明堂望法。有五脏之分。有六部之辨。六部者。中央脏腑之部为内。四旁肢节之部为外。横分之为上下。竖
分之为左右也。以内外言之。色见于内部者。其病在内。色见于外部者。其病在外。色从外部走内部者。其
病自外走内。色从内部走外部者。其病自内走外。内者重。外者轻。从内走外者。脏传腑。腑传表。由重而轻
也。从外走内者。表传腑。腑传脏。由轻而重也。此内外之辨也。以上下言之。色见于上部者。其病在上。色见
于下部者。其病在下。色从下部走上部者。其病自下走上。色从上部走下部者。其病自上走下。上为阳。下
为阴。阳病者。上行极而下。阴病者。不行极而上。阳病自上走下为重。自下走上为轻。阴病自下走上为重。
自上走下为轻。此上下之辨也。以左右言之。色见于左部者。其病在左。色见于右部者。其病在右。色从右
部走左部者。其病自右走左。色从左部走右部者。其病自左走右。左为阳。右为阴。男子左为逆。右为从。女
子右为逆。左为从。男子自左走右为从。自右走左为逆。女子自右走左为从。自左走右为逆。此左右之辨
也。由是而五色交错。六部合参。则又各有行走。各有逆从。是必察其色之所起。辨其色之所向。以推其顺
逆。而断其吉凶焉。然其色之行走。于意云何。盖其色上锐者。其行上向。其色下锐者。其行下向。在左右如
法。而内外亦然矣。此六部之提纲也。岐伯曰。脏腑之在中也。各以次舍。左右上下。各如其度也。其斯之谓欤。
The method of observation (Wang Zhen) follows specific principles, involving the differentiation of the Five Viscera (Zang Organs) and the distinction of the Six Regions (Liu Bu). The term "Six Regions" refers to the central areas housing the viscera as "internal," and the peripheral areas of limbs and joints as "external"; horizontally divided into upper and lower sections, and vertically divided into left and right sections. Regarding internal and external: if the complexion appears in the internal regions, the disease is internal; if it appears in the external regions, the disease is external. If the color moves from the external to the internal region, the pathogen moves from the exterior to the interior; if it moves from the internal to the external region, the pathogen moves from the interior to the exterior. Disease located internally is severe, while disease located externally is mild. Transmission from internal to external indicates the transmission of Zang disease to Fu organs, and Fu disease to the surface, representing a shift from severe to mild. Transmission from external to internal indicates the transmission of surface disease to Fu organs, and Fu disease to Zang organs, representing a shift from mild to severe. This constitutes the distinction between internal and external.
Regarding upper and lower: if the complexion appears in the upper section, the disease is in the upper part; if it appears in the lower section, the disease is in the lower part. If the color moves from the lower to the upper section, the disease progresses upward; if it moves from the upper to the lower section, the disease progresses downward. The upper belongs to Yang, and the lower belongs to Yin. In Yang diseases, progression reaches its extreme before descending; in Yin diseases, progression reaches its extreme before ascending. For Yang diseases, movement from upper to lower is considered severe, while movement from lower to upper is mild. For Yin diseases, movement from lower to upper is considered severe, while movement from upper to lower is mild. This constitutes the distinction between upper and lower.
Regarding left and right: if the complexion appears on the left side, the disease is on the left; if it appears on the right side, the disease is on the right. If the color moves from the right to the left section, the disease moves from right to left; if it moves from the left to the right section, the disease moves from left to right. The left belongs to Yang, and the right belongs to Yin. For men, the left side represents "Ni" (adverse/unfavorable), and the right side represents "Cong" (favorable/normal); for women, the right side represents "Ni," and the left side represents "Cong." For men, disease transmission from left to right is favorable, while from right to left is adverse; for women, disease transmission from right to left is favorable, while from left to right is adverse. This constitutes the distinction between left and right.
From this, when the Five Colors (Wu Se) intermingle and the Six Regions are analyzed together, there are respective directions of transmission and patterns of favorability or adversity. One must observe the origin of the color changes, distinguish the direction of their movement, thereby deducing the顺逆 (shun ni - favorable/adverse nature of the disease progression), and judge the auspiciousness or inauspiciousness. However, what is the rationale behind such movement of colors? Generally, if the color shape is sharp at the top, its movement is directed upward; if sharp at the bottom, its movement is directed downward. The same applies to the left and right sides, and similarly to the internal and external regions. This is the outline of the Six Regions. Qi Bo stated: "The viscera reside within, each occupying its designated position according to sequence; their arrangement on the left, right, upper, and lower corresponds precisely to these measures." This is exactly what is meant.