人之脏色单见，犹天之运星独明也。太过之运其星明，不及之运其星减。明则自旺，减
则所
胜兼之，人之于色也亦然。《金匮》云肝旺色青，四时各随其色。由斯以推，何脏色见，即
是
何脏气胜，观其所胜，而源委可见已。何以言之？五行相乘，如夫妇然，夫为妇纲，以能乘
者为正，不能乘者为变，阴阳之义也。故病在此者，知其因必在彼也。此负者，因彼之乘而
太过，病也；此胜者，因彼之弱不能乘，亦病也。乘而太过，则彼强而当见彼脏之色；弱不
能乘，则此强而当见此脏之色。故凡其色独见者，皆胜也，非负也。值不及之运，而曰运星
独明者，未之闻也。顾见注家，辄云脾虚而色外见。嘻！果系脾虚，即使色不纯青，亦当于
淡黄中见青。如不及之年，运星必兼胜星之比，岂得独见黄色哉？且也色与脉应，脏和则脉
和，而不名一象；偏胜则弦钩毛石，随所胜而为象。脉弦不得谓之肝负，则色黄反得谓之脾
负乎？倘因此而用益脾之法，则差若毫厘，缪以千里矣。
或难之曰∶子言何脏色见，即是何脏气胜，而《灵枢》黄色薄皮弱肉者，不胜春时之虚
风云云
，非明明以见何脏之色，为何脏之虚乎？曰∶是大不然。经意非春风病脾之谓，谓脏色单见
者脏胜也，而薄皮弱肉者禀虚也。禀虚而脏胜，则非脏之真实也，其为胜我之脏弱不能乘显
然也。如春肝旺时也，肝既弱矣，焉得不畏虚风乎？春之虚风，西风也，其气乘于肝，肝受
之非脾受之，故知非春风病脾之谓也。《灵枢》之文，看似直易，而其义层累奥衍，极耐寻
绎。余说正与之相发明，不得据以为难。其真脏虚色见者，惟肝气先绝而吻青、心气内索而
面赤之类可以当之，要非寻常之症所可同日语也。
人体内脏的颜色单独显现，就像天空中某颗星辰独自明亮一样。五行中气运太过时，对应的星辰明亮；气运不及时，对应的星辰黯淡。星辰明亮代表该行之气旺盛，黯淡则意味着被克制的一行之气来兼并（乘侮）。人体面色呈现的道理也是如此。《金匮要略》说肝气旺盛时面色青，四季的面色变化都随着对应脏器的颜色而改变。由此推论，哪个脏器的颜色显现出来，就是哪个脏器的邪气偏胜。观察是哪一行之气偏胜，就能看清疾病的根源和来龙去脉了。
为什么这么说呢？五行之间的相乘关系，就像夫妻关系一样，丈夫是妻子的纲纪（主导），能够施加克制作用的是“正”（正常或病理上的主动方），不能施加克制作用的是“变”（异常或被动方），这体现了阴阳的道理。所以，疾病表现于此处的，其病因必然在于彼处。这里的脏器因为彼处脏器的克制而气机太过，这是病态；这里的脏器因为彼处脏器虚弱而不能对其进行克制，这也是病态。如果此处因克制而太过，那么彼处强盛就应当显现彼脏的颜色；如果此处因彼处虚弱而不能被克制，那么此处强盛就应当显现此脏的颜色。因此，凡是颜色单独显现的，都是胜气（偏胜之气），而不是负气（被克之气）。遇到气运不及的年份，却说那颗代表不及的星辰独自明亮，这是从未听说过的。
看那些注解家，总是说脾虚导致面色外现。唉！如果真是脾虚，即使面色不纯青，也应该在淡黄色中透出青色。就像气运不及的年份，代表不及的星辰必然会与代表胜者的星辰相比附显现，怎么可能单独显现黄色呢？况且面色与脉象应当相应，脏腑调和则脉象平和，不会只呈现一种极端之象；如果偏胜，则会出现弦、钩、毛、石等脉象，随所胜之气而变化。脉象见弦脉不能说是肝气受克（负），那么面色黄反而能说是脾气受克（负）吗？如果因此采用补益脾土的方法治疗，那就差之毫厘，谬以千里了。
有人反驳我说：您说哪个脏器的颜色显现，就是哪个脏器的邪气偏胜，但《灵枢》中说“黄色、薄皮、弱肉者，不胜春时之虚风”，这不明明是以显现何脏之色，来说明何脏之虚吗？我说：这完全不对。经文的意思不是说春风伤脾，而是说脏器颜色单独显现代表脏气偏胜，而薄皮弱肉代表先天禀赋虚弱。禀赋虚弱而又脏气偏胜，这就不是脏气的真实状态了，显然是因为克制我的脏器虚弱，无法对我进行克制所致。比如春天是肝气旺盛的时候，肝脏既然虚弱了，怎么能不畏惧虚风呢？春天的虚风其实是西风（金克木），其气侵犯肝脏，肝脏承受它，而不是脾脏承受它，所以知道这并不是说春风伤害脾脏的意思。《灵枢》的文字，看起来直白容易，但其义理层层累积、深奥广博，极耐人寻味。我的说法正是与之相互阐发印证，不能用它来作为难处。真正属于真脏气虚而颜色显现的，只有肝气先绝而口唇发青、心气内竭而面色赤红之类的情况可以算作此类，但这绝不是寻常病症可以同日而语的。
The solitary manifestation of a Zang organ's color in the human body is akin to a single star shining brightly in the sky. When the cosmic movement (Yun) is excessive, its corresponding star shines brightly; when it is deficient, its star appears dim. Brightness indicates self-prosperity, while dimness implies that the conquering element joins in. The principle regarding facial colors in humans is the same. As stated in *Jingui Yaolue* (Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Cabinet), when Liver Qi is prosperous, the complexion is green; across the four seasons, each follows its respective color. From this, we can deduce that whichever organ's color manifests is the one whose Qi is excessive. By observing which element is excessive, the origin and course of the disease become visible.
Why is this so? The mutual overcoming (Cheng) among the Five Elements is like the relationship between husband and wife: the husband serves as the guide for the wife. That which can overcome is considered "Zheng" (orthodox/active), while that which cannot overcome is considered "Bian" (variant/passive); this embodies the meaning of Yin and Yang. Therefore, if the pathology manifests here, its cause must lie there. Here, the condition becomes excessive due to being overcome