概论不胜，春弦涩欺。涩弦气等，病作秋时。无弦春病，无气死推。更有兼其所胜，春弦而
缓相持，气多为平，气少长夏为病。无弦春病，无气可知死期。春弦钩扶易愈，春弦滑抑退迟。
胜负扶抑，偶举可知。
平人脉止，年支参究。年支三合，犹立鼎足。申子辰水，土为之附。巳酉丑金，亥卯未水，
寅午戌火，五行四局。次审年支，三合所属。属部逢止，是脏不足，死于不胜之年。月支不胜有
五。假如申年肾止，子年六月不禄。
真脏止脉，斯为不及，大衍数推，死期有异。盖脉之动，五脏之气应之。合乎先天，五行生
数之序。法以水一、火二、木三、金四、土五，五至为脏一周，十周大衍数备。五十无止，脏气
俱平；五十中止，一脏无气。止数有常，死期可拟。数止之法，从止数起。凡五为周，不及求止。
当其数而止者，所应之脏气衰。至于自旺日干，不能自旺而死。
无脉之候，所因不一。久病无脉，气绝者死。暴病无脉，气郁可治。伤寒痛风，痰积经闭。
忧惊所伤，关格吐利。气运不应，斯皆勿忌。
南北之政，先立其年。干分五运，支立司天。土运甲己，金运乙庚。水运丙辛，木运丁壬。
火运戊癸，土君余臣。司天分例，六化图推。少阳之右，阳明治之。阳明之右，太阳治之。太阳
之右，厥阴治之。厥阴之右，少阴治之。少阴之右，太阴治之。子午之上，少阴治之。丑未之上，
太阴治之。寅申之上，少阳治之。卯酉之上，阳明治之。辰戌之上，太阳治之。巳亥之上，厥阴
治之。当岁年支司天，移当中位为基。南政司天在寸，北政司天在尺。南政甲己土运，喻君位坎
面离。少阴司天，两寸不应。少阴在泉，两尺不应。三阴在左，则左不应；三阴在右，则右不应。
左右尺寸，少阴为定。北政乙庚，丙辛丁壬戊癸。喻之臣辅，位南面北居卑。少阴司天，两尺不
应。少阴在泉，两寸不应。左右同前之应，脉无沉细俱宜。诸脉不应，反诊较之。（经文诸不应，
反其诊则见矣。王注反诊谓覆手诊之，以沉为浮，以大为细。非其理也。）尺寸反死，（岁当阴
脉在寸，反见于尺，尺之阳脉而移于寸；岁当阴脉在尺，反见于寸，寸之阳脉而移于尺。尺寸相
反主死。子午卯酉四年有之。）阴阳交危。（岁当阴脉在左，反见于右，右之阳脉而移于左，岁
当阴脉在右，反见于左，左之阳脉而移于右。左右相交主死。寅申巳亥辰戌丑未八年有之。）歌
曰∶南政寸上尺居下，北政尺上寸下推。三阴司天不应上，在泉于下不应之。太阴须诊左寸尺，
厥阴右手尺寸持，少阴脉兼两寸尺，此理微妙诚难知。（南北政脉不应须参看《运气易览》为详明矣。）
General discussion on "non-victorious" (the state of being controlled in the Five Elements) pulse: In spring, a string-like and choppy pulse indicates qi being oppressed. If the choppy and string-like pulses are equal in strength, illness will manifest in autumn. A spring pulse lacking the string-like quality suggests illness; one lacking stomach qi implies death. Furthermore, if there is a combination with its "victorious" counterpart (the element it controls), such as a spring string-like pulse holding steady with a moderate quality, abundant stomach qi indicates health, while deficient stomach qi leads to illness in late summer. The absence of a string-like pulse in spring indicates illness; the absence of stomach qi allows for the prediction of the time of death. A spring string-like pulse supported by a hook-like (surging) quality is easy to cure; a spring string-like pulse suppressed by a slippery quality recovers slowly. The relationships of victory/defeat and support/suppression can be understood from occasional examples.
In normal individuals, pulse interruptions require investigation based on the Earthly Branches of the year. The three harmonies of Earthly Branches stand firm like the legs of a tripod. Shen-Zi-Chen form the Water harmony, with Earth as its attachment; Si-You-Chou form the Metal harmony; Hai-Mao-Wei form the Wood harmony; Yin-Wu-Xu form the Fire harmony. These constitute the four structures of the Five Elements. Next, examine the Three Harmonies associated with the annual branch. If an interruption occurs in the department corresponding to that branch, it indicates deficiency of the associated Zang organ, leading to death in the year when that organ is non-victorious. There are five patterns of non-victory related to the monthly branch. For example, in a Shen year with kidney pulse interruption, death occurs in the sixth month of a Zi year.
