初持脉如三菽之重与皮毛相得者，肺部。（金秋三月庚辛之气。） 如六菽之重与血脉相
得者，心部。（火夏三月丙丁之气。） 如九菽之重与肌肉相得者，脾部。（土旺四季，季夏
六月戊己之气。） 如十二菽之重与筋平者，肝部。（木春三月甲乙之气。） 按之至骨，举
之来疾者，肾部。（水冬三月壬癸之气。） 心肺俱浮，何以别之？然浮而大散者，心也。（象
火浮散。）浮而短涩者，肺也。（象金浮涩。） 肾肝俱沉，何以别之？然牢而长者，肝也。（如
木生苗吐颖。） 濡而大，举指来实者，肾也。（濡弱如水举重胜船。） 脾者中州，故其脉
在中，是阴阳之脉也。（《千金翼》云∶迟缓而长者，脾也。）
浮脉，举之有余，按之不足。（浮于指下。） 沉脉，举之不足，按之有余。（重按之乃
得。） 涩脉，细而迟，往来难且散，或一止复来。（一曰浮而短，一曰短而止，或如散。）
滑脉，往来前却，流利展转，替替然与数相似。（一曰浮中如有力，一曰漉漉如欲脱。） 洪
脉，极大在指下。（一曰浮而大。） 细脉，小大于微，常有但细耳。微脉，极细而软，或欲
绝，若有若无。（一曰小也，一曰手下快，一曰薄，一曰按之如欲尽绝。） 弦脉，举之无有，
按之如张弓弦状。（一曰如张弓弦，按之不移。又曰浮紧乃为弦也。） 紧脉，数如切绳状。
（一曰如转索之无常。） 迟脉，呼吸三至，来去极迟。（一曰举之不足，按之尽牢。一曰按
之尽牢，举之无有。） 数脉，去来促急。（一曰一息脉六七至，一曰数者进之名。） 缓脉，
去来亦迟，小快于迟。（一曰浮大而软，阴与阳同等。） 弱脉，极软而沉，细按之欲绝指下。
（一曰按之乃得，举之即无。） 动脉，见于关上，无头尾大如豆，厥厥动摇。伏脉，极重
指
着骨乃得。（一曰关上沉不出，名曰伏。一曰手下裁动，一曰按之不足，举之无有。） 芤脉，
浮大而软，按之中央空，两边实。（一曰指下无，两旁有。 软脉，极软而浮细。一曰按之
无有，举之有余。一曰细小如软。《千金翼》软作濡。） 虚脉，迟大而软，按之不足隐指，
豁豁然空。 实脉，大而长，微强，按之隐指， 然。（一曰沉浮皆得。） 促脉，来去数，
时一至。 结脉，往来缓，时一止复来，脉结者生。 代脉，来数中止，不能自还，因而
复动。脉代者死。 散脉，大而散，散者气实血虚，有表无里。 革脉，有似沉伏实，大而
长，微弦。（《千金翼》以革为牢。） 弦与紧相类。软与弱相类。 浮与芤相类。（又曰浮
与洪相类。）微与涩相类。 沉与伏相类。 缓与迟相类。（又曰软与迟相类。） 革与实相
类。（《翼
When initially palpating the pulse, with a pressure equivalent to three chickpeas, feeling it correspond to the skin and hair, this is the Lung region. (Corresponds to the Qi of Geng-Xin Metal in the three months of Golden Autumn.) With a pressure equivalent to six chickpeas, feeling it correspond to the blood vessels, this is the Heart region. (Corresponds to the Qi of Bing-Ding Fire in the three months of Summer Fire.) With a pressure equivalent to nine chickpeas, feeling it correspond to the muscles, this is the Spleen region. (Earth prospers in the four seasons, corresponding to the Qi of Wu-Ji Earth in the sixth month of Late Summer.) With a pressure equivalent to twelve chickpeas, feeling it level with the sinews, this is the Liver region. (Corresponds to the Qi of Jia-Yi Wood in the three months of Spring Wood.) Pressing down to the bone, and upon lifting the finger, the pulse returns swiftly and vigorously, this is the Kidney region. (Corresponds to the Qi of Ren-Gui Water in the three months of Winter Water.) Both the Heart and Lung pulses are floating; how to distinguish them? The answer is: Floating, large, and scattered is the Heart pulse. (Symbolizing the floating and scattering nature of Fire.) Floating, short, and choppy is the Lung pulse. (Symbolizing the floating and choppy nature of Metal.) Both the Kidney and Liver pulses are deep; how to distinguish them? The answer is: Firm and long is the Liver pulse. (Like a tree sprouting and sending up shoots.) Soft (Ru) and large, feeling solid upon lifting the finger, is the Kidney pulse. (Soft and weak like lifting a heavy weight in water that presses down on a boat.) The Spleen resides in the Central Plain (Middle Jiao), thus its pulse is in the middle, representing the Yin-Yang harmonious pulse. (The *Qianjin Yifang* states: Slow, moderate, and long is the Spleen pulse.)
