人之常气禀于胃。胃者平人之常气也。人无胃气曰死。春胃微弦曰平。弦多胃少曰汗腐。但弦无胃曰死。胃而有毛
曰秋病。毛甚曰今病。藏真散于肝。肝藏筋膜之气也。（以下五节）
人自有生而后。全藉谷气为养。故一日不再食则饥。七日不食则死。可见平人之常气禀于胃。无胃气则死也。经曰。
饮食入胃。脉道乃行。又曰脉得食即高。故知脉道之行。必待此而起。夫脉者气血之府。精神之舍。而胃气者。乃精气
神三宝之神粮。而营卫之渊源也。其气流营溢卫合精。而行神于脉。虽五脏各禀。四时各正。有必见必应之时。而于人
之保合太和。必以胃气为本。是五脏四时。皆必待此而得其平也。故辨脉必先辨于胃脉。胃脉者和而大。搏而有力。于
三阳则搏而勿浮。三阴则搏而勿沉。虽本五脏应四时。而不受五脏四时之沮抑裁损。此所谓平人之元气元神也。昌大于
春夏。收藏于秋冬。使五脏之正气。得以主时而奉令。故肝得主春而脉弦。心得主夏而脉钩。脾得主季夏而脉 。肺得
主秋而脉毛。肾得主冬而脉石。而皆曰微者。正以明胃气之充壮鼓行。使五脏外循天令。而得以其和者主之也。其于五
脏皆曰藏真者。盖谓五脏所藏之本真气也。真气之本。虽起于先天所禀之阴阳。而不得胃气。则不能充之壮之以为真。
故五脏所藏。而能散能濡能高能下能通者。皆赖胃气之聚精待用。而五脏始得行其职事也。肝藏筋膜之气。心藏血脉之
气。脾藏肌肉之气。肺行营卫阴阳之气。肾藏骨髓之气。其各得赡举以固生身。以奉天令。皆胃气之常充常行耳。故必
胃多而微见弦钩 毛石者为无病。稍有衰飒。则弦钩等多见而胃少矣。夫弦钩等脉得四时而见。何尝非五脏之正。而胃
气不胜。遂成脏病。况此五脉之单见耶。单见则胃绝。而真脏之脉见。故曰死也。至若春之胃而见毛。毛与弦反。而乃
见之于春。是胃不能相为于肝以存弦令。而反受克于毛。则胃之衰败已征矣。而曰至秋病者。前此春夏三阳得令。尚能
扶我至秋。则胃不能胜而为病也。若毛甚则胃家之太和已戕。命曰今病。即今已不能掩其恶也。夫人之生。天地合德。
得阴阳五行之全。然自孩提毁齿以来。天癸未至。肾元弗充。要有待于后天之谷神以充之。故持之又久。而后先天之元
气以昌。精神之运量以足。皆胃气也。自中焦出营卫以行隧道。谓之经气合元气而积于胸中。谓之宗气。是故巨阳谓之
主气。此气之至。能先天而天弗违。故入五脏为藏真。使总摄五官百骸。能后天而奉天时。故历四时五运司天之令。以
为之应而无忒。是以胃气之脉。为人之主。自有不为四时五脏之气所掩者。内经首提而言之。此脉家根本第一义。而东
垣丹溪诸公。竞谓其和如春风杨柳。不知此特为春胃微弦之一喻耳。若微钩微石。尚有所不能喻也。至于微 。更有妙
义。胃本不 。以长夏湿土主政。蒸其溽气。火湿相搏。使正气不能高举。故其象为 ，然正唯微 。则胃气之壮可知。
此正所谓在三阳则搏而勿浮。三阴则搏而勿沉者。胃气之实象也。知此则知真藏见而主死之故矣。
The normal Qi of humans is endowed by the Stomach. The Stomach is the source of normal Qi in healthy individuals. If a person lacks Stomach Qi, they will die. In spring, if the pulse has a slight *Xian* (Wiry) quality with Stomach Qi, it is called a Ping Pulse (Normal Pulse). If there is much Wiry quality but little Stomach Qi, it is called "Liver Corruption" (a sign of severe liver dysfunction and critical illness). If there is only Wiry quality without Stomach Qi, it is called a Death Pulse. If the pulse shows a *Mao* (Floating/Hair-like) quality in spring, disease will occur in autumn. If the Floating quality is excessive, disease will manifest immediately. The True Qi of the Zang organs scatters into the Liver, which stores the Qi of the sinews and fascia. (The following five sections follow similar logic.)
