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It is unknown which organ's Yin and Yang first ceased. If Yang Qi (vital energy) ceases first and Yin (substance/cooling energy) exhausts later, the deceased's body color will inevitably be green; if Yin ceases first and Yang exhausts later, the deceased's body color will be red, with warmth in the axillae and heat below the heart (epigastrium).

Green is the color of Wood; the Liver and Kidney both belong to Yin. Red is the color of Fire; the Heart and Lung both belong to Yang. The axillae and the area below the heart are regions of Yang; warmth and heat are manifestations of Yang Qi.

The Master said: If the Cun pulse (inch position) does not extend downward to the Guan position (bar position), it is called Yang Absence (Yang Jue); if the Chi pulse (cubit position) does not extend upward to the Guan position, it is called Yin Absence (Yin Jue). These are all untreatable conditions destined for death. If one calculates the remaining lifespan and the time of death, it is determined by the mutual overcoming relationships of the Five Phases during the monthly solar terms.

The Cun and Chi pulses manifest at the upper and lower ends, but the root of Qi lies in the Middle Jiao (middle burner). The Middle Jiao is responsible for ascending and descending Yin and Yang, causing them to intersect. The pulse should normally manifest at the Guan position. If the Cun pulse does not extend downward to the Guan, the root of Yang is severed at the bottom, which is termed Yang Absence. If the Chi pulse does not extend upward to the Guan, the root of Yin is severed at the top, which is termed Yin Absence. These are all untreatable conditions destined for death. At this stage, although there is a remnant of life, if one calculates the remaining lifespan and the time of death, it is inferred based on the mutual overcoming of the Five Phases in the monthly solar terms. For example, if Wood Qi is weak, it fears Metal; if Fire Qi is weak, it fears Water. Once the solar terms of Metal or Water arrive, the time of death arrives.

In Taiyang disease (Cold Damage), if there is coughing, rebellious Qi, and upward rushing of breath, and the pulse is scattered, it is a sign of death because the physical form has been damaged.

Coughing and rebellious Qi indicate that Stomach Earth Qi rebels upward, preventing Lung Metal Qi from descending. The Lung governs Qi and has a contracting nature. A scattered pulse indicates the loss of Metal Qi's contracting function. When Qi fails, death occurs. Qi functions to warm the skin and fill the body; when Qi scatters, bones become withered and muscles collapse, damaging the physical form, hence it is a sign of death.

The Master said: When the pulse indicates disease but the person appears healthy, it is called "Walking Corpse." If such a person suddenly suffers from vertigo and falls unconscious, and their lifespan is short, they will die. Conversely, when the person is diseased but the pulse appears normal, it is called "Internal Deficiency," due to the lack of Grain Spirit (Gu Shen, vital energy derived from food). Although distressed, they will suffer no harm.

"Pulse diseased, person healthy" is called "Walking Corpse" because the pulse shows pathology without vigorous Wang Qi (prosperous Qi). If sudden vertigo and unconsciousness occur, and the person's lifespan is short, they will die. "Person diseased, pulse healthy" is called "Internal Deficiency" because the Grain Spirit is not vigorous. The disease is in the physical form, not in the spirit/mind; thus, although distressed, there is no danger.

Question: An expert physician knows through observation (Wang), an average physician through inquiry (Wen), and a poor physician through palpation (Mai). I wish to hear the explanation. The Master said: If the patient's family reports fever and body pain, and the patient lies quietly, and upon examination, the pulse is deep and slow, one knows the disease is resolving. Why? Because for exterior diseases, the pulse should be floating and large. Now that it is instead deep and slow, one knows recovery has occurred. Suppose the patient reports sudden abdominal pain and sits quietly. Upon examination, the pulse is floating and large, one knows the disease is resolving. Why? Because for interior diseases, the pulse should be deep and fine. Now that it is instead floating and large, one knows recovery has occurred.

Fever, body pain, and lying quietly are signs of an exterior disease. Palpating a deep and slow pulse indicates the exterior disease is resolving. Since exterior diseases typically present with floating and large pulses, the absence thereof and the presence of deep and slow pulses indicate healing. Abdominal pain is an interior disease. Palpating a floating and large pulse indicates the interior disease is resolving. Since interior diseases typically present with deep and fine pulses, the absence thereof and the presence of floating and large pulses indicate healing. (This section outlines the principles of Observation, Listening/Smelling, Inquiry, and Palpation; the next chapter will elaborate in detail.)