢幻情緣，恰遇一對薄命兒女。且不要議論他，只目今這官司如何判斷纔好？」

Yu-cun sighed sympathetically. ‘Their meeting cannot have been coincidental. It must have been the working out of some destiny. An atonement. Otherwise, how is one to account for Feng Yuan’s sudden affection for that particular girl? ‘And Ying-lian, after all those years of ill-treatment at the hands of her kidnapper, suddenly seeing a road to freedom opening in front of her for she was a girl of feeling, and there is no doubt that they would have made a fine couple if they had succeeded in coming together—and then for this to have happened! ‘And even though Xue may be far wealthier and better-placed than Feng was, a man like that is sure to have numbers of concubines and paramours and to be licentious and debauched in his habits quite incapable of concentrating all his affections on one girl as Feng Yuan would have done.

‘A real case of an ideal romance on the one hand and a pair of unlucky young things on the other adding up to make a tragedy!

‘But a truce to this discussion of other people’s affairs! Let us rather consider how this case is to be settled!’

門子笑道：「老爺當年何其明決！今日何反成個沒主意的人了？小的聽聞老爺補陞此任係賈府王府之力。此薛蟠即賈府之親，老爺何不順水行舟，做個人情，將此案了結？日後也好去見賈王二公。」雨村道：「你說的何嘗不是！但事關人命，蒙皇上隆恩，起復委用，正竭力圖報之時，豈可因私枉法？我是實不忍為的！」門子聽了冷笑道：「老爺說的自是正理，但如今世上是行不去的！豈不聞古人說的『大丈夫相時而動』？又說『趨吉避凶者為君子』？依老爺這話，不但不能報效朝廷，亦且自身不保。還要三思為妥。」

‘Your Honour used to be decisive enough in the old days,’ said the usher with a smile. ‘What has become of your old resolution today? Now, I was told that your promotion to this post was due to the combined influence of the Jias and the Wangs; and this Xue Pan is related to the Jias by marriage. Why not trim your sails to the wind in your handling of this case? Why not make a virtue of necessity by doing them a favour which will stand you in good stead next time you see them?’

‘What you say is, of course, entirely correct,’ said Yu-cun. ‘But there is, after all, a human life involved in this case; and you have to remember that I have only just been restored to office by an act of Imperial clemency. I really cannot bring myself to pervert justice for private ends at the very moment when I ought to be doing my utmost to show my gratitude.’ The usher smiled coldly. ‘What Your Honour says is no doubt very right and proper, but it won’t wash. Not the way things are in the world today! Haven’t you heard the old saying “The man of spirit shapes his actions to the passing moment”? And there’s another old saying: “It is the mark of a gentleman to avoid what is inauspicious”. If you were to act in accordance with what you have just said, not only would you not be able to show your gratitude to the Emperor, but also you would probably put your own life in danger. If I were you, I should think very carefully before you do anything.’

雨村低了頭，半日說道：「依你怎麼著？」門子道：「小人已想了個很好的主意在此。老爺明日坐堂，只管虛張聲勢，動文書，發籤拿人。凶犯自然是拿不來的，原告固是不依，老爺只將薛家族人及奴僕人等拿幾個來拷問。小的在暗中調停，令他們報個『暴病身亡』，合族中及地方上共遞一張保呈，老爺只說善能扶鸞請仙，堂上設了乩壇，令軍民人等只管來看。老爺便說：『乩仙批了，死者馮淵與薛蟠原係夙孽，今狹路相遇，原應了結。今薛蟠已得了無名之病，被馮淵的魂魄追索而死。其禍皆由拐子而起，除將拐子按法處治外，餘不累及……』等語。小人暗中囑咐拐子，令其實招。眾人見乩仙批語與拐子相符，自然不疑了。薛家有的是錢，老爺斷一千也可，五百也可，與馮家作燒埋之費。那馮家也無甚要緊的人，不過為的是錢，有了銀子也就無話了。－－老爺細想，此計如何？」雨村笑道：「不妥，不妥。等我再斟酌斟酌，壓服得口聲纔好。」二人計議已定。

Yu-cun lowered his head in thought. After a very long pause he asked, ‘What do you think I ought to do?’ ‘I’ve thought of a very good solution,’ said the usher. ‘When you open court tomorrow, you should make a great display of authority. Send out writs, issue warrants for arrest, and so forth. You won’t, of course, be able to arrest the culprits, and the plaintiffs will certainly not allow the matter to rest there; so what you do then is to arrest some of Xue’s clansmen and servants for questioning. But in the meantime I shall have got to work on them on the side and arranged for them to report that Xue has died of sudden illness. This can be supported by the affidavits of the whole Xue clan and the people living in the neighbourhood.

