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Li Shizhen said: In the Song Dynasty, a vulgar scholar fabricated the *Mai Jue* (Pulse Rhymes), which was crude and full of errors. Physicians learned and recited it, taking it as their starting point, yet by the time their hair turned white with age, they were still ignorant of pulse principles. Dai Tongfu often corrected its mistakes. My father, Mr. Yuechi, authored *Sizhen Faming* (Invention of the Four Diagnostic Methods) in eight volumes; its content is profound and subtle, inaccessible to those with shallow learning. I therefore selected the essence and splendor, presumptuously compiling this book to facilitate study and serve as a guide for pulse diagnosis. Both physicians and patients in the world regard pulse diagnosis as the primary task, unaware that pulse diagnosis is merely the last of the Four Diagnostics (Wang, Wen, Wen, Qie - Observation, Auscultation/Olfaction, Inquiry, Palpation), considered merely a skillful technique. A superior physician wishing to master the whole must employ all four diagnostic methods.

Respectfully written on the First Day of the First Month in the Jiazi Year of the Jiajing Era at Binhu Residence.

The Floating Pulse (Fumu Mai, Floating Pulse) is felt with light pressure but diminishes slightly with heavy pressure without being empty (*Mai Jing*). It resembles fine wind blowing the feathers on a bird's back, gently fluttering; or like touching elm pods (*Suwen*); or like wood floating on water (Cui Shi); or like pinching a green onion leaf (Li Shi). The Floating Pulse follows Heaven, possessing the image of lightness and clarity residing above. In the Eight Trigrams, it corresponds to Qian (Heaven); in seasons, to Autumn; in the human body, to the Lung; it is also called the "Hair" pulse. If excessive, the center is firm while the sides are hollow, resembling touching a chicken feather, indicating disease in the exterior. If deficient, the qi comes lightly like hair, indicating disease in the interior. The *Mai Jue* states that seeking it feels excessive; this is an image of Floating combined with Surging and Tight pulses, not the Floating pulse itself.

[Body Characteristics Poem] The Floating pulse rises only from within the flesh, like touching elm pods, seemingly light as hair. Obtaining this pulse during the three autumn months indicates health; encountering it in chronic illness should cause alarm.

[Similar Pulses Poem] Floating is like wood floating in water; large and hollow in the middle is the Cleft Pulse (Koumai Mai). Fluttering upon palpation is the Surging Pulse (Hongmai Mai), coming vigorously but departing slowly. Floating pulse is light and level like pinching a green onion. Deficient pulse arrives late, large, and abruptly empty. Floating and soft/thin constitutes the Soggy Pulse (Rumai Mai); Scattered pulse is like willow catkins with no fixed trace. Floating and forceful is Surging; Floating and slow/large is Deficient; extreme deficiency is Scattered; Floating and forceless is Cleft; Floating and soft/thin is Soggy.

[Main Disease Poem] Floating pulse is Yang, dwelling in exterior diseases; Slow indicates Wind, Rapid indicates Heat, Tight indicates Cold constriction. Floating and forceful mostly indicates Wind-Heat; forceless and floating indicates Blood Deficiency. Floating at the Cun position indicates headache, dizziness, and internal Wind, or possibly Wind-Phlegm accumulating in the chest. At the Guan position, Earth (Spleen) is weak and Wood (Liver) is hyperactive. At the Chi position, urination and defecation are obstructed.

Floating pulse governs exterior syndromes; forceful indicates Exterior Excess, forceless indicates Exterior Deficiency. Floating-Slow indicates Wind-Stroke; Floating-Rapid indicates Wind-Heat; Floating-Tight indicates Wind-Cold; Floating-Lax indicates Wind-Dampness; Floating-Deficient indicates Summerheat Injury; Floating-Cleft indicates Blood Loss; Floating-Surging indicates Empty Heat; Floating-Scattered indicates Extreme Exhaustion.