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Black color typically indicates pain syndromes. If the patient reports no pain upon inquiry, it may be due to kidney injury, specifically *Nü Lao Dan* (Female Labor Jaundice). Further observation reveals it is not *Nü Lao Dan*; thus, it can be inferred that blood stasis is accumulating internally, causing the facial complexion to turn black externally. However, if the blackness is caused by blood stasis, there must be symptoms such as hematemesis (vomiting blood) or epistaxis (nosebleed), or bleeding from the lower orifices, followed by a transition to a yellowish hue, because the stasis has been resolved. If the complexion is slightly black and yellow, and the *Shoudai* lines (lines on the face extending from the nose to the mouth) are short and wrap around the corners of the mouth, this is not blood stasis but rather what physiognomists call "Snake Entering the Mouth," predicting starvation death. Observing the person's emaciated appearance of hunger and thirst, and inquiring further confirms it is *Ye Ge* disease (Dysphagia).

White color indicates blood loss. Upon examination, there are no pulse signs of blood loss, but the pulse feels scattered like chaotic threads. Inquiry reveals the cause is fear. Fear causes blood to descend with Qi; therefore, the complexion turns white. Fear causes the Shen (Spirit) to scatter with Qi; therefore, the pulse feels like chaotic threads. A complexion that alternates between white and red indicates unstable Qi and Blood. A floating pulse with timid Qi indicates an unsettled Shen and Qi. Inquiry reveals the patient feels shame and guilt, leading to this Qi and complexion state. Shame causes Qi to retract, resulting in timid Qi; guilt causes the Shen to fluctuate, resulting in a floating pulse.

In acute diseases, the pulse may be weakened while the complexion remains robust; in chronic diseases, the complexion may be depleted while the pulse remains robust. If both the complexion and pulse remain robust in an acute disease, it indicates that the Zheng Qi (Upright Qi) is not deficient and the Xie Qi (Pathogenic Qi) is not excessive, making the disease easy to treat. If both the complexion and pulse are depleted in a chronic disease, it indicates that the Zheng Qi is already deficient and the Xie Qi is abundant, making the disease difficult to treat.

Whenever five colors appear between the eyebrows, it indicates pathology in the skin, because the Lung governs the skin and hair. When Ying Qi (Nutritive Qi) changes into five colors and moves subtly, it indicates pathology in the vessels, because Ying Qi circulates within the blood vessels. When five colors appear around the eyes, it indicates pathology in the sinews, because the Liver governs the sinews. When five colors appear on the lips and mouth, it indicates pathology in the muscles, because the Spleen governs the flesh. When five colors appear around the ears, it indicates pathology in the bones, because the Kidney governs the bones. A scorched, dry, and dirty complexion indicates withered bones lacking luster, unable to nourish the exterior.

Hair is generated from blood, so it prefers to be lustrous and smooth. If the hair stands straight and stiff like hemp, and the beard and body hair are scorched and dry, these are signs of impending death.

"Skin" here refers to the skin of the forearm from the Guan position to the Chize acupoint. The *Classic* states: If the pulse is tense, the skin at the Chi position is also tense. If the pulse is slack, the skin at the Chi position is also slack. If the pulse is small, the skin at the Chi position is diminished and lacks Qi. If the pulse is large, the skin at the Chi position bulges upward. If the pulse is slippery, the skin at the Chi position is slippery. If the pulse is choppy, the skin at the Chi position is choppy. Thus, it is said that the pulse and Chi skin correspond. If the skin at the Chi position is cold upon palpation, it indicates deficiency-type diarrhea. If the skin at the Chi position is hot, it indicates Warm Disease. If it is not a Warm Disease, it indicates Yin-deficiency with alternating cold and heat, or consumptive disorders. In Wind diseases, the skin at the Chi position is slippery; in Bi Syndromes (Obstruction Syndromes), the skin at the Chi position is choppy. Abundant Qi and Blood result in plump flesh at the Chi position, while deficient Qi and Blood result in emaciated flesh at the Chi position.