左手寸口二脉。沉见者。心脉也。浮见者。小肠脉也。
故手少阴与手太阳为表里。心以小肠为腑。合于上焦。
左手关上二脉。沉者肝脉。浮者胆脉也。
故手厥阴与手少阳为表里。肝以胆为腑。合于中焦。
左手尺上二脉。沉者肾脉也。浮者膀胱脉也。
故少阴与手太阳为表里。肾以膀胱为腑。合于下焦。
右手寸口二脉沉者肺脉。浮者大肠脉也。
故手太阴与手阳明脉为表里。肺以大肠为腑。合于上焦。
右手关上二脉沉者脾脉。浮者胃脉也。
故足太阴与足阳明为表里。脾以胃为腑。合于中焦。
右手尺上二脉。沉者命门脉。浮者三焦脉也。
故手厥阴与手少阳为表里。命门以三焦为腑。合于下焦。
弦与紧相类。浮与芤相类。浮与洪相类。濡与弱相类。沉与伏相类。缓与迟相类。软与弱相类。革与实相类。滑与
数相类。微与涩相类。
夫脉者。天真委和之气。晋王叔和以浮。芤。滑。实。弦。紧。洪为七表。微。沉。缓。涩。迟。伏。濡。弱为八
里。以定人之阴阳。决人之生死。然文理甚繁。后学卒未能解。大抵持脉之道。非言可传。非图可受。其枢要但以浮。
沉迟数为宗。风。气。冷。热为主病。且如浮而有力者为风。浮而无力者为虚。沉而有力者为积。沉而无力者为气。迟
而有力者为痛。迟而无力者为冷。数而有力者为热。数而无力者为疮。更看三部在何所得之。且寸部属上焦头面胸膈之
疾。
关部属之中焦腹肚肠胃之疾。尺部属下焦小腹腰腿之病。更看五脏之中。何脏见之。六腑亦然。学人会意而精通之。
庶得按寸握尺之诮。
In the Cun (inch) position of the left hand, a pulse felt deeply indicates the Heart Pulse (Xin Mai), while one felt superficially indicates the Small Intestine Pulse (Xiaochang Mai).
Therefore, the Hand-Shaoyin (Heart) meridian and the Hand-Taiyang (Small Intestine) meridian are exterior-interior paired. The Heart pairs with the Small Intestine as its Fu organ, corresponding to the Upper Jiao (Upper Burner).
In the Guan (bar) position of the left hand, a pulse felt deeply indicates the Liver Pulse (Gan Mai), while one felt superficially indicates the Gallbladder Pulse (Dan Mai).
Therefore, the Hand-Jueyin (Pericardium) meridian and the Hand-Shaoyang (Sanjiao) meridian are exterior-interior paired. The Liver pairs with the Gallbladder as its Fu organ, corresponding to the Middle Jiao (Middle Burner).
In the Chi (cubit) position of the left hand, a pulse felt deeply indicates the Kidney Pulse (Shen Mai), while one felt superficially indicates the Bladder Pulse (Pangguang Mai).
Therefore, the Shao Yin meridian and the Hand-Taiyang meridian are exterior-interior paired. The Kidney pairs with the Bladder as its Fu organ, corresponding to the Lower Jiao (Lower Burner).
In the Cun (inch) position of the right hand, a pulse felt deeply indicates the Lung Pulse (Fei Mai), while one felt superficially indicates the Large Intestine Pulse (Dachang Mai).
Therefore, the Hand-Taiyin (Lung) meridian and the Hand-Yangming (Large Intestine) meridian are exterior-interior paired. The Lung pairs with the Large Intestine as its Fu organ, corresponding to the Upper Jiao (Upper Burner).
In the Guan (bar) position of the right hand, a pulse felt deeply indicates the Spleen Pulse (Pi Mai), while one felt superficially indicates the Stomach Pulse (Wei Mai).
Therefore, the Foot-Taiyin (Spleen) meridian and the Foot-Yangming (Stomach) meridian are exterior-interior paired. The Spleen pairs with the Stomach as its Fu organ, corresponding to the Middle Jiao (Middle Burner).
In the Chi (cubit) position of the right hand, a pulse felt deeply indicates the Mingmen (Gate of Life) Pulse, while one felt superficially indicates the Sanjiao (Triple Burner) Pulse.
Therefore, the Hand-Jueyin (Pericardium) meridian and the Hand-Shaoyang (Sanjiao) meridian are exterior-interior paired. The Mingmen pairs with the Sanjiao as its Fu organ, corresponding to the Lower Jiao (Lower Burner).
The Xian (Wiry) pulse is similar to the Jin (Taut) pulse. The Fu (Floating) pulse is similar to the Kou (Hollow) pulse. The Fu (Floating) pulse is similar to the Hong (Surging) pulse. The Ru (Soggy) pulse is similar to the Ruo (Weak) pulse. The Chen (Deep) pulse is similar to the Fu (Hidden) pulse. The Huan (Moderate) pulse is similar to the Chi (Slow) pulse. The Ruan (Soft) pulse is similar to the Ruo (Weak) pulse. The Ge (Leather) pulse is similar to the Shi (Full) pulse. The Hua (Slippery) pulse is similar to the Shu (Rapid) pulse. The Wei (Faint) pulse is similar to the Se (Choppy) pulse.
The pulse represents the Qi of innate truth and gentle harmony. Wang Shuhe of the Jin Dynasty categorized the Floating, Hollow, Slippery, Full, Wiry, Taut, and Surging pulses into the "Seven Exterior" pulses, and the Faint, Deep, Moderate, Choppy, Slow, Hidden, Soggy, and Weak pulses into the "Eight Interior" pulses, thereby determining a person's Yin and Yang status and deciding their life and death prognosis. However, the textual principles are quite complex, and later learners ultimately struggle to fully comprehend them. Generally speaking, the art of pulse diagnosis cannot be fully transmitted by words alone nor received merely through diagrams. Its key essence lies in taking the Floating, Deep, Slow, and Rapid pulses as the primary categories, and Wind, Qi, Cold, and Heat as the main pathological factors. For instance, a Floating pulse that is forceful indicates Wind; a Floating pulse that is non-forceful indicates Deficiency. A Deep pulse that is forceful indicates Accumulation; a Deep pulse that is non-forceful indicates Qi stagnation. A Slow pulse that is forceful indicates Pain; a Slow pulse that is non-forceful indicates Cold. A Rapid pulse that is forceful indicates Heat; a Rapid pulse that is non-forceful indicates Sores/Ulcers. One must further observe which of the Three Positions (Cun, Guan, Chi) exhibits these characteristics. Specifically, the Cun position relates to diseases of the Upper Jiao, head, face, chest, and diaphragm; the Guan position relates to diseases of the Middle Jiao, abdomen, intestines, and stomach; the Chi position relates to diseases of the Lower Jiao, lower abdomen, waist, and legs. Furthermore, one must determine which of the Five Zang organs presents the corresponding pulse, and similarly for the Six Fu organs. If practitioners can grasp the meaning and master this knowledge thoroughly, they will avoid being ridiculed for incompetence in pulse diagnosis ("pressing the Cun and grasping the Chi").