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Diseases have external causes, such as the wind, cold, summer-heat, dampness, dryness, and fire of the Six Qi (Six Climatic Factors), and the warm, hot, dry, and cold from the Eight Directions. They also have internal causes, such as dietary irregularities in hunger and fullness, emotional fluctuations of joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness, and desires of love and aversion. All these factors affect specific meridians, presenting with pulse characteristics of those meridians (e.g., the Cun position primarily reflects Yang meridians, while the Chi position primarily reflects Yin meridians), and consequently manifest symptoms of those meridians (e.g., headache is common in the Three Yang meridians, abdominal pain in the Three Yin meridians). Furthermore, each Zang organ has its corresponding reactions, exhibiting specific pulse patterns (e.g., a heart disease presents with a洪 [Hong] pulse at a depth of six bean-widths; liver disease presents with a弦 [Xian] pulse at a depth of twelve bean-widths) and corresponding symptoms (e.g., heart disease often involves excessive laughter, liver disease often involves irritability). These are established principles that can be understood. Even if symptoms differ from the initial onset, there will invariably be one or two remaining; although the pulse may change from the beginning, the determination of curability or incurability must always rely on the presence of Stomach Qi (a harmonious and moderate pulse indicates the presence of Stomach Qi). This is a crucial secret passed down from ancient sages, proven effective through repeated trials. Due to the multitude of disease categories, they will not be discussed in detail here; instead, we focus specifically on the category of Wind.

Wind is the leader among the Eight Evils (Eight Pathogenic Factors), a fact well known to all. However, the reason why "Zhong Feng" (Stroke/Wind Strike) in Shang Han (Cold Damage) differs fundamentally from "Zhong Feng" in Pian Ku (Hemiplegia) has not been addressed by anyone for over a thousand years since the Jin Dynasty, revealing that many past practitioners were confused. In fact, this knowledge originates from the *Ling Shu* and *Su Wen*, but was perhaps withheld from those with shallow understanding. The "Zhong Feng" in Shang Han refers to the Wind of the Six Qi, detailed in the *Su Wen: Treatise on the Five Movements and Six Operations*. This involves the interaction between seasonal climatic conditions and Zong Qi (Zong Qi is generated by breathing in natural air and guides Ying Blood within the vessels). When this pathogen invades the human body, it enters the Ying (Nutritive) level; therefore, initial symptoms necessarily include aversion to wind and fever. Since Ying Blood circulates alternately from left to right, illness affects both sides simultaneously, making hemiplegia impossible. Conversely, the "Zhong Feng" causing Pian Ku refers to the Wind of the Eight Directions, as detailed in the *Ling Shu: Chapter on the Discussion of Eight Winds between Huangdi and Qibo*. This involves hostile winds from the four directions attacking Wei (Defensive) Qi. Upon invasion, it remains localized in one corner of the body without affecting Ying Blood; thus, initial symptoms do not include aversion to wind or fever. Since Wei Qi distributes bilaterally outwardly, a disease on the left does not affect the right, and vice versa. This explains the occurrence of hemiplegia. Understanding this clarifies the origin of Wind. We shall now discuss the Eight Directional Winds in detail.