黄帝问曰∶何谓三部？岐伯对曰∶上部中部下部，其部各有三候，三候者，有天，
有地，有人。上部天，两额之动脉；上部地，两颊之动脉；上部人，耳前之动脉。中部天，
手太阴；中部地，手阳明；中部人，手少阴。下部天，足厥阴；下部地，足少阴；下部人，
足太阴。下部之天以候肝，地以候肾，人以候脾胃之气。中部之天以候肺，地以候胸中之气
，人以候心。上部之天以候头角之气，地以候口齿之气，人以候耳目之气。此三部者，三而
成天，三而成地，三而成人。三而三之，合为九，九分为九野，九野为九脏。故神脏五，形
脏四，合为九脏。五脏已败，其色必夭，夭必死矣。曰∶以候奈何？曰∶必先度其形之肥瘦
，以调其气之虚实，实则泻之，虚则补之，必先去其血脉而后调之，无问其病，以平为期。
曰∶决死生奈何？曰形盛脉细，少气不足以息者危。形瘦脉大，胸中多气者死。形气相得
者生。参伍不调者病。三部九候皆相失者死。上下左右之脉相应如参舂者病甚。上下左右相
失不可数者死。中部之候虽独调，与众脏相失者死。中部之候相减者死。目内陷者死。曰∶
何以知病之所在？曰∶察九候独小者病。独大者病。独疾者病。独迟者病。独热者病。独寒
者病。独陷下者病。以左手于左足上去踝五寸而按之，以右手当踝而弹之，其应过五寸以上
蠕蠕然者不病。其应疾中手浑浑然者病。中手徐徐然者病，其应上不能至五寸，弹之不
应者死。脱肉身不去者死。中部乍疏乍数者死。代脉而钩者，病在络脉。九候之相应也，上
下若一，不得相失。一候后则病，二候后则病甚，三候后则病危。所谓后者，应不俱也。察
其腑脏，以知生死之期。必先知经脉而后知病脉，真脏脉见者，邪（《素问》无
邪字）胜，死也。足太阳之气绝者，其足不可以屈伸，死必戴眼。曰∶冬阴夏阳奈何？曰∶九
候之脉皆
平旦死。热中及热病者以日中死。病风者以日夕死。病水者以夜半死。其脉乍数乍疏
，乍迟乍疾者，以日乘四季死。形肉已脱，九候虽调者犹死。七诊虽见，九候皆顺者不
死。所言不死者，风气之病，及经月之病，似七诊之病而非也，故言不死。若有七诊之病，
其脉候亦败者死矣，必发哕噫。必审问其所始病，与今之所方病，而后（《素问》下有各字）
切循其脉，视其经络浮沉，以上下逆从循之。其脉疾者不病，其脉迟者病，不往不来者
（《素问》作脉不往来者）死，皮肤着者死。曰∶其可治者奈何？曰∶经病者治其经，络病者
治其络（《素问》二络上有孙字），身有痛者治其经络。其病者在奇邪，奇邪之脉则缪刺
之。留瘦不移，节而刺之。上实下虚，切而顺之，索其结络脉，刺出其血，以通其气。瞳子
高者太阳不足，戴眼者太阳已绝，此决死生之要，不可不察也。
黄帝问道：什么叫作“三部”？岐伯回答说：上部、中部、下部，每一部各有三种脉候，这三种脉候，分别对应天、地、人。上部的天，指两额侧的动脉；上部的地，指两颊侧的动脉；上部的人，指耳前的动脉。中部的天，指手太阴肺经；中部的地，指手阳明大肠经；中部的人，指手少阴心经。下部的天，指足厥阴肝经；下部的地，指足少阴肾经；下部的人，指足太阴脾经。下部的天用来诊察肝脏，地用来诊察肾脏，人用来诊察脾胃之气。中部的天用来诊察肺脏，地用来诊察胸中之气，人用来诊察心脏。上部的天用来诊察头角之气，地用来诊察口齿之气，人用来诊察耳目之气。这三部，每部三候，三三得九，合成天、地、人。三乘以三，合为九候，九候分为九野，九野对应九脏。所以神脏有五个，形脏有四个，合起来是九脏。如果五脏精气败坏，面色必然枯槁无华，面色枯槁无华必定死亡。黄帝问：如何运用这些脉候来诊察呢？岐伯说：必须先度量病人的形体肥瘦，以调察其气的虚实，实证用泻法，虚证用补法，必须先去疏通血脉，然后再进行调理，不论什么病，以气血平和为治愈标准。黄帝问：如何判断死生呢？岐伯说：形体壮盛但脉象细弱，气息短促不足以呼吸的，病情危重。形体消瘦但脉象洪大，胸中气盛的，主死。形体与脉气相协调的，主生。脉象参差杂乱不调和的，有病。如果三部九候的脉象都失常错乱的，主死。上下左右各处的脉象相互呼应，像春米一样此起彼落的，病势严重。上下左右脉象失去联系且无法计数的，主死。中部的脉候虽然单独调和，但与其余脏腑的脉象不相协调的，主死。中部脉候减弱不足的，主死。目眶内陷的，主死。黄帝问：怎样知道疾病的具体部位？岐伯说：观察九候之中，唯独细小的，是有病；唯独洪大的，是有病；唯独急促的，是有病；唯独迟缓的，是有病；唯独发热的，是有病；唯独发冷的，是有病；唯独下陷不起的，是有病。用左手在左足踝上五寸处按住，用右手在踝部弹击，如果感应超过五寸以上，感觉蠕蠕跳动的，说明没有病。如果感应迅速，手感浑浑乱乱的，说明有病。如果手感徐徐缓慢的，说明有病；如果感应向上不能到达五寸，或者弹击而没有反应的，主死。身体极度消瘦脱肉而肌肉不松弛的，主死。中部脉象忽快忽慢的，主死。出现代脉且兼见钩象的，病在络脉。九候之间的相应关系，上下应该一致，不能失常。如果某一候的脉气落后于其他各候，则有病；落后两个候的，病势加重；落后三个候的，病情危重。所谓“落后”，是指脉搏反应不同步。通过诊察腑脏，可以预知生死的时间。必须先知正常的经脉脉象，然后才能识别病脉。如果出现真脏脉，说明邪气胜正，主死。足太阳经气衰竭的，双脚不能屈伸，死后眼睛向上翻视（戴眼）。黄帝问：冬季属阴、夏季属阳，这与脉象有什么关系呢？岐伯说：九候脉象都平匀正常的病人，多在平旦（清晨）死亡。热中病及热病的病人，多在中日（中午）死亡。患风病的病人，多在日夕（傍晚）死亡。患水病的病人，多在夜半（半夜）死亡。脉象忽快忽慢、忽迟忽疾的，多在四季交替之时（即辰、戌、丑、未月或时辰）死亡。形体肌肉已经脱失的，即使九候脉象调和，也主死。虽然出现了上述七种死脉征象，但如果九候脉象都顺应的，不死。所说的不死的情况，是指风气之病，以及月经相关的疾病，它们看似符合七诊的死脉特征，但实际上不是死证，所以说不会死。如果有七诊的死脉征象，且脉候也已败坏，则主死，必定会出现呃逆嗳气。必须详细询问病人最初发病的情况，以及现在正在发生的病症，然后切按循摸其脉象，观察经络的浮沉变化，顺着上下逆从的规律去推求。脉象疾速有力的不一定有病，脉象迟缓的有病，脉气往来断绝的，主死，皮肤干枯紧贴骨节的，主死。黄帝问：那些可以治疗的病人该怎么办？岐伯说：经病治疗其经脉，络病治疗其络脉（《素问》中“络”字前有“孙”字），身体疼痛的治疗其经络。病位在奇邪（异常之邪）的，采用缪刺法治疗。久病体瘦且病位固定的，在关节穴位针刺。上实下虚的，切按脉象并顺其势治疗，寻找结聚的络脉，刺出其瘀血，以通畅气机。眼球上视固定不动的，是太阳经气不足；眼睛向上翻视不能转动的，是太阳经气已绝，这是决断死生的关键，不可不仔细考察。
Huangdi asked: What is meant by "Three Parts"? Qibo replied: The Upper, Middle, and Lower parts. Each part has three pulses (Hou), which correspond to Heaven, Earth, and Man. The Heaven of the Upper part refers to the arteries on both sides of the forehead; the Earth of the Upper part refers to the arteries on both cheeks; the Man of the Upper part refers to the artery in front of the ears. The Heaven of the Middle part refers to the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian; the Earth of the Middle part refers to the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian; the Man of the Middle part