Since birth, humans rely entirely on Grain Qi for nourishment. Therefore, not eating for one day causes hunger, and not eating for seven days leads to death. This demonstrates that the normal Qi of healthy individuals is endowed by the Stomach; without Stomach Qi, death ensues. The Classics state: "When food enters the Stomach, the vessel pathways begin to flow." It also states: "The pulse rises after eating." Thus, we know that the flow of vessel pathways must be initiated by this [Stomach Qi]. The pulse is the residence of Blood and Qi, and the dwelling of Spirit. Stomach Qi is the spiritual grain of the Three Treasures (Jing, Qi, Shen), and the origin of Ying (Nutritive) and Wei (Defensive) Qi. Its flow permeates Ying, overflows into Wei, combines with Essence, and circulates Spirit within the vessels. Although each Zang organ receives its respective seasonal Qi and maintains its own correct pulse, in maintaining the harmonious balance of the human body, Stomach Qi must be the foundation. Therefore, the five Zang organs and four seasons all require this [Stomach Qi] to achieve harmony. Hence, distinguishing pulses requires first distinguishing the Stomach Pulse. The Stomach Pulse is characterized by being gentle and large, beating strongly and powerfully. In the three Yang channels, it beats strongly but does not float; in the three Yin channels, it beats strongly but does not sink. Although the pulse originates from the five Zang organs and corresponds to the four seasons, it should not be suppressed or diminished by them. This is what is referred to as the Yuan Qi (Original Qi) and Yuan Shen (Original Spirit) of a healthy person. It expands during spring and summer, and stores during autumn and winter, allowing the righteous Qi of the five Zang organs to govern their respective seasons and execute commands. Thus, the Liver governs spring and presents a Wiry pulse; the Heart governs summer and presents a Hook (Cord-like) pulse; the Spleen governs late summer and presents a Slow (Huan) pulse; the Lungs govern autumn and present a Floating (Mao) pulse; the Kidneys govern winter and present a Stone (Sinking) pulse. All these pulses emphasize the term "slight" (Wei), precisely to illustrate that Stomach Qi is abundant and vigorous, enabling the five Zang organs to follow heavenly mandates and be governed by this harmony. When referring to the five Zang organs storing "True Qi," it refers to the fundamental True Qi stored within them. Although the root of True Qi arises from the Yin and Yang endowed at conception, without Stomach Qi, it cannot be enriched and strengthened to become true. Therefore, the ability of the Qi stored in the five Zang organs to scatter, moisten, ascend, descend, and unblock relies on Stomach Qi gathering essence for use, allowing the five Zang organs to perform their functions. The Liver stores the Qi of sinews and fascia; the Heart stores the Qi of blood vessels; the Spleen stores the Qi of muscles; the Lungs circulate Ying, Wei, Yin, and Yang Qi; the Kidneys store the Qi of bone marrow. Each obtains sufficient nourishment to consolidate life and serve heavenly mandates, all due to the constant fullness and circulation of Stomach Qi. Therefore, only when Stomach Qi is abundant and the Wiry, Hook, Slow, Floating, and Stone qualities are slightly manifested is the person considered free of disease. If there is any decline, the Wiry and Hook qualities will appear more frequently, and Stomach Qi will be deficient. The Wiry and Hook pulses appearing according to the seasons are indeed the righteous pulses of the five Zang organs; however, if Stomach Qi is insufficient, it leads to Zang organ disease, let alone the isolated appearance of these five pulses. Isolated appearance indicates the extinction of Stomach Qi and the manifestation of the True Zang Pulse, hence it signifies death. Regarding the appearance of a Floating (Mao) pulse in spring: since Floating contradicts Wiry, its appearance in spring means Stomach Qi fails to assist the Liver in maintaining the Wiry mandate and instead suffers control by Metal (Floating pulse belongs to Lung/Metal). This signals the decay of Stomach Qi. The statement "disease in autumn" implies that during the preceding spring and summer, the Yang channels were dominant and could still support the body into autumn, but Stomach Qi was unable to cope, leading to illness. If the Floating quality is excessive, the Taihe (Great Harmony) of the Stomach has been destroyed, termed "current illness," meaning the pathology is already evident and cannot be concealed. Human life results from the union of Heaven and Earth, possessing the completeness of Yin, Yang, and Five Elements. However, from childhood until the eruption of permanent teeth, Tian Gui (Heavenly Water/Reproductive Essence) has not arrived, and Kidney Essence is not filled. There is a reliance on postnatal Grain Spirit to enrich it. Only through long-term maintenance can congenital Original Qi flourish, and the operation of Spirit become sufficient; all of this depends on Stomach Qi. Stomach Qi emerges from the Middle Jiao to generate Ying and Wei Qi, circulating through the meridians, known as Jing Qi (Meridian Qi); Jing Qi combines with Original Qi and accumulates in the chest, known as Zong Qi (Gathering Qi). Thus, Ju Yang (Greater Yang/Taiyang) is called the Master Qi. When this Qi arrives, it acts prior to heaven without violating natural laws, entering the five Zang organs as True Zang Qi, governing the five senses and hundred bones; it acts subsequent to heaven while complying with time, responding to the mandates of the four seasons and five movements without error. Therefore, the Stomach Pulse serves as the master of humans, inherently unconcealed by the Qi of the four seasons and five Zang organs. The *Nei Jing* mentions this first; it is the primary principle of pulse diagnosis. Li Dongyuan and Zhu Danxi, among others, competed to describe it as like willow catkins in the spring breeze, unaware that this is merely a metaphor for the "spring Stomach slight Wiry" pulse. Metaphors fail for slight Hook or Stone pulses. The slight Slow pulse holds even deeper significance. The Stomach itself does not present a Slow pulse; rather, because damp earth governs late summer, steaming humidity, and fire and dampness contend, preventing righteous Qi from rising high, the image appears as Slow. Precisely because it is slightly Slow, the vigor of Stomach Qi can be known. This is exactly the "strong but not floating in three Yang, strong but not sinking in three Yin" solid image of Stomach Qi. Understanding this reveals why the appearance of True Zang Pulses signifies death.