（新订）
前人之论舌诊详矣，而只论舌苔，不论舌质，非不论舌质也，混苔与质而不分也。夫舌为心窍，其伸缩
展转，则筋之所为，肝之用也。其尖上红粒细于粟者，心气夹命门真火而鼓起者也。其正面白色软刺如毫毛
者，肺气挟命门真火而生出者也。至于苔，乃胃气之所熏蒸，五脏皆禀气于胃，故可借以诊五脏之寒热虚实
也。若推其专义，必当以舌苔主六腑，以舌质主五脏。舌苔可刮而去者，气分之事，属于六腑；不可
刮，即渐侵血分，内连于脏矣。舌质有变，全属血分与五脏之事。前人书中有所谓舌苔当分有地无地者，地即
苔之里层，不可刮去者也，亦无与于舌之质也。尝见人无他苦，但苦常滑遗，视其舌，中心如钱大，光滑无
苔，其色淡紫。又见患胃气痛者，其舌质常见通体隐隐蓝色。此皆痰血阻于胃与包络之脉中，使真气不能上
潮，故光滑不起软刺，是血因寒而瘀也。通体隐蓝，是浊血满布于细络也。故舌苔无论
何色，皆属易治。舌质既变，即当察其色之死活。活者，细察柢里，隐隐犹见红活，此不过血气之有阻滞，非
脏气之败坏也。死者，柢里全变，干晦枯萎，毫无生气，是脏气不至矣，所谓真脏之色也。故治病必察
舌苔，而察病之吉凶，则关乎
舌质也。以下诸篇，所论已详，读者当细思之。
按∶刘河间极论玄府之功用，谓眼耳鼻舌身意，皆借玄府以成其功用者也。上言舌体隐蓝，为浊血满
布于细络，细络即玄府也。所谓浊血满布，是血液之流通于舌之玄府者，皆夹有污浊之气也。或寒气凝结，或
痰涎阻滞于胃与包络之脉中，致血液之上潮者，不能合于常度，即污浊之气生矣，非
必其血腐败而后然也。若果败血满塞于中，有不舌强硬而死者耶。
（新修订）
前人关于舌诊的论述非常详尽，但只讨论舌苔，不单独讨论舌质，并非不讨论舌质，而是将舌苔与舌质混为一谈而未加区分。舌是心之窍，其伸缩转动，是由筋的功能决定的，属于肝的作用。舌尖上比粟米还小的红色颗粒，是心气夹带命门真火而鼓胀起来的。舌面正中的白色软刺像毫毛一样，是肺气挟带命门真火而生长的。至于舌苔，乃是胃气熏蒸形成的，五脏都禀受胃气，所以可以借助舌苔来诊断五脏的寒热虚实。如果推究其专门含义，应当以舌苔主司六腑，以舌质主司五脏。舌苔是可以刮除的，属于气分的事，归属于六腑；不可刮除，说明病邪已逐渐侵入血分，内部连及于脏了。舌质发生变化，完全属于血分和五脏的事。前人书中有所谓舌苔应当分为有根和无根的，“根”即苔的底层，是不可刮去的，这也与舌质无关。我曾见过一个人没有其他痛苦，只是苦于经常滑精，看他的舌头，中心如铜钱大小，光滑无苔，颜色淡紫。又见过患有胃气痛的人，他们的舌质常见通体隐隐呈现蓝色。这都是痰浊和瘀血阻滞在胃和心包络的脉中，使真气不能上潮，所以光滑不起软刺，这是血因寒而瘀结。通体隐现蓝色，是污浊的血布满细微脉络。所以舌苔无论什么颜色，都属于容易治疗的。舌质既然发生了变化，就应当观察其颜色的“活”与“死”。所谓“活”，仔细检查舌底，隐隐还能看到红润鲜活，这不过是气血有阻滞，并非脏气败坏。所谓“死”，舌底完全改变，干枯晦暗枯萎，毫无生气，这是脏气衰竭了，也就是所谓的“真脏色”。所以治病必须观察舌苔，而判断疾病的吉凶，则关乎舌质。以下各篇，论述已经详细，读者应当仔细思考。
按语：刘河间极力论述玄府的功能，认为眼、耳、鼻、舌、身、意，都是借助玄府来完成其功能的。上文说舌体隐现蓝色，是因为污浊的血布满细微脉络，细微脉络就是玄府。所谓污浊的血布满，是指血液流通于舌之玄府时，都夹杂有污浊之气。或者是寒气凝结，或者是痰涎阻滞在胃和心包络的脉中，导致血液上潮不能符合常度，于是污浊之气就产生了，并不一定是血液腐败才会这样。如果真的败血充满堵塞在中间，难道不会有舌体强硬而死的情况吗？
(Newly Revised)
The predecessors' discussions on tongue diagnosis were very detailed, yet they only discussed the tongue coating (tongue fur), not the tongue body (tongue substance). This does not mean they did not discuss the tongue body, but rather that they conflated the coating and the body without distinguishing them. The tongue is the orifice of the Heart; its extension, retraction, and rotation are functions of the sinews (tendons), which belong to the Liver's domain. The tiny red granules on the tip of the tongue, smaller than millet seeds, are caused by the Heart Qi bulging forth with the assistance of the True Fire of the Gate of Vitality (Mingmen). The white, soft papillae on the central surface of the tongue, resembling fine hairs, are produced by the Lung Qi growing forth with the assistance of the True Fire of the Gate of Vitality. As for the tongue coating, it is formed by the steaming and vaporization of Stomach Qi. Since all five Zang organs receive their Qi from the Stomach, the coating can be used to diagnose the cold, heat, deficiency, and excess conditions of the five Zang organs. If we deduce its specific meaning, the tongue coating should govern the six Fu organs, while the tongue body should govern the five Zang organs. Tongue coatings can be scraped off; this belongs to matters of Qi and is associated with the six Fu organs. If it cannot be