一难曰∶十二经皆有动脉，独取寸口，以决五脏六腑死生吉凶之法，何谓也？
然∶寸口者，脉之大会，手太阴之脉动也。
人一呼，脉行三寸，一吸脉行三寸，呼吸定息，脉行六寸。人一日一夜，凡一万三千五百息，
脉行五十度，周于身。漏水下百刻，荣卫行阳二十五度，行阴亦二十五度，为一周也。故五十度
复会于手太阴。寸口者，五脏六腑之所终始，故法取于寸口也。
二难曰∶脉有尺寸，何谓也？然∶尺寸者，脉之大要会也。
从关至尺，是尺内，阴之所治也∶从关至鱼际，是寸口内，阳之所治也。
故分寸为尺，分尺为寸。
故阴得尺内一寸，阳得寸内九分。
尺寸终始一寸九分，故曰尺寸也。
三难曰∶脉有太过，有不及，有阴阳相乘，有覆有溢，有关有格，何谓也？
然∶关之前者，阳之动也，脉当见九分而浮。过者，法曰太过；减者，法曰不及。
遂上鱼为溢，为外关内格，此阴乘之脉也。
关以后者，阴之动也，脉当见一寸而沉。过者，法曰太过；减者，法曰不及。
遂入尺为覆，为内关外格，此阳乘之脉也。
故曰覆溢。
是其真脏之脉，人不病而死也。
四难曰∶脉有阴阳之法，何谓也？然∶呼出心与肺，吸入肾与肝，呼吸之间∶脾受谷味也，其脉在
中。
浮者阳也，沉者阴也，故曰阴阳也。
心肺俱浮，何以别之？然∶浮而大散者心也；浮而短涩者肺也。肾肝俱沉，何以别之？然∶牢而长
者肝也；按之濡，举指来实者肾也。脾者中州，故其脉在中，是阴阳之法也。
脉有一阴一阳，一阴二阳，一阴三阳；有一阳一阴，一阳二阴，一阳三阴。如此之言，寸口有六
脉俱动邪？然∶此言者，非有六脉俱动也，谓浮沉长短滑涩也。浮者阳也，滑者阳也，长者阳也；沉
者阴也，短者阴也，涩者阴也。所谓一阴一阳者，谓脉来沉而滑也；一阴二阳者，谓脉来沉滑而长也；
一阴三阳者，谓脉来浮滑而长，时一沉也。所谓一阳一阴者，谓脉来浮而涩也；一阳二阴者，谓脉来
长而沉涩也；一阳三阴者，谓脉来沉涩而短，时一浮也。各以其经所在，名病逆顺也。
Difficulty 1 states: All twelve meridians have pulsating arteries, yet only the Cun Kou (Inch Gate pulse) is selected to determine the life and death, auspiciousness and inauspiciousness of the Zang and Fu organs. What is the reason for this?
The response is: The Cun Kou is the great assembly of pulses, belonging to the pulsation of the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian.
With one exhalation, the pulse travels three cun; with one inhalation, the pulse also travels three cun. During a complete respiratory cycle (Ding Xi), the pulse travels six cun. In one day and night, a person breathes ten thousand three hundred and fifty times, causing the pulse to circulate fifty cycles around the body. As the clepsydra drips down one hundred ke (water marks), Ying Qi (Nutritive Qi) circulates twenty-five cycles in the Yang aspect and twenty-five cycles in the Yin aspect, constituting one complete circuit. Therefore, after fifty cycles, the pulse returns to meet at the Hand Taiyin. The Cun Kou is where the meridians of the Zang and Fu organs begin and end; thus, the method of pulse diagnosis selects the Cun Kou.
Difficulty 2 states: There are Chi (Cubit) and Cun (Inch) divisions in the pulse. What does this mean? The response is: Chi and Cun are the major essential assemblies of the pulse.
From the Guan (Barrier) point to the Chi position, this is the inner Chi area, governed by Yin; from the Guan point to the Yu Ji (Fish Border) acupoint, this is the inner Cun area, governed by Yang.
Therefore, the portion designated as Chi is derived from the Cun measurement, and the portion designated as Cun is derived from the Chi measurement.
Thus, Yin occupies one cun within the Chi area, and Yang occupies nine fen within the Cun area.
The total length of Chi and Cun is one cun and nine fen, hence it is called "Chi Cun".
Difficulty 3 states: Pulses can be excessive (Tai Guo) or deficient (Bu Ji); there is mutual multiplication of Yin and Yang; there are Fu (Reversal) and Yi (Overflow) pulses; there are Guan (Barrier) and Ge (Gridlock) conditions. What do these mean?
The response is: Anterior to the Guan point is the movement of Yang; the pulse should appear nine fen long and floating (Fu). If it exceeds this standard, it is termed "excessive" according to the rules; if it falls short, it is termed "deficient".
If the pulse extends beyond the Yu Ji towards the hand, it is called "Yi" (Overflow), representing an external barrier and internal gridlock, which is a pulse of Yin multiplying upon Yang.
Posterior to the Guan point is the movement of Yin; the pulse should appear one cun long and deep (Chen). If it exceeds this standard, it is termed "excessive"; if it falls short, it is termed "deficient".
If the pulse extends into the Chi region below, it is called "Fu" (Reversal), representing an internal barrier and external gridlock, which is a pulse of Yang multiplying upon Yin.
Hence they are called Fu and Yi.
These are the pulses of the True Zang organs; death occurs even if the patient has no apparent disease symptoms.
Difficulty 4 states: There is a method of distinguishing Yin and Yang in pulses. What is it? The response is: Exhalation relates to the Heart and Lungs; inhalation relates to the Kidneys and Liver; between respiration, the Spleen receives the essence of grain, and its pulse is located in the middle.
Floating pulses belong to Yang; deep pulses belong to Yin; hence they are called Yin and Yang.
Both the Heart and Lung pulses float. How are they distinguished? The response is: A pulse that is floating, large, and scattered belongs to the Heart; a pulse that is floating, short, and choppy belongs to the Lung. Both the Kidney and Liver pulses are deep. How are they distinguished? The response is: A pulse that is firm and long belongs to the Liver; a pulse that feels soft upon heavy pressure but becomes solid when lifted lightly belongs to the Kidney. The Spleen resides in the Central Region (Zhong Zhou), so its pulse is in the middle. This constitutes the method of Yin and Yang.
There are pulses with one Yin and one Yang, one Yin and two Yangs, one Yin and three Yangs; and one Yang and one Yin, one Yang and two Yins, one Yang and three Yins. Does this statement imply that all six pulses at the Cun Kou move simultaneously? The response is: This statement does not mean that six pulses move simultaneously, but refers to the characteristics of floating, deep, long, short, slippery, and choppy. Floating is Yang; slippery is Yang; long is Yang. Deep is Yin; short is Yin; choppy is Yin.
What is meant by "one Yin and one Yang"? It means the pulse comes deep and slippery.
What is meant by "one Yin and two Yangs"? It means the pulse comes deep, slippery, and long.
What is meant by "one Yin and three Yangs"? It means the pulse comes floating, slippery, and long, occasionally presenting a deep quality.
What is meant by "one Yang and one Yin"? It means the pulse comes floating and choppy.
What is meant by "one Yang and two Yins"? It means the pulse comes long, deep, and choppy.
What is meant by "one Yang and three Yins"? It means the pulse comes deep, choppy, and short, occasionally presenting a floating quality.
Based on the meridian location associated with these pulse qualities, the reversals and顺逆 (shun ni, favorable/unfavorable progression) of diseases are named.