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I once read the *Taisu Mai* (Grand Origin Pulse Method) and knew it to be a forgery. The pulse diagnosis method was initiated by Huangdi (Yellow Emperor, Xuan) and Qibo (Qí), used solely to assess the condition of illness and determine life and death. How can it be used to predict auspiciousness or calamity, equating itself with shamans? Yang Shangshan was indeed fond of absurdity. I often sought its rationale but could not find it. Later, I saw Hua Tuo predicting a patient's fate ten years hence, stating that whether the disease was cured or not, death would occur in ten years. Since disease cannot dictate life and death, he advised the person against treatment. Hua Tuo was truly an extraordinary figure of the Han Dynasty. Was this based on pulse diagnosis, or on numerical calculations within the pulse? I surmise that since the disease was deeply entrenched, although medicine would be ineffective, and it was not an acute syndrome allowing for delay, calculating the short-term prognosis would eventually be verified, just as stated in the *Neijing* (Inner Canon): "This disease will worsen on such-and-such day and cause death on such-and-such day." However, Hua Tuo made his judgment ten years in advance, so later generations deified him, thereby neglecting the actual disease while overemphasizing numerology. Yang Shangshan possessed only minor wit; seeing Hua Tuo's deeds, he appropriated them into the *Taisu*, secretly taking Hua Tuo's intent as his ancestor and elaborating upon it. Scholars, pleased by its novelty, echoed each other, falsely claiming one could identify emperors from dust and determine top scholars from examination halls. Busybodies followed suit, deceiving the world to steal fame, a practice long established. Among them, there are sentences worth recording. For instance: "If the pulse form is round and pure, with distinct rhythm, it is called 'Clear'. If the pulse form is scattered and choppy, with blurred rhythm, it is called 'Turbid'. Clear constitution and clear pulse indicate wealth, honor, and much joy. Turbid constitution and turbid pulse indicate poverty, low status, and much worry. Clear constitution but turbid pulse is called 'Turbidity within Clarity', indicating external wealth/honor but internal poverty/low status. Turbid constitution but clear pulse is called 'Clarity within Turbidity', indicating external poverty/low status but internal wealth/honor. If neither clearly clear nor clearly turbid, gains and losses are half-and-half, with no great gain or loss. Wealthy and long-lived: pulse is clear and long. Poor and short-lived: pulse is turbid and rapid. Clear yet rapid: wealthy but short-lived. Turbid yet long: poor but long-lived." I have tested these on people and rarely failed. However, examining its essence, it does not exceed Fengjian (physiognomy). If physiognomy were refined, the Taisu Mai would have no unexplored meanings. At its worst, it delves into hidden mysteries and bizarre behaviors, going to extremes, even denigrating orthodox practices, claiming they cannot exhaust the ingenuity of creation or master the art of precognition. Confucius said, "To study heterodox doctrines is harmful." This refers precisely to the Taisu Mai! Some might say: Yang Shangshan is not worth discussing, but did Hua Tuo also leave behind flaws? Hua Tuo's skills were exquisite, yet how could his theories lack defects? If everyone in the world strictly adhered to Hua Tuo's words, those with mild diseases would become deeper, and those with severe diseases more critical. One would view Huangdi and Qibo as superfluous, discard all medicines, refuse treatment when ill, resign oneself to fate, relax vigilance regarding health preservation, and head toward premature death. Is this not tragic? Therefore, striving for treatment for incurable diseases may not fail to extend life slightly; refusing treatment for curable diseases inevitably leads to missed opportunities. One must understand Hua Tuo's intent well and dismiss Yang Shangshan's methods with a smile; this is the correct approach.