春得秋脉定。知死死在庚申辛酉里。
春旺木。其脉弦长。秋旺金。其脉涩短。春得秋脉。金来克木。况庚申辛酉
皆金旺日。故知必死。
夏得冬脉亦如然。还与壬癸为期尔。
夏旺火。其脉浮洪。冬旺水。其脉沉实。夏得冬脉。水来克火。况壬癸子亥
皆水旺日。故知必死。
严冬诊得四季脉。戊己辰戌还是厄。
冬旺水。其脉沉实。土旺四季。其脉缓大。冬得四季之脉。土来克水。况戊
己辰戌皆土旺日。故知必死。
秋得夏脉亦同前。为缘丙丁相形克。
秋旺金。其脉涩短。夏旺火。其脉洪大。秋得夏脉。火来克金。况丙丁巳午。
皆火旺日。故知必死。
季月季夏得春脉。克在甲寅病应极。值逢乙卯亦非良。此是五行相鬼贼。
季月。辰戌丑未月也。季夏。即未月也。季月。乃土寄旺之月。季夏乃土旺
之时。土旺四季。其脉缓。木旺春。其脉弦于季月。季夏诊得其脉弦长。乃
木来克土。况甲寅乙卯。皆木旺日。故知必死。
春得冬脉。只是虚。更兼补肾病自除。若得夏脉缘心实。还应泻子自无虞。
张世贤曰。经云实则泻其子。虚则补其母。
夏秋冬脉皆如是。在前为实后为虚。
张世贤曰。夏秋冬之所诊。皆如春法。从前来者为实邪。从后来者为虚
邪。
春中若得四季脉。不治多应病自除。
张世贤曰。春中二月分也。四季脉。脉缓大也。于二月中而得四季之脉。
乃妻来乘夫。谓之微邪。况二月乃木帝旺之时。故不治自愈。
If the pulse of autumn is found in spring, death is certain; it will occur on Geng-Shen or Xin-You days.
In spring, Wood Qi is prosperous, and its pulse is Xian (Wiry) and long. In autumn, Metal Qi is prosperous, and its pulse is Se (Choppy) and short. Finding the autumn pulse in spring indicates Metal overcoming Wood. Moreover, Geng-Shen and Xin-You days are days when Metal Qi is at its peak; therefore, death is certain.
The situation is similar if the winter pulse is found in summer; the deadline for death will be Ren-Gui days (and Zi-Hai days).
In summer, Fire Qi is prosperous, and its pulse is Fu (Floating) and Hong (Surging). In winter, Water Qi is prosperous, and its pulse is Chen (Deep) and Shi (Solid). Finding the winter pulse in summer indicates Water overcoming Fire. Moreover, Ren-Gui and Zi-Hai days are days when Water Qi is at its peak; therefore, death is certain.
If the pulse of the four seasons (Earth) is diagnosed in deep winter, encountering Wu-Ji or Chen-Xu days remains a disaster.
In winter, Water Qi is prosperous, and its pulse is Deep and Solid. Earth Qi is prosperous in the last months of the four seasons, and its pulse is Huan (Moderate) and Da (Large). Finding the pulse of the four seasons in winter indicates Earth overcoming Water. Moreover, Wu-Ji and Chen-Xu days are days when Earth Qi is at its peak; therefore, death is certain.
Finding the summer pulse in autumn is the same as described above, because Bing-Ding days involve Fire overcoming Metal.
In autumn, Metal Qi is prosperous, and its pulse is Choppy and Short. In summer, Fire Qi is prosperous, and its pulse is Surging and Large. Finding the summer pulse in autumn indicates Fire overcoming Metal. Moreover, Bing-Ding and Si-Wu days are days when Fire Qi is at its peak; therefore, death is certain.
If the spring pulse is found in the Ji Yue (last months of the season: Chen, Xu, Chou, Wei) and Ji Xia (the last month of summer, Wei), the overcoming occurs on Jia-Yin days, and the illness reaches its extreme. Encountering Yi-Mao days is also not auspicious. This is known as "Xiang Gui Zei" (mutual overcoming by hostile elements) in the Five Elements.
Ji Yue refers to the Chen, Xu, Chou, and Wei months. Ji Xia is the Wei month. Ji Yue is the month when Earth Qi resides and prospers. Ji Xia is the time when Earth Qi is prosperous. Earth Qi is prosperous in the last months of the four seasons, and its pulse is Moderate. Wood Qi is prosperous in spring, and its pulse is Wiry. Diagnosing a Wiry and Long pulse in the Ji Yue and Ji Xia indicates Wood overcoming Earth. Moreover, Jia-Yin and Yi-Mao days are days when Wood Qi is at its peak; therefore, death is certain.
If the winter pulse is found in spring, it indicates only Deficiency (Xu); adding tonification of the Kidney will eliminate the disease spontaneously. If the summer pulse is obtained, it is due to Heart Excess (Shi); applying the method of draining the Son element will ensure no worry.
Zhang Shixian said: The classics state that for Excess, drain its Son; for Deficiency, tonify its Mother.
The pulses of summer, autumn, and winter are all like this; what comes from before is Excess, and what comes from after is Deficiency.
Zhang Shixian said: The diagnosis for summer, autumn, and winter follows the same method as spring. What comes from before is Excess Pathogen (Shi Xie); what comes from after is Deficient Pathogen (Xu Xie).
If the pulse of the four seasons (Earth) is found in the middle of spring (February), the disease will likely heal spontaneously without treatment.
Zhang Shixian said: "Spring middle" refers to February. The pulse of the four seasons refers to a Moderate and Large pulse. Obtaining the pulse of the four seasons in February represents the Wife overcoming the Husband, called Minor Pathogen (Wei Xie). Moreover, February is the time when Wood Qi is at its Imperial Prosperity (Di Wang); therefore, it heals spontaneously without treatment.