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The Liver corresponds to Wood in the Five Elements (the Liver symbolizes Wood), and combines with the Gallbladder to form a Fu organ (the Gallbladder is referred to as the "Clear and Pure" Fu). Its meridian is the Foot Jueyin Meridian (i.e., the Jueyin Liver Meridian), which stands in exterior-interior relationship with the Foot Shaoyang Meridian (Shaoyang refers to the Gallbladder meridian; Zang organs are Yin and Fu organs are Yang, hence they are exterior-interior pairs). Its pulse characteristic is Xian (Cord-like) pulse (Xian is the primary morphology of the Liver pulse). Its Qi prospers during the three months of Winter (Water rules in Winter, so Wood is in the "Xiang" or secondary prosperous state), prospers during the three months of Spring, becomes "Fei" (abandoned/weak) during the three months of Summer (Fire rules in Summer, so Wood is abandoned), becomes "Qiu" (imprisoned/restrained) during the sixth month of late Summer (Earth rules in late Summer, so Wood is restrained), and dies during the three months of Autumn (Metal rules in Autumn, so Wood dies). It rules on Jia and Yi days, and at Pingdan (daybreak) and Richu (sunrise) times (all corresponding to the attribute of Wood). It is constrained on Wu and Ji days, and at Shishi (meal time) and Ri Die (solar noon decline) times (all corresponding to the attribute of Earth); it dies on Geng and Xin days, and at Bushi (afternoon, 3-5 PM) and Riru (sunset) times (all corresponding to the attribute of Metal). The Liver stores Hun (Soul/Hun Spirit, a spiritual activity stored by the Liver), governs complexion, and nourishes Sinew (tendons) (Sinews are nourished by Liver Qi). It manifests externally in the Eyes (the Liver opens into the eyes, so Liver excess presents as red eyes). Its vocalization is shouting, its color is Green, its odor is Fishy (Shao) (as stated in *Yueling*: its odor is Muttony/Shan). Its fluid is Tears (Tears are produced from the Liver). Its taste preference is Sour, it benefits from Bitter (Bitter is the taste of Fire), and it dislikes Pungent (Pungent is the taste of Metal). The Back-Shu point of the Liver is located beside the ninth thoracic vertebra, and its Front-Mu point is Qimen (located two rib lengths below the nipples, at the end of the second rib); the Back-Shu point of the Gallbladder is beside the tenth thoracic vertebra, and its Front-Mu point is Riyue (located five fen below Qimen). The above content is newly compiled (all derived from *Suwen* and other classics. Previous compilations were mixed and confusingly complex; now, essential points are extracted, and each Zang organ is treated in a separate section).

After the Winter Solstice, upon encountering the first Jiazi day, the Qi of Shaoyang begins at midnight, and Liver Qi becomes prosperous (Winter Solstice is the terminal solar term of the year. The Jiazi day marks the numerical beginning of the alternation of Yin and Yang. Shaoyang refers to the Gallbladder, which belongs to Wood. Wood is born from Water, thus it begins at midnight; its Qi is often slight, hence it is called Shaoyang [Lesser Yang]. Midnight Zi hour corresponds to Water). The Liver belongs to Eastern Wood (As Zang-Fu organs, the Liver and Gallbladder rule the East and correspond to the Wood element). When all things begin to grow, their Qi arrives soft and weak, broad and empty (The Spring Shaoyang Qi is gentle and weak, causing all things to grow daily). Therefore, the pulse appears Xian (Cord-like) (Liver Qi nourishes the Sinews, so its pulse is Xian; its strength also mimics the rigid nature of Wood). If the pulse is soft, sweating therapy should not be used; if it is weak, purgative therapy should not be used. "Broad" implies opening; "opening" implies unblocking; "unblocking" implies promoting flow; hence it is described as broad and empty (This means that when Shaoyang initially arises, it is still weak and soft. As it enters the Ying-Wei and interstices, it becomes open. If sweating is induced, sweat will not stop; if purgatives are used, diarrhea will become uncontrollable. Hence, it is described as broad, empty, open, and flowing). In Spring, Stomach Qi is the root and must not be violated (Stomach belongs to Earth; all things rely on Earth to be born, and the Stomach nourishes the Zang organs. Thus, when Liver Qi is prosperous, it relies on Stomach Qi as its root. "Must not be violated" means it must not be damaged). The above discusses the Four Seasons meridians.

The Yellow Emperor asked: The Spring pulse resembles a string. What constitutes a string-like pulse? Bo Zi replied: The Spring pulse corresponds to the Liver and Eastern Wood, the cause of the beginning of all things. Thus, its Qi arrives soft, weak, light, void, slippery, straight, and long; therefore, it is called Xian (Cord-like). Deviation from this indicates disease. The Yellow Emperor asked: How does it deviate? Bo Zi said: If its Qi arrives solid and strong, this is termed "Excess" (Tai Guo), indicating disease in the Exterior; if its Qi arrives unsolid and faint, this is termed "Deficiency" (Bu Ji), indicating disease in the Interior. The Yellow Emperor asked: Regarding Excess and Deficiency of the Spring pulse, what are their respective symptoms? Bo Zi said: Excess causes irritability (note: "Wang" should be "Nu" anger), sudden dizziness, vertigo, and epilepsy; Deficiency causes chest and hypochondriac pain radiating to the back, and downward, fullness in both hypochondria. The Yellow Emperor said: Excellent.

