形者，面形也。气者，神气也。原夫小儿证候，不可取之一端，在表里相应，内外消息。
岂胶柱鼓瑟者所能观其形而知其证哉！信斯言也。况小儿虚实，有非系乎肥瘦而系乎气色者。
何以言之？盖有肥而气怯，瘦而气壮。气怯则色必嫩，其为虚可知；气壮则色必盛，其为实
可知。五脏之气形于面部，则肝青心赤肺白肾黑脾黄，是其五色。肝旺于春，心旺于夏，肺旺于
秋，肾旺于年，各七十二日，脾寄旺于四季后一十八日，是其本位。然有时乎不春不冬，而面
变青黑者，非肝之与肾也。不秋不夏，而面变赤白者，非心之与肺也。盖五脏之气色，层见叠
出，随形流证，初无一定。忽然青黑主乎痛，忽然赤者主乎热，忽然白者主乎冷，忽然黄者主乎
积。此气之开阖，非系乎时，非拘乎位。又如心主额，肝主眼并左脸，脾主唇之上下，肺主右
脸，肾主耳前颏外。其形或见于位，或露于他部，所谓不可取之一端，此其选也。且脾主唇
之上下，为吐泻，或患利日久。然其色黑，则肾之乘脾，水反克土，名为强胜，其脏或败尔。
肝主眼并左脸，其色青，本色也，主惊骇惊风，是为顺证。若见白色，乃肺克肝，即为逆证。
以此推考，变而通之，存乎其人。
婴儿惟察其面部五色，以知病源。又看目睛有神无神。神者，目中精神光彩是也。隐显
横冲，应位而见，以应五脏五色，青黑黄白赤是也。肝青心赤脾黄肺白肾黑，凡五脏主病，
蕴其内，必有形色见于外。小儿有病，
先观本部形色，论其五行生克吉凶，形色若有相应，然后听声切脉。
形，指的是面部的形态。气，指的是神气的状态。推究小儿的病证候象，不能仅凭单一方面的表现来判定，而要看表里是否相应，内外是否相互印证。
难道是那些拘泥固执、不知变通的人所能通过观察面部形态就知晓病证的吗！确实如此啊。况且小儿的虚实证候，并非单纯取决于体型的肥瘦，而是取决于气色的变化。
为什么这样说呢？因为有的孩子体型肥胖但气机怯弱，有的孩子体型消瘦但气机壮盛。气机怯弱则面色必然娇嫩，这可以知道是虚证；气机壮盛则面色必然红润光泽，这可以知道是实证。
五脏的气色反映在面部，则是肝对应青色、心对应赤色、肺对应白色、肾对应黑色、脾对应黄色，这就是五色。肝气旺盛于春季，心气旺盛于夏季，肺气旺盛于秋季，肾气旺盛于冬季（原文“年”应为“冬”之误或通假，此处依中医理论修正为冬），各主七十二日；脾气寄旺于四季末各十八日，这是它们的本位。
然而有时并不在春季和冬季，但面色变为青黑色的，并不是肝与肾的问题。不在秋季和夏季，但面色变为赤白色的，并不是心与肺的问题。这是因为五脏的气色，层层叠出，随着形体流动并对应病证，起初并没有固定的规律。忽然出现青黑色主痛证，忽然出现赤色主热证，忽然出现白色主寒证，忽然出现黄色主积滞证。这种气机的开阖变化，并不依赖于时节，也不拘泥于固定的部位。
又如，心主管额头，肝主管眼睛及左脸颊，脾主管嘴唇的上部和下部，肺主管右脸颊，肾主管耳前及下巴外侧。其形态或出现在对应的部位，或显露在其他部位，所谓不能仅凭一端来判定，这里就是其中的例子。
而且脾主管嘴唇上下，若发生呕吐腹泻，或者患痢疾日久。如果此时面色发黑，则是肾水乘袭脾土，水反克土，名为强胜，其脏腑功能可能已经败坏。
肝主管眼睛及左脸颊，若面色发青，是本脏本色，主惊骇、惊风，这属于顺证。如果见到白色，则是肺金克肝木，即为逆证。
以此类推考察，变化而通达事理，关键在于医者个人的判断能力。
婴儿只需观察其面部的五色，以了解病源。又要看目睛是否有神。神，指的就是眼中精神光彩的表现。隐现、横冲直撞，应合部位而出现，以对应五脏五色，即青、黑、黄、白、赤。肝青、心赤、脾黄、肺白、肾黑，凡是五脏主病，蕴藏于内，必定有形色表现于外。小儿有病，先观察本部的形色，论述其五行生克的吉凶，如果形色有所相应，然后再听声音、切脉象。
Xing (Form) refers to the facial morphology. Qi (Vital Energy) refers to the state of Shen (Spirit). When investigating pediatric syndromes and signs, one cannot rely on a single aspect; rather, one must observe whether the exterior and interior correspond, and whether internal and external factors mutually reflect each other.
