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In ancient times, there were three methods of pulse diagnosis: The first was to examine the arteries of the twelve meridians, dividing them into Heaven, Earth, and Human sections (San Bu), each further divided into superficial, middle, and deep levels (Jiu Hou), to regulate deficiency and excess. The second method involved comparing the pulse at the Renying point (Human Well) beside the throat with the Cun Kou (Cunkou) pulse at the wrist; if their size and rhythm were equal and coordinated like a straight rope, it indicated a healthy state (Ping Mai); if one side was excessively strong, it indicated disease. The third method focused solely on the Qi Kou (Cunkou) pulse, using the Fen, Guan, and Chi positions to assess the auspiciousness or inauspiciousness of the Zang-Fu organs. Today, the first two methods have been abandoned, and only the Cunkou pulse diagnosis remains in practice, yet it has lost its true essence. Alas! Is this not deeply regrettable?

[Image: Nei Jing San Bu Zhen Hou Tu (Right Hand)]
[Image: Nei Jing San Bu Zhen Hou Tu (Left Hand)]

(General Classification of Pulse Diagnosis)
To explore the characteristics of pulses, they can be categorized into "Odd" (Qi) and "Even" (Ou). "Odd" refers to solitary examination, while "Even" refers to comparative examination. Solitary examination without pairing includes pulses such as Dai Mai (Intermittent Pulse) and Lao Mai (Deep-Tight Pulse). Comparative examination serves as mutual verification, such as Fu Mai (Floating Pulse) indicating the exterior and Chen Mai (Sinking Pulse) indicating the interior.

[Floating Pulse] The Floating Pulse presents superficially, located at the level of skin and hair; it is felt with light pressure, akin to wood floating on water.
[Sinking Pulse] The Sinking Pulse is imperceptible with light pressure but responds to heavy pressure; it is felt deeply and forcefully, like a stone sinking in water.
[Slow Pulse] The Slow Pulse arrives slowly, beating three times per respiratory cycle.
[Rapid Pulse] The Rapid Pulse arrives swiftly, beating six times per respiratory cycle.
[Slippery Pulse] The Slippery Pulse is round and smooth, flowing freely back and forth, like water droplets on a lotus leaf, round and agile without leaning.
[Choppy Pulse] (Pronounced 'se') Also known as..., it is slow, short, and stagnant; the arrival is rapid but the departure is scattered, with pauses in each beat, irregular in rhythm (three or five beats out of tune), resembling scraping bamboo.
[Full Pulse] The Full Pulse is solid and充盈 (full); it is forceful upon both light and heavy pressure.
[Empty Pulse] The Empty Pulse is hollow; it lacks force upon both light and heavy pressure.
[Surging Pulse] The Surging Pulse is double the normal size, large and filling the fingers.
[Thready Pulse] The Thready Pulse is smaller than normal, comparable to a single thread.
[Taut Pulse] The Taut Pulse is tight and urgent, hard and striking the fingers, resembling a twisting rope; it is more forceful than the Wiry Pulse.
[Relaxed Pulse] The Relaxed Pulse is loose and slow, soft in the middle and not urgent, like a silk thread on a loom; it is less forceful than the Wiry Pulse.
[Long Pulse] The Long Pulse is extended, straight like a string, extending beyond its normal position, protruding from both ends under the fingers.
[Short Pulse] The Short Pulse is contracted, failing to reach its normal position, metaphorically like a turtle retracting its head and tail.
[Hasty Pulse] The Hasty Pulse is hurried, with temporary stops within a Rapid Pulse.
[Knotted Pulse] The Knotted Pulse is knotted, with temporary stops within a Slow Pulse.
[Intermittent Pulse] The Intermittent Pulse involves replacement, where the beat stops and cannot recover spontaneously, returning after a long interval. (The number of pauses is regular, not merely temporary.)
[Deep-Tight Pulse] The Deep-Tight Pulse is originally firm and secure; it is deep, wiry, large, and full, neither rising nor falling, firmly holding its position.
[Leather Pulse] The Leather Pulse resembles leather; it is floating, wiry, large, and empty, feeling like pressing a drumhead, with internal emptiness and external tension.
[Wiry Pulse] The Wiry Pulse is like a zither string, straight from beginning to end, arriving upright but not striking the fingers forcefully.
[Moving Pulse] The Moving Pulse is shaking; it possesses the qualities of being short, slippery, and rapid, without distinction between upper and lower, moving continuously in the middle position.
[Scattered Pulse] The Scattered Pulse does not gather; it is floating and fills the fingers, but disperses upon pressure without coalescing, also resembling untying a knot, scattered without order. (Sometimes two or three threads arrive simultaneously.)
[Hidden Pulse] The Hidden Pulse is concealed, lying outside the bone and inside the tendon; it is imperceptible upon superficial, middle, and deep pressure (the three pressures refer to Fu, Zhong, and Chen techniques); it must be sought by pushing aside the tendons.
[Gourd-Seed Pulse] The Gourd-Seed Pulse is synonymous with the Leather Pulse name; it is floating, large, and forceless, revealed by heavy pressure, with an empty center and solid sides.
[Soft Pulse] (Pronounced 'ruan') The Soft Pulse is not firm; it is floating, large, and forceless, sinking with the finger upon pressure, losing its head and tail definition.
[Faint Pulse] The Faint Pulse is subtle and minute, finer than usual, seeming present yet absent, similar to a spider's silk.
[Weak Pulse] The Weak Pulse is soft, deep, and thin; it is weaker than the Empty Pulse, lacking any rise and fall, unable to support itself.