左手头指火之子。
诸家诠注。以子字为传写之误。非也。言医者。以第一食指探病患之左
手寸脉。乃心脉也。阴阳应象大论云。南方生热。热生火。火生苦。苦生心。
夫心既为火之所生。独非火之子欤。
四十五动无他事。
四十五动无他事者。亦当准前九畴之数。须得四十五动不易。则无他
故矣。张世贤释谓其数之动法。不根据五行相克。非也。
三十一动忽然沉。顿饭却来还复此。
凡心脉当取之六菽之重。言其浮中即当见也。今诊得其脉于三十一
动止。忽然而沉。夫沉水也。必重手乃见。且顿饭之时。方得复浮而起。夫
心火也。三十一动。以五五除之。则余其六。六为水之成数。以六五除之
则余其一。一为水之生数。合生成之数俱水。洁古曰。火得水而灭也。张
世贤谓三十一动。轮在肺上。肺上见沉。乃金生水。水渐盛。则火灭。觉太
牵强。
按经云。左手寸口脉。偏动。乍大乍小不齐。从寸口至关。关至尺。三部之
位。处处动摇。各异不同。其人病仲夏传之此脉。桃花落而死。
春中诊得夏须忧。夏若得之秋绝体。秋脉如斯又准前。冬若候之春必死。
若春中诊得此脉。则奉长者少矣。夏若诊得此脉。则奉收者少矣。秋若
诊得此脉。则奉藏者少矣。冬若诊得此脉。则奉生者少矣。张世贤谓三
月者。天道小变之节。亦未必然。今则准四气调神论释之。方合经旨。
The position examined by the index finger on the left hand corresponds to the Heart pulse, which is the "son" of Fire.
Various commentaries interpret the character "Zi" (Son) as a transcription error, but this is incorrect. It means that when the physician uses the first index finger to palpate the Cun (Inch) pulse at the left wrist, it is the Heart pulse. The *Suwen: Yin-Yang Yingxiang Dalun* states: "The South generates Heat; Heat generates Fire; Fire generates Bitterness; Bitterness generates the Heart." Since the Heart is generated by Fire, is it not the son of Fire?
Forty-five beats without other abnormalities.
Regarding forty-five beats without other abnormalities, one should also refer to the numerical principles of the Nine Categories mentioned earlier. The pulse must maintain forty-five beats consistently to indicate no other pathology. Zhang Shixian's explanation that the number of beats does not follow the principle of Five Elements overcoming each other is incorrect.
After thirty-one beats, the pulse suddenly becomes Deep; after a meal, it returns to its previous state.
When examining the Heart pulse, one should apply pressure equivalent to the weight of six beans, meaning the pulse should be visible with light and moderate pressure. However, in this case, the pulse stops or changes after thirty-one beats and suddenly becomes Deep. A Deep pulse belongs to Water and requires heavy pressure to be felt. Moreover, it takes about the time of a meal for the pulse to float up again and return to normal. The Heart belongs to Fire. Thirty-one divided by five (5x5=25) leaves a remainder of six. Six is the completed number of Water. Thirty-one divided by six and five (6x5=30) leaves a remainder of one. One is the generative number of Water. Combining these generative and completed numbers, they all point to Water. Jiegu (Zhang Yuansu) stated: "Fire is extinguished by Water." Zhang Shixian argued that thirty-one beats correspond to the Lung meridian; seeing a Deep pulse in the Lung (Metal) generates Water, causing Water to become strong and extinguish Fire, but he found this explanation too forced.
According to the classics: If the Cun Kou pulse on the left hand beats unevenly, fluctuating between large and small and irregular, shaking everywhere from the Cun position to the Guan position, and from the Guan position to the Chi position, with each of the three positions showing different movements, such a person will die when peach blossoms fall if this pulse appears in mid-summer.
If this pulse is diagnosed in Spring, there will be worry in Summer; if diagnosed in Summer, the body will deteriorate in Autumn; the pattern in Autumn follows the previous rules; if diagnosed in Winter, death will occur in Spring.
If this pulse is found in Spring, the Qi responsible for growth will be deficient; if found in Summer, the Qi responsible for harvesting/receiving will be deficient; if found in Autumn, the Qi responsible for storing will be deficient; if found in Winter, the Qi responsible for generating/nurturing will be deficient. Zhang Shixian claimed that the three months represent minor seasonal changes in the Heavenly Dao, but this is not necessarily true. Currently, interpreting this based on the *Suwen: Siqi Tiaoshen Dalun* aligns better with the intent of the classics.