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There are many discussions in the *Neijing* regarding the categories of Yin and Yang, but this chapter focuses on comparing and analyzing the pulse manifestations of the three Yin and three Yang meridians of the hands and feet at the Cun Kou (Inch Gate) position, to supplement what was previously incomplete. Although the description of symptoms is not detailed, there are still valuable insights to be gleaned.

At the beginning of Meng Chun (the first month of spring), when Huang Di (Yellow Emperor) was seated in tranquility, observing the eight extreme directions and regulating the Qi of the Eight Winds, he asked Lei Gong: "Regarding the categories of Yin and Yang, the principles of meridians, and the mastership of the five Zang organs, which organ is the most noble?"
(Note: Meng Chun Shi Zhi refers to the day of Li Chun (Start of Spring). Yan means tranquil. Guan Ba Ji refers to observing the colors at the far reaches of the eight directions. Zheng Ba Feng refers to monitoring the winds from the eight directions as they converge on Tai Yi. Wu Zhong refers to the Five Zang organs. According to Yang Shangshan: "Heaven is Yang, Earth is Yin, and Man is Harmony. Without Yang, Yin would decay endlessly; without Yin, Yang would grow endlessly. Endless growth injures Yin, leading to Yin disasters; endless decay injures Yang, leading to Yang calamities. Thus, a Sage is needed between Heaven and Earth to harmonize Yin and Yang Qi, allowing all things to grow. The way of harmony lies in cultivating one's virtue first, so that Yin and Yang Qi become harmonious. When Yin and Yang are harmonious, the seasonal winds are balanced, and evil winds cease, preventing disease and gathering auspiciousness. This happens naturally. Therefore, Huang Di inquired about the hierarchy of meridians to guide self-cultivation and regulate the Eight Winds.") Lei Gong replied: "Spring, Heavenly Stems Jia and Yi, and color Qing (Green) are primarily associated with the Liver, governing seventy-two days. This is the timing of meridian dominance, so I consider the Liver the most noble."
(Note: East corresponds to Jia and Yi, dominated by Spring Qi. The *Jin Gui Zhen Lun* states: 'The green color of the East communicates with the Liver.' Hence, Green primarily governs the Liver. Each of the Five Elements dominates for seventy-two days, totaling 360 days in a year. Since Spring marks the beginning of the seasons and corresponds to the Liver among the Five Zang, I deem it the most noble.)

Huang Di said: "Reflecting on the discussions of Yin and Yang in the Upper and Lower Classics, your statement of 'most noble' is actually the lowest." Lei Gong fasted for seven days and sat in attendance again the next morning. (Realizing his error, he fasted to purify his mind. Seeking further instruction, he sat to ask again.) Huang Di said: "San Yang (Three Yang) serves as the Jing (Meridian/Vessel), Er Yang (Two Yang) serves as the Wei (Net/Vein), and Yi Yang (One Yang) serves as You Bu (Wandering Part)."
(...Jing refers to organizing principles that facilitate affairs. Wei refers to maintaining and connecting to innate nature. You refers to wandering/moving, and Bu refers to body regions. Thus, the master of Qi facilitates affairs, the transformer of Grain maintains innate nature, the master of Color distributes essence, and [Qi] moves through various parts. According to the New Correction citing Yang Shangshan: 'San Yang refers to the Foot-Taiyang Meridian... Er Yang refers to the Foot-Yangming Meridian... Yi Yang refers to the Foot-Shaoyang Meridian... hence called You Bu.') San Yang represents the Exterior, Er Yin represents the Interior. (Shao Yin and Tai Yang are exterior-interior pairs. Note: Tai Yang is Bladder; Shao Yin is Kidney.) Yi Yin reaching extremity is like the New Moon (Shuo) and Last Day (Hui). Returning to combine with generation principles rectifies the logic. (Yi Yin is Jue Yin, meaning 'extremity/end'. The *Lingshu* says: 'Hai is Left Foot Jue Yin, Xu is Right Foot Jue Yin; two Yins end together, hence Jue Yin.' Yin ending is Hui, Yin generating is Shuo. Jue Yin signifies the end of Yin. Validating its peak is Shuo, validating its end is Hui. Thus, Yi Yin reaching extremity acts as Shuo and Hui. Combining this ending Yin with generating Wood rectifies the Five Elements cycle. Note: The New Correction suggests 'Yin generating is Shuo' might be a typo for 'Yang generating is Shuo', which should be adopted. The text here is difficult; notes are speculative; leave doubts as unknown.) Lei Gong said: "I do not understand." Huang Di said: "When we say San Yang, Tai Yang is the Jing." (Yang