脉理精微，其体难辨。弦紧浮芤，展转相类。在心易了，指下难明。谓沉为伏，则方治永乖；以缓为迟，则危殆立
至。况有数候俱见，异病同脉者乎！夫医药为用，性命所系。和鹊至妙，犹或加思；仲景明审，亦候形证，一毫有疑，
则考校以求验。故伤寒有承气之戒，呕哕发下焦之间。而遗文远旨，代寡能用，旧经秘述，奥而不售，遂令末学，昧于
原本，斥兹偏见，各逞己能。致微 成膏肓之变，滞固绝振起之望，良有以也。今撰集岐伯以来，逮于华佗，经论要决，
合为十卷。百病根原，各以类例相从，声色证候，靡不该备。其王、阮、傅、戴、吴、葛、吕、张，所传异同，咸悉载
录。诚能留心研穷，究其微赜，则可以比踪古贤，代无夭横矣。
浮脉，举之有余，按之不足。（浮于手下）
芤脉，浮大而软，按之中央空，两边实。（一曰手下无，两旁有）
洪脉，极大在指下。（一曰浮而大）
滑脉，往来前却流利，展转替替然，与数相似。（一曰浮中如有力。一曰漉漉如欲脱）
数脉，去来促急。（一曰一息六七至。一曰数者进之名）
促脉，来去数，时一止复来。
弦脉，举之无有，按之如弓弦状。（一曰如张弓弦，按之不移。又曰浮紧为弦）
紧脉，数如切绳状。（一曰如转索之无常）
沉脉，举之不足，按之有余。（一曰重按之乃得）
伏脉，极重指按之，着骨乃得。（一曰手下裁动。一曰按之不足，举之无有。一曰关上沉不出，名曰伏）
革脉，有似沉伏，实大而长微弦。（《千金翼》以革为牢）
实脉，大而长，微强，按之隐指 然。（一曰沉浮皆得）
微脉，极细而软，或欲绝，若有若无。（一曰小也。一曰手下快。一曰浮而薄。一曰按之如欲尽）
涩脉，细而迟，往来难且散，或一止复来。（一曰浮而短，一曰短而止。或曰散也）
细脉，小大于微，常有，但细耳。
软脉，极软而浮细。（一曰按之无有，举之有余。一曰细小而软。软，一作濡，曰濡者，如帛衣在水中，轻手相得）
弱脉，极软而沉细，按之欲绝指下。（一曰按之乃得，举之无有）
虚脉，迟大而软，按之不足，隐指豁豁然空。
散脉，大而散。散者，气实血虚，有表无里。
缓脉，去来亦迟，小快于迟。（一曰浮大而软，阴浮与阳同等）
迟脉，呼吸三至，去来极迟。（一曰举之不足，按之尽牢。一曰按之尽牢，举之无有）
结脉，往来缓，时一止复来。（按之来缓，时一止者，名结阳；初来动止，更来小数，不能自还，举之则动，名结阴）
代脉，来数中止，不能自还，因而复动。脉结者生，代者死。
动脉，见于关上，无头尾，大如豆，厥厥然动摇。（《伤寒论》云∶阴阳相搏名曰动。阳动则汗出，阴动则发热，形
冷恶寒。数脉见于关上，上下无头尾，如豆大，厥厥动摇者，名曰动）
浮与芤相类（与洪相类），弦与紧相类，滑与数相类，革与实相类（《千金翼》云∶牢与实相类），沉与伏相类，微与
涩相类，软与弱相类，缓与迟相类。（软与迟相类）
The essence of pulse theory is subtle and profound, and its physical manifestations are difficult to distinguish. The Xian (String-like) pulse, Jin (Tight) pulse, Fu (Floating) pulse, and Kou (Hollow) pulse [a pulse that is floating and large but empty in the center, resembling a green onion stalk] are easily confused with one another. While it is easy to understand them in the mind, it is difficult to clarify them under the fingers. If the Chen (Deep) pulse is mistaken for the Fu (Hidden) pulse [a pulse that can only be felt with extreme pressure reaching the bone], the treatment will be perpetually erroneous; if the Huan (Slow/Relaxed) pulse is mistaken for the Chi (Slow) pulse [a pulse rate of less than four beats per respiration], danger and critical conditions will arise immediately. Moreover, what about cases where multiple pulse qualities appear simultaneously, or different diseases present with the same pulse?
Medicine and drugs are used to sustain human life. Even masters like He [He Danyang] and Que [Bian Que] would still deliberate carefully; Zhang Zhongjing, with his acute discernment, also verified through observing physical signs and symptoms. If there was even the slightest doubt, he would investigate and verify to seek confirmation. Thus, in the *Shanghan Lun* (Treatise on Cold Damage), there are warnings regarding the use of Chengqi Decoctions [e.g., Dachengqi Tang], noting that vomiting and hiccups may originate from the lower jiao. However, the remaining texts and distant principles have few capable users in later generations; ancient classics and secret teachings are profound but not widely disseminated. This causes later learners to be ignorant of the original foundations, rejecting these biases and each displaying their own abilities. Consequently, minor ailments develop into incurable changes [gao huang refers to a critical stage of disease], and stagnation cuts off hope for recovery, which is indeed justified.
