平人之常气禀于胃。胃者，平人之常气也。人无胃气曰逆，逆者死。
平人之常，禀气于谷，谷入于胃，五脏六腑皆以受气，有不可一刻无者。此脉之大主，四时五脏六
经皆以此立，无则为逆，逆则死矣。
春胃微弦曰平，弦多胃少曰肝病，但弦无胃曰死，胃而有毛曰秋病，毛甚曰今病。脏真散于肝，肝
藏筋膜之气也。
夏胃微钩曰平，钩多胃少曰心病，但钩无胃曰死，胃而有石曰冬病，石甚曰今病。脏真通于心，心
藏血脉之气也。
长夏胃微软弱曰平，弱多胃少曰脾病，但代无胃曰死，软弱有石曰冬病，弱石甚曰今病。脏真濡于脾
，脾藏肌肉之气也。
秋胃微毛曰平，毛多胃少曰肺病，但毛无胃曰死，毛而有弦曰春病，弦甚曰金病。脏真高于肺，以
行营卫阴阳也。
冬胃微石曰平，石多胃少曰肾病，但石无胃曰死，石而有钩曰夏病，钩甚曰今病。脏真下于肾，肾藏
骨髓之气也。
人以水谷为本，故人绝水谷则死，无胃气亦死。所谓无胃气者。但得真脏脉不得胃气也。
罗东逸曰∶经云∶饮食入胃，脉道乃行。又曰∶脉得食即高。故知脉道之行，待此而起。此胃气者，
精气神三宝之神粮，而荣卫之根据也。为气流营溢卫合精，而神行于脉，五脏四时待此而得其平者也，
故其气昌大于春夏，收敛于秋冬，皆稍更改，历四时以应令，故微见微弦、微钩、微软、微毛、
微石。要其以微言者，正以状其胃气之充壮鼓行。要其不违四时，故不免有奉令脉，然不尽变其本气
，故皆曰微也。
若此气稍有衰飒，即所云弦、钩，软、毛、石之多而胃少也，胃少则五脏之真不能充，而本脏自病
，何怪也。夫弦、钩、软、毛、石五者，乘时而见，何尝不正？惟稍见偏胜，遂已成为脏病。况其已甚者，
无胃而单见也，故曰死也。又若春之胃而见毛，毛与弦反，而乃见之于春，是胃之不能相为于肝，而存弦
令，反受克于毛，则胃之衰已甚矣。其曰至秋病者，前此春夏三阳得令，皆能扶我，至秋则胃不能胜而为
病也。若毛甚则胃家之太和已戕，即曰今病，即今不能掩其恶也。此脉之根本源头，诊家第一首事，不可不
察也。
脏真者，即胃气也。胃气何以为脏真？以五脏得此，而后能立五行之体，主四时之行，主筋膜、血脉、
肌肉、骨髓、荣卫、阴阳之气。脏无此则不真，故必须胃气以为脏真，而后能散、能通、能濡，能高、能
下。苟谷神之不至，则五脏之魂游而魄散矣。此真脏也，故曰死。
The normal qi of a healthy person is derived from the Stomach. The Stomach is the source of the normal qi in a healthy person. If a person lacks Stomach qi, it is termed "Ni" (Reversal/Counterflow), and the appearance of "Ni" indicates death.
The normal state of a healthy person relies on qi obtained from grain. When grain enters the Stomach, the Five Zang organs and Six Fu organs all receive its qi; this is something that cannot be absent for even a moment. It is the primary master of the pulse. The Four Seasons, Five Zang organs, and Six Meridians are all established upon this foundation. Without it, there is "Ni" (Reversal), and the appearance of "Ni" leads to death.
In Spring, if the pulse shows a slight [Xian] (String-like/Taut) quality accompanied by Stomach qi, it is called Ping (Normal). If the [Xian] quality is excessive and Stomach qi is scant, it indicates Liver disease. If there is only [Xian] without Stomach qi, it is a Dead pulse. If the pulse has [Mao] (Floating) qualities but still retains Stomach qi, illness will occur in Autumn. If the [Mao] quality is pronounced, illness occurs immediately. The Zhen Zhen (True Visceral Qi) scatters into the Liver, which stores the qi of the sinews and fascia.
In Summer, if the pulse shows a slight [Gou] (Hook/Crescent -洪大) quality accompanied by Stomach qi, it is called Ping (Normal). If the [Gou] quality is excessive and Stomach qi is scant, it indicates Heart disease. If there is only [Gou] without Stomach qi, it is a Dead pulse. If the pulse has [Shi] (Stone/Sunken) qualities but still retains Stomach qi, illness will occur in Winter. If the [Shi] quality is pronounced, illness occurs immediately. The Zhen Zhen (True Visceral Qi) connects to the Heart, which stores the qi of the blood vessels.
