四言脉诀，始于崔紫虚真人，李濒湖改订之，李士材又改订之。近日如《冯氏锦囊》诸
本，各有增删，然非繁而无绪，即简而不该，且囿于王叔和、高阳生、滑伯仁旧说，胪列愈
多，而指下愈乱，皆非善本。余取显然可见之八脉为纲领，而以兼见之脉为条目，韵以四言，
俾读者有得心应手之妙。
浮为主表，属腑属阳，轻手一诊，形象彰彰，浮而有力，洪脉火炀（主火）。浮而无力，虚
脉气伤（主气虚。）浮而虚甚，散脉靡常（主气血散。）浮如葱管，芤脉血殃（主失血。）浮如按鼓，革
脉外强（外强中空，较芤更甚，主阴阳不交。）浮而柔细，濡脉湿妨（主湿。）浮兼六脉，疑似当详
。
沉为主里，属脏属阴，重手寻按，始了于心。沉而着骨，伏脉邪深（主问？邪。）沉而底硬（与
革脉同，但革浮而牢沉，）牢脉寒淫（主寒实。）沉而细软，弱脉虚寻（主血虚。）沉兼三脉，须守规
箴。
迟为主寒，脏病亦是（仲景云∶迟为在脏。《脉经》云∶迟为寒。）三至二至，数目可揣。
迟而不愆（稍迟而不愆四至之期，）缓脉最美（无病。）迟而不流（往来不流利，）涩脉血痞（主血少。）迟
而偶停（无定数，）结脉郁实，（主气郁痰滞。）迟止定期（促者，数中一止也。结者，迟中一止也。
皆无定数，若有定数，则为代矣。大抵代脉在三、四至中，其止有定数。）代脉多死（主气绝，
惟孕妇见之不妨。）迟兼四脉，各有条理。
数为主热，腑病亦同（仲景云∶数为在腑。《脉经》云∶数为热。）五至以上，七（至）八（至）人
终。数而流利，滑脉痰蒙（主痰主食，若指下清，则主气和。）数而牵转，紧脉寒攻（主寒主痛。
数而有止，促脉热烘（主阳邪内陷。）数见于关（关中如豆摇动，）动脉崩中（崩中脱血也，主阴阳相
搏。）数见四脉，休得朦胧。
细主诸虚，蛛丝其象，脉道属阴，病情可想。细不显明，微脉气殃（主阴阳气绝。）细而小
浮（细者，脉形之细如丝也，小者，脉势之往来不大也，且兼之以浮，即昔人所谓如絮浮水面
是也，）濡脉湿长（主湿亦主气虚，浮脉亦兼之。）细而小沉，弱脉失养（血虚，沉脉亦兼之。）细
中三脉，须辨朗朗。
大主诸实，形阔易知，阳脉为病，邪实可思。大而涌沸，洪脉热司（主热盛，亦主内虚，
浮脉亦兼之。）大而兼硬，实脉邪持（主实邪。）大兼二脉，病审相宜。
短主素弱，不由病伤，上下相准，缩而不长。诸脉兼此，宜补阴阳。动脉属短，治法另
商。
长主素强，得之最罕，上鱼入尺（上鱼际，下尺泽，）迢迢不短。正气之治，长中带缓。若
是阳邪，指下涌沸。中见实脉，另有条款。
以上八脉，显然可见。取其可见者为提纲，以推其所不易见，则不显者皆显矣。八脉相兼
，亦非条目之所能尽，皆可以此法推之。
The four-character pulse rhyme originated from the True Person Cui Zixu, was revised by Li Binhu, and further revised by Li Shicai. In recent times, various editions such as those in *Feng Shi Jin Nang* (冯氏锦囊) have added or deleted content; however, they are either too verbose and disorganized or too concise and incomplete. Moreover, they are confined to the old theories of Wang Shuhe, Gaoyang Sheng, and Hua Brenren. The more items listed, the more confused the finger perception becomes, making them all inferior texts. I have taken the eight clearly visible pulses as the main framework, using combined pulses as sub-items, rhymed in four characters, so that readers may achieve the subtle skill of handling them with ease.
Floating (Fu Mai, 浮脉) primarily indicates exterior conditions, belongs to the fu organs and yang. A light touch reveals its image clearly: if floating and forceful, it is the Surging Pulse (Hong Mai, 洪脉), indicating fire; if floating and weak, it is the Deficient Pulse (Xu Mai, 虚脉), indicating qi injury; if floating and extremely deficient, it is the Scattered Pulse (San Mai, 散脉), indicating dispersion of qi and blood; if floating like a scallion stalk, it is the Hollow Pulse (Kou Mai, 芤脉), indicating blood loss; if floating like pressing on a drum, it is the Wiry-Empty Pulse (Ge Mai, 革脉), which is externally strong but internally hollow (more severe than Kou, indicating failure of yin-yang interaction); if floating, soft, and fine, it is the Soggy Pulse (Ru Mai, 濡脉), indicating dampness obstruction. When Floating combines with six other pulses, similarities must be examined in detail.
