上古诊法有三者，其一，诊十二经动脉，分天地人三部九候以调虚实。其二，以喉傍人迎与
手寸口参诊，取四时若引绳，大小齐等曰平，偏盛曰病。其三，独取气口，分寸关尺外内以候脏
腑吉凶。今废其二，惟气口之诊行于世，而且失其真，噫！可胜惜哉！
\r内经三部诊候图（右手）\ps127a2.bmp\r
\r内经三部诊候图（左手）\ps127a3.bmp\r
（统属诊法）
求脉之状，奇偶而已，奇者单求，偶者对举。单求无配，代牢之类；对举反证，浮表沉里。
【浮脉】浮体泛泛，皮毛之位，轻按便得，漂木之义。
【沉脉】沉轻按无，重乃应指，深按有力，犹石沉水。
【迟脉】迟脉来徐，呼吸三至。
【数脉】数脉来亟，呼吸六至。
【滑脉】滑体圆净，往来流利，荷上水珠，圆神不倚。
【涩脉】（音涩） 又名 ，迟短蹇滞，来急去散，至至带止，三五不调，刮竹相似。
【实脉】实乃充实，举按有力。
【虚脉】虚乃空虚，举按无力。
【洪脉】洪者倍常，大而满指。
【细脉】细者减常，一线之比。
【紧脉】紧者紧急，坚而搏指，如转索状，则弦有力。
【缓脉】缓谓纵缓，中软不急，如丝在经，则弦无力。
【长脉】长为修长，如弦之直，越于本位，两头出指。
【短脉】短为短缩，不及本位，喻之如龟，缩头藏尾。
【促脉】促为催促，数中暂止。
【结脉】结为交结，迟中暂止。
【代脉】代为更代，动而中止，不能自远，良久复至。（止数有常，非暂之比。）
【牢脉】牢本坚牢，沉弦大实，不上不下，牢守其位。
【革脉】革为皮革，浮弦大虚，如按鼓皮，内虚外急。
【弦脉】弦如琴弦，国中末直，其来挺然，而不搏指。
【动脉】动乃摇动，短滑数备，上下不分，连动中位。
【散脉】散者不敛，浮而满指，按则分散，而不团聚，亦类解索，散无统纪。（有或二条三条而至者。）
【伏脉】伏为埋伏，骨外筋里，三按俱无，（三按者言浮中沉也。）推筋而取。
【芤脉】芤乃革名，浮大无力，因按而知，中空傍实。
【濡脉】（音软）濡者不坚，浮大无力，按随指下，减去头尾。
【微脉】微为微眇，较细不及，似有似无，蛛丝相类。
【弱脉】弱软沉细，比虚不及，全无起伏，扶持不起。
上古时期的诊法有三种：第一种，诊察十二经脉的动脉，分为天、地、人三部，每部再分浮、中、沉三候（即三部九候），以此来调节虚实。第二种，将喉旁的人迎穴脉象与手腕处的寸口脉象进行对比诊察，如果两者大小相等、节奏协调如同拉直的绳索一样平衡，即为平脉；如果一方偏盛，则为病脉。第三种，只取气口（即寸口）脉，通过分寸、关、尺三个部位的内侧和外侧来候察脏腑的吉凶。如今前两种方法已被废弃，只有气口诊法在世间流传，而且已经失去了其真谛，唉！这难道不值得深深惋惜吗！
内经三部诊候图（右手）[图片]
内经三部诊候图（左手）[图片]
（统属诊法）
探究脉象的特征，不过是“奇”与“偶”两类罢了。“奇”是指单独求索，“偶”是指相对举比。单独求索而没有配对的，如代脉、牢脉之类；相对举比以互相印证，如浮脉主表、沉脉主里。
【浮脉】浮脉体势泛泛，位于皮毛之位，轻按即可触及，如同木头漂浮在水面上的意义。
【沉脉】沉脉轻按时感觉不到，重按才应指，深按有力，如同石头沉入水中。
【迟脉】迟脉来势缓慢，一呼一吸之间脉搏跳动三次。
【数脉】数脉来势急促，一呼一吸之间脉搏跳动六次。
【滑脉】滑脉体势圆净，往来流利，如同荷叶上的水珠，圆润灵动而不倚靠。
【涩脉】（音同“塞”）又名……，脉来迟缓短促且蹇滞，来势急而去势散，每一次搏动都带有停顿，三五不调，如同刮竹子一般。
【实脉】实脉乃是充实之象，轻按重按都有力。
【虚脉】虚脉乃是空虚之象，轻按重按都无力。
【洪脉】洪脉比常人大一倍，脉形宽大充满手指。
【细脉】细脉比常人减小，如同一根线那样细微。
【紧脉】紧脉紧急，坚硬而搏击指下，如同旋转的绳索状，则比弦脉更有力量。
【缓脉】缓谓纵容舒缓，中间柔软不紧急，如同丝线在织机上，则比弦脉无力。
【长脉】长为修长，如同琴弦般笔直，超越本位，两头超出指下。
【短脉】短为短缩，不及本位，比喻它像乌龟，缩头藏尾。
【促脉】促为催促，在数脉之中暂时停止。
【结脉】结为交结，在迟脉之中暂时停止。
【代脉】代为更代，搏动中止，不能自行恢复，很久之后再次到来。（停跳次数有规律，不是暂时的停顿。）
【牢脉】牢本坚牢，脉位沉、脉形弦大且实，不上不下，牢固守在其位。
【革脉】革为皮革，脉位浮、脉形弦大且虚，如同按压鼓皮，内虚外急。
【弦脉】弦如琴弦，首尾端正，其来挺然，但不搏击指下。
