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There are seven pulse diagnoses, known as Floating (Fu), Middle (Zhong), Deep (Chen), Upper (Shang), Lower (Xia), Left (Zuo), and Right (You). By carefully deliberating and seeking, one can discern the condition. There is also the Nine Palpations (Jiu Hou) method: by varying the pressure of lifting and pressing, one examines the Floating, Middle, and Deep pulses at the Cun (Inch), Guan (Bar), and Chi (Cubit) positions respectively, observing five beats for each. The Cun position palpates diseases in the chest and above; the Guan position palpates diseases from below the diaphragm to the navel; the Chi position palpates diseases from below the navel to the heel and ankle. The left pulse reflects conditions on the left side of the body, and the right pulse reflects conditions on the right side. Diseases manifest according to the location of the pulse changes; areas without disease show no abnormal pulse responses.

A Floating pulse indicates Heart and Lung disorders; a Deep pulse indicates Kidney and Liver disorders. The Spleen and Stomach reside in the Central Region (Zhong Zhou), and their pulse should be between Floating and Deep. The Heart pulse when Floating appears large and scattered (Da San); the Lung pulse when Floating appears choppy and short (Se Duan). The Liver pulse when Deep appears wiry and long (Xian Chang); the Kidney pulse when Deep appears solid and soft (Shi Ru). The Spleen and Stomach belong to Earth, and their pulse should be harmonious and moderate (He Huan). The Ming Men (Gate of Life) represents Ministerial Fire, and its pulse is diagnosed similarly to the Left Cun position. This describes the methods of the Seven Diagnoses and Nine Palpations in pulse reading.

The so-called Seven Diagnoses refer to: pulse qi merging with the skin and hair is called Floating; pressing deeply to the bone is called Deep; middle palpation lies between Floating and Deep. "Upper and Lower" refers to the Cun and Chi positions. This generally discusses the six positions of both hands. "Left and Right" refers to the left and right hands. These are the Seven Diagnoses. If one can carefully deliberate, seek meticulously, and analyze comprehensively, then the conditions of the interior and exterior, upper and lower will not escape detection.

Furthermore, the *Su Wen* (Basic Questions) chapter on "Three Parts and Nine Palpations" states: A pulse that is uniquely small indicates disease; uniquely large indicates disease; uniquely rapid indicates disease; uniquely slow indicates disease; uniquely hot indicates disease; uniquely cold indicates disease; uniquely sunken indicates disease. This is also called the Seven Diagnoses, but it differs in meaning from the Seven Diagnoses in this text and should be consulted together.

The so-called Nine Palpations means that the pulse is divided into three parts (Cun, Guan, Chi), and each part has Floating, Middle, and Deep aspects, which constitutes the Nine Palpations. The nuances of the Nine Palpations cannot be obtained without varying the pressure of lifting and pressing. The observation is based on five beats. The Cun position palpates diseases from the chest up to the head; the Guan position palpates diseases from below the diaphragm to the navel; the Chi position palpates diseases from below the navel to the feet. The left pulse reflects the left side of the body, and the right pulse reflects the right side. Diseases manifest where the pulse changes; if there is no disease, the pulse does not reflect pathological signs. This is largely similar to the previously mentioned Seven Diagnoses.

The Heart and Lungs reside in the upper part, so their pulse should be Floating; the Liver and Kidneys reside in the lower part, so their pulse should be Deep; the Spleen and Stomach reside between the Heart/Lungs and Liver/Kidneys, called the Central Region, so their pulse should also be between Floating and Deep. Both Heart and Lungs correspond to the Floating pulse, but Floating, Large, and Scattered symbolizes the Fire of Summer, thus belonging to the Heart; Floating, Choppy, and Short symbolizes the Metal of Autumn, thus belonging to the Lung. Both Liver and Kidneys correspond to the Deep pulse, but Deep, Wiry, and Long symbolizes the Wood of Spring, thus belonging to the Liver; Deep, Solid, and Soft symbolizes the Water of Winter, thus belonging to the Kidney. A pulse that is harmonious and moderate possesses a relaxed and integrated atmosphere, which is the nature of Earth, suitable for the Spleen and Stomach. The Ming Men, located in the right Kidney, inherently contains Ministerial Fire, but ultimately cannot depart from the Fire position, so its pulse is diagnosed identically to the Left Cun position.