《平人气象论》曰∶人一呼脉再动，一吸脉亦再动，呼吸定息脉五动，闰以太息，
命曰平人。平人者，不病也。（经脉一周于身，凡长十六丈二尺。呼吸脉各再动，定息脉又一动，则五动
也，计二百七十定息，气行环周。然尽五十营，以一万三千五百定息，则气都行八百一十丈。如是则应天常数，
脉气无不及太过，气象平调，故曰平人。）常以不病调病患，医不病，故为病患平息以调之为法。
（此言一息五至之脉为无病也。鼻中出气曰呼，入气曰吸，呼吸定息，总为一息，言医人一呼而彼脉遂再动，一吸
而彼脉遂再动，呼吸定吸脉遂五动，犹岁之有闰，是闰以太息之脉，乃所谓一息五至也。如此者，名曰平人。平
人者，不病也。盖医人一息，则无病之人亦一息，所以知其脉之五动，为不病也。常以不病之人，调彼有病之
人，缘医者自己不病，故因彼病患乃平自己之息以调候之耳，所以此为诊法也。人身之脉，总计一十六丈二尺，
一呼脉行三寸，一吸脉行三寸，一百三十五息，脉行八丈一尺，二百七十息，行十六丈二尺为一周，一昼一夜，
总计一万三千五百息，脉行八百一十丈为五十周，即一十六丈二尺之脉积之如是也。）人一呼脉一动，一吸
脉一动，曰少气。（呼吸脉各一动，候减平人之半，计二百七十定息，气行八丈一尺，以一万三千五百定息，
都行四百五丈，少气之理，从此可知。此言一息二至之脉为少气，自平脉之不及者言之。）人一呼脉三动，
一吸脉三动而躁，尺热曰病温，尺不热脉滑曰病风，脉涩曰痹。（呼吸脉各三动，准过平人
之半，计二百七十息，气行凡三十四丈三尺，病生之兆，由斯着矣。夫尺者，阴分位也。寸者，阳分位也。然阴
阳俱热是则为阴阳独躁盛，则风中阳也。《脉要精微论》曰∶中恶风者，阳气受也。滑为阳盛，故病为风。涩为
无血，故为病痹也。此言一息六至之脉为诸病，平脉太过者言之也。）平人之常气禀于胃，胃者，平人
之常气也。（常平之气，胃海致之，故曰∶谷入于胃，脉道乃行。）人无胃气曰逆，逆者死。（脉以胃气为
本，无胃气曰逆，逆者死。）春胃微弦曰平，（言微似弦，不谓微而弦也，钩及软弱、毛、石义并同。）夏胃
微钩曰平，长夏胃微软弱曰平，秋胃微毛曰平，冬胃微石曰平。（此承上文而言，五脏皆以
胃气为本。）脉从阴阳，病易已，脉逆阴阳，病难已。（脉病相应谓之从，脉病相反谓之逆，此言脉当
与病相应而相顺也。）脉得四时之顺，曰病无他，脉反四时及不间脏，曰难已。（春行秋脉，夏得
冬脉，秋得夏脉，冬得四季脉，皆谓反四时，气不相应。间脏者，如肝病乘土，当传之于脾，乃不传之于脾，而
传之于心，则间其所胜之脏，而传之于所生之脏矣。《难经》所谓间脏者生是也。及无间脏之脉，皆谓之难已耳。
此言脉当与时相应而相顺也。）人以水谷为本，故人绝水谷则死，脉无胃气亦死，所谓无胃气
者，但得真脏脉，不得胃气也。所谓脉不得胃气者，肝不弦，肾不石也。（不弦不石，皆
谓不微似也。）妇人手少阴脉动甚者，任子也。（手少阴脉，谓掌后陷者中，当小指动而应手者也。岐伯
曰∶其外经病而脏不病，故独取其经于掌后锐骨之端谓之此也。动，谓动脉也。动脉者，大如豆，厥厥动摇也。
《正理论》曰∶脉阴阳相薄，名曰动也。）
《平人气象论》说：人每呼气时脉搏跳动两次，每吸气时脉搏也跳动两次，在呼吸转换的间歇（定息）时脉搏再跳动一次，偶尔因深长呼吸（太息）而多跳一次，这称为“平人”（健康无病之人）。所谓平人，就是没有疾病的人。（经脉在全身运行一周，全长十六丈二尺。每次呼吸脉搏各动两次，定息时再动一次，共五次。计算二百七十次定息，气在体内循环一周。如果完成五十周循环，需要一万三千五百次定息，此时气总共运行八百一十丈。这样符合天的常数，脉气既不过少也不过多，气象平和协调，所以称为平人。）通常用健康人的状态来衡量病人，医生因为自己身体健康，所以通过调整自己的呼吸节奏来为病人诊脉作为法则。
（这里说的是一呼一吸间脉搏跳动五次的脉象属于无病之脉。从鼻子呼出的气叫“呼”，吸入的气叫“吸”，呼吸转换的间歇合起来算作一息。意思是医生每呼一次气，病人的脉搏就跳动两次；每吸一次气，病人的脉搏也跳动两次；在呼吸定息时脉搏再跳动一次，总共五次。这就好比年份中有闰月一样，这种因深长呼吸而出现的脉象，就是一息五至。像这样的人，叫做平人。平人就是没有病的人。大概医生一息的时间，无病的人也是一息，所以知道他的脉搏跳动五次是无病的表现。通常用无病的人的状态，去调候那个有病的人，因为医生自己没病，所以借着病人的情况，平复自己的呼吸来诊察病人，这就是诊脉的方法。人身上的经脉总长十六丈二尺，每次呼气脉行三寸，每次吸气脉行三寸，一百三十五息，脉行八丈一尺，二百七十息，脉行十六丈二尺为一周。一昼一夜，总计一万三千五百息，脉行八百一十丈，共五十周，也就是十六丈二尺的经脉累积如此。）
人每呼气脉搏跳动一次，每吸气脉搏跳动一次，这叫做“少气”（元气不足）。（呼吸时脉搏各跳动一次，比平人减少了一半。计算二百七十次定息，气行八丈一尺；用一万三千五百次定息计算，气总共只行四百零五丈。少气的道理，从这里就可以知道了。这里说的是一息两至的脉象属于少气，是从平脉中不及的情况来说的。）
