夫脉禀二五之精以为体，藉水谷之所输而为用，所以符阖辟之机，动息而有准，显
逆顺之理，断吉凶而有灵。其源也，由乎脐下肾间之动气，如橐龠鼓之于下。其流也，
得乎胃饮食之精气，协呼吸应之于上，是以呼出心与肺，脉动二至，吸入肾与肝，脉亦
二至，一呼一吸为一息，脉动四至。夫脾胃属土，万类资生，饮食入胃，谷气沸腾，上
冲膈间，清者化荣血，浊者为卫气，肺先受之，循经出于两寸口，涌跃顺循，而济诸
经，土性和顺，故脉本缓，则参于四藏之中，故无专名，以为中和之主宰，则四脏四
时，有不致独见之偏也。故人以胃气为本，然脉之动形，即系气血营运涌跃之状。《经》
曰∶血无气则滞而不行，气无血则散而无根据，气如橐龠，血如波澜，风行水动，气行
血流，故脉皆此气此血而神之者也。血气生于脾胃饮食之多少，胃气根乎元气之盛衰，
饮食之延纳，赖乎肺与大肠之传送，即十二经皆有动脉者，莫不宗此胃气也。谷气冲
上，肺先承受，形如华盖，空而舍气，盖十二经脉皆叙于斯，为百脉之宗。所以饮食入
胃，其气血即乘胃气，通贯于十二经之脉，
如潮涌注百浦，其清者为荣血也。心主之，则先出于左手寸口人迎，而下三部也。其浊
者为卫气也，肺主之，即充于右手寸口、气口而下三部也。《经》曰∶脉会于太渊。太
渊者，肺之穴名，在两手寸口之位也。然十二经皆有脉动，如大肠脉，动于结傍之人
迎，胃脉动于冲阳，脾脉动于箕门，心脉动于神门，小肠脉动于听宫，膀胱脉动于委
中，肾脉在于太溪，心包脉在于天池、劳宫，三焦脉在于禾 ，胆脉在于听会，肝脉
在于太冲，此十二经皆有动脉也。独取寸口，以决五脏六腑，生死吉凶者，以其众脉
皆会于手太阴之经，而为脉之大会也。然脏气不能自致手太阴，必因胃气以致于手太
阴。又曰∶寸关虽无，尺犹不绝，往来息均，踝中不歇，如此之流，何忧殒灭，以此
观之，则肺为气之主，脉为气之体，胃为脉之用，肾为气之根也。
《灵枢》曰∶经脉十二，而手太阴，足少阴，阳明独动不休，何也？肺脉动之不休
者，以营气随宗气而行诸经，其诸经之脉朝于肺也。胃脉动之不休者，以卫气出于胃，
而行之不已也。肾脉动之不休者，以冲脉与肾脉并行，而行之不已也。此其所以异于诸
经也欤！
左心、小肠、肝胆、肾、膀胱，左手关前一分为人迎，肝胆之位，以候六淫所伤，
（六淫者，风寒暑湿燥火也。）及起居失宜，感冒时行不正之气。凡脉紧盛者，伤于寒，皆为外
感有余之证。
右肺、大肠、脾胃、命门、三焦，右手关前一分为气口，脾胃之位，以候七情所
伤，（七情者，喜怒忧思悲惊恐。）及房劳动作勤苦，与饮食无节。凡脉紧盛者，伤于食，皆为内伤不足之证。
脉象禀受天地阴阳五行之精气而形成其形体，依赖水谷精微的输布而发挥其功能，因此能够契合人体开阖枢机的变化，呼吸之间跳动有规律，显现出逆顺的道理，判断吉凶祸福具有灵性。脉气的源头，源于脐下肾间的动气，如同风箱在下方鼓动。脉气的流动，得益于胃中饮食的精微之气，配合呼吸在上方应和，所以呼气时心与肺的功能主导，脉搏跳动两次；吸气时肾与肝的功能主导，脉搏也跳动两次，一呼一吸称为一息，脉搏共跳动四次。
脾胃属土，是万物赖以生存的基础，饮食进入胃中，谷气沸腾，向上冲击膈肌之间，其中清轻的部分化为营血，重浊的部分化为卫气，首先由肺接受，沿着经络出于两手寸口部位，涌动跳跃并顺畅地循行，从而滋养各条经脉。土性平和顺遂，所以脉象本应缓和，参合于四脏之中，因此没有单独的名称，作为中和的主宰，使得四脏四时不会出现偏颇独见的情况。所以人以胃气为根本，然而脉动的形态，正是气血运行涌跃的状态。《内经》说：血没有气推动就会停滞不行，气没有血的依附就会涣散而无根据。气就像风箱，血就像波澜，风吹则水动，气行则血流，所以脉象都是依靠气和血来赋予其神韵的。
血气生于脾胃对饮食摄取的多寡，胃气根植于元气的盛衰，饮食的纳受与传导，依赖于肺与大肠的传送作用，即使十二经脉都有动脉搏动，无不以此胃气为宗。谷气冲上，肺首先承受，肺的形状如华盖，空虚以容纳气，因为十二经脉都汇聚于此，是百脉的宗主。所以饮食进入胃中，其气血便乘着胃气，贯通于十二经脉，如潮水涌入百川，其中清的部分成为营血，由心主宰，先出于左手寸口的人迎部位，然后下行至三部。其中浊的部分成为卫气，由肺主宰，随即充盈于右手寸口的气口部位，然后下行至三部。《内经》说：脉会聚于太渊穴。太渊穴，是肺经的穴位名，位于两手寸口的位置。
