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Chen Feixia stated: In pediatric medicine, the diagnosis by fingerprint (Fingerprint Diagnosis) has never had a definitive theory, and interpretations are inconsistent and difficult to verify. 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 arise from a failure to understand the principles underlying the fingerprints, leading to divergent opinions on its utility. Permit me to offer my humble insights to briefly elucidate the essentials. Essentially, this fingerprint is the same type of pulse as those at the Cun, Guan, and Chi positions. According to the *Neijing* (Classic of Internal Medicine), the twelve meridians begin with the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian. Its branch emerges from behind the wrist to the tip of the index finger, where it connects with the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian; this is what is referred to as the fingerprint. Even Zhang Jingyue, known for his clarity, claimed this line represents the floating pulse of the Hand-Yangming meridian. He failed to realize that the Hand-Taiyin meridian originates at Zhongfu (LU-1) and terminates at Shaoshang (LU-11) on the thumb, while the Hand-Yangming meridian originates at Shangyang (LI-1) on the index finger; they do not directly meet. Without this collateral branch to facilitate the communication of Ying and Wei (Nutritive and Defensive Qi), would this not sever the exterior-interior relationship between Taiyin and Yangming? Moreover, this pulse is diagnosable, though people are unaware of it. Its variations in slowness, rapidity, intermission, and urgency are identical to those of the Taiyuan pulse, differing only in being smaller because it is a collateral branch.

The method of fingerprint diagnosis originated with Qian Zhongyang (Qian Yi) of the Song Dynasty. He divided the index finger into three sections: the first section is called the Wind Section (Feng Guan), the second the Qi Section (Qi Guan), and the third the Life Section (Ming Guan). His aphorism states, "Light wind indicates mild illness, heavy qi indicates severe illness, and reaching the life section indicates danger." Although this may not be entirely accurate in every case, its theoretical basis is valuable.

Tu Weisheng stated: All twelve meridians have palpable arteries, not just the Yangming and Taiyin meridians. For instance, the Duyang pulse of the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian and the Taixi pulse of the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian are located where arteries are palpable, and ancient physicians used them for comprehensive diagnosis. The Taiyuan pulse is selected for diagnosing adults because the Lung is the canopy of the viscera and converges all pulses. The three sections of the finger are selected for diagnosing children because the Taiyuan pulse is too fine and the pulse shape is not fully developed in infants, whereas the three sections are clearer and easier to observe. Interpreting this strictly through the principle that the Lung and Large Intestine are exterior-interior pairs, and thus claiming the three-section fingerprint is merely an extension of the Taiyuan pulse, seems somewhat rigid, yet it remains a precise explanation. However, regarding the acupuncture point Taichong (LR-3) of the Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian, which is said to be located at the arterial pulsation behind the metatarsophalangeal joint of the great toe, I have searched carefully but found no such artery. I consulted many people and asked them to examine closely, and they also reported finding none. It remains unknown where this specific acupoint and pulse actually lie. One may assume that ancient physicians did not arbitrarily determine pulses and acupoints based on speculation alone; rather, this should remain as a question awaiting further verification.