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The Dai pulse (Intermittent Pulse) with six beats before an interruption is Yin. When palpating with the fingers, the pulse beats and then rises again, repeatedly failing to resume its rhythm spontaneously; this is called "Dai" (Intermittent). It primarily indicates conditions characterized by emaciation and inability to speak.

The Dai pulse with six beats before an interruption is Yin, representing the image of the Central Earth (Spleen). Why is it said that the Dai pulse possesses the image of Central Earth? Because its movement halts midway. However, the Cu (Surging) and Jie (Knotted) pulses also halt midway in their movement, yet they are not attributed to Earth. This is because although the Cu and Jie pulses halt midway, they lack a constant number or regularity. The Dai pulse is different; its halting has a constant number. What does it mean that the halting has a constant number? For example, if there is one stop after five beats, it continues as five beats per cycle; if there is one stop after seven beats, it continues as seven beats per cycle. Why is the Dai pulse attributed to Earth? Because Earth governs trustworthiness and does not miss its appointed time. Any disease that proceeds according to a fixed schedule is caused by the pathology of Earth. Why is the halting of movement without missing its schedule called "Dai"? It means that when one Zang organ lacks Qi, another Zang organ takes over to beat. In a healthy person's pulse, the first beat corresponds to the Lung, the second to the Heart, the third to the Spleen, the fourth to the Lung, and the fifth to the Kidney, cycling continuously. If it reaches fifty beats without stopping, fulfilling the number of Great Expansion (Da Yan), it is considered a healthy person. Suppose the pulse stops once after seven beats; this indicates the Heart lacks Qi. After pausing, it resumes but cannot recover spontaneously; this means the Heart lacks Qi and the Spleen takes over. Therefore, the diseases indicated include extreme emaciation, showing that the Form has collapsed, and inability to speak, showing that the Qi has collapsed. With both Form and Qi exhausted, how could death not occur?

According to the *Mai Jing* (Pulse Classic): The Dai pulse comes rapidly, halts midway, cannot return spontaneously, and thus moves again. A Jie (Knotted) pulse indicates survival, whereas a Dai pulse indicates death. Furthermore, Liu Shouzhen stated: The Dai pulse is primarily slow, weak, and powerless, difficult to move, and thus moves again; the illness must be critical and fatal.

The Dai pulse beats intermittently, resembling a Fu (Floating) pulse; it rises again seemingly returning but ultimately does not. The Three Primes' (Yuan Jing, Yuan Qi, Shen) righteous energy dissipates with the wind; the Hun and Po souls wander dimly, bound by nothing. The Dai pulse beats intermittently, its appearance resembling the Floating pulse. However, while the Floating pulse feels spirited and uninterrupted upon deep pressure, the Dai pulse feels rootless and interrupted upon deep pressure. Although it sometimes rises again, the intervals have a constant number, indicating that the Qi of one Zang organ has ceased, and another Zang organ takes over. Spirit (Shen) commands Qi, and Qi commands Essence (Jing); these three mutually sustain each other, so the Hun and Po naturally guard each other. Now, seeing the Dai pulse, the essence of the Three Primes is scattered; the Shen has dispersed, and the Hun and Po have separated and lost their guardianship. How could death not occur? This section echoes the line "Hun and Po connect together" in the Song of the Lung Organ.

According to the *Mai Jing*: If the Dai pulse combines with the San (Scattered) pulse characteristics, it indicates death.