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The *Yuan Bing Shi* (Treatise on the Original Causes of Disease) states: In all diseases, if the fluids discharged from above or below are clear, transparent, and cold; if dysentery is white and clear; if vomit is fishy and foul; if there is no hunger after eating; if there are hard abdominal masses, fullness, and acute pain; if there are *jia* (masses that move), hernia, difficulty in bending and stretching, cold limbs with rigidity, these all belong to Cold.

For details, please refer to the sections on "Dysentery" and others.

Commentary: The pathogenesis described in the above discussions mostly belongs to internal invasion by Cold or consumption of raw and cold foods, rather than exogenous contraction. Therefore, in this classification, only the examples of Taiyang disease (Exogenous Cold) are cited. However, the pathogenesis mentioned above also varies in its root (*ben*) and branch (*biao*), so further annotations are omitted for brevity; see respective sections for details.

The *Nan Jing* (Classic of Difficult Issues) states: In Taiyang disease, the pulse at the yin and yang positions is both excessive and tight and choppy.

The *Shang Han Lun* (Treatise on Cold Damage) states: When the pulse at both yin and yang positions is tight, it is named Taiyang disease. If the cunkou (radial artery at the wrist) pulse is floating and tight, floating indicates Wind, and tight indicates Cold. A pulse that is floating, choppy, and tight indicates Taiyang disease.

Respectfully noted: The theories regarding Taiyang disease pulses and the transmission through the Six Channels have been detailed in this treatise, so they are not recorded here exhaustively. Only the first chapter of Xu Xueshi’s (*Academician Xu*) *Baizheng Ge* (Song of Hundred Symptoms) captures the essence well, but two lines therein contain errors. For example: "Floating and slow pulse, Wind injures Ying (Nutritive Qi); Floating, tight, and choppy pulse, Cold injures Wei (Defensive Qi)." This differs from Zhongjing’s pulse theory. This is not due to Xu Xueshi’s lack of expertise, but likely a transcription error by later generations.

Xu Xueshi states: Zhongjing says that large, floating, rapid, moving, and slippery pulses are named Yang pulses; sinking, choppy, weak, wiry, and minute pulses are named Yin pulses. The *Mai Jue* (Pulse Rhymes) classifies the Moving pulse as Yin and the Wiry pulse as Yang. Why?

Generally speaking, this refers to a combination of various pulse qualities. Only in Taiyang disease does this occur; in miscellaneous diseases, each presents a single primary pulse quality. Zhongjing’s intent was: If the pulse is floating and large, it is Yang; if accompanied by moving, slippery, or rapid qualities, how could it not be considered Yang? If the pulse is sinking and fine, it is Yin; if accompanied by choppy, wiry, or rapid qualities, how could it not be considered Yin? Therefore, when discussing the Moving pulse, Zhongjing said: Yang movement causes sweating; Yin movement causes fever. The Moving pulse is described as appearing at the guan position, without head or tail, resembling a bean quivering and shaking. Regarding the Chest Bind syndrome, it is stated: "The pulse is floating and moving; floating indicates Wind, moving indicates Pain." Thus, combining rapid and floating qualities to describe the Moving pulse, it is indeed appropriate for a Yang pulse indicating a Yang disease. When discussing the Wiry pulse, Zhongjing said: It resembles a bowstring, unyielding to pressure; "Wiry indicates deficiency/reduction." He also stated that in Phlegm-Fluid retention, the pulse is urgently wiry. In Shaoyin syndrome, he said: "Cold hands and feet, wiry and slow pulse." Thus, combining slowness with wiriness, it is appropriate for a Wiry pulse indicating a Yin syndrome. Therefore, Zhongjing’s discussion of Taiyang disease pulses cannot be compared to those of miscellaneous diseases. Today, Yang syndromes often present with floating and large pulses accompanied by quivering movements; sinking, fine, and wiry pulses must indicate Yin syndromes. Is there any doubt? Hence, we know that treating Taiyang disease should take Zhongjing’s pulse methodology as the foundation.

The *Mai Jing* (Pulse Classic) states: Slow and tight indicates Cold. Cold leads to tight and wiry pulses. Choppy, slow, sinking, and fine pulses indicate Cold. A small, solid, and tight pulse indicates internal cold in the organs. A sinking and fine pulse indicates Cold in the Lower Jiao. A pulse that is continuous like beads strung together but fails to advance indicates Wind-Cold in the Large Intestine. A small, fine, and urgent pulse, progressing rapidly, indicates Cold in the Middle Jiao causing Hernia and Masses. A slow cunkou pulse indicates Cold in the Upper Jiao. A tight pulse indicates Excess Cold. A slow guan pulse indicates Cold in the Stomach. A slow and choppy chi pulse indicates Cold in the Lower Jiao. A wiry and small pulse indicates Cold accumulation (Han Pi); a slow and relaxed pulse, or a minute and tight pulse, all indicate Cold.