by there, which constitutes disease; there, the condition fails to overcome here because it is weak, which also constitutes disease. If "here" overcomes excessively, then "there" should be strong and manifest the color of that Zang organ; if "there" is too weak to overcome "here," then "here" should be strong and manifest the color of this Zang organ. Thus, whenever a color appears alone, it represents excess (Sheng), not deficiency (Fu). To hear that a star representing a deficient movement shines alone has never been heard of.
However, commentators often claim that Spleen deficiency causes the color to appear externally. Alas! If it were truly Spleen deficiency, even if the color were not purely green, one would expect to see green amidst a pale yellow hue. In a year of deficient movement, the star of deficiency must be accompanied by the star of the conquering element; how could it show only yellow? Furthermore, color and pulse should correspond. When Zang organs are harmonious, the pulse is harmonious and does not present a single extreme image. If there is partial excess, the pulse will be Xian (wiry), Gou (hook), Mao (feather), or Shi (stone), depending on the prevailing element. A Xian pulse cannot be called Liver deficiency (Fu); therefore, can a yellow complexion be called Spleen deficiency (Fu)? If one employs methods to tonify the Spleen based on this error, the discrepancy will be slight at first but lead to great mistakes later.
One might object: You say that the manifestation of a Zang organ's color indicates that organ's Qi is excessive. Yet, *Lingshu* (Spiritual Pivot) states, "Those with yellowish complexion, thin skin, and weak flesh cannot withstand the empty winds of spring." Does this not clearly indicate that the manifestation of a specific Zang color signifies that Zang's deficiency? I reply: This is entirely incorrect. The meaning of the classic is not that spring wind damages the Spleen. It means that the solitary manifestation of a Zang color indicates Zang excess, whereas thin skin and weak flesh indicate congenital deficiency. Congenital deficiency combined with Zang excess implies that this is not the true state of the Zang; rather, it is evident that the Zang which should conquer me is weak and unable to do so. For instance, spring is the time when Liver Qi is prosperous. If the Liver is weak, how can it not fear the empty wind? The empty wind of spring is actually West Wind (Metal overcoming Wood). Its Qi attacks the Liver, which receives it, not the Spleen. Thus, it is known that this does not mean spring wind damages the Spleen. The text of *Lingshu* appears straightforward, but its meanings are layered and profound, demanding careful study. My explanation serves to elucidate it further and should not be used as an objection. Cases where true Zang deficiency manifests as color are limited to situations such as Liver Qi failing first with bluish lips, or Heart Qi exhausting internally with a red face. These are certainly not conditions that can be discussed on the same level as ordinary diseases.