短期。据《脉经》谓∶四十动一止，四岁死；三十动一止，三岁死；二十动一止，二岁死；十动一止，岁内死；
五动一止，五日死，此亦概言之也，不必泥。）女胎三月余，见之不为碍。（旧谓胎三月，其脉代。按胎脉
有五月七月亦代者，当于两尺候之；如脉来或九至，或十至一止，良久方来，又九至或十至一止，良久方来，此
所谓有常数也，再来或九至或十至不止，又于十二至或
十五至一止，但又常数，皆是代脉。代之止，有常数，乃信也；土主信，此脾胃之气至也。土为万物之生气，脾
胃乃五脏之生气，生气至，故有胎也。且天一生水，次生火木金土而五行备；胎之初结，乃天一之水也，次生
火、木、金、土而五行备；胎之初结，乃天一之水也，次生火、木、金、土而五脏之气全，五脏之气全，故脉代
也。代又何以为死脉？以生数论，五脏之气全，应天五生土之数，故其脉代以成数论，有形之后，则营卫之气
与天地之昼夜周流而无一息之止者也。五脏无气，独胃气尚存，故其脉亦代，然此胃气乃油尽之灯，故亦久必死。）
脉不以浮沉至数辨，而以形辨者，曰弦，直而长如按弓弦。曰紧，往来有力左
右弹，人手如转索无常。曰长，迢迢自若，如揭长竿末梢。曰短，不能满部，两头缩
缩。曰细，直而软，应指如丝线。曰涩，细长往来难应指，如轻刀刮竹。曰滑，往来
前却，流利如珠。曰动，大如豆，厥厥摇动。（凡八脉。）
（弦）《脉经》谓∶弦脉举之无有。按∶疟脉有浮弦者，未尝举之无有也。经曰∶疟皆生于风，惟生于风，
故脉浮弦，且头痛如破也。即《脉经》伤寒条中，亦有阳明中风脉弦浮之语，则所谓弦，举之无有，疑其误也。
挺然在指下，端直似弓弦，（弦，春脉也。夏秋冬见之，则病脉也，然在春软弱而滑，平脉也。若
实而强，此谓太过，不实而微，此谓不及，亦病脉也。）夏秋则主疟相缠，（风寒暑湿之气，皆为疟，其脉皆弦。
惟夏秋患疟者甚多，冬春亦间有之。）弦数热，弦迟寒，寸弦头痛膈多痰，（弦主痰，痰随厥气上升，故
头痛。）关苦 瘕胃气逆，（血凝气滞，久而坚硬在脐旁曰 瘕，胃中寒气冲塞心下曰逆。）尺当 疝脚拘
挛。（ 疝者，睾丸肿痛，上连小腹也。盖肝脉络阴器，主 疝，或寒或湿，或热或虚，或气分，或血分，临证
以脉之迟数强弱辨之。肝主筋，肾主骨，筋束骨者也，寒则筋急故拘挛。拘挛者，屈伸不利也。）
（紧）《内经》谓之急。
左右弹手其力强，状如转索名为紧，（紧主寒，浮紧表寒，沉紧里寒。）人迎主伤寒，还把风
痫诊，（左手寸关之间曰人迎。人迎紧主伤寒头痛，恶寒发热，风气通肝，木得风则动摇，故身螈 ，肝火鼓
动心火，火炎神越，故卒不知人，吐涎沫曰风痫。）气口主伤食，喘嗽亦宜审，（右手寸关之间曰气口。气
口紧，主伤食，心下苦满；肺恶寒，寒则气逆，故曰喘与咳。《脉经》曰∶紧为实，以上皆实邪，故其脉紧。）关
尺见紧时，痹疝极其准。（经谓青脉之至也。长而左右弹人手，有积气在心下支 ，名曰肝痹，得之寒湿与疝。）
（长）
迢迢自若指间长，倘带搏坚便失常，（长脉在春乃肝脉也，软弱如揭长竿末梢曰肝平，实而滑如
循长竿曰肝病。按长则气治，若应指搏坚而不软弱。则气不治矣。）伤寒传变，阳明可详。（伤寒二三日，脉
长，目痛，鼻干，不得眠，阳明病也。）左寸足疼舌卷缩，（经曰∶寸口脉长曰足胫痛，按左寸心为阳，主
血脉，长主有余之病，上有余则下不及，血脉不通，故足胫痛。肾脉挟舌本，舌为心苗，心火盛则水急，水急
则舌本缩而舌卷，不能言矣。）右寸分明唾血伤，（肾主唾，其脉入肺中，循喉咙，血随火升，故唾血。）关中
少气髀如折，（长本肝脉，木邪克土，故脾虚中气不足。股内曰髀，胃脉之所下，胃虚故髀痛如折。又脾有
邪，其气亦留于两髀。）尺则腰痛不可当。（火盛则水衰，腰为肾府，肾虚则腰痛。）
（短）
本位不能及，缩缩其形短，（短则气病，若秋时肺脉短涩，乃平脉也。）滑短酒伤浮短嗽，寸
主头疼尺腹满。（短主不及之病，酒伤与嗽则气不及也，上不及则头痛，下不及则腹满也。）
（细）《内经》谓之小。（濡）同软。（弱）《脉经》以浮细为软，沉细为弱。岂细脉无浮沉二候，独于
不浮不沉候之乎？而《内经》何以有沉细之说也。且经曰脉弱以滑，是有胃气。滑者，流利如珠之谓。若以沉
细为弱，则沉细如丝之中，不能见滑矣。且《经脉》既以沉细为弱，而论肺痿，何以又有浮弱之言乎？今据
《内经》以弦脉软弱为肝之平脉，则所谓软弱者，无力之谓，不得以浮细为软，沉细为弱矣。况软弱所主之病，大
概与细同，今附于此。
直软如丝细，劳伤损血气，（细主气血两虚。）身汗来，心慌至，（浮细属阴虚，多盗汗；沉细属阳
虚，多自汗。汗多心虚故慌。）寸须呕吐关须胀，（脾胃虚寒，上则呕吐，下则腹满。）尺属骨蒸痢与痹。
（骨蒸久痢，皆属肾虚，故脉细；痹为寒湿之阴邪，故脉亦细。）
（涩）
往来难，细短涩，细刀刮竹形容切，血少气有余，寸涩心疼神亦怯，（胃属阳明，多血