Qi is abundant, hence Tai Yang. Note: Large is Jing, small is Mai. Tai Yang governs the exterior and is the great Jing of all pulses.) When San Yang pulses reach Hand-Taiyin (Cun Kou), they are Xian (Wiry) and Fu (Floating) but not Chen (Sinking). Judge by measure, observe with heart, align with Yin-Yang theory. (Taiyin is Cun Kou, where pulse Qi travels. Taiyang pulse is typically Hong Da Chang (Vast, Large, Long). If it is Xian Fu Chen-less, judge by seasonal degrees, observe by Zang differences, and align with Yin-Yang theory to determine good or bad. Note: All pulses reach Hand-Taiyin, but Taiyang alone lacks specific mention here, suggesting a textual loss.) When we say Er Yang, it is Yangming. (*Lingshu*: 'Chen is Left Foot Yangming, Si is Right Foot Yangming.' Two Yangs combined brightness, hence Er Yang, i.e., Yangming.) Reaching Hand-Taiyin, if it is Xian, Chen, Ji (Rapid), and does not drum (Gu), and heat illness arrives, death ensues. (Gu means drumming/pulsation. Jiong means heat. Yangming pulse is typically Fu Da Duan (Floating, Large, Short). If Xian Chen Ji without drumming, Yin overcomes Yang, Wood attacks Earth. Heat illness indicates Yang collapse, like a flickering flame before extinction; thus, death.) Yi Yang is Shaoyang. (Yang Qi is not yet great, hence Shaoyang.) Reaching Hand-Taiyin, if it connects upward to Ren Ying (Human Well) and is Xian, Ji, Xuan (Suspenseful/Hanging), and unceasing, this is Shaoyang disease. (Ren Ying is the pulse at 1.5 cun lateral to the Adam's apple. Xian is Shaoyang pulse. Ji Xuan Bu Jue indicates insufficient Jing Qi, hence Shaoyang disease. Xuan means swaying like a hanging object.) Zhuan Yin (Exclusive Yin) leads to death. (Zhuan means exclusive/alone; having only Yin Qi without Yang Qi causes death.) San Yin is the master of the Six Meridians. (San Yin is Taiyin. Why do all pulses reach Hand-Taiyin? Because it masters the Six Meridians. Six Meridians refer to Three Yin and Three Yang. Pulses reach Hand-Taiyin because Lung governs all meridians, converging at Qi Kou. Hence:) They intersect at Taiyin. (Elucidates Lung governing all meridians. *Jingmai Bie Lun*: 'Lung governs all meridians.') If Fu (Hidden) and Gu (Beating) without Fu (Floating), it empties/control Zhi Xin (Will-Mind). (Note: Yang Shangshan says Lung pulse should be Fu Se (Floating, Choppy); Fu Gu indicates Kidney pulse. Kidney channel enters Lung and connects to Heart. Lung Qi descends to Kidney Will and ascends to Heart Spirit. Wang Shi's interpretation of Zhi Xin as Xiao Xin (Lesser Heart) is unclear. Yang's view is better but still forced. I believe Lung pulse should be Floating; seeing Hidden/Beating indicates Qi closure and Fire movement. Kong means control/direct; Zhi Xin means Heart Will/Spirit. Lung sits above Heart; Hidden/Beating pulse suppresses Qi below Heart, Fire moves up controlling Heart, agitating Spirit. This Fu Gu is intrinsic to Hand-Taiyin, unlike other pulses. Yang was confused here.) Er Yin reaches Lung, its Qi returns to Bladder, externally connecting to Spleen and Stomach. (Er Yin refers to Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian. Branches enter heel, ascend thigh, pierce spine, connect to Kidney and Bladder. Main line ascends from Kidney, pierces Liver/Diaphragm, enters Lung. Thus reaching Lung, Qi returns to Bladder, externally connects to Spleen/Stomach. Note: Kidney/Bladder are exterior-interior. Kidney is Gate of Stomach; Spleen/Stomach Qi originates from Ming Men. Thus, Kidney pulse at Cun Kou reflects Qi returning internally to Bladder and externally to Spleen/Stomach via meridian connections.) Yi Yin arriving alone, Jing Qi severed, Qi floats but does not drum, Gou (Hook) and Hua (Slippery). (If Yi Yin alone reaches Lung and Jing Qi is internally severed, Qi floats without drumming. If not severed, it is Gou Hua. Note: Yi Yin is Jue Yin Liver Wood. Alone arrival means no other pulses. Liver pulse appearing at Lung (Metal) shows Wood fearing Metal, so Qi wants to sever and cannot drum. However, Wood contains Fire, which can overcome Metal, hence Floating/Slippery signs.) These six pulses are alternately Yin and Yang, intersecting and merging, intricately connecting the Five Zang, aligning with Yin-Yang. (Note: Six Meridian pulses have Yin/Yang aspects. At Cun Kou, Yin may show Yang, Yang may show Yin, one pulse may indicate multiple diseases, or one disease shows multiple pulses. Intersecting and intricately connecting, all decided at Cun Kou to know Zang Yin-Yang harmony.) First arrival is Zhu (Host/Master), later arrival is Ke (Guest). (How to distinguish alternating Yin/Yang? By order of arrival at Cun Kou. First is Host, later is Guest.)

