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Zhu Xi (Hui'an) stated: In ancient times, pulse diagnosis was not conducted by a single method. Nowadays, people only adhere to the methods of the Cun, Guan, and Chi positions. The location of the "Guan" is often unclear. Only the popularly circulated *Mai Jue* (Pulse Mantra), despite its vulgar and shallow language, can directly point to the prominent bone as the "Guan". However, eminent physicians of the world, knowing this book to be a forgery, discard it and speak of it with shame. (Postscript on Guo Changyang's Book)

Liu Guan from Dongyang stated: Wang Shuhe compiled the *Mai Jing* (Classic of Pulse Diagnosis) in ten volumes, which became a classic for medical practitioners. Today, the *Mai Jue* is widely memorized and spoken of, and people directly attribute it to Wang Shuhe. Yet, they do not know that Wang Shuhe lived during the Western Jin Dynasty, when verse mnemonics had not yet been created. This was forged by someone in the middle of the Song Dynasty for the convenience of learning and recitation. Master Zhu accepted his theory of using the prominent bone as the "Guan", unaware that this concept actually originates from the *Mai Jing*.

Xie Jinweng from Luling stated: It is unknown when the so-called *Shuhe Mai Jue* originated. When the *Mai Jing* was corrected in the early Xining era of the Song Dynasty, this book did not yet exist. Chen Kongshuo was the first to claim that after the *Mai Jue* appeared, the *Mai Jing* fell into obscurity. Thus, the *Mai Jue* must have been composed by someone after the Xining era. Only Chen Wuze in the *San Yin Fang* (Treatise on Three Causes) stated that Gao Yangsheng plagiarized content to create verse mnemonics, and Liu Yuanbin followed suit. Their theories seemed to demonstrate a deep understanding of the *Mai Jing*, yet they invented the names "Seven Superficial, Eight Interior, Nine Dao". This implies that Chen Wuze had not read the *Mai Jing* in detail.

Wang Shixiang from Hedong stated: The art of pulse diagnosis is difficult to master. The profound teachings of Huangdi and Qibo, as well as the *Nan Jing* (Classic of Difficult Issues) and *Mai Jing* compiled by Bian Que and Wang Shuhe, did not fully reveal their mysteries. Gao Yangsheng of the Five Dynasties period authored the *Mai Jue*, falsely attributing it to Wang Shuhe. The text contains many contradictions and uses vulgar language. It has been wrongly annotated by secular scholars. Physicians pass it down family to family and recite it household to household, yet remain confused about where to begin. They merely use it to make a living; what benefit does it bring to clinical diagnosis?

Qian Pu from Yunjian stated: Wang Shuhe, Grand Physician of the Jin Dynasty, authored the *Mai Jing*, whose words are reliable and should not be altered arbitrarily. However, once the fake *Mai Jue* attributed to Wang Shuhe circulated, the principles of medical classics declined. This is likely because Wang Shuhe was highly trusted by the world, allowing those who borrowed his name to gain traction. Nevertheless, the gradual superficiality of medical knowledge may well have been misled by this.

Dai Qizong from Jinling stated: Pulse cannot be named by "Superficial" (Biao) and "Interior" (Li). Huangdi, Qibo, Bian Que, and Wang Shuhe never spoke of Biao-Li pulses. The *Mai Jue* stole Wang Shuhe's reputation to establish "Seven Superficial, Eight Interior, Nine Dao", causing great confusion among the world. Pulse variations arise from Yin and Yang; one can only discuss them in terms of Yin-Yang opposition and categorization. How can one fix an order like "First Floating, Second Knotted" to divide them into Seven, Eight, and Nine? Generally, pulses revealed by floating belong to Biao, and those revealed by sinking belong to Li. Why stick to Seven, Eight, and Nine? Liu Lizhi of Mount Lu used Floating, Sinking, Slow, and Rapid as guidelines for teaching. Although this seems like a shortcut, one must study extensively and then return to simplicity to enter the subtleties of pulse diagnosis. If one becomes complacent with this, it is like drawing a boundary around oneself.

Hua Shou (Yingning) stated: The Yin and Yang, Biao and Li of the pulse are named based on opposing images. Gao Yangsheng's "Seven Superficial, Eight Interior, Nine Dao" were likely forced interpretations. Seeking clarity in pulse leads to its obscurity. Mr. Xie stated: The *Mai Jing* discusses twenty-four types of pulses, originally without categories of Biao, Li, or Nine Dao. Regarding the Kou (Hollow) pulse, it says: "Empty in the center, solid on both sides." It also states: "Kou belongs to Yin." However, the *Mai Jue* lists Kou under Seven Superficial, attributing it to Yang. It also says: "Two ends present, middle absent." Zhang Zhongjing's pulse method states: "Floating, Large, Rapid, Agitated, Slippery are Yang; Deep, Choppy, Weak, String-like, Faint are Yin." But the *Mai Jue* classifies Agitated as Yin and String-like as Yang. There are many such errors, proving that the *Mai Jue* is not by Wang Shuhe.

Wu Cheng (Caolu) stated: People mistakenly confuse the *Mai Jue* with the *Mai Jing*, while few know Wang's *Mai Jing*. Pulse books often confuse Lao (Solid) and Ge (Drum-skin) pulses. Lao indicates Cold-Excess, while Ge indicates Deficiency-Cold; how can they be mixed? The matching of opposite pulse qualities like Floating/Sinking, Deficiency/Excess, Tight/Relaxed, Rapid/Slow, Slippery/Choppy, Long/Short is not easy. Consider those hard to distinguish: Hong (Surging) and San (Scattered) are both large, but Hong is forceful while San is weak. Wei (Micro) and Xi (Fine) are both small, but Wei lacks strength while Xi has roots. Kou resembles Floating but is empty in the center; Fu (Hidden) resembles Deep but is absent at the surface. A pulse that wavers like a bean grain is Dong (Agitated); a pulse that feels like a drum skin—hard outside but empty inside—is Ge. These are pairs. There are also Cu (Rapid-intermittent), Jie (Slow-intermittent), and Dai (Intermittent) pulses, all having pauses. Cu is rapid, Jie is slow, so they can be paired; Dai has no pair. In total, there are twenty-seven pulses, not just the twenty-four mentioned in the Seven Superficial, Eight Interior, and Nine Dao. (See detailed writings)

Li Shizhen (Binhu) stated: The *Mai Jing* discusses only twenty-four pulses, lacking Long and Short. The *Mai Jue* also lists twenty-four, adding Long and Short while removing Rapid and Scattered, which is incorrect. The *Su Wen* (Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon), *Nan Jing*, and Zhang Zhongjing discussed pulses only by distinguishing Yin and Yang, without fixed numbers. Examples include Drumming/Pounding and Panting/Horizontal in the *Su Wen*, and Ying-Wei, Gang-Gang, Sun-Zong, Ni-Shun in Zhang Zhongjing's Ping Mai Chapter. Since the subtleties of pulse diagnosis were lost in later generations, lacking standards, names were created for classification. Modern students searching for horses according to pictures are like gazing at the ocean in awe; how can they grasp the full essence? Only Master Caolu's (Wu Cheng) statement captures the key point.