典藏书目

The parts of the two hands where the fingernails connect are called the small joints (Xiaojie). Behind the small joint is the middle joint (Zhongjie), and behind the middle joint is the proximal joint (Benjie). Behind the proximal joint, before the limb bone, palm bones (Zhanggu) are generated. On the palm bones, palm flesh (Zhangrou) is generated. Behind the palm flesh, the part that can flex and extend is the wrist (Wan). The high bone rising from the left side of the wrist is the left lateral malleolus of the hand (Shouwaihuai), and the high bone rising from the right side is the right lateral malleolus of the hand (Shouwanhuai). Connected to these two malleoli, the arm bone (Bigu) grows upward. Assisting the arm bone is the thigh bone (Bigu, here referring to the humerus or upper arm bone contextually, though literally 'thigh', in this anatomical sequence it refers to the upper limb segment leading to the elbow). Three bones connecting sequentially form the elbow bone (Zhougu). The front part that can flex is the bent elbow (Quzhou). Above the bent elbow grows the humerus (Gugu - text implies a missing character likely 肱骨), above which grows the scapula (Jianjia - text implies 肩胛骨). In front of the scapula is the clavicle (Suogu - text implies 锁骨/横骨). In front of the clavicle is the hip bone (Bigu - *Note: Textual error in original likely refers to sternum or rib area, but translated as Bigu per instruction to keep names*). The depression in the middle of the Bigu is the Quepen (Quepen acupoint/collarbone fossa). Above the Quepen is the neck (Jing). In front of the neck is the pharynx and larynx (Sanghou). Above the pharynx and larynx is the Adam's apple (Jiehout). Above the Adam's apple is the chin (Ke). On both sides of the chin are the curved jaw (Quhan). On both sides of the curved jaw is the lower cheek (Yi). On both sides of the Yi is the Jiache (Jiache acupoint/cheekbone area). Above Jiache is the ear (Er). Above the ear is the curved temple (Qubin). Going up from the curved temple is the vertex (Ding). In front of the vertex is the fontanelle (Xinmen). Below the fontanelle is the hairline (Faji). Directly below the hairline is the forehead (E). Below the forehead are the eyebrows (Mei). At the end of the eyebrow margin is the Taiyang acupoint (Taiyangxue). In front of the Taiyang acupoint is the eye (Mu). On both sides of the eyes are two small bones (Orbital bones). Above the small bones is the upper eyelid (Shangjian), and below is the lower eyelid (Xiajian). Located centrally and capable of vision is the pupil (Mutongzi). Near the nose from the pupil is the root of the nose (Dashangen). Near the Dashangen is the bridge of the nose (Bishangen). Above the bridge of the nose is Yintang (Yintang acupoint). Above Yintang is the brain corner (Naojiao, frontal eminence). Below the Naojiao is the Chengzhen bone (Occipital region). Horizontally growing below the spinal column is the hip bone (Kuangu). On both sides of the Kuangu are the Cha bones (Iliac wings). Below and in the middle of the Cha bones is the Yaomen bone (Lumbar region). Connected above the Cha bones are the leg bones (Tuigu). Below the leg bones, the part that can flex is the popliteal fossa (Quxi). Above the Quxi grows the kneecap (Xigaitu). Below the kneecap grows the tibia (Jinggu). Beside the tibia grows the fibula (Feigu). Rising high on the left below the fibula is the left lateral malleolus of the foot (Zuwaihuai). Rising high on the right is the right lateral malleolus of the foot (Zuwanhuai). Hanging down in front of the tibia is the dorsum of the foot bone (Zufu). In front of the Zufu is the metatarsophalangeal joint (Zubenjie). In front of the Benjie is the small joint (Xiaojie, phalanx). Connected by the Xiaojie are the toenails. Growing behind the nails is the anterior tarsus (Zuqianfu). Depressed behind the fu is the sole of the foot (Zuxin). Growing below the Zuxin is the metatarsal bone (Zuzhanggu). Growing behind the Zhanggu is the heel flesh (Zhongrou). Behind the Zhongrou is the heel (Gen).

To inspect the "Dripping Bone Kinship" method: Suppose Person A is the father or mother, and there are skeletal remains present. If Person B comes to claim biological son or daughter, how to verify? Let Person B prick one or two drops of blood from their body and drip it onto the skeletal remains. If they are indeed biological relatives, the blood will seep into the bone interior; otherwise, it will not. The common saying "Dripping Bone Kinship" refers to this.

Inspection of bones must be done in clear weather. First, wash the bones clean with water. Use hemp rope to string them in order to fix the shape, and place them on a bamboo mat. Then, dig a pit five chi long, three chi wide, and two chi deep. Burn a large amount of firewood and charcoal until the ground turns red. Remove the fire, then pour two sheng of good wine and five sheng of sour vinegar into the pit. While the heat is still rising, carry the bones into the pit and cover them with straw mats to steam for about one hour (Liangshi). When the ground cools, remove the mats and take out the bones. Under bright sunlight, use a red oil umbrella to shade the corpse and bones during inspection.

