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Short pulse (a pulse with few beats or interrupted qi). According to the *Mai Jing* (Pulse Classic): if there is one stop every forty beats, death occurs in four years; one stop every thirty beats, death in three years; one stop every twenty beats, death in two years; one stop every ten beats, death within the year; one stop every five beats, death in five days. This is a general statement and should not be taken too literally. (Note: If a female fetus is over three months old and presents with a Dai pulse, it does not constitute an obstruction.) Ancient texts stated that at three months of pregnancy, the pulse manifests as Dai. In fact, Dai pulses can also appear at five or seven months of pregnancy and should be examined at both Chi positions (located posteriorly on the wrist, corresponding to the Kidneys and Uterus). If the pulse comes rapidly, stopping once every nine or ten beats, followed by a long pause before resuming, and then again stops once every nine or ten beats after a long pause, this regular pattern is what is called a "Dai pulse" (intermittent pulse). If subsequent beats do not stop every nine or ten times, or if they stop once every twelve or fifteen beats but maintain a fixed regularity, these are all manifestations of the Dai pulse. The stops in a Dai pulse have a constant regularity, which reflects the quality of "Trustworthiness" (Xin); Earth corresponds to Trustworthiness, indicating the arrival of Spleen-Stomach Qi. Earth is the source of vital energy for all things, and the Spleen and Stomach are the source of vital energy for the Five Zang organs. When vital energy arrives, a fetus is conceived. Furthermore, Heaven generates Water first, followed by Fire, Wood, Metal, and Earth, completing the Five Phases. At the initial formation of the fetus, it is Tianyi Water, followed by the generation of Fire, Wood, Metal, and Earth, completing the Qi of the Five Zang organs. With the completion of Zang Qi, the pulse manifests as Dai. So why is Dai considered a death pulse? From the perspective of generating numbers, the completeness of Zang Qi corresponds to the number five generating Earth, hence the Dai pulse. From the perspective of completed numbers, after the fetus takes form, Ying and Wei Qi circulate continuously like the day and night cycle without any cessation. If the Five Zang lack Qi but Stomach Qi remains, the pulse may still show Dai characteristics, but this Stomach Qi is like a lamp running out of oil, leading inevitably to death over time.

Pulses distinguished not by floating/sinking depth or rate, but by shape, include: Xian (Wiry) pulse, straight and long, felt like pressing a bowstring. Jin (Tight) pulse, forceful coming and going, flicking left and right like turning a rope, with no fixed shape. Chang (Long) pulse, extending far and naturally, like the tip of a long pole held high. Duan (Short) pulse, failing to fill the Cun-Guan-Chi positions, shrinking at both ends. Xi (Fine/Thready) pulse, straight and soft, felt like a silk thread. Se (Choppy) pulse, thin and slow, difficult to feel, like a light knife scraping bamboo. Hua (Slippery) pulse, smooth and flowing, like pearls rolling. Dong (Agitated) pulse, large like a bean, trembling vigorously. (These eight pulses in total.)

Regarding Xian (Wiry) pulse: The *Mai Jing* states that a Xian pulse is weak upon superficial palpation. However, Malaria pulses can be Floating-Xian, never lacking strength upon lifting. Classics state: Malaria arises from Wind pathogen; thus, the pulse is Floating-Xian, accompanied by headache as if splitting. Even in the *Mai Jing*'s section on Cold Damage, there is mention of Yangming Wind-Strike presenting with Xian-Floating pulse, suggesting the claim that Xian pulse is weak upon lifting is likely erroneous. The Xian pulse stands upright under the fingers, straight like a bowstring. (Xian is the normal pulse of Spring. If seen in Summer, Autumn, or Winter, it is a pathological pulse. However, in Spring, a soft and slippery Xian pulse is normal. If solid and strong, it indicates Excess; if weak and faint, it indicates Deficiency, both being pathological.) In Summer and Autumn, it primarily indicates lingering Malaria. (Wind, Cold, Summer-heat, and Dampness can all cause Malaria, their pulses all appearing Xian. Many suffer from Malaria in Summer/Autumn, occasionally in Winter/Spring.) Xian-Shu (Wiry-Rapid) indicates Heat; Xian-Chi (Wiry-Slow) indicates Cold. Xian at Cun indicates Headache and Phlegm in the Diaphragm (Xian governs Phlegm; Phlegm rises with Jueyin Liver Qi, causing headache). Obstruction at Guan indicates Jian masses and rebellious Stomach Qi (Blood stasis and Qi stagnation hardening near the navel is called Jian; Cold Qi blocking the epigastrium is called Rebellious Qi). Chi position indicates Shan (Hernia) and leg spasms (Shan refers to swelling and pain of the testicles extending to the lower abdomen. The Liver meridian connects to the genitalia and governs Shan, caused by Cold, Damp, Heat, Deficiency, Qi, or Blood factors, differentiated by pulse speed and strength. Liver governs tendons, Kidney governs bones; tendons bind bones. Cold causes tendon tension, leading to spasm/spasms, defined as difficulty in flexion and extension).