A Liver pulse that arrives soft, weak, and swaying, like the tip of a raised bamboo pole, is called a Normal Pulse (Ping Mai) (*Zhubing Yuanhou Lun* states: "Chuo chuo" like pressing a zither string, or like holding a long pole upright is Normal). In Spring, Stomach Qi is the root. A Liver pulse that arrives full, solid, and slippery, like feeling along a long pole, indicates Liver Disease. A Liver pulse that arrives rapid and increasingly tense, like a newly strung bowstring, indicates Liver Death. When the True Liver Pulse appears, it is tense inside and out, like feeling a knife edge, "Ze ze" (or "Ze ze" per *Zhubing Yuanhou Lun*), like pressing a zither string. With greenish-white complexion lacking luster and brittle hair, death ensues. A Spring pulse with slight Xian quality and Stomach Qi is Normal; Xian quality exceeding Stomach Qi indicates Liver Disease; only Xian quality without Stomach Qi indicates Death. Presence of Stomach Qi combined with Mao (Feather/Lung) pulse predicts illness in Autumn; excessive Mao pulse predicts immediate illness. The Liver stores Blood, and Blood houses the Hun. Sorrow disturbing the interior damages the Hun; damaged Hun leads to madness and lack of clarity, inability to face others normally (alternative text: "Essence fails to guard, causing genital retraction"), resulting in genital retraction and sinew spasm, inability to lift the hypochondriac bones, with withered hair and sallow complexion, leading to death in Autumn. In Spring, when Liver Wood is prosperous, the pulse is Xian, thin, and long, known as the Normal Pulse. If instead a Floating, Choppy, and Short pulse is obtained (*Qianjin Fang* notes: slightly choppy and short), this is Lung overacting on Liver, Metal overcoming Wood, representing a "Thief Evil" (Zei Xie), a great reversal, ten deaths incurable (another version notes: counting days, months, or years up to three, avoid Geng/Xin days). If instead a Surging, Large, and Scattered pulse is obtained (*Qianjin Fang* notes: floating, large, and surging), this is Heart overacting on Liver, Son supporting Mother, representing an "Excess Evil" (Shi Xie); although ill, recovery will occur spontaneously. If instead a Deep, Soft, and Slippery pulse is obtained, this is Kidney overacting on Liver, Mother returning to Son, representing a "Deficiency Evil" (Xu Xie); although ill, it is easy to treat. If instead a Large and Slow pulse is obtained, this is Spleen overacting on Liver, Earth insulting Wood, representing a "Minor Evil" (Wei Xie); although ill, it will heal quickly.

A Liver pulse that sounds "zhuo zhuo", like leaning against a pole, like a zither string, beating twice per respiration, is Normal; beating three times is Li Jing (Departing from the Meridian standard), indicating disease; four times indicates Essence depletion; five times indicates Death; six times indicates Life's end. This refers to the Foot Jueyin Meridian.

If the Liver pulse is extremely tense (Ji Shen), it manifests as abusive speech; mildly tense (Wei Ji), it manifests as Fei Qi (Fatty Mass) under the hypochondrium resembling an inverted cup; extremely slack (Huan Shen), it manifests as frequent vomiting; mildly slack, it manifests as Shui Jia Bi (Water Mass Obstruction); extremely large, it manifests as Internal Abscess with frequent vomiting and epistaxis; mildly large, it manifests as Gan Bi (Liver Obstruction) with curling, coughing pulling the lower abdomen; extremely small, it manifests as polydipsia; minimally small, it manifests as Xiao Dan (Consumption Fever); extremely slippery, it manifests as Tui Shan (Descending Hernia); mildly slippery, it manifests as enuresis; extremely choppy, it manifests as Dan Yin (Pale Fluid Retention); mildly choppy, it manifests as convulsions and sinew spasm.

When the Qi of the Foot Jueyin Meridian ceases, sinews contract, pulling the testicles and tongue. Jueyin is the Liver Meridian. The Liver is the convergence of sinews. Sinews gather at the genitalia and connect to the root of the tongue. Therefore, if pulse Qi fails to nourish sinews, they contract and tighten; tightened sinews pull the tongue and testicles. Thus, cyanotic lips, curled tongue, and retracted testicles indicate that sinews die first. Condition worsens on Geng days and dies on Xin days, because Metal conquers Wood.

The Dead Organ Pulse of the Liver: superficially weak, deep pressure feels like a broken cord that does not return, or curved like a snake moving, indicates Death. Content sourced from *Suwen*, *Zhenjing*, and Zhang Zhongjing.