然而十二经脉都有脉动，例如大肠脉，搏动于手阳明大肠经结旁的人迎穴（注：此处原文指特定部位，非颈部人迎），胃脉搏动于足阳明胃经的冲阳穴，脾脉搏动于足太阴脾经的箕门穴，心脉搏动于手少阴心经的神门穴，小肠脉搏动于手太阳小肠经的听宫穴，膀胱脉搏动于足太阳膀胱经的委中穴，肾脉搏动于足少阴肾经的太溪穴，心包脉搏动于手厥阴心包经的天池、劳宫穴，三焦脉搏动于手少阳三焦经的禾髎穴，胆脉搏动于足少阳胆经的听会穴，肝脉搏动于足厥阴肝经的太冲穴，这就是十二经脉皆有动脉的原因。唯独选取寸口脉，来判断五脏六腑的生死吉凶，是因为众脉都会聚于手太阴肺经，是脉的大会合处。然而脏气不能自行到达手太阴肺经，必须依靠胃气才能到达手太阴肺经。又说：即使寸关部脉象微弱或消失，只要尺部脉不绝，往来均匀，踝中脉搏不停歇，像这样的脉象，何必担忧死亡？由此看来，肺是气的主宰，脉是气的形体，胃是脉的功能表现，肾是气的根基。
《灵枢》说：十二经脉中，只有手太阴肺经、足少阴肾经、足阳明胃经独自搏动不休，为什么呢？肺脉搏动不休，是因为营气随着宗气而行于各条经脉，各条经脉的气血都朝会于肺。胃脉搏动不休，是因为卫气出于胃，而不断运行。肾脉搏动不休，是因为冲脉与肾脉并行，而不断运行。这就是它们与其他经脉不同的地方吧！
左手关前一分为人迎，对应肝胆之位，用来候察六淫所伤（六淫，即风、寒、暑、湿、燥、火），以及起居不当、感冒时行不正之气。凡是脉象紧盛的，是伤于寒邪，都属于外感有余的证候。
右手关前一分为气口，对应脾胃之位，用来候察七情所伤（七情，即喜、怒、忧、思、悲、恐、惊），以及房劳过度、劳作勤苦，以及饮食无节制。凡是脉象紧盛的，是伤于饮食，都属于内伤不足的证候。
The pulse is formed by inheriting the essence of Yin, Yang, and the Five Elements (Wu Xing), and its function relies on the transmission of Jing Wei (Essence and Qi) from food and water. Thus, it corresponds to the mechanism of opening and closing, with regular beats during respiration, revealing the principles of reversal and smoothness, and possessing spiritual efficacy in determining auspiciousness and misfortune. Its source lies in the moving Qi between the kidneys below the navel, acting like a bellows鼓动 (drumming/pumping) below. Its flow benefits from the refined Qi of dietary intake in the Stomach, coordinating with respiration above. Therefore, during exhalation, the Heart and Lung dominate, and the pulse beats twice; during inhalation, the Kidney and Liver dominate, and the pulse also beats twice. One exhalation and one inhalation constitute one "Xi" (respiratory cycle), during which the pulse beats four times.
