天地之气，分寄四时，化生万物。故春木、夏火、秋金、冬水，皆乘其令以分司，独土则通旺于四季。分
阴分阳，迭用柔刚，盖言平也。人得天地之气以生，而脉即与之为比附。春为肝木，脉弦，夏为心火，脉洪，
秋为肺金，脉毛；冬为肾水，脉石。惟胃气属土，其脉从容和缓，散布于弦洪毛石，以默运于春夏秋冬，浑沦
元气，流畅贯通，生生不已，平孰甚焉。如春肝宜弦，弦而缓者，若风 柳梢，抑扬宛转。夏心宜洪，洪而缓
者，若活火烹茶，薰灼舒徐。秋肺宜毛，毛而缓者，若拣金砂砾，渐次披搜。冬肾宜石，石而缓者，若水泽腹
坚，徐形绉透。四季脾胃用事，厥脉宜缓，不问可知，此平脉所以获生也。盖平者，和也，所以和其脉，使无
躁急也；平者，准也，所以准其脉，使无偏胜也。以缓平之，而后四时之脉，得其平耳。夫缓即胃气，原秉天
生地成，与诸脉互相主辅，而不可须臾离焉者，经所
云春弦、夏洪、秋毛、冬石，皆以胃气为本，诚得诊脉之大宗也。惜医不知察，囫囵读过，毫无心得。未知有
胃气者。为平为生；无胃气者，为病为死。遂使一成不易之理，徒蓄千载莫破之疑。余因揭而论定，以着是编。
立缓为标，言平脉，即统该乎弦、洪、毛、石；提病脉，先分着于浮、数、迟、沉。
而二十二脉之旁见侧出者，无不寓于其中，举其纲而目自见。
The Qi of Heaven and Earth is distributed among the four seasons, giving birth to all things. Therefore, Spring belongs to Wood, Summer to Fire, Autumn to Metal, and Winter to Water; each follows its season to govern respectively, while only Earth thrives throughout all four seasons (the last eighteen days of each season). Differentiating Yin from Yang, alternately employing softness and hardness, refers to the state of Ping Mai (Normal Pulse). Humans are born by receiving the Qi of Heaven and Earth, and their pulses correspond accordingly. In Spring, corresponding to Liver Wood, the pulse is Xian (Taut/String-like); in Summer, corresponding to Heart Fire, the pulse is Hong (Surging/Flooding); in Autumn, corresponding to Lung Metal, the pulse is Mao (Feather-like); in Winter, corresponding to Kidney Water, the pulse is Shi (Stone-like/Deep). Only Wei Qi (Stomach Qi) belongs to Earth; its pulse is leisurely and moderate, permeating through Xian, Hong, Mao, and Shi, silently operating through Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. The undifferentiated Yuan Qi flows smoothly and continuously, generating life endlessly, with no greater peace than this. For instance, in Spring, the Liver pulse should be Xian; when Xian combined with Huan (Moderate), it resembles willow branches swaying in the wind, rising and falling gracefully. In Summer, the Heart pulse should be Hong; when Hong combined with Huan, it resembles live fire brewing tea, warm and soothing. In Autumn, the Lung pulse should be Mao; when Mao combined with Huan, it resembles sifting gold sand from gravel, gradually revealing itself. In Winter, the Kidney pulse should be Shi; when Shi combined with Huan, it resembles the firmness at the bottom of a water pool, slowly forming wrinkles. When Spleen and Stomach govern during the four seasons, their pulse should be Huan, which is self-evident. This is why Ping Mai sustains life. "Ping" means "Harmony," used to harmonize the pulse so it is not restless or hurried; "Ping" means "Standard," used as a benchmark for the pulse so it is not excessive or deficient. By balancing with Huan, the pulses of the four seasons attain their proper balance. "Huan" represents Wei Qi, originally inheriting the creation of Heaven and Earth, acting as master and assistant to other pulses, inseparable for even a moment. As the classics state, Spring Xian, Summer Hong, Autumn Mao, and Winter Shi are all rooted in Wei Qi; this is indeed the fundamental principle of pulse diagnosis. Alas, physicians fail to observe this, reading through it without understanding, lacking true insight. They do not know that having Wei Qi indicates a normal pulse and vitality; lacking Wei Qi indicates disease and death. Thus, an unchanging truth has been left with a thousand-year-old unsolved mystery. I therefore elucidate and establish this theory to record it in this book.
Establishing "Huan" as the standard, speaking of Ping Mai encompasses Xian, Hong, Mao, and Shi; discussing Bing Mai (Pathological Pulses) first distinguishes between Fu (Floating), Shu (Rapid), Chi (Slow), and Chen (Deep). All the secondary manifestations of the twenty-two pulses are contained within these, so once the general principles are grasped, the specific details naturally appear.