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The *Lunyu Jingwei* (Treatise on the Essential and Subtle Aspects of Pulse Diagnosis) states: Pulse diagnosis is usually performed at dawn (Pingdan), when Yin Qi (Yin Energy) has not yet stirred, Yang Qi (Yang Energy) has not yet dispersed, food and drink have not been ingested, the Jing Mai (Primary Meridians) are not yet full, the Luo Mai (Collateral Vessels) are harmonious and even, and the Ying Qi (Nutritive Energy) and Xue (Blood) are not yet disturbed. Therefore, only then can one diagnose abnormal pulses (The Ying and Wei energies circulate in the Yang aspects during the day and in the Yin aspects at night; by dawn, they all converge at the Cun Kou (Radial Artery). Thus, pulse diagnosis is conventionally done at dawn. Yin energy is peaceful and undisturbed, Yang energy is about to become abundant but not yet dispersed, and no food has been taken. Deficiency and excess are easily distinguished, the Primary Meridians are not yet full, the Collateral Vessels are harmonious, and the Nutritive Energy and Blood are not disturbed by movement. Only then can pathological pulses be diagnosed. "Guo" refers to disease). By palpating the dynamics of the pulse and observing the clarity of the eyes, examining the five complexions, and observing the excess or deficiency of the Zang Organs (Solid Organs) and the strength or weakness of the Fu Organs (Hollow Organs), as well as the flourishing or declining state of the body form, these factors are cross-referenced to determine the boundary between life and death (Qie means close proximity, i.e., pressing the hand against the body. Palpating the pulse's dynamics diagnoses Yin and Yang; observing the clarity of the eyes diagnoses Shen Qi (Spiritual Energy); examining the five colors observes the deficiency or excess of the Zang and Fu organs; assessing the body form distinguishes the flourishing or declining trend of the disease. By cross-referencing these methods with the pulse, Yin and Yang, Interior and Exterior, Deficiency and Excess, Cold and Heat will naturally reveal themselves, allowing one to determine the boundary of life and death. "Can" means irregularity, analyzing differences separately; "Wu" means similarity, comparing similarities together. Although pulse diagnosis takes one location, there are multiple diagnostic methods; this is the essential path for physicians).

The inner lateral aspect of the Chi position corresponds to the Ji Xie (lower ribs) (Cun is anterior to the Guan position; Chi is posterior to the Guan position. Ji Xie refers to the lower ribs, located below the costal margin, near the Kidney; thus, the inner Chi position governs the Ji Xie). The outer aspect of the Chi position候 (observes/diagnoses) the Kidney, and the inner aspect of the Chi position observes the Abdomen (Chi Wai refers to the anterior half of the Chi pulse; Chi Li refers to the posterior half of the Chi pulse. The anterior half observes Yang, and the posterior half observes Yin. The back of the body belongs to Yang, and the Kidney attaches to the back, so the outer aspect observes the Kidney. The abdomen belongs to Yin, so the inner aspect observes the abdomen, including the Large Intestine, Small Intestine, Bladder, and Ming Men (Gate of Vitality)). Moving up from the middle attachment, the left outer aspect observes the Liver, and the inner aspect observes the Diaphragm ("Zhong Fu Shang" means attaching above the Chi position and residing in the middle, which is the Guan position. Left Wai refers to the anterior half of the left Guan position. Nei refers to the posterior half of the left Guan position. The Liver is Yang within Yin and also near the back, so the outer aspect observes the Liver. The inner aspect observes the Diaphragm; mentioning the diaphragm includes the Middle Jiao (Middle Burner) diaphragm membrane and the Gallbladder). The right outer aspect observes the Stomach, and the inner aspect observes the Spleen (Right Guan anterior half observes the Stomach; Right Guan posterior half observes the Spleen. The Spleen and Stomach both reside in the Central Earth (Middle Jiao). Speaking of Exterior and Interior, the Stomach is Yang and the Spleen is Yin, so the outer aspect observes the Stomach and the inner aspect observes the Spleen). Moving further up to the upper attachment, the right outer aspect observes the Lung, and the inner aspect observes the Chest Center (Shang Fu Shang means moving further up, which is the Cun position. Among the Zang organs, the Lung is at the highest position, so the anterior right Cun observes the Lung. The posterior right Cun observes the Chest Center, meaning everything above the diaphragm). The left outer aspect observes the Heart, and the inner aspect observes the Tan Zhong (Pericardium) (Left Cun anterior observes the Heart; Left Cun posterior observes the Tan Zhong. Tan Zhong is the Pericardium. Note: The *Ling Lan Mi Dian* mentions Tan Zhong but not Pericardium, calling Tan Zhong the "Official of the Envoy," where joy and laughter arise. The *Ling Shu* describes meridians with Pericardium but not Tan Zhong, stating that heart movement causes incessant laughter, which aligns with "joy and laughter arise." Laughter belongs to Fire, indicating Tan Zhong corresponds to the Heart and is an alias for the Pericardium).

