沉脉，重手按至筋骨乃得（《脉经》）。如绵裹砂，内刚外柔（杨氏）。如石投水，必极其底。沉脉法地，有渊泉在下
之象，在卦为坎，在时为冬，在人为肾。又谓之石，亦曰营。太过则如弹石，按之益坚，病在外也。不及则气来虚微，
去如数者，病在中也。《脉诀》言缓度三关，状如烂绵者，非也。沉有缓数及各部之沉，烂绵乃弱脉，非沉也。
〔体状诗〕水行润下脉来沉，筋骨之间软滑匀。女子寸兮男子尺，四时如此号为平。
〔相类诗〕沉帮筋骨自调匀，伏则推筋着骨寻。沉细如绵真弱脉，弦长实大是牢形。（沉行筋间，伏行骨上，牢大
有力，弱细无力）
〔主病诗〕沉潜水蓄阴经病，数热迟寒滑有痰。无力而沉虚与气，沉而有气积并寒。寸沉痰郁水停胸，关主中寒痛
不通。尺部浊遗并泄痢，肾虚腰及下元 。沉脉主里，有力里实，无力里虚。沉则为气，又主水蓄，沉迟痼冷，沉数内
热，沉滑痰食，沉涩气郁，沉弱寒热，沉缓寒湿，沉紧冷痛。
迟脉，一息三至，去来极慢（《脉经》）。
迟为阳不胜阴，故脉来不及。《脉谈》言，重手乃得，是有沉无浮。一息三至，甚为易见。而曰隐隐、曰状且难，
是涩脉矣，其谬可知。
〔体状诗〕迟来一息至惟三，阳不胜阴气血寒。但把浮沉分表里，消阴须益火之原。
〔体状诗〕脉来三至号为迟，小快于迟作缓持。迟细而难知是涩，浮而迟大以虚推。（三至为迟，有力为缓，无力
为涩，有止为弦，迟甚为败，浮大而软为虚。黎氏曰∶迟小而实，缓大而慢；迟为阴盛阳衰，缓为卫盛营弱，宜别之。）
〔主病诗〕迟司脏病或多痰，沉痼 瘕仔细看。有力而迟为冷痛，迟而无力定虚寒。寸迟必是上焦寒，关主中寒痛
不堪。尺是肾虚腰脚重，溲便不禁疝牵丸。迟脉主脏，有力冷痛，无力虚寒。浮迟表寒，沉迟里寒。
Chen pulse (Sinking Pulse), which can only be felt when pressing heavily down to the level of the sinews and bones (from *Mai Jing*). Its image is like sand wrapped in cotton, internally firm but externally soft (as described by Yang). It is like a stone thrown into water, inevitably sinking to the bottom. The Chen pulse corresponds to the Earth, having the imagery of deep springs below; in the Eight Trigrams it corresponds to Kan (Water); in the seasons it corresponds to Winter; and in the human body it corresponds to the Kidney. It is also called "Shi" (Stone) pulse or Ying (Nutrient) pulse. If excessive, it feels like striking a stone, becoming harder upon pressure, indicating disease in the exterior. If deficient, the qi comes weak and faint, and departs rapidly like a Shu (Rapid) pulse, indicating disease in the interior. The *Mai Jue* states that the Huan (Slow/Relaxed) pulse passes through the three positions and resembles rotten cotton; this is incorrect. Chen pulses vary by Huan, Shu, and location; "rotten cotton" describes the Ruo (Weak) pulse, not Chen.
[Verse on Form] Water flows downward, so the pulse comes deeply; between sinews and bones, it is soft, smooth, and even. In women, the Cun (Inch) position is superficial [like men's Chi]; in men, the Chi (Cubit) position is deep [like women's Cun]. If the four seasons follow this pattern, it is called a Ping (Normal) pulse.
[Verse on Similarities] The Chen pulse is naturally balanced between sinews and bones; the Fu (Hidden) pulse requires pushing the sinews to touch the bone to find. A Chen pulse that is fine and like cotton is truly a Ruo (Weak) pulse; a Xian (Bowstring) pulse that is long, solid, and large is a Lao (Firm) form. (Note: Chen moves between sinews, Fu moves along bones, Lao is large and forceful, Ruo is fine and powerless.)
[Verse on Disease Manifestations] Chen indicates water retention in Yin meridians; Shu indicates Heat, Chi indicates Cold, Hua (Slippery) indicates Phlegm. A Chen pulse that is forceless indicates Deficiency and Qi deficiency; a Chen pulse with shape indicates Qi accumulation and Cold. At the Cun position, Chen indicates Phlegm stagnation and water retention in the chest; at the Guan (Bar) position, it indicates Middle Jiao Cold causing pain and obstruction; at the Chi position, it indicates turbid discharge, spermatorrhea, diarrhea, and dysentery; it also indicates Kidney Deficiency, lower back pain, and Yuan (Source) insufficiency. Chen primarily governs Interior syndromes: forceful indicates Interior Excess, forceless indicates Interior Deficiency. Chen governs Qi stagnation and water retention; Chen-Chi indicates entrenched Cold; Chen-Shu indicates Internal Heat; Chen-Hua indicates Phlegm and Food stagnation; Chen-Se (Choppy) indicates Qi depression; Chen-Ruo indicates Cold-Heat or Deficiency; Chen-Huan indicates Cold-Dampness; Chen-Jin (Tight) indicates Cold pain.
Chi (Slow) pulse beats three times per respiration, coming and going very slowly (*Mai Jing*).
Chi occurs because Yang cannot overcome Yin, hence the pulse comes and goes extremely slowly. *Tan Mai* states it requires heavy pressure to feel, implying only Sinking without Floating. Three beats per respiration are quite visible. To describe it as hidden or difficult to discern is describing the Se (Choppy) pulse, revealing the error.
[Verse on Form] Chi comes three times per respiration, where Yang fails to overcome Yin, leading to Qi and Blood Cold. By distinguishing Exterior and Interior via Floating and Sinking, one must eliminate Yin by benefiting the source of Fire (Mingmen).
[Verse on Similarities] A pulse beating three times per respiration is called Chi; slightly faster than Chi is Huan (Slow/Relaxed). Chi that is fine and hard to identify is Se (Choppy); Floating, Large, and Slow indicates Xu (Deficient). (Note: Three beats is Chi; Forceful is Huan; Forceless is Se; Intermittent is Jie/Dai; Extreme Chi is failing; Floating, Large, and Soft is Xu. Mr. Li says: Chi is small and solid, Huan is large and slow; Chi indicates Yin Excess and Yang Deficiency, Huan indicates Wei (Defensive) Excess and Ying (Nutrient) Weakness; these should be distinguished.)
[Verse on Disease Manifestations] Chi governs Zang organ diseases or excessive Phlegm; carefully examine entrenched masses and accumulations. Forceful Chi indicates Cold pain; Forceless Chi indicates Deficient Cold. Cun Chi indicates Upper Jiao Cold; Guan Chi indicates unbearable Middle Jiao Cold pain. Chi at the Chi position indicates Kidney Deficiency with heavy waist and legs, incontinence of urine and stool, and hernia pulling to the testicles. Chi primarily governs Zang organs: forceful indicates Cold pain, forceless indicates Deficient Cold. Floating-Chi indicates Exterior Cold, Sinking-Chi indicates Interior Cold.