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(Newly Revised)
The predecessors' discussions on tongue diagnosis were very detailed, yet they only discussed the tongue coating (tongue fur), not the tongue body (tongue substance). This does not mean they did not discuss the tongue body, but rather that they conflated the coating and the body without distinguishing them. The tongue is the orifice of the Heart; its extension, retraction, and rotation are functions of the sinews (tendons), which belong to the Liver's domain. The tiny red granules on the tip of the tongue, smaller than millet seeds, are caused by the Heart Qi bulging forth with the assistance of the True Fire of the Gate of Vitality (Mingmen). The white, soft papillae on the central surface of the tongue, resembling fine hairs, are produced by the Lung Qi growing forth with the assistance of the True Fire of the Gate of Vitality. As for the tongue coating, it is formed by the steaming and vaporization of Stomach Qi. Since all five Zang organs receive their Qi from the Stomach, the coating can be used to diagnose the cold, heat, deficiency, and excess conditions of the five Zang organs. If we deduce its specific meaning, the tongue coating should govern the six Fu organs, while the tongue body should govern the five Zang organs. Tongue coatings can be scraped off; this belongs to matters of Qi and is associated with the six Fu organs. If it cannot be scraped off, it indicates that the pathogen has gradually invaded the Blood level and internally connected to the Zang organs. Changes in the tongue body entirely pertain to matters of Blood and the five Zang organs. In previous texts, there is a concept that tongue coatings should be divided into those with "roots" and those without. The "root" refers to the deep layer of the coating that cannot be scraped off; this also has nothing to do with the tongue body itself. I have seen individuals who suffered no other ailments but complained of frequent seminal emissions. Upon examining their tongues, the center was smooth and devoid of coating, about the size of a coin, with a pale purple color. I have also seen patients suffering from Stomach Qi pain whose tongue bodies often showed a diffuse, faint blue hue throughout. These cases are due to Phlegm and Blood stasis obstructing the meridians of the Stomach and the Pericardium, preventing the True Qi from ascending to the surface. Consequently, the tongue becomes smooth without growing soft papillae, indicating that Blood has become stagnant due to Cold. A diffuse faint blue color indicates that turbid Blood fills the minute collaterals. Therefore, regardless of the color of the tongue coating, such conditions are generally easy to treat. Once the tongue body changes, one must observe whether the color is "living" or "dead." "Living" means that upon careful inspection of the base, a faint reddish vitality is still visible; this merely indicates an obstruction in Qi and Blood, not a deterioration of Zang Qi. "Dead" means the base has completely changed, becoming dry, dull, withered, and lacking any vitality; this signifies the exhaustion of Zang Qi, known as the "True Zang color." Thus, in treating disease, one must examine the tongue coating, but to determine the prognosis (auspiciousness or inauspiciousness) of the illness, one must focus on the tongue body. The following chapters discuss this in detail; readers should ponder it carefully.

Note: Liu Hejian extensively discussed the function of the Xuanfu (mysterious pores). He stated that the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind all rely on the Xuanfu to perform their functions. The aforementioned statement that a blue hue in the tongue body is due to turbid Blood filling the minute collaterals implies that these minute collaterals are the Xuanfu. The phrase "turbid Blood filling" means that the blood circulating within the Xuanfu of the tongue is mixed with turbid Qi. This may result from the congealing of Cold Qi or the obstruction of Saliva/Phlegm in the meridians of the Stomach and Pericardium, causing the ascending Blood to deviate from its normal state, thereby generating turbid Qi. It does not necessarily imply that the blood has putrefied. If truly putrid Blood were blocking the interior, would it not lead to a stiff tongue and death?