The Yellow Emperor inquired: 'There are eight winds in heaven and five winds in the channels. What does this mean?'

Qibo answered: 'The eight winds[1] emit pathogenic factors that become channel winds[2], attacking the five viscera[3] and causing disease.'

'The so-called conquest among seasons: spring conquers long summer[4], long summer[4] conquers winter, winter conquers summer, summer conquers autumn, autumn conquers spring. This is the seasonal conquest.'

The east wind arises in spring, causing disease in the liver, with shu points[5] at the neck. The south wind arises in summer, causing disease in the heart, with shu points[5] at the chest. The west wind arises in autumn, causing disease in the lung, with shu points[5] at the shoulders. The north wind arises in winter, causing disease in the kidney, with shu points[5] at the waist. The center corresponds to earth, causing disease in the spleen, with shu points[5] at the spine.

Thus spring qi causes disease in the head; summer qi causes disease in the viscera; autumn qi causes disease in shoulders and back; winter qi causes disease in the limbs.

Therefore in spring, nosebleed[6] is common; midsummer sees chest disorders; long summer[4] brings cold-diarrhea disorder[7]; autumn brings wind-malaria[8]; winter brings bi-jue syndrome[9].

If winter anqiao therapy[10] is avoided, spring nosebleed[6] won't occur. Without neck disease in spring, no chest disorder in midsummer. Without cold-diarrhea[7] in long summer[4], no wind-malaria[8] in autumn. Without bi-jue[9] in winter, no sunning diarrhea[11] with sweating.

Essence is the body's foundation. Those storing Essence avoid spring warm diseases. Summer heat without sweating causes autumn wind-malaria[8]. This is the pingren pulse method[12].

Thus: Yin contains yin, yang contains yang. Dawn to noon: heaven's yang, yang within yang. Noon to dusk: heaven's yang, yin within yang. Dusk to cockcrow: heaven's yin, yin within yin. Cockcrow to dawn: heaven's yin, yang within yin.

Humans correspond accordingly. Regarding human Yin-Yang: exterior is yang, interior is yin. Regarding the body: back is yang, abdomen is yin. Regarding organs: zang-organs are yin, fu-organs are yang. Liver, heart, spleen, lung, kidney - five viscera[3] are yin. Gallbladder, stomach, large intestine, small intestine, bladder, sanjiao - six fu-organs[13] are yang.

Why know yin-within-yin and yang-within-yang? Winter diseases dwell in yin, summer in yang; spring in yin, autumn in yang. Apply stone needles[14] according to location.

Thus back is yang: yang-within-yang is heart; yang-within-yin is lung. Abdomen is yin: yin-within-yin is kidney; yin-within-yang is liver; utmost yin[15] is spleen.

These are Yin-Yang correspondences between exterior-interior, internal-external, female-male. Thus they correspond to heaven's Yin-Yang.

The Emperor asked: 'Do the five viscera[3] correspond to the seasons with reception and assimilation[16]?'","Qibo replied: 'Yes.'

East: blue-green enters liver, opens at eyes, stores Essence in liver. Diseases manifest as fright. Sour flavor, plant category, chicken livestock, wheat grain. Corresponds to Sui Star[17]. Thus spring qi affects head. Jiao musical note, number eight. Thus know disease in sinews. Rancid odor.

South: red enters heart, opens at ears, stores Essence in heart. Thus disease in five viscera[3]. Bitter flavor, fire category, sheep livestock, millet grain. Corresponds to Yinghuo Star[18]. Thus know disease in vessels. Zhi musical note, number seven. Scorched odor.

Center: yellow enters spleen, opens at mouth, stores Essence in spleen. Thus disease at tongue root. Sweet flavor, earth category, ox livestock, spelt grain. Corresponds to Zhen Star[19]. Thus know disease in flesh. Gong musical note, number five. Fragrant odor.

West: white enters lung, opens at nose, stores Essence in lung. Thus disease in back. Acrid flavor, metal category, horse livestock, rice grain. Corresponds to Taibai Star[20]. Thus know disease in skin/hair. Shang musical note, number nine. Fishy odor.

North: black enters kidney, opens at two yin, stores Essence in kidney. Thus disease in knees. Salty flavor, water category, pig[21] livestock, bean grain. Corresponds to Chen Star[22]. Thus know disease in bones. Yu musical note, number six. Rotten odor.

Thus skilled pulse diagnosticians carefully examine five viscera[3] and six fu-organs[13], adverse-following patterns, Yin-Yang relationships, female-male principles. Store in heart-mind, unite heart with Essence. Teach only suitable students, impart only genuine knowledge. This is attainment of the Dao[23].

[1] 八风(Ba Feng): | Eight pathogenic winds from cardinal directions.

[2] 五风(Wu Feng): | Five pathological winds affecting zang-organs

[3] 五脏(Wu Zang): Wood/Fire/Earth/Metal/Water | Liver/Heart/Spleen/Lung/Kidney | Five yin organs storing Essence

[4] 长夏(Chang Xia): Earth | Spleen | Late summer season in TCM chronology

[5] 俞(Shu): | Acupuncture transport points responding to pathogens

[6] 鼽衄(Qiu Nv): | Nasal congestion and bleeding symptoms

[7] 洞泄寒中(Dong Xie Han Zhong): | Spleen/Stomach | Severe diarrhea with internal cold syndrome

[8] 风疟(Feng Nue): | Malaria-like disorder caused by wind pathogens

[9] 痹厥(Bi Jue): | Numbness-cold syndrome with limb dysfunction

[10] 按蹻(An Qiao): | Ancient massage and joint manipulation therapy

[11] 飧泄(Sun Xie): | Spleen | Undigested food diarrhea at dawn

[12] 平人脉法(Ping Ren Mai Fa): | Pulse diagnostic principles for healthy individuals

[13] 六腑(Liu Fu): | Gallbladder/Stomach/Intestines/Bladder/Sanjiao | Six yang organs transporting and transforming

[14] 针石(Zhen Shi): | Stone needles for acupuncture treatment

[15] 至阴(Zhi Yin): Earth | Spleen | Utmost yin organ governing transformation

[16] 收受(Shou Shou): | Five viscera | Reception-assimilation of seasonal qi

[17] 岁星(Sui Xing): Wood | Liver | Jupiter - corresponding celestial body

[18] 荧惑星(Ying Huo Xing): Fire | Heart | Mars - corresponding celestial body

[19] 镇星(Zhen Xing): Earth | Spleen | Saturn - corresponding celestial body

[20] 太白星(Tai Bai Xing): Metal | Lung | Venus - corresponding celestial body

[21] 彘(Zhi): Water | Kidney | Pig - corresponding domestic animal

[22] 辰星(Chen Xing): Water | Kidney | Mercury - corresponding celestial body

[23] 得道(De Dao): | Attainment of medical wisdom and practice.