一以尺中为根。人之有尺，犹树之有根，水为天一之元，先天命根也。王叔和曰、寸关虽无，尺犹不绝，
如此之流，可忧殒灭，谓之有根也。若肾脉独败，是无根矣。一以沈候为根。经曰、诸脉浮而无根者皆
死，是谓有表无里，是谓孤阳不生造化，所以？万古而不息者，一阴一阳、互为其根。阴既绝矣，孤阳
岂能独乎。此二说似乎不同，而实则一致。两尺为肾部，沈候之、六脉皆肾也。然则两尺之无根与
沈取之无根，总为肾水绝也。
夫脉者，气血之先。气平则和，气盛则洪，气衰则微，气滞则涩，气缩则短，气亏则虚，气急则促，气大则
长，气搏则浮，气郁则沈，气寒则迟，气而数，气结则歇止见矣。若以脉之盛者察诸病原，未有不得
其情者也。左寸盛者，风寒也。右寸盛者，痰火也。左关盛者，气郁也。右关盛者，内伤也。左尺盛者房劳
也。左尺盛者，劳力也。两寸俱盛者，伤风生痰也。两关俱盛者，气郁伤食。两尺俱盛者，房劳兼之劳力
也。左寸与右关盛者，风寒挟食也。左寸与右尺盛者，劳力受寒也。右寸与左关盛者，气郁生痰也。右
寸与左尺盛者，阴虚火动也。左寸与左关盛者，感寒郁气也。左寸与左尺盛者，房劳受寒也。右寸与
右关盛者，食积生痰也。右寸与右尺盛者，劳伤元气、感受风邪也。左关与右尺盛者，气郁劳伤也。左
关与左尺盛者，房劳郁气也。右关与左尺盛者，醉饱房劳也。右关与右尺盛者，饱食劳役也。又有六
脉皆浮者为风，滑者为痰，迟则为冷，濡则为湿，洪则为火，紧则为痛，沈则为气，数则为热，弦则为寒，
弱则为虚，芤则为失血，涩则为少气，弦紧者为风寒，微弱者为阳虚，短缩者为阴虚，浮滑者为风痰，
洪大为火邪，弦大者为实热，实大为有余，虚大为不足。
One theory regards the Chi pulse (尺脉, radial pulse position at the wrist) as the root. The human Chi pulse is like the root of a tree; water is the origin of Heavenly One, which is the root of innate life. Wang Shuhe said, "Even if the Cun (寸脉, distal pulse position) and Guan (关脉, middle pulse position) pulses are imperceptible, as long as the Chi pulse remains unceasing, such a case, though worrying of potential death, is called 'having a root'." If the Kidney pulse alone fails, it is without a root. Another theory regards deep palpation (Chen Hou 沉候, heavy pressure) as the root. The Classics state, "All pulses that are superficial and lack a root indicate death"; this is called having exterior but no interior, known as isolated Yang unable to generate transformation. What makes things ceaseless for eternity is the mutual rooting of Yin and Yang. If Yin is extinguished, how can isolated Yang exist alone? These two theories seem different but are actually consistent. The bilateral Chi positions correspond to the Kidney region; upon deep palpation, all six pulses reflect the state of the Kidneys. Therefore, both the absence of a root in the bilateral Chi positions and the absence of a root upon deep palpation ultimately signify the exhaustion of Kidney Water.
The pulse is the precursor of Qi and Blood. When Qi is balanced, the pulse is harmonious; when Qi is excessive, the pulse is surging (Hong Mai 洪脉); when Qi is deficient, the pulse is minute (Wei Mai 微脉); when Qi is stagnant, the pulse is choppy (Se Mai 涩脉); when Qi contracts, the pulse is short (Duan Mai 短脉); when Qi is depleted, the pulse is empty (Xu Mai 虚脉); when Qi is rapid, the pulse is hurried (Cu Mai 促脉); when Qi is expansive, the pulse is long (Chang Mai 长脉); when Qi struggles, the pulse is floating (Fu Mai 浮脉); when Qi is constrained, the pulse is deep (Chen Mai 沉脉); when Qi is cold, the pulse is slow (Chi Mai 迟脉); when Qi is frequent (Shu Mai 数脉), and when Qi knots, intermitted pulses appear. By observing the excessiveness of the pulse to investigate the origins of diseases, one will invariably grasp their true nature. Excess in the Left Cun position indicates Wind-Cold. Excess in the Right Cun position indicates Phlegm-Fire. Excess in the Left Guan position indicates Qi stagnation. Excess in the Right Guan position indicates internal injury. Excess in the Left Chi position indicates sexual exertion. Excess in the Left Chi position [Note: Text repeats Left Chi, likely implying labor strain in context] indicates physical labor exertion. Excess in both Cun positions indicates wind injury generating phlegm. Excess in both Guan positions indicates Qi stagnation with food retention. Excess in both Chi positions indicates combined sexual and physical labor exertion. Excess in the Left Cun and Right Guan positions indicates Wind-Cold complicated by food retention. Excess in the Left Cun and Right Chi positions indicates cold invasion due to labor. Excess in the Right Cun and Left Guan positions indicates Qi stagnation generating phlegm. Excess in the Right Cun and Left Chi positions indicates Yin deficiency with Fire agitation. Excess in the Left Cun and Left Guan positions indicates cold invasion with Qi constraint. Excess in the Left Cun and Left Chi positions indicates cold invasion due to sexual exertion. Excess in the Right Cun and Right Guan positions indicates food retention generating phlegm. Excess in the Right Cun and Right Chi positions indicates Qi depletion from labor with wind pathogen invasion. Excess in the Left Guan and Right Chi positions indicates Qi stagnation and labor injury. Excess in the Left Guan and Left Chi positions indicates Qi constraint due to sexual exertion. Excess in the Right Guan and Left Chi positions indicates sexual activity after drunkenness or overeating. Excess in the Right Guan and Right Chi positions indicates labor strain after full meals. Furthermore, all six pulses being floating indicates Wind; slippery indicates Phlegm; slow indicates Cold; soggy indicates Dampness; surging indicates Fire; tight indicates Pain; deep indicates Qi disorder; rapid indicates Heat; wiry indicates Cold; weak indicates Deficiency; knifelike (Kou Mai 芤脉) indicates blood loss; choppy indicates scanty Qi; wiry and tight indicates Wind-Cold; weak and thin indicates Yang deficiency; short and contracted indicates Yin deficiency; floating and slippery indicates Wind-Phlegm; surging and large indicates Fire pathogen; wiry and large indicates Excess Heat; solid and large indicates Excess (Shi Zheng 实证); empty and large indicates Deficiency (Xu Zheng 虚证).