During the Late Summer, if the pulse shows a slight soft and weak quality accompanied by Stomach qi, it is called Ping (Normal). If the soft/weak quality is excessive and Stomach qi is scant, it indicates Spleen disease. If there is only a Dai (Intermittent) pulse without Stomach qi, it is a Dead pulse. If the soft/weak pulse has [Shi] (Stone/Sunken) qualities, illness will occur in Winter. If both soft/weak and [Shi] qualities are pronounced, illness occurs immediately. The Zhen Zhen (True Visceral Qi) moistens the Spleen, which stores the qi of the muscles.
In Autumn, if the pulse shows a slight [Mao] (Floating) quality accompanied by Stomach qi, it is called Ping (Normal). If the [Mao] quality is excessive and Stomach qi is scant, it indicates Lung disease. If there is only [Mao] without Stomach qi, it is a Dead pulse. If the pulse has [Xian] (String-like/Taut) qualities but still retains Stomach qi, illness will occur in Spring. If the [Xian] quality is pronounced, Metal (Lung) qi is damaged and disease arises. The Zhen Zhen (True Visceral Qi) is superior in the Lung, facilitating the circulation of Ying (Nutritive) and Wei (Defensive) and Yin-Yang qi.
In Winter, if the pulse shows a slight [Shi] (Stone/Sunken) quality accompanied by Stomach qi, it is called Ping (Normal). If the [Shi] quality is excessive and Stomach qi is scant, it indicates Kidney disease. If there is only [Shi] without Stomach qi, it is a Dead pulse. If the pulse has [Gou] (Hook/Crescent) qualities but still retains Stomach qi, illness will occur in Summer. If the [Gou] quality is pronounced, illness occurs immediately. The Zhen Zhen (True Visceral Qi) descends to the Kidney, which stores the qi of the bone marrow.
Humans rely on water and grain as their root; therefore, if humans cut off water and grain, they die, and if they lack Stomach qi, they also die. What is meant by lacking Stomach qi is that one can only observe the True Zang Pulse without any sign of Stomach qi.
Luo Dongyi stated: The classics say, "When food and drink enter the Stomach, the pulse channels begin to flow." It also says, "The pulse rises after eating." Thus, we know that the flow of the pulse channels depends on this to arise. This Stomach qi is the spiritual food for the Spirit (Shen) among the Three Treasures of Essence, Qi, and Spirit, and it is the foundation of Ying (Nutritive) and Wei (Defensive) qi. As Qi flows, Ying fills, Wei harmonizes, and Essence combines, Shen travels within the pulse. The Five Zang organs and Four Seasons await this to achieve balance. Therefore, its qi flourishes greatly in Spring and Summer, and converges in Autumn and Winter. Although it undergoes slight changes, it traverses the four seasons to respond to the commands, thus manifesting as slightly Xian, slightly Gou, slightly soft, slightly Mao, and slightly Shi. The emphasis on "slightly" serves to describe the robustness and vigorous movement of Stomach qi. Because it does not violate the laws of the four seasons, it inevitably has pulses that obey the seasonal command, yet it does not completely change its original nature, hence all are described as "slightly."
If this qi declines even slightly, it is what is referred to as excessive Xian, Gou, soft, Mao, or Shi with scant Stomach qi. When Stomach qi is scant, the true qi of the Five Zang organs cannot be filled, leading to self-disease of the respective organ. What is strange about this? The five qualities of Xian, Gou, soft, Mao, and Shi appear according to the season; how could they be incorrect? Only when they show slight excess do they become diseases of the Zang organs. Moreover, in severe cases where Stomach qi is absent and they appear alone, it is said to indicate death. For example, in Spring, if Mao (Floating) appears, Mao is contrary to Xian (Taut). Its appearance in Spring means that Stomach qi cannot assist the Liver to maintain the Xian command, but instead suffers control from Mao, indicating that Stomach qi is extremely depleted. The statement "illness in Autumn" implies that during the preceding Spring and Summer, the three Yang periods were in command and could support me; by Autumn, Stomach qi cannot withstand the pressure and disease arises. If Mao is very pronounced, it means the Taihe (Great Harmony) qi of the Stomach has been destroyed, so it is said "illness now," meaning the current condition cannot conceal its malignancy. This is the root source of the pulse, the first priority for pulse diagnosticians, and must not be overlooked.
Zhen Zhen (True Visceral Qi) is none other than Stomach qi. Why is Stomach qi called Zhen Zhen? Because once the Five Zang organs obtain it, they can establish the forms of the Five Elements, govern the movements of the Four Seasons, and manage the qi of sinews/fascia, blood vessels, muscles, bone marrow, Ying/Wei, and Yin/Yang. Without this, the Zang organs are not "true"; therefore, they must rely on Stomach qi as Zhen Zhen to be able to scatter, connect, moisten, rise, and descend. If Gu Shen (Grain Spirit/Stomach qi) does not arrive, the Hun (Ethereal Soul) of the Five Zang will wander, and the Po (Corporeal Soul) will scatter. This is the True Zang Pulse, hence it is said to indicate death.