Regarding Jin (Tight) pulse: The *Nei Jing* calls it Ji (Urgent) pulse.
Flicking left and right with strong force, resembling a turning rope, named Jin pulse (Jin governs Cold; Floating-Jin is Exterior Cold, Sinking-Jin is Interior Cold). Renying point (between Cun and Guan on the left hand) governs Cold Damage and can diagnose Feng Xian (Wind Epilepsy). (Renying is between Cun and Guan on the left. Left Jin indicates Cold Damage headache, aversion to cold, fever. Wind communicates with Liver; Wood shaken by wind causes convulsions. Liver fire agitates Heart fire, flaming spirit wanders, causing sudden unconsciousness and salivation, termed Wind Epilepsy). Qikou (between Cun and Guan on the right) governs Food Injury; Asthma and Cough should also be carefully examined. (Qikou is between Cun and Guan on the right. Right Jin indicates Food Injury, fullness below the heart. Lung dislikes Cold; Cold causes Qi rebellion, hence asthma and cough. *Mai Jing* says: Jin indicates Excess; all above are Excess pathogens, hence Jin pulse). Jin at Guan and Chi accurately diagnoses Bi syndrome and Hernia. (Classics say when Green pulse arrives, long and flicking left/right, with accumulated Qi under the heart called Gan Bi, caused by Cold-Damp and Hernia).

Regarding Chang (Long) pulse:
Extending far and naturally, long between fingers; if accompanied by pounding hardness, it is abnormal. (Chang pulse in Spring is Liver pulse; soft like a pole tip is normal Liver; solid and slippery like feeling a pole is Liver disease. Note: Chang means Qi is regulated. If pounding and hard without softness, Qi is unregulated). In Cold Damage transmission, Yangming can be detailed. (Two to three days of Cold Damage, Long pulse, eye pain, dry nose, insomnia, indicates Yangming disease). Left Cun Long indicates foot pain and curled tongue. (Classics: Cun pulse Long indicates foot/calf pain. Left Cun belongs to Heart, Yang, governing blood vessels. Long indicates Excess; excess above leads to deficiency below, blocking vessels, causing foot pain. Kidney meridian ties to tongue root; tongue is Heart sprout. Heart Fire excess makes Water urgent, contracting tongue root, curling tongue, preventing speech). Right Cun clearly indicates hemoptysis. (Kidney governs saliva; its meridian enters Lung, follows throat. Blood follows Fire rising, causing hemoptysis). Guan indicates Qi deficiency and thigh pain like breaking. (Chang is originally Liver pulse; Wood evil attacks Earth, causing Spleen deficiency and middle Qi insufficiency. Thigh is Bi, where Stomach meridian descends; Stomach deficiency causes Bi pain like breaking. Also, Spleen evil stays in thighs). Chi indicates unbearable lower back pain. (Fire excess depletes Water; waist is Kidney residence; Kidney deficiency causes back pain).

Regarding Duan (Short) pulse:
Failing to reach its proper position, shrinking in shape is Short. (Short indicates Qi disease; if Lung pulse is Short-Choppy in Autumn, it is normal). Slippy-Short indicates Alcohol injury; Floating-Short indicates Cough. Cun governs headache; Chi governs abdominal fullness. (Short indicates Deficiency of Qi. Alcohol injury and cough indicate Qi insufficiency. Insufficiency above causes headache; insufficiency below causes abdominal fullness).