Now, I have compiled and collected the essential decisions from classic theories from Qibo up to Hua Tuo, combining them into ten volumes. The roots of all diseases are categorized and grouped accordingly; sounds, complexion, syndromes, and pulses are comprehensively prepared. The differences and similarities transmitted by Wang, Ruan, Fu, Dai, Wu, Ge, Lv, and Zhang are all recorded. If one can truly focus on studying and exhausting the research, investigating the subtle and profound aspects, one can emulate the ancient sages, and the world will be free from premature death and sudden calamities.
Fu (Floating) Pulse: Feels abundant when lifted lightly (Ju), but insufficient when pressed heavily (An). [Floating under the hand]
Kou (Hollow) Pulse: Floating, large, and soft; the center is empty while the sides are solid when pressed. [Another description: No pulse felt under the finger, but felt on the sides]
Hong (Surging) Pulse: Extremely large and distinct under the fingers. [Another description: Floating and large]
Hua (Slippery) Pulse: Flows smoothly back and forth, rolling continuously, similar to the Shu (Rapid) pulse. [Another description: Forceful within floating and middle positions. Another description: Lubricating as if slipping away]
Shu (Rapid) Pulse: Comes and goes urgently. [Another description: Six or seven beats per respiration. Another description: "Shu" implies advancement]
Cu (Interrupted/Rapid with Intermittence) Pulse: Comes and goes rapidly, occasionally stopping then resuming.
Xian (String-like) Pulse: Not felt when lifted lightly, feels like a drawn bowstring when pressed. [Another description: Like a taut bowstring, immovable when pressed. Also says: Floating and tight constitutes Xian]
Jin (Tight) Pulse: Rapid and tense like cutting a rope. [Another description: Like twisting ropes without constant pattern]
Chen (Deep) Pulse: Insufficient when lifted lightly, abundant when pressed heavily. [Another description: Only obtained with heavy pressing]
Fu (Hidden) Pulse: Requires extreme pressure to feel, touching the bone to obtain. [Another description: Movement felt only slightly under the finger. Another description: Insufficient when lifted, absent when raised. Another description: Deep at Guan position without emerging, named Fu]
Ge (Leather) Pulse: Resembles Chen or Fu, but is actually large, long, and slightly string-like. (*Qianjin Yi* considers Ge identical to Lao)
Shi (Full/Excess) Pulse: Large and long, slightly strong, pressing against the finger firmly. [Another description: Obtained in both floating and deep positions]
Wei (Minute/Faint) Pulse: Extremely thin and soft, possibly seeming to cease, existing yet non-existent. [Another description: Small. Another description: Quick under the hand. Another description: Floating and thin. Another description: Feels as if ending when pressed]
Se (Choppy) Pulse: Thin and slow, difficult and scattered in movement, or stops occasionally then resumes. [Another description: Floating and short, or short and stopping. Or said to be San]
Xi (Thready/Fine) Pulse: Slightly larger than Wei, constantly present, merely fine.
Ruan (Soft/Damp) Pulse: Extremely soft, floating, and thin. [Another description: Absent when pressed, abundant when lifted. Another description: Small, thin, and soft. Ruan is sometimes written as Ru; Ru is like silk cloth in water, felt lightly]
Ruo (Weak) Pulse: Extremely soft, deep, and thin, feeling as if ceasing under the fingers when pressed. [Another description: Obtained only when pressed, absent when lifted]
Xu (Empty/Deficient) Pulse: Slow, large, and soft; insufficient when pressed, feeling hollow and empty against the finger.
San (Scattered) Pulse: Large and scattered. Scattered indicates Qi excess and Blood deficiency, having exterior but no interior root.
Huan (Lax/Slow-Relaxed) Pulse: Comes and goes slowly, slightly faster than Chi. [Another description: Floating, large, and soft; Yin floating equals Yang]
Chi (Slow) Pulse: Three beats per respiration, coming and going extremely slowly. [Another description: Insufficient when lifted, firm when pressed. Another description: Firm when pressed, absent when lifted]
Jie (Knotted/Intermittent-Slow) Pulse: Moves slowly, occasionally stopping then resuming. [When pressed, moving slowly with occasional stops, named Jie Yang; initially moving then stopping, returning with small rapid beats unable to self-recover, moving when lifted, named Jie Yin]
Dai (Intermittent/Replacement) Pulse: Rapid but stops midway, unable to recover itself, thus resuming. Pulses that are Jie indicate survival; those that are Dai indicate death.
Dong (Agitated/Moving) Pulse: Appears at the Guan position, without head or tail, large like a bean, trembling and shaking vigorously. (*Shanghan Lun* states: When Yin and Yang struggle, it is called Dong. Yang Dong causes sweating; Yin Dong causes fever, cold form, and aversion to cold. A Shu pulse at Guan, without head or tail, large like a bean, trembling and shaking, is named Dong)
Fu is similar to Kou (and similar to Hong); Xian is similar to Jin; Hua is similar to Shu; Ge is similar to Shi (*Qianjin Yi* states Lao is similar to Shi); Chen is similar to Fu; Wei is similar to Se; Ruan is similar to Ruo; Huan is similar to Chi. (Ruan is also similar to Chi)