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[Wan Quan's Discussion] All sores and ulcers are attributed to Heart Fire. The external flourishing of the Heart manifests on the face. Regarding the prognosis of smallpox (Xiaochu), observing the different areas of the face allows one to understand more than half of the condition. Moreover, smallpox is a Yang toxin; all Yang Qi gathers in the face, making its auspicious or inauspicious nature particularly easy to discern.

The forehead belongs to Heart Fire. If red spots appear first, followed by suppuration (making pus), and then scabbing in the area above Yintang (Yintang, EX-HN3) below the hairline, and at the two Riyue Jiao (Riyue Jiao, temporal corners) horizontally, this is an ominous sign. Since the Heart is the Sovereign Monarch, and the toxin originates from the Heart, it appears first in its corresponding position. If the Sovereign is endangered, the twelve organs are all endangered, leading to rapid death.

The left cheek belongs to Liver Wood, and the right cheek belongs to Lung Metal. If distinct red spots appear first on both cheeks, it is auspicious. If they cluster together into lumps with hard, swollen flesh, it indicates death. This is because the Liver stores the Hun (Ethereal Soul) and the Lung stores the Po (Corporeal Soul); when vitality is extinguished, the souls are about to depart, rendering it untreatable.

The chin belongs to Kidney Water. Chengjiang (Chengjiang, CV24) extends horizontally to the mandible angles bilaterally. If red spots appear first, erupt first, and scab first here, it is auspicious. Although this area belongs to the Kidney, the meridians of the Three Yin and Three Yang all converge here; thus, Yin and Yang are harmonious, making it treatable.

The nose belongs to Spleen Earth. If the tip of the nose (Zhuntou) shows lesions first and scabs first, it is inauspicious. Since the Spleen belongs to Earth and the other four Zang organs receive their commands from the Spleen, if the toxin originates from the Spleen and Spleen Earth fails, the four Zang organs will fail subsequently, leading to a prolonged course and eventual death.

The opening of the Kidney is in the ears. It is also said that the Heart opens into the ears. Both the Heart and Kidney belong to the Shaoyin Jun Huo (Ministerial Fire). Additionally, the Shaoyang Xiang Huo (Ministerial Fire) meridians run before and after the ears. If red spots appear first on the earlobes, it is inauspicious, as both Jun Huo and Xiang Huo are active, creating a blazing heat that is difficult to extinguish.

Only the area around the lips, where lesions appear first, rise first, and scab first, is highly auspicious. This is because the Yangming meridians flank the mouth and encircle the lips, governed by the Stomach and Large Intestine, which accept everything without rejection.

Experts in smallpox diagnosis divide the face into Eight Gates (Ba Men), Five Pivots (Wu Shu), Three Passes (San Guan), Two Sha (Two Malevolent Points), and Five Axes (Wu Zhou). The Heart is the Chi Di Gate (Red Emperor Gate) [associated with Pericardium]; the two zygomatic arches are the Heart Pivot. The Liver is the Qing Yang Gate (Green Yang Gate) [associated with Gallbladder]; the two eye orbits are the Liver Pivot. The Spleen is the Huang Yang Gate (Yellow Central Gate) [associated with Stomach]; the two cheeks/jawlines are the Spleen Pivot. The Lung is the Su Sha Gate (Solemn Killing Gate); the throat prominence is the Lung Pivot. The Kidney is the Xuan Wu Gate (Black Tortoise Gate); the two earlobes are the Kidney Pivot. The chest and breast mound are the Heart Pass. The umbilicus is the Spleen Pass. The genitalia (Yang Qiu) is the Kidney Pass. The Bai Di Sha Gate (White Emperor Malevolent Gate) is located at the suprasternal fossa and right Taiyang point. The Qing Di Sha Gate (Green Emperor Malevolent Gate) is located at the eye orbit and left Taiyang point. The zygomatic prominence, chest, and breast are the Heart Axis. The left Taiyang point, left hypochondrium, eyelids, and buttocks are the Liver Axis. The right Taiyang point, right hypochondrium, neck, and throat prominence are the Lung Axis. The cheeks, Zhongting, mouth corners, abdomen, hands, and feet are the Spleen Axis. The lower jaw, back of the neck, ear hollows, back Shu points, waist, spine, and genitalia are the Kidney Axis.

Mr. Yuan, in reading smallpox charts, emphasized the characters "Gate," "Lan" (Barrier), "Fu" (Assistant), and "Zhou" (Axis). If the Gate is violated, the condition is verified; if the Lan is violated, it is verified; if the Fu is violated, it is verified; once the Zhou is reached, the variations are exhausted. There are eight Gates, eighteen Lans, eighteen Fus, and 154 Zous, each verified according to their respective meridians. The high ground of the Tian Ting (Heavenly Court) is named Chi Di Gate. The chest is named Yan Che Gate (Flame Chariot Gate). The centers of both palms are named Zheng Li Gate (Correct Li Gate) [not belonging to the Heart but to the Yangming channel; if Yangming is clear, the nose forms first and palms second; if Yangming is swift and violent, the palms form first and nose second; formation on the nose is smooth, on the palms is reversed]. The area around the Mei Xin (Glabella) spanning upper and lower cun is called Wu Jiang Gate (Five Generals Gate). The Si Zhu Kong (Si Zhu Kong, GB23) under the eyes and Lei Tang (Tear Hall) are named Qing Yang Gate. The Qi Wo (Suprasternal Fossa) and Tian Tu (Tiantu, CV22) acupoint is named Su Sha Gate. The circles of the ear openings are named Xuan Wu Gate. The area of the umbilicus, where Spleen Meridian Qi pours in, is named Huang Di Gate (Yellow Emperor Gate). These eight gates differ slightly from the previous ones, and the Lan, Fu, and Zhou differ even more. The diagrams and rhymes are complex and vulgar, irrelevant to treatment, and thus are not adopted today.