Library

I initially wrote *Huoren Zongguo* (General Summary for People's Survival) and *Ying'er Zhiyao* (Essential Guidelines for Infants), but the vulgar world mocked me for seeking fame. When the section on *Maishu* (Pulse Book) was published, they then restrained themselves and warned each other, saying, "It is indeed not easy." Who would be willing to empty their granaries to cater to others? I said, "Do you know Heaven? Heaven intends to entrust its heart of saving people and benefiting things to me, thus endowing me with the learning of mental clarity and intuitive understanding. Having received this from Heaven, one should return it to serve Heaven (benefit humanity); this is what the Creator originally expected. Perhaps some people shine like light through a crack, hoarding knowledge within themselves without spreading it to others; I fear this would be like jade destroying itself in a box or grass and trees rotting together. Although humans have 404 types of diseases, and some may fall outside the scope of the first three volumes, can we not investigate the syndromes and select formulas, revealing the direct path of *Zhizhi* (Direct Guidance)? 'Zhi' (Direct) means clear and easy to understand; 'Zhi' (Point/Guide) means indicating the way. By dissecting the hidden meanings left unspoken by past sages and extracting effective formulas from various schools, combined with family traditions and referenced against *Zhouhou Beiji Fang* (Emergency Prescriptions Kept Up the Sleeve), readers will have clear insight in mind and eye, recognizing syndromes upon facing diseases and finding medicines according to syndromes, just as a carpenter's ink line cannot deceive. Thus, the intention of benevolence will flow continuously, passing down generation to generation—is this not my deep aspiration? I once sighed and wrote: Heaven gives humans these materials (medicine/wisdom/body), surely intending for them to use them. To possess such things but fail to use them is not only to defy Heaven but also to abandon one's own heavenly endowment. I write this to encourage those of like minds.

On the first day of the good month of Jiazi year (Jingding era). Yang Shiying (Courtesy name Dengfu) of Sanshan writes the preface.

The wind in Heaven manifests as Wood on Earth, and corresponds to the Liver in humans; only the Liver governs Wind. The heat in Heaven (including warmth, summer heat, blazing heat, and muggy heat, which are manifestations of heat) manifests as Fire on Earth, and corresponds to the Heart in humans; only the Heart governs Heat. The dampness in Heaven manifests as Earth on Earth, and corresponds to the Spleen in humans; only the Spleen governs Dampness. The dryness in Heaven manifests as Metal on Earth, and corresponds to the Lungs in humans; only the Lungs govern Dryness. The cold in Heaven manifests as Water on Earth, and corresponds to the Kidneys in humans; only the Kidneys govern Cold. Alas! These are the natural Qi of Heaven and Earth. When Qi deviates or hides, invading humans when they are deficient, and humans cannot overcome it, this is how hundred diseases arise. Therefore, Wind easily injures the Liver, Heat easily injures the Heart, Dampness easily injures the Spleen, Dryness easily injures the Lungs, Cold easily injures the Kidneys, and Summer-heat easily injures the Pericardium (Xinbaoluo). (The Pericardium is called Danzhong, located between the chest and diaphragm. Since the Heart governs Summer-heat, Summer-heat Qi lies latent between the Sanjiao, diaphragm, and stomach.) If Wind Qi prevails, Wood evil attacks Earth, causing Spleen disease. If Heat Qi prevails, Fire evil attacks Metal, causing Lung disease. If Dampness Qi prevails, Earth evil attacks Water, causing Kidney disease. If Dryness Qi prevails, Metal evil attacks Wood, causing Liver disease. If Cold Qi arrives greatly, Heart Fire is also overcome by Kidney Water. The Left Guan pulse position (Renying) indicates the entry point of Wind, Cold, Summer-heat, Dampness, Heat, and Dryness. The Right Guan pulse position (Qikou) distinguishes whether Zang Qi is stagnant or smooth, and the accumulation/dispersion and fullness/deficiency of Food Qi. As for sorrow and overthinking, they easily consume Heart Spirit. Anger and qi rebellion easily damage Liver Qi. Indulgence in desires and forcing the will damage the Kidneys. External cold and cold drinks harm the Lungs. Hunger, fullness, fatigue, and overwork injure the Spleen. External Six Evils attacking each other and Internal Seven Emotions affecting each other—any of these constitute Evil of the Five Zang Organs. By following what each governs, one can trace where a specific Zang organ has been affected, and the cause will be found.

