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In cold damage (Shanghan) and febrile diseases, a floating and surging pulse is auspicious. If the pulse is deep, minute, choppy, or small, the prognosis is inevitably ominous.

After sweating, if the pulse becomes calm and the body cools down, the patient will be safe. After sweating, if the pulse is restless and the fever is severe, recovery will be difficult.

When Yang syndromes present with Yin pulses, the disease is critical. When Yin syndromes present with Yang pulses, although the condition is distressing, it is not harmful.

If the pulse does not reach up to the Guan position, the Yin Qi has been exhausted. If the pulse does not reach down to the Guan position, the Yang Qi has been depleted.

The Dai pulse (Intermittent Pulse), characterized by pauses, indicates the exhaustion of Zang organ true Qi and imminent danger. The San pulse (Scattered Pulse), lacking a root, indicates physical deterioration and is difficult to treat.

The *Suwen* (Plain Questions) states in its chapter on Febrile Diseases: "Currently, all febrile diseases belong to the category of cold damage." It also states: "When humans are injured by cold pathogens, they develop febrile diseases."

Even if the heat is severe, death does not ensue. From this, we understand that although cold damage is a Yin-cold pathogen, once it invades the body's healthy Qi, the healthy Qi resists it, leading to stagnation and steaming which generates heat; this is an inevitable logical progression. Resistance at the exterior causes the pulse to be floating. Stagnation and steaming generating heat cause the pulse to be surging. For a febrile disease to present with these Yang pulses indicates that the healthy Qi has not sunk or contracted but can surge and activate, ensuring victory over the pathogen; hence, this is considered auspicious. Conversely, deep, minute, choppy, and small pulses are all Yin-type pulses. A Yang syndrome presenting with Yin pulses, or an exterior disease presenting with interior pulses, signifies a contradiction between symptoms and pulse, indicating excess pathogenic factors and deficient healthy Qi, which is an omen of disaster. Regarding post-sweating conditions, when the pathogen is resolved and healthy Qi recovers, the pulse should be calm, and the body naturally cool and harmonious. If the pulse remains restless and the heat intensifies, it indicates that healthy Qi has declined while the pathogen has advanced further, making survival unlikely. This corresponds to what the *Suwen* chapter on Evaluating Febrile Diseases describes as having a warm disease where sweating is followed immediately by recurrent fever, with a restless and rapid pulse that does not diminish with sweating, accompanied by delirium and inability to eat; this disease is named "Yin-Yang Intersection" (Yin Yang Jiao). (This represents a mass of Yang pathogenic factors where Yin cannot recover. If it intersects with Yang, merging indistinguishably, it means Yin has been exhausted and perished, thus leading to death.) "Yang syndrome seeing Yin" refers to observing Yin pulses, specifically the deep, minute, choppy, and small types mentioned above. It implies a contradiction between syndrome and pulse, hence it is critical. "Yin syndrome seeing Yang" refers to observing Yang pulses. Although this seems contrary to the syndrome, it is different in cold damage. Cold damage enters from the exterior into the interior, moving from Yang meridians to Yin meridians, invading and transmitting constantly, layer by layer. Now, if a Yin syndrome presents with a Yang pulse, it signifies a transformation from cold and shivering to warmth, emerging from depth to superficiality. Dead Yin suddenly transforms into living Yang; although the disease is severe and critical, it should naturally be harmless. Thus, Zhang Zhongjing stated: "Yin syndromes presenting with Yang pulses indicate life; Yang syndromes presenting with Yin pulses indicate death."

The Chi position belongs to Yin. If the Chi pulse does not reach up to the Guan position, Yin has been exhausted below. The Cun position belongs to Yang. If the Cun pulse does not reach down to the Guan position, Yang has been depleted above.

The *Mai Jing* (Pulse Classic) states: "Yang Qi is born at the Cun position and moves at the Chi position. Yin Qi is born at the Chi position and moves at the Cun position." This speaks of Yin and Yang mutually generating each other. Now, if neither reaches the Guan position, it means Yin and Yang have separated and diverged. The *Suwen* chapter on Living Qi Connecting with Heaven states: "When Yin and Yang separate and break apart, Essence and Qi are exhausted." Is this not referring to this situation? The Dai pulse with pauses indicates that the Zang organ true Qi cannot connect continuously, and its perilous state is immediately apparent. The San pulse without a root refers to the pulse scattering outward without gathering, showing no internal root or foundation. If the physical form shows damage, it is certainly difficult to treat. Zhang Zhongjing's chapter on Calming Pulses states: "In cold damage, coughing and rebellious Qi rising, if the pulse is scattered, death occurs, because the physical form is damaged." The meaning here is that coughing and rebellious Qi belong to the Lung, while the scattered pulse belongs to the Heart. Lung Metal and Heart Fire, where Fire controls Metal, thus indicates death. The character "Xing" (Form/Shape) allows for two interpretations, both valid; therefore, both are preserved tentatively.