何谓无病之脉。一息四至是也。何谓五脏平脉?心宜洪，肺宜涩，肝宜弦，脾宜缓，肾
宜沉。又兼一 冲和之气，为胃气是也。何谓四时平脉。春宜弦，夏宜洪，秋宜涩（又谓之“
毛”，）冬宜沉（又谓之“石”，）四季之末宜和缓是也。何谓男女异脉。男为阳，宜寸大于尺；
女为阴，宜尺大于寸是也，何以知妇人有孕之脉。尺大而旺，或心脉大而旺是也（“神门”穴
脉甚动为有子，一云∶心脉大为男，右尺大为女。）何以知妇人血崩。曰∶尺内虚、大、弦、
数是也。何以知妇人之半产。曰∶诊得革脉是也。何以知妇人之产期。曰∶脉之离乎经常是
也。何以知妇人之无子。曰∶尺脉微弱而涩，小腹冷，身恶寒是也。小儿之脉何别。曰∶
以七至为准也。
脉之为道，最为微渺而难知也。方书论脉愈详，而指下愈乱，何苦张大其言，以人命为
戏乎。张心在先生，余未识面，而神交久之。其着持脉大法，取八脉为纲，与旧说八脉稍异
，皆其显然可见者为据。非若李濒湖，张石顽等，以二十八字为凭空掠影之谈。一曰浮，浮
者轻手着于皮肤之上而即见，为表病也。一曰沉，沉者重手按于肌肉之上而始见，为里病也
。浮沉二脉，以手之轻重得之，此其显而易见也（一呼脉来二至，一吸脉来二至，一呼一吸名
为一息，一息脉来四至为平人无病之脉，否则病矣。）一曰迟，迟者一息脉来二、三至，或一
息一至，为寒病也。一曰数，数者一息脉来五、六至，或一息七、八至，为热病也。迟数二
脉，以息之至数辨之，又显而易见也。一曰细，细者脉状细小如线，主诸虚之病也。一曰大
，大者脉状粗大如指，主诸实之病也。细大二脉，以形象之阔窄分之，又为显而易见也。一
曰短，短者脉来短缩，上不及于寸，下不及于尺，为素禀之衰也。一曰长，长者脉来迢长，
上至鱼泽际，下至尺泽，为素禀之盛也。长短二脉，以部位之过与不及验之，又为显而易见也
。又有互见之辨，浮而数为表热，浮而迟为表寒，沉而数为里热，沉而迟为里寒。又于表、
里、寒、热四者之中，审其为细，则属于虚，审其为大，则属于实。又须于表、里、寒、热
、虚、实六者之中，审其为短，知为素禀之衰，疗病须兼培其基址，审其为长，知为素禀之
盛，攻邪必务绝其根株。此凭脉治病之秘法也。
客曰∶信如前法，则古人所传许多脉象，可以尽弃而不言欤。余曰∶以此八脉为纲，余
脉即于八脉中认其兼见之象，亦易易与耳，弃之可也，不弃之亦可也。
什么是无病之脉？就是一呼一吸之间脉搏跳动四次。什么是五脏的平脉（正常脉象）？心脉宜洪大，肺脉宜涩，肝脉宜弦，脾脉宜缓，肾脉宜沉。同时兼有冲和之气，这就是胃气（脾胃运化功能在脉象上的表现）。什么是四时的平脉？春季脉宜弦，夏季脉宜洪，秋季脉宜涩（又叫做“毛”），冬季脉宜沉（又叫做“石”），四季交替之时脉宜和缓。什么是男女不同的脉象？男子属阳，寸口脉大于尺部脉；女子属阴，尺部脉大于寸口脉。如何知道妇女怀孕的脉象？尺部脉大而旺盛，或者心脉大而旺盛（“神门”穴处的脉搏跳动明显是有孕的表现，另一种说法是：心脉大为生男，右尺部脉大为生女）。如何知道妇女血崩（非经期大量出血）？尺部脉虚、大、弦、数是血崩的脉象。如何知道妇女半产（流产）？诊得革脉就是半产的脉象。如何知道妇女的产期？脉象偏离了平时的常规就是临产之兆。如何知道妇女不孕？尺部脉微弱而涩，小腹发冷，身体怕冷是不孕的脉证。小儿的脉象如何辨别？以每呼吸一次脉搏跳动七次为标准。
脉诊的道理，最为微妙深奥且难以掌握。医书对脉象论述得越详细，手指下的感觉反而越混乱，何必夸大其词，拿人命当儿戏呢？张心在先生，我虽未见过面，但神交已久。他撰写持脉大法，取八脉为纲领，与旧说的八脉稍有不同，都是依据那些显而易见的事实作为证据。不像李濒湖、张石顽等人，用二十八个字作为凭空捏造、影射模糊的谈论。第一是浮脉，浮脉是轻手按在皮肤上就能感觉到，主表病。第二是沉脉，沉脉是重手按在肌肉上才能感觉到，主里病。浮脉和沉脉，是通过手力的轻重来区分的，这是显而易见的（一次呼气脉搏来两次，一次吸气脉搏来两次，一呼一吸称为一息，一息脉搏来四次为健康无病之人的脉象，否则就是病了）。第三是迟脉，迟脉是一息脉搏来两三次，或者一息只来一次，主寒病。第四是数脉，数脉是一息脉搏来五六次，或者一息来七八次，主热病。迟脉和数脉，是通过呼吸的次数来辨别的，这也是显而易见的。第五是细脉，细脉脉形细小如线，主各种虚证。第六是大脉，大脉脉形粗大如指，主各种实证。细脉和大脉，是通过脉形的宽窄来区分的，这也是显而易见的。第七是短脉，短脉脉来短缩，向上不及寸部，向下不及尺部，是先天禀赋衰弱的表现。第八是长脉，长脉脉来悠长，向上至鱼际边缘，向下至尺泽穴，是先天禀赋旺盛的表现。长脉和短脉，是通过脉位的过度或不足来验证的，这也是显而易见的。又有互见脉象的辨析，浮而数是表热，浮而迟是表寒，沉而数是里热，沉而迟是里寒。又在表、里、寒、热四种情况中，审察如果是细脉，则属于虚证；审察如果是大脉，则属于实证。还必须于表、里、寒、热、虚、实六种情况中，审察如果是短脉，就知道是先天禀赋衰弱，治疗疾病必须兼顾培补根基；审察如果是长脉，就知道是先天禀赋旺盛，攻伐邪气务必务求断绝病根。这就是凭脉治病的秘法。
