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[Body Image] The morphology of the Xian pulse (Wiry Pulse) resembles a zither string; upon light palpation, it feels empty and slippery. Its shape is straight and long, feeling firm and upright under the fingers.

[Main Diseases] The Xian pulse corresponds to Liver Wind and primarily indicates Pain Syndromes, Malaria, Phlegm, and Fluid Retention. If the Xian pulse appears at the Left Cun position, there must be pain in the heart. If it appears at the Right Cun position, there will be pain in the chest and head. If seen at the Left Guan position, it indicates Phlegm-Fluids, Malaria, or abdominal masses (Jia). If seen at the Right Guan position, it indicates Stomach Cold and Diaphragmatic pain. If encountered at the Left Chi position, it indicates Fluid retention in the Lower Jiao. If encountered at the Right Chi position, it indicates foot spasms and Hernia pain.

[Combined Pulses] A Floating Xian pulse indicates Branch Fluids; a Sinking Xian pulse indicates Suspended Fluids. A Xian-Shu (Rapid) pulse indicates excess Heat; a Xian-Chi (Slow) pulse indicates excess Cold. A Xian-Da (Large) pulse indicates Deficiency; a Xian-Xi (Fine) pulse indicates stiffness and urgency. A Xian pulse in Yang positions (upper body) causes Headache; a Xian pulse in Yin positions (lower body) causes Abdominal pain. A single-sided Xian pulse indicates Phlegm-Fluid accumulation; a bilateral Xian pulse indicates chronic Cold disorders.

[Commentary] The meaning of the Xian pulse is like a zither string: straight and slightly long. In the Eight Trigrams, it corresponds to Zhen; in the Five Elements, it corresponds to Wood; in the Four Seasons, it corresponds to Spring; in the Five Zang Organs, it corresponds to the Liver. The Classics state: "The Qi of Shaoyang is mild and soft, therefore the pulse is Xian." Qibo said: "The Spring pulse corresponds to the Liver, which is Eastern Wood, the source from which all things begin to grow. Thus, its Qi comes forth moist and weak, light and empty yet slippery, straight and long; hence it is called Xian. Opposite to this is disease. If its Qi comes forth solid and strong, this is Excess, and the disease is external; if its Qi comes forth insubstantial and faint, this is Deficiency, and the disease is internal. Excess leads to irritability, dizziness, and vertigo affecting the vertex; Deficiency leads to chest and hypochondriac pain radiating to the back, with fullness in both hypochondria." It also states: "When the Liver pulse comes forth moist, weak, and distant, like the tip of a long pole held high, it is called a Healthy Liver Pulse." It further states: "When the Liver pulse comes forth full, solid, and slippery, like tracing a long pole, it is called Liver Disease. When the Liver pulse comes forth urgent and increasingly tense, like a drawn bowstring, it is called a Dead Liver Pulse." Both the Xian pulse and the Chang (Long) pulse govern the Spring season. However, the Xian pulse represents early spring, belonging to Yin within Yang; the weather is still cold, so it resembles a zither string that is straight and firm, carrying a slight sense of urgency. The Chang pulse represents late spring, belonging purely to Yang, devoid of coldness, so it resembles a tree trunk that is distant and long, embodying pure generative energy. Dai Tongfu stated: "Xian and soft indicates mild illness; Xian and hard indicates severe illness." This deeply aligns with the principles of the Neijing. When both Guan positions show a Xian pulse, it is called a Double Xian pulse; if accompanied by an inability to eat, it signifies Wood overcoming Earth, meaning Earth has already been defeated, and the condition is incurable. The Suwen states: "Straight and long." He Heshan stated: "Like a drawn bowstring." Chao Yuanfang stated: "Unmoving upon pressure, distinct like pressing a zither string." Dai Tongfu stated: "Passing straight through the middle, feeling firm under the fingers." Various discussions on the Xian pulse can be described as profound and clear. However, Gao Yangsheng claimed it "often carries a Shu (Rapid) quality" and described it as "tight like a pulled rope," which describes the Jin (Tight) pulse, lacking any meaning of the Xian pulse!