〔人迎〕诊在结喉旁一寸五分(经云∶阴阳之定于喉手者也,此即人迎穴动脉,以候外感有余之症,足阳明
胃脉也。越人以左关前一分为诊,正当肝胆之分,肝胆为风木之司,故曰人迎紧盛伤于风。夫寸关尺三部,各占
三分,共成寸口,左阳右阴,阳应乎外,故以候表焉。今两存之)。
〔气口〕(一名寸口,亦名脉口)诊在右关前一分(脉候内伤不足之症,穴在两手鱼际穴后一寸,手太阴
肺脉也。此越人不失经旨,专取鱼后寸口,以决死生,乃不易之典)。
《素问》曰∶人有三部,有下部,有中部,有上部;部各有三候,有天、有地、有人。上部天,两额之
动脉(在额两旁,
动应于手,足少阳胆脉之所行也),以候头角之气(以其位在头角之分也);上部地,两颊之动脉(在鼻孔下
两旁近于巨 之分,动应于手,足阳明胃脉之所行也),以候口齿之气(以其位近口齿也);上部人,耳前之
动脉(在耳前陷者中,动应于手,手少阳三焦脉之所行也),以候耳目之气(以其位当耳前脉,抵于目内
也)。中部天,手太阴也(谓肺脉也,在掌后寸口中,是谓经渠,动应于手),以候肺;中部地,手阳明也(谓
大肠脉也,在手大指次指岐骨间,合谷之分,动应于手),以候胸中之气(肠胃同候也);中部人,手少阴也
(谓心脉也,在掌后锐骨之端,神门之分,动应于手),以候心。下部天,足厥阴也(谓肝脉也,在毛际外,
羊矢下一寸半陷中,五里之分,卧而取之,动应于手。女子取太冲,在足大趾本节后二寸陷中是也),以候肝;
下部地,足少阴也(谓肾脉也,在足内踝后跟骨上陷中,太溪之分,动应于手),以候肾;下部人,足太阴也
(谓脾脉也,在鱼腹上趋筋间,直五里下,箕门之分,宽 足单衣,沉取乃得之,而动应于手),以候脾胃之
气(脾脏与胃,以膜相连,故以候脾,兼候胃也。候胃气者,当取足跗之上冲阳之分穴中,动脉乃应手。次第
《三部九候论篇》文)。
(顾英白曰∶轩岐之所谓三部九候者,亦非如后世之谓三部九候也。人有三部,部有三候,是总人之一身,
而分为上中下三部耳,岂第以气口之一脉,而命为寸关尺之三部乎?一部之间,自有天地与人,三候之动脉耳,
岂复以寸关尺之脉,而分为浮中沉之三候乎?若后人之说为是,则轩岐之说为非;轩岐之说为是,则后人之说
为非矣!故不得不置一喙于其间也。浮之与沉,固无庸义矣,中则止有浮之中耳,奚能有沉之中乎?浮而无中,
固曰无根,沉则必无中矣,何仅
以为沉脉主里,而无必死之证乎?盖人但知有中正之中,而不知有中和之中。经言∶真脏脉见者必死。脉无胃
气者,谓为真脏脉也。是除诸怪脉之外,皆得谓之有胃气,皆得谓之有中脉耳。何弃其彰明较置之经文,而反
以浮沉与中,索摸于不可知之陋习乎?此事之不能解者也。况诊脉之法,或以手测,或以目视,而非徒事于按
也。脉之缓者,其皮肤亦缓;脉之急者,其皮肤亦急;脉之滑者,其皮肤亦滑;脉之涩者,其皮肤亦涩;脉之
大者,其皮肤亦贲而起;脉之小者,其皮肤亦减而少气。圣人恫 乃身,爰谆谆以诏后世,而反置之不讲,何
不智若是耶?夫滑脉者,可以望,可以按,均不失夫脉之真者也。至于涩脉,则望之为甚易,按之则甚难,何
也?但视其色之黑而悴者为涩脉,则孩童可以知矣。如必切其,沾沙刮竹而为涩,则虽有明智,若望洋焉。自
扁鹊、仓公、仲景而下,沿袭至今,讹以传讹。予尝缔绎经文,人迎止隶于喉旁。三部须兼乎首足,脏则候
之于左手,腑则候之于右手,寸以候上,尺以候下,脏腑皆然,庶不使有纤毫之疑而容惑于其间也。彼七表八
里九道之纷然,智又出扁鹊下矣。世多识之,故不赘焉)。
[Renying] The Renying point is located 1.5 cun lateral to the Adam's apple (Classics state: "The Yin and Yang are fixed at the throat." This is the arterial pulse of the **Renying acupoint**, used to observe excess syndromes from external pathogens, belonging to the Foot-Yangming **Stomach meridian**. Bian Que diagnosed at one fen anterior to the left Guan position, corresponding to the region of the **Liver** and **Gallbladder**. Since the Liver and Gallbladder govern Wind-Wood, it is said that a "tight and full Renying" indicates injury by Wind. Regarding the Cun, Guan, and Chi positions, each occupies three fen, collectively forming the Cun Kou. The left corresponds to Yang and the right to Yin; Yang corresponds to the exterior, thus it is used to observe exterior conditions. Both theories are preserved here).
[Qikou] (Also known as Cun Kou, or Maikou) The Qikou pulse is located one fen anterior to the right Guan position (The pulse observes insufficiency syndromes from internal injury. The acupoint is located one cun posterior to the Yuji acupoint on both hands, belonging to the Hand-Taiyin **Lung meridian**. This reflects Bian Que's adherence to the classic principles, specifically selecting the Cun Kou behind the thenar eminence to determine life and death, which is an unchangeable classic standard).
