Liver holds the office of general; strategies arise from it

Phrase from Plain Questions (素问 sù wèn, líng lán mì diǎn lùn). The ability to make plans is dependent upon a healthy liver. Liver qì depression can give rise to ascendant liver yáng, and to impatience, agitation, and irascibility. Insufficiency of liver qì manifests in a tendency toward fright. Both emotional tendencies can prevent the individual from keeping a cool head in matters of planning. Compare liver is the unyielding viscus.