问曰曾为人所难紧脉从何而来师曰假令亡汗若吐以肺里寒故令脉紧也假令咳者坐饮冷水故令脉紧也假令下利以胃中
虚冷故令脉紧也
汗吐伤其胸中之阳肺寒则脉紧也咳者中寒而胃逆下利者中寒而脾陷冷水下利泄其胃阳则脉紧也
寸口卫气盛名曰高营气盛名曰章高章相搏名曰纲卫气弱名曰 营气弱名曰卑 卑相搏名曰损卫气和名曰缓营气和名
曰迟迟缓相搏名曰沉
寸口寸以候卫卫气盛者名曰高卫主气气盛则崇高也尺以候营营气盛名曰章营主血血盛则章显也高章相合名曰纲是诸
阳脉之首领也卫气弱名曰 者 怯则柔退也 卑相合名曰损是诸阴脉之削弱者也卫气和名曰缓营气和名曰迟缓迟者是
从容之谓对紧数言也迟缓相合名曰沉人之元气宜秘不宜泄泄则浮而秘则沉素问生气通天论阴阳之要阳密乃固阴平阳秘精
神乃治阳藏之机全在乎土土运则阴升而阳降也缓迟者土气之冲和土和则中枢运转阴常升而阳常降也阳降则根深而不拔是
谓阳密阳密则脉沉是阳旺而脉沉非阴盛而脉沉也
寸口脉缓而迟缓则阳气长其色鲜其颜光其声商毛发长迟则阴气盛骨髓生血满肌肉紧薄鲜硬阴阳相搏营卫俱行刚柔相
得名曰强也
寸口脉缓而迟缓为卫盛缓则阳气长进其色鲜明其颜光润其声清越其毛发修长迟为营盛迟则阴气盛盈骨髓滋生血海充
满肌肉紧薄鲜硬如是则阴阳相抱而不离营卫俱行而无阻是刚柔之相得名曰强也
问：曾经有人质疑，紧脉是从哪里产生的？
师曰：假如患者因亡汗或呕吐，导致肺中寒冷，所以出现紧脉。假如患者咳嗽，是因为饮用了冷水，所以出现紧脉。假如患者下利（腹泻），是因为胃中虚冷，所以出现紧脉。
汗法、吐法损伤了胸中的阳气，肺寒则脉象紧。咳嗽者中焦受寒且胃气上逆；下利者中焦受寒且脾气下陷。饮用冷水导致下利，泄去了胃阳，所以脉象紧。
寸口脉的卫气旺盛，称为“高”；营气旺盛，称为“章”。高与章相互搏结，称为“纲”。卫气虚弱，称为“低”（注：原文此处可能有脱字或通假，结合下文“怯则柔退”，指卫气弱）；营气虚弱，称为“卑”。低与卑相互搏结，称为“损”。卫气调和，称为“缓”；营气调和，称为“迟”。缓与迟相互搏结，称为“沉”。
寸口的“寸”部以候察卫气，卫气旺盛称为“高”。卫主司气，气盛则表现为崇高。尺部的“尺”以候察营气，营气旺盛称为“章”。营主司血，血盛则表现为章显。“高”与“章”相合，称为“纲”，这是诸阳脉的首领。卫气虚弱称为“低”，“低”意为怯懦，则表现柔和退让。“低”与“卑”相合，称为“损”，这是诸阴脉的削弱表现。卫气调和称为“缓”，营气调和称为“迟”。“迟缓”是形容从容不迫的样子，相对于紧脉和数脉而言。“缓”与“迟”相合，称为“沉”。人的元气应当秘藏而不宜外泄，外泄则脉浮，秘藏则脉沉。《素问·生气通天论》说：“阴阳的关键，在于阳气致密然后阴精才能固守；阴气平和，阳气秘藏，精神才能正常。”阳气潜藏的关键全在于脾土。脾土运化正常，则阴气上升而阳气下降。“缓”和“迟”是土气冲和的表现。土气调和，则中枢运转正常，阴气常升而阳气常降。阳气下降，则根基深厚而不拔除，这叫做“阳密”。阳密则脉象沉，这是阳气旺盛而脉沉，并非阴气盛而导致脉沉。
寸口脉象缓而迟，说明阳气生长。其面色鲜明，容颜光亮，声音清越（商音属金，此处指声音清亮如金属），毛发修长。迟脉说明阴气旺盛，骨髓滋生，血液充满，肌肉紧致、薄而鲜硬。阴阳相互抱持，营卫共同运行，刚柔相济，称为“强”。
寸口脉象缓而迟，表示卫气旺盛。缓则阳气长进，其面色鲜明，容颜光润，声音清越，毛发修长。迟则营气旺盛，阴气盛，骨髓滋生，血海充满，肌肉紧致、薄而鲜硬。像这样，阴阳相互拥抱而不分离，营卫共同运行而没有阻碍，这是刚柔相得的状态，称为“强”。
Question: Someone once challenged, from where does the Taut pulse (Jin Mai) originate?
