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Chapter 13 of the *Nan Jing* (Classic of Difficult Issues) states: The five Zang organs correspond to five colors, all of which manifest on the face, and should also correspond with the Cun Kou pulse and the skin of the Chi area. If the complexion is cyan (Qing), the pulse should be Xian (Wiry) and Ji (Rapid/Tight). If the complexion is red (Chi), the pulse should be Fu (Floating), Da (Large), and San (Scattered). If the complexion is yellow (Huang), the pulse should be Zhong Huan (Moderately Slow) and Da (Large). If the complexion is white (Bai), the pulse should be Fu (Floating), Se (Choppy), and Duan (Short). If the complexion is black (Hei), the pulse should be Chen (Deep), Ru (Soft), and Hua (Slippery). If the pulse is Shu (Rapid), the skin of the Chi area also feels rapid; if the pulse is Ji (Tight), the skin of the Chi area also feels tight; if the pulse is Huan (Slow), the skin of the Chi area also feels loose; if the pulse is Se (Choppy), the skin of the Chi area also feels choppy; if the pulse is Hua (Slippery), the skin of the Chi area also feels slippery. If the complexion is cyan, but the pulse is Fu (Floating), Se (Choppy), and Duan (Short), or Da (Large) and Huan (Slow), this indicates a relationship of Xiang Sheng (Mutual Overcoming/Clashing). (Cyan complexion belongs to the Liver Wood. A pulse that is Fu, Se, and Duan is a Lung Metal pulse, representing Metal overcoming Wood; a pulse that is Da and Huan is a Spleen Earth pulse, representing Wood overcoming Earth; this is called Xiang Sheng/Overcoming.) If the pulse is Fu (Floating), Da (Large), and San (Scattered), or Xiao (Small) and Hua (Slippery), this indicates a relationship of Xiang Sheng (Mutual Generation). (Fu, Da, and San is a Heart Fire pulse, representing Wood generating Fire; Xiao and Hua is a Kidney Water pulse, representing Water generating Wood; this is called Xiang Sheng/Generation.)

The *Yu Ji Zhen Zang Lun* chapter of the *Su Wen* (Basic Questions) states: In treating any disease, one must observe the patient's form, Qi, color, luster, the excess or deficiency of the pulse, and whether the disease is new or old, before proceeding with treatment, without delaying the appropriate time. When Form and Qi are harmonious, it is called "treatable." When the color and luster are bright and glossy, it is called "easy to heal." When the pulse conforms to the Four Seasons, it is called "treatable." When the pulse is weak yet slippery, it indicates the presence of Wei Qi (Stomach Qi), termed "easy to treat," and treatment should be timed accordingly. When Form and Qi are discordant, it is called "difficult to treat." When the complexion is dull and lacks luster, it is called "difficult to treat." When the pulse is solid and firm, it indicates the disease is worsening. When the pulse goes against the pattern of the Four Seasons, it is called "incurable." One must carefully examine these four difficult conditions and explain them clearly to the patient.

The *Wu Zang Sheng Cheng Pian* chapter of the *Su Wen* states: Colors and flavors correspond to the Five Zang organs. White corresponds to the Lung and Pungent flavor. Red corresponds to the Heart and Bitter flavor. Cyan corresponds to the Liver and Sour flavor. Yellow corresponds to the Spleen and Sweet flavor. Black corresponds to the Kidney and Salty flavor. Therefore, White corresponds to the Skin, Red to the Vessels, Cyan to the Tendons, Yellow to the Flesh, and Black to the Bones.

