Library

Pediatric fingerprint diagnosis has never had a unified orthodox theory, and its interpretations are inconsistent and unverified. Some claim it is unnecessary to use, while others, though using it, resort to absurdities that deceive the public and confuse the world. These views stem from a failure to understand the principles behind the fingerprints, leading to divergent opinions on whether to employ this method. Permit me to offer my humble insights to clarify the essentials.

Essentially, this fingerprint is identical in nature to the pulse at the Cun, Guan, and Chi positions. According to the *Neijing* (Classic of Internal Medicine), the twelve meridians originate from the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian (i.e., the Lung pulse). Its branch emerges from behind the wrist to the tip of the index finger and connects with the branch of the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian (i.e., the collateral branch. Emerging from behind the wrist to the tip of the index finger, it facilitates the communication of Ying and Wei Qi with the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian). This is what is referred to as the fingerprint. Even Zhang Jingyue, a figure of clarity, still regarded this line as a superficial collateral of the Hand-Yangming Meridian. He failed to realize that the Hand-Taiyin Meridian begins at Zhongfu (LU-1) and ends at Shaoshang (LU-11) on the thumb, while the Hand-Yangming Meridian begins at Shangyang (LI-1) on the index finger; the two do not directly meet. Without this collateral branch facilitating the circulation of Ying and Wei Qi, would it not sever the connection between the Taiyin and Yangming meridians, which are exterior-interior pairs? Moreover, this vessel can be palpated, although people are unaware of it. Its variations in speed (Chi, Shu), intermittentness (Dai), and urgency (Cu) are no different from those at the Taiyuan pulse (Radar point); it merely appears smaller because it is a collateral branch.

The method of diagnosing via fingerprints originated with Qian Zhongyang of the Song Dynasty. He divided the index finger into three sections: the Yin position is called the Wind Gate (Feng Guan), the Mao position is the Qi Gate (Qi Guan), and the Chen position is the Life Gate (Ming Guan). His mnemonic states "Light [illness] at Wind, Heavy [illness] at Qi, Critical [condition] at Life." Although not necessarily entirely accurate in every case, its logic is sound. The position progresses from bottom to top, the pathogen moves from shallow to deep, and the syndrome severity increases from mild to severe, making it credible to all. It is only regrettable that later bizarre theories emerged, falsely creating categories for "Convulsion" (Jing Feng), causing later scholars to lose their way amidst divergent paths and turning it into a source of doubt. I believe Qian Zhongyang, a renowned physician of the Song Dynasty known for his filial piety, would never have devised such misleading practices. Most likely, these were fabricated by vulgar practitioners later on, claiming his name. Only discerning individuals, recognizing the coarse language and absurd arguments, discard them. Figures like Zhang Jingyue and Xia Yuzhu claimed they need not be used; this was not because they were unusable, but because they despised their baseless absurdity and lack of utility. Modern physicians, unable to distinguish truth from falsehood, have blindly followed these practices, thereby confusing the world and harming infants. Medical practice concerns life itself; listening to groundless rumors and spreading harm is unacceptable. Though I am not particularly gifted, I have a basic understanding of meridians. Whenever I encounter pediatric fingerprint theories, I am indignant and wish to correct them, yet lacking the right opportunity or audience, I remain uneasy if I stay silent. Now, having some leisure, I will explain the essentials.

This fingerprint is essentially a collateral branch of the Taiyuan pulse. Therefore, changes in the fingerprint reflect changes in the Taiyuan pulse. There is no need to establish alternative theories to confuse people. One should simply use floating/sinking to differentiate Exterior/Interior, red/purple to distinguish Cold/Heat, and pale/stagnant to determine Deficiency/Excess. With this approach, the method becomes infinitely applicable. If one ignores these principles, clings to false theories, fails to investigate the disease origin during clinical practice, and erroneously attributes symptoms to human or animal fright, deceiving the ignorant, I fear one will be like a blind man riding a horse, eventually falling into an abyss from which there is no escape.

Zhou Xuzhong stated: "The profound analysis of fingerprint meanings has not been discussed since Qian Zhongyang, over seven hundred years ago. Reading this now is like waking from a dream or sobering up from drunkenness; it refreshes the mind and spirit. It is truly a unique insight of the ages."