多气，其上口当心，血虚则气凑之，气血攻冲则当心而痛；阳明又主惊，惊气归心故神怯。）关中胁胀胃虚
呕，（肝藏血，属厥阴，其脉布胁肋，血少气腾故胁肋胀；胃为水谷之海，血少则燥，气腾则逆，燥则血枯，逆则
气上，故不纳水谷而呕吐也。）尺部肠枯五心热，（血虚则肠枯涩，血虚而相火动则肝热；肝热下移之于母，则
肾热；下移之于子，则心热，肾之脉起于足心，心之脉入于手心，故手足心热。）妇人当为经不通，或为
胎病宜区别。（血养胎，故脉涩。崔紫虚谓∶涩主自汗，濒湖士材皆宗之。愚按《内经》云，涩者，阴有余
也，阴气有余则为身热无汗，当以经言为是。）
（滑）
流利如珠便是滑，多汗阴有余，风痰更可察，（经曰∶滑者阴气有余也。阴气有余为多汗身
寒，滑脉主风不主痰。）寸滑吞酸咳嗽呕，（滑又主热，胃中湿气与热气熏蒸，蕴而成酸，停在胃脘故吞酸；湿
热生痰故咳嗽及呕吐。）当关积热掌中发，（食积胃，胃生热，胃热上熏，则包络与心肺皆热，包络之脉入掌
中，肺脉行其前，心脉行其后，故掌中亦热。经所谓掌中热者，腹中热是也。）痢疾 癃尺部看，（滑又主宿
食，食积成痢。 者，睾丸肿大，病连小腹也。癃者，小便不通。《脉经》谓∶尺滑当溺血也。）女子或为经闭
煞。（《脉经》谓∶尺脉滑女子经脉不利。按∶滑为血有余，若滑而结，及浮滑迟滑者，蓄血也。不然则是胎脉。）
（动）仲景《伤寒论》曰∶数脉见于关上，上下无头尾，如豆大厥厥动摇者，名曰动。愚按∶两上字其
一乃后人误添也，当是数脉见于关上下。经曰∶女子手少阴脉动甚者，妊子也。手少阴属心，是寸有动脉矣。又
曰∶阴虚阳搏谓之崩。肾之阴虚阳搏之，故见崩证，是尺有动脉矣。王叔和着《脉经》，不知两上字，其一乃衍
字，因曰动脉见于关上，遂令后之论脉者，皆曰动脉只见于关，与经不合矣。
动脉如豆形，数而厥厥动，阴动出汗兮惊痛堪忧，（成无己曰∶阴阳相搏则虚者动，按阴
搏阳则阳虚，阳虚故出汗。经谓肝主惊，阳明主惊。按胆附于肝，肝气强者胆大，肝气弱者胆小，胆小尝有畏
惧之心，故易惊，此惊之生于内者也；阳明属土，土性静，故闻木声，惕然而惊，此惊之生于外者也；由是观
之，则自惊者属肝，物触而惊者，属阳明，然而惊则皆归于心也。阴阳相搏，阴邪胜故痛。）阴动发热兮，血
崩为重。（阳搏阴则阴虚，阴虚故发热，阳邪胜迫血妄行，故崩。）
（胎脉）
尺脉滑疾，心脉动来，三部浮沉脉相等，五十不止确为胎。疾而按散兮，其胎
三月；但疾不散兮，五月可猜。沉则为男浮则女，阴阳推测贯三才。（女子以血脉为本，尺
脉尝滑，然滑，属血，阴也；疾，属气，阳也；滑而疾是阳之交阴也。女子心脉尝沉，今阴阳相搏而其脉动，是
阴之交阳也，阴阳相交，而三部之脉无偏浮偏沉，五十不止，无或结或促，其为胎也，明矣。三月之胎，其形
未实，故其脉按之而散。五月之胎，其形渐实，故其脉按之不散，而其疾如故者，盖疾为阳气，万物得天地之
阳气以生，成胎必得母之阳气以长养也。沉，阴脉，何以反为男？浮，阳脉，何以反为女？盖男胎得阳气多，胎
得阳气多，则母之阳不足，阴有余矣。阴有余，阳不足，故其脉沉；女胎得阴气多，胎得阴气多，则母之阴不足，
阳有余矣。阳有余，阴不足，故其脉浮。亦犹坎为男，阴多于阳，且阴外而阳内也；离为女，阳多于阴，且阳外
而阴内也。疾与滑何以不主病？盖疾而不滑，则为阴虚火盛，滑而疾，则非病矣，尺既滑而疾，则寸之动，亦
非病矣。《脉经》辨男女法∶左手沉实为男；右手浮大为女；左右手俱沉实生二男；俱浮大生二女；又左尺脉偏
大为男；右尺脉偏大为女；左右俱大生二子。）
脉象短促（指脉搏跳动次数少，或脉气不续）。根据《脉经》的说法：脉搏每四十次跳动出现一次停顿，预示四年后死亡；每三十次跳动出现一次停顿，预示三年后死亡；每二十次跳动出现一次停顿，预示两年后死亡；每十次跳动出现一次停顿，预示当年内死亡；每五次跳动出现一次停顿，预示五天后死亡。这也是一般性的说法，不必拘泥于此。（注：若为女胎怀孕三个多月时出现代脉，并不构成妨碍。）古人曾说怀孕三个月时脉象表现为代脉。实际上，怀孕五个月、七个月时也可能出现代脉，应当在两尺部（手腕内侧后方，候肾与胞宫）诊察。如果脉搏来势急促，每九至或十至出现一次停顿，过很久才再次搏动，接着又是每九至或十至出现一次停顿，过很久才再次搏动，这种有固定规律的现象，就是所谓的“代脉”。如果再来时，每九至或十至不停顿，或者在十二至或十五至出现一次停顿，但又有固定的规律，这些都是代脉。代脉的停顿是有固定规律的，这是“信”的表现；土行主“信”，这是脾胃之气到来的表现。土是万物生气的根源，脾胃是五脏生气的源泉，生气到来，所以会有胎儿。况且天一生水，其次生成火、木、金、土，从而五行具备；胎儿初结之时，乃是天一之水，其次生成火、木、金、土，从而五脏之气完备，五脏之气完备，所以脉象表现为代脉。那么，代脉为什么又被认为是死脉呢？从生数理论来看，五脏之气完备，对应天数五生土的数理，所以其脉象表现为代脉；从成数理论来看，胎儿成形之后，营卫之气与天地昼夜循环一样周流不息，没有一息停止的时候。如果五脏无气，只有胃气尚存，所以其脉象也表现为代脉，然而这种胃气就像油尽灯枯时的灯火，所以时间久了必然死亡。
