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Two beats then one pause indicates death in three to four days. Three beats then one pause indicates death in six or seven days. Four beats then one pause indicates death in eight days. Deduction follows this sequence.

Chi Shi stated: Sudden illnesses often arise from extreme emotions such as anger, joy, fear, or fright, causing Qi (vital energy) to become abruptly rebellious. This makes the body susceptible to invasion by Wind, Cold, Summerheat, and Dampness pathogens. The disease manifests suddenly and violently, damaging and exhausting Stomach Qi (the postnatal vital energy derived from digestion), leading to death within a few days. If the pulse shows two beats followed by one pause, it indicates that Stomach Qi is about to be exhausted; the patient may survive for three to four more days before dying. If the pulse shows three beats followed by one pause, Stomach Qi is nearly depleted; death will occur after six or seven days when Grain Qi (nutritional essence) is completely exhausted. By analogy, if the pulse shows fifteen beats followed by one pause, the time of death is within one year. Zhang Shixian stated: If the pulse shows two beats followed by a Dai pulse (intermittent pulse with regular pauses), death will occur within three to four days. If three beats precede the pause, death will occur within six to seven days. If four beats precede the pause, death will occur on the eighth day. Based on this deduction, each beat corresponds to two days. Why is this so? The Ten Heavenly Stems are associated with the Five Elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water). Each element has Yin and Yang aspects, each accounting for two days. Both scholars' explanations are reasonable. I believe the previous verse referred to chronic diseases, where the formless Yuan Qi (original Qi) of the Zang organs (Liver, Heart, Spleen, Lung, Kidney) is gradually damaged until the formed organs deteriorate; thus, the proximity of death is judged by how many Zang organs have lost their Qi. This verse refers to sudden illnesses, where the formed structures of the Zang organs remain intact, but the formless Yuan Qi is abruptly severed; thus, the proximity of death is judged by how many Zang organs still retain their Qi. Why? Because each pulse beat circulates through one Zang organ. Five beats circulate through all five Zang organs. Now, if there are two beats followed by a Dai pulse, it means the Qi of three Zang organs has been severed, hence death in three to four days. If three beats precede the pause, the Qi of two Zang organs has been severed, hence death in six to seven days. If four beats precede the pause, the Qi of one Zang organ has been severed, allowing survival until the eighth day.

A healthy person with a diseased pulse is called a "Walking Corpse." This is like the previous verse stating that finding a Summer pulse pattern in Spring requires caution. Or like the previous verse stating that a pause every forty beats predicts death in four years, and a pause every thirty-one beats predicts death in three years. Although the person appears free of disease, the pulse is already diseased, indicating death is near, yet they walk normally. Hence the term "Walking Corpse."

A sick person with a healthy pulse is similar. For example, in cases of diarrhea or blood loss, or after childbirth when the physique is emaciated, if the pulse instead appears Hong (Surging), rapid, and robust, it is a contradiction between disease and pulse, which is also a sign of death. Furthermore, the Classics state: "If flesh and muscles are already wasted away, even if the Nine Palpation Positions (Jiu Hou) are harmonious, death will still occur."

Whether the pulse is long or short, and whether the body is thin or fat, the principle is the same; careful palpation reveals subtle signs. Zhang Shixian explained: A tall person with a short pulse, a short person with a long pulse, a fat person with a small pulse, and a thin person with a large pulse are all signs of death. However, this is not necessarily true. Why? It is indeed true that a tall person having a short pulse is a bad omen. But if a short person having a long pulse, a fat person having a small pulse, and a thin person having a large pulse were universally true indicators of death, we would see them dying frequently, which is not the case. The previous *Mai Fu* (Pulse Ode) had already detailed the differences for men and women, young and old, and various sizes. Wu Wenbing's explanation is better: In fat people, the pulse should be Chen (Deep) and Jie (Knotted); in thin people, it should be Chang (Long) and Fu (Superficial); in short people, it should be Cu (Rapid/Agitated); in tall people, it should be Chang (Long). If the pulse violates these norms and is discordant, death will ensue. This explanation is appropriate.