People may initially hesitate to believe these words. Let us briefly summarize the erroneous traditions to correct them. The gist is as follows: A blue/green line on the finger indicates fright from four-legged animals; cyan color at the Tiger's Mouth pulse indicates fright from pigs, dogs, or horses; black color results from drowning; red color indicates fright from fire or humans; purple color often leads to diarrhea; yellow color indicates fright from thunder. It also says: Blue/green fright with white indicates Pi Syndrome (Gan Ji); yellow indicates Spleen distress; variations in the curvature of the blue/green line indicate human or four-legged animal fright. Such statements are certainly not from Qian’s school but are mere rustic nonsense, unworthy of mention by gentlemen. However, without explicitly refuting them, others might doubt my credibility. I will refute the most illogical parts here for amusement. The claim that all colors (blue, yellow, red, black) of the fingerprint are caused by fright implies that all hundreds of pediatric conditions—whether due to constitutional strength, prenatal cold/heat, internal injury, external contraction, miscellaneous syndromes, measles, or smallpox—should be classified and treated as "Fright Convulsion." Otherwise, excluding these colored lines, how else would one distinguish non-fright conditions? No error is greater than this! If "yellow indicates Spleen distress," it means the fingerprint is yellow due to damaged Spleen Earth, a Deficiency pattern. Yet, it also says "yellow indicates Thunder Fright," implying an Excess pattern caused by hearing thunder. If a child’s fingerprint is yellow, should one diagnose Spleen Distress or Thunder Fright? Should treatment target the Spleen or the Fright? Should they be treated together or separately? Since Spleen Distress is Deficiency and Thunder Fright is Excess, treating Deficiency while neglecting Excess, or treating Excess while hindering Deficiency, makes combined treatment impossible and separate treatment impractical. I do not know which path to take!

Regarding "Blue/Green curvature size indicates Human Fright and Four-Legged Fright": Humans and four-legged animals differ vastly in intelligence and purity, akin to ice and charcoal. Their Qi transformations are incomparable, so there is no logical basis for equating them. If human fright and animal fright are equivalent, then any blue/green fingerprint could be diagnosed as either, implying humans and animals are interchangeable—a ridiculous notion. Even distinguishing by the degree of curvature, assuming large curves mean human fright and small curves mean animal fright, how can we be sure human fright isn't small-curved or animal fright isn't large-curved? What evidence supports that human fright must be large-curved and animal fright small-curved? If a large curve contains small curves, or vice versa, does it imply mixed frights? This is unfounded talk. Furthermore, the proposed treatments are flawed. If human and animal fright are the same and require no differentiation or distinct treatment, then distinguishing them is nonsensical. If they are different, what exactly are "Human Fright" and "Animal Fright"? What medicines treat them? Given these names, corresponding treatments should exist, yet none are provided. These empty words merely deceive the masses. While quacks deserve no blame, scholars who fail to correct and instead include these errors in books mislead future generations, causing righteous people to rage.

Finally, "Blue/Green Fright and White indicates Pi Syndrome (Gan)." The previous discussion on blue/green fright is sufficient. Claiming "white indicates Pi Syndrome" is absurd. Pi Syndrome corresponds to Consumption (Xu Lao) in general medicine, specifically "Pi Accumulation" in children, originating from dual damage to the Spleen and Kidney. Over time, the five Zang organs are depleted, and Middle Qi collapses, resulting in a sallow, emaciated appearance resembling a skeleton. Thus, "white" refers to complexion, not the fingerprint itself. Applying this to the fingerprint is highly erroneous. In cases of dual Qi and Blood deficiency and chronic Spirit depletion, the fingerprint naturally appears pale, which applies to all Deficiency patterns, not just Pi Syndrome. One can say the color is pale, but never white, as white fingerprints do not exist. In over forty years of clinical practice, I have never encountered one. Do not assume ancient texts are immutable; waiting for a white fingerprint to diagnose Pi Syndrome would render the condition incurable. Thus, rigidly following diagrams is not the way of a true expert. One must understand the principles flexibly to be a master practitioner. Detailed fingerprint differentiation is listed below.