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The "Hand Examination Diagram" states: The Lung is the canopy of the five zang organs; it corresponds to Heaven above, resolves and organizes all things, and governs the circulation of essential qi; it models the Five Elements, corresponds to the Four Seasons, and understands the Five Flavors. At the Qi Kou (radial artery pulse position), Yin and Yang intersect, containing five sections; the front, back, left, and right each have their specific dominions, and the upper, lower, and central areas are divided into nine channels. By diagnosing these, one can know the location of pathogenic factors.

Li Binhu (Li Shizhen) says: The single pulse at Qi Kou is divided into nine channels, which collectively command the twelve regular meridians and the eight extraordinary vessels. Each has its own diagnostic method; this was a secret instruction passed down by Qibo to the Yellow Emperor. Bian Que deduced from this, taking only the Cun Kou (radial pulse) to determine life and death. This is because Qi Kou is the starting point where the hundred vessels flow and converge. Although the Three Positions (Cun, Guan, Chi) were transmitted, the Nine Channels fell into obscurity, thus no one in the world knew the pulses of the extraordinary vessels. Now I have compiled them into diagrams and attached explanations afterwards, to reveal the secrets of the ancient viscera.

[Image Placeholder: Diagram for Diagnosing the Nine Channels of the Left Hand]
The internal and external aspects of the Right Hand are opposite to this.

Qibo says: When the pulse at the Front Position leans outward, it belongs to the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian. The patient suffers from dizziness, stiffness and pain in the head, neck, waist, and back; men suffer from dampness and itching in the genitalia, while women suffer from lower abdominal pain radiating to Mingmen (GV-4), pain in the vagina, closure of the uterus, and dysmenorrhea or amenorrhea. Floating indicates Wind, Choppy indicates Cold, Slippery indicates Consumption Heat, and Tight indicates retained food.

When the pulse at the Middle Position leans outward, it belongs to the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian. The patient suffers from headache and flushed face. Slippery indicates fluid retention, Floating indicates difficulty in defecation, Choppy indicates lethargy, borborygmus, inability to eat, and numbness/obstruction in the shins.

When the pulse at the Rear Position leans outward, it belongs to the Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian. The patient suffers from pain in the waist, back, hip joint, thigh, and limb joints. Floating indicates Qi stagnation, Choppy indicates Wind, and Rapid/Tense indicates muscle cramps and consumption.

When the pulse at the Front Position leans inward, it belongs to the Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian. The patient suffers from lower abdominal pain radiating to the waist, difficulty in defecation, pain in the penis, difficult urination, and hernia with testicles retracting upward. Women suffer from irregular menstruation, cold in the vagina, closure of the uterine orifice, and lower abdominal urgency.

When the pulse at the Middle Position leans inward, it belongs to the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian. The patient suffers from abdominal fullness, epigastric pain, cold sensation in the upper epigastrium, inability to swallow food, and a sensation of sitting in water above the waist. Deep and Choppy indicates heaviness of the body, cold pain in the shins, irritability and fullness preventing lying down, occasional hemoptysis, diarrhea with undigested food.

When the pulse at the Rear Position leans inward, it belongs to the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian. The patient suffers from lower abdominal pain radiating to the heart, back pain, strangury, and when menstruation occurs, Qi rushes up to the chest and heart, hypochondriac fullness, and tension in the inner thighs.

When the pulse at the Front Center runs straight, it belongs to the Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian and Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian. The patient suffers from hardness and pain below the heart, and urgency in the abdomen and hypochondrium. Excess and urgent indicates invasion by malevolent Qi; Deficient indicates diarrhea and borborygmus; women suffer from itching and pain in the vagina; Slippery indicates pregnancy.

When the pulse at the Middle Center hits directly, it belongs to the Hand-Jueyin Pericardium Meridian. The patient suffers from heart pain, flushed face, excessive joy and anger, and bitter taste in the throat upon eating. Slight Floating indicates sadness and trance; Choppy indicates cold below the heart; Deep indicates fear, as if being hunted; alternating chills and fever; presence of blood and Qi stagnation.

When the pulse at the Rear Center runs straight, it belongs to the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian and Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian. The patient suffers from cough, rebellious Qi, and inability to breathe smoothly. Floating indicates Wind; Deep indicates Heat; Tight indicates accumulated heat in the chest; Choppy indicates occasional hemoptysis.

When the pulse at the Front Position crosses horizontally at Cun Kou, rolling like a bead, it belongs to the Ren Mai (Conception Vessel). The patient suffers from lower abdominal pain, rebellious Qi rushing to the heart, and chest tightness preventing flexion and extension. The *Mai Jing* (Pulse Classic) states: If the Cun Kou pulse is tight, fine, solid, and long, extending down to Guan, it is the Ren Mai. The patient suffers from periumbilical pain, seven types of hernia in men, and masses (zhijiju) in women.

If all three positions are Floating and run straight up and down, it is the Du Mai (Governing Vessel). The patient suffers from stiffness and pain in the waist and spine, inability to flex and extend, mania in adults, and epilepsy in children.

If all three positions are Firm (Lao) and run straight up and down, it is the Chong Mai (Penetrating Vessel). The patient suffers from cold hernia in the chest. The *Mai Jing* states: If the pulse comes from the center, solid and firm, reaching directly to Guan, it is the Chong Mai. The patient suffers from lower abdominal pain, Qi rushing to the heart, masses, hernia, enuresis, and sterility in women.

When the pulse at the Front Position beats to the left and right, it is the Yang Qiao Mai (Yang Heel Vessel). The patient suffers from back pain, epilepsy with falling and bleating like a sheep, hemiplegia, numbness, and body rigidity.

When the pulse at the Middle Position beats to the left and right, it is the Dai Mai (Girdle Vessel). The patient suffers from lower abdominal pain radiating to Mingmen, amenorrhea in women, intermittent bleeding leading to infertility, lower abdominal tension in men, or seminal emission.

When the pulse at the Rear Position beats to the left and right, it is the Yin Qiao Mai (Yin Heel Vessel). The patient suffers from epilepsy with chills and fever, skin rigidity and numbness, lower abdominal pain, tenesmus, pain connecting the waist and hips, yin hernia in men, and metrorrhagia in women.

When the pulse slants from Shaoyin to Taiyang, it is the Yang Wei Mai (Yang Linking Vessel). The patient suffers from sudden falls, bleating like a sheep, mutual pulling of hands and feet, severe cases involving aphasia, and muscular numbness and itching.

When the pulse slants from Shaoyang to Jueyin, it is the Yin Wei Mai (Yin Linking Vessel). The patient suffers from epilepsy with falling and bleating, aphasia, muscular numbness and itching, sweating, and aversion to wind.