春弦 夏洪（一曰数一曰钩） 秋毛（一曰潘一曰浮） 冬石（一曰沉）
初之气∶自大寒日至春分，厥阴风木之阳用事，而气微。
故曰冬至后日甲子少阳主，然冬至甲子斯无常准，以大约分之∶一月如
在冬后，即大寒交初气之分也。一岁六周甲子，以应六气。下皆仿此。（一气正月、二月也）
脉乍大、乍小、乍短、乍长，时物及风木之象也。
二之气∶春分至小满，少阴君火之位，阳气清正在两阳合明之间，故又云阳明主。
脉弦也。
三之气∶小满日至大暑，少阳相火之位，阳气万物皆盛，故亦云太阳主。
脉洪大而长，天气万物人脉与造化同。
四之气∶大暑日至秋分，太阴湿土之位，天气尚盛，而夏后阴已用事，故又
云太阴主。此三阴三阳与六气标本之阴阳异矣。
脉缓大而长。
或云紧大而长者，传写之误也。湿土主缓大而长，燥金主紧细而短涩，以万物干湿明可见焉。时
湿土盛，肤腠开通，汗液时泄，故脉虽大长而力缓，不能紧也。至秋后气衰，寒凉乍闭，故虽微细而力紧也。
五之气∶秋分日以至小雪，阳明燥金之位，气衰阴盛，故又云少阴主也。
脉紧细而微。
终之气（一曰六之气）∶小雪日以至大寒，太阳寒水之位，阴极而终尽，天气之
所收隐，故曰厥阴主。厥者尽也。
脉沉短以敦（敦，浓也）。
万物收藏在内，寒气闭塞而肤腠气液不能散越，故脉沉短而反有力，敦浓而如石也。
凡四时六位平脉大退，则时气有余而为病。
如春弦太过则风为病。
不及者气衰而为病。
四时脉微见为平，此言过微也，如秋脉微而兼夏脉之类也。
反见他脉者，他气有余而来为病也。
迟为寒，而数为热之类也。
春季脉象呈弦象，夏季脉象呈洪象（一说为数脉，一说为钩脉），秋季脉象呈毛象（一说为潘脉，一说为浮脉），冬季脉象呈石象（一说为沉脉）。
初之气：从大寒日到春分，厥阴风木的阳气主事，但气机尚微弱。
所以说冬至后的第一个甲子日由少阳主事，然而冬至日的甲子并没有固定的标准，按大致划分：如果一月处于冬季之后，那就是大寒交接初之气的时段。一年有六个甲子周期，以对应六气。下文都仿照此例。（一气指正月、二月）
脉象忽大、忽小、忽短、忽长，这是时令物候及风木之象的表现。
二之气：从春分到小满，是少阴君火的位序，阳气清正在两阳合明之间，所以又说阳明主事。
脉象呈弦象。
三之气：从小满到大暑，是少阳相火的位序，阳气使万物皆盛，所以也说太阳主事。
脉象洪大而长，天气、万物与人体脉象都与造化自然相同。
四之气：从大暑到秋分，是太阴湿土的位序，天气依然旺盛，但夏季后阴气已开始主事，所以又说太阴主事。这里的三阴三阳与六气标本的阴阳是不同的。
脉象缓大而长。
有人说紧大而长，那是传抄的错误。湿土主缓大而长，燥金主紧细而短涩，从万物的干湿状态可以明显看出。此时湿土旺盛，皮肤腠理开通，汗液时常排泄，所以脉象虽然大长但力度缓和，不能表现为紧。到了秋后气机衰退，寒凉突然闭塞，所以脉象虽然微细但力度紧实。
五之气：从秋分到小雪，是阳明燥金的位序，气机衰退阴气旺盛，所以又说少阴主事。
脉象紧细而微。
终之气（一说为六之气）：从小雪到大寒，是太阳寒水的位序，阴气极盛而终结，天气收敛隐伏，所以说是厥阴主事。厥的意思是尽。
脉象沉短而敦厚（敦，意为浓重）。
万物收藏于内，寒气闭塞导致皮肤腠理的气液不能发散，所以脉象沉短反而有力，敦厚浓重如石。
凡是四季六位平脉大幅减退，则是时令之气有余而致病。
如春季弦脉太过则风邪致病。
不及则是气衰而致病。
四季脉象微微显现为平脉，这里说的是过微的情况，如秋脉微而兼见夏脉之类。
反见他种脉象者，是他气有余而来致病。
迟脉主寒，数脉主热之类。
Spring pulse is Xian (String-like); Summer pulse is Hong (Surging) (also referred to as Shu [Rapid] or Gou [Hook]); Autumn pulse is Mao (Feather-like) (also referred to as Pan [Floating down] or Fu [Superficial]); Winter pulse is Shi (Stone-like) (also referred to as Chen [Deep]).