脉象不以浮沉和至数（快慢）来辨别，而是以形态来辨别的，称为弦脉，脉形直而长，按之如按弓弦。称为紧脉，脉搏往来有力，左右弹指，手感如同转动绳索，无常形。称为长脉，脉势悠长自如，如同高举长竿的末梢。称为短脉，脉气不能充满寸关尺三部，两头缩缩不前。称为细脉，脉形直而柔软，应指如丝线。称为涩脉，脉形细长，往来艰难，应指如轻刀刮竹。称为滑脉，脉搏往来流利，如珠滚动。称为动脉，脉形大如豆粒，厥厥然摇动。（以上共八种脉象。）
关于弦脉：《脉经》说：弦脉举取时无力。按：疟疾的脉象有浮弦的，并非举取时无力。经典说：疟疾皆由风邪引起，正因为生于风邪，所以脉象浮弦，且伴有头痛如破的症状。即使在《脉经》伤寒条中，也有阳明中风脉弦浮的说法，那么所谓弦脉举取时无力，怀疑是误传。弦脉挺然在指下，端直似弓弦。（弦脉是春季的正常脉象。如果在夏、秋、冬三季见到，则是病脉。但在春季脉象软弱而滑，属于平脉。如果实大而强，这叫太过；如果不实而微弱，这叫不及，也是病脉。）夏季秋季则主疟疾缠绵。（风寒暑湿之气，都能导致疟疾，其脉象皆呈弦象。只是夏秋患疟疾的人很多，冬春间也有。）弦数主热，弦迟主寒。寸部弦脉主头痛且膈间多痰（弦脉主痰，痰随厥阴肝气上升，所以头痛）。关部苦于瘕积且胃气上逆（血液凝滞、气机郁结，久而久之坚硬形成于脐旁叫瘕；胃中寒气冲塞心下叫逆）。尺部当主疝气和脚部拘挛（疝气，指睾丸肿痛，向上连及小腹。因为肝经络循阴器，主司疝气，或由寒、或湿、或热、或虚、或气分、或血分所致，临证需根据脉象的迟数强弱来辨别。肝主筋，肾主骨，筋束持骨骼，受寒则筋急，所以拘挛。拘挛，指屈伸不利）。
关于紧脉：《内经》称之为急脉。
左右弹手，其力强，状如转索，名为紧脉（紧脉主寒，浮紧为表寒，沉紧为里寒）。人迎穴（左手寸关之间）主伤寒，也可用来诊断风痫（左手寸关之间叫人迎。人迎脉紧主伤寒头痛，恶寒发热。风气通于肝，木得风则动摇，所以身体抽搐；肝火鼓动心火，火炎神越，所以突然不知人事，吐涎沫，这叫风痫）。气口（右手寸关之间）主伤食，喘嗽也应仔细审察（右手寸关之间叫气口。气口脉紧，主伤食，心下苦满；肺恶寒，寒则气逆，所以说喘与咳。《脉经》说：紧脉主实证，以上皆为实邪，所以脉紧）。关部和尺部见到紧脉时，痹证和疝气的诊断极其准确（经典说青脉到来时，长而左右弹人手，有心下支结的积气，名叫肝痹，得之于寒湿与疝气）。
关于长脉：
悠长自如，指间显长，倘若带有搏坚之象便失常（长脉在春季是肝脉，软弱如揭长竿末梢叫肝平，实而滑如循长竿叫肝病。按：长则气治，如果应指搏坚而不软弱，则气不治了）。伤寒传变，可在阳明病详查（伤寒二三日，脉长，目痛，鼻干，不得眠，这是阳明病）。左寸脉长足疼舌卷缩（经典说：寸口脉长曰足胫痛。按：左寸属心，为阳，主血脉，长主有余之病，上有余则下不足，血脉不通，所以足胫痛。肾脉挟舌本，舌为心苗，心火盛则水急，水急则舌本缩而舌卷，不能言语）。右寸分明唾血伤（肾主唾，其脉入肺中，循喉咙，血随火升，所以唾血）。关中少气髀如折（长本是肝脉，木邪克土，所以脾虚中气不足。股内叫髀，是胃脉所下行之处，胃虚所以髀痛如折。另外脾有邪气，其气也留于两髀）。尺部则腰痛不可当（火盛则水衰，腰为肾府，肾虚则腰痛）。
关于短脉：
本位不能及，缩缩其形短（短则气病，如果秋季肺脉短涩，乃是平脉）。滑短主酒伤，浮短主咳嗽，寸部主头疼，尺部主腹满（短主不及之病，酒伤与咳嗽则气不及也，上不及则头痛，下不及则腹满也）。
关于细脉：《内经》称之为小脉。（濡脉）同软。（弱脉）《脉经》以浮细为软，沉细为弱。难道细脉没有浮沉两种候法，只在既不浮也不沉的时候诊察吗？而且《内经》为什么有沉细的说法呢？况且经典说脉弱以滑，是有胃气。滑者，是指流利如珠的意思。如果把沉细当作弱，那么在沉细如丝之中，就不能见到滑象了。而且《经脉》既然以沉细为弱，而论肺痿时，为什么又有浮弱的说法呢？现在依据《内经》以弦脉软弱为肝之平脉，那么所谓软弱，是指无力之意，不能把浮细当作软，沉细当作弱。何况软弱所主的病症，大概与细脉相同，现在附于此。
直软如丝为细脉，劳损伤及血气（细脉主气血两虚）。身汗来，心慌至（浮细属阴虚，多盗汗；沉细属阳虚，多自汗。汗多心虚故心慌）。寸部须呕吐，关部须胀满（脾胃虚寒，上则呕吐，下则腹满）。尺部属骨蒸、痢疾与痹证（骨蒸久痢，皆属肾虚，所以脉细；痹为寒湿之阴邪，所以脉亦细）。
关于涩脉：
