典藏书目

68. The pulse of swelling (edema and distension) appears floating, large, surging, or full; if it is fine and sinking-micro, even Qibo and Huangdi would have no means to treat it.
[Note] Edema and distension are excess syndromes, so an excess pulse—floating, large, surging, or full—is expected. A sinking-fine and micro pulse indicates "excess disease with deficiency pulse" (pathogenic factors are abundant while healthy qi is deficient), making recovery difficult.

69. Accumulations in the five zang organs are called "Ji" (masses); accumulations in the six fu organs are called "Ju" (gatherings). If the pulse is solid and strong, survival is possible; if sinking and fine, cure is unlikely.
[Note] Ji and Ju are both excess syndromes, so a solid and strong pulse is appropriate. A sinking and fine pulse indicates deficiency and exhaustion of true qi, rendering the condition incurable.

70. Abdominal distension caused by Zhong-E (sudden attack by foul pathogens): a tight and fine pulse indicates good prognosis; why is a floating and large pulse ominous? It signifies that the pathogenic factor has penetrated deeply.
[Note] Zhong-E refers to infection by foul or miasmic qi. A tight and fine pulse is auspicious, whereas a floating and large pulse is inauspicious.

71. The pulse associated with Gui-Sui (spiritual disturbance or pathogenic invasion) shows inconsistency between left and right hands: suddenly large then small, suddenly rapid then slow.
[Note] When Gui-Sui attacks the body, the pulses in the left and right hands differ, fluctuating between large and small, rapid and slow, without a fixed form.

72. For carbuncles and ulcers before ulceration, a surging and large pulse is favorable; after ulceration, a surging and large pulse is most contraindicated.
[Note] Before ulceration, the condition is excess, so a surging and large pulse is normal. After ulceration, the condition becomes deficient; if a surging and large pulse persists, it is a contrary pulse (evil pulse) and is highly contraindicated.

73. In advanced Lung Abscess, the cun position pulse is rapid and solid. In Lung Withering, the pulse is rapid but weak. If the complexion is white in either abscess or withering, a short and choppy pulse is appropriate; encountering a rapid and large pulse indicates loss of qi and blood. Intestinal Abscess involves excess-heat, where a slippery and rapid pulse is suitable; a sinking, fine, and rootless pulse predicts death.
[Note] A rapid and solid pulse at the cun position in Lung Abscess indicates pus formation. Lung Withering results from fire damaging the lungs, hence the rapid but weak pulse. White complexion matches the lung's elemental color; short and choppy pulse matches the lung's natural pulse pattern, both being appropriate. A rapid and large pulse suggests fire overacting on metal (lung), indicating a thief-pathogen diagnosis leading to qi and blood depletion. Intestinal Abscess is excess-heat, favoring a slippery and rapid pulse; a sinking and fine pulse indicates deficiency amidst excess pathology, signaling impending death.

74. In pregnant women, the yin pulse beats forcefully and differs distinctly from the yang pulse; vigorous movement at the Shaoyin position (Shenmen) indicates conception. A slippery and rapid pulse that disperses upon pressure suggests a three-month pregnancy; one that does not disperse suggests a five-month pregnancy, allowing sex differentiation. Breast changes are primary indicators: female fetuses result in a wide, round abdomen (like a winnowing basket); male fetuses result in a narrow, long abdomen (like an axe).
[Note] This section describes prenatal pulses. "Yin bo yang bie" means the chi (yin) pulse beats forcefully against the finger, while the cun (yang) pulse does not, showing distinct separation, indicative of pregnancy. Vigorous movement at the Hand-Shaoyin (Heart) meridian occurs because the heart governs blood, which nourishes the fetus. "Dong" (movement) here refers to the smooth, flowing nature of a sliding pulse, not pathological tremors. "Ji" means rapid. A slippery and rapid pulse that disperses under pressure indicates a three-month fetus; one that does not disperse indicates a five-month fetus. Left corresponds to yang (male fetus if rapid); right corresponds to yin (female fetus if rapid). After five to six months, breast nodules producing milk indicate pregnancy. Female fetal abdominal shape is round like a basket; male fetal abdominal shape is narrow at top and wide at bottom like an axe.

75. Pre-labor pulses deviate from the regular pattern; postpartum pulses should be small and moderate. If they appear solid, wiry, deep, or large, the prognosis is ominous.
[Note] This section discusses labor pulses. "Li Jing" (deviating from the meridian/pattern) refers to irregular pulses due to fetal movement causing external pulse chaos. Postpartum qi and blood are deficient; a small and moderate deficiency pulse is auspicious. Solid, large, wiry, or deep pulses are ominous.

76. Regular and pathological pulses have been detailed; the forms of dying pulses must now be carefully examined.
[Note] Regular and disease-related pulses were explained earlier. Dying pulses must also be observed and are listed below.

77. The pulse of Heart exhaustion resembles holding a belt hook; turning beans are restless and rapid, indicating death within one day.
[Note] The classic states: "The pulse comes curving forward and staying back, like holding a belt hook," called Heart exhaustion. "Curving forward" means firm and unyielding on light pressure; "staying back" means solid and immobile on heavy pressure. Lacking harmonious qi and stomach qi, it indicates Heart death. "Zhuan Dou" (turning beans) resembles rolling hemp seeds, short, solid, and hard, representing the True Zang pulse. Heart exhaustion leads to death in one day.

