经平人之常气禀于胃。胃者平人之常气也。春胃微弦曰平。夏胃微钩曰平。长夏胃微 弱曰平。秋胃微毛曰平。冬
胃微石曰平。按经所谓胃气在微字上体认。若弦则胃少弦甚则无胃。惟微弦则其气和。故曰平。余仿此。
经春脉如弦。春脉者。肝也。东方木也。万物之所以始生也。故其气来 弱。轻虚而滑。端直以长。故曰弦。反此
者病。夏脉如钩。夏脉者。心也。南方火也。万物之所以盛长也。故其气来盛去衰。故曰钩。反此者病。秋脉如浮。秋
脉者。肺也。西方金也。万物之所以收成也。故气来轻虚以浮。来急去散。故曰浮。反此者病。冬脉如营。冬脉者肾也。
北方水也。万物之所以合藏也。故其气来沉以搏。故曰营。反此者病。（营者内守之意。）脾者。土也。孤藏以灌四方者
也。善者不可得见。恶者可见。按脾脉之善者。即胃气四时见于弦钩毛石之间。故曰善者。不可得见。若脾胃受伤。则
恶者可见矣。
脉经春肝脉弦细而长曰平。夏心脉浮大而散曰平。长夏脉大阿阿而缓曰平。秋肺脉浮涩而短曰平。冬肾脉沉 而滑
曰平。按脉经之说。与经合参。则脉理精且备矣。
凡脉不大。不小。不数。不迟。不滑。不涩。不短。不长。浮沉正等者。平脉也。
凡病患脉不大不小。浮沉正等而缓者。为阴阳平。病将愈也。
四言脉诀。谓春弦夏钩。秋毛冬石。为平脉。不知弦钩毛石。
有胃气始为平脉。若但弦。但钩。但毛。但石。即病脉也。滑伯仁诊家枢要。谓长夏四季脉。迟缓为平。本脉经脾胃部。
德则为缓。恩则为迟之说。不知一息四至。闰以太息。则五至。此脾胃之平脉也。三至为迟。则主寒主虚。病脉也。
朱丹溪曰。男子寸盛尺弱。女子尺盛寸弱。按寸为阳。男子阳盛。故寸盛。尺为阴。女子阴盛。故尺盛。此男女尺
寸之平脉也。脉法赞左大顺男。右大顺女。按男子本气旺血虚。左主血。左大于右。是血足也。血足则阳不至独元矣。
女子本血旺气虚。右主气。右大于左。是气足也。气足则阴有所统摄矣。且男子阳。故左大。女子阴。故右大。此男女
左右之平脉也。丹溪格致余论。以左右指医者手之左右。谓右大顺男。左大顺女。其说似牵强。
凡人肥脉沉。人瘦脉浮。人长脉长。人短脉短。人大脉大。人小脉小。顺也。反此则逆。
《内经》说，健康人的常气来源于胃。胃就是健康人正常的脉气。春季脉象中带有微弱的弦意称为平脉（正常脉）。夏季脉象中带有微弱的钩意称为平脉。长夏季节脉象中带有微弱的弱意称为平脉。秋季脉象中带有微弱的毛意称为平脉。冬季脉象中带有微弱的石意称为平脉。按照经文所说，要在“微”字上体会胃气的存在。如果脉象纯弦而无胃气，则胃气少；如果弦象太过，则无胃气。只有微带弦意，其脉气才调和，所以称为平脉。其余季节的脉象以此类推。
《内经》说：春脉像弦一样。春脉对应肝脏，属东方木，是万物开始生长的原因。所以它的脉气来势柔弱，轻虚而滑利，端直且长，所以叫作弦。与此相反的则是病脉。夏脉像钩一样。夏脉对应心脏，属南方火，是万物盛大生长的原因。所以它的脉气来势盛而去势衰，所以叫作钩。与此相反的则是病脉。秋脉像浮一样。秋脉对应肺脏，属西方金，是万物收获的原因。所以它的脉气轻虚而浮，来势急而去势散，所以叫作浮。与此相反的则是病脉。冬脉像营一样。冬脉对应肾脏，属北方水，是万物闭藏的原因。所以它的脉气沉而搏指，所以叫作营。与此相反的则是病脉。（所谓“营”，有内守的意思。）脾脏属土，是单独一脏以灌溉四方脏腑的。好的脾脉表现不出来，坏的脾脉才能看到。按脾脉的好表现，就是在四季脉象的弦、钩、毛、石之中都含有胃气，所以说好表现看不见。如果脾胃受伤，那么坏的表现就能看到了。
《脉经》说：春季肝脉弦细而长称为平脉。夏季心脉浮大而散称为平脉。长夏季节脉象洪大舒缓称为平脉。秋季肺脉浮涩而短称为平脉。冬季肾脉沉而滑称为平脉。参考《脉经》的说法，与《内经》合参，脉理就精详完备了。
凡是脉象不大不小，不快不慢，不滑不涩，不长不短，浮取沉取力度相当的，就是平脉。