往来难，细短涩，细刀刮竹形容切（形容脉象如轻刀刮竹），血少气有余，寸部涩心疼神亦怯（胃属阳明，多血多气，其上口当心，血虚则气凑之，气血攻冲则当心而痛；阳明又主惊，惊气归心故神怯）。关中胁胀胃虚呕（肝藏血，属厥阴，其脉布胁肋，血少气腾故胁肋胀；胃为水谷之海，血少则燥，气腾则逆，燥则血枯，逆则气上，故不纳水谷而呕吐也）。尺部肠枯五心热（血虚则肠枯涩，血虚而相火动则肝热；肝热下移之于母，则肾热；下移之于子，则心热，肾之脉起于足心，心之脉入于手心，故手足心热）。妇人当为经不通，或为胎病宜区别（血养胎，所以脉涩。崔紫虚说：涩主自汗，濒湖、士材都宗奉此说。我按：《内经》云，涩者，阴有余也，阴气有余则为身热无汗，应当以经典之言为准）。
关于滑脉：
流利如珠便是滑，多汗阴有余，风痰更可察（经典说：滑者阴气有余也。阴气有余为多汗身寒，滑脉主风不主痰）。寸部滑吞酸咳嗽呕（滑又主热，胃中湿气与热气熏蒸，蕴而成酸，停在胃脘故吞酸；湿热生痰故咳嗽及呕吐）。当关积热掌中发（食积胃，胃生热，胃热上熏，则包络与心肺皆热，包络之脉入掌中，肺脉行其前，心脉行其后，故掌中亦热。经典所谓掌中热者，腹中热是也）。痢疾、疝气、癃闭在尺部看（滑又主宿食，食积成痢。疝者，睾丸肿大，病连小腹也。癃者，小便不通。《脉经》说：尺滑当溺血也）。女子或为经闭煞（《脉经》说：尺脉滑女子经脉不利。按：滑为血有余，若滑而结，及浮滑迟滑者，蓄血也。不然则是胎脉）。
关于动脉：张仲景《伤寒论》说：数脉见于关上，上下无头尾，如豆大厥厥动摇者，名曰动。我按：两个“上”字中，有一个是后人误添的，应当是数脉见于关上下。经典说：女子手少阴脉动甚者，妊子也。手少阴属心，是寸有动脉矣。又说：阴虚阳搏谓之崩。肾之阴虚阳搏之，故见崩证，是尺有动脉矣。王叔和著《脉经》，不知道两个“上”字中，有一个是衍文，因而说动脉见于关上，遂令后来论脉者，都说动脉只见于关，这与经典不合。
动脉如豆形，数而厥厥动，阴动出汗兮惊痛堪忧（成无己说：阴阳相搏则虚者动，按阴搏阳则阳虚，阳虚故出汗。经典谓肝主惊，阳明主惊。按：胆附于肝，肝气强者胆大，肝气弱者胆小，胆小尝有畏惧之心，故易惊，此惊之生于内者也；阳明属土，土性静，故闻木声，惕然而惊，此惊之生于外者也；由此观之，则自惊者属肝，物触而惊者，属阳明，然而惊则皆归于心也。阴阳相搏，阴邪胜故痛）。阴动发热兮，血崩为重（阳搏阴则阴虚，阴虚故发热，阳邪胜迫血妄行，故崩）。
关于胎脉：
尺脉滑疾，心脉动来，三部浮沉脉相等，五十不止确为胎。疾而按散兮，其胎三月；但疾不散兮，五月可猜。沉则为男浮则女，阴阳推测贯三才（女子以血脉为本，尺脉常滑，然滑，属血，阴也；疾，属气，阳也；滑而疾是阳之交阴也。女子心脉常沉，今阴阳相搏而其脉动，是阴之交阳也，阴阳相交，而三部之脉无偏浮偏沉，五十不止，无或结或促，其为胎也，明矣。三月之胎，其形未实，故其脉按之而散。五月之胎，其形渐实，故其脉按之不散，而其疾如故者，盖疾为阳气，万物得天地之阳气以生，成胎必得母之阳气以长养也。沉，阴脉，何以反为男？浮，阳脉，何以反为女？盖男胎得阳气多，胎得阳气多，则母之阳不足，阴有余矣。阴有余，阳不足，故其脉沉；女胎得阴气多，胎得阴气多，则母之阴不足，阳有余矣。阳有余，阴不足，故其脉浮。亦犹坎为男，阴多于阳，且阴外而阳内也；离为女，阳多于阴，且阳外而阴内也。疾与滑何以不主病？盖疾而不滑，则为阴虚火盛，滑而疾，则非病矣，尺既滑而疾，则寸之动，亦非病矣。《脉经》辨男女法：左手沉实为男；右手浮大为女；左右手俱沉实生二男；俱浮大生二女；又左尺脉偏大为男；右尺脉偏大为女；左右俱大生二子。）
Short pulse (a pulse with few beats or interrupted qi). According to the *Mai Jing* (Pulse Classic): if there is one stop every forty beats, death occurs in four years; one stop every thirty beats, death in three years; one stop every twenty beats, death in two years; one stop every ten beats, death within the year; one stop every five beats, death in five days. This is a general statement and should not be taken too literally. (Note: If a female fetus is over three months old and presents with a Dai pulse, it does not