refers to the Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian. The Heaven of the Lower part refers to the Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian; the Earth of the Lower part refers to the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian; the Man of the Lower part refers to the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian. The Heaven of the Lower part is used to inspect the Liver; the Earth to inspect the Kidneys; the Man to inspect the Qi of the Spleen and Stomach. The Heaven of the Middle part is used to inspect the Lungs; the Earth to inspect the Qi of the Chest; the Man to inspect the Heart. The Heaven of the Upper part is used to inspect the Qi of the head and horns; the Earth to inspect the Qi of the mouth and teeth; the Man to inspect the Qi of the eyes and ears. These Three Parts, each with three pulses, form Heaven, Earth, and Man. Three times three equals nine pulses. The nine pulses are divided into nine fields, corresponding to the Nine Zang Organs. Thus, there are five Shen (Spirit) Zang Organs and four Xing (Form) Zang Organs, totaling nine. If the essence of the Five Zang Organs fails, the complexion will inevitably become dull and lifeless; a dull and lifeless complexion indicates death. Huangdi asked: How are these pulses used for inspection? Qibo said: One must first measure the patient's body fat or thinness to adjust for the deficiency or excess of their Qi. For excess conditions, use draining methods; for deficiency conditions, use tonifying methods. One must first unblock the blood vessels before regulating the condition, regardless of the disease, aiming for balance. Huangdi asked: How can one determine life and death? Qibo said: If the body is robust but the pulse is thin, and there is shortness of breath insufficient for respiration, the condition is critical. If the body is emaciated but the pulse is large, and there is excessive Qi in the chest, death ensues. If the body and Qi are harmonious, the patient lives. If the pulses are irregular and uncoordinated, disease exists. If the pulses in all three parts and nine positions are disordered, death ensues. If the pulses above and below, left and right respond to each other like pounding grain, the disease is severe. If the pulses above and below are disconnected and cannot be counted, death ensues. If the pulses in the Middle part are individually coordinated but inconsistent with the other organs, death ensues. If the pulses in the Middle part are diminished, death ensues. If the eye sockets are sunken, death ensues. Huangdi asked: How does one know the location of the disease? Qibo said: Observe the nine pulses. If one is exclusively small, there is disease. If one is exclusively large, there is disease. If one is exclusively rapid, there is disease. If one is exclusively slow, there is disease. If one is exclusively hot, there is disease. If one is exclusively cold, there is disease. If one is exclusively depressed/sunken, there is disease. Place the left hand five cun above the ankle on the left foot and press down. With the right hand, tap at the ankle. If the response is felt more than five cun away and feels like a gentle trembling, there is no disease. If the response is rapid and feels chaotic/hundun to the touch, there is disease. If the response feels slow and steady to the touch, there is