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First inquire about chills and fever, second about sweating, third about the head and body, fourth about urination and defecation, fifth about diet, sixth about the chest. Deafness and thirst in the seventh and eighth aspects must all be distinguished. (The Eight Questions of Jingyue.)

When diagnosing illness, one must first ask what kind of person the patient is: male or female, old or young, or whether they are a maid, a relative from the wife's family, or a servant. If they do not answer when asked, it is likely due to deafness; one must inquire with those around them regarding their usual condition. Otherwise, it may be due to long-standing illness or caused by improper use of diaphoresis (sweating method) or purgation (drastic evacuation method). When examining women, one must first ask about their menstrual flow. Widows often have stagnant and sluggish Qi and Blood, resulting in slippery pulses at both Chi positions (the distal pulse positions on both wrists); this should not be mistaken for pregnancy. Unmarried girls may also exhibit this condition.

The customs of the world are not as they were in ancient times; inquiry is treated as secondary. Those who are ill not only do not speak, but even after repeated questioning, they ultimately refuse to disclose information, instead blaming the physician for poor skills. Some even conceal sensitive ailments that trouble the physician; thus, the physician is indeed troubled, and is the patient not also troubled by the physician? Nevertheless, physicians must value learning. Generally, after completing the examination, one should not immediately state the disease name nor speak lightly and rashly. One must begin with the obtained pulse presentation, extensively citing classic theories as evidence. Gradually guide the discussion back to the specific syndrome, ensuring precision and accuracy, avoiding fragmented and arrogant statements. After discussing the syndrome, slowly ask about the patient's suffering. If the explanation is incomplete, the patient may provide detailed accounts. Then, compare what the patient says with one's own diagnosis; whether similar or different, arrive at a balanced conclusion. In this way, mutual understanding between doctor and patient will be achieved, and full therapeutic success will be attained. (Words of Wang Shishan.)

Note: There are many things a physician ought to inquire about. One must first obtain an accurate pulse diagnosis, then proceed with inquiries based on the logical path of the pulse findings to ensure orderliness. If one were to inquire indiscriminately as I (Hai) might, would it be appropriate? No wonder one is looked down upon by others. The *Neijing* (Inner Canon) states: "If you clearly understand reversal and normalcy, you can act correctly without needing to ask." It also states: "Be diligent in mastering Yin and Yang, and do not consult with the masses." This implies there are cases where inquiry is cautioned against, largely because patients' answers often deviate significantly from reality and cannot be fully trusted. If one fails to clearly understand reversal/normalcy and diligently master Yin/Yang, yet arrogantly considers not asking as superior, and even rejects advice while disregarding human life, what would be the magnitude of such sin?