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I have pondered the methods of facial diagnosis. It is not only that the five colors of Mingtang (the nose) and the features of the face and five organs can be distinguished to correspond to the Zang organs; the shape of the face also has two ways of classification.

The first method distinguishes based on morphological layers. For instance: the Liver corresponds to tendons, the Heart corresponds to vessels, the Spleen corresponds to flesh, the Lung corresponds to skin, and the Kidney corresponds to bones. Tendons are the external domain of the Liver, vessels are the external domain of the Heart, flesh is the external domain of the Spleen, skin is the external domain of the Lung, and bones are the external domain of the Kidney. Extending this reasoning, skin varies in thickness and luster or witheredness; flesh varies in fatness or leanness, atrophy or fullness; vessels vary in size and pulse rate (slow or rapid); tendons vary in thickness and tension (slack or tight); bones vary in size and robustness or fragility. Excess indicates surplus, while deficiency indicates insufficiency. These can all be used to distinguish the prosperity, decline, excess, and deficiency of the internal organs and Qi-blood. This is the distinction based on morphological layers.

The second method distinguishes based on meridian pathways. For instance: the Du Mai (Governing Vessel) ascends from the midline of the back to the head and reaches the nose; the Ren Mai (Conception Vessel) ascends from the midline of the abdomen to the chin and follows the face; the Chong Mai (Penetrating Vessel) flourishes around the lips and mouth; the Qiao Mai (Yang-Heel and Yin-Heel Vessels) converge at Jingming (BL1); the area of Tinggong (SI19) and the cheekbones belongs to the Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian; the areas of Meichong (EX-HN2) and Wuchu (BL3) belong to the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian; the areas of Yingxiang (LI20) and Heliao (SI18) belong to the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian; the areas of Jiache (ST6) and Juliao (ST3) belong to the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian; the areas of Ermen (TE21) and Hezhao (SJ22) belong to the Hand-Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian; the areas of Qianguan (EX-HN4) and Tinghui (GB2) belong to the Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian. Extending this reasoning, swelling and protrusion indicate excess patterns, while depression and sinking indicate deficiency patterns. Swelling and protrusion signify excessive pathogenic factors, indicating the disease is in the exterior; depression and sinking signify insufficient healthy Qi, indicating the disease is in the interior. This is the distinction based on meridians.

By analogical reasoning from this, whether it is a small part like a finger or a large part like the four limbs, the principles of morphological layers and meridians are universally applicable. Regarding diagnosing diseases through verbal symptoms, as described in various medical texts: for Big Head Plague (Datou Wen), where both eyes, nose, and face swell, the pathology lies in the Yangming channel; swelling around the ears and forehead angles lies in the Shaoyang channel; swelling at the back of the head and neck lies in the Taiyang channel. Facial edema is termed Wind Disease; facial and ocular swelling with intermittent fever and a deep, slippery pulse, indicating water retention in the body, is termed Fengshui (Wind-Water) Disease; facial edema with rebellious Qi, excessive phlegm and saliva, is termed Cough with Rebellious Qi; facial edema with shoulder shrugging during respiration and a floating, large pulse, is considered an untreatable condition; shortness of breath with facial edema, anosmia, coughing with sputum, distending pain in both hypochondria, and irregular panting is termed Feilao (Lung Consumption); facial and ocular edema indicates Yang deficiency and Cold in the Stomach; facial and ocular edema extending to the neck indicates Yang deficiency and Qi stagnation. If a patient's Ying (Nutritive) and Wei (Defensive) Qi are exhausted and severed, presenting with facial edema, it is a death sign; facial edema with cyanotic-black complexion is a death sign; coughing with emaciation and a hard, large pulse is a death sign; coughing with physical depletion and fever, and a small, hard, rapid pulse is a death sign; muscle wasting with lower limb muscle atrophy and persistent heat is a death sign; sunken and shrunken cheeks indicate Stomach Qi deficiency and exhaustion of flesh. Besides these, for conditions such as variola (smallpox/variolae), carbuncles and sores, leprosy (Lifeng), and seasonal epidemics manifesting on the head and face, one can analyze by location, differentiate by meridians, combine with facial morphology, and reference facial color to distinguish similarities and differences, thereby judging auspiciousness or ominous outcomes. However, why is swelling considered excess and edema considered deficiency? This is because the aggregation and dispersion of form differ, just as the luster or witheredness of color varies. In excess patterns, pathogenic factors are strong; in deficiency patterns, healthy Qi is weak. When swelling is attributed to deficiency, it means pathogenic factors are strong while healthy Qi is simultaneously weak. The principle remains the same when extended to conditions like variola and carbuncles.