（《素问·大奇论》）
脉至浮合，浮合如数，一息十至以上，是经气予不足也；微
见，九十日死，（浮合者，如浮萍之合，有表而无里也。如数者，似数而非数热
之阳脉也。是经气衰极耳。微见者，初见也。初见此脉，便可决于九十日而死。时季改易，天道更而
人气从之也。十至当作七至。若果十至，则为绝脉，死在旦夕，岂待九十日哉！故知错误无疑矣。）
脉至如火薪然，是心精之予夺也；草干而死。（脉如火热，是洪大之极也。但见
本脏之脉，无胃气以和之，则知心精之已夺矣。夏乃火令，犹未遽绝；至秋深而草干阳消之候，其死期必矣。）
脉至如散叶，是肝气予虚也；木叶落而死。（如散叶者，浮漂无根也。肝木大虚，
违其沉弦之常矣。秋风动而木叶黄落，金旺则木绝，故死。）
脉至如省客，省客者，脉塞而鼓，是肾气之不足也；悬去枣
华而死。（省者，禁也，故天子以禁中为省中。塞者，沉而不利也。鼓者，搏而有
力也。伏藏于内而鼓搏，正如禁宾客而不见，独知于内而恣肆也。故曰如省客也。是肾气阴寒不安之状也。
枣花去，则当长夏也。土旺水涸，肾虚者不能支也。）
脉至如丸泥，是胃精予不足也；榆荚落而死。（丸泥者，弹丸也。滑动有力，冲和
之气荡然矣。春深而榆荚始落，木令方张，弱土必绝。）
脉至如横格，是胆气予不足也；禾熟而死。（横格者，如横木之格也。且长且坚，东方
之真脏脉见矣。禾熟于秋，金令乘权，木安得不败。）
脉至如弦缕，是胞精予不足也。病善言，下霜而死；不言可治。
（弦缕者，如弦之急，如缕之细也。胞者，心也，心包络也。言者，心声也。
火过极而神明无以自持，则多言不寐也。夫脉细则反其洪大之常，善言则丧其神明之守，方霜下
而水帝司权，火当绝矣。）
脉至如交漆，交漆者，左右旁至也；微见，三十日死。（交漆者，
泻漆也。左右旁至者，或左或右，不由正道也。微见此脉，以一月为期，必不禄矣。）
脉至如涌泉，浮鼓肌中，太阳气予不足也；少气，味韭英而
死。（涌泉者，如泉之涌，浮鼓于肌肉之上，而乖违乎就下之常，膀胱衰弱，阴精不能上奉，故少气耳。
韭英新发，木帝司命，则水官谢事矣。）
脉至如颓土之状，按之不得，是肌气之不足也；五色先见黑，白垒发而死。
（虚大无根，按之即不可得见，颓土之状也。肌气，即脾气，脾主肌肉也。黑为水色，土虚而无所畏，反
来乘之矣。垒即 也。蓬 有多类，而白者发于春，当木旺之时，土安得而不败。）
脉至如悬雍，悬雍者，浮揣切之益大，是十二俞之予不足也；水凝而死。（
悬雍者，喉间下垂之肉也。浮揣之益大，即知重按之而必空矣。浮短者，孤阳亢极之象也。十二俞，即
十二经之系也。水凝冰结，阴盛之时，而孤阳有不绝者乎！）
脉至如偃刀，偃刀者，浮之小急，按之坚大急，五脏菀热，寒热独并于肾也；其人不得坐，立春而死。
（浮之小急，如刀口也。按之坚大急，即刀背也。菀
者，积结也。五脏结热，故发寒热也。阳旺则阴消，故独并于肾也。腰者，
肾之府。肾虚则不能起坐。迨立春而阳气用事，阴日以衰，安得不死也。）
脉至如丸滑不直手，不直手者，按之不可得也，是大肠气予不足也；枣叶生而死。（
如丸者，短而滑也。短而无根，按之不得也，大肠之金气伤也。枣叶初生，新夏火旺，衰金从此逝矣。）
脉至如华者，令人善恐，不欲坐卧，行立常听，是小肠气予不足也；季秋而死。
（华者，草木之花也，在枝叶而不在根株，乃轻浮而虚也。小肠气通于心，善恐，不欲坐卧者，心神怯而
不宁也。行立常听者，恐惧多而生疑也。丙火墓于戌，故当九月季秋死。）
(From *Suwen: Daqi Lun*)
The pulse arrives in a floating and gathering manner, resembling the rapid pulse (Shu Mai), beating more than ten times per respiration; this indicates extreme deficiency of Jing Qi (Meridian Qi). If seen initially, death is predicted within ninety days. (The term "floating and gathering" refers to something like floating duckweed aggregating, having an exterior appearance but no interior root. "Resembling rapid" implies it looks like a rapid pulse but is not the yang pulse of true heat excess. This signifies Jing Qi exhausted to the extreme. "Seen initially" means first observed. Upon first observing this pulse, one can determine death will occur in ninety days. As seasons change and the Heavenly Way transforms, human Qi follows suit. The text's "ten beats" should likely be "seven beats." If truly ten beats, it would be a severed pulse, with death imminent within dawn or dusk, certainly not waiting ninety days! Thus, the error is undeniable.)
The pulse burns fiercely like fire on firewood; this indicates the deprivation of Heart Essence. Death occurs when grass dries up. (A pulse like intense heat represents the extreme of the洪脉 (Hong Mai / Surging Pulse). Seeing only the pulse of the affected organ without the harmonizing Wei Qi (Stomach Qi) indicates that Heart Essence has been deprived. Summer is the season of Fire, so Yang is not yet completely severed; however, by late autumn when grass dries and Yang declines, the time of death is certain.)
