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In men, the Chi pulse (Cun-Knee-Pulse, located at the radial artery's distal segment) is typically weak; in women, it is typically strong. If a man exhibits the female pulse pattern (strong Chi pulse), it indicates deficiency of healthy Qi, with the disease located internally. If this pattern appears on the left side, the disease is on the left side of the body; if on the right, the disease is on the right side. If a woman exhibits the male pulse pattern (weak Chi pulse), it indicates excess pathogenic factors, with the disease located in the four limbs. If this pattern appears on the left side, the disease is on the left side of the body; if on the right, the disease is on the right side. (From *Nan Jing*, Chapter 19)

The True Liver Pulse arrives tense and urgent in both center and periphery, feeling like touching a knife edge, sharp and rigid, or like pressing the strings of a zither. With a complexion that is greenish-white and lusterless, death ensues. The True Heart Pulse arrives hard and beating forcefully, feeling like touching Coicis Semen (Job's tears), grain by grain. With a complexion that is reddish-black and lusterless, death ensues. The True Lung Pulse arrives large and empty, feeling like a feather brushing against the skin. With a complexion that is whitish-red and lusterless, death ensues. The True Kidney Pulse arrives with intermittent and abrupt beats, feeling like fingers striking a stone, crisp and hard. With a complexion that is blackish-yellow and lusterless, death ensues. The True Spleen Pulse arrives weak and irregular, alternating between rapid and slow rhythms. With a complexion that is yellowish-green and lusterless, death ensues. (From *Su Wen*, "Yu Ji Zhen Zang Lun")

Pulse conditions can be assessed from the Qi Kou (Cun Kou pulse at the wrist); facial colors can be observed at the Ming Tang (the nose). (From *Ling Shu*, "Wu Yue Wu Shi")

The Ming Tang refers to the nose (corresponding to Spleen Earth); the Que refers to the area between the eyebrows (corresponding to Liver Wood); the Ting refers to the forehead (corresponding to Heart Fire); the Fan refers to the sides of the cheeks (corresponding to Lung Metal); the Bi refers to the ear gates (corresponding to Kidney Water). If red color appears on both cheekbones, sized like a thumb, even if the illness is minor and improving, sudden death will certainly occur (because the cheekbones belong to Lung Metal, and red belongs to Heart Fire; Fire overcoming Metal signifies certain death). If black color appears in the Ting area (center of forehead), sized like a thumb, sudden death will occur without prior illness (because the Ting area belongs to Heart Fire, and black is the color of Water; Water overcoming Fire signifies certain death. This is an example of one sector; other sectors can be inferred similarly). (From *Ling Shu*, "Wu Se Lun")

Eyes looking upward and unable to move indicate insufficiency of the Tai Yang channel (deficiency of body fluids). Eyes fixed in upward deviation indicate exhaustion of the Tai Yang channel. (From *Su Wen*, "San Bu Jiu Hou Lun")

Fullness in the chest, fullness of the Zang organs, excessive Qi leading to fearfulness, and speech sounding as if coming from a closed room indicate dampness in the Middle Qi. Speech that is faint, requiring a whole day to utter a single phrase, indicates depletion of Qi. Disarray in clothing and bedding, speech lacking discernment of good and bad, and lack of avoidance regarding intimacy or distance indicate chaos of the Shen (Spirit). The head is the residence of clear essence; if the head droops and eyes are sunken, the spirit is about to be depleted. The back is the mansion of the thoracic organs; if the back is curved and shoulders sag, the mansion's Qi is about to fail. The waist is the mansion of the Kidneys; if turning and swaying are difficult, the Kidneys are about to become exhausted. The knees are the mansion of the sinews; if flexion and extension are impossible, and walking involves stooping, the sinews are about to become exhausted. The bones are the mansion of the marrow; if standing for long periods is impossible, and walking causes trembling and shaking, the bones are about to become exhausted. Excess Yin leads to dreams of crossing large waters and feeling fearful; excess Yang leads to dreams of large fires burning and scorching; excess of both Yin and Yang leads to dreams of killing and destroying each other. Excess in the upper body leads to dreams of flying; excess in the lower body leads to dreams of falling. Being very full leads to dreams of giving; being very hungry leads to dreams of taking. Excess Liver Qi leads to dreams of anger; excess Lung Qi leads to dreams of weeping. Many small parasites lead to dreams of gathering crowds; many long parasites lead to dreams of fighting and destroying each other. (From *Su Wen*, "Mai Yao Jing Wei Lun")

If the functions of entering and exiting cease, the transformation and extinction of the Shen Ji (Spirit Mechanism) will occur. If ascending and descending stop, the Qi Li (Qi Establishment) will become isolated and precarious. (From *Su Wen*, "Liu Wei Zhi Da Lun")