The *Ping Ren Qi Xiang Lun* (Treatise on the Normal Person's Qi and Manifestations) states: In one exhalation, the pulse beats twice; in one inhalation, the pulse also beats twice. Between the end of exhalation and inhalation (Ding Xi), the pulse beats five times, occasionally supplemented by a deep sigh (Tai Xi), which is called a Ping Ren (Normal/Healthy Person) (Dong means arrival. Two beats per exhalation, two per inhalation make one Xi (breath cycle), totaling four beats. Five beats occur during the occasional Tai Xi. Just as the calendar has leap years every three or five years, humans correspond to Heaven's Dao, having a Tai Xi every three or five breaths. Tai Xi is a long breath. This describes the pulse of a healthy person without disease. The standard should be four beats. If it is five beats, it is considered excessive; only during the occasional Tai Xi does it reach five beats. Otherwise, it remains four beats).

If a person's pulse beats once per exhalation and once per inhalation, it is called Shao Qi (Deficient Qi) (One beat per exhalation and one per inhalation makes two beats per Xi. Two beats is a Chi (Slow) pulse, which indicates Cold diseases. Qi belongs to Yang; Qi deficiency leads to Yang deficiency, hence Shao Qi). If a person's pulse beats three times per exhalation and three times per inhalation, and is rapid (Zao), with heat in the Chi position, it is a Wen Bing (Warm Disease); if the Chi position is not hot and the pulse is Slippery (Hua), it is a Feng Bing (Wind Disease); if the pulse is Choppy (Se), it is a Bi Syndrome (Obstruction) (Three beats per exhalation and three per inhalation make six beats per Xi. Six beats is a Shu (Rapid) pulse; Zao implies speed. Chi Re means the Chi pulse is rapid. "Bing Wen" here refers to suffering from heat, not specifically the Warm Diseases of Shang Han. The left Chi represents Water; rapidity indicates Water depletion and heat. The right Chi represents Fire; rapidity indicates Fire flaring and heat, so both are called Bing Wen. If the Chi is not rapid but other pulses are Slippery, it indicates excess Yang pathogenic factors, leading to Wind Disease. Se indicates blood coagulation and Qi stagnation, leading to Bi Syndrome). If a person's pulse beats more than four times per exhalation, it indicates death; if the pulse ceases completely, it indicates death; if the pulse is intermittently slow and rapid, it indicates death (Four beats per exhalation mean eight beats per Xi, let alone more, so death is certain. Complete cessation of the pulse means Ying and Wei energies are severed. Intermittent slowness and rapidity indicate chaotic Qi and Blood; death is inevitable).