凡是病人的脉象不大不小，浮沉力度相当且缓和的，说明阴阳平衡，病将要痊愈。
《四言脉诀》说，春弦、夏钩、秋毛、冬石为平脉。这不知道弦、钩、毛、石必须带有胃气才是平脉。如果只是单纯的弦、单纯的钩、单纯的毛、单纯的石，那就是病脉。滑伯仁在《诊家枢要》中说，长夏及四季的脉象，迟缓为平脉。这是依据《脉经·脾胃部》中“德则为缓，恩则为迟”的说法。但他不知道一息四至，加上偶尔的太息（深长呼吸），达到五至，这才是脾胃的平脉。三至为迟，主寒主虚，属于病脉。
朱丹溪说：男子寸脉盛尺脉弱，女子尺脉盛寸脉弱。按寸为阳，男子阳气盛，所以寸脉盛；尺为阴，女子阴气盛，所以尺脉盛。这是男女尺寸部位的平脉。《脉法赞》说左脉大顺男，右脉大顺女。按男子本来气旺血虚，左主血，左脉大于右脉，说明血足。血足则阳气不至于独亢。女子本来血旺气虚，右主气，右脉大于左脉，说明气足。气足则阴血有所统摄。而且男子属阳，所以左脉大；女子属阴，所以右脉大。这是男女左右手脉象的平脉。朱丹溪在《格致余论》中，把左右指医者的左手和右手，认为右脉大顺男，左脉大顺女。这种说法似乎牵强。
凡是肥胖的人脉象沉，瘦人脉象浮，身材高的人脉象长，身材矮的人脉象短，体格壮实的人脉象大，体格弱小的人脉象小，这些都是顺证（正常现象）。与此相反的就是逆证（异常现象）。
The *Classic of Internal Medicine* (*Huangdi Neijing*) states that the normal Qi of a healthy person is derived from the Stomach. The Stomach is the source of this normal Qi. In spring, if the pulse has a slight *Xian* (Wiry) quality, it is called a *Ping* (Normal) pulse. In summer, if the pulse has a slight *Gou* (Hooked) quality, it is called a *Ping* pulse. During the late summer season, if the pulse has a slight *Ruo* (Weak/Soft) quality, it is called a *Ping* pulse. In autumn, if the pulse has a slight *Mao* (Feather-like/Floaty) quality, it is called a *Ping* pulse. In winter, if the pulse has a slight *Shi* (Stone-like/Sinking) quality, it is called a *Ping* pulse. According to the classic text, one must perceive the presence of Stomach Qi in the character "slight" (*Wei*). If the pulse is purely wiry without Stomach Qi, Stomach Qi is deficient; if the wiry quality is excessive, there is no Stomach Qi. Only when there is a slight wiry quality is the pulse qi harmonious, hence termed *Ping*. The same logic applies to other seasons.