Regarding Xi (Fine) pulse: The *Nei Jing* calls it Xiao (Small). (Ru pulse) is similar to Ruan (Soft). (Ruo pulse) *Mai Jing* defines Floating-Fine as Ruan, Sinking-Fine as Ruo. Does Fine pulse lack Floating/Sinking distinctions, only felt when neither floating nor sinking? Why does *Nei Jing* mention Sinking-Fine? Moreover, classics say "pulse weak and slippery indicates Stomach Qi." Slippery means flowing like pearls. If Sinking-Fine is Ruo, how can Slipperiness be seen within Sinking-Fine threads? Since *Jing Mai* defines Sinking-Fine as Ruo, why mention Floating-Weak when discussing Lung萎 (Flaccidity)? Now, based on *Nei Jing* stating soft Xian is normal Liver pulse, "soft" means powerless. One cannot equate Floating-Fine with Soft, or Sinking-Fine with Weak. Besides, diseases governed by Weakness are generally similar to those of Fine pulse, so attached here.
Straight, soft like silk is Fine pulse; labor and injury damage Blood and Qi. (Fine pulse governs dual deficiency of Qi and Blood). Sweating body, panic heart. (Floating-Fine indicates Yin deficiency, often night sweats; Sinking-Fine indicates Yang deficiency, often spontaneous sweating. Excessive sweating harms Heart, causing panic). Cun requires vomiting; Guan requires distension. (Spleen-Stomach deficiency-cold causes vomiting above and abdominal fullness below). Chi indicates bone-steaming fever, dysentery, and Bi syndrome. (Bone-steaming and chronic dysentery belong to Kidney deficiency, hence Fine pulse; Bi is Yin pathogen of Cold-Damp, hence Fine pulse).

Regarding Se (Choppy) pulse:
Difficult coming and going, thin, short, choppy; described as light knife scraping bamboo. Blood deficient, Qi excessive. Cun Se indicates Heart pain and timid spirit. (Stomach is Yangming, abundant in Blood and Qi, opening at the heart region. Blood deficiency attracts Qi; Qi-Blood conflict causes heart pain. Yangming also governs Fright; Fright Qi returns to Heart, making spirit timid). Guan indicates flank distension and Stomach deficiency vomiting. (Liver stores Blood, belongs to Jueyin, meridian spreads to flanks. Blood deficiency and Qi hyperactivity cause flank distension. Stomach is sea of water/grain; Blood deficiency causes dryness, Qi hyperactivity causes rebellion. Dryness dries Blood, rebellion sends Qi up, refusing food/water, causing vomiting). Chi indicates dry intestines and heat in five centers. (Blood deficiency dries intestines; Blood deficiency triggers Ministerial Fire, heating Liver. Liver heat transfers to Mother (Kidney) and Child (Heart). Kidney meridian starts at sole; Heart meridian enters palm, causing heat in hands/feet). In women, it indicates amenorrhea or fetal disease, requiring distinction. (Blood nourishes fetus, hence Se pulse. Cui Zixu said Se governs spontaneous sweating; Binhu and Shicai followed this. I note: *Nei Jing* says Se indicates Yin excess. Yin excess causes body heat and no sweat. The classic statement should prevail).

Regarding Hua (Slippery) pulse:
Flowing like pearls is Slippery. Excessive sweating, Yin excess. Wind-Phlegm can be observed. (Classics: Slippery indicates Yin excess. Yin excess causes sweating and cold body. Slippery pulse governs Wind, not Phlegm). Cun Slippery indicates acid regurgitation, cough, vomiting. (Slippery also governs Heat. Dampness and Heat steaming in Stomach ferment into acid, staying in epigastrium causing acid regurgitation; Damp-Heat generates Phlegm causing cough/vomiting). Guan indicates accumulated heat radiating in palms. (Food stagnation in Stomach generates Heat; Stomach Heat steams upward, heating Pericardium, Heart, and Lung. Pericardium meridian enters palm; Lung meridian runs front, Heart meridian runs back, hence palm heat. Classics say palm heat indicates abdominal heat). Dysentery, Hernia, and Lin syndrome are seen at Chi. (Slippery also governs retained food; food stagnation becomes dysentery. Hernia is swollen testicles connecting to lower abdomen. Lin is urinary obstruction. *Mai Jing* says: Chi Slippery indicates hematuria). In women, it may indicate amenorrhea or severe conditions. (*Mai Jing* says: Chi Slippery indicates irregular menstruation in women. Note: Slippery indicates Blood excess. If Slippery-Knotted, or Floating-Slippery-Slow, it indicates Blood stasis. Otherwise, it is a Fetal pulse).