‘Then Your Honour has it put about that you have a gift for the planchette. You have an altar set up in the court and a planchette board installed on it and you issue an open invitation to any members of the public who want to to attend a séance.

Then you say, “The spirit control gives judgment as follows: ‘“The dead man, Feng Yuan, owed a debt of karma to Xue Pan from a former life and ‘meeting his enemy in a narrow way’, paid for it with his life. The sudden, unexplained illness which struck down Xue Pan was caused by the vengeful ghost of Feng Yuan come to claim its own. Since the tragedy was entirely due to the behaviour of the kidnapper, the kidnapper should be dealt with according to the full rigour of the law; but apart from him, all other parties are exonerated…” and so on and so forth.

‘I shall secretly instruct the kidnapper to make a full confession, and when the public see that the judgment given by the planchette tallies with the confession made by the kidnapper, they will naturally have no suspicions.

‘Then you award the Fengs compensation to cover funeral expenses and so on. And since the Xues are rolling in money, you can say anything you like. Five hundred, a thousand—it doesn’t matter. There’s no one of any importance on the Feng side, and in any case they’re mainly in this for the money. So once they have got their compensation, they shouldn’t give you any further trouble.

‘What about that for a plan, Your Honour? You just think it over!’

Yu-cun laughed. ‘Too risky! Let me turn it over in my mind a little longer. The main thing is to think of something that will stop people talking.’ And with this observation the two men concluded their discussion.

至次日坐堂，勾取一干有名人犯，雨村詳加審問。果見馮家人口稀少，不過賴此欲得些燒埋之銀；薛家仗勢倚情，偏不相讓，故致顛倒未決。雨村便徇情枉法，胡亂判斷了此案，馮家得了許多燒埋銀子，也就無甚話說了。雨村便疾忙修書二封與賈政並京營節度使王子騰，不過說「令甥之事已完，不必過慮」等語。此事皆由葫蘆廟內沙彌新門子所出，雨村又恐他對人說出當日貧賤時的事來，因此，心中大不樂意。後來到底尋了他一個不是，遠遠的充發了纔罷。

At next day’s session a group of well-known associates of the wanted man were brought in and subjected by Yu-cun to careful questioning. It emerged, as the usher had said, that the Fengs were few in number and had brought this action solely in the hope of gaining some compensation, and that it was only because the Xues had, with the arrogance of the very rich and very powerful, refused to pay a penny, that the case had been brought to a standstill.

By a judicious bending of the law to suit the circumstances, Yu-cun managed to arrive at some sort of judgment whereby the plaintiffs received substantial compensation and went off tolerably well satisfied. He then hurriedly drafted and sent off two letters, one to Jia Zheng and one to Wang Zi-teng, Commandant, Metropolitan Barracks, in which he merely stated that their ‘nephew’s affair had been settled and there was no further cause for concern’.

Fearful that the now usher and quondam novice of Bottle-gourd Temple might talk to others about the days when he was an obscure and impoverished student, Yu-cun for some time went about in great discomfort of mind. Finally, however, he managed to catch him out in some misdemeanour or other and have him drafted for military service on a frontier outpost, after which he felt able to breathe freely again.