constitute an obstruction.) Ancient texts stated that at three months of pregnancy, the pulse manifests as Dai. In fact, Dai pulses can also appear at five or seven months of pregnancy and should be examined at both Chi positions (located posteriorly on the wrist, corresponding to the Kidneys and Uterus). If the pulse comes rapidly, stopping once every nine or ten beats, followed by a long pause before resuming, and then again stops once every nine or ten beats after a long pause, this regular pattern is what is called a "Dai pulse" (intermittent pulse). If subsequent beats do not stop every nine or ten times, or if they stop once every twelve or fifteen beats but maintain a fixed regularity, these are all manifestations of the Dai pulse. The stops in a Dai pulse have a constant regularity, which reflects the quality of "Trustworthiness" (Xin); Earth corresponds to Trustworthiness, indicating the arrival of Spleen-Stomach Qi. Earth is the source of vital energy for all things, and the Spleen and Stomach are the source of vital energy for the Five Zang organs. When vital energy arrives, a fetus is conceived. Furthermore, Heaven generates Water first, followed by Fire, Wood, Metal, and Earth, completing the Five Phases. At the initial formation of the fetus, it is Tianyi Water, followed by the generation of Fire, Wood, Metal, and Earth, completing the Qi of the Five Zang organs. With the completion of Zang Qi, the pulse manifests as Dai. So why is Dai considered a death pulse? From the perspective of generating numbers, the completeness of Zang Qi corresponds to the number five generating Earth, hence the Dai pulse. From the perspective of completed numbers, after the fetus takes form, Ying and Wei Qi circulate continuously like the day and night cycle without any cessation. If the Five Zang lack Qi but Stomach Qi remains, the pulse may still show Dai characteristics, but this Stomach Qi is like a lamp running out of oil, leading inevitably to death over time.