78. The pulse of Liver exhaustion feels sharp like running along a blade; or tense like a newly strung bowstring, indicating death within eight days.
[Note] The classic states: "The True Liver pulse arrives urgent and tight inside and out, like touching a blade." Also: "The pulse arrives urgently overflowing, stiff like a new bowstring," called Liver death. Liver exhaustion leads to death in eight days.

79. Spleen exhaustion resembles the pecking of a sparrow or the dripping of a leaking roof; or water flowing from an overturned cup, indicating no rescue within four days.
[Note] Old rhymes state: "Sparrow pecks four or five times rapidly; roof leak drops once after a long pause." Overturned cup and flowing water also signify Spleen exhaustion. The classic states: Spleen exhaustion leads to death in four days.

80. What is the pulse of Lung exhaustion? Like wind blowing feathers; or feathers piercing the skin, indicating death within three days.
[Note] The classic states: "Like wind blowing feathers," called Lung death. Also: "The True Lung pulse arrives as if feathers pierce human skin." Both describe floating pulses lacking stomach qi. Lung exhaustion leads to death in three days.

81. What is the pulse of Kidney exhaustion? Like pulling a rope in opposite directions; or striking stones sharply, indicating death within four days.
[Note] The classic states: "The pulse arrives like pulling a rope, or striking stones sharply," called Kidney death. Kidney exhaustion leads to death in four days. Old rhymes note: "Striking stones hard then scattering; touching fingers scattered like untied ropes." Stone refers to the sinking pulse.

82. When the Life Pulse is about to cease, it resembles a swimming fish or a darting minnow; or surging like a spring, impossible to save.
[Note] Old rhymes state: "Swimming fish seems present yet absent; darting minnow leaps suddenly in stillness." The classic states: "Chaotic and革 (leather-like) arrival like a surging spring; continuous departure like a breaking string." These are all dying pulses.

83. There is a Reverse Guan pulse, located behind the arm, branching via Lieque, unrelated to pathological conditions.
[Note] The Reverse Guan pulse does not run through the Cun Kou but emerges via the Lieque collateral into the arm posterior Hand-Yangming Large Intestine meridian. Because it does not follow the standard Guan position, it is called Reverse Guan. It can occur in one or both arms, congenital rather than pathological. The patient's hand must be positioned laterally for detection.

84. Qibo and Huangdi's pulse method diagnoses life and death; Taisu Pulse Method values clarity in yin and yang. Clear pulses resemble polished jade, with distinct rates; turbid pulses resemble stones, blurred and indistinct. Small/large indicate poverty/wealth; choppy/slippery indicate hardship/prosperity; long/short indicate longevity/early death, requiring detailed analysis.
[Note] Pulse methods originated with Qibo and Huangdi to diagnose fate. Yang Shangshan and others claimed "Taisu Pulse Method" for fortune-telling, often inaccurately. However, some logic exists: clear pulses indicate nobility, turbid pulses baseness. Clear pulses resemble polished jade with distinct rhythms; turbid pulses resemble coarse stone with blurred rhythms. Small pulse implies poverty; large implies wealth; choppy implies hardship; slippery implies prosperity; long implies longevity; short implies early death. Clear constitution with turbid pulse: noble in status but lowly in reality; turbid constitution with clear pulse: lowly in status but noble in reality. Clear pulse with large: noble and wealthy; with slippery: noble and prosperous; with long: noble and long-lived. Turbid pulse with small: base and poor; with choppy: base and impoverished; with short: base and short-lived. Clear pulse with small: base and poor; with choppy: noble but impoverished; with short: noble but short-lived. Turbid pulse with large: base but wealthy; with slippery: base but prosperous; with long: base but long-lived. Detailed analysis involves these complex interactions. Appendix: Corrected text from *Suwen: Mai Yao Jing Wei Lun* for reference.

85. The inner sides of the Chi position correspond to the hypochondrium. The outer Chi monitors the Kidneys; the inner Chi monitors the abdomen. From the middle attachment, the left outer monitors the Liver; inner monitors the diaphragm. Right outer monitors the Stomach; inner monitors the Spleen. From the upper attachment, right outer monitors the Lungs; inner monitors the chest. Left outer monitors the Heart; inner monitors the Danzhong. Anterior monitors anterior body; posterior monitors posterior body. Upper reaches (to Yuji) monitor chest and throat; lower reaches (to Chize) monitor lower abdomen, waist, thighs, knees, shins, and feet.
[Note] Regarding "inner" and "outer": some interpret them as anterior/posterior halves of the Chi pulse; others as medial/lateral sides. Both are incorrect. The pulse is singular, not two separate lines or sections. Interpreting it as two halves or two sides is erroneous. Careful reading reveals this is a transcription error. Why would only the Spleen/Stomach be described as "right outer monitors Stomach, inner monitors Spleen"? Actually, outer monitors Fu organs, inner monitors Zang organs, consistent with *Neijing*. Thus, "outer monitors Stomach, inner monitors Spleen" is correct. The "outer" in "Chi outer" should likely be "inner"; "inner" in "Chi inner" should be "outer". Similarly, "inner/outer" at middle and upper attachments need correction to align with outer-Fu/inner-Zang principles. "Anterior monitors anterior" refers to the Cun position (anterior to Guan); "posterior monitors posterior" refers to the Chi position (posterior to Guan). "Upper reaches" extends to Yuji; "lower reaches" extends to Chize.