當下言不著雨村。且說那買了英蓮打死馮淵的那薛公子亦係金陵人氏，本是書香繼世之家。只是如今這薛公子幼年喪父，寡母又憐他是個獨根孤種，未免溺愛縱容些，遂致老大無成。且家中有百萬之富，現領著內帑錢糧，採辦雜料。這薛公子，學名薛蟠，表字文起，性情奢侈，言語傲慢；雖也上過學，不過略識幾個字，終日惟有鬥雞走馬，遊山玩水而已。雖是皇商，一應經紀世事全然不知，不過賴祖父舊日的情分，戶部掛個虛名，支領錢糧，其餘事體自有夥計老家人等措辦。寡母王氏乃現任京營節度使王子騰之妹，與榮國府賈政的夫人王氏是一母所生的姊妹，今年方五十上下，只有薛蟠一子。還有一女比薛蟠小兩歲，乳名寶釵，生得肌骨瑩潤，舉止嫻雅。當時他父親在日，極愛此女，令其讀書識字，較之乃兄竟高十倍。自父親死後，見哥哥不能安慰母心，他便不以書字為念，只留心針黹家計等事，好為母親分憂代勞。近因今上崇尚詩禮，徵採才能，降不世之隆恩，除聘選妃嬪外，在世宦名家之女，皆得親名達部，以備選擇為公主郡主入學陪侍，充為才人贊善之職。自薛蟠父親死後，各省中所有的買賣承局總管夥計人等，見薛蟠年輕，不諳世事，便趁時拐騙起來，京都幾處生意漸亦銷耗。薛蟠素聞得都中乃第一繁華之地，正思一游，更趁此機會，一來送妹待選，二來望親，三來親自入部銷算舊賬，再計新支，－－其實只為遊覽上國風光之意。

But now no more of Yu-cun. Let us turn instead to Young Xue, the man who purchased Ying-lian and had Feng Yuan beaten to death. He was a native of Nanking and came of a refined and highly cultivated family, but having lost his father in infancy and been, as sole remaining scion of the stock, excessively indulged by a doting widowed mother, he had grown up into a useless lout. The family was immensely wealthy. As one of the official Court Purveyors they received money from the Privy Purse with which to make purchases for the Imperial Household.

Xue Pan, to give him his full name, was a naturally extravagant young man with an insolent turn of speech. He had been educated after a fashion, but could barely read and write. He devoted the greater part of his time to cock-fighting, horse-racing, and outings to places of scenic interest. Though an Imperial Purveyor, he was wholly innocent of business skill and savoir-faire;  and though, for his father’s and grandfather’s sake, he was allowed to register at the Ministry and receive regular payments of grain and money, everything else was looked after for him by the clerks and factors of the family business.

Xue Pan’s widowed mother was a younger half-sister of Wang Zi-teng, at that time Commandant of the Metropolitan Barracks, and younger sister of Lady Wang, the wife of Jia Zheng of the Rong mansion. She was now around fifty and had only the one son. Besides Xue Pan she had a daughter two years his junior called Bao-chai, a girl of flawless looks and great natural refinement. While her father was still alive she had been his favourite and had been taught to read and write and construe all of which she did ten times better than her oafish brother; but when he died and her brother proved incapable of offering their mother any comfort, she laid aside her books and devoted herself to needlework and housewifely duties in order to take some of the burden off her mother’s shoulders.

The well-known interest always shown by our present sovereign in literature and the arts, and the widespread recruitment of talent that this has stimulated, had recently, at the time of which we speak, led to an unprecedented act of

Imperial grace whereby daughters of hereditary officials and distinguished families, apart from the possibility of being recruited to the Imperial seraglio by the customary procedures, were permitted to have their names sent in to the Ministry for selection as study-companions, with the rank and title of Maid of Honour or Lady-in-waiting, of the Imperial princesses and the daughters of princes of the blood.

This circumstance, coupled with the fact that, since the death of his father, the managers, clerks, and factors of the family business in its various agencies throughout the provinces had profited from Xue Pan’s youth and ignorance of affairs to feather their own nests at the firm’s expense, and even the family’s enterprises in the capital, of which there were several, had shown a gradual falling-off, provided Xue Pan, who had long heard of the rich pleasures of the metropolis and was agog to taste them, with excuses for realizing his cherished ambition, viz:

1.They must go to the capital because he had to present his sister to the Ministry for selection.

2. They must go to the capital to look up their kinsfolk there.

3. They must go to the capital so that he might clear his accounts with the Ministry and take receipt of a new installment of funds. (Needless to say, the sole substantial reason for going to the capital, Xue Pan’s desire to see the sights, was unexpressed.)

