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In previous years, when I was residing in Ziyang Mountain, there was a practitioner who claimed that *Taisu Mai* (Great Origin Pulse Diagnosis) could verify a person's wealth, nobility, poverty, low status, longevity, and early death. Patients came to seek consultation in large numbers over a month, but I refused to receive them all. Upon asking for the reason in detail, he said it was because he selected auspicious days to open his practice. In reality, this was an excuse; secretly, he hired attendants within the city to inquire about those who had previously frequented official households and were familiar to him. Although his fees were slightly high, he did not haggle. His medical skills could thus be imagined. Because the consultation fee was heavy, patients followed each other in succession. If today's diagnosis did not match (i.e., did not align with the patient's expected fortune or lifespan), he would advise them to come tomorrow; if tomorrow still did not match, he would advise them to come the day after. Eventually, there would always be a match. People praised his miraculous accuracy, becoming confused and falling into his trap. Within a few months, his earnings amounted to no less than one thousand taels of silver. I believe that *Taisu Mai* is not recorded in the *Neijing* (Inner Canon). Even if such a thing exists, it merely involves roughly estimating based on the pulse. For instance, slow Qi and long pulse are signs of longevity; rapid Qi and thin pulse are signs of short life. A clear and spirited pulse indicates nobility; a turbid and spiritless pulse indicates low status. It is impossible to predict precisely which year or month one will gain or lose, or encounter disaster or fortune. I have examined many people in Hangzhou. Gentlemen and scholars often condescended to visit me. Those of noble status, such as Vice Minister Zhu Minsheng and Prefect Ding Songsheng, both exhibited *Liu Yin Mai* (Six Yin Pulses); those of pure and important standing, such as Inspectors Jin Shiaochen and Sang Chunyuan, and Linze Li Meisheng, as well as elders like Sealed Elder Zhao Zhongfu, Lu Dianqing, and Wang Liangfu, who enjoyed longevity, all exhibited *Liu Yang Mai* (Six Yang Pulses). Only Elder Lu Dian exhibited a *Liu Yin Mai*. Generally, those who are fat and robust tend to have *Liu Yin Mai*, while those who are lean and refined tend to have *Liu Yang Mai*. In February of this spring, the director of Tongshan Hall invited me to diagnose a patient. By chance, Fangbo Minzhai was present. Taking the opportunity, I diagnosed his pulse. Having never met him before, I palpated the pulse and stood up saying, "This person must be wealthy and blessed with profound favor." The bystanders were startled, wondering how I knew. This is also a *Liu Yin Kun Hou* (Six Yin Earth-Thick) pulse. Fangbo Min could not help but laugh loudly. As for the practitioner claiming to determine years and months based on wealth, nobility, poverty, low status, longevity, and death, possessing clairvoyant insight, I dare not comment further. Xu Lingtai believed he must have other arts; I consider his art to be exactly as described.

Since the legend of *Taisu Mai* has been passed down through generations, it only serves to distinguish poverty/prosperity and longevity/short life through clarity/turbidity, speed/slowness, and presence/absence of spirit. Practitioners force interpretations and make arbitrary connections, stealing this title to physiognomize scholars, deceiving and tricking, driving the whole nation into madness. Xinchan saw through this with cold eyes and could depict their scheming minds in minute detail. The subtlety of his writing far exceeds that of ordinary hands. (Comment by Songqiao)