《阴阳离合篇》曰∶东方青色,入通于肝,开窍于目,藏精干肝。南方赤色,入通
于心,开窍于耳,藏精于心。中央黄色,入通于脾,开窍于口,藏精于脾。西方白色,
入通于肺,开窍于鼻,藏精于肺。北方黑色,入通于肾,开窍于二阴,藏精于肾。天
覆地载,万物方生,未出地者,命曰阴处,名曰阴中之阴;(处阴之中,故曰阴处,形未
动出、亦是为阴,以阴居阴,故曰阴中之阴。)则出地者,名曰阴中之阳。(形动出者,是则为阳,
以阳居阴,故曰阴中之阳。阳予之正,阴为之主。(阳施正气,万物方生。阴为主持,群形乃立。)
故生因春,长因夏,收因秋,藏因冬,失常则天地四塞。(失其常道,则四时之气闭塞,阴
阳之气无所营运矣。)
《阴阳别论》曰∶脉有阴阳,知阳者知阴,知阴者知阳。(深知谓备识其变易。)凡阳有
五,五五二十五阳。(凡阳经有五,正以一腑之中包藏五腑之脉,故五五有二十五阳,由此推之。
则一脏之中包藏五脏之脉,亦五五有二十五阴。)所谓阴者,真脏也。见则为败,败必死矣。(所谓
阴者,五脏之真脉也。真脏来现,其脏已败,败者,必至于死也。故曰∶真脏脉见者死。)所谓阳者,
胃脘之阳也。(胃脘之阳,谓人迎之气也。察其气脉动静大小与脉口应否也。人迎在结喉两傍,脉动
应手,其脉之动,常左小而右大,左小常以候脏,右大常以候腑,盖胃为五脏六腑之大主,虽有五五二十
五阳之异,而实不外乎胃脉之见耳。若吉者为有胃气,而凶则无胃气也。)别于阳者,知病处也;别
于阴者,知死生之期。(阳者卫外而为固,然外邪所中,别于阳则知病处,阴者藏神而内守。若
考真正成败,别于阴则知病者死生之期。)三阳在头,三阴在手,所谓一也。(头,谓人迎。手,谓气口
两者相应,俱往俱来,若引绳小大齐等者,名曰平人,故言所谓一也。气口在手鱼际之后一寸,人
迎在结喉两旁一寸五分,皆可以候脏腑之气。)所谓阴阳者,去者为阴,至者为阳;静者为阴,动者为
阳;迟者为阴,数者为阳。(此言脉体分阴阳,脉有去来,即去至而阴阳分;脉有动静,即动静而阴阳
分;脉有迟数,即迟数而阴阳分。)所谓生阳死阴者,肝之心谓之生阳,(得阳则生,失阳则死,故曰生阳
死阴也。自肝传心,以水生火,得之生气,是谓生阳,不过四日而愈。)心之肺谓之死阴,(心传肺者,
为火克金,故谓死阴,不过三日死。)肺之肾谓之重阴,(肺金肾水,虽曰子母相传,而金水俱病,则
重阴而阳绝矣。)肾之脾谓之辟阴,死不治。(土本制水,而水反侮脾,是谓辟阴,辟阴者,放僻也。)
The "Treatise on Yin-Yang Separation and Union" states: The green color of the East corresponds internally to the Liver (Zang organ), opens into the eyes, and stores essence in the Liver. The red color of the South corresponds internally to the Heart (Zang organ), opens into the ears, and stores essence in the Heart. The yellow color of the Center corresponds internally to the Spleen (Zang organ), opens into the mouth, and stores essence in the Spleen. The white color of the West corresponds internally to the Lung (Zang organ), opens into the nose, and stores essence in the Lung. The black color of the North corresponds internally to the Kidney (Zang organ), opens into the two yin orifices (anterior and posterior), and stores essence in the Kidney. Heaven covers from above, Earth supports from below, and all things begin to grow. Those that have not yet emerged from the earth are said to be in a yin position, named "yin within yin"; (Being in the midst of yin, it is called a yin position; the form has not moved out, which is also yin; residing in yin with yin, it is called "yin within yin".) Those that have emerged from the earth are named "yang within yin". (The form moves and emerges, thus becoming yang; residing in yin with yang, it is called "yang within yin". Yang provides the correct qi, allowing all things to grow; Yin acts as the master, establishing all forms.) Therefore, growth depends on Spring, flourishing depends on Summer, harvesting depends on Autumn, and storing depends on Winter. If this constant order is violated, the qi of heaven, earth, and the four seasons will become blocked. (Losing its normal course, the qi of the four seasons becomes obstructed, and the qi of yin and yang cannot circulate properly.)