scraped off, it indicates that the pathogen has gradually invaded the Blood level and internally connected to the Zang organs. Changes in the tongue body entirely pertain to matters of Blood and the five Zang organs. In previous texts, there is a concept that tongue coatings should be divided into those with "roots" and those without. The "root" refers to the deep layer of the coating that cannot be scraped off; this also has nothing to do with the tongue body itself. I have seen individuals who suffered no other ailments but complained of frequent seminal emissions. Upon examining their tongues, the center was smooth and devoid of coating, about the size of a coin, with a pale purple color. I have also seen patients suffering from Stomach Qi pain whose tongue bodies often showed a diffuse, faint blue hue throughout. These cases are due to Phlegm and Blood stasis obstructing the meridians of the Stomach and the Pericardium, preventing the True Qi from ascending to the surface. Consequently, the tongue becomes smooth without growing soft papillae, indicating that Blood has become stagnant due to Cold. A diffuse faint blue color indicates that turbid Blood fills the minute collaterals. Therefore, regardless of the color of the tongue coating, such conditions are generally easy to treat. Once the tongue body changes, one must observe whether the color is "living" or "dead." "Living" means that upon careful inspection of the base, a faint reddish vitality is still visible; this merely indicates an obstruction in Qi and Blood, not a deterioration of Zang Qi. "Dead" means the base has completely changed, becoming dry, dull, withered, and lacking any vitality; this signifies the exhaustion of Zang Qi, known as the "True Zang color." Thus, in treating disease, one must examine the tongue coating, but to determine the prognosis (auspiciousness or inauspiciousness) of the illness, one must focus on the tongue body. The following chapters discuss this in detail; readers should ponder it carefully.
Note: Liu Hejian extensively discussed the function of the Xuanfu (mysterious pores). He stated that the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind all rely on the Xuanfu to perform their functions. The aforementioned statement that a blue hue in the tongue body is due to turbid Blood filling the minute collaterals implies that these minute collaterals are the Xuanfu. The phrase "turbid Blood filling" means that the blood circulating within the Xuanfu of the tongue is mixed with turbid Qi. This may result from the congealing of Cold Qi or the obstruction of Saliva/Phlegm in the meridians of the Stomach and Pericardium, causing the ascending Blood to deviate from its normal state, thereby generating turbid Qi. It does not necessarily imply that the blood has putrefied. If truly putrid Blood were blocking the interior, would it not lead to a stiff tongue and death?