因此，早已打點下行裝細軟以及饋送親友各色土物人情等類，正擇日起身，不想偏遇著那拐子重賣英蓮。薛蟠見英蓮生得不俗，立意買了作妾，又遇馮家來奪，因恃強喝令豪奴將馮淵打死。便將家中事務一一囑託了族中人並幾個老家人，自己同著母親妹子竟自起身，長行去了。人命官司，他卻視為兒戲，自謂花上幾個錢，沒有不了的。

Accordingly, their baggage had long been packed and souvenirs of Nanking for their friends and relations in the capital long been selected and a date for their departure long been decided on, when Xue Pan encountered the kidnapper and Ying-lian and, as Ying-lian was an uncommonly attractive slave-girl, resolved to purchase her and make her his concubine. Then Feng and his servants came to seize the girl and Xue Pan, confident in his superior forces, shouted the command to his attendant roughs which was to have such fatal consequences for poor Feng Yuan. Entrusting everything to his clansmen and a few old and trusty retainers, he then proceeded to depart according to schedule, in company with his mother and sister, on the long journey to the capital, accounting the charge of manslaughter a mere bagatelle which the expenditure of a certain amount of coin could confidently be expected to resolve.

在路上不計其日。那日已將入都，又聽見母舅王子騰陞了九省統制，奉旨出都查邊，薛蟠心中暗喜道：「我正愁進京去有舅舅管轄，不能任意揮霍；如今陞了出去，可知天從人願！」因和母親商議道：「偺們京中雖有幾處房舍，只是這十來年沒人居住，那看守的人未免偷著租賃給人住，須得先著人去打掃收拾纔好。」他母親道：「何必如此招搖？偺們這次進京去，原該先拜望親友，或是在你舅舅處，或是你姨父家。他兩家的房舍極是寬敞的，偺們且住下，再慢慢兒的著人去收拾，豈不消停些？」薛蟠道：「如今舅舅正陞了外省去，家裡自然忙亂起身，偺們這會子反一窩一拖的奔了去，豈不沒眼色呢？」他母親道：「你舅舅雖陞了去，還有你姨父家。況這幾年來，你舅舅姨娘兩處每每帶信捎書接偺們來。如今既來了，你舅舅雖忙著起身，你賈家的姨娘未必不苦留我們。偺們且忙忙的收拾房子，豈不使人見怪？你的意思，我早知道了：守著舅舅姨母住著，未免拘緊了，不如各自住著，好任意施為。既然如此，你自去挑所宅子去住；我和你姨娘姊妹們別了這幾年，卻要廝守幾日。我帶了你妹子投你姨娘家去，你道好不好？」薛蟠見母親如此說，情知扭不過，只得吩咐人夫，一路奔榮國府而來。

Of the journey our story gives no record, except to say that on the last day, when they were about to enter the capital, they heard news that Xue Pan’s uncle Wang Zi-teng had just been promoted C.-in-C. Northern Provinces with instructions to leave the capital on a tour of frontier inspection. The news secretly delighted Xue Pan. ‘Just as I was worrying about Uncle cramping my style when we got to the capital and preventing me from having a really good fling,’ he reflected, ‘the old boy obligingly gets himself popped out of the way. Fortune is on my side!’

He then proceeded to reason as follows with his mother: ‘We’ve got several houses in the capital, but it’s all of ten years since anyone has been to stay in them, so you can bet that the housekeepers will have let all the rooms out on the sly. We shall have to send someone on ahead to get things straightened out for us.’

‘Why ever should we go to any such trouble?’ said his mother. ‘I thought the main purpose of our coming here in the first place was to see our relations. There must be lots and lots of spare room at your Uncle Wang’s and at your Uncle Jia’s place. Surely it would be much more sensible to stay with one of them first? There will be plenty of time to send our people to get a place of our own ready after we are there.’