The "Treatise on Yin-Yang Distinctions" states: Pulse qualities have yin and yang; knowing yang allows one to know yin, and knowing yin allows one to know yang. (Deep understanding implies comprehensive knowledge of their transformations.) There are five types of yang meridians, and five times five equals twenty-five yang pulses. (There are five yang meridians in total; precisely because each fu organ contains the pulse qualities of the other four fu organs, there are twenty-five yang pulses by multiplication. By extension, each zang organ also contains the pulse qualities of the other four zang organs, resulting in twenty-five yin pulses.) What is referred to as "yin" is the True Zang Pulse (True Organ Pulse). Its appearance indicates failure, and failure inevitably leads to death. (What is called "yin" refers to the true pulses of the five zang organs. When the true zang pulse appears, the organ has failed; failure means certain death. Thus it is said: seeing the true zang pulse indicates death.) What is referred to as "yang" is the Yang of the Stomach House (Yang of Wei Wan). (The Yang of the Stomach House refers to the qi at the Renying acupoint. One observes whether the movement, size, and nature of its pulse correspond to the Cun Kou pulse. Renying is located on both sides of the laryngeal prominence; the pulse beats under the finger. Its movement is typically smaller on the left and larger on the right. The smaller left pulse usually reflects zang qi, while the larger right pulse usually reflects fu qi. Since the Stomach is the great master of the five zang and six fu organs, although there are differences among the twenty-five yang pulses, they essentially do not go beyond the manifestation of the stomach pulse. Auspiciousness indicates the presence of Stomach Qi, while inauspiciousness indicates its absence.) Distinguishing yang reveals the location of the disease; distinguishing yin reveals the timing of life and death. (Yang protects the exterior and maintains solidity. However, when external pathogens strike, distinguishing yang identifies the disease site. Yin stores spirit and guards inwardly. To examine true success or failure, distinguishing yin reveals the patient's prognosis of life or death.) The three yang meridians are at the head, and the three yin meridians are at the hand; this refers to unity. (Head refers to Renying. Hand refers to Cun Kou. These two correspond to each other, moving together and arriving together; if they are equal in size like a taut rope, it is called a healthy person, hence "unity". Cun Kou is one cun behind the thenar eminence; Renying is 1.5 cun lateral to the laryngeal prominence; both can reflect the qi of the zang and fu organs.) Regarding yin and yang: departing is yin, arriving is yang; stillness is yin, motion is yang; slowness is yin, frequency is yang. (This discusses the division of pulse body into yin and yang. Pulses have departure and arrival, dividing yin and yang based on these movements; pulses have stillness and motion, dividing yin and yang based on these states; pulses have slow and rapid rates, dividing yin and yang based on these frequencies.) Regarding "Sheng Yang" (Life-giving Yang) and "Si Yin" (Death-inducing Yin): Transmission from Liver to Heart is called Sheng Yang, (Receiving yang leads to life, losing yang leads to death, hence the terms. Transmission from Liver to Heart follows Water generating Fire, receiving vital qi, thus called Sheng Yang; recovery occurs within four days.) Transmission from Heart to Lung is called Si Yin, (Transmission from Heart to Lung involves Fire overcoming Metal, thus called Si Yin; death occurs within three days.) Transmission from Lung to Kidney is called Chong Yin (Double Yin), (Lung Metal and Kidney Water, though mother-son transmission, if both Metal and Water are diseased, it results in Double Yin and extinction of Yang.) Transmission from Kidney to Spleen is called Pi Yin (Deviant Yin), which is incurable death. (Earth naturally controls Water, but if Water rebels against Spleen Earth, it is called Pi Yin. Pi Yin means deviance or perversity.)