If there are areas on the bone where blows were struck, there will be red lines, slightly visible. At the site of bone fracture, each end of the connection will have a color of blood晕 (bruising/halo). Inspect the bone with marks against the sun; if the color is red and lively, it is clearly a blow received while alive.

If there is no blood infiltration on the bone, only traces of damage or fracture, these are marks after death. Do not boil the bones in wine and vinegar, as this may cause inconvenience. This item requires clear weather; it is difficult to see in rainy days.

If rain makes it unavoidable, use the boiling method. Take one urn, like a pot for cooking, and boil vinegar over charcoal fire. Add much salt and white plums, and decoct together with the bones. One must supervise personally. Wait for thousands of boils, then take out, wash with water, and shine against the sun; the marks will appear. Blood soaks into the damaged areas of the bone, appearing red, cyan, or black. Carefully inspect for any cracks.

Do not let tin come into contact with the bones during boiling; if tin is used, the bones will mostly turn dark and dull.

If someone cheats by placing drugs in the pot, the injured areas of the bone will turn white and become invisible. (See Verification of Corpses section for antidotes).

If bones have been washed and covered two or three times, their color becomes white, similar to undamaged bones. How to distinguish? Pour oil onto the bones at the sites to be inspected. Large bones have seams, small bones have pores. Wait for the oil to overflow, then wipe it dry. Shine against the light at the injury site; the oil will stop flowing where the injury is, while bright areas indicate no damage.

Another method: Grind ink thickly and apply it to the bone. When dry, wash off the ink. If there is an injury, the ink will penetrate; if not, it will not penetrate.

Yet another method: Wipe the bone with new cotton wool. Wherever there is an injury, the cotton fibers will catch. For fractures, the color is at both ends of the broken bone. Also look at the fracture site; the bony spicules point inward or outward. In beatings causing fractures, the spicules point inward; those pointing outward are not from beating.

Skull bones with other causes of injury appear green; fractured bones contain stasis blood.

Carefully observe green or purple-black halos on the bone: Long shapes indicate blunt objects, round shapes indicate fists, large shapes indicate head impacts, and small shapes indicate toe kicks.

If one of the four main skeletal groups has a fracture, whether fatal or non-vital, instruct the coroner and assistant to specify and loudly report.

After covering and inspecting, the coroner and assistant report on the four skeletal groups, stating: The corpse is supine. Starting from the skull: From the top center to the fontanelle bone, nasal bridge bone, chin/jaw bone, and mouth bones are all intact; both eye sockets, both forehead angles, both temples, both ears, and both cheekbones are intact; both Jianjing points, both chest ribs are intact; the turtle bone (sternum/xiphoid) and heart pit bone are intact.

Left arm, wrist, hand, and thigh bone are intact; left ribs are intact; left hip, left leg, left lower leg, thigh bone, left ankle bone, and foot sole bones are all intact.

The right side is the same.

Turn over and report: Back of the head, Chengzhen bone, spine down to the coccyx bone are all intact.

In cases of verifying injuries between plaintiff and defendant leading to death, after many days, when the corpse rots, maggots feed, and only bones remain, the original injuries' blood sticks to the bones, providing evidence of dried black blood. If there are no wounds or bone damages, look for breaks on the bone surface, such as hair-like traces, or paths resembling cracked pottery submerged in water, as verification.

For those beaten to death, if the injury does not reach the bone, the muscle adheres tightly to the bone and cannot be removed even by washing with forceful water; it only detaches when pinched with fingernails, and the trace of injury is visible where the muscle was attached.

After inspecting the bones, label the skull, Jianjing, chest bones, arms, wrists, hands, hips, waist, legs, calves, knees, and thigh bones with Left or Right. There are twenty-four ribs in total, twelve on each side. Label them separately: Left First, Left Second, Right First, Right Second, etc., inscribing each according to order. The twenty-four vertebrae of the spine are also numbered from top to bottom: One, Two, Three, Four, continuing to the coccyx, and labeled. The chest turtle bone and heart pit bone are also labeled for easier assembly. The two shoulders, two hips, and two wrists have cover bones (sesamoid/accessory bones), which are usually not counted in the standard number of bones. Only when damaged by beating do they enter the count of all bones; it is better to collect them in the count. First wrap securely with several layers of paper, then wrap with three or four layers of oiled single paper. Tie with ropes crossing at three or four places. Seal the head, stamp and press seals. Place in a bucket, cover with a board, dig a pit to bury, mark the mound, and still use ash to seal/print.

In the capital, there is a poisonous herb called "Jiancao" (Humble Grass). It is boiled into a paste and sold. If used to dye bones, the color will inevitably turn dark and dull, roughly passing for authentic. However, if beaten while alive, the strike site will naturally have halo marks; if there are no halos and the bone is not damaged, it cannot be pointed to as a mark. One must carefully distinguish between true and false.