The Heart governs Blood, stores Shen (Spirit), corresponds superiorly to the tongue, exteriorly to the palms, its sound is speech, its color is red, its odor is scorched, its taste is bitter, and its fluid is sweat. The Liver governs Sinews, stores Hun (Ethereal Soul), corresponds superiorly to the eyes, exteriorly to the nails, its sound is shouting, its color is green, its odor is dry, its taste is sour, and its fluid is tears. The Kidneys govern Bones, store Jing (Essence) and Zhi (Will), correspond superiorly to the ears, exteriorly to the waist and back, its sound is groaning, its color is black, its odor is putrid, its taste is salty, and its fluid is saliva. (When Kidneys are cold, there is often pungency, and its fluid is nasal discharge. The Spleen governs Muscle, stores Yi (Intellect) and Zhi (Wisdom - note: distinct from Kidney Zhi), corresponds superiorly to the mouth, exteriorly to the four limbs, its sound is singing, its color is yellow, its odor is fragrant, its taste is sweet, and its fluid is drool. Thus, Heart and Lungs are above, governing Mai Qi (Pulse Qi); Liver and Kidneys are below, storing Jing and Blood; the Spleen is in the center, nourishing Jing, Blood, and Mai Qi. The normal Heart pulse is floating, large, and scattered; the normal Liver pulse is wiry, fine, and long; the normal Kidney pulse is deep, soft, and slippery; the normal Lung pulse is short, choppy, and floating; the normal Spleen pulse is harmonious, slow, and large. Ping (Normal) refers to the inherent correct pulses of the Five Zang Organs. Spring Wiry, Summer Hook (Wu Shuhe stated: Summer Full/Hong takes the meaning of Fire pulse coming strongly), Autumn Feather, Winter Stone—these correspond to the flourishing states of the Four Seasons, symbolizing Wood, Fire, Metal, and Water, each flourishing for 72 days. Earth pulse is the seasonal pulse, flourishing for 18 days in the last month of each season. Spring is Wiry-Slow, Summer is Full-Slow, Autumn is Subtle-Slow, Winter is Deep-Slow. Combined across seasons, this totals 72 days. Spring Wiry refers to a straight shape, fine, weak, and long. Summer Hook refers to floating, large, and scattered, coming fast and departing slow. Autumn Feather refers to a sparse and soft shape, light, void, and floating. Winter Stone refers to deep, soft, and slippery, coming fast when lifting the finger. Earth pulse: warm and thick Qi moves within the Zang-Fu organs; the peaceful state is hard to see, appearing only when declining. The so-called Wiry, Hook, Feather, and Stone merely appear slightly in accordance with the seasons. They must contain the harmony of Grain Spirit and Stomach Qi. If Wiry resembles a drawn bowstring, Hook resembles holding a belt hook, Feather resembles wind-blown feathers, Stone comes like pulling a rope and departs like shooting stones, these are all critical pulses. This indicates an absolute lack of Stomach Qi. If Stomach Qi is depleted and cut off, how can it last long? If Spring yields Metal pulse, Summer yields Water pulse, Autumn yields Fire pulse, Winter yields Earth pulse, and Four Seasons yield Wood pulse, this aligns with Heart pulse overcoming Lung pulse, Lung overcoming Liver, Liver overcoming Spleen, Spleen overcoming Kidney, and Kidney overcoming Heart—all are Thief Evils. How can a person exist if one Zang organ lacks Qi? Then, can we hear about the pulses of the Fu organs? It is said: Small Intestine pulse is slightly Full, Large Intestine is slightly Choppy, Bladder is slightly Deep, Stomach is slightly Slow, and Gallbladder is slightly Wiry and urgent. There is no other reason; Fu organs combine with Zang organs, same Qi seeks same Qi, hence approximations are obtained. Furthermore, what did the ancients mean by Nine Zang Organs? It is said: Form Zang includes four: head/horns, eyes/ears, mouth/teeth, chest/middle. Spirit Zang includes five: Heart stores Shen, Liver stores Hun, Kidneys store Zhi, Lungs store Po, and Spleen stores Yi. However, Zang organs are the residence of Spirit; complexion is the banner of Spirit. If Five Zang organs are ruined, the complexion must become premature and withered, abnormal and strange; premature decline leads to death. There is further explanation: Pulse Micro-Slow and Soft-Weak, though signs differ, both indicate Cold and Deficiency. Pulse Rapid-Excess and Long-Full, though forms differ, both indicate Heat and Excess. If all pulses are Wiry, I know the disease originates in the Liver; if all are Slow, in the Spleen; if all are Choppy, in the Lungs. If all pulses are Floating-Full, is the disease not in the Heart? If all are Deep-Slippery, is it not in the Kidneys? Observing Zang-Fu together: for example, if Rapid appears at Left Cun, Rapid indicates Heat. If felt deeply, Heat enters the Heart; if felt superficially, Heat enters the Small Intestine. If Slow appears at Left Chi, Slow indicates Cold. If felt deeply, Cold enters the Kidneys; if felt superficially, Cold enters the Bladder. The rest can be deduced similarly. Alas! This is the method of general adaptation. How can one discuss this with a round-minded scholar?