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The five Zang organs are interrelated, so a disease in any one organ can manifest as a pathology of another. Therefore, some diseases originate from the affected organ itself (Ben Zang Zi Bing), while others are transmitted from other organs. How can they be distinguished? By observing the sequence in which symptoms appear. For instance, if only heat in the lower back and heat in the sole of the foot are observed, along with a deep and rapid pulse at the Chi position, this indicates deficiency of Kidney Water (Kidney Yin) leading to internal heat. If red eyes and hypochondriac pain appear first, followed by a rapid pulse at the Left Guan position, and subsequently the aforementioned pulse and symptoms, this is "Child Disease affecting the Mother" (Zi Bing Ji Mu). If coughing, wheezing, and chest fullness appear first, followed by a rapid pulse at the Right Cun position, and subsequently the aforementioned pulse and symptoms, this is "Mother Disease affecting the Child" (Mu Bing Ji Zi). If abdominal pain, abdominal heat, and constipation appear first, followed by a rapid pulse at the Right Guan position, and subsequently the aforementioned pulse and symptoms, this is "Husband Disease transmitting to Wife" (Fu Bing Chuan Qi). If mental restlessness, a red tongue, and dark, scanty urination appear first, followed by a rapid pulse at the Left Cun position, and subsequently the aforementioned pulse and symptoms, this is "Wife Disease transmitting to Husband" (Qi Bing Chuan Fu). The same logic applies to other organs.

The *Nan Jing* (Classic of Difficult Issues) discusses the Five Evils (Wu Xie). It states: Suppose a Heart disease occurs due to Summerheat injury; this is called the Direct Evil (Zheng Xie). (Summerheat belongs to Heart Fire, representing a disease of the meridian itself.) If it occurs due to Windstroke, it is called the Deficient Evil (Xu Xie), which comes from behind. (Wood generates Fire. In the generation sequence, Wood precedes Fire. However, in terms of origin relative to the affected organ, the generating source is considered "behind." Thus, Heart disease transmitted from Liver is said to come from behind.) If it occurs due to dietary irregularities or overexertion, it is called the Excess Evil (Shi Xie), which comes from ahead. (Fire generates Earth. The generated element is "ahead.") If it occurs due to Cold Injury (meaning Lung Cold), it is called the Slight Evil (Wei Xie), coming from the element that is conquered (Suo Sheng). (Metal conquers Fire. The conquered element transmits to the conqueror in this context of reverse restriction or specific transmission paths defined by the text.) If it occurs due to Dampness (the *Nan Jing* associates Dampness with Kidney Water, as Dampness is Water), it is called the Robber Evil (Ze Xie), coming from the element that conquers (Suo Bu Sheng). (Water conquers Fire.)

The *Mai Jue* (Pulse Rhymes) also discusses this from the perspective of pulses. It states: When Heart Fire governs the Summer season, if the Liver pulse is seen instead, it is a Deficient Evil. For deficiency, tonify the Mother; this is difficult to cure. If the Spleen pulse is seen instead, it is an Excess Evil. For excess, drain the Child; this is easy to cure. If the Lung pulse is seen instead, it is a Slight Evil; even without treatment, it will heal spontaneously. This is because during Summer, Heart Fire should be dominant, and the pulse should be洪大 (Hong Da / Surging and Large). Seeing the Spring pulse (Liver/Wood) indicates that the arrival of the seasonal qi is incomplete ("Zhi Er Bu Zhi"), failing to occupy its proper position. This signifies insufficient Fire Qi, leading to symptoms like wind-stroke and undigested food diarrhea (Sun Xie). One must use acrid-warm herbs to tonify Liver Wood, allowing Wood Qi to ascend and generate Fire. However, since the righteous Qi is deficient, recovery through tonification is not quick. Furthermore, if the Spleen pulse appears before the Long Summer season, it indicates excessive Earth Qi, leading to symptoms like food stagnation and dry stools. One must use bitter-cold herbs to drain the Child (Earth); once drained, the evil is expelled, making it easy to treat. Additionally, when Fire rules, Metal occasionally encroaches but immediately retreats without being driven away. For example, a casual cold-induced cough in summer may resolve without emetic or diaphoretic treatment because summer induces sweating, dispersing the evil naturally.

However, the *Mai Jue* also states: Seeing Spleen pulse in Spring is hard to treat; seeing Heart pulse in Winter is incurable, treating the Slight Evil as something to fear. Why? Explainers say: If the本命脉 (Original Pulse) corresponds to the season and is accompanied by a slight trace of the Wife's pulse, it is a Slight Evil and will heal spontaneously. (e.g., in Summer, a Hong pulse with a slight Se texture.) But if the Original Pulse is completely absent and only the Wife's pulse is seen, it cannot be classified as a Slight Evil. (e.g., in Summer, a Se pulse without Hong indicates the complete presence of the Wife's pulse [Lung/Metal]. Fear that Metal generates Water to overcome Fire, thus incurable.) This requires careful examination.