Pulses distinguished not by floating/sinking depth or rate, but by shape, include: Xian (Wiry) pulse, straight and long, felt like pressing a bowstring. Jin (Tight) pulse, forceful coming and going, flicking left and right like turning a rope, with no fixed shape. Chang (Long) pulse, extending far and naturally, like the tip of a long pole held high. Duan (Short) pulse, failing to fill the Cun-Guan-Chi positions, shrinking at both ends. Xi (Fine/Thready) pulse, straight and soft, felt like a silk thread. Se (Choppy) pulse, thin and slow, difficult to feel, like a light knife scraping bamboo. Hua (Slippery) pulse, smooth and flowing, like pearls rolling. Dong (Agitated) pulse, large like a bean, trembling vigorously. (These eight pulses in total.)
Regarding Xian (Wiry) pulse: The *Mai Jing* states that a Xian pulse is weak upon superficial palpation. However, Malaria pulses can be Floating-Xian, never lacking strength upon lifting. Classics state: Malaria arises from Wind pathogen; thus, the pulse is Floating-Xian, accompanied by headache as if splitting. Even in the *Mai Jing*'s section on Cold Damage, there is mention of Yangming Wind-Strike presenting with Xian-Floating pulse, suggesting the claim that Xian pulse is weak upon lifting is likely erroneous. The Xian pulse stands upright under the fingers, straight like a bowstring. (Xian is the normal pulse of Spring. If seen in Summer, Autumn, or Winter, it is a pathological pulse. However, in Spring, a soft and slippery Xian pulse is normal. If solid and strong, it indicates Excess; if weak and faint, it indicates Deficiency, both being pathological.) In Summer and Autumn, it primarily indicates lingering Malaria. (Wind, Cold, Summer-heat, and Dampness can all cause Malaria, their pulses all appearing Xian. Many suffer from Malaria in Summer/Autumn, occasionally in Winter/Spring.) Xian-Shu (Wiry-Rapid) indicates Heat; Xian-Chi (Wiry-Slow) indicates Cold. Xian at Cun indicates Headache and Phlegm in the Diaphragm (Xian governs Phlegm; Phlegm rises with Jueyin Liver Qi, causing headache). Obstruction at Guan indicates Jian masses and rebellious Stomach Qi (Blood stasis and Qi stagnation hardening near the navel is called Jian; Cold Qi blocking the epigastrium is called Rebellious Qi). Chi position indicates Shan (Hernia) and leg spasms (Shan refers to swelling and pain of the testicles extending to the lower abdomen. The Liver meridian connects to the genitalia and governs Shan, caused by Cold, Damp, Heat, Deficiency, Qi, or Blood factors, differentiated by pulse speed and strength. Liver governs tendons, Kidney governs bones; tendons bind bones. Cold causes tendon tension, leading to spasm/spasms, defined as difficulty in flexion and extension).
Regarding Jin (Tight) pulse: The *Nei Jing* calls it Ji (Urgent) pulse.
Flicking left and right with strong force, resembling a turning rope, named Jin pulse (Jin governs Cold; Floating-Jin is Exterior Cold, Sinking-Jin is Interior Cold). Renying point (between Cun and Guan on the left hand) governs Cold Damage and can diagnose Feng Xian (Wind Epilepsy). (Renying is between Cun and Guan on the left. Left Jin indicates Cold Damage headache, aversion to cold, fever. Wind communicates with Liver; Wood shaken by wind causes convulsions. Liver fire agitates Heart fire, flaming spirit wanders, causing sudden unconsciousness and salivation, termed Wind Epilepsy). Qikou (between Cun and Guan on the right) governs Food Injury; Asthma and Cough should also be carefully examined. (Qikou is between Cun and Guan on the right. Right Jin indicates Food Injury, fullness below the heart. Lung dislikes Cold; Cold causes Qi rebellion, hence asthma and cough. *Mai Jing* says: Jin indicates Excess; all above are Excess pathogens, hence Jin pulse). Jin at Guan and Chi accurately diagnoses Bi syndrome and Hernia. (Classics say when Green pulse arrives, long and flicking left/right, with accumulated Qi under the heart called Gan Bi, caused by Cold-Damp and Hernia).
