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The New Correction notes: "According to Quan Yuanqi's original text, this section was originally at the end of the 'Discussion on Skin Regions' (Pibu Lun), and was separated by Wang Bing."

The Yellow Emperor asked: When collateral vessels (Luo Mai) are visible, their colors vary—blue, yellow, red, white, and black are different. What is the reason for this? Qibo replied: The main meridians (Jing Mai) have constant colors, whereas the collateral vessels do not have fixed variations.

Meridians transport Qi, so their color manifestations usually correspond to the seasons; collaterals primarily govern Blood, so when affected by pathogenic factors, their colors change and are inconsistent. Commentary: Collaterals are the parts of the vessels that float and appear on the exterior, so they change constantly depending on the depth of the pathogenic invasion.

The Yellow Emperor asked: What are the constant colors of the meridians? Qibo said: The Heart corresponds to Red, the Lungs to White, the Liver to Blue/Green, the Spleen to Yellow, and the Kidneys to Black; these all correspond to the colors of their respective meridians. The Yellow Emperor asked: Do the Yin and Yang collaterals also correspond to their meridians? Qibo said: The color of Yin collaterals corresponds to the meridian, while the color of Yang collaterals changes without constancy, following the four seasons. (Following the movement of Qi transformation in the four seasons. Commentary: Since collaterals are vessels floating on the exterior, logically the observed colors should all be variable. Why are collaterals divided into Yin and Yang? Moreover, why does the color of Yin collaterals only correspond to the meridian without changing? I presume that regarding vessels, meridians are internal and collaterals are external; regarding collaterals themselves, those visible on the body trunk are Yin, and those visible on the face are Yang. Thus, Yin remains constant while Yang changes, because Yang is particularly floating.)

When Cold predominates, blood coagulates and stagnates, appearing blue or black; when Heat predominates, blood becomes moist and lubricated, appearing yellow or red. These are considered normal colors, indicating no disease. If all five colors appear simultaneously, it is called a mixture of Cold and Heat. The Yellow Emperor said: Excellent! (Nao means wet; Ze means moist fluid. It refers to being slightly moist. Commentary: 'Cold predominating' or 'Heat predominating' refers to the Qi of the four seasons, hence seeing blue/black/yellow/red without disease. If the five colors appear mixed, it indicates alternating Cold and Heat resulting in illness, which is precisely what is meant by 'following the four seasons'.)

To estimate (Kuidu) and distinguish the extraordinary from the ordinary (Qiheng), the Dao lies in one principle: Shen (Spirit/Vitality). With Shen there is life; without Shen there is death. Regarding the Yin and Yang of colors and pulses, this is the key principle for estimation. Zhang Jingyue's interpretation is accurate; it is recorded below.

The Yellow Emperor asked: I have heard that 'Kuidu' and 'Qiheng' refer to different things. How should they be applied?

Qibo replied: Kuidu measures the depth and superficiality of disease; Qiheng refers to extraordinary diseases. Let me explain the ultimate numbers of the Dao. Changes in the five colors and pulses, estimating the extraordinary and the ordinary, the Dao lies in one [Shen]. (Commentary: Zhang Jingyue said: "'Kuidu' means to estimate or measure. 'Qiheng' means abnormal. The references differ: some speak of diseases, some of colors and pulses, some of Zang-Fu organs, some of Yin and Yang. For abnormal diseases, unless the depth and superficiality are estimated in detail, they are not easily known. The meaning of 'ultimate numbers' (Zhishu) is broad. Knowing the ultimate numbers of Heaven and Earth allows one to know the ultimate numbers of humans. Although the variations in pulse and color Qiheng are many, the Dao is one—the 'one' being what is described below as 'Shen'.") Shen rotates and does not reverse; if it reverses, it cannot rotate, thus losing its opportunity/mechanism. (Commentary: Zhang Jingyue said: "'Shen' is the transformation of Yin and Yang. The I Ching says: 'He who knows the Way of transformation, surely knows the work of Shen.' 'Rotate' means continuous operation. 'Reverse' implies deviation and evil. The function of the Shen mechanism circulates endlessly; thus, in Heaven and in humans, all rely on it to accomplish the work of generation and nurturing, which is 'Shen rotating without reversing'. If it reverses and does not rotate, the ultimate numbers become counterflow, and the vital mechanism is lost. Hence it is said: 'When Shen departs, the mechanism ceases,' and 'Those who lose Shen perish.'") The essence of the ultimate numbers is proximate and subtle. (Commentary: The ultimate numbers refer to the Shen mechanism, which is extremely refined and subtle, closest to humans.) Record this on a jade tablet, naming it 'Union with the Jade Machine' (He Yuji). (Commentary: The 'Discussion on the Jade Machine and True Viscera' also contains these sentences.)