The *Ling Shu · Gen Jie* chapter states: In one day and night, the Qi circulates fifty times to nourish the essence of the five Zang organs. If it does not conform to this number, it is called Kuang Sheng (Mad Generation/Life) (Ying means operation/circulation. The human meridians circulate through the body fifty times in a day and night to transport the essence of the five Zang organs. There are twenty-seven meridians throughout the body, totaling sixteen zhang and two chi in length. The Zong Qi (Gathering Qi) accumulates in the chest, governing respiration and moving the meridians. One exhalation moves three cun, one inhalation moves three cun, and between breaths, the pulse moves six cun. Calculating from six cun per Xi, there are thirteen thousand five hundred breaths in a day and night, completing fifty cycles in the body, covering eight hundred ten zhang of pulse travel. Any excess or deficiency would not match this number. Kuang Sheng means妄生 (arbitrary generation); life cannot be guaranteed). The so-called fifty cycles mean that all five Zang organs receive Qi. Holding the pulse at the Cun Kou and counting its beats (The fifty cycles refer to the Qi received by the five Zang organs. Holding the Cun Kou and counting its beats allows one to examine deficiency and excess).

Fifty beats without a single Dai pulse (intermittent pulse) is considered normal, allowing one to know the Qi of the five Zang organs. A short-term prognosis (approaching death) is indicated by intermittent slowness and rapidity (Normal refers to the constant pulse, which can reveal the Qi of the five Zang organs. If intermittent slowness and rapidity occur, Yin and Yang are disordered, and death is near. Duan means near).

The *San Bu Jiu Hou Lun* (Treatise on the Three Regions and Nine Positions) states: Uniquely small indicates disease; uniquely large indicates disease; uniquely rapid indicates disease; uniquely slow indicates disease; uniquely hot indicates disease; uniquely cold indicates disease; uniquely sunken indicates disease (This describes the Seven Diagnostic Methods. "Du" (Unique) means identifying the part that differs from the others among the Three Regions and Nine Positions to locate the disease).

The *Fang Sheng Shuai Lun* (Treatise on Approaching Fullness and Decline) states: If Xing Qi (Form and Qi) is in excess but Mai Qi (Pulse Qi) is deficient, death occurs; if Mai Qi is in excess but Xing Qi is deficient, survival is possible (This emphasizes that the pulse is more important than form and Qi. Xing Qi excess means the exterior appears healthy, but Mai Qi deficiency means the interior organs are injured, leading to death. If the form is depleted but the pulse is not failed, the root remains, and survival is possible. Thus, the *San Bu Jiu Hou Lun* states: If flesh is already wasted, even if the nine positions are harmonious, death still occurs, because wasting means complete loss of muscle, which is worse than deficiency. The Spleen governs muscles; muscle wasting indicates Spleen exhaustion, leaving no hope for life).

The *Lunyu Jingwei* states: There is a way to hold the pulse: emptiness and stillness are the guarantee (Xu means the mind is empty without distracting thoughts. Jing means the body is still without noise. Maintaining this without loss is the way of pulse diagnosis). In spring, the pulse floats like a fish swimming in waves (Spring Yang moves but is not fully revealed, like a fish in waves); in summer, it is on the skin, abundant like all things (Summer Qi is smooth and reaching, all things are complete without lack. Fanfan describes abundance); in autumn, it sinks to the skin, like hibernating insects about to leave (Autumn Metal is clear and肃 (solemn); abundance gradually收敛 (converges), like hibernating insects about to depart); in winter, it sinks to the bone, like hibernating insects densely packed, and the gentleman stays indoors (Winter closes and stores, sinking to the bone, like insects fearing cold and dwelling deeply. The gentleman follows Heaven's timing and dwells indoors, hiding in secrecy). Therefore, it is said: To understand the interior, press and record; to understand the exterior, follow from end to beginning. These six points are the great principles of pulse diagnosis (Interior refers to Zang Qi, which has fixed locations, so it can be pressed and recorded. Exterior refers to Jing Qi, which has order, so it can be followed from end to beginning. Understanding these four seasons' interior-exterior six methods allows clear differentiation of disease's interior/exterior and Yin/Yang, making them the great principles of pulse diagnosis).