disease. If the response does not reach five cun upwards, or if there is no response to tapping, death ensues. If the body is wasted and muscles do not relax, death ensues. If the pulses in the Middle part are alternately sparse and frequent, death ensues. A Dai (intermittent) pulse combined with a Gou (hook-like) quality indicates disease in the Luo (Collateral) vessels. The correspondence among the nine pulses should be consistent above and below, without deviation. If one pulse lags behind, there is disease; if two lag behind, the disease is severe; if three lag behind, the condition is critical. "Lagging behind" means the responses are not simultaneous. By inspecting the Fu and Zang organs, one can predict the time of death. One must first understand the normal Jing (Meridian) pulses before identifying the Bing (Disease) pulses. The appearance of the True Zang pulse indicates that pathogenic factors have overcome healthy Qi, leading to death. When the Qi of the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian is exhausted, the feet cannot flex or extend, and death is accompanied by upward staring of the eyes (Daiyan). Huangdi asked: Winter is Yin and Summer is Yang; how does this relate? Qibo said: Patients whose nine pulses are all level may die at dawn (Pingdan). Patients with Heat-Zhong or heat diseases may die at noon (Rizhong). Patients with wind diseases may die at dusk (Rixi). Patients with water diseases may die at midnight (Yeban). Patients whose pulses are alternately rapid and slow, or fast and sluggish, may die during the transition periods of the four seasons (Earth phases). If flesh and muscle have already wasted away, even if the nine pulses are coordinated, death ensues. Although the seven diagnostic signs of death are present, if the nine pulses are compliant, the patient will not die. The cases described as non-fatal refer to wind diseases and menstrual disorders, which resemble the seven fatal signs but are not actually so, hence they are said to be non-fatal. If the seven fatal signs are present and the pulse qualities are also failed, death ensues, accompanied by hiccups and belching. One must carefully inquire about the onset of the illness and the current symptoms, then palpate and trace the pulses, observing the floating and sinking of the meridians, and following the upward/downward and reverse/oblique patterns. A rapid pulse does not necessarily indicate disease; a slow pulse indicates disease; a pulse with no incoming or outgoing flow indicates death; skin adhering tightly to the bone indicates death. Huangdi asked: How should treatable cases be managed? Qibo said: Treat Jing meridian diseases by treating the Jing meridians; treat Luo collateral diseases by treating the Luo collaterals (the character "Sun" precedes "Luo" in Suwen); treat body pain by treating the Jing and Luo meridians. If the disease lies in Qi-Xie (abnormal pathogens), apply Miu-Ci (lateral needling). For chronic emaciation with fixed locations, puncture at the joints. For upper excess and lower deficiency, palpate and follow the trend, seek out knotted collateral vessels, puncture to release blood, and thereby unblock the Qi. High-set eyeballs indicate insufficiency of the Taiyang; upward staring indicates exhaustion of the Taiyang. This is the key to determining life and death and must be carefully examined.