经曰∶“亢则害,承乃制。”言太过之害也。此关于盛衰疑似之间,诊者其可忽乎!夫亢者,过于
上而不能下之谓也。承者,受也,亢极则反受制也。如火本克金,克之太过,则为亢,而金之子
为水,可以制火,乘其火虚来复母雠,而火反受其制矣。比之吴王夫差,起倾国之兵以与晋
争,自谓无敌,越王勾践,乘其空虚,已入国中矣。在脉则当何如?曰,阳盛者脉必洪大,至阳盛
之极,而脉反伏匿,阳极似阴也。此干之上九,亢龙有悔也。其证设在伤寒,或因失于汗下,使
阳气亢极,郁伏于内,状似阴证,唇焦舌燥,能饮水浆,大便闭硬,小便赤涩,然其脉虽沉,按之
着骨必滑数有力,审其失气,秽臭殊常,或时躁热,不欲衣被,或扬手掷足,谵语不休,此阳证
何疑。故经曰∶“其脉滑数,按之鼓击于指下者,非寒也,此为阳盛拒阴也。”阴盛者脉必细微,
至阴盛之极,而脉反躁疾,阴极似阳也。此坤之上六,龙战于野也。在伤寒则误服凉药,攻热
太速,其人素本肾虚受寒,遂变阴证,逼其浮游之火发见于外,状似阳证,面赤烦躁,大便自
利,小便淡黄,呕逆气促,郑声咽痛,然其脉按之必沉细迟微,审其渴欲饮水,复不能饮,此阴
证何疑。故经曰∶“身热脉数,按之不鼓击于指下者,非热也,此谓阴盛拒阳也。”乃知凡过极
者反兼胜己之化,在于学人之细心揣测,则诸证无不洞其真伪矣。
The *Classic of Medicine* (*Huangdi Neijing*) states: "Excess leads to harm; only through subordination is there control." This refers to the dangers of excess. This matter lies between the ambiguity of flourishing and declining, how can the practitioner neglect it! The term "excess" (*Kang*) refers to being overly ascending without descending. The term "subordination" (*Cheng*) means receiving or bearing; when excess reaches its extreme, it is counter-controlled. For instance, Fire normally controls Metal. If controlled excessively, it becomes "excess," and since Water is the offspring of Metal, Water can control Fire. Taking advantage of Fire's deficiency, Water retaliates for its mother element, and thus Fire is controlled by Water. This is comparable to King Fuchai of Wu, who mobilized the entire nation's army to contend with Jin, believing himself invincible, while King Goujian of Yue took advantage of his emptiness and had already entered the state capital. How should this be understood in pulse diagnosis? It is said: When Yang is excessive, the pulse must be surging and large (*Hongda*). When Yang reaches its extreme, the pulse反而 becomes hidden and concealed, which is "Yang extreme resembling Yin." This corresponds to the top nine line of the Qian hexagon in the *I Ching*: "An arrogant dragon will have cause to repent." If this syndrome occurs in *Shanghan* (Cold Damage) disease, it may be due to improper sweating or purgation therapies, causing Yang Qi to become excessively亢盛 and depressed within, presenting symptoms resembling a Yin syndrome: dry lips and tongue, ability to drink fluids, constipation with hard stools, and dark, scanty urination. However, although the pulse is deep, pressing to the bone reveals it must be slippery, rapid, and forceful. Examining the excrement, the odor is exceptionally foul. There may be intermittent restlessness and heat, aversion to clothing and bedding, waving hands and kicking feet, and incessant delirious speech. Is there any doubt this is a Yang syndrome? Therefore, the classic states: "A pulse that is slippery and rapid, striking the fingers with force upon pressure, is not cold; this is called 'Yang excess repelling Yin'." When Yin is excessive, the pulse must be fine and minute (*Xixiao*). When Yin reaches its extreme, the pulse反而 becomes restless and rapid, which is "Yin extreme resembling Yang." This corresponds to the top six line of the Kun hexagon in the *I Ching*: "Dragons fight in the wild." In *Shanghan* disease, if cool/cold medicines are mistakenly administered, clearing heat too rapidly, and the patient originally has Kidney deficiency with cold invasion, it transforms into a Yin syndrome. This forces the floating fire to manifest externally, resembling a Yang syndrome: red face and irritability, spontaneous diarrhea, pale yellow urine, vomiting, regurgitation, shortness of breath, monotonous speech (*Zhengsheng*), and sore throat. However, the pulse upon pressure must be deep, fine, slow, and minute. Examining the thirst, the patient desires water but cannot drink it. Is there any doubt this is a Yin syndrome? Therefore, the classic states: "Body heat with a rapid pulse, but lacking the striking force under pressure, is not heat; this is called 'Yin excess repelling Yang'." Thus, it is known that whatever reaches an extreme tends to assume the characteristics of the element that controls it. It depends on the careful speculation of the scholar-practitioner, so that all syndromes can be thoroughly discerned as true or false.