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According to the Thirteenth Difficulty of the *Nan Jing* (Classic of Difficult Issues): The Five Zang organs correspond to five colors, all of which manifest on the face, and should also correspond with the Cun Kou pulse (radial artery at the wrist) and the Chi region (distal part of the radial pulse). If the complexion is green (Qing), the pulse should be Xian (Wiry) and Ji (Rapid/Tight); if red (Chi), the pulse should be Fu (Floating), Da (Large), and San (Scattered); if yellow (Huang), the pulse should be Zhong Huan (Moderately Slow) and Da; if white (Bai), the pulse should be Fu, Se (Choppy), and Duan (Short); if black (Hei), the pulse should be Chen (Deep), Ru (Soft/Slippery), and Hua (Smooth). If the pulse is Shu (Rapid), the skin in the Chi region will feel rapid; if the pulse is Ji, the skin in the Chi region will feel tight; if the pulse is Huan, the skin in the Chi region will feel relaxed; if the pulse is Se, the skin in the Chi region will feel choppy; if the pulse is Hua, the skin in the Chi region will feel smooth. If the complexion is green but the pulse is Fu, Se, and Duan, or Da and Huan, this indicates a relationship of mutual overcoming (Xiang Sheng/Xiang Ke context: specifically Ke/Overcoming here). Green corresponds to the Liver; a Fu, Se, and Duan pulse corresponds to the Lung, representing Metal overcoming Wood; a Da and Huan pulse corresponds to the Spleen, representing Wood overcoming Earth. This is called "Xiang Sheng" (in the sense of overcoming/dominating, often translated as Overcoming or Controlling). If the pulse is Fu, Da, and San, or Xiao (Small) and Hua, this indicates a relationship of mutual generation. Fu, Da, and San correspond to the Heart pulse, representing Wood generating Fire; Xiao and Hua correspond to the Kidney pulse, representing Water generating Wood. This is called "Xiang Sheng" (Generating).

The *Yu Ji Zhen Zang Lun* chapter of the *Su Wen* states: In treating any disease, one must observe the patient's form, Qi, color, and luster, as well as the excess or deficiency of the pulse, and distinguish whether the disease is new or old, then treat it without delaying the appropriate time. If the form and Qi are harmonious, it is termed treatable; if the color and luster are bright and floating, it is termed easy to cure; if the pulse conforms to the Four Seasons, it is termed treatable; if the pulse is weak yet smooth, indicating the presence of Stomach Qi, it is named easy to treat, provided treatment is applied at the right time. If the form and Qi are discordant, it is termed difficult to treat; if the color is dull and lacks luster, it is termed difficult to treat; if the pulse is solid and hard, the condition is worsening; if the pulse goes against the pattern of the Four Seasons, it is untreatable. One must carefully examine these four critical signs and clearly inform the patient.

The *Wu Zang Sheng Cheng Pian* chapter of the *Su Wen* states: Colors and flavors correspond to the Five Zang organs: White corresponds to the Lung, Pungent flavor to the Lung; Red corresponds to the Heart, Bitter flavor to the Heart; Green corresponds to the Liver, Sour flavor to the Liver; Yellow corresponds to the Spleen, Sweet flavor to the Spleen; Black corresponds to the Kidney, Salty flavor to the Kidney. Furthermore, White corresponds to the Skin, Red to the Vessels, Green to the Tendons, Yellow to the Flesh, and Black to the Bones.

