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Yin and yang refer to: departing is yin, arriving is yang; stillness is yin, movement is yang; slow is yin, rapid is yang. In cases where the Zang-Fu True Pulse (True Organ Pulse, indicating the absence of Stomach Qi) is held: if the Liver pulse is suspended, severed, and rapid, death occurs in eighteen days; if the Heart pulse is suspended and severed, death occurs in nine days; if the Lung pulse is suspended and severed, death occurs in twelve days; if the Kidney pulse is suspended and severed, death occurs in seven days; if the Spleen pulse is suspended and severed, death occurs in four days.

The Yin and Yang, Qi and Blood of the human body ascend and descend, circulate and flow, cycling endlessly, sharing the same creation as Heaven and Earth. Its ascending and exiting manifests in the pulse as "arriving" (Zhi), which is Yang; its descending and entering is called "departing" (Qu), which is Yin. Regarding the form of its arrival and departure: stillness is Yin, movement is Yang; slowness is Yin, frequency/rapidity is Yang; sunken is Yin, floating is Yang. These are the guidelines of Yin and Yang; one must contemplate their spiritual principles so that under the fingers, they can be distinguished. As mentioned above regarding the Stomach Qi Pulse, its arrival, departure, exit, and entry must be leisurely, harmonious, and moderate; its position is neither floating nor sunken; its movement is neither slow nor rapid. Such a state indicates harmonious Yin and Yang without disease; otherwise, it is a pathological pulse. Observing where the irregularity lies reveals the location of the disease. If the root essence fails and the Zang-Fu True Pulse appears without Stomach Qi, the time of death can be determined, as stated in the classic texts.

A pulsation manifesting one Yang is called Hook (Gou); a pulsation manifesting one Yin is called Feather (Mao); a pulsation where Yang overcomes and becomes urgent is called String (Xian); a pulsation where Yang is absent but arrives is called Stone (Shi); Yin and Yang passing through each other is called Flowing (Liu). This describes the spiritual principles of the Five Zang pulses. The Five Zang possess the nature of the Five Elements, and the Five Elements arise from the Qi transformation of Yin and Yang, circulating and flourishing to form shapes. Thus, the Qi of the Five Zang manifests in the pulse as follows. A pulsation manifesting one Yang refers to the pulsating shape of the pulse, as stated in the *Treatise on Yin-Yang Separation and Combination*: "Pulsating but not floating, named One Yang." The Hook pulse indicates much Yang ascending and little Yin descending; Yang ascending causes floating out, Yin descending causes sinking in. Therefore, its shape is slightly curved downward like a hook, moving roundly and actively, governing Summer, and is the pulse image of the Heart. A pulsation manifesting one Yin refers to what is said: "Pulsating but not sunken, named One Yin." The Feather pulse indicates slight Yang descending and slight Yin ascending; Yang descending causes收敛 (restraint/astringency), Yin ascending causes slight pulsation. Thus, it resembles feathers on the skin, floating and soft, governing Autumn, and is the pulse image of the Lung. A pulsation where Yang overcomes and becomes urgent means the pulsating Yang is relatively strong and slightly urgent, like a string line, representing initial Yang ascending, governing Spring, and is the pulse image of the Liver. A pulsation where Yang is absent but arrives means that upon light pressure, the pulsating form shows absolutely no Yang aspect; upon heavy pressure, pure Yin Qi arrives, with Yang submerged below, like a stone sinking into water. It governs Winter and is the pulse image of the Kidney. The ascending and descending, exiting and entering of Yin and Yang involve the interaction and mutual generation of these two Qi, necessarily passing through Central Earth (Spleen/Stomach), coming and going mutually, like water flowing. Hence, it is said that Yin and Yang passing through each other is called Flowing (Liu), which is the pulse image of the Spleen and Stomach. Liu represents a moderate, neutral, soft, and slow image. When appearing within the String, Hook, Feather, and Stone pulses, it indicates a pulse without disease due to sufficient Stomach Qi. Just as Earth flourishes in the four seasons without dominating a single season alone, it is said that its favorable presence is hard to see because it resides within the Heart, Kidney, Lung, and Liver.

The *Lingshu: Genjie Chapter* states: "In one day and night, there are fifty circuits (Ying), nourishing the essence of the five Zang. Those not conforming to this number are called 'Kuang Sheng' (Mad Generation). What is meant by fifty circuits is that all five Zang receive Qi. Holding the pulse at the Cun Kou (Radial Artery), count the arrivals. Fifty beats without a single intermission (Dai Mai) indicate that all five Zang receive Qi; forty beats with one intermission indicate one Zang lacks Qi; thirty beats with one intermission indicate two Zang lack Qi; twenty beats with one intermission indicate three Zang lack Qi; ten beats with one intermission indicate four Zang lack Qi; fewer than ten beats with one intermission indicate all five Zang lack Qi. To give a short-term prognosis, focus on the beginning and end. Fifty beats without a single intermission are considered normal, allowing one to know the timeline of the five Zang. My short-term prognosis refers to pulses that are suddenly rapid and suddenly slow."

Ying (Nutritive) Qi flows within the vessels. The Yin and Yang Twelve Meridians circulate, completing fifty cycles around the body in one day and night, to operate and nourish the essential Qi of the five Zang, which are all replenished by the essential Qi of water and grain. Therefore, holding the pulse at the Cun Kou and counting its frequency: fifty beats without a single intermission mean the Qi circulates through the five Zang without stopping. If, outside or within the fifty beats, there are intermittent stops without a fixed pattern, those that are slow are called Knot Pulse (Jie Mai), and those that are rapid are called Urgent Pulse (Cu Mai); both are diseases of Qi and Blood stagnation, not death pulses. If the intermissions have a fixed pattern, it is called Intermission Pulse (Dai Mai), because the Qi is exhausted and cannot continue. As stated in the classics regarding one to five Zang lacking Qi, the length of the death period can be determined. Even without intermissions, if the pulse is suddenly rapid and suddenly slow, this is the True Zang Pulse of Spleen failure, indicating death. Because the Spleen is Central Earth, it acts on behalf of the Qi of all Zang throughout the body, so its fundamental pulse is named Dai (Intermission), characterized by moderation and slowness without intermission. If the Spleen fails and cannot distribute Qi to the other Zang, intermissions occur with a fixed pattern within fifty beats, as if seeking someone to replace oneself, hence it is named Intermission Pulse (Dai Mai), indicating death. Although both are named Intermission Pulse (Dai Mai), their meanings differ. Some say that when Shaoyang arrives, it is suddenly rapid and suddenly slow; this is because Shaoyang Yang Qi is initially ascending and not yet smooth, representing a prosperous pulse of the season, not the death pulse mentioned earlier. Therefore, while pulse names may be the same, their meanings often differ, and all must be distinguished.