Regarding Dong (Agitated) pulse: Zhang Zhongjing's *Shanghan Lun* says: Rapid pulse seen at Guan, no head or tail above/below, large like a bean, trembling vigorously, is named Dong. I note: One of the two "upper" characters is a later error; it should be "Rapid pulse seen above and below Guan." Classics say: If Hand-Shaoyin pulse moves strongly in women, she is pregnant. Hand-Shaoyin belongs to Heart, so Dong pulse exists at Cun. Also: Yin deficiency with Yang pounding causes flooding. Kidney Yin deficiency with Yang pounding causes flooding syndrome, so Dong pulse exists at Chi. Wang Shuhe wrote *Mai Jing*, unaware one "upper" character was redundant, stating Dong pulse appears only at Guan, leading later pulse experts to believe Dong is only at Guan, contradicting classics.
Dong pulse like a bean shape, rapid and trembling. Yin movement causes sweating; fright and pain are worrisome. (Cheng Wuji says: Yin-Yang struggle causes movement in deficiency. Yin pounding Yang leads to Yang deficiency, hence sweating. Classics say Liver governs Fright, Yangming governs Fright. Gallbladder attaches to Liver; strong Liver Qi means bold Gallbladder, weak means timid. Timid people fear easily, causing internal fright; Yangming is Earth, static nature, startled by Wood sound, causing external fright. Thus, self-fright belongs to Liver, object-startled belongs to Yangming, but all fright归于 Heart. Yin-Yang struggle, Yin evil wins, hence pain). Yin movement causes fever; blood flooding is severe. (Yang pounding Yin leads to Yin deficiency, hence fever. Yang evil wins, forcing Blood to run wild, hence flooding).

Regarding Fetal Pulse:
Chi pulse Slippery-Rapid, Heart pulse Agitated. Floating and Sinking in Three Positions are equal; fifty beats without stop confirms pregnancy. Rapid yet scattering upon pressure indicates three-month fetus; Rapid but not scattering indicates five-month fetus. Sinking indicates Male, Floating indicates Female; Yin-Yang deduction penetrates Heaven, Earth, Humanity. (Women base on Blood vessels; Chi pulse often Slippery. Slippery belongs to Blood, Yin; Rapid belongs to Qi, Yang. Slippery-Rapid is Yang interacting with Yin. Women's Heart pulse often Sinks; now Yin-Yang struggle causes movement, Yin interacting with Yang. Yin-Yang intersect, Three Positions show no bias in Floating/Sinking, fifty beats without stop, no knotted/rushed interruptions, clearly pregnancy. Three-month fetus, form not solid, pulse scatters upon pressure. Five-month fetus, form becoming solid, pulse does not scatter, remaining rapid. Rapid is Yang Qi; all things born via Heaven-Earth Yang Qi; fetus must receive Mother's Yang Qi to grow. Sinking is Yin pulse, why Male? Floating is Yang pulse, why Female? Male fetus receives more Yang Qi; excess Yang depletes Mother's Yang, leaving Yin excess. Yin excess, Yang deficiency, hence Sinking pulse. Female fetus receives more Yin Qi; excess Yin depletes Mother's Yin, leaving Yang excess. Yang excess, Yin deficiency, hence Floating pulse. Like Kan is Male, Yin > Yang, Yin outside/Yang inside; Li is Female, Yang > Yin, Yang outside/Yin inside. Why don't Rapid and Slippery indicate disease? Rapid without Slippery indicates Yin deficiency/Fire excess; Slippery-Rapid is not disease. Since Chi is Slippery-Rapid, Cun Agitation is also not disease. *Mai Jing* gender differentiation: Left Sinking-Solid is Male; Right Floating-Large is Female; Both hands Sinking-Solid produce two males; Both Floating-Large produce two females. Left Chi larger is Male; Right Chi larger is Female; Both large produce two children).