人每呼气脉搏跳动三次，每吸气脉搏也跳动三次且急促，尺部皮肤发热，这是温病；尺部皮肤不热但脉象滑利，这是风病；脉象涩滞，这是痹证。（呼吸时脉搏各跳动三次，超过平人的一半。计算二百七十息，气行三十四丈三尺，这是生病的征兆。尺部是阴分的位置，寸部是阳分的位置。如果阴阳都发热，那就是阴阳独自躁动亢盛，这是风中于阳。《脉要精微论》说：中受恶风邪气，是因为阳气受了邪。滑脉代表阳盛，所以病为风。涩脉代表无血，所以病为痹。这里说的是一息六至的脉象对应各种疾病，是从平脉中太过（超过正常）的情况来说的。）
平人常有的胃气来源于胃，胃就是平人常有的胃气。（正常的平和之气，由胃这个水谷之海产生，所以说：食物进入胃后，脉道才能正常运行。）人如果没有胃气就叫“逆”，逆者死。（脉象以胃气为本，没有胃气就叫逆，逆者死。）
春季脉象带有微弱的弦象（如按琴弦），称为平脉；夏季脉象带有微弱的钩象（来盛去衰，如钩之形），称为平脉；长夏季节脉象带有微弱的软弱象，称为平脉；秋季脉象带有微弱的毛象（轻虚而浮，如羽毛），称为平脉；冬季脉象带有微弱的石象（沉实有力，如石），称为平脉。（这是承接上文所说，五脏都以胃气为本。）
脉象顺应阴阳变化，病容易痊愈；脉象违背阴阳变化，病难痊愈。（脉与病相应称为“从”，脉与病相反称为“逆”，这里说脉应当与病相应且相顺。）
脉象顺应四时变化，病就没有其他危险；脉象违背四时变化以及出现“不间脏”传变，病难痊愈。（春季出现秋季的脉象，夏季出现冬季的脉象，秋季出现夏季的脉象，冬季出现四季末月的脉象，都叫做违背四时，气机不相适应。“间脏”是指，比如肝病传脾，本该传给脾，却不传给脾，而是传给心，这样就隔开了所胜之脏，传给了所生之脏。《难经》所说的间脏则生。至于无间脏的脉象，都称为难愈。这里说脉应当与时令相应且相顺。）
人以水谷为根本，所以人断绝水谷就会死亡，脉中没有胃气也会死亡。所谓没有胃气，就是只能见到真脏脉，而见不到胃气。所谓脉中没有胃气，就是肝脉不显弦象，肾脉不显石象。（不弦不石，都是指不像微弱似有的样子。）
妇女手掌后手少阴脉跳动明显的，是怀孕的迹象。（手少阴脉，指的是手腕后方凹陷处，当小指侧动脉跳动应手的地方。岐伯说：其外经有病而内脏无病，所以单独取腕后锐骨端的经脉，称之为神门穴。动，指的是动脉。动脉的特点是形状大如豆粒，厥厥然动摇不定。《正理论》说：脉象阴阳相互搏结，称为动。）
The *Ping Ren Qi Xiang Lun* (Treatise on the Normal Person and Pulse Phenomena) states: When a person exhales, the pulse beats twice; when they inhale, the pulse also beats twice. At the pause between breaths (Ding Xi), it beats once more. Occasionally, due to a deep sigh (Tai Xi), it may beat an extra time. This is called a "Ping Ren" (Normal Person/Healthy Individual). A Ping Ren is one who is not diseased. (The meridians circulate through the body once, totaling sixteen zhang and two chi in length. With each respiration, the pulse beats twice, and once at the pause, totaling five beats. Calculating two hundred and seventy pauses, the Qi completes one circuit. If completing fifty circuits, requiring thirteen thousand five hundred pauses, the Qi travels eight hundred and ten zhang in total. Thus, it corresponds to the constant number of Heaven, with pulse Qi neither deficient nor excessive, and the phenomenon harmonious and balanced, hence termed a Normal Person.) Usually, one uses the state of the healthy to gauge the patient. Since the physician is healthy, they adjust their own breathing rhythm to diagnose the patient as a standard method.
