迟脉属阴，一息三至。小 于迟，缓不及四。
二损一败，病不可治。两息夺精，脉已无气。
浮大虚散，或见芤革。浮小濡微，沉小细弱。
迟细为涩，往来极难，易散一止，止而复还。
结则来缓，止而复来。代则来缓，止不能回。
一呼一吸为一息，脉应四至，是其常也。迟则一息三至，气不振发，行不如度，
故曰属阴。缓则小 于迟，犹未能及于四至。若一息二至，元气已损。一息一至，
元气已败，病则必不可治。两息一至，真精夺去，虽一见脉，正气已无，不过烬灯
之余焰耳。迟而浮大，或为虚散，或为芤革。迟而浮小，不为濡则为微。迟而沉小，
不为细则为弱。迟而细，则力不足于往来，名曰涩。往来艰涩，则易于散，而或有
一止。（不足之止。）然非绝藏之脉，故止而复还也。结则缓中时或一止，止而复来。盖
气有结滞，脉为阻碍，暂一止而复来。（阻塞之止。）与涩之易散一止者，不相悬也。代
则缓中一止，止不能回。（脱根之止。）《脉经》所云∶不能自还，因而复动。正如替代之
代，有出无入，有去无来之象。
数脉属阳，六至一息。七疾八极，九至为脱。
浮大者洪，沉大牢实。往来流利，是谓之滑。
有力为紧，弹如转索。数见寸口，有止为促。
数见关中，动脉可候。厥厥动摇，状如小豆。
脉以四至为平，闰以太息，大约不出五至。若一息六至，是为数脉。气行速疾
逾于常度，故曰属阳。一息七至，气更速快，故曰疾。一息八至，阳热已极。一息
九至则元神散脱，而与迟之夺精者，固无异也。数而浮大，其名曰洪。数而沉大，
不为牢即为实。数而往来流利，是名曰滑，即《脉经》所云辗转替替然。与数相似
者。数而有力，是名曰紧。紧原以形状言，不以至数言。但紧脉敛实似弦，弦则直
急如弦。紧则《脉经》所云如转索，如切绳，内有搅动弹搏之状，似乎数也。若
数中时见一止，（失伦之止。）名曰促脉。脉流数疾，势如奔逸，偶不相继，故一止耳。
仲景云∶阳盛则促，故当于寸口见焉。若数脉见于关上，名曰动脉。盖关为阴阳交
互之处，阴阳不和，两相抗激，势不相下，故迸于上而厥厥动摇也。然上下无头尾，
只在一分之关上，非圆实之小豆，不足以形容其状也。
Chì Pulse (Slow Pulse) belongs to Yin, with three beats per respiration cycle (Xi). Slower than Chi is the Huan Pulse (Moderate/Relaxed Pulse), which does not reach four beats per respiration cycle.
If there are two beats per respiration cycle, the Yuan Qi (Primal Qi) has been damaged; if there is only one beat per respiration cycle, the Yuan Qi has been exhausted, and the disease is incurable. If it takes two respiration cycles for one beat, the Zhen Jing (True Essence) has been depleted, and there is no longer Zheng Qi (Upright Qi) in the pulse; this is merely like the remaining flame of a lamp after the oil is burnt out.
A Chi pulse appearing floating and large may be Xu San (Deficient and Scattered), or Kou Ge (Hollow or Leathery). A Chi pulse appearing floating and small is either Ru (Floating and Fine) or Wei (Extremely Fine and Soft). A Chi pulse appearing deep and small is either Xi (Fine) or Ruo (Deep and Fine).
When Chi is combined with Xi, it is called Se (Choppy) pulse; its movement is extremely difficult, prone to scattering, and may have occasional pauses, but resumes after stopping.
Jie (Knotted) pulse comes slowly and occasionally pauses before resuming. Dai (Intermittent) pulse comes slowly and pauses without immediately resuming.