客人说：如果像前面的方法，那么古人所传的许多脉象，都可以全部抛弃而不谈了吗？我说：以这八脉为纲领，其余的脉象就在八脉中识别其兼见的象，也是很容易的事，抛弃它们可以，不抛弃也可以。
What is called a pulse of a healthy person? It is when the pulse beats four times per respiration cycle (Yi Xi). What are the normal pulses (Ping Mai) of the five Zang organs? The Heart pulse should be Hong (Surging), the Lung pulse should be Se (Rough), the Liver pulse should be Xian (Wiry), the Spleen pulse should be Huan (Moderate/Slack), and the Kidney pulse should be Chen (Deep). Furthermore, it must possess a harmonious Qi, which is referred to as Stomach Qi (Wei Qi, representing the digestive function reflected in the pulse). What are the normal seasonal pulses? In Spring, the pulse should be Xian (Wiry); in Summer, Hong (Surging); in Autumn, Se (Rough, also known as "Mao" or Feather-like); in Winter, Chen (Deep, also known as "Shi" or Stone-like); and at the transition of the four seasons, the pulse should be He Huan (Harmonious and Moderate). What are the different pulses for men and women? Men belong to Yang, so the Cun (Inch) position pulse should be larger than the Chi (Cubit) position pulse; women belong to Yin, so the Chi position pulse should be larger than the Cun position pulse. How can one know if a woman is pregnant from her pulse? The Chi position pulse is large and vigorous, or the Heart pulse is large and vigorous (If the pulse at the Shenmen acupoint moves significantly, it indicates pregnancy; another view states: a large Heart pulse indicates a male fetus, and a large Right Chi pulse indicates a female fetus). How can one know if a woman is suffering from blood flooding (Xue Beng)? The Chi position pulse is Xu (Deficient), Da (Large), Xian (Wiry), and Shu (Rapid). How can one know if a woman has had a miscarriage (Ban Chan)? Obtaining a Ge Mai (Leather Pulse) indicates miscarriage. How can one know the delivery date for a woman? When the pulse deviates from its usual regularity. How can one know if a woman is infertile? The Chi pulse is Wei Ruo (Weak and Thready) and Se (Rough), accompanied by a cold lower abdomen and aversion to cold in the body. How are children's pulses distinguished? By taking seven beats per respiration cycle as the standard.
