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With the palm facing backward, the high bone (radial styloid process) is the Guan position. The area anterior to Guan is the Cun position, and the area posterior to Guan is the Chi position. From the high bone upward to the Yuji point (LU10), the distance is one cun, hence named "Cun". From the high bone downward to the Chize point (LU5), the distance is one chi, hence named "Chi". The section situated between the Cun and Chi positions is therefore named "Guan". The Cun position belongs to Yang, the Chi position belongs to Yin, and the Guan position represents the intermediate Qi of Yin and Yang.

The left Cun position inspects the Heart and Danzhong (Pericardium region); the right Cun position inspects the Lungs and chest; the left Guan position inspects the Liver and Gallbladder; the right Guan position inspects the Spleen and Stomach; the left Chi position inspects the left Kidney, Small Intestine, and Bladder; the right Chi position inspects the right Kidney and Large Intestine. The three positions collectively inspect the Sanjiao (Triple Burner). Between the two Kidneys lies the Mingmen (Gate of Life).

In males, the pulse on the left side is larger; in females, the pulse on the right side is larger. In males, the Cun pulse is solid, and the Chi pulse is deficient. In females, the Cun pulse is deficient, and the Chi pulse is solid.

The Fan Guan Mai (Reverse Guan Pulse) refers to a pulse that does not run through the standard Cun Kou position but emerges from the Lieque collateral (LU7) into the posterior aspect of the arm, following the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian. Because it does not follow the normal course over the Guan position, it is called "Fan Guan" (Reverse Guan). Some individuals have a Fan Guan pulse on one hand, while others have it on both hands. This is congenital and is not a pathological pulse; it can only be palpated when the patient stands sideways and positions their hand appropriately.

One exhalation combined with one inhalation constitutes one Xi (respiration cycle). If the pulse beats four or five times per Xi, it is a peaceful, disease-free pulse. If it beats three times per Xi, it is insufficient; if it beats six times per Xi, it is excessive. Both are pathological pulses.

If the Cun Kou artery beats fifty times without interruption, it conforms to the regular, healthy pulse pattern. If there is an interruption after forty beats, it indicates that Qi of one Zang organ has failed, predicting death within four years. If there is an interruption after thirty beats, it indicates that Qi of two Zang organs has failed, predicting death within three years. If there is an interruption after twenty beats, it indicates that Qi of three Zang organs has failed, predicting death within two years. If there is an interruption after ten beats, it indicates that Qi of four Zang organs has failed, predicting death within one year. If an interruption occurs before ten beats, it indicates that the Qi of all five Zang organs has failed. If the pulse rate becomes irregular (alternating between fast and slow) and the interruption is not immediately followed by resumption, death will inevitably occur within the year.

The Heart pulse is floating, large, and scattered; the Lung pulse is floating, choppy, and short; the Liver pulse is deep, wiry, and long; the Kidney pulse is deep, slippery, and soft; the Spleen pulse is harmonious and moderate.

The Spring pulse is wiry; the Summer pulse is surging; the Autumn pulse is floating; the Winter pulse is deep.

Floating pulse (tangible with light pressure, indistinct with heavy pressure) belongs to Yang and exterior patterns, primarily indicating diseases caused by external pathogenic factors such as wind among the Six Evils. Floating with force indicates Exterior Excess; floating without force indicates Exterior Deficiency; floating and slow indicates Exterior Cold; floating and relaxed indicates Wind-Dampness; floating and soggy indicates Summerheat injury; floating and scattered indicates extreme deficiency; floating and surging indicates Hyperactive Yang; floating and large indicates Yang Excess; floating and thin indicates Qi deficiency; floating and choppy indicates Blood deficiency; floating and rapid indicates Wind-Heat; floating and tight indicates Wind-Cold; floating and wiry indicates Wind-Fluid retention; floating and slippery indicates Wind-Phlegm.

