人一呼一吸脉各行三寸。此一息也。一日一夜一万三千五百息。荣卫行阳二十五度。行阴
二十五度。为一周也。复会于手太阴。
轻手于皮肤得之者肺也。至肌得之者心也。至肉得之者脾也。至筋得之者肝也。至骨得之者肾也。
男子阳脉常盛。阴脉常弱。女子阳脉常弱。阴脉常盛。男得女脉为不足。病在内。（当作虚
医）女得男脉为有余。病在外（谓在四肢。左得之病在左。右得之病在右。当作实医。）男子生于
寅。寅为木。女子生于申。申为金。故男脉在关上。女脉在关下。三阳从地生。故男子尺脉沉也。
三阴从天生。故女子尺脉浮也。
人长则脉长。人短则脉短。人肥则脉沉。（一云脉浓。一云脉细而实。）人瘦则脉浮。（一云脉急。
一云脉大而长。）人壮脉欲大。人弱脉欲小。反者为逆。形盛脉细。少气不足以息者死。形瘦脉大。
胸中多气者死。老人脉微。微阳羸阴者平。（一云脉濡而缓）妇人脉当软弱于丈夫。小儿四五岁
脉实自 。呼吸八至。（一云幼人脉数而壮）性急脉急。性缓脉缓。
凡一呼一吸为一息。一呼脉再至。一吸脉再至。是一息之间脉四至并五至。不大不小。不短
不长。是为平人之脉也。
一呼一吸脉不及四至者曰缓。（一云气虚）其人少气三至者曰迟（一云损）其人可治。二至
者曰败。（一云寒）其人难治。延时而死。一至者曰息。其人虽行。方当着床。待时而死。此为
阴病之损脉也。故曰阴病脉迟。
一呼一吸脉六至者曰数。（一云离绝）为始得病。七至者曰极。（一云无魂）八至者曰脱（一云夺精。一云无魄。）九
至者曰死。十至者曰墓。（一云困）沉细者困在夜。浮大者
困在昼。十一十二至者曰死。（一云绝魄。一云命倾）沉细夜死。浮大昼死。此为阳病之至脉也。故曰阳病脉数。
In one exhalation and one inhalation, the pulse travels three cun. This constitutes one respiration (xi). In a day and night, there are thirteen thousand five hundred respirations. Ying Qi (nutritive qi) and Wei Qi (defensive qi) circulate in the Yang aspect twenty-five times and in the Yin aspect twenty-five times, completing one full cycle. They then reconverge at the Lung Meridian of Hand-Taiyin.
When palpated lightly on the skin, it is the Lung pulse. When palpated to the muscle layer, it is the Heart pulse. When palpated to the flesh/muscle depth, it is the Spleen pulse. When palpated to the tendons, it is the Liver pulse. When palpated to the bone, it is the Kidney pulse.
In men, the Yang pulses are usually vigorous, while the Yin pulses are usually weak. In women, the Yang pulses are usually weak, while the Yin pulses are usually vigorous. If a man presents with a woman's pulse, it indicates deficiency, and the disease is internal (the original text likely contains an error; it should read "deficiency syndrome"). If a woman presents with a man's pulse, it indicates excess, and the disease is external (referring to the limbs. If obtained on the left hand, the disease is on the left side; if on the right hand, the disease is on the right side; the original text likely contains an error; it should read "excess syndrome"). Men are born under the Yin branch Yin, which corresponds to Wood. Women are born under the Yin branch Shen, which corresponds to Metal. Therefore, the male pulse is prominent above the Guan position, and the female pulse is prominent below the Guan position. The Three Yang meridians generate energy from the earth; thus, the Chi pulse in men is deep. The Three Yin meridians generate energy from heaven; thus, the Chi pulse in women is floating.
A tall person has a long pulse; a short person has a short pulse. A fat person has a deep pulse (another version says thick pulse; another says fine and solid pulse). A thin person has a floating pulse (another version says rapid/tight pulse; another says large and long pulse). A robust person's pulse should be large; a weak person's pulse should be small. The opposite conditions are adverse. If the body is full but the pulse is fine, and there is insufficient breath due to lack of Qi, death ensues. If the body is emaciated but the pulse is large, and there is excessive Qi in the chest, death ensues. The elderly have a faint pulse; this represents normalcy where Yang Qi is weak and Yin Qi is depleted (another version says soft and slow pulse). Women's pulses should be softer than men's. Children aged four or five have a solid pulse, with eight beats per respiration (another version says children have rapid and strong pulses). Those with an irritable temperament have a rapid/tight pulse; those with a calm temperament have a slow pulse.
One exhalation and one inhalation constitute one respiration. During one exhalation, the pulse beats twice; during one inhalation, the pulse beats twice. Thus, within one respiration, the pulse beats four or five times, neither too large nor too small, neither too long nor too short. This is the Normal Pulse (Ping Mai) of a healthy person.
If the pulse beats fewer than four times per respiration, it is called Slow Pulse (Huan Mai) (another version says Qi deficiency). Such a person has little Qi. If it beats three times per respiration, it is called Delayed Pulse (Chi Mai) (another version says Damaged Pulse), and such a person is treatable. If it beats two times per respiration, it is called Ruined Pulse (Bai Mai) (another version says Cold Pulse), and such a person is difficult to treat and will die after a delay. If it beats only once per respiration, it is called Resting Pulse (Xi Mai), indicating the pulse is nearly stopped. Although the person can still walk, they will soon be bedridden and await death. This is the Damaged Pulse associated with Yin diseases. Hence, it is said that Yin diseases present with a delayed pulse.
If the pulse beats six times per respiration, it is called Rapid Pulse (Shu Mai) (another version says Severance Pulse). This occurs when a disease is just acquired. If it beats seven times, it is called Extreme Pulse (Ji Mai) (another version says Soulless Pulse). If it beats eight times, it is called Depletion Pulse (Tuo Mai) (another version says Essence-Deprived Pulse, another says Spiritless Pulse). If it beats nine times, it is called Death Pulse. If it beats ten times, it is called Tomb Pulse (Mu Mai) (another version says Trapped Pulse). If the pulse is deep and fine, death occurs at night; if floating and large, death occurs during the day. If it beats eleven or twelve times, it is called Death Pulse (another version says Soul-Severed Pulse, another says Life-Fallen Pulse). If deep and fine, death occurs at night; if floating and large, death occurs during the day. This is the Excessive Pulse associated with Yang diseases. Hence, it is said that Yang diseases present with a rapid pulse.