The pulse floats like scattered leaves; this indicates extreme deficiency of Liver Qi. Death occurs when tree leaves fall. ("Like scattered leaves" describes a pulse that is floating and rootless. Extreme deficiency of Liver Wood violates its normal deep and string-like (Chen Xuan) character. When autumn winds blow and leaves yellow and fall, Metal becomes prosperous and Wood is severed, hence death.)
The pulse resembles a "Sheng Ke" (guest confined within); specifically, the pulse channel feels blocked yet pulsates forcefully. This indicates insufficiency of Kidney Qi. Death occurs after jujube flowers fade. ("Sheng" means prohibition; thus, the inner palace of the emperor is called "Sheng Zhong." "Blocked" means deep and unsmooth. "Pulsating forcefully" means strong beat. Qi hides internally yet pulses strongly, just as forbidden guests are unseen, acting freely only within. Hence, it is likened to a "Sheng Ke." This reflects a state of Kidney Qi being cold and unsettled. After jujube flowers fade, it is the height of Long Summer (Late Summer). Earth Qi is prosperous while Water Qi dries up; the Kidney-deficient cannot sustain themselves, leading to death.)
The pulse feels like a clay pellet; this indicates extreme insufficiency of Stomach Essence. Death occurs when elm seeds fall. ("Clay pellet" refers to a small ball. The pulse is slippery and forceful, indicating that the harmonious Qi has vanished. In deep spring, elm seeds begin to fall; at this time, Wood Qi is rising, and weak Earth must inevitably fail.)
The pulse resembles a horizontal grid; this indicates insufficiency of Gallbladder Qi. Death occurs when grains ripen. ("Horizontal grid" resembles a crosswise wooden lattice. The pulse is both long and firm, revealing the True Zang Pulse of the East (Wood). Grains ripen in autumn when Metal Qi takes power; how can Wood not perish?)
The pulse resembles strings or fine threads; this indicates insufficiency of Bao Jing (Essence of the Pericardium). The patient speaks excessively and dies when frost falls; if they do not speak, the condition is treatable. ("Strings and threads" are tight like a zither string and thin like silk thread. "Bao" refers to the Heart and Pericardium. Speech is the voice of the Heart. Excessive Fire causes Shen (Spirit) to lose self-control, resulting in excessive speech and insomnia. A fine pulse contradicts the normal surging quality; excessive speech loses the guard of Shen. When frost falls, Water Emperor holds power, and Fire should be extinguished.)
