体象 紧脉有力,左右弹人;如绞转索,如切紧绳。
紧者,绷急而兼绞转之形也,多枭动夭矫之势。《素问》曰∶“往来有力,左右弹人手。”则刚劲之概可掬。
主病 紧主寒邪,亦主诸痛。左寸紧者,目痛项强。紧在左关,胁肋痛胀。左尺紧者,腰脐作痛。
右寸紧者。鼻塞膈壅。紧在右关,吐逆伤食。右尺得紧,奔豚疝疾。
紧为收敛之象,犹天地之有秋冬,故主寒邪。阳困阴凝,故主诸痛。
兼脉 浮紧伤寒,沉紧伤食。急而紧者,是谓遁尸。数而紧者,当主鬼击。
浮紧有力,无汗,发热,恶寒,头项痛,腰脊强拘急,体痛,骨节疼,此为伤寒邪在表也。独右关紧盛为饮食
内伤,两手脉俱紧盛即是夹食伤寒。遁尸鬼击者,皆属阴邪之气卒中于人,邪正交争,安得不急数乎?
中恶祟乘之,脉而得浮紧,谓邪方炽而脉无根也;咳嗽虚损之脉而得浮紧,谓正已虚而邪方痼也。咸在不治。
按天地肃杀之气,阴凝收敛,其见于脉也为紧。较之于弦,更加挺劲之异。仲景曰∶“如转索无常。”叔和
曰∶“数如切绳。”丹溪曰“如纫 线,譬如以二股三股纠合为绳,必旋绞而转,始得紧而成绳。”可见紧
之为义,不独纵有挺急,抑且横有转侧也。不然,左右弹手及转索诸喻,将何所取义乎!古称热则筋纵,
寒则筋急,此惟热郁于内而寒束其外,崛强不平,故作是状。紧之与迟,虽同主乎寒,迟则气血有亏,乃
脉行迟缓而难前;紧则寒邪凝袭,乃脉行夭矫而搏击。须知数而流利则为滑脉,数而有力则为实脉,
数而绞转则为紧脉。形状画一,不可紊也。崔氏但言如线,亦窥见梗概,第未言之透快耳。紧之一字,已
经古人工于摹写,而伪诀妄曰∶“寥寥入尺来。”思之几同寐语。夫紧脉犹之行路,不惟足高气扬,履声
接踵,抑且左右恣意,而竟比之一龙钟衰老举步不前之态,其比拟失伦,肆口无忌,何至于此。庸工犹
以为金针也,吁,可怪矣!
[Body Image] The Jin (Tight) pulse is forceful, striking the fingers to the left and right; it resembles a twisted rope or a tightly pulled string.
The characteristic of the Jin pulse is tension combined with a twisting shape, often presenting a dynamic and vigorous momentum. The *Suwen* states: "Coming and going with force, striking the hand to the left and right." This indicates a palpable sense of rigidity and strength.
[Indicated Diseases] The Jin pulse primarily indicates Cold pathogen and various pains. If the Jin pulse appears at the Left Cun position, it manifests as eye pain and neck stiffness. If it appears at the Left Guan position, it manifests as pain and distension in the hypochondrium. If it appears at the Left Chi position, it manifests as pain in the lower back and umbilical region.
If it appears at the Right Cun position, it manifests as nasal congestion and chest diaphragm obstruction. If it appears at the Right Guan position, it manifests as vomiting, regurgitation, and food stagnation. If it appears at the Right Chi position, it manifests as Ben Tun (running piglet syndrome) and hernia diseases.
The Jin pulse represents a contracting image, similar to autumn and winter in nature, thus indicating Cold pathogen. When Yang Qi is trapped and Yin Essence condenses, it indicates various pains.
[Combined Pulses] A Floating-Jin pulse indicates Shang Han (Cold Damage); a Sinking-Jin pulse indicates Shang Shi (Food Injury). An urgent and tight pulse is called Dun Shi (a sudden illness caused by evil qi). A rapid and tight pulse indicates Gui Ji (sudden attack by external evil).
A Floating-Jin pulse that is forceful, accompanied by anhidrosis, fever, aversion to cold, headache and stiff neck, stiffness and spasm of the waist and spine, body ache, and joint pain, indicates Shang Han with pathogen in the Exterior. If only the Right Guan pulse is excessively tight, it indicates internal injury from diet; if both hands' pulses are excessively tight, it indicates Shang Han complicated by food retention. Dun Shi and Gui Ji both belong to sudden attacks by Yin evil qi upon the human body; when evil and righteous Qi contend, how can the pulse not be rapid and tight?
If one suffers from Zhong E (sudden poisoning/evil influence) but the pulse is Floating-Jin, it means the evil is flourishing while the pulse lacks root; if a patient with cough and deficiency-consumption presents a Floating-Jin pulse, it means the righteous Qi is already deficient while the evil is entrenched. Both cases are considered untreatable.
Note: The austere Qi of heaven and earth, characterized by Yin condensation and contraction, manifests in the pulse as Jin. Compared to Xian (Wiry) pulse, Jin pulse is more rigid and strong. Zhang Zhongjing stated: "Like a turning rope without constancy." Wang Shuhe stated: "Rapid like cutting a rope." Zhu Danxi stated: "Like sewing thread; for example, combining two or three strands into a rope requires twisting and turning to become tight and form a rope." Thus, the meaning of Jin pulse involves not only longitudinal rigidity but also transverse rotation. Otherwise, what is the basis for metaphors like "striking the hand left and right" and "turning rope"? Ancients said heat causes sinews to relax, while cold causes sinews to contract. This state occurs only when heat is constrained internally and cold binds externally, causing rigidity. Although both Jin and Chi (Slow) pulses indicate Cold, Chi pulse results from deficiency of Qi and Blood, leading to slow and difficult forward movement; Jin pulse results from Cold pathogen condensing and attacking, leading to vigorous and combative movement. One must know that rapid and smooth is Hua (Slippery) pulse; rapid and forceful is Shi (Excess) pulse; rapid and twisting is Jin (Tight) pulse. Their shapes are distinct and should not be confused. Cui Shi merely said it is like a line, which only grasps the outline but lacks clarity. The ancients were skilled at describing "Jin," yet false formulas absurdly claimed: "Sparse and entering the Chi position." Reflecting on this seems like sleep-talking. The Jin pulse is like walking: not only is there high spirit and continuous footsteps, but also free lateral movement. To compare it to a decrepit, elderly person unable to take steps is a flawed analogy, reckless and inappropriate. How could it reach such a degree! Mediocre practitioners still regard it as a golden needle secret, alas, how strange!