【动脉】动乃摇动，具备短、滑、数的特征，上下不分，连动于中部。
【散脉】散者不收敛，浮而满指，重按则分散，而不能团聚，也类似解开的绳索，散乱无统纪。（有时两条或三条至脉同时出现。）
【伏脉】伏为埋伏，在骨外筋里，浮、中、沉三按都摸不到，（三按指的是浮取、中取、沉取），推筋而取。
【芤脉】芤乃革脉之名，脉位浮大无力，因重按而知晓，中空旁实。
【濡脉】（音同“软”）濡者不坚实，脉位浮大无力，重按随指下陷，减去头尾部分。
【微脉】微为微眇，较细不及，似有似无，如同蛛丝相似。
【弱脉】弱脉软沉细，比虚脉更不及，全无起伏，扶持不起。
In ancient times, there were three methods of pulse diagnosis: The first was to examine the arteries of the twelve meridians, dividing them into Heaven, Earth, and Human sections (San Bu), each further divided into superficial, middle, and deep levels (Jiu Hou), to regulate deficiency and excess. The second method involved comparing the pulse at the Renying point (Human Well) beside the throat with the Cun Kou (Cunkou) pulse at the wrist; if their size and rhythm were equal and coordinated like a straight rope, it indicated a healthy state (Ping Mai); if one side was excessively strong, it indicated disease. The third method focused solely on the Qi Kou (Cunkou) pulse, using the Fen, Guan, and Chi positions to assess the auspiciousness or inauspiciousness of the Zang-Fu organs. Today, the first two methods have been abandoned, and only the Cunkou pulse diagnosis remains in practice, yet it has lost its true essence. Alas! Is this not deeply regrettable?
[Image: Nei Jing San Bu Zhen Hou Tu (Right Hand)]
[Image: Nei Jing San Bu Zhen Hou Tu (Left Hand)]
(General Classification of Pulse Diagnosis)
To explore the characteristics of pulses, they can be categorized into "Odd" (Qi) and "Even" (Ou). "Odd" refers to solitary examination, while "Even" refers to comparative examination. Solitary examination without pairing includes pulses such as Dai Mai (Intermittent Pulse) and Lao Mai (Deep-Tight Pulse). Comparative examination serves as mutual verification, such as Fu Mai (Floating Pulse) indicating the exterior and Chen Mai (Sinking Pulse) indicating the interior.