The Dao of pulse diagnosis is the most subtle and difficult to comprehend. Medical texts discuss pulses in greater detail, yet the finger sensations become more chaotic. Why exaggerate words and treat human life as a game? Mr. Zhang Xin-zai, although I have not met him in person, we have been spiritually connected for a long time. His work on the major principles of pulse diagnosis takes eight pulses as the outline, which differs slightly from the old theory of eight pulses, relying on evidence that is clearly visible. This is unlike Li Binhu or Zhang Shiwan, who used twenty-eight characters as groundless and shadowy discussions. The first is Fu (Floating) pulse: Fu means it is felt immediately with light pressure on the skin, indicating Exterior disease. The second is Chen (Deep) pulse: Chen means it is felt only with heavy pressure on the muscle layer, indicating Interior disease. Fu and Chen pulses are distinguished by the weight of the hand, which is obvious (One exhalation brings two beats, one inhalation brings two beats; one exhalation and inhalation constitute one Yi Xi. If the pulse comes four times per Yi Xi, it is the pulse of a healthy person without disease; otherwise, it is diseased.). The third is Chi (Slow) pulse: Chi means the pulse comes two or three times per Yi Xi, or even once per Yi Xi, indicating Cold disease. The fourth is Shu (Rapid) pulse: Shu means the pulse comes five or six times per Yi Xi, or even seven or eight times per Yi Xi, indicating Heat disease. Chi and Shu pulses are distinguished by the number of beats per respiration, which is also obvious. The fifth is Xi (Thready/Fine) pulse: Xi means the pulse shape is small and thin like a thread, governing various Deficiency diseases. The sixth is Da (Large) pulse: Da means the pulse shape is thick and large like a finger, governing various Excess diseases. Xi and Da pulses are distinguished by the width and narrowness of the image, which is again obvious. The seventh is Duan (Short) pulse: Duan means the pulse comes short, not reaching up to the Cun position and not reaching down to the Chi position, indicating congenital decline. The eighth is Chang (Long) pulse: Chang means the pulse comes long and distant, reaching up to the edge of the thenar eminence (Yu Ze) and down to the Chize acupoint, indicating congenital abundance. Chang and Duan pulses are verified by whether the position exceeds or falls short, which is again obvious. There are also distinctions of combined pulses: Fu and Shu indicate Exterior Heat; Fu and Chi indicate Exterior Cold; Chen and Shu indicate Interior Heat; Chen and Chi indicate Interior Cold. Among the four categories of Exterior, Interior, Cold, and Heat, if examined as Xi, it belongs to Deficiency; if examined as Da, it belongs to Excess. One must further examine among the six categories of Exterior, Interior, Cold, Heat, Deficiency, and Excess: if examined as Duan, it is known as congenital decline, and treating the disease requires cultivating the foundation; if examined as Chang, it is known as congenital abundance, and attacking the pathogen must aim to eradicate the root. This is the secret method of treating disease based on pulse.
A guest asked: If following the previous methods, can all the many pulse images passed down by the ancients be completely abandoned and not discussed? I replied: Taking these eight pulses as the outline, the remaining pulses can be recognized by their combined manifestations within these eight pulses, which is very easy. They can be abandoned, or they need not be abandoned.