凡人五脏六腑。荣卫关窍。宜平生气血顺度。循环无终。是为不病之本。若有缺绝。则祸必来矣。要在临病
之时。存神内想。息气内观。心不妄视。着意精察。方能通神明。探幽微。断死决生。千无一误。死之证兆。具之
于后。
黑色。起于耳目鼻上。渐入于口者死。
赤色。见于耳目额者。五日死。
黑白色入口鼻目中者五日死。
黑。或如马肝色。望之如青。近则如黑者死。
张口如鱼。出气不反者死。
循摸衣缝者死。
妄语错乱。及不能语者死热病即不死。
尸臭不可近者死。
面目直视者死。
肩息者。一日死。
面青。人中反者三日死。
面无光。牙齿黑者死。
面青目黑者死。
面白目黑者十日死。
面赤眼黄。实时死。
面黑目白者。八日死。
面青目黄者。五日死。
眉系倾者。七日死。
齿忽黑色者。三十日死。
发直者。十五日死。
遗尿不觉者。五六日死。
唇口乍干黑者死。
爪中青黑色死。
头目久痛。卒视不明者死。
舌卷卵缩者死。
面黑直视者死。
面青目白者死。
面黄目白者死。
面目俱白者死。
面目青黑者死。
面青唇黑者死。
发如麻。喜怒不调者死。
发肩如冲起者死。
面色黑。胁满不能反侧者死。
面色苍黑。卒肿者死。
掌肿无纹。脐肿出。囊茎俱肿者死。
手足爪甲。肉。黑色者死。
汗出不流者死。
唇反。人中满者死。
阴阳俱绝。目匡陷者死。
五脏内外绝。神气不守。其声嘶者死。
阳绝阴结。精神恍惚。撮空裂衣者死。
阴阳俱闭。失音者死。
荣卫耗散。面目浮肿者死。
心绝于肾。肩息。回眄。目直者。一日死。
肺绝。则气去不反。口如鱼口者。三日死。
骨绝。腰脊痛。肾中重。不可反侧。足膝后平者。五日死。
肾绝大便赤涩。下血。耳干。脚浮。舌肿者。六日死。又曰。足肿者九日死。
脾绝。口冷。足肿胀泄不觉者。十二日死。
筋绝。魂惊。虚恐。手足爪甲青。呼骂不休者。八九日死。
肝绝。汗出如水。恐惧不安。伏卧。目直面青者。八日死。又曰。实时死。
胃绝齿落面黄者。七日死。又曰。十日死。
凡此察听之。更须详酌者矣。
In general, the five zang organs and six fu organs, as well as the Ying (Nutrient) Qi, Wei (Defensive) Qi, and all orifices of the body, should maintain a state of harmonious and smooth blood and qi circulation, endless and continuous. This is the root of health. If there is any interruption or deficiency, disaster will inevitably ensue. The key lies in, when facing illness, to keep the spirit inwardly focused, practice internal observation, regulate the breath inwardly, avoid random visual distractions, and concentrate with meticulous attention. Only then can one attain spiritual clarity, probe into the subtle depths of pathology, and accurately determine life and death, making no errors in a thousand diagnoses. The signs of impending death are detailed below.
A black complexion starting from the ears, eyes, and nose and gradually spreading to the mouth indicates death.
A red complexion appearing on the ears, eyes, and forehead indicates death within five days.
Blackish-white discoloration entering the mouth, nose, and eyes indicates death within five days.
A black complexion, resembling the color of horse liver, appearing bluish-green from a distance and black up close, indicates death.
Mouth open like a fish's, with exhaled air unable to return, indicates death.
Fumbling along clothing seams indicates death.
Delirious speech, confusion, and inability to speak indicate death; however, if caused by a heat disease, it does not necessarily indicate death.
A corpse-like odor that is unbearable to approach indicates death.
Fixed staring of the eyes and face indicates death.
Breathing with raised shoulders (orthopnea) indicates death within one day.
A greenish complexion with an abnormal or flattened philtrum indicates death within three days.
A lusterless complexion with black teeth indicates death.
A greenish complexion with dark eyes indicates death.
A white complexion with dark eyes indicates death within ten days.
A red complexion with yellow eyes indicates immediate death.
A black complexion with white sclera indicates death within eight days.
A greenish complexion with yellow eyes indicates death within five days.
Drooping at the root of the eyebrows indicates death within seven days.
Sudden blackening of the teeth indicates death within thirty days.
Stiff, upright hair indicates death within fifteen days.
Incontinence of urine without awareness indicates death within five to six days.
Sudden dryness and blackening of the lips and mouth indicates death.
Blue-black discoloration under the fingernails/toenails indicates death.
Long-standing pain in the head and eyes followed by sudden blurred vision indicates death.
Tongue retraction and testicular retraction indicate death.
A black complexion with fixed staring indicates death.
A greenish complexion with white sclera indicates death.
A yellow complexion with white sclera indicates death.
A completely white face and eyes indicate death.
A blue-black face and eyes indicate death.
A greenish complexion with black lips indicates death.
Hair resembling hemp, accompanied by unregulated emotions of anger and joy, indicates death.
Shoulders hunched as if struck or swollen indicates death.
A black complexion with fullness in the hypochondrium and inability to turn the side indicates death.
A dark green-black complexion with sudden edema indicates death.
Swollen palms with disappeared creases, protruding umbilicus, and swelling of both scrotum and penis indicate death.
Black discoloration of the fingers, toes, nails, and flesh indicates death.
Sweat that does not flow indicates death.
Everted lips and a full philtrum indicate death.
Simultaneous exhaustion of Yin and Yang Qi with sunken eye sockets indicates death.
Exhaustion of the interior and exterior of the five zang organs, with the Shen (Spirit) failing to reside and hoarseness of voice, indicates death.
Exhaustion of Yang Qi with stagnation of Yin Qi, mental trance, picking at empty air, and tearing clothes indicate death.
Closure of both Yin and Yang Qi with loss of voice indicates death.
Scattering of Ying and Wei Qi with edematous face and eyes indicates death.
Heart Qi exhausted affecting the Kidney, with orthopnea, rolling eyes, and fixed gaze, indicates death within one day.
Lung Qi exhausted, with breath departing and not returning, and mouth opening like a fish's gill, indicates death within three days.
Bone Qi exhausted, with lower back and spine pain, heaviness in the Kidneys, inability to turn the side, and flattening behind the knees, indicates death within five days.
Kidney Qi exhausted, with reddish-dry stool, bloody diarrhea, dry ears, swollen feet, and swollen tongue, indicates death within six days. It is also said that swollen feet indicate death within nine days.
Spleen Qi exhausted, with cold mouth, swollen legs, diarrhea without awareness, indicates death within twelve days.
Tendon Qi exhausted, with startle of the Hun (Ethereal Soul), emptiness and fear, cyanosis of fingernails and toenails, and incessant shouting and cursing, indicates death within eight to nine days.
Liver Qi exhausted, with profuse sweating like water, fear and restlessness, prone lying position, fixed gaze, and greenish complexion, indicates death within eight days. It is also said that this indicates immediate death.
Stomach Qi exhausted, with falling teeth and yellow complexion, indicates death within seven days. It is also said that this indicates death within ten days.
These methods of observing colors and listening to sounds require further careful deliberation and application.