‘But Uncle’s just been promoted to the Northern Provinces,’ Xue Pan expostulated. ‘They will all be making frantic preparations for him to go. What sort of stupid idiots shall we look like if we come scooting along with all our bag and baggage just at the very moment when he wants to leave?’ ‘Suppose your Uncle Wang has been promoted to another place,’ said his mother. ‘There is still your Uncle Jia. Besides, Uncle Wang and Auntie Jia have for years been sending us letters inviting us to come and stay with them. Now that we are here, even though Uncle Wang is busy getting ready to go, Auntie Jia will probably be only too glad to have us. I’m sure she would be most offended if we were to go rushing off to get our own house ready. ‘But I know perfectly well what’s in your mind. You think that if we are staying with your uncle or aunt you will be too restricted, and that if we were living in our own place you would be freer to do just as you liked. Very well then. Why don’t you go off and choose a house for yourself to live in and let me and your sister go to Auntie’s without you? I haven’t seen her or the girls for years and years, and I intend to spend a few days with them now we are here.’ Experience taught Xue Pan that his mother was in an obstinate mood and not to be shaken from her purpose, so he resignedly gave orders to the porters to make straight for the Rong mansion.

那時王夫人已知薛蟠官司一事虧賈雨村就中維持了，纔放了心。又見哥哥陞了邊缺，正愁少了娘家的親戚來往，略加寂寞。過了幾日，忽家人報：「姨太太帶了哥兒姐兒合家進京，在門外下車了。」喜的王夫人忙帶了人接出大廳來，將薛姨媽等接了進去。姊妹們暮年相見，悲喜交集，自不必說。敘了一番契闊，又引著拜見賈母，將人情土物各種酬獻了。合家俱廝見過。又治席接風。

 Lady Wang had just breathed a sigh of relief on learning that the affair of Xue Pan’s manslaughter charge had been retrieved through the good offices of Jia Yu-cun, when the news that her elder brother had been promoted to a frontier post plunged her once more in gloom at the prospect of losing her main source of contact with the members of her own family. Several days passed in despondency, and then suddenly the servants announced that her sister, bringing her son and daughter and all her household with her, had arrived in the capital and was at that very moment outside the gate dismounting from her carriage.

Delightedly she hurried with her women to the entrance of the main reception hall and conducted Aunt Xue and her party inside. The sudden reunion of the two sisters was, it goes without saying, an affecting one in which joy and sorrow mingled. After an exchange of information about the years of separation, and after they had been taken to see Grandmother Jia and made their reverence to her, and after the gifts of Nanking produce had been presented and everyone had been introduced to everyone else, there was a family party to welcome the new arrivals.

薛蟠拜見過賈政賈璉，又引著見了賈赦賈珍等。賈政便使人進來對王夫人說：「姨太太已有了年紀，外甥年輕不知庶務，在外住著，恐怕又要生事。偺們東南角上梨香院那一所十來間房，白空閒著，叫人請了姨太太和姐兒哥兒住了甚好。」王夫人原要留住。賈母也就遣人來說：「請姨太太就在這裡住下，大家親密些。」薛姨媽正欲同居一處，方可拘緊些兒子；若另住在外邊，又恐縱性惹禍。遂忙應允，又私與王夫人說明：「一應日費供給一概都免，方是處常之法。」王夫人知他家不難於此，遂亦從其自便。從此後，薛家母女就在梨香院住了。

Xue Pan, meanwhile, had paid his respects to Jia Zheng and Jia Lian and been taken to see Jia She and Cousin Zhen. Jia Zheng now sent a servant round to Lady Wang with the following message:

‘Your sister is getting on in years and our nephew is very young and seems rather inexperienced and, I fear, quite capable of getting into a scrape again if they are going to live outside. Pear Tree Court in the north-east corner of our property is lying completely unoccupied at the moment and has quite a sizeable amount of room in it. Why not invite your sister and her children to move in there?’

Lady Wang had wanted all along to ask her sister to stay. Grandmother Jia had sent someone round to tell her that she should ‘ask Mrs Xue to stay with us here, so that we can all be close to one another.’ And Aunt Xue for her own part had been wanting to stay so that some sort of check could be kept on her son. She was sure that if they were to be on their own somewhere else in the city his unbridled nature would precipitate some fresh calamity. She therefore accepted the invitation with alacrity, privately adding the proviso that she could only contemplate a long stay if it was on the understanding that they were themselves to be responsible for all their expenses. Lady Wang knew that money was no problem to them, so she readily consented, and Aunt Xue and her children proceeded there and then to move into Pear Tree Court.

