紧则往来劲急，状如转索，虽实不坚。（脉紧有力，左右弹人，如绞转索，如切紧绳。）凡弦数之属，皆
属紧类。
不似弦脉之端直如弦，牢革之强直搏指也。（语出张璐。又濒湖体状诗曰∶举如转索切如绳，脉象因之得紧名；
总是寒邪来作寇，内为腹痛外身疼。汇辨云∶紧较于弦，更加挺劲之异。丹溪云∶紧如二股三股纠合为绳，必
旋绞而转，始得紧而成绳。可见紧之为义，不独纵有挺急，抑且横有转侧也。）紧为阴邪内闭。如脉见浮紧，
则必见有头痛、发热、恶寒、咳嗽、鼻塞、身痛不眠表症。脉见沉紧，则必见有胀满、厥逆、呕吐、泻利、心
胁疼痛、风痫 癖里症。然总皆是阳气不到，以至如是耳。（仲景云∶曾为人所难，紧脉从何来？假令亡汗若
吐，以肺里寒，故令脉紧也。假令咳者，坐饮冷水，故令脉紧也。假令下利，以胃中虚冷，故令脉紧也。）
缓则来去和缓，不疾不徐。凡虚濡微细，皆属缓类。不似濡脉之指下绵软，虚脉之瞥瞥虚大，
微脉之微细而濡，弱脉之细软无力也。（语出张璐。又濒湖体状诗曰∶缓脉阿阿四至通，柳梢袅袅 轻风；欲
从脉里求神气，只在从容和缓中。李士材曰∶缓以脉形宽缓得名，迟以至数不及为义。蔡氏曰∶缓而和匀，不
浮不沉，不大不小，不疾不徐，意思欣欣，悠悠扬扬，难以名状者，此真胃气脉也。若纯缓不兼，犹经所谓但
弦无胃气则死。）缓为平人正脉，无事医治。若使缓而兼大，则为伤风；缓而兼细，则为湿痹；缓而兼涩，则为
血伤；缓而兼滑，则为痰滞。尤必察其有力无力，以为区别。如使缓大有力，则为有余，其症必见燥热；缓软
无力，则为不足，其症必见虚寒。岂可一见是缓，便指属虚，而不合症为之分别乎。（景岳曰∶缓脉有阴有阳，
其义有三∶凡从容和缓，浮沉得
中者，此自平人正脉。若缓而滑大者多实热，如内经所言者是也。缓而迟细者多虚寒，即诸家所言者是也。林
之翰曰∶缓脉须知主热。如脉长大而软，来去宽纵不前，即张太素所谓如丝在经，不卷其轴之谓，是曰
纵缓，主于热也。）
The *Jin* (Tight) pulse is characterized by a vigorous and rapid flow, resembling a twisting rope; although forceful, it is not hard. (The pulse is tight and forceful, flicking the fingers to the left and right, like a twisted cord or a tightly stretched string.) All pulses such as *Xian* (Wiry) and *Shu* (Rapid) belong to the category of *Jin*.
