欲识病脉，先审平脉，诊法乃得。
举浮而软按差长，禀得肝经血气强。
脉形浮缓有力，招招如揭长竿，为禀木气，为血盛，为春令。
指下清圆不是滑，心神王相须明察。
脉形溜亮微软，累累如循琅 ，为禀火气，为神王，为夏令。
去来敦浓土德隆。
脉形中和且平，悠悠如鸡践地，为禀脾气，为真元健顺，为令长夏、四季。
和缓轻清肺气充。
脉形轻浮微涩，聂聂如落榆荚，为禀金气，为气治，为秋令。
脉济以匀寻到底，天赋一生资肾水。
脉形沉实平均，朗朗如绵裹砂石，为禀水气，为精足，为冬令。
入手迟微或者沉，钟灵端的在三阴。
脉形沉细有力，小驶于迟，为禀阴气，为老年，为秋冬令。
三阳毓秀君知否，春夏时令行寸口。
脉形似大，微弦，少缓于数，为禀阳气，为壮岁，为春夏令。
胃气只缘脉有神，反关诊亦等常人。
脉形阳刚不躁，阴柔有力，病甚而不空不散，为有胃气，医可十全八九。脉形不在尺寸，而在关后，曰反关。
位次虽异，诊则一也。李士材谓反关脉主贵，直可发噱。
连来三五为雀啄；
脉来三至五至一止，如鸟啄粟，未数粒辄惊顾少停，曰雀啄。心绝。旧注脉坚而锐，如鸡之 ，如鸟之喙，
脾绝。不知所谓。
半晌一至屋漏若；
脉来极迟极软，如雨歇漏滴，半日一点，曰屋漏。脾绝。
弹石来洪按即无；
脉来坚实迫指，切切如弹中人，曰弹石。肾绝。旧注脉劈劈如指弹石，是脉譬指、石譬肌肤语焉，而不详，
此之谓与。
散乱不伦疑解索；
脉来头绪纷纭，如已拆麻绳，散而不收。少焉一缕坚劲，如循刃，曰解索。肝绝。
鱼逝浮时倏而沉；虾游沉中浮几跃；
脉来或散或断，时浮时沉，如鱼戏水，曰鱼逝。形曲而跳，沉静中忽鼓数下而去，曰虾游。肺绝。
鼎沸浑似煮羹初；
脉来极数极躁，如煎羹烹水，涌涌无少息，曰鼎沸。阴绝。
乍绝忽苏曰灯落；
脉来大，是愁人，忽了了。可意如灯将烬复明，曰灯落。阳绝。又初持朗朗，已而大非，谓灯落。亦通。
八者见一觅天医，人间那得还魂药。
久病形神已脱，得斯八脉，虽上工无所用其伎。否则或有可救，无徒以一脉谬诊费人。
To identify pathological pulses, one must first examine the normal pulse (Ping Mai), so that diagnostic methods may be accurate.
Lifting the finger reveals a floating and soft quality, while pressing slightly longer; this indicates strong Liver channel Qi and Blood constitution.
The pulse shape is floating, slow, and forceful, moving expansively like holding up a long pole. This reflects Wood Qi, abundant Blood, and corresponds to the Spring season.
Under the fingers, it feels clear and round, not slippery; the Wang Xiang (Prosperous Phase) of the Heart Spirit must be clearly observed.
The pulse shape is smooth, bright, soft, and weak, continuous like touching fine jade (Langgan). This reflects Fire Qi, prosperous Spirit, and corresponds to the Summer season.
Coming and going are thick and dense, demonstrating the prosperity of Earth Virtue.
The pulse shape is moderate, neutral, and flat, leisurely like a chicken stepping on the ground. This reflects Spleen Qi, healthy and smooth True Yuan, and corresponds to the Late Summer and the four seasons.
Harmonious, slow, light, and clear, Lung Qi is full.
The pulse shape is lightly floating with slight choppy qualities, rustling like falling elm seeds. This reflects Metal Qi, regulated Qi, and corresponds to the Autumn season.