How could those who are rigid and inflexible, like someone playing a fixed-string instrument without adjusting the tuning pegs, be able to know the syndrome merely by observing the form? Indeed, this is true. Moreover, the deficiency or excess conditions in children are not solely determined by fatness or thinness, but by the changes in Qi coloration.
Why is this so? For there are cases where a child is fat yet has deficient Qi, or thin yet has robust Qi. When Qi is deficient, the complexion must be tender/delicate, indicating a deficiency syndrome; when Qi is robust, the complexion must be vibrant/prosperous, indicating an excess syndrome.
The Qi of the Five Zang Organs manifests on the face: Liver corresponds to Green, Heart to Red, Lungs to White, Kidneys to Black, and Spleen to Yellow; these are the Five Colors. The Liver Qi prospers in Spring, Heart Qi in Summer, Lung Qi in Autumn, and Kidney Qi in Winter, each governing for 72 days; the Spleen Qi prospers for 18 days at the end of each season, which constitutes their proper positions.
However, sometimes outside of Spring and Winter, if the face turns green or black, it is not necessarily due to the Liver or Kidneys. Outside of Autumn and Summer, if the face turns red or white, it is not necessarily due to the Heart or Lungs. This is because the Qi colors of the Five Zang Organs appear in layers and shift with the form to indicate syndromes, having no fixed initial pattern. Suddenly appearing green/black indicates Pain; suddenly appearing red indicates Heat; suddenly appearing white indicates Cold; suddenly appearing yellow indicates Accumulation. This opening and closing of Qi does not depend on the season nor is it confined to specific positions.
Furthermore, the Heart governs the forehead, the Liver governs the eyes and left cheek, the Spleen governs the upper and lower lips, the Lungs govern the right cheek, and the Kidneys govern the area before the ears and outside the chin. The form may appear in its corresponding position or manifest in other parts; this illustrates why one cannot judge based on a single aspect.
Additionally, the Spleen governs the upper and lower lips. In cases of vomiting and diarrhea, or prolonged dysentery, if the complexion turns black, it signifies Kidney Water overcoming Spleen Earth (Water counter-acting Earth), known as "Strong Overcoming." The organ function may be failing.
The Liver governs the eyes and left cheek. If the color is green, it is the normal color of the organ, indicating Fright or Convulsions, which is a favorable syndrome (Shun Zheng). If white is seen, it signifies Lung Metal overcoming Liver Wood, which is an unfavorable syndrome (Ni Zheng).
By deducing from this and adapting flexibly, the outcome depends on the practitioner's skill.
For infants, one only needs to observe the five colors of the face to understand the source of the disease. One must also examine whether the eyeballs possess Shen (Spirit). Shen refers to the spiritual luster and radiance within the eyes. Whether hidden, manifest, or rushing across, appearing according to position, they correspond to the Five Zang Organs and Five Colors: Green, Black, Yellow, White, and Red. Liver-Green, Heart-Red, Spleen-Yellow, Lung-White, Kidney-Black. Whenever a disease resides within the Five Zang Organs, there must inevitably be form and color manifested externally. When a child is ill, first observe the form and color of the relevant region, analyze the auspiciousness or inauspiciousness of the Five Elements' generation and overcoming cycles; only if the form and color correspond should one then listen to the voice and palpate the pulse.