The Spleen and Stomach belong to Earth, providing sustenance for all things. When food enters the Stomach, the Grain Qi boils and rushes upward to the diaphragm. The clear part transforms into Ying Blood (Nutritive Blood), and the turbid part becomes Wei Qi (Defensive Qi). This is first received by the Lung, travels along the meridians, and emerges at the Cun Kou (Inch Position) of both wrists. It surges smoothly to nourish the various meridians. Since Earth's nature is harmonious and compliant, the pulse is fundamentally moderate/sluggish (Huan). It integrates among the Four Zang Organs and thus has no specific name, serving as the master of harmony, preventing the Four Zang and Four Seasons from showing extreme bias. Hence, humans rely on Stomach Qi as the root. However, the form of the pulse's movement reflects the state of Qi and Blood circulation and surging. The Classics state: "Blood without Qi stagnates and does not move; Qi without Blood scatters and lacks foundation." Qi is like a bellows, Blood is like waves; when wind blows, water moves; when Qi moves, Blood flows. Thus, the pulse derives its spirit from this Qi and Blood.
Qi and Blood are generated based on the quantity of dietary intake by the Spleen and Stomach. Stomach Qi is rooted in the prosperity or decline of Yuan Qi (Original Qi). The reception and transmission of food depend on the conveying functions of the Lung and Large Intestine. Although all Twelve Meridians have arterial pulses, they all revere this Stomach Qi. Grain Qi rushes upward, and the Lung receives it first. Shaped like a canopy, the Lung is hollow to house Qi, as all Twelve Meridians converge here, making it the ancestor of all vessels. Therefore, when food enters the Stomach, its Qi and Blood ride upon Stomach Qi to penetrate the Twelve Meridian vessels, like tides pouring into hundred rivers. The clear part becomes Ying Blood, governed by the Heart, emerging first at the Ren Ying position of the Left Hand Cun Kou, then descending to the three positions. The turbid part becomes Wei Qi, governed by the Lung, filling the Qi Kou position of the Right Hand Cun Kou, then descending to the three positions. The Classics state: "Pulses congregate at Tai Yuan." Tai Yuan is the name of a point on the Lung Meridian, located at the Cun Kou position of both hands.
However, all Twelve Meridians have pulsations. For example, the Large Intestine Meridian pulses at Ren Ying near Jie Bang; the Stomach Meridian pulses at Chong Yang; the Spleen Meridian pulses at Ji Men; the Heart Meridian pulses at Shen Men; the Small Intestine Meridian pulses at Ting Gong; the Bladder Meridian pulses at Wei Zhong; the Kidney Meridian pulses at Tai Xi; the Pericardium Meridian pulses at Tian Chi and Lao Gong; the San Jiao Meridian pulses at He Liao; the Gallbladder Meridian pulses at Ting Hui; the Liver Meridian pulses at Tai Chong. These are the Twelve Meridians having arterial pulses. We exclusively select the Cun Kou to determine the life, death, auspiciousness, and misfortune of the Five Zang and Six Fu Organs because all other pulses converge at the Hand Taiyin (Lung) Meridian, forming the great assembly of pulses. However, Zang Qi cannot reach the Hand Taiyin Meridian on its own; it must arrive there via Stomach Qi. It is also said: "Even if the Cun and Guan pulses are absent, if the Chi pulse is unceasing, coming and going evenly, and the pulse at the ankle does not cease, such a flow, why worry about demise?" From this, we see that the Lung is the master of Qi, the pulse is the body of Qi, Stomach is the function of the pulse, and the Kidney is the root of Qi.
The *Ling Shu* states: "Among the Twelve Meridians, only the Hand Taiyin, Foot Shaoyin, and Yangming [Meridians] pulse continuously without rest. Why?" The Lung Meridian pulses without rest because Ying Qi follows Zong Qi (Gathering Qi) to travel through the various meridians, and the Qi of all meridians converges at the Lung. The Stomach Meridian pulses without rest because Wei Qi originates from the Stomach and circulates endlessly. The Kidney Meridian pulses without rest because the Chong Mai (Penetrating Vessel) runs parallel with the Kidney Meridian and circulates endlessly. This is why they differ from the other meridians!
On the left hand, the area one division before the Guan corresponds to Ren Ying, representing the Liver and Gallbladder positions, used to observe injuries caused by the Six Excesses (Six Evils: Wind, Cold, Summer-heat, Dampness, Dryness, Fire), as well as improper lifestyle, and contracting abnormal Qi from seasonal epidemics. Whenever the pulse is tight and vigorous, it indicates injury from Cold, belonging to syndromes of excess due to external contraction.
On the right hand, the area one division before the Guan corresponds to Qi Kou, representing the Spleen and Stomach positions, used to observe injuries caused by the Seven Emotions (Joy, Anger, Worry, Thought, Grief, Fear, Fright), as well as sexual exhaustion, hard labor, and irregular diet. Whenever the pulse is tight and vigorous, it indicates injury from food, belonging to syndromes of deficiency due to internal damage.