Deep (Chen Mai, 沉脉) primarily indicates interior conditions, belongs to the zang organs and yin. Only with heavy pressure can it be felt and understood by the mind. If deep and touching the bone, it is the Hidden Pulse (Fu Mai, 伏脉), indicating deep pathogenic factors; if deep and hard at the bottom (similar to Ge but Ge is floating while Lao is deep), it is the Firm Pulse (Lao Mai, 牢脉), indicating excessive cold; if deep, fine, and soft, it is the Weak Pulse (Ruo Mai, 弱脉), indicating deficiency search (blood deficiency). When Deep combines with three other pulses, one must adhere to established rules.
Slow (Chi Mai, 迟脉) primarily indicates cold, and also indicates zang diseases (as Zhang Zhongjing stated: "Slow indicates zang"; *Mai Jing* states: "Slow indicates cold"). Two to three beats per breath cycle can be estimated. If slightly slow but not deviating from the normal four-beat rhythm, it is the Moderate Pulse (Huan Mai, 缓脉), which is most beautiful (indicating no disease). If slow and unsmooth (irregular flow), it is the Choppy Pulse (Se Mai, 涩脉), indicating blood stasis (blood deficiency). If slow and occasionally stopping (without fixed number), it is the Knotted Pulse (Jie Mai, 结脉), indicating qi stagnation and phlegm retention. If the stop is regular, it is the Intermitting Pulse (Dai Mai, 代脉): Cu (Surging/Intermitting fast) stops within a rapid rate; Jie stops within a slow rate; both have irregular intervals. If there is a fixed interval, it is Dai. Generally, Dai appears in three or four beats per breath, with fixed stopping intervals. Dai often indicates death (qi exhaustion), except when seen in pregnant women, which is acceptable. When Slow combines with four other pulses, each has its own order.
Rapid (Shu Mai, 数脉) primarily indicates heat, and also indicates fu diseases (as Zhang Zhongjing stated: "Rapid indicates fu"; *Mai Jing* states: "Rapid indicates heat"). Five beats or more per breath cycle, up to seven or eight, may lead to death. If rapid and smooth, it is the Slippery Pulse (Hua Mai, 滑脉), indicating phlegm covering (phlegm and food retention; if clear under fingers, it indicates harmonious qi). If rapid and twisting/tight, it is the Tight Pulse (Jin Mai, 紧脉), attacking with cold (indicating cold and pain). If rapid with stops, it is the Surging-Intermitting Pulse (Cu Mai, 促脉), baking with heat (yang pathogen sinking inward). If Rapid is seen at the Guan position (middle cun), where it feels like a shaking bean, it is the Moving Pulse (Dong Mai, 动脉), indicating uterine bleeding (sudden blood loss due to yin-yang conflict). When Rapid combines with four other pulses, do not remain vague.
Fine (Xi Mai, 细脉) primarily indicates various deficiencies, resembling spider threads. The pulse channel belongs to yin, allowing one to infer the condition. If fine and indistinct, it is the Micro Pulse (Wei Mai, 微脉), indicating qi disaster (exhaustion of yin and yang qi). If fine, small, and floating (fine refers to the thread-like shape, small refers to the weak momentum, combined with floating, like cotton wool floating on water), it is the Soggy Pulse (Ru Mai, 濡脉), indicating prolonged dampness (also indicating qi deficiency, combining with Floating). If fine, small, and deep, it is the Weak Pulse (Ruo Mai, 弱脉), indicating loss of nourishment (blood deficiency, combining with Deep). Among Fine, three other pulses must be distinguished clearly.
Large (Da Mai, 大脉) primarily indicates various excesses, easily known by its broad shape. Yang pulse diseases suggest pathogenic excess. If large and surging/boiling, it is the Surging Pulse (Hong Mai, 洪脉), governing heat (indicating heat excess, also internal deficiency, combining with Floating). If large and combined with hardness, it is the Excess Pulse (Shi Mai, 实脉), holding pathogenic excess. When Large combines with two other pulses, the disease should be examined appropriately.
Short (Duan Mai, 短脉) primarily indicates inherent weakness, not caused by disease injury. Up and down align, shrinking and not extending long. When other pulses combine with this, tonifying yin and yang is appropriate. Moving Pulse belongs to Short, treatment methods discussed separately.
Long (Chang Mai, 长脉) primarily indicates inherent strength, rarely obtained. Extending above Yingji (大鱼际) and below Chize (尺泽), stretching far without shortness. For regulating healthy qi, Long combined with Moderate is ideal. If it is yang pathogen, it surges under fingers. If Excess Pulse is seen within, separate clauses apply.
The above eight pulses are clearly visible. Taking the visible as the outline allows inferring what is not easily seen, making the invisible visible. The combination of eight pulses cannot be fully exhausted by items; all can be deduced by this method.