The *Yu Ji Zhen Cang Lun* (Treatise on the Jade Machine and True Hidden Pulses) states: The Spring pulse corresponds to the Liver, Eastern Wood, the beginning of all things' growth. Thus, its Qi comes soft, weak, light, void, and slippery, straight and long, hence called Xian (String-like). Deviation from this indicates disease (Straight and long resembles a bowstring, implying strength. But being soft, weak, light, void, and slippery prevents the string-like quality from being too rigid, reflecting the harmony of spring). If the Qi comes solid and strong, this is called Tai Guo (Excess), with disease in the Exterior; if the Qi comes insubstantial and weak, this is called Bu Ji (Deficiency), with disease in the Interior (Solid and strong cannot be soft and weak; insubstantial and weak cannot be straight and long; both are deviations from the Xian pulse. Hence, deviation indicates disease. Exterior diseases often have excess, while Interior diseases often have deficiency, generally speaking). Tai Guo causes irritability, dizziness, and headache at the vertex; Bu Ji causes chest pain radiating to the back and distension in the hypochondrium (Wang should be Nu (anger). The *Ben Shen* chapter states: Liver Qi deficiency causes fear, excess causes anger. The *Qi Jiao Bian Da Lun* states: Year of Wood excess causes irritability, anger, dizziness, and vertex pain. Xuan is blurred vision; Mao is mental confusion. The Foot Jueyin Liver meridian meets at the vertex and spreads through the diaphragm and hypochondrium, causing these symptoms).

The Summer pulse corresponds to the Heart, Southern Fire, the cause of all things' flourishing growth. Thus, its Qi comes abundant and departs declining, hence called Gou (Hook). Deviation from this indicates disease (Gou resembles hanging branches, i.e., Hong (Surging) pulse. It comes abundant and departs declining, indicating Yang excess). If the Qi comes abundant and departs abundant, this is Tai Guo, disease in the Exterior; if the Qi comes not abundant but departs abundant, this is Bu Ji, disease in the Interior (Coming abundant and departing abundant is excessive Gou. Coming not abundant and departing abundant is deficient Gou. Departing abundant does not mean strong. Pulse coming out from bone to skin is Lai (coming); entering from skin to bone is Qu (departing)). Tai Guo causes body heat and skin pain, leading to Jin Yin (oozing sores); Bu Ji causes vexation, coughing and spitting upwards, and Qi leakage downwards (Tai Guo means Yang excess and exterior disease, causing heat and pain. Jin Yin is severe damp-heat. Bu Ji means Minister Fire deficiency and interior disease, causing Heart deficiency and vexation, Fire attacking Metal causing cough. Qi leakage is sinking of Yang Qi).

The Autumn pulse corresponds to the Lung, Western Metal, the cause of all things' harvest. Thus, its Qi comes light, void, and floating, rapid in arrival and scattered in departure, hence called Fu (Floating) or Mao (Feather). Deviation from this indicates disease (Fu is another name for light and void. Rapid arrival and scattered departure describe the Fu/Mao pulse). If the Qi comes like hair, firm in the center and void on the sides, this is Tai Guo, disease in the Exterior; if the Qi comes like hair but weak, this is Bu Ji, disease in the Interior (Hair-like with force is firm center; hair-like without force is weak). Tai Guo causes reverse Qi flow and back pain, feeling stifled; Bu Ji causes panting, shortness of breath, cough, upward Qi reversal with blood, and audible sounds downwards (Lung governs Qi; Tai Guo causes Qi reversal and back pain. Yunyun is Qi stagnation. Bu Ji causes shortness of breath and cough. Qi not returning to origin causes upward Qi. Yin deficiency and internal damage cause blood manifestation. Audible sounds downwards refer to intestinal rumbling and gas).

