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(From *Suwen: Yin Yang Bie Lun*)

When the pulse of a Zang organ manifests as its true pulse (Zhen Zang Mai, the pulse of a failing organ devoid of Stomach Qi), if the Liver's true pulse appears suspended, severed, and rapid/tense (Xuan Jue Ji), death will occur in eighteen days; (The *Suwen: Yin Yang Bie Lun* states that the "true pulse of a Zang organ" refers to the Zhen Zang Mai. "Suspended, severed, and tense" means a complete loss of harmony, with abnormal string-like and forceful pulsation. The period of eighteen days is derived from the remainder of the completed numbers of Wood and Metal in the Hetu numerology; since Metal overcomes Wood, Wood qi perishes. The subsequent mortality periods follow Wang Bing’s interpretation using Hetu counting, which is logically sound; however, the inconsistent use of generating versus completed numbers raises doubts. Further commentary can be found in Chapter 64 of *Acupuncture*, which should also be consulted for verification.) If the Heart's true pulse appears suspended and severed, death will occur in nine days; (Nine days corresponds to the remainder of the generating and completed numbers of Fire and Water; since Water overcomes Fire.) If the Lung's true pulse appears suspended and severed, death will occur in twelve days; (Twelve days corresponds to the remainder of the generating and completed numbers of Metal and Fire; since Fire overcomes Metal.) If the Kidney's true pulse appears suspended and severed, death will occur in seven days; (Seven days corresponds to the remainder of the generating numbers of Water and Earth; since Earth overcomes Water.) If the Spleen's true pulse appears suspended and severed, death will occur in four days. (Four days corresponds to the remainder of the generating number of Wood; since Wood overcomes Earth. In all these cases, the organs cannot withstand the conquering and injuring pathogenic qi; thus, the isolated appearance of the Zhen Zang Mai indicates the collapse of organ qi and critical danger.)

If the Liver's true pulse appears on Geng or Xin days, death will occur; (The *Suwen: Ping Ren Qi Xiang Lun* explains that this refers to death occurring when the true pulse appears on days that overcome it. Geng and Xin belong to Metal, which attacks Liver Wood.) If the Heart's true pulse appears on Ren or Gui days, death will occur; (Ren and Gui belong to Water, which extinguishes Heart Fire.) If the Spleen's true pulse appears on Jia or Yi days, death will occur; (Jia and Yi belong to Wood, which overcomes Spleen Earth.) If the Lung's true pulse appears on Bing or Ding days, death will occur; (Bing and Ding belong to Fire, which scorches Lung Metal.) If the Kidney's true pulse appears on Wu or Ji days, death will occur; (Wu and Ji belong to Earth, which damages Kidney Water.) "Appearance" here means the manifestation of the Zhen Zang Mai; such manifestations indicate death. (This aligns with the principle in *Suwen: San Bu Jiu Hou Lun* that the appearance of the Zhen Zang Mai leads to death on the day of the overcoming element.)

(From *Suwen: Yin Yang Bie Lun*)

A Yin pulse that beats forcefully and differs distinctly from the Yang pulse indicates pregnancy. (See annotation in previous Chapter 23.) If both Yin and Yang are deficient and accompanied by Chang Pi (Intestinal Dysentery, characterized by pus and blood in stool), death will ensue. (Deficiency of both Yin and Yang refers to weakness in both Cun and Chi positions. Chang Pi involves the discharge of pus and blood. With Stomach Qi unable to remain and the魄门 (anus) losing control, combined with the exhaustion of Yin and Yang, the organ qi is depleted, leading to death. The *Suwen: Tong Ping Xu Shi Lun* states: "Slippery and large pulses indicate life; suspended and choppy pulses indicate death.") When Yang adds to Yin, it is called sweating. Here, "Yang" refers to the pulse body/quality, and "Yin" refers to the pulse position. Sweat belongs to Yin; when Yang acts upon Yin, Yin qi leaks out; therefore, those whose Yin pulses show Yang characteristics tend to sweat. If Yin is deficient and Yang is forceful/pounding, it is called Beng (Metrorrhagia/Metrorrhesis, excessive uterine bleeding). (Yin deficiency means insufficient force upon deep palpation. Yang forcefulness means excess force upon superficial palpation. Excess Yang and deficient Yin result in internal collapse and blood loss.) If the pulses of the Three Yin channels (Hand Taiyin Lung and Foot Taiyin Spleen) both beat forcefully, death will occur at midnight on the twentieth day. (The "Three Yin" refers to the Hand Taiyin Lung and Foot Taiyin Spleen meridians. "Bo" refers to the striking nature of the Zhen Zang pulse. Twenty days corresponds to the remainder of the completed numbers of Spleen and Lung. Midnight is the extreme of Yin, where qi is exhausted, leading to death.) If the pulses of the Two Yin channels (Hand Shaoyin Heart and Foot Shaoyin Kidney) both beat forcefully, death will occur at dusk on the thirteenth day. (The "Two Yin" refers to the Hand Shaoyin Heart and Foot Shaoyin Kidney meridians. Thirteen days corresponds to the completed numbers of Heart and Kidney. Dusk is when Yin and Yang are equal, a time of conflict between Water and Fire.) If the pulses of the One Yin channel (Hand Jueyin Pericardium and Foot Jueyin Liver) both beat forcefully, death will occur at dawn on the tenth day. (The "One Yin" refers to the Hand Jueyin Pericardium and Foot Jueyin Liver meridians. Ten days corresponds to the generating and completed numbers of Liver and Heart. Dawn is when Wood and Fire reach their peak, exacerbating the pathogen, leading to death.) If the pulses of the Three Yang channels (Hand Taiyang Small Intestine and Foot Taiyang Bladder) both beat forcefully and are drum-like, death will occur in three days. (The "Three Yang" refers to the Hand Taiyang Small Intestine and Foot Taiyang Bladder meridians. Water has one, Fire has two; thus, death occurs on the third day. The rapidity of death is due to the pulse being both pounding and drumming, indicating the extreme excess of Yang pathogenic qi.) If the pulses of the Three Yin and Three Yang channels (Spleen, Lung, Small Intestine, Bladder) all beat forcefully, with fullness in the heart and abdomen manifesting completely, and inability to pass urine or feces (Yin Dao obstruction), death will occur in five days. (The "Three Yin and Three Yang" refer to the Spleen, Lung, Small Intestine, and Bladder. When four organs' pulses are pounding, both upper and lower parts are diseased. Thus, in the upper part, there is abdominal distension to the extreme ("Fa Jin"). In the lower part, there is obstruction of the Yin passages (bowel/bladder dysfunction). With four organs diseased, the key is the Stomach Qi; Earth's number is five, so death occurs when the number five is exhausted.) If the pulses of the Two Yang channels (Hand Yangming Large Intestine and Foot Yangming Stomach) both beat forcefully, and the disease is Wen Bing (Warm Disease), it is untreatable, and death will not exceed ten days. (The "Two Yang" refers to the Hand Yangming Large Intestine and Foot Yangming Stomach meridians. Ten days corresponds to the remainder of the generating numbers of the intestines and stomach. This chapter uniquely lacks a section on One Yang Bo, which must be a lacuna in the bamboo slips. The logic of the six-meridian sequence is detailed in Disease Category 7.)