《脉要精微论》曰∶诊法常以平旦，阴气未动，阳气未散，饮食未进，经脉未盛，
络脉调匀，气血未乱，乃可诊有过之脉。（荣卫之气，昼则行阳，夜则行阴，至平旦皆会于寸口，故
诊脉以平旦为常。阴气正平而未动，阳气将盛而未散，饮食未进，虚实易明，经脉未盛，络脉调匀。气血未因动
作而扰乱，乃可诊有过之脉。过者，病也。）夫脉者，血之府也。（府，聚也。言血之多少皆聚见于经脉之中，
故曰∶脉实血实，脉虚血虚。）长则气治，短则气病；数则烦心，大则病进；（夫脉长为气和故治，短为
不足故病，数急为热故烦心，大为邪盛故病进。长脉者
往来长，短脉者往来短，数脉者往来急速，大脉者往来满大。）上盛则气高，下盛则气胀；代则气衰，
细则气少；涩则心痛。（上谓寸口，下谓尺中，盛谓盛满。代脉者，动而中止，不能自还。细脉者，动如
莠蓬。涩脉者，往来时不利而蹇涩也。）浑浑革至如涌泉，病进而色弊，绵绵其去如弦绝死。（浑
浑言脉气浊乱也。革至者，谓脉来弦而大，实而长也。如涌泉者，言脉汨汨，但出而不返也。绵绵，言微微似有，
而不甚应手也。如弦绝者，言脉卒断，如弦之绝去也。如此之脉，皆必死也。）
夫五脏者，身之强也。（脏安则神守，神守则身强，故曰身之强也。）头者，精明之府，头倾视
深，精神将夺矣。背者，胸中之府，背曲肩随，府将坏矣。腰者，肾之府，转摇不
能，肾将惫矣。膝者筋之府，屈伸不能，行则偻俯，筋将惫矣。骨者，髓之府，不能
久立，行则振掉，骨将惫矣。（皆以所居所由而为之府也。）得强则生，失强则死。（强谓中气强，固
以镇守也。此言五脏为身之强，而失强则死也。）
是知阴盛则梦涉大水恐惧，（阴为水，故梦涉水而恐惧。）阳盛则梦大火燔灼，（阳为火，故梦
大火而燔灼。）阴阳俱盛则梦相杀毁伤，（亦类交争之象。）上盛则梦飞，下盛则梦堕，（气上则梦上
故飞，气下则梦下故坠。）甚饱则梦予，（内有余故。）甚饥则梦取，（内不足故。）肝气盛则梦怒，（肝在志为
怒。）肺气盛则梦哭，（肺声哀故梦哭。）短虫多则梦聚众，（内多短虫，神梦应象。）长虫多则梦相击毁
伤。（长虫多则内不安，神躁扰，故梦是矣。）
The *Ling Shu: Mai Yao Jing Wei Lun* states: Pulse diagnosis is usually performed at dawn (Pingdan). At this time, Yin Qi has not yet stirred, Yang Qi has not yet dispersed, food and drink have not been ingested, the Jing Mai (Primary Meridians) are not yet full, the Luo Mai (Collaterals) are harmonious and even, and the Qi and Blood are not yet disturbed. Only then can abnormal pulses be diagnosed. (Ying Wei Qi [Nutritive and Defensive Qi] travels through the Yang aspects during the day and the Yin aspects at night, converging at the Cun Kou (Radial Artery) by dawn; therefore, dawn is the standard time for pulse diagnosis. Yin Qi is peaceful and unstirred, Yang Qi is about to become abundant but not yet dispersed, no food has entered, making deficiency and excess easy to distinguish, Jing Mai Qi is not yet full, and Luo Mai Qi is harmonious. Qi and Blood are not disturbed by movement, allowing for the diagnosis of pathological pulses. "Guo" refers to disease.)