The Winter pulse corresponds to the Kidney, Northern Water, the cause of all things' storage. Thus, its Qi comes deep and pounding, hence called Ying (Camp/Nourishing) or Chen Shi (Deep Stone). Deviation from this indicates disease (Ying means hiding in secrecy, i.e., Deep Stone pulse). If the Qi comes like bouncing stones, this is Tai Guo, disease in the Exterior; if it departs like a rapid pulse, this is Bu Ji, disease in the Interior (Bouncing stones indicate hardness; departing like rapid pulse does not mean truly rapid, but fast departure). Tai Guo causes lethargy, spinal pain, shortness of breath, and unwillingness to speak; Bu Ji causes a feeling of hunger with a suspended heart, coldness in the Ji Xie area, spinal pain, lower abdominal fullness, and urinary changes (Jie is lethargy and limb relaxation. , is physical fatigue. Spinal pain is where the Kidney meridian passes. Excess pathogenic Qi reduces righteous Qi, causing unwillingness to speak. Heart-Kidney non-interaction causes hunger sensation. Zhong is the soft area below the lower ribs, residence of the Kidney. Kidney meridian connects to the spine, Kidney, and Bladder, causing spinal pain, abdominal fullness, and urinary changes).

The Spleen pulse belongs to Earth, the solitary organ that irrigates the four directions (Spleen belongs to Earth, mother of all things. It transports grain and water, transforms essences, and irrigates the South Heart, North Kidney, East Liver, and West Lung, hence "four directions." Solitary organ resides in the center, thriving at the end of each season for eighteen days, totaling seventy-two days. Each season has ninety days; removing eighteen leaves seventy-two, the number for Five Elements thriving. Totaling five sevens three hundred five, two fives ten, equals three hundred sixty days for a year). Good pulses are invisible, bad ones are visible (Good refers to the Spleen's normal pulse. Why is there no visible normal pulse? Earth has no fixed position or image. Ancients named it neither floating nor sunken, neither large nor small, neither rapid nor slow. It is vibrant, leisurely, hard to describe. These words imply no fixed image or form. Invisible means hard to describe. Bad refers to excess or deficient pathological pulses). If it comes like flowing water, this is Tai Guo, disease in the Exterior; like a crow's beak, this is Bu Ji, disease in the Interior (According to *Ping Ren Qi Xiang Lun*: Hard and sharp like a crow's beak, or like flowing water, indicates Spleen death. Crow's beak is hard and unharmonious; flowing water is scattered and unordered. Earth virtue is lacking, disease is incurable, i.e., bad pulses are visible).

The *Ping Ren Qi Xiang Lun* states: A normal Heart pulse comes like linked pearls, like touching Lang Gan (jade), called Xin Ping (Normal Heart), with Stomach Qi as the foundation in summer (Linked pearls and jade symbolize abundance and warmth, i.e., slight Gou, the pulse with Stomach Qi, hence Normal Heart). A diseased Heart pulse comes rapidly connected, slightly curved in the middle, called Xin Bing (Heart Disease) (Rapid connection is urgency; slight curvature means more Gou than Stomach Qi). A dying Heart pulse comes curved at the front and fixed at the back, like holding a belt with a hook, called Xin Si (Death of Heart) (Front curved means firm and large on light pressure; back fixed means solid on heavy pressure, like holding a leather belt with a gold hook, losing harmony, hence Death).

A normal Lung pulse comes gentle and fluttering, like falling elm seeds, called Fei Ping (Normal Lung), with Stomach Qi as the foundation in autumn (Gentle/fluttering is Se (Choppy); falling elm seeds is Mao (Feather). Light, floating, and slow indicates Stomach Qi. This is the normal Lung pulse). A diseased Lung pulse comes neither up nor down, like touching chicken feathers, called Fei Bing (Lung Disease) (Neither up nor down is Se; touching chicken feathers is Mao, but more Mao than Stomach Qi, hence Lung Disease). A dying Lung pulse comes like floating objects, like wind blowing feathers, called Fei Si (Death of Lung) (Floating objects lack root; wind-blown feathers are scattered. Mao without Stomach Qi indicates Death).

