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The *Huangdi Neijing* (Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon) states: "Those who can diagnose by observation, observe the five colors of the face to know the disease." The liver is green, corresponding to Wood; the lungs are white, corresponding to Metal; the heart is red, the kidneys are black, and the spleen/earth is yellow. Once illness occurs, the color must change and manifest on the Mingtang (the central area of the face, specifically the nose and surrounding region). However, the Lungs govern Qi; when Qi is deficient, the complexion is white. The Kidneys belong to Water; when Water is exhausted, the face becomes dark/black. Green indicates anger injuring the Liver. Red indicates Heart Fire flaring upward. Withered yellow indicates internal injury to the Spleen and Stomach. Purple and turbid indicate external contraction of Wind pathogen. Haggard and dark complexion indicates depression and emotional distress damaging the Shen (Spirit). Emaciated and pale yellow indicates chronic illness leading to physical exhaustion. A bright Shangen (the root of the nose between the eyes) indicates the disease is about to heal. Dark/black around the mouth indicates the Kidney Qi is exhausted and cannot be treated. Generally, what exists internally must manifest externally; observing the exterior allows one to know the interior. Observing the eyebrows and eyes reveals the state of the Lungs and Liver.

The *Huangdi Neijing* states: "One who can combine color and pulse diagnosis can achieve complete success. The five colors are the brilliance of Qi. Red should resemble white silk wrapping cinnabar (lustrous), not like jasper (dull). White should resemble goose feathers (pure), not like salt (pale). Green should resemble the luster of green jade, not like indigo (dull). Yellow should resemble silk wrapping realgar (bright), not like loess soil (dry). Black should resemble multiple layers of lacquer (shiny), not like earth (dusty). Green like kingfisher feathers indicates life. Red like chicken comb indicates life. Yellow like crab belly indicates life. White like pig fat indicates life. Black like crow feathers indicates life."

Moreover, the essence of the Zang and Fu organs manifests upwards in the Mingtang. Since each Zang and Fu has its own excess or deficiency, both color and pulse will correspond accordingly. One should seek the presence of "Shen" (Spirit); even if critically ill, it is not harmful. What is meant by "Shen" is that the color possesses luster and brightness. This is the same principle as having a "Stomach Qi" in the pulse. An excellent practitioner examines this meticulously and can predict beforehand, which is what the classics mean by "diagnosing by observation is called Shen (divine/profound)."

The *Nanjing* (Classic of Difficult Issues) states: "The five colors of the five Zang organs all appear on the face and should correspond with the pulses at the Cun Kou (radial artery) and Chi positions. For example, if the color is green, the pulse should be Xian (wiry) and Ji (rapid). If the color is red, the pulse should be Fu (floating), Da (large), and San (scattered). If the color is yellow, the pulse should be Zhong Huan (moderate and slow) and Da. If the color is white, the pulse should be Fu (floating), Se (choppy), and Duan (short). If the color is black, the pulse should be Chen (deep), Ru (soft), and Hua (slippery). If the pulse is Shu (rapid), the skin at the Chi position is also hot/restless. If the pulse is Ji (tight), the Chi skin is also tight. If the pulse is Huan (slow), the Chi skin is also loose. If the pulse is Se (choppy), the Chi skin is also rough. If the pulse is Hua (slippery), the Chi skin is also smooth. If the color is green but the pulse is Fu, Se, and Duan, or Da and Huan, this represents a controlling (Ke/Sheng) relationship; (Green corresponds to Wood; Se and Duan correspond to Metal, so Metal controls Wood; Da and Huan correspond to Earth, so Wood controls Earth; both are controlling pulses.) If the pulse is Fu, Da, and San, or Xiao (small) and Hua, this represents a generating (Sheng) relationship." (Fu, Da, and San correspond to the Heart pulse/Fire, representing Wood generating Fire; Xiao and Hua correspond to the Kidney pulse/Water, representing Water generating Wood; both are generating pulses.)

The *Huangdi Neijing* states: "In treating any disease, one must observe the patient's form, Qi, color, and luster, the excess or deficiency of the pulse, and whether the disease is new or old, before treating, without delaying the timing. When form and Qi are harmonious, it is called treatable. When color and luster are floating/lustrous, it is called easy to cure. When the pulse conforms to the four seasons, it is called treatable. When the pulse is weak and slippery, it indicates Stomach Qi, called easily treatable, provided treatment is timely. When form and Qi are discordant, it is called difficult to treat. When color is dull and lacks luster, it is called difficult to cure. When the pulse is solid and hard, it indicates worsening. When the pulse contradicts the four seasons, it is untreatable. One must examine these four aspects and explain them clearly to the patient."

It also says: "Colors and flavors correspond to the five Zang organs. White corresponds to the Lungs and Pungent flavor; Red to the Heart and Bitter flavor; Green to the Liver and Sour flavor; Yellow to the Spleen and Sweet flavor; Black to the Kidneys and Salty flavor. Thus, White corresponds to the Skin; Red to the Vessels; Green to the Tendons; Yellow to the Flesh; Black to the Bones."