(Here, it refers to a pulse beating five times per respiration cycle as indicative of health. Exhaling from the nose is called "Hu" (Exhale), inhaling is called "Xi" (Inhale). The pause between them constitutes one cycle (Yi Xi). It means that for every exhale of the physician, the patient's pulse beats twice; for every inhale, it beats twice; and during the pause, it beats once more, totaling five. This is akin to having a leap month in a year. Such a pulse pattern is referred to as five beats per cycle. One with such a pulse is named a Normal Person. A Normal Person is disease-free. Essentially, within one cycle of the physician, a healthy person also has one cycle, so knowing their pulse beats five times indicates health. Typically, using the state of a healthy person to assess a sick person, because the physician themselves is healthy, they calm their own breath to examine the patient, which constitutes the diagnostic method. The total length of the meridians in the human body is sixteen zhang and two chi. With each exhale, the pulse moves three cun; with each inhale, it moves three cun. In one hundred and thirty-five cycles, the pulse moves eight zhang and one chi. In two hundred and seventy cycles, it moves sixteen zhang and two chi, completing one circuit. Over a full day and night, totaling thirteen thousand five hundred cycles, the pulse moves eight hundred and ten zhang, completing fifty circuits, which accumulates to the length of the sixteen zhang and two chi meridians.)
If a person's pulse beats once per exhale and once per inhale, this is called "Shao Qi" (Deficient Qi). (The pulse beats once per phase of respiration, half that of a normal person. Calculating two hundred and seventy pauses, Qi moves eight zhang and one chi; over thirteen thousand five hundred pauses, it moves only four hundred and five zhang. The principle of Deficient Qi can be understood from this. This describes a pulse of two beats per cycle as Deficient Qi, referring to the deficiency aspect of the normal pulse.)
