长则气治过于本位长而端直弦脉应指此言长脉之形脉有三部寸关尺也长则透出本位乃见
长象非气之充畅不能有此故曰气治若长而端直应于指下是为弦脉也
短则气病不能满部不见于关惟尺寸候一脉一形各有主病数脉相兼则见诸症此言短脉之形
脉短气不充畅无论在寸在尺俱不能满部非气病而何惟尺寸见之若在关不能满部则与尺寸不相
接矣有一脉自有一形若脉数形兼见而病亦数种兼成矣
浮脉主表里必不足有力风热无力血弱浮迟风虚浮数风热浮紧风寒浮缓风湿浮虚伤暑浮芤
失血浮洪虚火浮微劳极浮濡阴虚浮散虚剧浮弦痰饮浮滑痰热此言浮脉兼诸脉主病之义浮脉主
表言在外也与皮毛相得表气应之故里不足浮脉主风浮而有力风热壅盛也无力则浮而虚矣血主
里气主表血弱不能谐气故反浮亦里不足之义脉浮而迟鼓动不及为之风虚脉浮而数鼓动太过为
之风热脉浮而紧紧则收敛寒之性也故为风寒脉浮而缓缓则行慢湿之性也故为风湿浮虚伤暑者
（内经云）脉虚身热得之伤暑又曰暑伤于气其脉必虚者是也浮芤失血者荣行脉中卫行脉外血
失
则荣损故脉空如芤草之状也脉浮而洪火之象也浮则有表无里故曰虚火浮微劳极寸关浮微阳气
欲绝尺部浮微精血将竭即（难经）十四难所谓自皮毛以及于骨之五损从上下者是也脉浮而濡
衰
惫之甚仅有其上若无其下故主阴虚若浮而散则更阴虚之极乃阳无所依浮越而散耳脉浮弦者痰
饮饮自何生乎由于阳气虚弱不能营运其饮故见此弦敛之脉耳水饮应沉而言浮者当在上焦若浮
而滑则非弦敛不鼓之脉寒当化热饮当成痰此必然之理也
长脉的形态是气机通畅，脉体超过本位，脉形长而端直如按琴弦，应指明显。这里论述的是长脉的形状。脉分为寸、关、尺三部。长脉透出本位才能显现出来。长脉的形象，如果不是气机充盛通畅，就不能出现这种脉象，所以说这是“气治”（气机调畅）。如果脉长且端直，应指有力，这就是弦脉。
短脉的形态是气机有病，脉气不能充满脉部，在关部往往不明显，只在寸部和尺部可以诊察到。每一种脉象都有其对应的主病，如果数脉与其他脉象相兼出现，就会表现出各种病症。这里论述的是短脉的形状。脉短说明气不充盛通畅，无论是在寸部还是尺部，都不能充满整个脉部，这难道不是气病吗？只有在寸部和尺部见到短脉；如果在关部不能充满脉部，则与寸、尺两部不相连接了。有一种脉自有一种形状，如果脉象兼见数脉，那么疾病也会多种兼成。
浮脉主表证，但里气必然不足。浮而有力的，多为风热；浮而无力的，多为血虚。浮迟脉主风虚，浮数脉主风热，浮紧脉主风寒，浮缓脉主风湿，浮虚脉主伤暑，浮芤脉主失血，浮洪脉主虚火，浮微脉主劳极（极度疲劳），浮濡脉主阴虚，浮散脉主虚损严重，浮弦脉主痰饮，浮滑脉主痰热。这里论述的是浮脉兼见其他脉象时主病的意义。
浮脉主表证，说明病邪在体表，与皮毛相应，表气与之呼应，所以说是里气不足导致脉浮。浮脉主风，浮而有力，是风热壅盛的表现；浮而无力，则是浮而虚弱。血主营守于内，气主卫护于外，血弱不能调和气，所以脉反而浮，这也是里气不足的体现。脉浮而迟，搏动不及正常节律，称为风虚；脉浮而数，搏动太过，称为风热。脉浮而紧，紧脉具有收敛的特性，属于寒性，所以主风寒。脉浮而缓，缓脉行来缓慢，属于湿性，所以主风湿。所谓浮虚脉主伤暑，《内经》说：“脉虚身热，得之伤暑”，又说“暑伤于气，其脉必虚”，说的就是这种情况。
浮芤脉主失血，营气行于脉中，卫气行于脉外，血液丢失则营气受损，所以脉空如葱管状（芤草之状）。脉浮而洪，是火的征象，浮表示有表无里，所以称为虚火。脉浮而微，多见于寸关部，是阳气欲绝的表现；尺部脉浮而微，是精血将竭的表现，即《难经·十四难》所说的从皮毛损伤至骨的“五损”，是从上往下发展的情况。脉浮而濡，是衰惫至极，仅有上部脉象若无下部，所以主阴虚。如果脉浮而散，则是阴虚到了极点，阳气无所依附，浮越而散乱。脉浮弦者，主痰饮。饮邪从何而生呢？是由于阳气虚弱，不能运化水液，所以出现这种弦敛的脉象。水饮应当见沉脉，如果说见浮脉，说明饮邪在上焦。如果脉浮而滑，则不是弦敛不鼓的脉象，寒邪当化为热，饮邪当成为痰，这是必然的道理。
The shape of the *Chang* (Long) pulse is characterized by smooth Qi regulation, extending beyond its normal position. It is long, straight, and taut like pressing a string, responding distinctly to the finger. This describes the morphology of the Long pulse. The pulse is divided into three positions: Cun (Inch), Guan (Bar), and Chi (Cubit). The Long pulse becomes apparent only when it extends beyond its standard position. Such a Long image cannot occur unless Qi is abundant and flowing smoothly; hence, it is termed "Qi Zhi" (regulation of Qi). If the pulse is long, straight, and responds forcefully to the touch, it is identified as the Xian (Wiry) pulse.