One exhalation and one inhalation constitute one respiration cycle (Xi); the normal pulse should beat four times, which is the norm. Chi pulse beats three times per Xi, indicating that Qi fails to rise and spread, and its movement does not follow the proper measure, hence it is said to belong to Yin. Huan pulse is slightly faster than Chi but still does not reach four beats per Xi. If there are two beats per Xi, the Yuan Qi is already damaged; if there is one beat per Xi, the Yuan Qi is already exhausted, and the disease is definitely incurable. If there is one beat every two Xi, the True Essence is depleted; although the pulse can still be felt, the Zheng Qi is gone, resembling only the residual flame of a burnt-out lamp. A Chi pulse that is floating and large may be Xu San or Kou Ge. A Chi pulse that is floating and small is either Ru or Wei. A Chi pulse that is deep and small is either Xi or Ruo. A Chi pulse that is fine lacks strength in its forward and backward movement, named Se (Choppy). Due to the difficulty in movement, it tends to scatter and may have occasional pauses. (This pause is due to insufficiency.) However, it is not the pulse of a devastated organ, so it resumes after stopping. Jie pulse pauses occasionally amidst slowness and then resumes. This is because Qi stagnates and obstructs the vessels, causing a temporary pause before resuming. (This pause is due to obstruction.) This differs significantly from the Se pulse, which scatters easily and pauses. Dai pulse pauses amidst slowness and cannot resume on its own. (This pause is due to detachment from the root.) The *Mai Jing* (Pulse Classic) states: "Cannot return by itself, thus moves again." This resembles the character Dai (Substitute/Replace), having an exit but no entry, a departure but no return.
Shu Pulse (Rapid Pulse) belongs to Yang, with six beats per respiration cycle. Seven beats is Ji (Rapid), eight beats is Ji (Extreme), and nine beats is Tuo (Collapse).
Floating and large Shu pulse is Hong (Surging) pulse; deep and large Shu pulse is Lao (Firm) or Shi (Excess) pulse. Smooth and fluent movement is called Hua (Slippery) pulse.
Forceful and tense, snapping like a turning rope, is Jin (Tight) pulse. Shu pulse appearing at the Cun (Inch) position with occasional pauses is Cu (Rapid and Intermittent) pulse.
Shu pulse appearing at the Guan (Cubit) position allows for the detection of Dong (Moving) pulse. Its pulsation is quivering, resembling a small bean.
The pulse is balanced at four beats per Xi, allowing for occasional deep breaths (Tai Xi), generally not exceeding five beats. If there are six beats per Xi, this is the Shu (Rapid) pulse. Qi moves faster than the normal rate, hence it is said to belong to Yang. Seven beats per Xi indicates even faster Qi movement, hence called Ji (Rapid). Eight beats per Xi indicates extreme Yang heat. Nine beats per Xi indicates the dispersion and collapse of the Yuan Shen (Primal Spirit), which is essentially no different from the depletion of essence seen in the Chi pulse. A Shu pulse that is floating and large is named Hong (Surging). A Shu pulse that is deep and large is either Lao (Firm) or Shi (Excess). A Shu pulse with smooth and fluent movement is named Hua (Slippery), as described in the *Mai Jing* as "rolling back and forth." Similar to Shu pulse is Jin (Tight) pulse. A Shu pulse with force is named Jin (Tight). Jin refers to shape, not frequency. Jin pulse is gathered and solid, resembling Xian (Wiry) pulse, which is straight and urgent like a string. Jin pulse, as described in the *Mai Jing*, is like a turning rope or cut cord, with an internal churning and pulsating sensation, appearing rapid. If a Shu pulse occasionally shows one pause (a pause due to disorder), it is named Cu (Rapid and Intermittent) pulse. The pulse flows rapidly, like a runaway horse, occasionally failing to continue, hence the single pause. Zhang Zhongjing stated: "Yang excess leads to Cu pulse," therefore it should be seen at the Cun position. If a Shu pulse appears at the Guan position, it is named Dong (Moving) pulse. Because the Guan position is where Yin and Yang intersect, disharmony between Yin and Yang causes them to clash and oppose each other with equal force, bursting upward and causing quivering motion. However, lacking head and tail above and below, confined to just one fen at the Guan position, only a round and solid small bean can adequately describe its shape.