The pulse is balanced and even, reaching down to the root; Heaven endowed life nourishes Kidney Water.
The pulse shape is deep, solid, and average, clear like sand wrapped in cotton. This reflects Water Qi, sufficient Essence, and corresponds to the Winter season.
Upon starting, it feels slow, minute, or deep; spiritual endowment truly lies in the Yin channels.
The pulse shape is deep, thin, and forceful, slightly faster than the Slow pulse. This reflects Yin Qi, corresponds to the elderly, and to the Autumn and Winter seasons.
Do you know how the Three Yang channels nurture elegance? The Cun Kou position operates during Spring and Summer.
The pulse shape appears large, slightly wiry, and slower than the Rapid pulse. This reflects Yang Qi, corresponds to adults in their prime, and to the Spring and Summer seasons.
The presence of Stomach Qi is due to the Spirit in the pulse. Even with a Reversed Guan pulse (Radial artery anomaly), diagnosis is equivalent to that of normal individuals.
The pulse shape is Yang-gang but not irritable, Yin-soft yet forceful. Even in severe illness, it is neither empty nor scattered; this indicates the presence of Stomach Qi, and the physician can achieve eight or nine successes out of ten. If the pulse form is not at the standard Cun, Guan, Chi positions but behind the Guan, it is called the Reversed Guan pulse.
Although the position differs, the diagnostic principle remains the same. Li Shicai’s claim that the Reversed Guan pulse signifies nobility is laughable.
Coming three or five times then stopping, like a sparrow pecking;
The pulse comes three or five times before a pause, like a bird pecking millet, startling and pausing after just a few grains; this is called Sparrow Pecking Pulse. It indicates Heart Extinction. Old annotations describe it as firm and sharp, like a chicken's beak or a bird's bill, which is nonsensical. This indicates Spleen Extinction.
Once every half day, like a leaking roof;
The pulse comes extremely slowly and softly, like rainwater dripping from a leaky roof after the rain stops, once every half day; this is called Leaking Roof Pulse. It indicates Spleen Extinction.
Like striking stone, surging but vanishing upon pressure;
The pulse comes firm and hard against the finger, crisp like striking a person; this is called Striking Stone Pulse. It indicates Kidney Extinction. Old annotations describe it as cracking like fingers striking stone, comparing the pulse to the finger and the stone to the skin, which is vague and unclear, likely referring to this concept.
Scattered and disordered, resembling untying a rope;
The pulse comes chaotic, like an untied hemp rope, scattered and unrestrained. After a moment, a single strand becomes firm and tough, like touching a blade; this is called Untying Rope Pulse. It indicates Liver Extinction.
Fish departing, floating then suddenly sinking; shrimp swimming, rising from depth with a few leaps;
The pulse comes either scattered or interrupted, sometimes floating, sometimes sinking, like fish playing in water; this is called Fish Departing Pulse. The shape is curved and jumping, suddenly pulsating a few times amidst stillness before leaving; this is called Shrimp Swimming Pulse. It indicates Lung Extinction.
Boiling like a pot of soup just beginning to cook;
The pulse comes extremely rapid and irritable, like boiling soup or water, surging without any rest; this is called Boiling Cauldron Pulse. It indicates Yin Extinction.
Suddenly extinct then revived, called Lamp Falling;
The pulse comes large, causing distress, then suddenly clear and distinct. It can be interpreted as a lamp about to go out suddenly flaring up again; this is called Lamp Falling Pulse. It indicates Yang Extinction. Alternatively, if the pulse is initially clear and strong but later becomes large and rootless, it is also called Lamp Falling, which is also acceptable.
If one of these eight pulses appears, seek a heavenly doctor; where in the human world is there a soul-returning medicine?
For chronic illnesses where form and spirit have already detached, obtaining any of these eight pulses means that even the highest skilled physicians have no technique to employ. Otherwise, there might be hope for rescue; do not merely misdiagnose based on a single pulse, wasting people's efforts.