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There are two types of pulse presentations: Yang Jie (Yang Knotting/Binding) and Yin Jie (Yin Knotting/Binding). How can they be distinguished? The answer is: If the pulse is floating and rapid, accompanied by an inability to eat and constipation, this constitutes a excess syndrome known as Yang Jie (Yang Knotting/Binding). It is expected that the condition will worsen on the seventeenth day. If the pulse is deep and slow, accompanied by an inability to eat, heaviness of the body, and conversely hard stools, this is known as Yin Jie (Yin Knotting/Binding). It is expected that the condition will worsen on the fourteenth day.

A pulse that is floating and rapid, with an inability to eat and constipation, indicates Yang Excess (Excess of Yang), known as Yang Jie (Yang Knotting/Binding). When there is Yang Excess without Yin to harmonize it, the Qi mechanism must become knotted, and the condition is expected to worsen on the seventeenth day. A pulse that is deep and slow, with an inability to eat, heaviness of the body, and conversely hard stools, is known as Yin Jie (Yin Knotting/Binding). When Yin is excessive without Yang to harmonize it, the Qi mechanism must become knotted, and the condition is expected to worsen on the fourteenth day. When Yin Qi is abundant, stool should naturally be loose; if it becomes hard instead, it is termed "conversely" (Fan). Any case involving constipation and dry, pellet-like stools resembling sheep dung belongs to the syndrome of Yin Jie (Yin Knotting/Binding).

The reason for worsening on the seventeenth day lies in Fire, which belongs to Yang. According to the Da Yan numbers (Great Expanding Numbers), Earth generates 2 for Fire, and Heaven completes it with 7, summing to 9. Accumulating two sets of nine equals eighteen days, at which point Fire Qi becomes abundant. Since Yang nature is swift, the worsening occurs before the full period, i.e., on the seventeenth day. The reason for worsening on the fourteenth day lies in Water, which belongs to Yin. According to the Da Yan numbers, Heaven generates 1 for Water, and Earth completes it with 6, summing to 7. Accumulating two sets of seven equals fourteen days, at which point Water Qi becomes abundant. Since Yin nature is sluggish, the worsening occurs precisely at the period, i.e., on the fourteenth day. This discusses the general principles of Yin and Yang and should not be interpreted too literally regarding specific numbers.

When the pulse arrives slowly but occasionally stops and then resumes, it is named Jie Mai (Knotted Pulse). When the pulse arrives rapidly but occasionally stops and then resumes, it is named Cu Mai (Rapid/Pulsating Pulse). Yang Excess leads to Cu Mai (Rapid/Pulsating Pulse), while Yin Excess leads to Jie Mai (Knotted Pulse); these are pathological pulses. Pathological pulses arise from the bias or imbalance of Yin and Yang.

A pulse that appears abundant and expansive like a chariot canopy is named Yang Jie (Yang Knotting/Binding). A pulse that feels continuous and hard like running fingers along a long bamboo pole is named Yin Jie (Yin Knotting/Binding). A pulse that flutters lightly like fat/oil floating on soup indicates weak Yang Qi. A pulse that is thin and weak like a spider's silk indicates declining Yang Qi. A pulse that is continuous yet intermittently breaks, like pouring lacquer that suddenly cuts off, indicates loss of Blood (Wang Xue).

A pulse that is abundant and turbulent, rising and falling like a chariot canopy, is named Yang Jie (Yang Knotting/Binding). A pulse that is uneven and hard like touching the knots of a long pole is named Yin Jie (Yin Knotting/Binding). A pulse that is empty and floating like oil beads on soup indicates weak Yang Qi. A pulse that is fine and weak like a spider's light thread indicates declining Yang Qi. A pulse that is intermittent like frequently cutting-off lacquer pouring indicates loss of Blood (Wang Xue).

When Yin and Yang Qi beat against each other, it is called Dong Mai (Moving Pulse). If Yang Qi moves, sweating occurs; if Yin Qi moves, fever occurs. If the patient presents with cold limbs and aversion to cold, this indicates injury to the San Jiao (Triple Burner). If a rapid pulse is seen at the Guan position (Cun-Guan-Chi positions: Cuneiform, Inch, Cubit), lacking head and tail, about the size of a bean, and trembling violently, it is named Dong Mai (Moving Pulse).

When Yin and Yang Qi beat against each other, causing turbulent agitation, it is called "Dong" (Movement). Yang movement causes Yang Qi to rise into Yin, leading to leakage of Wei Qi (Defensive Qi) and sweating. Yin movement causes Yin Qi to close off Yang, leading to stagnation of Wei Qi and heat generation. Although "Dong" often appears in Yang pulses, it actually involves both Yin and Yang. If pulse movement accompanies cold limbs and aversion to cold, this indicates injury to the Yang Qi of the San Jiao (Triple Burner). If a rapid pulse is found at the Guan position, lacking head and tail, about the size of a bean, and trembling violently, it is named Dong Mai (Moving Pulse). "Dong" signifies Qi stagnation in the middle, preventing proper ascending and descending. The Guan position monitors the Middle Jiao because it is where Zhong Qi (Middle Qi) governs the dynamics of ascent and descent. Generally, when Yin rises to the Cun position, it follows its upward nature and does not form Yang movement; when Yin descends to the Chi position, it follows its downward nature and does not form movement. Only when Yin desires to ascend but Spleen Earth is too weak to lift it, and Yang desires to descend but Stomach Earth is too weak to lower it, do the two Qi mechanisms stagnate at the Guan position, presenting as a pulse without head or tail, bean-sized, and trembling violently. This reflects the state of weak Qi unable to ascend and descend. The Guan position is the gate of Yin and Yang exit and entry; Yin ascends here to become Yang, and Yang descends here to become Yin. Thus, it is the pivot of Yin-Yang ascent and descent, meaning the Guan pulse manifests the state of Zhong Qi (Middle Qi). (If the pulse at the Guan position beats rapidly like a bean, trembling violently, and extending neither to Cun nor Chi, it is a death pulse.)