The Mai (Vessel/Meridian) is the residence where blood gathers. (Residence means gathering. This implies that the quantity of blood is manifested within the vessels; thus, a full pulse indicates full blood, and a deficient pulse indicates deficient blood.) A long pulse indicates regulated Qi; a short pulse indicates diseased Qi; a rapid pulse indicates vexation of the heart; a large pulse indicates the progression of disease. (A long pulse reflects harmonious Qi and thus normality; a short pulse reflects insufficiency and thus disease; a rapid and urgent pulse reflects heat and thus heart vexation; a large pulse reflects excess pathogenic factors and thus disease progression. The characteristic of a Long Pulse is its extended duration in both incoming and outgoing phases; a Short Pulse is brief; a Rapid Pulse is swift; a Large Pulse is expansive and full.)
Excess in the upper portion (Cun position) indicates rebellious Qi rising; excess in the lower portion (Chi position) indicates abdominal distension. A Dai Pulse (Intermittent Pulse) indicates Qi decline; a Xi Pulse (Fine/Thready Pulse) indicates Qi scarcity; a Se Pulse (Choppy Pulse) indicates heart pain. (Upper refers to the Cun position, lower to the Chi position; "excess" refers to a full pulse condition. The Dai Pulse stops temporarily and cannot recover immediately. The Xi Pulse beats faintly like weed fluff. The Se Pulse is unsmooth and hesitant in its flow.) If the pulse is turbid, firm, and urgent like a gushing spring, the disease will progress and the complexion will deteriorate. If the pulse is faint, barely perceptible, and leaves like a broken string, death ensues. (Turbid describes chaotic Qi. "Ge Zhi" refers to a pulse that is wiry, large, solid, and long. "Like a gushing spring" describes a pulse that rushes forth without returning. "Mian Mian" describes a faint pulse barely felt. "Like a broken string" describes a sudden cessation of the pulse, akin to a snapped string. Such pulses indicate inevitable death.)
The Zang Organs are the foundation of the body's strength. (When Zang organs are tranquil, Shen [Spirit] is retained; when Shen is retained, the body is strong.) The head is the residence of clarity and spirit; if the head droops and eyes are sunken, the spirit is being depleted. The back is the residence of the chest; if the back is curved and shoulders sag, the residence of the chest is failing. The waist is the residence of the Kidneys; if turning and shaking the waist is difficult, the Kidneys are becoming exhausted. The knees are the residence of the sinews; if flexion and extension are difficult, and walking requires stooping, the sinews are becoming exhausted. The bones are the residence of the marrow; if one cannot stand for long and trembles while walking, the bones are becoming exhausted. (These are called "residences" based on their location and functional association.) Retaining strength leads to life; losing strength leads to death. (Strength refers to robust Middle Qi that stabilizes and guards. This passage emphasizes that the Zang organs constitute the body's strength; losing this strength results in death.)
From this, we know that excess Yin leads to dreams of crossing large waters with fear. (Yin corresponds to water, hence dreaming of wading through water and feeling fear.) Excess Yang leads to dreams of great fire burning and scorching. (Yang corresponds to fire, hence dreaming of fire and scorching.) Excess of both Yin and Yang leads to dreams of killing and injuring each other. (This symbolizes the struggle between Yin and Yang.) Excess in the upper part leads to dreams of flying; excess in the lower part leads to dreams of falling. (Qi ascending leads to dreams of going up/flying; Qi descending leads to dreams of going down/falling.) Being very full leads to dreams of giving things away. (Due to internal surplus.) Being very hungry leads to dreams of taking things. (Due to internal deficiency.) Excess Liver Qi leads to dreams of anger. (The Liver governs anger.) Excess Lung Qi leads to dreams of crying. (The sound of the Lung is mournful, hence dreaming of crying.) Abundance of short parasites leads to dreams of gathering crowds. (Internal presence of many short parasites manifests in spiritual dreams.) Abundance of long parasites leads to dreams of fighting and injuring each other. (Many long parasites cause internal unrest and mental agitation, leading to such dreams.)