Regarding Chang (Long) pulse:
Extending far and naturally, long between fingers; if accompanied by pounding hardness, it is abnormal. (Chang pulse in Spring is Liver pulse; soft like a pole tip is normal Liver; solid and slippery like feeling a pole is Liver disease. Note: Chang means Qi is regulated. If pounding and hard without softness, Qi is unregulated). In Cold Damage transmission, Yangming can be detailed. (Two to three days of Cold Damage, Long pulse, eye pain, dry nose, insomnia, indicates Yangming disease). Left Cun Long indicates foot pain and curled tongue. (Classics: Cun pulse Long indicates foot/calf pain. Left Cun belongs to Heart, Yang, governing blood vessels. Long indicates Excess; excess above leads to deficiency below, blocking vessels, causing foot pain. Kidney meridian ties to tongue root; tongue is Heart sprout. Heart Fire excess makes Water urgent, contracting tongue root, curling tongue, preventing speech). Right Cun clearly indicates hemoptysis. (Kidney governs saliva; its meridian enters Lung, follows throat. Blood follows Fire rising, causing hemoptysis). Guan indicates Qi deficiency and thigh pain like breaking. (Chang is originally Liver pulse; Wood evil attacks Earth, causing Spleen deficiency and middle Qi insufficiency. Thigh is Bi, where Stomach meridian descends; Stomach deficiency causes Bi pain like breaking. Also, Spleen evil stays in thighs). Chi indicates unbearable lower back pain. (Fire excess depletes Water; waist is Kidney residence; Kidney deficiency causes back pain).
Regarding Duan (Short) pulse:
Failing to reach its proper position, shrinking in shape is Short. (Short indicates Qi disease; if Lung pulse is Short-Choppy in Autumn, it is normal). Slippy-Short indicates Alcohol injury; Floating-Short indicates Cough. Cun governs headache; Chi governs abdominal fullness. (Short indicates Deficiency of Qi. Alcohol injury and cough indicate Qi insufficiency. Insufficiency above causes headache; insufficiency below causes abdominal fullness).
Regarding Xi (Fine) pulse: The *Nei Jing* calls it Xiao (Small). (Ru pulse) is similar to Ruan (Soft). (Ruo pulse) *Mai Jing* defines Floating-Fine as Ruan, Sinking-Fine as Ruo. Does Fine pulse lack Floating/Sinking distinctions, only felt when neither floating nor sinking? Why does *Nei Jing* mention Sinking-Fine? Moreover, classics say "pulse weak and slippery indicates Stomach Qi." Slippery means flowing like pearls. If Sinking-Fine is Ruo, how can Slipperiness be seen within Sinking-Fine threads? Since *Jing Mai* defines Sinking-Fine as Ruo, why mention Floating-Weak when discussing Lung萎 (Flaccidity)? Now, based on *Nei Jing* stating soft Xian is normal Liver pulse, "soft" means powerless. One cannot equate Floating-Fine with Soft, or Sinking-Fine with Weak. Besides, diseases governed by Weakness are generally similar to those of Fine pulse, so attached here.
Straight, soft like silk is Fine pulse; labor and injury damage Blood and Qi. (Fine pulse governs dual deficiency of Qi and Blood). Sweating body, panic heart. (Floating-Fine indicates Yin deficiency, often night sweats; Sinking-Fine indicates Yang deficiency, often spontaneous sweating. Excessive sweating harms Heart, causing panic). Cun requires vomiting; Guan requires distension. (Spleen-Stomach deficiency-cold causes vomiting above and abdominal fullness below). Chi indicates bone-steaming fever, dysentery, and Bi syndrome. (Bone-steaming and chronic dysentery belong to Kidney deficiency, hence Fine pulse; Bi is Yin pathogen of Cold-Damp, hence Fine pulse).
Regarding Se (Choppy) pulse:
Difficult coming and going, thin, short, choppy; described as light knife scraping bamboo. Blood deficient, Qi excessive. Cun Se indicates Heart pain and timid spirit. (Stomach is Yangming, abundant in Blood and Qi, opening at the heart region. Blood deficiency attracts Qi; Qi-Blood conflict causes heart pain. Yangming also governs Fright; Fright Qi returns to Heart, making spirit timid). Guan indicates flank distension and Stomach deficiency vomiting. (Liver stores Blood, belongs to Jueyin, meridian spreads to flanks. Blood deficiency and Qi hyperactivity cause flank distension. Stomach is sea of water/grain; Blood deficiency causes dryness, Qi hyperactivity causes rebellion. Dryness dries Blood, rebellion sends Qi up, refusing food/water, causing vomiting). Chi indicates dry intestines and heat in five centers. (Blood deficiency dries intestines; Blood deficiency triggers Ministerial Fire, heating Liver. Liver heat transfers to Mother (Kidney) and Child (Heart). Kidney meridian starts at sole; Heart meridian enters palm, causing heat in hands/feet). In women, it indicates amenorrhea or fetal disease, requiring distinction. (Blood nourishes fetus, hence Se pulse. Cui Zixu said Se governs spontaneous sweating; Binhu and Shicai followed this. I note: *Nei Jing* says Se indicates Yin excess. Yin excess causes body heat and no sweat. The classic statement should prevail).
