浮者。按之不足。举之有余。与人迎相应。则风寒在经。与气口相应。则荣血虚损。
沉者。举之不足。按之有余。与人迎相应。则寒伏阴经。与气口相应。则血凝腹藏。
迟者。应动极缓。按之久牢。与人迎相应。则沉寒凝滞。与气口相应。则虚冷沉积。
数者。去来促急。一息数至。与人迎相应。则气躁热烦。与气口相应。则阴虚阳盛。
虚者。迟大而软。按之豁然。与人迎相应。则经络伤暑。与气口相应。则荣卫走散。
实者。按举有力。不疾不迟。与人迎相应。则风寒贯经。与气口相应。则气血壅脉。
缓者。浮大而软。去来微迟。与人迎相应。则气热入脏。与气口相应。则怒急伤筋。
紧者。动转无常。如纽单线。与人迎相应。则经络伤寒。与气口相应。则脏腑作痛。
洪者。来之至大。去之且长。与人迎相应。则寒壅诸阳。与气口相应。则气攻百脉。
细者。指下寻之。来往如丝。与人迎相应。则诸经中湿。与气口相应。则五脏凝涎。
滑者。往来流利。有如贯珠。与人迎相应。则风寒潮溢。与气口相应。则痰涎凝滞。
涩者。参伍不调。如雨沾沙。与人迎相应。则风湿寒痹。与气口相应。则津汗血枯。
弦者。端紧径急。如张弓弦。与人迎相应。则风走注痛。与气口相应。则饮积冷疼。
弱者。按之欲绝。轻软无力。与人迎相应。则风湿缓纵。与气口相应。则筋绝痿弛。
结者。往来迟缓。时止更来。与人迎相应。则阴散阳生。与气口相应。则积阻气节。
促者。往来急数。时止复来。与人迎相应。则痰壅阳经。与气口相应。则积留胃腑。
芤者。中空旁实。如按慈葱。与人迎相应。则邪壅吐衄。与气口相应。则荣虚妄行。
微者。极细而软。似有若无。与人迎相应。则风暑自汗。与气口相应。则微阳脱泄。
动者。在关如豆。厥厥不行。与人迎相应。则寒疼冷痛。与气口相应。则心惊胆寒。
伏者。沉隐不出。着骨乃得。与人迎相应。则寒湿痼闭。与气口相应。则凝思滞神。
长者。往来流利。出于三关。与人迎相应。则微邪自愈。与气口相应。则脏气平治。
短者。按举似数。不及本部。与人迎相应。则邪闭经脉。与气口相应。则积遏脏气。
濡者。按之不见。轻手乃得。与人迎相应。则寒湿散漫。与气口相应。则飧泄软弱。
革者。沉伏实大。如按鼓皮。与人迎相应。则中风着湿。与气口相应。则半产脱精。
散者。有阳无阴。按之满指。与人迎相应。则淫邪脱泄。与气口相应。则精血败耗。
代者。脏绝中止。余脏代动。无问内外所因。得此必死。
Floating pulse. It feels insufficient upon light pressure and excessive upon heavy pressure (Note: This description in the original text appears counter-intuitive to standard definitions, but is translated literally as per source). If it corresponds with the Renying pulse (Renying acupoint pulse), it indicates Wind-Cold pathogen in the meridians; if it corresponds with the Qikou pulse (Qikou acupoint pulse), it indicates deficiency and damage of Ying Blood (Nutritive Blood).
Deep pulse. It feels insufficient upon light pressure and excessive upon heavy pressure. If it corresponds with the Renying pulse, it indicates Cold pathogen latent in the Yin meridians; if it corresponds with the Qikou pulse, it indicates blood coagulation in the Zang-Fu organs.
Slow pulse. The pulse beat is extremely slow, feeling firm and solid upon prolonged palpation. If it corresponds with the Renying pulse, it indicates deep-seated Cold stagnation; if it corresponds with the Qikou pulse, it indicates accumulation of deficiency-Cold.
Rapid pulse. The pulse comes and goes urgently and quickly, occurring multiple times within one respiration cycle. If it corresponds with the Renying pulse, it indicates restless Qi, heat, and irritability; if it corresponds with the Qikou pulse, it indicates Yin deficiency with Yang hyperactivity.
Deficient pulse. The pulse is slow, large, and soft, feeling hollow upon heavy pressure. If it corresponds with the Renying pulse, it indicates injury to the meridians by Summerheat; if it corresponds with the Qikou pulse, it indicates dispersion of Ying and Wei (Nutritive and Defensive) Qi.
Excess pulse. It has force upon both light and heavy pressure, neither fast nor slow. If it corresponds with the Renying pulse, it indicates Wind-Cold penetrating the meridians; if it corresponds with the Qikou pulse, it indicates congestion of Qi and Blood in the vessels.
Moderate pulse. The pulse is floating, large, and soft, coming and going slightly slowly. If it corresponds with the Renying pulse, it indicates Heat entering the Zang organs; if it corresponds with the Qikou pulse, it indicates injury to the sinews due to anger and urgency.
