大凡望诊。先分部位。后观气色。欲识五色之精微。当知十法之纲领。十法者。浮沉清浊微甚散抟泽夭是
也。何谓浮沉。色显于皮肤间者。谓之浮。隐于皮肤内者。谓之沉。浮者。病在表。沉者。病在里。初浮而后沉者。
病自表而之里。初沉而后浮者。病自里而之表。此以浮沉分表里也。何谓清浊。清者清明。其色舒也。浊者
浊暗。其色惨也。清者病在阳。浊者病在阴。自清而浊。阳病入阴。自浊而清。阴病转阳。此以清浊分阴阳也。
何谓微甚。色浅淡者谓之微。色深浓者谓之甚。微者正气虚。甚者邪气实。自微而甚。则先虚而后实。自甚
而微。则先实而后虚。此以微甚分虚实也。何谓散抟。散者疏离。其色开也。抟者壅滞。其色闭也。散者病近
将解。抟者病久渐聚。先抟而后散者。病虽久而将解。先散而后抟者。病虽近而渐聚。此以散抟分久近也。
何谓泽夭。气色滋润谓之泽。气色枯槁谓之夭。泽者主生。夭者主死。将夭而渐泽者。精神复盛。先泽而渐
夭者。血气益衰。此以泽夭分成败也。盖十法者。辨其色之气也。五色者。辨其气之色也。气者色之变。色者
气之常。气因色而其理始明。色因气而其义乃着。气也色也。分言之。则精微之道显。合观之。则病症之变
彰。此气色之提纲也。经曰。相气不微。不知是非。属意弗去。乃知新故。其是之谓乎。
In general, inspection (Wang Zhen) first distinguishes the body regions, then observes the Qi and color. To understand the subtleties of the Five Colors (Wu Se), one must grasp the principles of the Ten Methods (Shi Fa). The Ten Methods are: Floating (Fu), Sinking (Chen), Clear (Qing), Turbid (Zhuo), Faint (Wei), Intense (Shen), Scattered (San), Aggregated (Tuan), Lustrous (Ze), and Withered (Yao).
What is meant by Floating and Sinking? When the complexion appears on the surface of the skin, it is called Floating; when it hides within the skin, it is called Sinking. Floating indicates that the disease is in the Exterior (Biao); Sinking indicates that the disease is in the Interior (Li). If it starts as Floating and later becomes Sinking, the disease moves from the Exterior to the Interior. If it starts as Sinking and later becomes Floating, the disease moves from the Interior to the Exterior. Thus, Floating and Sinking are used to distinguish between the Exterior and the Interior.
What is meant by Clear and Turbid? Clear refers to brightness and clarity, where the color appears relaxed or open. Turbid refers to darkness and dullness, where the color appears grim or closed. Clear indicates that the disease is in the Yang (Yang meridians or Yang syndromes); Turbid indicates that the disease is in the Yin (Yin meridians or Yin syndromes). Moving from Clear to Turbid means a Yang disease entering the Yin. Moving from Turbid to Clear means a Yin disease transforming into Yang. Thus, Clear and Turbid are used to distinguish between Yin and Yang.
What is meant by Faint and Intense? A pale and light color is called Faint; a deep and rich color is called Intense. Faint indicates deficiency of Healthy Qi (Zheng Qi); Intense indicates excess of Pathogenic Qi (Xie Qi). Moving from Faint to Intense implies an initial deficiency followed by excess. Moving from Intense to Faint implies an initial excess followed by deficiency. Thus, Faint and Intense are used to distinguish between Deficiency (Xu) and Excess (Shi).
What is meant by Scattered and Aggregated? Scattered refers to dispersion, where the color appears open or spreading. Aggregated refers to stagnation and clumping, where the color appears closed or gathered. Scattered indicates that the disease is recent and nearing resolution. Aggregated indicates that the disease has been present for a long time and is gradually consolidating. If it starts Aggregated and later becomes Scattered, although the disease has been long-standing, it is nearing resolution. If it starts Scattered and later becomes Aggregated, although the disease is recent, it is gradually consolidating. Thus, Scattered and Aggregated are used to distinguish between short-term and long-term conditions.
What is meant by Lustrous and Withered? A moist and nourished complexion is called Lustrous; a dry and withered complexion is called Withered. Lustrous signifies life/prognosis of recovery; Withered signifies death/poor prognosis. If a patient is near Withered but gradually becomes Lustrous, their Spirit (Shen) is recovering. If a patient was initially Lustrous but gradually becomes Withered, their Blood and Qi are further declining. Thus, Lustrous and Withered are used to distinguish between success/recovery and failure/death.
The Ten Methods are used to discern the Qi of the colors; the Five Colors are used to discern the Color of the Qi. Qi is the variation of Color; Color is the constant manifestation of Qi. The principles become clear because of the Color; the meaning becomes evident because of the Qi. Speaking of Qi and Color separately reveals their subtleties; observing them together manifests the changes in symptoms and diseases. This is the outline of Qi and Color inspection.
As the Classics state: "If inspection of Qi is not subtle, one cannot know right from wrong; if attention is not maintained without lapse, one can know the new from the old." This is precisely what is meant.