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The *Ling Shu* (Spiritual Pivot) states: Human Qi has distinctions of clear (Qing) and turbid (Zhuo). The source of receiving clear Qi is clear. Clear Qi enters the Yin meridians, thus ascending to the Lung (Hand-Taiyin), where its movement is smooth; however, within the clear Qi there is a turbid component. This clear-yet-turbid Qi descends into the meridians and accumulates internally in the Sea (referring to Qi or Blood Seas). All Yin meridians govern clear Qi, with foot Yin Qi descending towards the Stomach (Foot-Yangming), where its movement is sluggish; yet within the turbid Qi there is a clear component. This turbid-yet-clear Qi ascends to emerge from the pharynx and mouth. All Yang meridians govern turbid Qi, but only the Small Intestine (Hand-Taiyin) alone receives this turbidity, indicating that turbidity in Yang Qi is exceptionally severe (this passage follows the text from the "Clear and Turbid" chapter).

The *Su Wen* (Basic Questions) states: When pathogenic factors are exuberant, it manifests as Excess (Shi); when essential Qi is depleted, it manifests as Deficiency (Xu). If the Cun pulse is rapid/tight while the Chi pulse is slow/relaxed, both the meridians and collaterals are in an Excess state. If the Maikou (pulse opening, i.e., Cun Kou) feels hot while the Chi area feels cold, the collaterals are Deficient while the meridians are Excess. If the Chi pulse is full/excessive and the Maikou is cold and choppy, the meridians are Deficient while the collaterals are Full/Excess ("Full" means "Excess"). In patients with high fever, if the breath is hot/raspy and the pulse is full, it constitutes a Heavy Excess condition (both Qi and pulse indicate Excess). A deficient pulse (The classic states: "A deficient pulse does not resemble Yin." However, the Maikou is the crucial meeting point for pulse diagnosis and the site of the Hand-Taiyin artery's movement; thus, "not resembling Yin" refers to the pulse not exhibiting typical Yin characteristics), deficient Qi (The classic states: "Deficient Qi is irregular/unstable." This refers to instability in the Qi of the Danzhong; old annotations incorrectly attributed this to irregular pulsation at the Cun position), and deficient Chi (walking with unsteadiness) constitute a Heavy Deficiency condition (this section summarizes text from the "General Discussion on Excess and Deficiency" chapter).

The *Nan Jing* (Classic of Difficult Issues) states: Diseases have nature of Deficiency and Excess. Pathogens moving outward are Deficiency; pathogens moving inward are Excess (moving from interior to exterior is called "outward"; moving from exterior to interior is called "inward"). Ability to speak indicates Deficiency; inability to speak indicates Excess (ability to speak means the patient is ill but can still talk; inability to speak means the patient is ill and cannot talk). A relaxed/slow pulse indicates Deficiency; a tight/urgent pulse indicates Excess (relaxation and urgency refer to the progression of the disease). Pulse qualities distinguish Deficiency and Excess: a soggy (Ru) pulse indicates Deficiency, while tight (Jin) and firm (Lao) pulses indicate Excess (A Ru pulse belongs to Yin Metal; felt faintly upon pressure, absent upon light lifting. A Jin pulse belongs to Yang Wood; feels abundant upon pressure, frequent upon light lifting, resembling a flood or string quality, penetrating all three positions. A Lao pulse belongs to Yin Wood; disappears upon searching, appears upon pressing, deep and forceful, moving without shifting). Diagnosis distinguishes Deficiency and Excess (Diagnosis involves visual inspection and verification, a general term for probing illness, encompassing observation, listening/smelling, inquiry, and palpation). A soggy pulse indicates Deficiency, a firm pulse indicates Excess (although Ru and Lao resemble pulse qualities, the scope here is broader); itching indicates Deficiency, pain indicates Excess (itching occurs when Qi desires to flow freely; pain occurs when flow is obstructed). External openness with internal comfort indicates External Excess and Internal Deficiency; internal pain with external comfort indicates Internal Excess and External Deficiency ("Comfort" implies a sense of ease). These are referred to as Three Deficiencies and Three Excesses (Whenever "Deficiency" is mentioned, it refers to depletion of essential Qi; whenever "Excess" is mentioned, it refers to exuberance of pathogenic Qi). (This section follows the text from the Forty-Eighth Difficulty).

The *Su Wen* further states: Five Excesses lead to death, Five Deficiencies lead to death ("Five" refers to the five Zang organs). A surging pulse (Heart Excess), hot skin (Lung Excess), abdominal distension (Spleen Excess), obstruction of urination and defecation (Kidney Excess), chest stuffiness and dizziness (Liver Excess)—these constitute Five Excesses. A fine/thin pulse (Heart Deficiency), cold skin (Lung Deficiency), shortness of breath (Liver Deficiency), diarrhea and incontinence (Kidney Deficiency), inability to ingest food/drink (Spleen Deficiency)—these constitute Five Deficiencies. Yet sometimes survival occurs; why? If gruel and porridge enter the Stomach and diarrhea stops, the Deficient patient survives; if sweat is produced and bowels move freely, the Excess patient survives (this section slightly follows the text from the "Discussion on True Viscera Pulses" chapter).