Lei Gong said: "I have exerted my mind fully, received transmission of meridians, studied the Cong Rong (Leisurely/Comprehensive) method, aligning with Cong Rong, yet I do not understand Yin-Yang, nor Yin-Yang (Male-Female/Gender) distinctions." (Note: Emperor spoke of Cong Rong method, where pulses have Yin/Yang divisions and symptoms have Male/Female distinctions. Despite study, understanding eludes him.) Huang Di said: "San Yang is Father," (Father directs and supports the young, implying high respect.) "Er Yang is Guard," (Guard repels evils, implying supporting life.) "Yi Yang is Discipline;" (Discipline regulates Form-Qi, implying balance.) "San Yin is Mother," (Mother nourishes children, implying generation.) "Er Yin is Female," (Female is a category of Yin.) "Yi Yang is Sole Envoy." (Yi Yang organ connects externally to San Jiao. San Jiao guides Qi, named Envoy, hence Sole Envoy.) In Er Yang and Yi Yin, Yangming dominates disease, unable to withstand Yi Yin, pulsation occurs, Nine Orifices sink/stagnate. (Yi Yin is Jue Yin Liver Wood. Er Yang is Yangming Stomach Earth. Wood-Earth conflict makes Yangming diseased. Wood attacks Earth, Earth cannot withstand Wood. Pulsation indicates Stomach Qi disturbance, Wood shape. Wood-Earth stalemate stops Stomach Qi rotation, causing Nine Orifices stagnation. Note: Below describes mixed meridian diseases, as mentioned earlier as intersecting/intricate connection.) In San Yang and Yi Yin, Taiyang pulse wins, Yi Yin cannot stop it, internally disturbing Five Zang, externally manifesting as fright/terror. (San Yang is Foot-Taiyang Qi, hence Taiyang wins. Wood generates Fire; excessive Yang burns Wood, Wood receives it, Yang becomes excessive, causing internal fever, disturbing Five Zang. Liver governs fright, hence external fright symptoms.) In Er Yin and Er Yang, disease is in Lung, Shao Yin pulse is Chen (Sinking), overcoming Lung injuring Spleen, externally injuring Four Limbs. (Er Yin refers to Hand-Shaoxin Heart Pulse. Er Yang is also Stomach Pulse. Heart-Stomach combined disease, pathogens attack up/down, thus externally injuring Spleen, internally overcoming Lung. Stomach is Spleen's Fu, Heart Fire overcomes Metal. Spleen governs limbs, so Spleen injury affects limbs. Shao Yin pulse refers to Shenmen pulse behind palm, 5 cun from little finger. Note: New Correction says Er Yang here is Hand-Yangming Large Intestine, Lung's Fu. Heart Fire overcomes Metal's Fu, hence Lung disease. Wang Shi's view of Er Yang as Stomach is weak; this is Heart affecting Lung.) In Er Yin and Er Yang both arriving, disease is in Kidney, cursing/wandering behavior, Dian Ji (Manic Disorder) becomes Kuang (Madness). (Er Yin is Kidney Water; Er Yang is Stomach Earth. Earth controls Water, so disease in Kidney. Kidney Water fails, Stomach Earth prevails, leading to Mania. Note: Dian should be Epilepsy/Mania, belonging to Er Yin; Kuang belongs to Er Yang.) In Er Yin and Yi Yang, disease originates from Kidney, Yin Qi wanders into Heart, epigastric empty orifices, dam-like blockage prevents flow, Four Limbs feel separated. (Yi Yang is Hand-Shaoyang San Jiao, Fire Fu of Heart Master. Water attacks Fire, disease from Kidney, Yin Qi wanders to Heart. Kidney channel ascends to Lung, branches connect to Heart/Chest. Empty orifices blocked by Yin guest upstream, Stomach cannot control it (Earth Qi weak), so epigastric/orifice blockage. Dam metaphor implies no leakage. Stomach channel follows legs, Heart channel connects to hands, so limbs feel useless/separated. Note: Disease from Kidney differs from Lung/Kidney disease above. Kidney is Yin Zang, San Jiao is Fire Fu. Kidney Water disease fills with Yin Qi, blocking upper/lower orifices like a dam. Limbs belong to Stomach Earth; Water excess insults Earth, causing separation. Note's Earth weakness is close; New Correction refuting it is wrong.) Yi Yin and Yi Yang Dai Jue (Intermittent Stop), this Yin Qi reaches Heart, up/down unpredictable, entering/exiting unknown, throat dry, disease in Earth-Spleen. (Yi Yin is Jue Yin Liver Pulse, Yi Yang is Shaoyang Gallbladder Pulse, both Wood Qi. Dai Jue means pulse stops intermittently. Wood generates Fire, so Yin Qi reaches Heart. Liver/Gallbladder Qi goes head-to-foot, mid-abdomen, so disease varies. If swallowing/tasting unknown, excretion uncontrolled, throat dry: Throat is Gallbladder Envoy, so disease causes dryness. Though disease in Spleen Earth, it stems from Liver/Gallbladder.) Er Yang and San Yin, Zhi Yin (Spleen) is present, Yin does not overcome Yang, Yang Qi cannot stop Yin, Yin-Yang both severed, Floating indicates Blood Mass (Xia Jia), Sinking indicates Pus/Abscess. (Er Yang is Yangming; San Yin is Hand-Taiyin; Zhi Yin is Spleen. Note: Textual errors suspected; leave as unknown.) If Yin-Yang both strong, descending to Yin-Yang. (If Yin-Yang strong and clashing continuously, descends into Yin-Yang interior, becoming severe disease. Yin-Yang here refers to Male Genitals/Female Organs due to their capacity to receive/generate.) Upward combines with Brightness (Zhao Zhao), downward combines with Darkness (Ming Ming), diagnosing determining life/death timing, aligning with Year Start.