If a person's pulse beats three times per exhale and three times per inhale, and is rapid, with heat in the Chi position (wrist area corresponding to Kidney/Lower Jiao), it indicates Wen Bing (Warm Disease); if the Chi position is not hot but the pulse is Slippery (Hua), it indicates Feng Bing (Wind Disease); if the pulse is Choppy (Se), it indicates Bi Syndrome (Obstruction/Painful Obstruction). (The pulse beats three times per phase, exceeding the normal by half. In two hundred and seventy cycles, Qi moves thirty-four zhang and three chi, signaling the onset of disease. The Chi position belongs to Yin, and the Cun position (wrist crease) belongs to Yang. If both Yin and Yang are hot, it indicates extreme agitation and excess of Yin and Yang, suggesting Wind attacking Yang. The *Mai Yao Jing Wei Lun* states: Those struck by evil wind suffer because their Yang Qi is affected. A Slippery pulse indicates Yang excess, hence Wind disease. A Choppy pulse indicates lack of Blood, hence Bi syndrome. This describes a pulse of six beats per cycle corresponding to various diseases, referring to the excess aspect of the normal pulse.)
The constant Qi of a normal person is derived from the Stomach; the Stomach is the source of the normal person's constant Qi. (Normal, balanced Qi is generated by the Sea of Grain-Stomach, thus it is said: "When food enters the Stomach, the vessel pathways then flow.") If a person lacks Stomach Qi, it is called "Ni" (Rebellious/Opposite), and those who are Ni die. (The pulse takes Stomach Qi as its root; lacking Stomach Qi is called Ni, and Ni leads to death.)
In Spring, a pulse with a slight String-like (Xian) quality is normal; in Summer, a pulse with a slight Hook-like (Gou) quality is normal; in Late Summer, a pulse with a slight Soft-Weak (Ruan Ruo) quality is normal; in Autumn, a pulse with a slight Feather-like (Mao) quality is normal; in Winter, a pulse with a slight Stone-like (Shi) quality is normal. (This follows the previous text, stating that all five Zang organs rely on Stomach Qi as their foundation.)
If the pulse follows Yin and Yang, the illness is easy to cure; if the pulse opposes Yin and Yang, the illness is difficult to cure. (Pulse and disease corresponding is called "Cong" (Following); pulse and disease opposing is called "Ni" (Opposing). This states that the pulse should correspond and accord with the disease.)
If the pulse conforms to the Four Seasons, the illness poses no other danger; if the pulse contradicts the Four Seasons or involves non-intervening Zang transmission, the illness is difficult to cure. (Spring showing Autumn pulse, Summer showing Winter pulse, Autumn showing Summer pulse, Winter showing pulse of the Four Seasons' end months, are all called contradicting the Four Seasons, with Qi not corresponding. "Intervening Zang" (Jian Zang) transmission means, for example, Liver disease affecting Earth (Spleen), but instead of transmitting to the Spleen, it transmits to the Heart, thereby skipping the conquered organ and transmitting to the generating organ. As stated in the *Nan Jing*, intervening Zang transmission implies survival. Conversely, non-intervening Zang transmission implies difficulty in recovery. This states that the pulse should accord with the seasons.)
Humans rely on Water and Grain as their foundation; thus, if humans cut off Water and Grain, they die. If the pulse lacks Stomach Qi, they also die. What is meant by lacking Stomach Qi is that only the True Zang pulses are seen, without any Stomach Qi. What is meant by the pulse lacking Stomach Qi is that the Liver pulse does not show a String-like quality, and the Kidney pulse does not show a Stone-like quality. (Not String-like and not Stone-like both refer to the absence of even a slight indication.)
If the Hand-Shaoyin pulse (Heart Meridian) in women throbs noticeably, it indicates pregnancy. (The Hand-Shaoyin pulse refers to the depression behind the palm, where the artery moves and is palpable on the little finger side. Qibo said: "When the exterior meridian is diseased but the interior Zang is not, one selects only the meridian at the end of the sharp bone behind the palm," referring to Shenmen (HT7). "Throbbing" refers to the Moving Pulse (Dong Mai). The Moving Pulse is large like a bean, quivering and shaking. The *Zheng Li Lun* states: "When Yin and Yang pulses contend with each other, it is named Moving.")