体象 动无头尾,其形如豆,厥厥动摇,必兼滑数。
动脉厥厥动摇,急数有力,两头俯下,中间突起,极与短脉相类。但短脉为阴,不数、不硬、不滑也;动脉为
阳,且数、且硬、且滑也。
主病 动脉主痛,亦主于惊。左寸动者,惊悸可断。动在左关,惊及拘挛。左尺得动,亡精失血。
右寸动者,自汗无疑。动在右关,心脾疼痛。右尺得动,龙火奋迅。
阴阳不和,气搏击则痛,气撺迸则惊。动居左寸,心主受侮,惊悸至矣。肝胆同居,肝主筋而胆主震定,动
则皆病。人之根蒂在尺,动则阳不能卫,阴不能守,亡精失血,可立而待。肺家主气。动则外卫不密,汗因
之泄。阴阳相搏,心脾不安,动乃痛作。右尺真阳潜伏之所,而亦见动象,则阳气不得蛰藏,必有非时奋迅之患。
按关前为阳,关后为阴。故仲景云∶“阳动则汗出。”分明指左寸之心,汗为心之液;右寸之肺,肺主皮毛
而司腠理,故汗出也。又曰∶“阴动则发热。”分明指左尺见动,为肾水不足;右尺见动,谓相火虚炎,故发
热也。因是而知旧说言动脉只见于关上者,非也。且《素问》曰∶“妇人手少阴心脉动甚者,为妊子也。”
然则手少阴明隶于左寸矣,而谓独见于关可乎?成无己曰∶“阴阳相搏而虚者动。故阳虚则阳动,阴
虚则阴动。以关前为阳主汗出,关后为阴主发热。”岂不精妥。而庞安常强为之说云∶“关前三分为阳,
关后二分为阴,正当关位半阴半阳,故动随虚见。”是亦泥动脉只见于关之说也。伪诀云∶“寻之似有,
举之还无。”是弱脉而非动脉矣。又曰∶“不离其处,不往不来,三关沉沉。”含糊谬妄无一字与动脉合
义矣。詹氏曰∶“如钩如毛。”则混于浮大之脉,尤堪捧腹。王宇泰曰∶“阳生阴降,二者交通,上下往来于
尺寸之内,方且冲和安静,焉睹所谓动者哉!惟夫阳欲降而阴逆之,阴欲升而阳逆之,两者相搏,不得
上下,击鼓之势,陇然高起,而动脉之形着矣。”此言不啻与动脉写照。
**Morphology:** The pulse has no beginning or end, its shape resembles a bean, trembling vigorously (Juejue), and invariably combines with the slippery (Hua) and rapid (Shu) qualities.
The arterial pulse (Dong Mai) trembles vigorously, is urgent, rapid, and forceful; both ends are depressed while the middle protrudes, making it extremely similar to the short pulse (Duan Mai). However, the short pulse is Yin in nature, lacking rapidity, hardness, and slipperiness; whereas the arterial pulse is Yang in nature, possessing rapidity, hardness, and slipperiness.
**Predominant Diseases:** The arterial pulse primarily indicates pain and also indicates fright. If found at the left Cun position, palpitations due to fright can be diagnosed. If found at the left Guan position, it indicates fright and spasms/contracture. If found at the left Chi position, it indicates loss of essence and blood depletion.
If found at the right Cun position, spontaneous sweating is certain. If found at the right Guan position, it indicates heart and spleen pain. If found at the right Chi position, it indicates the vigorous stirring of Ministerial Fire (Long Huo).
When Yin and Yang are disharmonious, Qi battling each other causes pain, and Qi rushing forth causes fright. When the arterial pulse is located at the left Cun, the Heart Master is insulted, leading to palpitations and fright. The Liver and Gallbladder reside together; the Liver governs the sinews, and the Gallbladder governs stability/calmness; when the arterial pulse appears, both organs are diseased. The root of human life lies in the Chi position; if the arterial pulse appears there, Yang cannot guard externally, and Yin cannot hold internally, so loss of essence and blood depletion will follow shortly. The Lung governs Qi. When the arterial pulse appears, external defense is not dense, causing sweat to leak out. When Yin and Yang battle, the Heart and Spleen become unsettled, and upon the appearance of the arterial pulse, pain arises. The right Chi is the residence where True Yang hibernates; if the arterial pulse also appears here, it means Yang Qi cannot hibernate and store, inevitably leading to the danger of Ministerial Fire stirring abnormally.
According to principle, the area anterior to the Guan is Yang, and the area posterior to the Guan is Yin. Therefore, Zhang Zhongjing stated: "Yang movement leads to sweating." This clearly refers to the Heart at the left Cun, as sweat is the fluid of the Heart; and the Lung at the right Cun, as the Lung governs the skin and hair and controls the pores, thus leading to sweating. It also states: "Yin movement leads to fever." This clearly indicates that arterial pulse at the left Chi signifies insufficient Kidney Water; and arterial pulse at the right Chi signifies deficiency flaming up of Ministerial Fire, thus leading to fever. From this, we know that old theories claiming the arterial pulse is only seen at the Guan position are incorrect. Furthermore, *Su Wen* states: "In women, if the Hand-Shaoyin Heart pulse moves vigorously, it indicates pregnancy." Since the Hand-Shaoyin Heart pulse clearly belongs to the left Cun, how can one claim it is seen exclusively at the Guan? Cheng Wuji said: "When Yin and Yang battle, movement occurs where there is deficiency. Thus, Yang deficiency leads to Yang movement, and Yin deficiency leads to Yin movement. The area anterior to the Guan is Yang and governs sweating; the area posterior to the Guan is Yin and governs fever." Is this not precise and appropriate? However, Pang Anchang forced an explanation saying: "The three parts anterior to the Guan are Yang, the two parts posterior are Yin; the exact Guan position is half-Yin and half-Yang, so movement appears according to deficiency." This is also clinging to the theory that the arterial pulse is only seen at the Guan. The spurious prescription says: "Searching for it, it seems present; lifting it, it disappears." This describes the weak pulse (Ruo Mai), not the arterial pulse. It also says: "Staying in its place, neither going nor coming, the three Guan positions are deep and heavy." This is vague, erroneous, and absurd, with not a single word matching the meaning of the arterial pulse. Zhan said: "Like a hook or like hair." This confuses it with floating and large pulses, which is particularly laughable. Wang Yutai said: "Yang generates and Yin descends, communicating with each other, moving up and down within the Cun and Chi positions; it should be harmonious and quiet. How could one see what is called 'movement'? Only when Yang desires to descend but Yin opposes it, and Yin desires to ascend but Yang opposes it, do they battle each other, unable to move up or down. Like the force of drumming, rising prominently, the form of the arterial pulse manifests." This statement is nothing short of a portrait of the arterial pulse.