（素问脉要精微论）
帝曰∶有故病，五脏发动，因伤脉色，各何以知其久暴至之病乎？（有故病，旧有宿病也。五脏发动，触感而发也。
脉色可辨如下文。）岐伯曰∶悉乎哉问也。征其脉小色不夺者，新病也。（征，验也。脉小者邪气不盛，色不夺者形神未
伤，故为新病。）征其脉不夺其色夺者，此久病也。（病久而经气不夺者有之，未有病久而形色不变者，故脉不夺而色夺
者为久病。）征其脉与五色俱夺者，此久病也。（表里俱伤也。）征其脉与五色俱不夺者，新病也。（表里俱无恙也。）肝与
肾脉并至，其色苍赤，当病毁伤，不见血已见血，湿若中水也。（肝脉弦，肝主筋。肾脉沉，肾主骨。苍者，肝肾之色，
青而黑也。赤者，心火之色，心主血也。脉见弦沉而色苍赤者，筋骨血脉俱病，故必当为毁伤也。凡毁伤筋骨者，无论
不见血、已见血，其血必凝，其经必滞，气血凝滞，形必肿满，故如湿气在经而同于中水之状。中，去声。）
（素问五脏生成篇）
故色见青如草兹者死，（兹，滋同。如草滋者，纯于青而色深也。此以土败木贼，全失红黄之气故死。）黄如枳实者
死，（黄黑不泽也。）黑如 者死，（ ，烟煤也。 音台。）赤如 血者死，（ 血，死血也，赤紫而黑。 ，铺杯切。）
白如枯骨者死，（枯槁无神也。）此五色之见死也。（脏气败于中，则神色夭于外。三部九候论曰∶五脏已败，其色必夭，
夭必死矣。此之谓也。）青如翠羽者生，赤如鸡冠者生，黄如蟹腹者生，白如豕膏者生，黑如乌羽者生，此五色之见生也。
（此皆五色之明润光彩者，故见之者生。）生于心如以缟裹朱，生于肺如以缟裹红，生于肝如以缟裹绀，生于脾如以缟裹
栝蒌实，生于肾如以缟裹紫，此五脏所生之外荣也。（生，生气也，言五脏所生之正色也。缟，素帛也。以缟裹五物者，
谓外皆白净而五色隐然内见也。朱与红皆赤，朱言其深，红言其浅也。绀，青而含赤也。凡此皆五脏所生之正色，盖以
气足于中，而后色荣于外者若此。前第三十章精明五色，当与此篇互阅。绀，高暗切。）色味当五脏，白当肺辛，赤当心
苦，青当肝酸，黄当脾甘，黑当肾咸。（当，合也。此五色五味之合于五脏者，皆五行之一理也。）故白当皮，赤当脉，
青当筋，黄当肉，黑当骨。（肺主皮毛，故白当皮。心主血脉，故赤当脉。肝主筋，故青当筋。脾主肉。故黄当肉。肾主
骨，故黑当骨也。）
(Su Wen, Mai Yao Jing Wei Lun)
The Yellow Emperor asked: If a patient has an existing chronic illness, and the Qi of the Five Zang organs is triggered to flare up due to stimulation, thereby affecting the pulse and complexion, how can one distinguish whether such diseases are newly acquired or long-standing? ("You gu bing" refers to old, lingering diseases. "Wu zang fa dong" means they are triggered by contact with pathogens or internal factors. The differentiation of pulse and color is described in the following text.)
Qibo replied: Your question is indeed thorough! Observing those whose pulse is small but whose complexion remains unchanged indicates a new disease. (Zheng means verification. A small pulse indicates that the pathogenic factor is not vigorous; an unchanged complexion indicates that the form and spirit have not been injured, thus it is a new disease.) Observing those whose pulse remains unchanged but whose complexion has changed indicates a long-standing disease. (It is possible for the Jing Qi to remain unimpaired despite a long duration of illness, but there is no case where both form and color remain unchanged after a long illness; therefore, an unchanged pulse with a changed complexion indicates a long-standing disease.) Observing those whose pulse and the five colors are both diminished indicate a long-standing disease. (Both interior and exterior are injured.) Observing those whose pulse and the five colors are both undiminished indicate a new disease. (Neither interior nor exterior is abnormal.) When the Liver pulse and Kidney pulse appear simultaneously, and the complexion is cyan-red, this should be attributed to trauma. Whether bleeding has occurred or not, or even if bleeding has already happened, the body will feel heavy as if dampness were present or water poisoning had occurred. (The Liver pulse is wiry, and the Liver governs the sinews. The Kidney pulse is deep, and the Kidney governs the bones. Cyan is the color of the Liver and Kidney, which is greenish-black. Red is the color of Heart Fire, and the Heart governs blood. When the pulse is wiry and deep, and the complexion is cyan-red, it indicates that the sinews, bones, blood vessels, and blood are all diseased, so it must be due to trauma. In cases of trauma to sinews and bones, regardless of whether bleeding occurs, the blood will inevitably stagnate, and the meridians will become obstructed. Stagnation of Qi and blood leads to swelling and fullness of the form, so it feels like dampness moving within the meridians, similar to the condition of water poisoning. "Zhong" is pronounced with the departing tone.)