Facial colors appearing in the upper, lower, left, and right positions each have their critical significance. (Commentary: Zhang Jingyue said: "The Shen mechanism of Heaven appears in climate; the Shen mechanism of humans appears in pulse and color. All these—upper, lower, left, right, and the subsequent discussions on depth, counterflow, compliance, and days—are the critical points of pulse and color ultimate numbers, which must not fail to be examined.") If the color manifestation is superficial, decoctions (Tangye) are the primary treatment, and recovery occurs within ten days. (Commentary: Zhang Jingyue said: "Superficial color indicates mild disease, so it can be treated with decoctions and heals quickly. Decoctions refer to liquids made from grains, representing a method of nourishment and regulation, not the herbal medicines of later generations. See the meaning later.") If the manifestation is deep, medicinal preparations (Qi/Zhi) are necessary, and recovery takes twenty-one days. (Commentary: Zhang Jingyue said: "Deep color indicates deep disease, so it requires treatment with preparations, and healing is slower. Qi is synonymous with Zhi, meaning dosage/preparation. The 'Discussion on Decoctions and Fermented Liquids' states: 'Must use preparations and toxic drugs to attack the interior.' See the meaning later.") If the manifestation is very deep, fermented medicinal wine (Laojiu) is the treatment, and recovery takes one hundred days. (Commentary: Very deep indicates especially severe disease, requiring fermented medicinal wine. Laojiu is medicinal wine, such as the Chicken Manure Sweet Wine in the 'Discussion on the Abdomen'.) If the complexion is dull and the face is emaciated/shrunken, it is untreatable, and death will occur within one hundred days. (Commentary: Zhang Jingyue said: "Dull color and shrunken face indicate that Shen and Qi have departed, so it is untreatable. One hundred days marks the end of the cycle, where time changes and Qi shifts, and the ultimate numbers are exhausted. The previous section spoke of disease resolution; this speaks of life ending.") If the pulse is short and Qi is severed, death ensues. (Commentary: Zhang Jingyue said: "Short pulse and severed Qi indicate deficiency in the center and collapse of Yang, hence death.") If suffering from Warm Disease with extreme deficiency, death ensues. (Commentary: Zhang Jingyue said: "In Warm Disease, pathogens are excessive, but if Zheng Qi is extremely deficient, Zheng cannot overcome the pathogens, hence death.") Note: The above discusses the depth of facial color, referring to the whole face; the following discusses upper/lower/left/right, referring to specific parts.