Regarding Hua (Slippery) pulse:
Flowing like pearls is Slippery. Excessive sweating, Yin excess. Wind-Phlegm can be observed. (Classics: Slippery indicates Yin excess. Yin excess causes sweating and cold body. Slippery pulse governs Wind, not Phlegm). Cun Slippery indicates acid regurgitation, cough, vomiting. (Slippery also governs Heat. Dampness and Heat steaming in Stomach ferment into acid, staying in epigastrium causing acid regurgitation; Damp-Heat generates Phlegm causing cough/vomiting). Guan indicates accumulated heat radiating in palms. (Food stagnation in Stomach generates Heat; Stomach Heat steams upward, heating Pericardium, Heart, and Lung. Pericardium meridian enters palm; Lung meridian runs front, Heart meridian runs back, hence palm heat. Classics say palm heat indicates abdominal heat). Dysentery, Hernia, and Lin syndrome are seen at Chi. (Slippery also governs retained food; food stagnation becomes dysentery. Hernia is swollen testicles connecting to lower abdomen. Lin is urinary obstruction. *Mai Jing* says: Chi Slippery indicates hematuria). In women, it may indicate amenorrhea or severe conditions. (*Mai Jing* says: Chi Slippery indicates irregular menstruation in women. Note: Slippery indicates Blood excess. If Slippery-Knotted, or Floating-Slippery-Slow, it indicates Blood stasis. Otherwise, it is a Fetal pulse).
Regarding Dong (Agitated) pulse: Zhang Zhongjing's *Shanghan Lun* says: Rapid pulse seen at Guan, no head or tail above/below, large like a bean, trembling vigorously, is named Dong. I note: One of the two "upper" characters is a later error; it should be "Rapid pulse seen above and below Guan." Classics say: If Hand-Shaoyin pulse moves strongly in women, she is pregnant. Hand-Shaoyin belongs to Heart, so Dong pulse exists at Cun. Also: Yin deficiency with Yang pounding causes flooding. Kidney Yin deficiency with Yang pounding causes flooding syndrome, so Dong pulse exists at Chi. Wang Shuhe wrote *Mai Jing*, unaware one "upper" character was redundant, stating Dong pulse appears only at Guan, leading later pulse experts to believe Dong is only at Guan, contradicting classics.
Dong pulse like a bean shape, rapid and trembling. Yin movement causes sweating; fright and pain are worrisome. (Cheng Wuji says: Yin-Yang struggle causes movement in deficiency. Yin pounding Yang leads to Yang deficiency, hence sweating. Classics say Liver governs Fright, Yangming governs Fright. Gallbladder attaches to Liver; strong Liver Qi means bold Gallbladder, weak means timid. Timid people fear easily, causing internal fright; Yangming is Earth, static nature, startled by Wood sound, causing external fright. Thus, self-fright belongs to Liver, object-startled belongs to Yangming, but all fright归于 Heart. Yin-Yang struggle, Yin evil wins, hence pain). Yin movement causes fever; blood flooding is severe. (Yang pounding Yin leads to Yin deficiency, hence fever. Yang evil wins, forcing Blood to run wild, hence flooding).
Regarding Fetal Pulse:
Chi pulse Slippery-Rapid, Heart pulse Agitated. Floating and Sinking in Three Positions are equal; fifty beats without stop confirms pregnancy. Rapid yet scattering upon pressure indicates three-month fetus; Rapid but not scattering indicates five-month fetus. Sinking indicates Male, Floating indicates Female; Yin-Yang deduction penetrates Heaven, Earth, Humanity. (Women base on Blood vessels; Chi pulse often Slippery. Slippery belongs to Blood, Yin; Rapid belongs to Qi, Yang. Slippery-Rapid is Yang interacting with Yin. Women's Heart pulse often Sinks; now Yin-Yang struggle causes movement, Yin interacting with Yang. Yin-Yang intersect, Three Positions show no bias in Floating/Sinking, fifty beats without stop, no knotted/rushed interruptions, clearly pregnancy. Three-month fetus, form not solid, pulse scatters upon pressure. Five-month fetus, form becoming solid, pulse does not scatter, remaining rapid. Rapid is Yang Qi; all things born via Heaven-Earth Yang Qi; fetus must receive Mother's Yang Qi to grow. Sinking is Yin pulse, why Male? Floating is Yang pulse, why Female? Male fetus receives more Yang Qi; excess Yang depletes Mother's Yang, leaving Yin excess. Yin excess, Yang deficiency, hence Sinking pulse. Female fetus receives more Yin Qi; excess Yin depletes Mother's Yin, leaving Yang excess. Yang excess, Yin deficiency, hence Floating pulse. Like Kan is Male, Yin > Yang, Yin outside/Yang inside; Li is Female, Yang > Yin, Yang outside/Yin inside. Why don't Rapid and Slippery indicate disease? Rapid without Slippery indicates Yin deficiency/Fire excess; Slippery-Rapid is not disease. Since Chi is Slippery-Rapid, Cun Agitation is also not disease. *Mai Jing* gender differentiation: Left Sinking-Solid is Male; Right Floating-Large is Female; Both hands Sinking-Solid produce two males; Both Floating-Large produce two females. Left Chi larger is Male; Right Chi larger is Female; Both large produce two children).