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Huangdi asked, "Why can the Qi Kou (Radial Pulse) alone serve as the master indicator for the Five Zang Organs?" Qibo replied, "The Stomach is the sea of water and grain, and the great source of the Six Fu Organs. When flavors enter the mouth, they are stored in the Stomach to nourish the Qi of the Five Zang Organs. The Qi Kou belongs to the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian. Therefore, the Qi and flavor of the Five Zang and Six Fu Organs all originate from the Stomach and manifest at the Qi Kou." (Note: Qi Kou is a general term for the six positions on both wrists, not specifically referring to the Cun position before the Guan on the right hand. [Commentary] The *Suwen: Jingmai Bulun* states, "When food enters the Stomach, its essence travels through the meridians to return to the Lung. The Lung receives the assembly of all vessels, and Qi returns to balance. When balanced, the Qi Kou forms the Cun pulse, by which life and death can be determined." From this, we know that Qi Kou is synonymous with Cun Kou. By 'manifesting,' it means that the refined essence transformed from food and drink appears clearly at the Qi Kou of the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian, and no phenomenon of Yin-Yang excess or deficiency fails to be revealed here. Wu Caolu said, "Both Cun positions on the two hands are called Qi Kou; it does not refer only to the Right Cun Lung pulse as Qi Kou.")

The *Nanjing* says, "'All twelve meridians have pulsating arteries; why take only the Cun Kou?' Bian Que answered, 'The Cun Kou is the grand meeting of pulses, the pulsating artery of the Hand Taiyin.'" (Note: The Lung is the canopy over the Five Zang and Six Fu Organs, located at the highest position, receiving the assembly of all vessels and distributing Yin and Yang throughout the body. Thus, the classics say, "The True Qi of the Zang Organs is higher in the Lung, used to circulate Ying and Wei Qi and Yin-Yang." Therefore, although all twelve meridians have pulsating arteries, taking only the arterial pulse of the Lung meridian allows one to observe the signs of strength, weakness, auspiciousness, and misfortune of the Five Zang and Six Fu Organs.)

The *Neijing* states, "In one exhalation, the pulse beats twice; in one inhalation, the pulse also beats twice. At the end of a breath cycle (Ding Xi), the pulse beats five times. With occasional deep sighs (Tai Xi), this is called a Ping Ren (healthy person)." (Note: Exhaling air is called Hu; inhaling air is called Xi. One Hu and one Xi constitute one Xi (breath cycle). 'Beat' refers to the pulse movement. Two beats mean two movements. For a normal person, the pulse beats twice per exhalation and twice per inhalation. Ding Xi refers to the moment when one breath cycle ends but the next has not yet begun, during which the pulse beats once more, hence 'five beats.' 'Run' means remainder, similar to the concept of a leap month. It implies that if a peaceful pulse consistently shows five beats, it is excessive; only during a Tai Xi (deep sigh) is it considered a normal pulse. Why? Because after every three breaths, there must be one longer breath to compensate. In five breath cycles, there are two such long breaths, called Tai Xi. Thus, 'Run Yi Tai Xi' corresponds to the calendrical rule of a leap year every three years and two leap years every five years. This is the standard measure for a healthy person without disease. Therefore, counting between Ding Xi and Tai Xi, the pulse should beat approximately six times per Xi. Hence, the *Wushi Ying Pian* states, 'At Ding Xi, the pulse moves six cun,' meaning one beat equals one cun. During respiration, the pulse moves distances measured in zhang and chi. Over day and night, fifty circuits occur, totaling 13,500 breaths. This represents the number of Ying Qi circuits, corresponding to the 28 Lunar Mansions of the celestial sphere. Humans have twelve main meridians; with left and right sides, there are twenty-four. Adding the two Qiao meridians, the Ren Mai, and the Du Mai, there are twenty-eight meridians in total, spanning 16 zhang 2 chi around the body, dividing the day and night. This is the constant measure. If the fifty circuits are always complete and without error, longevity is infinite, allowing one to enjoy the full lifespan granted by Heaven and Earth. The total distance traveled is 810 zhang, the sum of fifty circuits over day and night.) If the pulse beats once per exhalation and once per inhalation, it is called Shao Qi (Deficient Qi). (Note: One beat per Hu and one per Xi results in two beats per Xi, half the normal rate, indicating a slow pulse. Slow pulses indicate Yin-cold and declining Yang Qi, hence 'Shao Qi.' The *Nanjing: Nan 14* calls this Li Jing Mai.) If the pulse beats three times per exhalation and three times per inhalation, and is rapid, with heat at the Chi position, it is called Wen Bing (Warm Disease); if the Chi position is not hot, and the pulse is slippery, it is called Feng Bing (Wind Disease); if the pulse is choppy, it is called Bi Syndrome. (Note: Without considering Ding Xi or Tai Xi, if each breath cycle yields three beats, it totals six beats per Xi. The *Nanjing* also calls this 'Li Jing.' 'Zao' means rapid and urgent, representing Yang excess and Yin deficiency, a sign of heat. 'Chi Re' means heat near the Chi position towards the arm, implying whole-body heat. A rapid, restless pulse combined with body heat indicates Warm Disease. A rapid, slippery pulse without Chi heat suggests internal excess of Yang pathogenic factors, pointing to Internal Wind. If it were an external wind attack, how could the Chi position lack heat? 'Hua' means not choppy. 'Se' means not slippery. Slippery pulses indicate blood excess and Qi stagnation; choppy pulses indicate Qi stagnation and blood deficiency, thus leading to Bi Syndrome.) If the pulse beats four times or more per exhalation, it indicates death. If the pulse ceases completely and does not return, it indicates death. If the pulse is irregularly sparse and rapid, it indicates death." (Note: Four beats per exhalation means eight beats per Xi, let alone more. The *Nanjing* calls this Duo Jing (Loss of Essence). Four beats indicate loss of essence, five beats indicate death, six beats indicate the end of life. These all refer to four or more beats per exhalation, hence fatal. Complete absence of pulse indicates exhaustion of Yuan Qi. Irregularly sparse and rapid pulses indicate chaos and loss of mastery over Yin and Yang. If any of these three pulses appear, death is inevitable.)