First Qi: From Da Han (Great Cold) to Chun Fen (Spring Equinox), the Yang of Jue Yin Wind Wood is in charge, but the Qi is slight.
Therefore it is said that after Dong Zhi (Winter Solstice), the first Jia Zi day is governed by Shao Yang (Lesser Yang). However, the Jia Zi of Dong Zhi has no fixed standard; roughly dividing it: if the first month falls after winter, it marks the transition of Da Han into the First Qi. There are six cycles of Jia Zi in a year, corresponding to the Six Qi. The following examples follow this pattern. (One Qi corresponds to the first and second lunar months.)
The pulse may suddenly become large, small, short, or long; these are images of seasonal phenomena and Wind Wood.
Second Qi: From Chun Fen (Spring Equinox) to Xiao Man (Grain Buds), it is the position of Shao Yin Sovereign Fire. The Yang Qi is clear and upright, situated between the combination of two Yangs, so it is also said that Yang Ming (Bright Yang) governs.
The pulse is Xian (String-like).
Third Qi: From Xiao Man (Grain Buds) to Da Shu (Great Heat), it is the position of Shao Yang Minister Fire. The Yang Qi causes all things to flourish, so it is also said that Tai Yang (Greater Yang) governs.
The pulse is Hong (Surging), large, and long. The weather, all things, and human pulses align with creation/nature.
Fourth Qi: From Da Shu (Great Heat) to Qiu Fen (Autumn Equinox), it is the position of Tai Yin Damp Earth. The heavenly Qi is still vigorous, but Yin Qi has begun to govern after summer, so it is also said that Tai Yin (Greater Yin) governs. This differs from the Yin-Yang of the root and branch of the Three Yin and Three Yang relative to the Six Qi.
The pulse is Huan (Lax), large, and long.
Some say it is Jin (Tight), large, and long, which is a transcription error. Damp Earth governs Huan (Lax), large, and long; Dry Metal governs Jin (Tight), fine, short, and choppy. This can be clearly seen in the dryness and dampness of all things. When Damp Earth is prosperous, skin pores are open, and sweat is frequently secreted; thus, although the pulse is large and long, its force is lax and cannot be tight. After autumn, when Qi declines and cold/chill suddenly closes the exterior, although the pulse may be slightly fine, its force becomes tight.
Fifth Qi: From Qiu Fen (Autumn Equinox) to Xiao Xue (Minor Snow), it is the position of Yang Ming Dry Metal. Qi declines and Yin becomes prosperous, so it is also said that Shao Yin (Lesser Yin) governs.
The pulse is Jin (Tight), fine, and subtle.
Final Qi (also called Sixth Qi): From Xiao Xue (Minor Snow) to Da Han (Great Cold), it is the position of Tai Yang Cold Water. Yin reaches its extreme and ends; the heavenly Qi collects and hides, so it is said that Jue Yin (Terminal Yin) governs. "Jue" means exhaustion/end.
The pulse is Chen (Deep), short, and Dun (Thick/Solid) (Dun means dense/thick).
All things store energy inwardly; cold Qi blocks the exterior, preventing Qi and fluids from dissipating through the skin pores. Thus, the pulse is Chen (Deep) and short, yet possesses force, appearing Dun (Thick/Solid) and heavy like stone.
If the Ping Mai (Level Pulse) of the four seasons and six positions significantly declines, it indicates excess seasonal Qi causing disease.
For example, if Spring Xian (String-like) pulse is excessive, Wind causes disease.
If it is insufficient, declining Qi causes disease.
A slight manifestation of seasonal pulses constitutes a Ping Mai (Level Pulse); here, "excessively slight" refers to cases such as an Autumn pulse that is slight yet accompanied by Summer pulse characteristics.
If contrary pulses appear, it indicates that another Qi is in excess and causing disease.
Chi (Slow) indicates Cold, and Shu (Rapid) indicates Heat, and so on.