Deep pulse (imperceptible with light pressure, tangible only with heavy pressure) belongs to Yin and interior patterns, primarily indicating diseases caused by internal factors such as Seven Emotions and dietary irregularities. Deep and large indicates Interior Excess; deep and small indicates Interior Deficiency; deep and slow indicates Interior Cold; deep and relaxed indicates Interior Dampness; deep and tight indicates Cold pain; deep and rapid indicates Extreme Heat; deep and choppy indicates Bi syndrome with Qi stagnation; deep and slippery indicates Phlegm-Food retention; deep and hidden indicates Qi closure and depression; deep and wiry indicates Fluid retention diseases.

Slow pulse (two or three beats per Xi) belongs to Yin and Zang organs, primarily indicating Cold and Pain. With force indicates Excess Cold; without force indicates Deficiency Cold.

Rapid pulse (five or six beats per Xi) belongs to Yang and Fu organs, primarily indicating Heat diseases. With force indicates Excess Heat; without force indicates Deficiency Heat; if rapid and accompanied by thinness, it indicates Yin injury.

Slippery pulse (smooth and fluent in movement) primarily indicates Phlegm diseases. Seen at the left Guan position, it indicates Wind-Phlegm; seen at the right Guan position, it indicates Phlegm-Food retention; seen at the Cun position, it indicates vomiting and rebellion; seen at the Chi position, it indicates pus and blood in stool.

Choppy pulse (rough and difficult to move) primarily indicates Damp-Bi syndrome. Seen at both Chi positions, it indicates injury to Essence and Blood; seen at both Cun positions, it indicates excessive sweating and fluid damage; seen at both Guan positions, it indicates dysphagia and regurgitation, with fluid exhaustion leading to dry colon constipation.

Moderate pulse (leisurely and unhurried) a harmonious moderate quality indicates recovery of righteous Qi; a sluggish moderate quality indicates dampness invasion.

Tight pulse (tight and urgent like twisting) primarily indicates Cold and Pain.

Long pulse (stretching far) primarily indicates regulated Qi. (Note: Regulated righteous Qi is typically seen in those with strong constitutions.)

Short pulse (contracted and receding) primarily indicates damaged Qi.

Deficient pulse (without force) primarily indicates various deficiency conditions.

Excess pulse (with force) primarily indicates various excess conditions.

Large pulse (thick and big) primarily indicates the advance of pathogenic Qi.

Small pulse (decreased in size) primarily indicates decline of righteous Qi.

Surging pulse (broad and large) primarily indicates Heat Excess.

Thin pulse (slender and small) primarily indicates Cold Deficiency.

Wiry pulse (resembling a bowstring, slender, long, and tense) primarily indicates retained fluids. Wiry at the Cun position indicates Yin invading Yang, causing headache; wiry at the Chi position indicates Yin invading Yin, causing abdominal pain.

Sponge-like pulse (resembling a scallion tube, floating, large, and hollow in the center) primarily indicates blood loss.

Soggy pulse (floating and without force) primarily indicates various Yang deficiency diseases.

Weak pulse (deep and without force) primarily indicates various Yin deficiency diseases.

Leather pulse (floating and extremely forceful) primarily indicates blood loss and essence injury in men, and miscarriage, metrorrhagia, and leukorrhea in women.

Firm pulse (deep and extremely forceful) primarily indicates various hernias and masses, and cold pain in the heart and abdomen.

Hasty pulse (rapid with interruptions) primarily indicates Yang excess with Qi depression.

Knotted pulse (slow with interruptions) primarily indicates Yin excess with Qi coagulation.

Scattered pulse (floating, large, and uncollected) primarily indicates Qi leakage and deficiency.

Hidden pulse (deep, closed, and imperceptible) primarily indicates Qi depression and closure.

Moving pulse (moving but not shifting) results from the struggle between Yin and Yang, thus primarily indicating various pains. Yang moving indicates fever, mania, and fright; Yin moving indicates sweating, hemorrhage, and uterine bleeding.

Intermittent pulse (interruptions with a fixed rhythm) primarily indicates the severance and non-renewal of True Qi. Unless caused by trauma causing Qi stagnation, acute illness depleting Qi, painful sores injuring Qi, or fetal obstruction of Qi in women, its appearance without cause indicates inevitable death.