Library

Ping An (Ping An annotations): This chapter appears in Volume 13, Chapter 46, "Lun Bing Neng" (Discourse on the Ability to Manifest Disease) of the *Suwen* (Basic Questions).

The phrase "deep and fine" refers to a pulse that is deep and minute; when palpated with the fingers, it feels like a needle prick. When stroked and pressed, a gathered pulse feels firm, while a broad pulse feels large. The *Shangjing* (Classic Above) discusses how human Qi connects with the Qi of Heaven. The *Xiajing* (Classic Below) discusses the changes of diseases. (What is known through pulse diagnosis, such as the finger feeling like a needle upon palpation, describes the state of a fine pulse. "Qie" means to press. The *Shangjing* discusses the Qi above connecting with Heaven's Qi, while the *Xiajing* discusses the changes of diseases below. Alternatively, it is said: Qi from the waist up, regardless of which meridian it belongs to, constitutes the *Shangjing*; Qi from the waist down constitutes the *Xiajing*. The *Shangjing* connects with Heavenly Qi, while the *Xiajing* discusses its changes. Ping An notes: In the *Suwen*, there is a character "you" (have/exist) after "zhen xia" (under the needle), and a character "yan" (speak) before "qi" (Qi).)

The *Jingui* (Golden Cabinet) is used to determine life and death prognosis. (The chapters of the *Jingui* contain discussions on determining life and death.)

The *Kuidu* (Measure and Estimate) involves estimating conditions through pulse palpation. The *Qiheng* (Extraordinary and Constant) discusses extraordinary diseases. By "extraordinary" (qi), it refers to strange diseases where death does not follow the four seasons. By "constant" (heng), it refers to deaths that do follow the pattern of the four seasons. By "kui" (measure), it means to seek the cause squarely and precisely. By "du" (estimate), it means to locate the site of the disease and evaluate it according to the four seasons. (When disease transmission leads to death during the season that overcomes it, this is called "constant." When internal emotions like anger and joy cause the disease to transmit sequentially leading to death, this is called "extraordinary." "Kui" means preparing to seek the location of the disease and estimate it. "Du" means locating the disease site and further evaluating its gains and losses in relation to the four seasons. Ping An notes: After "fang qie qiu ye" (squarely and precisely seek), the *Suwen* contains seven additional characters: "yan qie qiu qi mai li ye" (speaking of precisely seeking the pulse principle). Regarding the annotation "ling bing ci chuan si zhe" (causing the disease to transmit sequentially leading to death), the Xin Zheng Jiao (New Corrections) of the *Suwen* cites Yang Shangshan's note as "ling bing ci chuan zhe" (causing the disease to transmit sequentially), omitting the character "si" (death). Furthermore, Wang Bing's commentary in the *Suwen* states: "Whenever 'so-called' is mentioned, it explains meanings that were previously unclear. Here, the 'so-called' passages do not connect logically with the preceding or following text of this chapter. It seems these sections lack complete textual meaning, likely serving as separate explanations for the classic text. Since the extant version is missing Chapter 72, it is probable that missing texts and misplaced bamboo slips were erroneously inserted here. The ancient text was broken and incorrectly continued here.")