The *Classic of Internal Medicine* states: The spring pulse resembles a string (*Xian*). The spring pulse corresponds to the Liver, which belongs to Wood in the East and is the cause of the beginning of growth for all things. Therefore, its Qi comes weak, light, void, slippery, straight, and long, thus called *Xian*. Anything contrary to this indicates disease. The summer pulse resembles a hook (*Gou*). The summer pulse corresponds to the Heart, which belongs to Fire in the South and is the cause of the flourishing growth of all things. Therefore, its Qi comes strong and departs weak, thus called *Gou*. Anything contrary to this indicates disease. The autumn pulse resembles floating (*Fu*). The autumn pulse corresponds to the Lung, which belongs to Metal in the West and is the cause of the harvest of all things. Therefore, its Qi is light, void, and floating, coming urgent and departing scattered, thus called *Fu*. Anything contrary to this indicates disease. The winter pulse resembles *Ying* (Camp/Interior-guarding). The winter pulse corresponds to the Kidney, which belongs to Water in the North and is the cause of the storage of all things. Therefore, its Qi is deep and firm, thus called *Ying*. Anything contrary to this indicates disease. (The term *Ying* implies an interior-guarding nature.) The Spleen belongs to Earth; it is the solitary organ that irrigates the four directions. Its healthy manifestation cannot be seen directly; only its pathological manifestations are visible. The healthy state of the Spleen pulse refers to the presence of Stomach Qi appearing within the *Xian*, *Gou*, *Mao*, and *Shi* qualities of the four seasons; therefore, it is said that the healthy state is invisible. If the Spleen and Stomach are injured, then the pathological signs become visible.
The *Pulse Classic* (*Maijing*) states: In spring, a Liver pulse that is wiry, fine, and long is a *Ping* pulse. In summer, a Heart pulse that is floating, large, and dispersed is a *Ping* pulse. In late summer, a pulse that is large, expansive, and slow is a *Ping* pulse. In autumn, a Lung pulse that is floating, choppy, and short is a *Ping* pulse. In winter, a Kidney pulse that is deep and slippery is a *Ping* pulse. By referencing the *Pulse Classic* and cross-referencing with the *Classic of Internal Medicine*, the principles of pulse diagnosis become precise and comprehensive.
Generally, a pulse that is neither large nor small, neither rapid nor slow, neither slippery nor choppy, neither short nor long, and equal in depth upon superficial and deep palpation, is a *Ping* (Normal) pulse.
If a patient's pulse is neither large nor small, equal in depth upon superficial and deep palpation, and slow/harmonious, it indicates balanced Yin and Yang, and the illness will soon heal.
The *Four-Character Pulse Rhyme* (*Siyan Maijue*) states that spring is wiry, summer is hooked, autumn is feather-like, and winter is stone-like as normal pulses. This fails to recognize that *Xian*, *Gou*, *Mao*, and *Shi* must possess Stomach Qi to be considered normal. If they are purely wiry, purely hooked, purely feather-like, or purely stone-like, they are pathological pulses. Hua Bo Ren, in his *Zhenjia Shuyao* (Essentials of Pulse Diagnosis), stated that during late summer and the four transitional seasons, a slow and moderate pulse is normal. This is based on the *Pulse Classic* section on the Spleen and Stomach, which says "Virtue manifests as moderate, Grace manifests as slow." However, he did not realize that four beats per respiration, plus occasional deep breaths (*Tai Xi*), reaching five beats, constitutes the normal pulse of the Spleen and Stomach. Three beats per respiration is considered slow, indicating Cold and Deficiency, and is a pathological pulse.
Zhu Danxi stated: In men, the Cun (Inch) position is strong and the Chi (Cubit) position is weak; in women, the Chi position is strong and the Cun position is weak. The Cun position represents Yang; men have abundant Yang, hence the strong Cun. The Chi position represents Yin; women have abundant Yin, hence the strong Chi. This describes the normal pulse differences between men and women at these positions. The *Pulse Method Praise* (*Maifa Zan*) states that a larger left pulse suits men, and a larger right pulse suits women. Men naturally have robust Qi and deficient Blood; the left side governs Blood. A left pulse larger than the right indicates sufficient Blood. Sufficient Blood prevents Yang from becoming hyperactive. Women naturally have robust Blood and deficient Qi; the right side governs Qi. A right pulse larger than the left indicates sufficient Qi. Sufficient Qi ensures Yin/Blood is properly contained. Furthermore, men are Yang, so the left pulse is larger; women are Yin, so the right pulse is larger. This describes the normal left-right pulse differences between men and women. Zhu Danxi, in his *Gezhi Yulun* (Discussions on Cultivating Understanding), interpreted "left" and "right" as the physician's left and right hands, claiming a larger right pulse suits men and a larger left pulse suits women. This interpretation seems forced.
Generally, obese individuals have deep pulses, thin individuals have floating pulses, tall individuals have long pulses, short individuals have short pulses, robust individuals have large pulses, and frail individuals have small pulses. These are consistent with their constitution (Shun). Anything contrary to this is inconsistent (Ni).