The morphology of the *Duan* (Short) pulse indicates pathological Qi, where the pulse qi fails to fill the entire vessel section. It is often not palpable at the Guan position but can be felt at the Cun and Chi positions. Each pulse type has specific indications for disease. When the Shuo (Rapid) pulse combines with other pulse qualities, various symptoms may manifest. This section discusses the morphology of the Short pulse. A Short pulse signifies that Qi is not abundant or flowing smoothly; whether at the Cun or Chi position, it fails to fill the vessel section entirely—how could this not be a Qi pathology? The Short pulse is observed at the Cun and Chi positions; if it fails to fill the Guan position, it will not connect with the Cun and Chi sections. Each pulse possesses its own distinct shape; if the pulse exhibits both Short and Rapid characteristics, multiple diseases may coexist.
The *Fu* (Floating) pulse primarily indicates exterior syndromes, yet interior deficiency is invariably present. A Fu pulse that is forceful suggests Wind-Heat; one that is forceless suggests Blood deficiency. A Fu-Chi (Floating-Slow) pulse indicates Wind-Deficiency; a Fu-Shuo (Floating-Rapid) pulse indicates Wind-Heat; a Fu-Jin (Floating-Tight) pulse indicates Wind-Cold; a Fu-Huan (Floating-Lax) pulse indicates Wind-Dampness; a Fu-Xu (Floating-Empty/Weak) pulse indicates Summerheat Injury; a Fu-Kou (Floating-Hollow) pulse indicates Blood Loss; a Fu-Hong (Floating-Vast) pulse indicates Deficient Fire; a Fu-Wei (Floating-Micro) pulse indicates Extreme Exhaustion (Lao Ji); a Fu-Ru (Floating-Soft) pulse indicates Yin Deficiency; a Fu-San (Floating-Scattered) pulse indicates severe Deficiency; a Fu-Xian (Floating-Wiry) pulse indicates Phlegm-Fluid retention; and a Fu-Hua (Floating-Slippery) pulse indicates Phlegm-Heat. This section elucidates the pathological significance of the Floating pulse when combined with other pulse qualities.
The Floating pulse indicates an exterior syndrome, implying pathogenic factors are in the exterior, corresponding with the skin and hair, and reflecting exterior Qi dynamics; thus, it signifies interior insufficiency leading to the floating manifestation. Regarding Wind, a Floating pulse that is forceful indicates excessive accumulation of Wind-Heat, whereas a forceless Floating pulse indicates vacuity. Blood governs the interior (Ying/Nutrient level), while Qi governs the exterior (Wei/Defensive level). If Blood is weak and cannot harmonize with Qi, the pulse floats, which also reflects interior insufficiency. A Floating-Slow pulse, with insufficient pulsation, denotes Wind-Deficiency; a Floating-Rapid pulse, with excessive pulsation, denotes Wind-Heat. A Floating-Tight pulse features the contracting nature of Tightness, characteristic of Cold, thus indicating Wind-Cold. A Floating-Lax pulse features the slow movement of Laxity, characteristic of Dampness, thus indicating Wind-Dampness. The term "Floating-Weak indicates Summerheat Injury" refers to the *Neijing* statement: "A weak pulse with body heat results from Summerheat injury," and further, "Summerheat damages Qi, so the pulse must be weak."
A Floating-Hollow (Kou) pulse indicates Blood Loss. Ying (Nutrient) Qi flows within the vessels, while Wei (Defensive) Qi flows outside. When blood is lost, Ying Qi is damaged, resulting in a pulse that is empty like a scallion stalk (Kou grass). A Floating-Vast (Hong) pulse represents the image of Fire; because it floats, it indicates exterior presence without interior substance, hence termed Deficient Fire. A Floating-Micro pulse at the Cun and Guan positions indicates Yang Qi on the verge of extinction; a Floating-Micro pulse at the Chi position indicates that Essence and Blood are nearly exhausted. This corresponds to the "Five Damages" described in Chapter 14 of the *Nanjing*, progressing from the skin down to the bones. A Floating-Soft (Ru) pulse indicates extreme debility, where the pulse seems to exist only in the upper part and lacks the lower part, thus indicating Yin Deficiency. If the pulse is Floating-Scattered (San), it represents extreme Yin Deficiency where Yang Qi has no foundation, causing it to float and scatter. A Floating-Wiry (Xian) pulse indicates Phlegm-Fluid retention. How does Fluid retention arise? It stems from deficient Yang Qi failing to circulate and transform fluids, resulting in this Wiry and contracting pulse. Although Fluid retention typically presents with a Deep (Chen) pulse, a Floating pulse suggests the fluid resides in the Upper Jiao. If the pulse is Floating-Slippery (Hua), it is no longer Wiry and contracting; instead, Cold transforms into Heat, and Fluid retention transforms into Phlegm, which is an inevitable principle.