原來這梨香院乃當日榮公暮年養靜之所，小小巧巧，約有十餘間房舍，前廳後舍俱全。另有一門通街，薛蟠的家人就走此門出入。西南有一角門，通一夾道，出了夾道便是王夫人正房的東院了。每日或飯後，或晚間，薛姨媽便過來，或與賈母閒談，或與王夫人相敘。寶釵日與黛玉迎春姊妹等一處，或看書下棋，或做針黹，倒也十分相安。只是薛蟠起初原不欲在賈府中居住，生恐姨父管束，不得自在；無奈母親執意在此，且賈宅中又十分殷勤苦留，只得暫且住下，一面使人打掃出自家的房屋，再移居過去。誰知自來此間，住了不上一月，賈宅族中凡有的子姪俱已認熟了一半，凡是那些紈袴氣習者，莫不喜與他來往。今日會酒，明日觀花，甚至聚賭嫖娼，無所不至，引誘的薛蟠比當日更壞了十倍。雖說賈政訓子有方，治家有法，一則族大人多，照管不到；二則現在族長乃是賈珍，彼乃寧府長孫，又現襲職，凡族中事，都是他掌管；三則公私冗雜，且素性瀟灑，不以俗務為要，每公暇之時，不過看書著棋而已。況這梨香院相隔兩層房舍，又有街門別開，任意可以出入，所以這些子弟們竟可以放意暢懷的鬧。因此，薛蟠遂將移居之念漸漸打滅了。

This Pear Tree Court had been the Duke of Rong-guo’s retreat during the last years of his life. Its buildings totalled not much more than ten frames; but though small and charming, it was complete in every respect, with a little reception room in the front and all the usual rooms and offices behind. It had its own outer door on to the street, through which Xue Pan and the menservants could come and go, and another gate in the south-west corner giving on to a passage-way which led into the courtyard east of Lady Wang’s compound.

Through this passage-way Aunt Xue would now daily repair, either after dinner or in the evening, to gossip with Grandmother Jia or reminisce with her sister, Lady Wang. Bao-chai for her part spent her time each day in great contentment, reading or playing Go or sewing with Dai-yu and the three girls.

The only dissatisfied member of the party – to begin with, at any rate—was Xue Pan. He had not wanted to stay in the Jia household, fearing that his uncle’s control would prevent him from enjoying himself, but what with his mother’s obstinacy and the insistence of the Jias themselves, he was obliged to acquiesce in settling there for the time being, contenting himself with sending some of his people to clean up one of their houses outside so that he would be able to move there later on.

But, to his pleasant surprise, he discovered that the young males of the Jia establishment, half of whom he was already on familiar terms with before he had been there a month, were of the same idle, extravagant persuasion as himself and thought him a capital fellow and boon companion. And so he found himself meeting them for a drinking-party one day, for theatre-going the next, on a third day perhaps gambling with them or visiting brothels. For there were no limits to the depravity of their pleasures, and Xue Pan, who was bad enough to start with, soon became ten times worse under their expert guidance.

It was not that Jia Zheng was a slack disciplinarian, incapable of keeping his house in order; but the clan was so numerous that he simply could not keep an eye on everyone at once. And in any case the nominal head of the family was not Jia Zheng but Cousin Zhen who, as eldest grandson of the senior, Ning-guo branch, had inherited the founder’s office and emoluments and was therefore officially in charge of all the clan’s affairs.

Besides, Jia Zheng was kept busy with public and private business of his own and, being by nature a quiet, retiring man who attached little importance to mundane affairs, tended to use whatever leisure time he had for reading and playing Go.

Then again, the Pear Tree Court was two courtyards away from Jia Zheng’s compound and had its own private door onto the street by which Xue Pan could come and go as he pleased, so that he and his young cronies could enjoy themselves to their heart’s content with no one being any the wiser. Under these agreeable Circumstances Xue Pan gradually abandoned all thought of moving out.

日後如何，下回分解。

But as to the outcome of these capers: that will be told in a later chapter.