It differs from the *Xian* (Wiry) pulse, which is straight as a bowstring, and does not possess the rigid, beating quality of the *Lao* (Deep and Firm) or *Ge* (Leather) pulses. (This statement is attributed to Zhang Lu. Additionally, Li Shizhen's poem in *Binhu Maixue* states: "Lifted, it feels like a twisting rope; pressed, it feels like a tight string; thus the name 'Tight' is derived. This is always caused by the invasion of Cold pathogenic factors, leading to abdominal pain internally and body pain externally." The *Huibian* notes that compared to the *Xian* pulse, the *Jin* pulse has an additional quality of stiffness and tension. Zhu Danxi stated: "A *Jin* pulse resembles two or three strands twisted together into a rope; it must be twisted and turned to form the tightness and become like a rope." Thus, the meaning of "Tight" implies not only longitudinal stiffness and urgency but also transverse rotation and turning.) The *Jin* pulse indicates the internal closure of Yin pathogens. If the pulse appears *Fu Jin* (Floating and Tight), symptoms such as headache, fever, aversion to cold, cough, nasal congestion, body ache, and insomnia (Exterior syndromes) will necessarily appear. If the pulse appears *Chen Jin* (Deep and Tight), symptoms such as distension and fullness, cold extremities, vomiting, diarrhea, heart and hypochondriac pain, wind epilepsy, and *Pi* masses (Interior syndromes) will necessarily appear. However, all these are ultimately due to the failure of Yang Qi to reach these areas. (Zhang Zhongjing said: "Once asked about the origin of the Tight pulse: Suppose there is loss of sweat or vomiting due to Cold in the Lungs, causing a Tight pulse. Suppose a patient coughs because they drank cold water, causing a Tight pulse. Suppose a patient has diarrhea due to deficiency-cold in the Stomach, causing a Tight pulse.")
The *Huan* (Slow/Relaxed) pulse is characterized by a smooth and relaxed flow, neither fast nor slow. All pulses such as *Xu* (Deficient), *Ru* (Soggy), *Wei* (Fine), and *Xi* (Thready) belong to the category of *Huan*. It differs from the *Ru* (Soggy) pulse, which feels soft under the fingers; the *Xu* (Deficient) pulse, which feels large and empty; the *Wei* (Fine) pulse, which is fine and soggy; and the *Ruo* (Weak) pulse, which is fine, soft, and powerless. (This statement is attributed to Zhang Lu. Additionally, Li Shizhen's poem in *Binhu Maixue* states: "The Huan pulse flows smoothly with four beats per cycle, swaying gently like willow tips in a light breeze; to seek the spirit within the pulse, one looks for calmness and relaxation." Li Shicai stated: "The Huan pulse is named for its broad and relaxed shape, whereas the Chi (Sluggish) pulse is defined by having fewer beats." Cai Shi stated: "A Huan pulse that is harmonious, neither floating nor deep, neither large nor small, neither fast nor slow, appearing joyful and leisurely, is difficult to describe in words; this is the true Pulse of Stomach Qi. If it is purely Huan without accompanying qualities, it is like the Classic stating 'Only Wiry without Stomach Qi leads to death.'") The *Huan* pulse is the normal pulse of a healthy person, requiring no treatment. If the *Huan* pulse is accompanied by a *Da* (Large) quality, it indicates Wind Injury; if accompanied by a *Xi* (Thready) quality, it indicates Damp Bi syndrome; if accompanied by a *Se* (Choppy) quality, it indicates Blood injury; if accompanied by a *Hua* (Slippery) quality, it indicates Phlegm stagnation. One must particularly observe whether it is Forceful or Powerless to distinguish them. If *Huan Da You Li* (Large and Relaxed yet Forceful), it indicates Excess (Yang), and symptoms will likely include Dryness-Heat; if *Huan Ruan Wu Li* (Soft and Relaxed yet Powerless), it indicates Deficiency (Yin), and symptoms will likely include Deficiency-Cold. How can one simply see a Huan pulse and assume it is Deficiency without differentiating based on symptoms? (Zhang Jingyue stated: "The Huan pulse has both Yin and Yang aspects, with three meanings: First, when it is calm and relaxed, appropriate in floating and deep positions, it is the normal pulse of a healthy person. Second, if Huan is accompanied by Slippery and Large, it often indicates Excess-Heat, as mentioned in the Neijing. Third, if Huan is accompanied by Sluggish and Fine, it often indicates Deficiency-Cold, as mentioned by various authors." Lin Zhihan stated: "One must understand that the Huan pulse can indicate Heat. If the pulse is large and soft, flowing broadly without advancing quickly, this is what Zhang Taisu described as 'like a thread on a loom, unrolled,' called Zong Huan (Longitudinal Relaxation), which indicates Heat.")