The pulse resembles Jiao Qi (leaking lacquer); specifically, it arrives from the left and right sides. If seen initially, death occurs in thirty days. ("Jiao Qi" refers to leaking lacquer. "Arriving from left and right" means the pulse comes irregularly from either side, deviating from the proper path. Observing this pulse initially sets a one-month period for inevitable death.)
The pulse resembles a gushing spring, beating superficially within the muscles; this indicates insufficiency of Taiyang Qi. The patient suffers from shortness of breath (Shao Qi) and dies after consuming leek shoots. ("Gushing spring" is like water erupting, beating superficially above the muscle, violating the normal downward flow. Bladder weakness prevents Yin Essence from ascending, causing shortness of breath. Fresh leek shoots indicate Wood Emperor holding power, causing Water Official to step down.)
The pulse resembles a collapsed mound of earth; pressing upon it yields nothing. This indicates insufficiency of Ji Qi (Muscle Qi, i.e., Spleen Qi). Black color appears on the face first, and death occurs when white Lei grass blooms. (The pulse is empty, large, and rootless; pressing makes it disappear, like a collapsed mound. Ji Qi is Spleen Qi, which governs muscles. Black corresponds to Water. With deficient Earth lacking fear/resistance, Water overacts upon it. Lei refers to a type of weed. White Lei grass blooms in spring during peak Wood Qi; how can Earth survive?)
The pulse resembles Xuan Yong (the uvula); specifically, it feels larger upon light palpation and cutting pressure. This indicates insufficiency of the Twelve Shu points (Qi of the Twelve Meridians). Death occurs when water freezes. ("Xuan Yong" is the fleshy projection in the throat. Feeling larger on light touch implies emptiness on heavy pressure. A floating and short pulse is a sign of extreme isolated Yang. The Twelve Shu refer to the connections of the Twelve Meridians. When water freezes and Ice forms, Yin is at its peak; can isolated Yang survive?)
The pulse resembles an inverted knife; specifically, light palpation reveals a small and urgent pulse, while heavy palpation reveals a firm, large, and urgent pulse. This indicates stagnation-heat in the Five Zang organs, with cold-heat pathogens consolidating exclusively in the Kidneys. The patient cannot sit upright and dies at the beginning of Spring. (Light palpation feels like a knife edge—small and urgent; heavy palpation feels like the knife back—firm, large, and urgent. "Wen" means accumulation/stagnation. Heat stagnated in the Five Zang causes chills and fever. Yang prosperity leads to Yin decline, so pathogens consolidate in the Kidneys. The waist is the mansion of the Kidneys. Kidney deficiency prevents sitting/standing. By early Spring, Yang Qi becomes active and Yin declines daily; death is inevitable.)
The pulse resembles a smooth pill; "not straight to the hand" means it cannot be felt upon pressing. This indicates insufficiency of Large Intestine Qi. Death occurs when jujube leaves sprout. ("Like a pill" means short and slippery. Short and rootless, unfeelable upon pressure, indicates injury to the Metal Qi of the Large Intestine. When jujube leaves first sprout, Early Summer Fire is prosperous; declining Metal fades away.)
The pulse resembles flowers; the person becomes easily frightened, unwilling to sit or lie down, and constantly listens while walking or standing. This indicates insufficiency of Small Intestine Qi. Death occurs in late autumn. ("Flowers" grow on branches and leaves, not roots; they are light, floating, and empty. Small Intestine Qi connects to the Heart. Fearfulness and restlessness indicate timid and unsettled Heart Spirit. Constant listening while moving stems from fear and suspicion. Bing Fire enters the tomb at Xu (Dog month); thus, death occurs in the ninth month, late autumn.)