The *Lingshu* (Spiritual Pivot) states: "Each of the five colors appears in its respective area. Observe the Fu (floating) and Chen (sinking) to know depth. Observe the Ze (lustrous) and Yao (withered) to judge success or failure. Observe the San (dispersed) and Tuan (aggregated) [pronounced 'tuan'] to know duration. View the vertical position of the color to locate the disease. Concentrate your spirit in your mind to understand the past and present. If the color is neither bright nor lustrous, the disease is not severe. If the color is dispersed, moving freely like a running horse without gathering, the disease is dispersing and pain is present, but aggregation has not yet formed." Fu and Chen relate to the principles of interior/exterior and Yin/Yang. However, upon careful analysis, although Fu and Chen differ in interior/exterior location, auspiciousness or ominousness must be distinguished by Ze (luster) and Yao (withered). If Fu and Ze, the disease is shallow and Shen is sufficient; although ill, recovery is imminent, which is highly auspicious. If Fu and Yao, although the disease is shallow, Shen Qi is declining, indicating worsening pathology; how can this be auspicious? If Chen and Yao, the disease is deep and Shen lacks luster; death is certain, which is highly ominous. If Chen and Ze, although the disease is deep, Shen will recover, indicating fading pathology; how can this be ominous? This distinguishes Shun (favorable) and Ni (unfavorable) within Fu and Chen alone. Further observing the intensity of favorable colors adds distinctions of severity. Regarding observing San and Tuan to know duration, one cannot help but sigh at the instability of color aggregation. San (dispersed) resembles clouds scattering; the color gradually fades, becoming lighter after being dense, moving after being fixed, indicating fading disease color. This aligns with the classic: "When color disperses, moving freely without gathering, the disease disperses and pain exists, but aggregation has not formed," proving that color aggregation/dispersion serves as verification. Tuan (aggregated) resembles objects clumping together; the color gradually gathers, becoming denser after being light, moving then fixing, indicating the onset of pathological Qi. This aligns with the classic: "Dispersion indicates pain, aggregation indicates mass." Qi and color that disperse cause pain but do not form masses. If aggregated and not dispersing, a mass forms beyond just pain. Thus, when pathological Qi is just arriving, the time for sudden recovery is far off; when pathological Qi is retreating, the day of recovery is near. Therefore, in severe diseases with unfavorable colors, if accompanied by dispersion, one cannot immediately judge it as ominous; in mild diseases with favorable colors, if accompanied by aggregation, one cannot immediately judge it as auspicious. However, colors that are neither bright nor lustrous, while not auspicious, are not necessarily fatal (not Chen/Yao), hence "the disease is not severe." These are the implicit meanings of Xuanyuan (Yellow Emperor) and Qibo. If one does not deeply comprehend and悟 (realize) these subtleties, and predictions fail, claiming that color observation is unreliable, who bears the blame? The statement "each color appears in its area, observe Fu/Chen to know depth" requires examining each area separately, detailed like rivers flowing into the sea, impossible to fully express in words!

The Yellow Emperor said: "Yellow and Red indicate Wind; Green and Black indicate Pain; White indicates Cold. Yellow and greasy/oily indicates pus; intense Red indicates blood stasis; intense pain indicates spasms; intense Cold indicates numbness of the skin." It also says: "Yellow and Red indicate Heat. Color values brightness and luster, not sinking and withering. Withered and lacking luster with an empty pulse indicates loss of blood."