Lei Gong said: "Please ask about Short Term (Short Life Expectancy)." (Note: Short Term means time of death, dying from illness before natural end. New Correction: Quan Yuanqi version separates this section as 'Four Seasons Disease Category'.) Huang Di said: "Diseases in Winter Three Months combining with Yang, by Spring First Month, pulses show death signs, all return to exiting Spring." (Disease combining with Yang refers to prior Yin combining with Yang to cause disease. Even if death signs appear in First Month, Yang has generated; if it peaks without death, it exits Spring into Early Summer.) Diseases in Winter Three Months, in Li (Interior) exhausted, grass and Willow leaves perish. (Li refers to Er Yin, Kidney Qi. Kidney disease with death signs in First Month: grass dries, willow sprouts, yet death occurs. Li is Interior. Yi is Yi. Ancient usage same.) Spring Yin-Yang both severed, period in Meng Chun. (After Li Chun, if Yin-Yang pulses are Xuan Jue (Hanging/Extreme), death expected within First Month.) Spring Three Months disease, called Yang Sha (Yang Killing). (Yang disease here does not mean Cold/Warmth disease, but non-seasonal heat, pulse Hong Sheng Shu (Vast, Full, Rapid). In Spring, Yang Qi is scarce, not yet peak, yet heat disease appears, pulse matching Summer Qi. Classic says pulse does not reappear; Summer pulse should be Hong Shu, lacking external Yang response, so death at Summer Solstice. Dying at Summer Solstice when Yang kills things, hence Yang Sha.) Yin-Yang both severed, period in Grass Dry. (If not Yang disease, but Yin-Yang pulses Xuan Jue, death at Frost Descent when grass dries.) Summer Three Months disease, Zhi Yin does not exceed ten days. (Refers to Heat disease. Spleen Heat disease endangers Five Zang. Earth completes tens, so not exceeding ten days.) Yin-Yang Jiao (Intersection), period in [Water]. (*Re Lun* details: Warm disease sweating, then recurring heat, rapid/restless pulse, not subsiding with sweat, delirium, inability to eat = Yin-Yang Jiao, death. June heatstroke, Yin-Yang re-intersect, Qi clash, death at Start of Autumn. Note: New Correction: [Water] is Seventh Month Shen, Water born in Shen, Yin-Yang reversal. Yang Shangshan: [Character] pronounced Lian Jian, water still, Seventh Month Water birth time.) Autumn Three Months disease, San Yang all rise, untreated recovers itself. (Autumn Yang declines, Yin emerges, Yang cannot overcome Yin, hence self-recovery.) Yin-Yang Jiao He (Intersection/Union), standing cannot sit, sitting cannot rise. (Qi does not function correctly.) San Yang Du Zhi (Alone Arrives), period in Shi Shui (Stone Water). (Yang without Yin, hence Alone Arrives. *Zhi Jiao Lun*: 'San Yang Alone Arrives is Three Yang Combined.' Thus only Yang, no Yin. Shi Shui refers to Winter when water freezes like stone, hence Stone Water. Fire tomb in Xu, Winter Yang微弱, hence death in Stone Water.) Er Yin Du Zhi, period in Sheng Shui. (Also called Combined Arrival without Yang. Sheng Shui refers to time when snow/rain melt to water, i.e., Middle Qi of First Month. Note: Quan Yuanqi version reads Er Yin as San Yin.)