In the third month of spring, when wood is dominant, the liver pulse should arrive first, followed by the heart pulse, then the lung pulse, and finally the kidney pulse. This is the proper sequence of pulses corresponding to the dominance of the four seasons. By the sixth month, when earth is dominant, the spleen pulse should arrive first. However, if the spleen pulse does not arrive and instead the kidney pulse is felt, this is called "the kidney opposing the spleen," and death will occur within seventy days.
What is meant by "the kidney opposing the spleen"? In summer, when fire is dominant, the heart pulse should arrive first, followed by the lung pulse. If instead the kidney pulse is felt, this is called "the kidney opposing the spleen." The critical periods are the fifth and sixth months, and the days to avoid are those of Bing and Ding. If the spleen opposes the liver, death will occur within thirty days.
What is meant by "the spleen opposing the liver"? In spring, the liver pulse should arrive first, but if it does not and the spleen pulse arrives first instead, this is called "the spleen opposing the liver." The critical periods are the first and second months, and the days to avoid are those of Jia and Yi. If the kidney opposes the liver, death will occur within three years.
What is meant by "the kidney opposing the liver"? In spring, the liver pulse should arrive first, but if it does not and the kidney pulse arrives first instead, this is called "the kidney opposing the liver." The critical periods are the seventh and eighth months, and the days to avoid are those of Geng and Xin. If the kidney opposes the heart, death will occur within two years.
What is meant by "the kidney opposing the heart"? In summer, the heart pulse should arrive first, but if it does not and the kidney pulse arrives first instead, this is called "the kidney opposing the heart." The critical period is the sixth month, and the days to avoid are those of Wu and Ji. (1)