A normal Liver pulse comes soft and long, like the tip of a raised bamboo pole, called Gan Ping (Normal Liver), with Stomach Qi as the foundation in spring (Zhaozhao is long. Jie is raising high. Raising a long pole makes the tip soft; soft, slow, string-like, and long with Stomach Qi is the normal Liver pulse). A diseased Liver pulse comes full, solid, and slippery, like touching a long pole, called Gan Bing (Liver Disease) (Full, solid, slippery is excessive Xian. Long pole without tip loses softness; more Xian than Stomach Qi indicates Liver Disease). A dying Liver pulse comes urgent and stiff, like a newly tightened bowstring, called Gan Si (Death of Liver) (Jin is stiff. New bowstring is excessively Xian, with no Stomach Qi, hence Death).

A normal Spleen pulse comes harmonious and soft, distinct like a chicken stepping on ground, called Pi Ping (Normal Spleen), with Stomach Qi as the foundation in late summer (Harmonious is leisurely. Distinct is not blurry. Like a chicken stepping is slow and unhurried. This is the wonder of Stomach Qi, hence Normal Spleen). A diseased Spleen pulse comes solid, full, and rapid, like a chicken lifting its foot, called Pi Bing (Spleen Disease) (Solid, full, rapid is stiff and unharmonious. Like a chicken lifting foot indicates less Stomach Qi, hence Spleen Disease). A dying Spleen pulse comes sharp and hard like a crow's beak, like a bird's claw, like a leaking roof, like flowing water, called Pi Si (Death of Spleen) (Crow's beak is hard; bird's claw is urgent; leaking roof is chaotic; flowing water is scattered. Spleen Qi is exhausted, seeing this means death).

A normal Kidney pulse comes rapid and linked like a hook, firm upon pressure, called Shen Ping (Normal Kidney), with Stomach Qi as the foundation in winter (Rapid and linked like a hook is Heart Yang combined with Deep Stone, indicating Yin-Yang harmony and Stomach Qi in Kidney pulse). A diseased Kidney pulse comes like pulling vines, becoming firmer upon pressure, called Shen Bing (Kidney Disease) (Pulling vines means trailing. Firmer upon pressure means more Stone than Stomach Qi). A dying Kidney pulse comes like competing ropes, cracking like bouncing stones, called Shen Si (Death of Kidney) (Competing ropes mean mutual pulling and stiffness. Cracking like bouncing stones means Stone without Stomach Qi, indicating Kidney Death).

The *Lunyu Jingwei* states: The pulse is the mansion of Blood (Ying Qi flows in the vessels, hence the mansion of Blood. However, Qi governs the movement of Blood. The *Ni Shun* chapter states: Pulse excess/deficiency diagnoses Blood/Qi deficiency/excess, showing that mentioning Blood implies Qi, reinforcing the meanings of Qi health and Qi disease). Long pulse indicates regulated Qi; short pulse indicates Qi disease (Abundant Qi makes pulse long; deficient Qi makes pulse short). Rapid pulse causes vexation; large pulse indicates disease progression (Heart is the source of Bing Ding Fire; rapid pulse causes vexation. Pathogen excess fills the pulse, so large pulse indicates progression). Upper excess causes Qi rising (Upper excess means Cun pulse excess. Qi rising is Fire hyperactivity and Qi rebellion). Lower excess causes abdominal distension (Lower excess means Guan/Chi pulse excess. Pathogen entering lower causes distension). Dai pulse indicates Qi decline; fine pulse indicates Qi scarcity (Dai pulse suggests Qi exhaustion; fine pulse suggests Qi insufficiency. Decline is extreme scarcity). Se pulse causes Heart pain (Blood coagulation and Qi stagnation cause Se pulse, hence Heart pain). Pulse turbid and rigid arriving like a gushing spring indicates disease progression and deteriorated complexion; pulse going绵绵 (continuous/weak) like a broken string indicates death (Hunhun is turbulent. Rui Zhi is rigid arrival. Like a gushing spring is fierce arrival. Disease progression and deteriorated complexion mean worsening condition. Mianmian Qu Ru Xian Jue means weak departure like a broken string, indicating death).