Colors appearing in the upper, lower, left, and right positions each have their critical significance. Upward movement is Counterflow (Ni); downward movement is Compliance (Cong). (Commentary: Zhang Jingyue said: "'Critical significance' refers to the key of Counterflow and Compliance. The 'Discussion on Five Colors' states: 'If color moves upward, the disease worsens; if color moves downward like clouds dispersing, the disease is resolving.' Thus, upward is Counterflow, downward is Compliance.") For women, the Right is Counterflow, the Left is Compliance; for men, the Left is Counterflow, the Right is Compliance. (Commentary: Zhang Jingyue said: "Women belong to Yin, and the Right also belongs to Yin. Color on the Right indicates severe Yin pathology, so for women, Right is Counterflow. Men belong to Yang, and the Left also belongs to Yang. Color on the Left indicates severe Yang pathology, so for men, Left is Counterflow. Although this is discussed in terms of color, the Counterflow/Compliance of disease is similar.") Ease of change leads to Double Yang death, Double Yin death. (Commentary: Zhang Jingyue said: "'Yi' means change. If a man, whose compliant side is Right, changes to the Left, it is Yang person with Yang disease, which is Double Yang. If a woman, whose compliant side is Left, changes to the Right, it is Yin person with Yin disease, which is Double Yin. Double Yang and Double Yin represent Yin-Yang excess. Excess leads to extremity/extinction, hence death inevitably.") When Yin and Yang reverse their functions, treatment lies in weighing and balancing mutual deprivation. (Commentary: Old texts read "Fan Ta," which is an error. The 'Discussion on Yin and Yang Image' states: "Yin and Yang reverse." This is correct. It is now corrected. The 'Discussion on Living Qi and Communicating with Heaven' states: "When Yin is balanced and Yang is secreted, Spirit and Mind are regulated." If symptoms show Yin pulse but Yang manifestation, or Yang pulse but Yin manifestation, or if Yin should be Yang and Yang should be Yin, then the healer must assess deficiency/excess and true/false, depriving the excess and tonifying the deficiency, like using a balance scale, which would be good.) This is a matter of Qiheng (Extraordinary), and a matter of Kuidu (Estimation). (Commentary: Zhang Jingyue said: "This continues the previous text. Yin and Yang reversing functions is the matter of Qiheng. Weighing and balancing mutual deprivation is the matter of Kuidu.") Pulsation striking forcefully, Bi syndrome, and alternating Cold and Heat. (Commentary: Zhang Jingyue said: "The above discussed extraordinary colors; the following discusses extraordinary pulses. A striking pulse feels like it beats against the fingers, indicating pathogen excess and Zheng deficiency, and Yin-Yang disorder, thus manifesting as Bi, as Bi (paralysis), and as alternating Cold and Heat. Bi here refers to stubborn Bi. Bi (pronounced bi) refers to inability to walk.") An isolated pulse indicates consumption of Qi; a deficient pulse with diarrhea indicates depletion of Blood. (Commentary: Zhang Jingyue said: "An isolated pulse is either isolated Yin or isolated Yang. Isolated Yang is excessively surging and large, leading to the consumption of Yin Qi; isolated Yin is excessively weak and faint, leading to the consumption of Yang Qi. Hence, an isolated pulse consumes Qi. A deficient pulse with diarrhea必然 leads to Yin loss; Yin loss leads to Blood deficiency, hence deficient diarrhea depletes Blood.") Isolation is Counterflow (Ni); Deficiency is Compliance (Cong). (Isolation has no basis/support, hence called Counterflow; Deficiency can recover, hence called Compliance.) To practice the method of Qiheng, begin with the Taiyin. (All methods of estimating Qiheng first use the Qi Kou pulse of the Taiyin meridian to determine the righteous Qi of the four seasons, then measure the extraordinary Qi.) Moving against what one cannot overcome is Counterflow (Ni), Counterflow leads to death. (Commentary: Zhang Jingyue said: "Moving against what one cannot overcome means being controlled by another, e.g., Wood encountering Metal, or Earth encountering Wood.") Moving against what one overcomes is Compliance (Cong), Compliance leads to survival. (Commentary: Zhang Jingyue said: "Moving against what one overcomes means controlling another, e.g., Wood encountering Earth, or Earth encountering Water.") The victory of the Eight Winds and the four seasons repeats endlessly. (Commentary: The Eight Winds refer to winds from the four cardinal and four intercardinal directions. The arrival of various winds often follows the four seasons in mutual overcoming, with fixed numbers, cycling continuously.) If one reverses once, it can no longer be counted. (If seasonal Qi is abnormal, wind moves contrary and suddenly passes, lacking the sequence of mutual overcoming, let alone any countable beginning and end; this is how extraordinary changes arise, namely 'reversing and not rotating'. Zhang Jingyue's metaphor of disharmony between color and pulse is not entirely accurate.) The essential discussion is concluded. (Commentary: This is the concluding sentence of this chapter. Various commentators mistakenly connected it to the preceding text.)