(Su Wen, Wu Zang Sheng Cheng Pian)
Therefore, a complexion resembling dead grass (cyan and dark) indicates death. (Zi is synonymous with Zi. "Ru cao zi" means purely cyan and deeply colored. This indicates death because Earth Qi is failing while Wood Qi is attacking, completely losing the red and yellow Qi.) A complexion resembling the fruit of the Zhi Shi tree (dark yellow without luster) indicates death. A complexion resembling soot (black) indicates death. (Soot, pronounced Tai.) A complexion resembling clotted blood (dark red/purple-black) indicates death. (Clotted blood refers to dead blood, which is dark red, purple, and black. Pronounced Pu Bei Qie.) A complexion resembling dry bone (pale and lifeless) indicates death. (Dry and lacking spiritual vitality.) These appearances of the five colors indicate death. (When the Qi of the Zang organs fails internally, the spirit and color manifest externally as premature decline. The Bu Bu Jiu Hou Lun states: "When the Qi of the five Zang organs has failed, their color must show signs of premature decline; showing signs of premature decline means death." This is what is meant here.)
A complexion resembling the feathers of a kingfisher (bright cyan) indicates survival. A complexion resembling the comb of a rooster (bright red) indicates survival. A complexion resembling the belly of a crab (moist yellow) indicates survival. A complexion resembling the fat of a pig (bright white) indicates survival. A complexion resembling the feathers of a crow (bright black) indicates survival. These appearances of the five colors indicate survival. (These are all manifestations of brightness, moistness, luster, and radiance in the five colors; thus, seeing these colors indicates survival.)
The healthy color of the Heart is like vermilion wrapped in raw silk. The healthy color of the Lung is like red wrapped in raw silk. The healthy color of the Liver is like gan (blue-green) wrapped in raw silk. The healthy color of the Spleen is like the fruit of Trichosanthes kirilowii wrapped in raw silk. The healthy color of the Kidney is like purple wrapped in raw silk. These are the external manifestations of the vitality generated by the five Zang organs. (Sheng refers to vital Qi, meaning the proper colors generated by the five Zang organs. Gao refers to plain white silk. Wrapping the five items in gao means the outside is clean and white, while the five colors inside are faintly visible. Zhu and Hong are both red; Zhu denotes deep red, and Hong denotes light red. Gan is blue-green containing red. All of these are the proper colors generated by the five Zang organs, implying that when Qi is sufficient internally, the color manifests luxuriantly externally, just like this. Chapter 30 on the clarity and colors of the eyes should be read in conjunction with this chapter. Gan is pronounced Gao An Qie.)
Colors and flavors correspond to the five Zang organs: White corresponds to the Lung and Pungent flavor; Red corresponds to the Heart and Bitter flavor; Green/Cyan corresponds to the Liver and Sour flavor; Yellow corresponds to the Spleen and Sweet flavor; Black corresponds to the Kidney and Salty flavor. (Dang means correspondence. The correspondence between these five colors and five flavors and the five Zang organs is a principle of the Five Elements.)
Therefore, White corresponds to the skin; Red corresponds to the vessels; Green/Cyan corresponds to the sinews; Yellow corresponds to the flesh/muscles; Black corresponds to the bones. (The Lung governs the skin and hair, so White corresponds to the skin. The Heart governs the blood vessels, so Red corresponds to the vessels. The Liver governs the sinews, so Green/Cyan corresponds to the sinews. The Spleen governs the muscles, so Yellow corresponds to the muscles. The Kidney governs the bones, so Black corresponds to the bones.)