The *Se Se* (Colors) chapter of the *Ling Shu* (Spiritual Pivot) states: The limbs and joints of the Five Zang and Six Fu organs each have specific corresponding areas. With these corresponding areas, Yin can be used to harmonize Yang, and Yang can be used to harmonize Yin. One must clearly understand these areas to ensure every action is appropriate. (Harmonizing the excess and deficiency of Yin and Yang, supplementing deficiency and reducing excess, brings harmony and balance, ensuring every action is appropriate.) Being able to distinguish left from right is called the Great Dao. The positions of Yin and Yang differ between men and women, hence the term Yin and Yang. Examining the luster and dullness of the complexion qualifies one as a skilled physician. (Left and right are the pathways of Yin and Yang. Men and women have different patterns of flow and reversal, so their positions differ. Only after positions are determined can one observe the luster or dullness.) Deep and turbid colors indicate internal diseases, while floating and lustrous colors indicate external diseases. (Internal refers to Zang organs, external to Fu organs, distinguished by depth and surface. However, in observing colors, only those who comprehend the mind can truly grasp the meaning.) Yellow and red indicate Wind pathogens, cyan and black indicate Pain, white indicates Cold, yellow with a greasy luster indicates Pus, deep red indicates Blood stasis, severe pain indicates Spasm, and severe cold indicates Numbness of the skin. Each of the five colors manifests in its respective area. Observing the floating or sinking of the color reveals the depth of the disease; observing the luster or dullness reveals the outcome; observing the dispersion or aggregation reveals the duration; viewing the upper or lower position of the color reveals the location of the disease. (Floating indicates shallow disease, sinking indicates deep disease. Luster indicates recovery, dullness indicates deterioration. Dispersion indicates recent onset, aggregation indicates long-standing disease. Upper manifestations indicate upper body disease, lower manifestations indicate lower body disease; all are known through color and shape.) Accumulate spirit in the heart to know the past and present. If observation of Qi is not subtle, one cannot discern right from wrong. Maintain focus and do not let go, then one will know the new and old. (The method of observing color requires accumulated spirit and focused attention to know the past, present, new diseases, and old ailments.) If the color is bright and not coarse, but appears deep and dull, the disease is severe. If the color is neither bright nor lustrous, the disease is not severe. (If bright and lustrous but not coarse, yet deep and dull appear, the disease is certainly severe. If there is no deepness or dullness, even if not bright or lustrous, the disease is not severe.) If the color is scattered, like a foal running freely without a fixed place, the disease is dispersed with Qi pain, but the pathogen has not yet aggregated into a solid mass. (Ju means a young horse. Running freely and unpredictably describes scattered color without a fixed location. Qi may aggregate, but pain has not yet taken form.) When Kidney Qi overcomes Heart Qi, the Heart becomes diseased first, and the Kidney reacts; the color manifestation is always thus. (Zang organs must become deficient internally before the pathogenic factor can invade. The observed color naturally belongs to the element that overcomes me. This applies to all five Zang organs.) In men, color appearing at the Mian Wang (tip of the nose) indicates lower abdominal pain, extending downward to testicular pain. If circular or straight, it indicates penile pain. High represents the root, low represents the head; this belongs to Hu Shan (Fox Hernia) and other Yin disorders. (Testes, penis, and Fox Hernia belong to diseases of the Bladder, Small Intestine, and Uterus. Their locations reflect above and below the Mian Wang, hence color appears there. Circular and straight shapes symbolize the penis, so the high and low distribution of color distinguishes the root and branch of penile disease. Popular belief uses nose size to verify the size of the anterior yin, which has some basis.) In women, color appearing at the Mian Wang indicates diseases of the Bladder and Uterus. Scattered indicates pain, aggregated indicates accumulation. Square, round, left, and right correspond to the shape of the color. If it extends downward to the umbilicus, it is Dai Xia (Leukorrhea). If it has a luster like grease, it is caused by gluttony and unclean food. (Women's facial correspondences are the same, but diseases are also in the lower part. What is seen relates to the Chong, Ren, and Dai meridians, such as leukorrhea, strangury, and masses. Some cases arise from gluttony causing damp-heat to flow downward. If color aggregates, it forms a mass; if scattered, it is merely pain.) Left corresponds to the left, right to the right. If the color shows pathogenic influence, aggregating and dispersing irregularly, it points to the site indicated by the facial color. (Disease manifests in color, left and right being accurate, so following the direction of the color, observing aggregation and dispersion reveals the pathogen's condensation and pain.) The five colors—cyan, black, red, white, yellow—should all be regular and full, distinct from other areas. If red appears in another area, large like a elm seed, at the Mian Wang, death will occur soon. (Regular, full five colors conforming to the season indicate absence of pathogen. "Different area" means besides the normal color, another color appears elsewhere. For example, red at the Mian Wang is not the proper area. Appearing where it should not, and out of season, is ominous.) If the color is sharp at the top, hollow at the head pointing upward, and sharp at the bottom pointing downward, left and right follow the same rule. (The invasion and overcoming of color must be viewed by its sharp point as the leading edge. Sharpness upward indicates upward invasion, sharpness downward indicates downward invasion, left and right follow this rule.) Assign colors to Zang organs: Cyan is Liver, Red is Heart, White is Lung, Yellow is Spleen, Black is Kidney. Liver connects with Tendons, Heart with Vessels, Lung with Skin, Spleen with Flesh, Kidney with Bones. (Distinguishing five colors knows the five Zang; knowing the five Zang knows the five connections. Further observing the area allows distinguishing generation and overcoming for auspiciousness or misfortune, leaving no room for disease to hide.) White spots on the face indicate intestinal parasites.

Irregular cyan, white, or yellow complexions, or crab-claw-like lines on the face, alternating yellow and white, indicate Food Stagnation. Frequent redness on the cheekbones indicates Deficient Fire flaming upward.

Patients with a bloodless complexion, without aversion to cold or fever, and with a Chen Xian (Deep and Wiry) pulse, suffer from Bi Xu (Epistaxis/Nosebleed).

Patients showing a yellow luster have Wei Qi (Stomach Qi) and will not die. Dry yellow is an ominous sign.

Redness appearing on both cheekbones, large as a thumb, indicates that even if the illness seems to improve slightly, sudden death will inevitably follow.

Blackness appearing on the Ting Yuan (Forehead), large as a thumb, indicates sudden death before obvious symptoms appear.

A grim complexion in winter indicates Shang Han (Cold Damage). Purple and turbid color indicates Shi Bing (Seasonal Epidemic Disease). White complexion with obesity indicates Qi Deficiency and excessive Phlegm. Black complexion with emaciation indicates Yin Deficiency with Hyperactive Fire.