[Floating Pulse] The Floating Pulse presents superficially, located at the level of skin and hair; it is felt with light pressure, akin to wood floating on water.
[Sinking Pulse] The Sinking Pulse is imperceptible with light pressure but responds to heavy pressure; it is felt deeply and forcefully, like a stone sinking in water.
[Slow Pulse] The Slow Pulse arrives slowly, beating three times per respiratory cycle.
[Rapid Pulse] The Rapid Pulse arrives swiftly, beating six times per respiratory cycle.
[Slippery Pulse] The Slippery Pulse is round and smooth, flowing freely back and forth, like water droplets on a lotus leaf, round and agile without leaning.
[Choppy Pulse] (Pronounced 'se') Also known as..., it is slow, short, and stagnant; the arrival is rapid but the departure is scattered, with pauses in each beat, irregular in rhythm (three or five beats out of tune), resembling scraping bamboo.
[Full Pulse] The Full Pulse is solid and充盈 (full); it is forceful upon both light and heavy pressure.
[Empty Pulse] The Empty Pulse is hollow; it lacks force upon both light and heavy pressure.
[Surging Pulse] The Surging Pulse is double the normal size, large and filling the fingers.
[Thready Pulse] The Thready Pulse is smaller than normal, comparable to a single thread.
[Taut Pulse] The Taut Pulse is tight and urgent, hard and striking the fingers, resembling a twisting rope; it is more forceful than the Wiry Pulse.
[Relaxed Pulse] The Relaxed Pulse is loose and slow, soft in the middle and not urgent, like a silk thread on a loom; it is less forceful than the Wiry Pulse.
[Long Pulse] The Long Pulse is extended, straight like a string, extending beyond its normal position, protruding from both ends under the fingers.
[Short Pulse] The Short Pulse is contracted, failing to reach its normal position, metaphorically like a turtle retracting its head and tail.
[Hasty Pulse] The Hasty Pulse is hurried, with temporary stops within a Rapid Pulse.
[Knotted Pulse] The Knotted Pulse is knotted, with temporary stops within a Slow Pulse.
[Intermittent Pulse] The Intermittent Pulse involves replacement, where the beat stops and cannot recover spontaneously, returning after a long interval. (The number of pauses is regular, not merely temporary.)
[Deep-Tight Pulse] The Deep-Tight Pulse is originally firm and secure; it is deep, wiry, large, and full, neither rising nor falling, firmly holding its position.
[Leather Pulse] The Leather Pulse resembles leather; it is floating, wiry, large, and empty, feeling like pressing a drumhead, with internal emptiness and external tension.
[Wiry Pulse] The Wiry Pulse is like a zither string, straight from beginning to end, arriving upright but not striking the fingers forcefully.
[Moving Pulse] The Moving Pulse is shaking; it possesses the qualities of being short, slippery, and rapid, without distinction between upper and lower, moving continuously in the middle position.
[Scattered Pulse] The Scattered Pulse does not gather; it is floating and fills the fingers, but disperses upon pressure without coalescing, also resembling untying a knot, scattered without order. (Sometimes two or three threads arrive simultaneously.)
[Hidden Pulse] The Hidden Pulse is concealed, lying outside the bone and inside the tendon; it is imperceptible upon superficial, middle, and deep pressure (the three pressures refer to Fu, Zhong, and Chen techniques); it must be sought by pushing aside the tendons.
[Gourd-Seed Pulse] The Gourd-Seed Pulse is synonymous with the Leather Pulse name; it is floating, large, and forceless, revealed by heavy pressure, with an empty center and solid sides.
[Soft Pulse] (Pronounced 'ruan') The Soft Pulse is not firm; it is floating, large, and forceless, sinking with the finger upon pressure, losing its head and tail definition.
[Faint Pulse] The Faint Pulse is subtle and minute, finer than usual, seeming present yet absent, similar to a spider's silk.
[Weak Pulse] The Weak Pulse is soft, deep, and thin; it is weaker than the Empty Pulse, lacking any rise and fall, unable to support itself.