Floating pulse (Fu Mai): Abundant upon light pressure, insufficient upon heavy pressure. (Floating under the fingers.) Deep pulse (Chen Mai): Insufficient upon light pressure, abundant upon heavy pressure. (Obtained only by heavy pressing.) Choppy pulse (Se Mai): Fine and slow, difficult and scattered in its coming and going, or pausing once before resuming. (Another description: Floating and short, or short and pausing, or resembling a Scattered pulse.) Slippery pulse (Hua Mai): Coming and going smoothly and rolling, continuous, resembling the Rapid pulse. (Another description: Forceful in the floating and middle positions, or gurgling as if about to detach.) Surging pulse (Hong Mai): Extremely large under the fingers. (Another description: Floating and large.) Fine pulse (Xi Mai): Slightly larger than the Minute pulse, primarily characterized by fineness. Minute pulse (Wei Mai): Extremely fine and soft, seemingly interrupted, existing yet non-existent. (Another description: Small; another: quick under the hand; another: thin; another: feels as if about to completely vanish upon pressing.) Wiry pulse (Xian Mai): Not felt upon light pressure, feels like a drawn bowstring upon heavy pressure. (Another description: Like a drawn bowstring, immovable upon pressing. Also stated: Floating and tight constitutes the Wiry pulse.) Tight pulse (Jin Mai): Rapid, like cutting a rope. (Another description: Like a twisting rope, unpredictable.) Slow pulse (Chi Mai): Three beats per respiration, coming and going extremely slowly. (Another description: Insufficient upon light pressure, firm upon heavy pressure. Another: Firm upon heavy pressure, not felt upon light pressure.) Rapid pulse (Shu Mai): Coming and going hurried. (Another description: Six or seven beats per breath; another: 'Rapid' implies advancement.) Moderate pulse (Huan Mai): Coming and going also slow, but slightly faster than the Slow pulse. (Another description: Floating, large, and soft, with Yin and Yang pulses being equal.) Weak pulse (Ruo Mai): Extremely soft and deep, fine, seeming to vanish under the fingers upon careful pressing. (Another description: Obtained only upon pressing, disappears upon lifting.) Pulsating pulse (Dong Mai): Appears at the Guan position, without head or tail, large as a bean, quivering and shaking. Hidden pulse (Fu Mai): Obtained only by extreme heavy pressure to the bone. (Another description: Sunken and not emerging at the Guan position, named Hidden. Another: Only slight movement felt under the hand. Another: Insufficient upon light pressure, absent upon heavy pressure.) Empty pulse (Kou Mai): Floating, large, and soft, empty in the center when pressed, solid on both sides. (Another description: Absent under the finger, present on the sides. Soft pulse (Ruan Mai): Extremely soft, floating, and fine. Another description: Absent upon light pressure, abundant upon heavy pressure. Another: Small and fine like Ruan. The *Qianjin Yifang* writes 'Ruan' as 'Ru'.) Deficient pulse (Xu Mai): Slow, large, and soft, insufficient upon pressing, hidden from the finger, hollow and empty. Solid pulse (Shi Mai): Large and long, slightly strong, pressing against the finger, firm. (Another description: Obtainable in both floating and deep positions.) Agitated pulse (Cu Mai): Coming and going rapidly, occasionally pausing once. Knotted pulse (Jie Mai): Coming and going slowly, occasionally pausing once before resuming; a Knotted pulse indicates survival. Intermittent pulse (Dai Mai): Rapid coming and going with mid-way stopping, unable to return spontaneously, thus moving again; an Intermittent pulse indicates death. Scattered pulse (San Mai): Large and scattered; Scattered pulse indicates excess Qi and deficient Blood, having exterior but no interior. Leathery pulse (Ge Mai): Resembles Hidden, Sunken, and Solid, large and long, slightly wiry. (The *Qianjin Yifang* equates Ge with Lao.) Wiry and Tight are similar. Soft and Weak are similar. Floating and Empty are similar. (Also stated: Floating and Surging are similar.) Minute and Choppy are similar. Deep and Hidden are similar. Moderate and Slow are similar. (Also stated: Soft and Slow are similar.) Leathery and Solid are similar. (*Yi...