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Metal Qi should overcome Wood Qi; this is a "Ghost-Thief" pulse (an abnormal pulse indicating an overcoming relationship), so what fault is there? It is said that the pulse arrives in accordance with Heaven's timing. Although it contradicts the usual positional order, it does not violate constant laws, and thus is also considered a harmonious pulse.

One might ask: If Liver disease presents with a Lung pulse, Lung disease with a Heart pulse, Heart disease with a Kidney pulse, Kidney disease with a Spleen pulse, and Spleen disease with a Liver pulse, these are "Ghost-Thief" pulses. Is it true that such diseases must lead to death, and can we not say otherwise? For example, if one has Spleen disease in Spring, or when Jueyin Wind-Wood Qi prevails, and the illness desires to heal, the Spleen's native position manifests a Liver pulse; this is called a sign of harmony. To declare it death would surely be the error of a crude physician. However, if the Spring climate is mild, yet the Liver is diseased and instead presents an Autumn pulse, this is truly a "Ghost-Thief" pulse, indicating danger and potential death. The rest follows this pattern. Furthermore, if early Spring pulses are deep but not wiry, early Summer pulses are wiry but not rapid, early Autumn pulses are rapid but not choppy, and early Winter pulses are choppy but not deep, although they do not correspond to the season, they are not necessarily pathological. This is because the Qi of the four seasons begins in the middle month of each season and peaks in the final month, lagging by one month. Human pulses follow this shift, hence the Classic states "each differs by its share," referring to this phenomenon.

Generally, palpating the pulse requires clarity regarding the Three Regions and Nine Hears (Three Regions: Cun, Guan, Chi; Nine Hears: Floating, Middle, Deep at each region) to assess the pulse. Since individuals vary in fatness, leanness, length, and shortness, careful examination is essential. Under three fingers, each occupies one *Tongshen Cun* (body-inch), totaling three inches, corresponding to the Dao of three inches. One may ask: Do the pulses of the three regions not correspond to three inches? They can be verified using the *Tongshen Cun*. The method for measuring the Cun involves looking at the left hand for men and the right hand for women. Join the middle finger and thumb into a ring shape; measure the distance between the two transverse creases on the upper side of the middle finger; this constitutes one inch. Those who claim this is not one inch fail to understand the principle. The Classic states that the ultimate numbers of Heaven and Earth begin with one and end with nine: One Heaven, Two Earth, Three Man. Multiplying by three yields nine. Further multiplying nine by nine results in eighty-one. Thus, after the Winter Solstice, as Yang Qi generates, the count reaches nine, culminating in eighty-one. Therefore, both the *Suwen* and the *Daodejing* consist of eighty-one chapters, and the *Nanjing* contains eighty-one difficulties, all conforming to the number of nine-nine, which is the natural Dao. Humans also correspond to this; thus, from foot to crown, the body is eight chi and one cun long; the palm is called a "Zhi Chi" (foot-inch), measuring eight cun and one fen, corresponding to the nine-nine number. Using this measure allows verification. Additionally, anterior to the Guan is Yang. Measuring from the Cun pulse extending to the Chize point covers one chi, hence called Chi. Between the Cun and Chi lies the boundary of Yin and Yang, hence called Guan. The Cun pulse corresponds to Heaven, the Chi pulse to Earth, and the Guan pulse to Man, forming the Three Regions. Each region has Floating, Middle, and Deep levels, corresponding to the Nine Hears, hence the concept of Three Regions and Nine Hears. Corresponding to the body: Upper Region Heaven governs the head and horns (temples), Earth governs lips and mouth, Man governs ears and eyes; Middle Region Heaven governs Lungs, Earth governs the chest interior, Man governs the Heart; Lower Region Heaven governs the Liver, Earth governs the Kidneys, Man governs the Spleen. All these Three Regions, Nine Hears, and Twelve Meridians have arterial pulsations. Only the Qi Kou (Cun Kou) is selected because it belongs to the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian and is the great assembly of pulses. When humans eat, food Qi enters the Stomach, turbid Qi returns to the Heart, and essence overflows into the vessels; fine essences enter the pulse. Pulse Qi flows through meridians, and meridian Qi returns to the Lungs. The Lungs receive the assembly of all pulses. Because the Lungs are the Huagai (canopy of the five zang organs) and occupy a high position, governing regulation, they accept the assembly of all pulses. The Lung Meridian begins at the start of Yin hour, originating in the Middle Jiao, descending to connect with the Large Intestine, returning to circulate around the stomach opening, ascending through the diaphragm, belonging to the Lungs, emerging horizontally from the lung system under the armpit, following the medial aspect of the arm, reaching the Qi Kou, forming the Three Regions of Cun, Guan, and Chi, manifesting according to time. Hence the Classic states that diagnosis is usually performed at Pingdan (early morning), when Yin Qi has not moved, Yang Qi has not scattered, food has not been ingested, meridians are not full, collaterals are balanced, and Qi and Blood are not chaotic, allowing for the detection of pathological pulses. Before holding the pulse, examine the patient's Rong-Wei status, courage and timidity, and the slowness or urgency of their nature; observe complexion, listen to voice, inquire about preferences and aversions, and exhaustively investigate the pathology. The physician must be free from confusion before palpating. For palpation, follow the rule of left hand for men and right hand for women. First, press the high bone (radial styloid process) with the middle finger to define the Guan, adjust the distance appropriately, then press the Cun and Chi sequentially. During diagnosis, the eyes should not look at deviant things, the ears should not hear chaotic sounds, the mouth should not speak randomly, and the mind should not harbor delusions. Clarify the regional signs, carefully observe Yin and Yang, consider the annual governance of North and South and the positions of Sovereign and Minister, adapt to the similarities and differences of Host and Guest and the prosperity or decline of Qi, trace various methods, and align heart and hand. With internal and external clarity, grasping the root and branch, one can explain the cause of the patient's condition, judge the auspiciousness or inauspiciousness of the disease, prescribe treatment methods, and relieve the suffering of the ill.