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Pediatric fingerprint diagnosis has no unified conclusion to date. Some claim it is unnecessary, while others use it in a bizarre and absurd manner, confusing people's perceptions; these views fail to deeply understand the principles of fingerprints. Fingerprints share the same principle as the Cun, Guan, and Chi pulse positions. According to the Twelve Meridians in the *Neijing* (Classic of Internal Medicine), meridians begin at the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian. Its branch emerges from behind the wrist to the tip of the index finger, then connects with the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian; this is what constitutes the fingerprint. Fingerprint diagnosis originated with Qian Zhongyang (Qian Yi) of the Song Dynasty, who divided the three segments of the index finger into three gates: the first segment is called the Wind Gate (Feng Guan), the second the Qi Gate (Qi Guan), and the third the Life Gate (Ming Guan). If the fingerprint appears at the Wind Gate, the condition is mild; at the Qi Gate, it is severe; at the Life Gate, it is critical. Although not every statement may be entirely accurate, its logic is valuable: position moves from bottom to top, corresponding to severity moving from mild to severe. In essence, the fingerprint communicates with the Taiyuan pulse (Taoyuan, LU-9, Yuan-Source point of the Lung meridian). Whenever external pathogens are between the skin and interstices, the Taiyuan pulse floats, and the fingerprint also becomes visible externally, which is termed Exterior Syndrome (Taiyang Disease). When pathogens enter the interior, depth varies. If the fingerprint is half-sunken, the pathogen is in the Yangming Stomach Meridian; if extremely sunken, it is in the Yangming Stomach Organ. This is known as distinguishing exterior and interior by floating and sinking. Children with pale skin and dull lip color often belong to Yang Deficiency. Fingerprints that are faint in all seasons, even when ill, show only faint red, faint cyan, or faint purple. Faint red indicates Deficient-Cold, faint cyan indicates Deficient-Wind, and faint purple indicates Deficient-Heat. These stem from weak constitution and deficient Middle Qi; regardless of new or chronic illness, they always return to Deficiency. One must absolutely avoid attacking or depleting methods. If pathogens are suppressed, Ying and Wei circulation is obstructed, and ascending/descending functions are stagnant, pushing the fingerprint feels rough and sluggish without fluidity. This results from the struggle among phlegm, food stagnation, wind, and heat, constituting Excess Syndrome. This is known as determining excess and deficiency by faintness and stagnation. Regarding pattern observation: straight patterns indicate Heat, curved patterns indicate Cold, numerous patterns resemble rapid pulse, and few patterns resemble slow pulse. Patterns entering the palm indicate abdominal cold pain. Patterns curving toward the middle finger indicate Interior, favorable prognosis, and external contraction of wind-cold. Patterns curving toward the thumb indicate Exterior, unfavorable prognosis, and internal injury from phlegm-food. Patterns resembling fish bones indicate wind-phlegm both in Heat. Patterns resembling a trident indicate persistent phlegm-cough. Patterns resembling blooming flowers, Y-shapes, or two Ys rising together, penetrating all three gates, or curving outward invading the nail bed, indicate difficult-to-treat conditions. Regarding color differentiation: purple indicates Heat; purple with cyan indicates food injury. Cyan indicates Wind and fright. Cyan with black indicates phlegm stagnation and depression. Red indicates Cold; white indicates Infantile Malnutrition (Gan Disease); yellow indicates Spleen distress; black indicates sudden severe illness (Zhong E), danger, and incurability. Some argue yellow represents balanced Qi, and red represents the color of clothing and culture. A hidden mix of red and yellow indicates health and absence of disease. This must be carefully observed. Others state cyan indicates Liver disease, potentially causing fright or wind-cold. Liver Wood overacting on Earth (Liver Qi invading Spleen) may cause abdominal pain and diarrhea with green stools, verified by frequent crying in children. Yellow indicates Spleen disease, such as food accumulation, internal injury, abdominal distension, vomiting, diarrhea, obstruction, accumulation, and malnutrition. Red indicates Heart disease, characterized by abundant phlegm-fluids, palpitations, and restlessness. White indicates Lung disease, featuring cough and phlegm accumulation. Black indicates Kidney disease, involving cold and sudden severe illness in organs, representing critical danger. For diagnosing fingerprints, have someone hold the child facing a light source. The physician holds the child's index finger with the left hand and uses the side of the right thumb, dipped in saliva, to push from the Life Gate up to the Qi Gate and Wind Gate. The more one pushes, the more the fingerprint emerges. One must absolutely not push with the pad of the finger, as the friction generates fire that suppresses Lung Metal, changing the fingerprint color and severely damaging Lung Qi. Be extremely cautious.

Note: Diagnosing via fingerprints to differentiate syndromes originated with Master Qian, but his theories contain both correct and incorrect aspects. They must be combined with inspection of complexion methods to ensure accuracy. The commentary on the Analects states that physicians entrust life and death, unlike those engaged in ordinary trades. (Tili Zi)