The *Se Se Pian* chapter of the *Ling Shu* states: The limbs and joints of the Five Zang and Six Fu organs each have specific regions, utilizing Yin to harmonize Yang and Yang to harmonize Yin. One must understand these regions to ensure success in every action. By balancing the excess and deficiency of Yin and Yang, making them harmonious and level, one will succeed in every attempt. Being able to distinguish left from right constitutes the Great Dao. Since the flow of Yin and Yang differs between men and women, their positional correspondences also differ. Therefore, examining whether the complexion is lustrous or dull identifies a skilled physician. Left and right are the pathways of Yin and Yang. Once positions are established, one can discern luster and dullness. Deep and turbid colors indicate internal conditions (Zang organs), while floating and lustrous colors indicate external conditions (Fu organs); they are distinguished by their depth. However, understanding these nuances through facial inspection requires mental concentration. Yellow and Red indicate Wind; Green and Black indicate Pain; White indicates Cold; Yellow indicates dampness/pus; Luster indicates pus; Excessive Red indicates Blood stasis. Severe pain leads to spasms; severe cold leads to insensibility of the skin. When the five colors appear in their respective regions, observing their floating or sinking reveals the depth of the disease; observing their luster or dullness reveals the outcome; observing their dispersion or aggregation reveals the duration; observing their upper or lower distribution reveals the location. Superficial symptoms indicate superficial disease; deep symptoms indicate deep disease; lustrous colors indicate recovery; dull colors indicate deterioration; dispersed colors indicate recent onset; aggregated colors indicate long-standing disease. Accumulate spirit in the heart to know the past and present. Thus, subtle observation of Qi is necessary to distinguish right from wrong; maintaining attention allows one to know the new and old. To inspect colors, one must accumulate spirit and focus attention to understand the progression and nature of the disease. Bright and non-dull colors indicate mild illness; dark and dull colors indicate severe illness. If there is no darkness or dullness, even if not bright, the illness is not severe. If the color is dispersed like a running foal (Ju Ju Ran), the pathogenic factor is scattered and has not yet formed a mass; although there is Qi stagnation and pain, no physical structure has formed. "Ju" refers to a young horse, running restlessly, describing dispersed color without fixed location. When Kidney evil invades the Heart, the Heart suffers first, and the Kidney responds. This applies to other Zang organs as well; diseases arise when the Zang is deficient, allowing pathogenic factors to invade. The observed color reflects the element that overcomes the affected organ. For men, abnormalities on the nose tip (Mian Wang) indicate lower abdominal pain; abnormalities below indicate testicular pain; round and straight shapes indicate penile pain; high positions indicate the root of the penis; low positions indicate the glans. These belong to conditions such as Hu Shan (Fox Hernia) and Kui Yin. Testicular, penile, and hernia issues relate to the Bladder, Small Intestine, and anterior genitalia. Their facial correspondence is above and below the Mian Wang. Round and straight shapes symbolize the penis, so color height distinguishes the root and tip of penile disease. It is said that nose size correlates with genital size. For women, abnormalities on the Mian Wang indicate Bladder and anterior genitalia diseases; dispersed color indicates wandering pathogens; aggregated color indicates accumulation. Shapes correspond to the color form. If the color descends to the umbilicus area, it indicates lascivious diseases; luster like grease indicates excessive eating of unclean food. Women's regional divisions are similar, but diseases are located lower, involving the Chong, Ren, and Dai meridians, such as leukorrhea, strangury, and masses. Some cases result from excessive eating leading to damp-heat flowing downward. Aggregated color indicates masses; dispersed color indicates pain only. Left side indicates left-sided disease; right side indicates right-sided disease. Pathogenic colors that are dispersed and irregular indicate the location of the disease. Observing the direction of color changes reveals aggregation or pain. Green, Black, Red, White, and Yellow should be regular and full. "Bie Xiang" means an abnormal color appearing in an inappropriate region, e.g., Red on the Mian Wang, which portends imminent disaster. Regular colors conforming to seasons indicate no pathogen; aberrant colors indicate pathology. If the upper part of the color is sharp, it indicates upward invasion; if the lower part is sharp, it indicates downward invasion. Using the five colors to name the Zang organs: Green is Liver, Red is Heart, White is Lung, Yellow is Spleen, Black is Kidney. Liver connects to Tendons, Heart to Vessels, Lung to Skin, Spleen to Flesh, Kidney to Bones. By distinguishing colors, one knows the Zang organs; by knowing the Zang organs, one knows their connections; by observing the location, one determines Sheng (Generation) and Ke (Overcoming) auspiciousness or inauspiciousness. Disease cannot hide its true nature.

White spots on the face indicate intestinal parasites.
Fluctuating green, white, and yellow complexions, or crab-claw-like patterns on the face, alternating yellow and white, indicate food retention. Frequent redness on the cheekbones indicates deficiency fire flaming upward.
A patient with a bloodless complexion, without aversion to cold or fever, and with a Chen Xian (Deep and Wiry) pulse indicates epistaxis (nosebleed).
A patient with a yellowish and lustrous complexion has Stomach Qi and will not die; a dry yellow complexion is ominous.
Redness on the cheekbones, large as a thumb, indicates that although the minor illness may resolve, sudden death will follow.
Blackness on the forehead (Ting), large as a thumb, indicates sudden death in a person who appears healthy.
In winter, a dismal complexion indicates Shang Han (Cold Damage); purple and turbid colors indicate seasonal epidemics; a white complexion with obesity indicates Qi deficiency with phlegm; a black complexion with emaciation indicates Yin deficiency with hyperactive fire.