True Zang pulse interruptions indicate insufficiency. Using the Great Expansion Numbers (Dayan Shu), the time of death varies. Pulse movements correspond to the Qi of the Five Zang organs, aligning with the sequence of the innate generating numbers of the Five Elements. The rule is: Water 1, Fire 2, Wood 3, Metal 4, Earth 5. Five beats constitute one cycle of a Zang organ; ten cycles complete the Great Expansion number. If there are no interruptions in fifty beats, all Zang Qi are balanced; if interruptions occur within fifty beats, one Zang lacks Qi. The frequency of interruptions follows a constant pattern, allowing for the estimation of the time of death. The method for calculating interruptions starts from the count of interruptions. Every five constitutes a cycle; for insufficiency, seek the interruption point. When the pulse stops at its corresponding number, the Qi of the associated Zang organ is declining. Regarding days of self-prosperity where the stem cannot sustain itself, death ensues.
The condition of absent pulse has various causes. In chronic illness, absent pulse due to exhaustion of Qi leads to death. In acute illness, absent pulse due to Qi stagnation is treatable. Conditions include cold damage, gout, phlegm accumulation, and amenorrhea. Injury from worry and fright, or conditions like Guan Ge (obstruction and regurgitation), vomiting, and diarrhea. Also, Qi dynamics failing to respond. None of these need be feared.
The governance of South and North must first establish the year. Heavenly Stems divide into Five Movements; Earthly Branches determine the Sovereign Qi (Si Tian). Earth Movement corresponds to Jia and Ji years; Metal Movement to Yi and Geng. Water Movement to Bing and Xin; Wood Movement to Ding and Ren. Fire Movement to Wu and Gui. Earth is the Sovereign, others are Ministers. The classification of Sovereign Qi can be deduced from the Six Transformations diagram. To the right of Shaoyang, Yangming governs; to the right of Yangming, Taiyang governs; to the right of Taiyang, Jueyin governs; to the right of Jueyin, Shaoyin governs; to the right of Shaoyin, Taiyin governs. In Zi and Wu years, Shaoyin governs from above; in Chou and Wei years, Taiyin governs from above; in Yin and Shen years, Shaoyang governs from above; in Mao and You years, Yangming governs from above; in Chen and Xu years, Taiyang governs from above; in Si and Hai years, Jueyin governs from above. The Sovereign Qi of the annual branch moves to the central position as the basis. In Southern Governance years, Sovereign Qi manifests in the Cun (inch) position; in Northern Governance years, it manifests in the Chi (cubit) position. In Southern Governance Jia-Ji Earth Movement years, symbolizing the Sovereign's position facing Kan towards Li: If Shaoyin is Sovereign Qi, both Cun positions do not respond; if Shaoyin is Minister Qi (Zai Quan), both Chi positions do not respond. If the Three Yin are on the left, the left side does not respond; if on the right, the right side does not respond. Left and right Cun and Chi are determined by Shaoyin. In Northern Governance Yi-Geng, Bing-Xin, Ding-Ren, Wu-Gui years, symbolizing Ministers assisting, facing South with back to North in humble positions: If Shaoyin is Sovereign Qi, both Chi positions do not respond; if Shaoyin is Minister Qi, both Cun positions do not respond. The left/right correspondence is the same as before; pulses without deep and fine qualities are appropriate. For all non-responsive pulses, compare using reverse diagnosis. (The classic text states that for all non-responses, reversing the diagnosis reveals them. Wang Bing's commentary defines reverse diagnosis as turning the hand over to diagnose, treating deep as superficial and large as fine. This is incorrect.) Reversal of Cun and Chi indicates death (When Yin pulse should be in Cun but appears in Chi, and Yang pulse of Chi moves to Cun; or when Yin pulse should be in Chi but appears in Cun, and Yang pulse of Cun moves to Chi. Reversal of Cun and Chi indicates death. This occurs in the four years of Zi, Wu, Mao, You.). Intersection of Yin and Yang indicates danger (When Yin pulse should be on the left but appears on the right, and Yang pulse of right moves to left; or when Yin pulse should be on the right but appears on the left, and Yang pulse of left moves to right. Intersection of left and right indicates death. This occurs in the eight years of Yin, Shen, Si, Hai, Chen, Xu, Chou, Wei.). The song says: In Southern Governance, Cun is upper, Chi is lower; in Northern Governance, Chi is upper, Cun is lower. For Three Yin Sovereign Qi, non-response is upper; for Minister Qi, non-response is lower. For Taiyin, diagnose left Cun and left Chi; for Jueyin, hold right Cun and right Chi; for Shaoyin, pulse involves both Cun and Chi. This principle is subtle and truly difficult to know. (For details on non-responses in Southern/Northern Governance pulses, refer to *Yunqi Yilan* for clarity.)