Master said: Suppose a patient suffers from excessive sweating or vomiting, causing cold in the Lungs; thus, the pulse becomes Taut. Suppose a patient coughs because they drank cold water; thus, the pulse becomes Taut. Suppose a patient has diarrhea because of deficiency-cold in the Stomach; thus, the pulse becomes Taut.
Sweating and vomiting methods damage the Yang Qi in the chest. Lung cold results in a Taut pulse. Coughing indicates middle-jiao cold with rebellious Stomach Qi; diarrhea indicates middle-jiao cold with sinking Spleen Qi. Drinking cold water leads to diarrhea, draining Stomach Yang, hence the pulse is Taut.
At the Cun Kou (Radial Pulse), if Wei Qi (Defensive Qi) is vigorous, it is called "Gao" (High). If Ying Qi (Nutritive Qi) is vigorous, it is called "Zhang" (Manifest). When Gao and Zhang interact, it is called "Gang" (Leader/Chief). If Wei Qi is weak, it is called "Di" (Low); if Ying Qi is weak, it is called "Bei" (Humble). When Di and Bei interact, it is called "Sun" (Damage). If Wei Qi is harmonious, it is called "Huan" (Slow/Relaxed); if Ying Qi is harmonious, it is called "Chi" (Slow). When Huan and Chi interact, it is called "Chen" (Deep).
The "Cun" position at the Cun Kou observes Wei Qi. Vigorous Wei Qi is called "Gao." Wei governs Qi; when Qi is vigorous, it manifests as lofty. The "Chi" position observes Ying Qi. Vigorous Ying Qi is called "Zhang." Ying governs Blood; when Blood is vigorous, it manifests as prominent. The combination of Gao and Zhang is called "Gang," which is the leader of all Yang pulses. Weak Wei Qi is called "Di," meaning timid, manifesting as soft and retreating. The combination of Di and Bei is called "Sun," representing the weakening of all Yin pulses. Harmonious Wei Qi is called "Huan"; harmonious Ying Qi is called "Chi." "Huan Chi" implies a state of composure, contrasted with Taut (Jin) and Rapid (Shuo) pulses. The combination of Huan and Chi is called "Chen." Human Yuan Qi (Primal Qi) should be conserved and not leaked; leakage causes the pulse to float, while conservation makes it deep. The *Su Wen* chapter "Sheng Qi Tong Tian Lun" states: "The key to Yin and Yang lies in the density of Yang; only when Yang is dense can Yin be secured. When Yin is peaceful and Yang is conserved, spirit and mind are regulated." The mechanism for Yang to hide entirely depends on Earth (Spleen/Stomach). When Earth's transformation functions normally, Yin rises and Yang descends. "Huan" and "Chi" represent the harmony of Earth Qi. When Earth Qi is harmonious, the central pivot rotates correctly, Yin constantly rises and Yang constantly descends. When Yang descends, its root becomes deep and unshakeable, which is termed "Yang Density." Yang density results in a Deep pulse; this is Yang prosperity causing a deep pulse, not Yin excess causing a deep pulse.
If the Cun Kou pulse is Huan and Chi, it indicates the growth of Yang Qi. The complexion is bright, the face radiant, the voice clear (like Metal/Shang tone), and the hair long. A Chi pulse indicates abundant Yin Qi, nourishing the bone marrow, filling the blood, and making the muscles firm, thin, and fresh/hard. This signifies Yin and Yang embracing each other without separation, Ying and Wei moving together without obstruction, and Hardness and Softness achieving balance, termed "Qiang" (Strength).
A Cun Kou pulse that is Huan and Chi indicates vigorous Wei Qi. Huan means Yang Qi is advancing; the complexion is bright, the face lustrous, the voice clear, and the hair long. Chi indicates vigorous Ying Qi and abundant Yin Qi, nourishing the bone marrow, filling the Sea of Blood, and making the muscles firm, thin, and fresh/hard. In such a case, Yin and Yang embrace inseparably, Ying and Wei move together without hindrance. This is the state of Hardness and Softness complementing each other, termed "Qiang" (Strength).