Tight pulse. The movement is irregular, like a twisted single thread. If it corresponds with the Renying pulse, it indicates Cold damage to the meridians; if it corresponds with the Qikou pulse, it indicates pain in the Zang-Fu organs.
Surging pulse. It arrives very large and departs long. If it corresponds with the Renying pulse, it indicates Cold obstructing the Yang meridians; if it corresponds with the Qikou pulse, it indicates Qi attacking the hundred vessels.
Thready pulse. Under the fingers, searching reveals the pulse coming and going like silk threads. If it corresponds with the Renying pulse, it indicates Dampness in the various meridians; if it corresponds with the Qikou pulse, it indicates condensation of saliva/phlegm in the Five Zang organs.
Slippery pulse. The movement is fluent, like pearls strung together. If it corresponds with the Renying pulse, it indicates Wind-Cold overflowing like tides; if it corresponds with the Qikou pulse, it indicates stagnation of phlegm and saliva.
Choppy pulse. The beats are irregular and unharmonious, like rain soaking into sand. If it corresponds with the Renying pulse, it indicates Bi syndrome caused by Wind-Damp-Cold; if it corresponds with the Qikou pulse, it indicates depletion of body fluids, sweat, and blood.
Wiry pulse. It is straight, tight, and urgent, like a drawn bowstring. If it corresponds with the Renying pulse, it indicates wandering pain caused by Wind; if it corresponds with the Qikou pulse, it indicates cold pain due to fluid retention.
Weak pulse. Upon heavy pressure, it feels nearly absent; lightly, it is soft and without strength. If it corresponds with the Renying pulse, it indicates flaccidity and laxity due to Wind-Damp; if it corresponds with the Qikou pulse, it indicates tendon exhaustion leading to atrophy and flaccidity.
Knotted pulse. The pulse comes and goes slowly, occasionally stopping before resuming. If it corresponds with the Renying pulse, it indicates dispersion of Yin and generation of Yang (indicating Yin excess or blockage); if it corresponds with the Qikou pulse, it indicates obstruction of Qi nodes by accumulations.
Hasty pulse. The pulse comes and goes rapidly, occasionally stopping before resuming. If it corresponds with the Renying pulse, it indicates phlegm obstructing the Yang meridians; if it corresponds with the Qikou pulse, it indicates accumulation remaining in the Stomach organ.
Scallion-stem pulse. It is empty in the center and solid on the sides, feeling like pressing on a scallion stem. If it corresponds with the Renying pulse, it indicates pathogenic obstruction leading to vomiting and epistaxis; if it corresponds with the Qikou pulse, it indicates deficiency of Ying blood causing reckless movement.
Fine pulse. It is extremely thin and soft, seeming to exist yet not. If it corresponds with the Renying pulse, it indicates spontaneous sweating due to Wind-Summerheat; if it corresponds with the Qikou pulse, it indicates leakage and loss of faint Yang Qi.
Moving pulse. At the Guan position, it resembles a bean, quivering and stationary. If it corresponds with the Renying pulse, it indicates cold pain; if it corresponds with the Qikou pulse, it indicates heart fright and gallbladder fear.
Hidden pulse. It is deeply concealed and does not surface, requiring pressing to the bone to be felt. If it corresponds with the Renying pulse, it indicates stubborn closure by Cold-Damp; if it corresponds with the Qikou pulse, it indicates stagnation of thought leading to dullness of spirit.
Long pulse. The pulse comes and goes fluently, extending beyond the three positions. If it corresponds with the Renying pulse, it indicates self-healing from slight pathogens; if it corresponds with the Qikou pulse, it indicates harmonious treatment of Zang Qi.
Short pulse. Upon light and heavy pressure, it seems rapid but does not reach its proper extent. If it corresponds with the Renying pulse, it indicates closure of meridians by pathogens; if it corresponds with the Qikou pulse, it indicates obstruction of Zang Qi by accumulations.
Soggy pulse. It is invisible upon heavy pressure, only felt with light touch. If it corresponds with the Renying pulse, it indicates diffuse Cold-Damp; if it corresponds with the Qikou pulse, it indicates undigested diarrhea and weakness.
Drum-skin pulse. It is deep, hidden, solid, and large, feeling like pressing a drum skin. If it corresponds with the Renying pulse, it indicates Wind-stroke complicated by Dampness; if it corresponds with the Qikou pulse, it indicates miscarriage and loss of essence.
Scattered pulse. It has Yang but no Yin, filling the fingers upon pressure but lacking root. If it corresponds with the Renying pulse, it indicates escape and loss due to licentious pathogens; if it corresponds with the Qikou pulse, it indicates deterioration and consumption of essence and blood.
Intermittent pulse. The Qi of an organ ceases midway, while other organs compensate with beating. Regardless of internal or external causes, the appearance of this pulse indicates certain death.