The nose is located centrally, belongs to Earth, and governs the Spleen; it connects to respiration and also governs the Lungs, serving as the orifice of the Lungs. Yellow nose color indicates difficulty urinating. Only green/yellow at the nose tip indicates Lin syndrome (dysuria). Green indicates abdominal pain. Slightly black indicates water retention. White indicates blood loss. Yellow-white without luster indicates Qi deficiency with phlegm. Purple/turbid indicates epidemic disease. Red indicates Heat. Bright red indicates retained fluids. Dry nostrils indicate epistaxis. Nose dry as if smoked by coal indicates extreme Yang toxin heat; cold, slippery, and black nostrils indicate extreme Yin toxin cold. Both are critical. Nasal congestion with turbid discharge indicates Wind-Heat. Clear nasal discharge indicates Lung Cold. Swollen nostrils indicate Lung Heat with Wind. Red cheekbones indicate Heart disease. Yellow-black cheekbones and forehead indicate Kidney disease. Red appearing on both cheekbones, size of a thumb, means even if the disease seems to improve slightly, sudden death will occur. In Shanghan (Cold Damage) with no sweat, red cheekbones, and hiccups, death ensues; blue/green qi on cheekbones indicates death. White face with red cheekbones is Fire overcoming Metal, a "Thief Evil," untreatable. In Liver Heat disease, the left cheek turns red first. In Lung Heat disease, the right cheek turns red first. Blue veins rising between the ears indicate pulling pain. Ear pain, swelling, deafness, and redness/swelling in front of the ear all belong to Shaoyang Heat. Flat/full Renzhong (philtrum) indicates water retention; failing Earth causes lip retraction; Jia (Wood/Liver) disease severe leads to Yi (Earth/Spleen) death. Lips and tongue are the root of muscle. Spleen disease manifests as yellow lips. Five colors on lips indicate Spleen disease. Lips like red lotus with luster indicate health. Dry tongue and lips indicate Spleen Heat; dry and red is auspicious, dry and black is ominous. Swollen and red indicates extreme Heat; green/black indicates extreme Cold. Yellow indicates Blood deficiency; white indicates blood loss. Bitter taste indicates Gallbladder Heat; sweet taste indicates Spleen Heat; bland taste also indicates Spleen Heat. Dry mouth/throat indicates Kidney Heat. Dry tongue/mouth indicates Heart Heat. Lockjaw and teeth grinding indicate Jing disease (tetanus/spasm). Sores on lips/mouth with hoarseness indicates Huhuo disease. Dry teeth without saliva indicate extreme Yangming Heat. Dry teeth with weak pulse indicate Summerheat. Cracks on lip/tongue coating indicate difficult treatment. Green lips, curled tongue, black around mouth, open mouth with straight breath, trembling lips/mouth indicate death. Short tongue with red cheekbones indicates Heart disease. Shaoyin Qi reversing upward, Jue (cold extremities) leads to biting the tongue. Fresh red and lustrous tongue is auspicious; black is ominous. Wet/slippy is auspicious; dry/choppy is ominous. White coating indicates Cold in the Chest and Heat in the Dantian. White and slippery coating indicates pathogen not yet entered the Fu organs, remaining in the Half-Exterior/Half-Interior stage; suitable for Harmonizing method. Yellow coating indicates pathogen entered the Stomach; suitable for Purging method. Dry, black coating with prickles is difficult to treat; urgent purging is indicated. No fever, no thirst, black and slippery coating indicates Yin-Cold; urgent warming is indicated. Curled, scorched black, and dry tongue indicates extreme Yang toxin heat; urgent purging is indicated. Green tongue with slippery coating, no fever/thirst indicates extreme Yin toxin cold; urgent warming is indicated. Purple/black tongue indicates Yin-Cold; red-purple indicates Yang-Heat. Hard, swollen, curled, short, stiff tongue with scrotal retraction is difficult to treat. Unclear speech, coma, and depleted pulse indicate death. Yin-Yang Exchange disease with tongue protruding several inches indicates death. Summer heat disease with black, dry, thirsty coating is treatable, not necessarily fatal. If black coating cannot be scraped off, or regenerates with cracks/prickles quickly, death is certain. Winter black coating indicates death. Dystocia with green lips and tongue indicates mother and child death; red face with green tongue indicates child dies, mother lives; green face with red tongue indicates child lives, mother dies. Pale yellow face indicates Spleen/Stomach injury, limb weakness, abdominal distension. Yellow-turbid face like smoke indicates dampness-heavy Jaundice. Orange-yellow indicates much Heat. Yellow mixed with green/purple and Kun (hollow) pulse indicates blood stasis in Stomach or mass in hypochondrium. White spots on face indicate worm accumulation. Variable green/yellow/white face, or crab-claw patterns, alternating yellow/white, indicates food stagnation. Black eyes with red cheeks indicate Phlegm-Heat. Black eye bags indicate Phlegm. Black eyes with groaning while walking indicate bone/joint soreness, phlegm entering bones. Black eyes with yellow face, limb paralysis, difficulty bending/stretching indicate Wind-Phlegm. Cyan color under eyes in Shanghan indicates concurrent Yin condition. Yellow face with green eyes indicates alcohol injury. Yellow sclera indicates Wine Jaundice. Yellow-white face with eyelid swelling indicates Grain Jaundice, likely with fullness below the heart. Red eye color indicates Heart disease; White in Lungs; Green in Liver; Black in Kidneys; Yellow in Spleen; Unnamable yellow indicates disease in the Chest. Yellow face with green/red/white/black eyes all survive. Red face with white eyes, green face with black eyes, black face with white eyes, red face with green eyes all die. Yellow hue in face/eyes indicates Stomach Qi, auspicious. Bright nose tip, bright Shangen, bright eyes indicate improvement. Yellow eyes with irritability and harmonious pulse indicate impending recovery. Sudden appearance of black Qi around mouth/nose/ears/eyes in healthy people is ominous. Cyan color under Mingtang indicates excessive desire and mental fatigue; otherwise, sleep deprivation. Black and thin indicates Yin deficiency with Fire hyperactivity. Many blue veins on arms indicates blood loss. Heart disease transmitting to Lungs, Liver to Spleen, Spleen to Kidneys, Kidneys to Heart, Lungs to Liver, all result in death. Depletion of five Zang organs, Shen does not reside. Exhaustion of five Zang Qi, incontinence of urine/feces, insensitivity of limbs. Exhaustion of three Yin meridians causes dizziness and eye tension; eyes represent lost Zhi (Will); loss of Zhi with eye tension indicates death. Exhaustion of three Yang meridians causes separation of Yin and Yang; separation causes sweating pores to open, absolute sweat emerges, large like beads, rolling out without flowing, morning prediction means evening death, evening prediction means morning death.