The *Suwen* states: Humans have three sections (Bu), namely the Lower Section, Middle Section, and Upper Section; each section has three observations (Hou), namely Heaven, Earth, and Human.
Upper Section Heaven refers to the arterial pulse at both temples (located on both sides of the forehead, palpable with the fingers, where the Foot-Shaoyang **Gallbladder meridian** passes), used to observe the Qi of the head and angles (due to its location in the head/angle region);
Upper Section Earth refers to the arterial pulse at both cheeks (located on both sides below the nostrils near the Juliao acupoint, palpable with the fingers, where the Foot-Yangming **Stomach meridian** passes), used to observe the Qi of the mouth and teeth (due to its proximity to the mouth and teeth);
Upper Section Human refers to the arterial pulse anterior to the ears (located in the depression anterior to the ear, palpable with the fingers, where the Hand-Shaoyang **Sanjiao meridian** passes), used to observe the Qi of the eyes and ears (due to its location at the anterior ear pulse, reaching the inner canthus of the eye).
Middle Section Heaven is the Hand-Taiyin meridian (i.e., the **Lung meridian**, located at the Cun Kou distal to the wrist crease, named Jingquan, palpable with the fingers), used to observe the **Lung**;
Middle Section Earth is the Hand-Yangming meridian (i.e., the **Large Intestine meridian**, located between the metacarpals of the thumb and index finger, at the Hegu acupoint, palpable with the fingers), used to observe the Qi of the chest (observing both **Intestines** and **Stomach** together);
Middle Section Human is the Hand-Shaoyin meridian (i.e., the **Heart meridian**, located at the end of the styloid process of the ulna, at the Shenmen acupoint, palpable with the fingers), used to observe the **Heart**.
Lower Section Heaven is the Foot-Jueyin meridian (i.e., the **Liver meridian**, located laterally to the pubic hairline, in the depression 1.5 cun below the 'sheep testicle' landmark, at the Wuli acupoint; taken in supine position, palpable with the fingers. For women, the Taichong acupoint is taken, located in the depression 2 cun proximal to the base of the big toe), used to observe the **Liver**;
Lower Section Earth is the Foot-Shaoyin meridian (i.e., the **Kidney meridian**, located in the depression posterior to the medial malleolus and superior to the calcaneus, at the Taixi acupoint, palpable with the fingers), used to observe the **Kidney**;
Lower Section Human is the Foot-Taiyin meridian (i.e., the **Spleen meridian**, located between the tendons on the upper calf, directly below Wuli, at the Jimen acupoint; clothing should be loosened, deep pressure required to obtain the pulse, and it is palpable with the fingers), used to observe the Qi of the **Spleen** and **Stomach** (The **Spleen** and **Stomach** are connected by membranes, so observing the **Spleen** simultaneously observes the **Stomach**. To observe **Stomach Qi**, one should take the Chongyang acupoint on the dorsum of the foot, where the arterial pulse responds to touch. This sequence follows the text of the *Chapter on Three Sections and Nine Observations*).
(Gu Yingbai stated: The "Three Sections and Nine Observations" mentioned by Xuanyuan and Qibo are not like the "Three Sections and Nine Observations" of later generations. Humans have three sections, each with three observations; this totals the whole body, dividing it into Upper, Middle, and Lower sections. Is it merely naming the single pulse of the Qikou as the three sections of Cun, Guan, and Chi? Within one section, there are naturally the arterial pulses of Heaven, Earth, and Human observations. Is it again dividing the Cun, Guan, and Chi pulses into Floating, Middle, and Sinking observations? If the later theory is correct, then the theory of Xuanyuan and Qibo is wrong; if the theory of Xuanyuan and Qibo is correct, then the later theory is wrong! Thus, I must interject my voice. Floating and Sinking do not need further explanation. The "Middle" only refers to the middle of the Floating technique; how can there be a "middle" of Sinking? Floating without Middle implies rootlessness; Sinking necessarily lacks Middle. Why is it solely believed that Sinking pulse governs interior syndromes, without implying fatal conditions? People generally know the "Middle" of centrality but not the "Middle" of harmony. The classics state: "Appearance of Zang-Fu true pulses indicates death." Pulses lacking Stomach Qi are called Zang-Fu true pulses. Therefore, except for various strange pulses, all can be said to possess Stomach Qi, and all can be said to possess the "Middle" pulse. Why abandon the obvious classic texts and instead grope in the ignorance of Floating, Sinking, and Middle? This is inexplicable. Moreover, pulse diagnosis involves hand palpation and visual observation, not just pressing. A slow pulse corresponds to loose skin; a rapid pulse corresponds to tight skin; a slippery pulse corresponds to smooth skin; a choppy pulse corresponds to rough skin; a large pulse corresponds to bulging skin; a small pulse corresponds to diminished skin and Qi. The Sages, feeling pain as their own, earnestly instructed future generations, yet this was ignored. How unwise! Slippery pulses can be observed visually and palpated, retaining the truth of the pulse. Choppy pulses are easy to observe visually but difficult to palpate. Why? If one sees black and haggard complexion, even a child knows it is a choppy pulse. If one must feel the pulse as if scraping sand or bamboo, even a wise person feels lost like facing an ocean. From Bian Que, Cang Gong, and Zhang Zhongjing onwards, errors have been passed down. I have studied the classics: Renying is only located by the throat. The three sections must cover the head and feet. Zang organs are observed on the left hand, Fu organs on the right hand. Cun observes the upper, Chi observes the lower; this applies to both Zang and Fu. This prevents any doubt or confusion. The chaotic theories of Seven Surfaces, Eight Interiors, and Nine Channels show wisdom inferior to Bian Que. Since the world knows these well, I will not elaborate further.)