平人之常气禀于胃。胃者，平人之常气也。人无胃气曰逆，逆者死。
平人之常，禀气于谷，谷入于胃，五脏六腑皆以受气，有不可一刻无者。此脉之大主，四时五脏六
经皆以此立，无则为逆，逆则死矣。
春胃微弦曰平，弦多胃少曰肝病，但弦无胃曰死，胃而有毛曰秋病，毛甚曰今病。脏真散于肝，肝
藏筋膜之气也。
夏胃微钩曰平，钩多胃少曰心病，但钩无胃曰死，胃而有石曰冬病，石甚曰今病。脏真通于心，心
藏血脉之气也。
长夏胃微软弱曰平，弱多胃少曰脾病，但代无胃曰死，软弱有石曰冬病，弱石甚曰今病。脏真濡于脾
，脾藏肌肉之气也。
秋胃微毛曰平，毛多胃少曰肺病，但毛无胃曰死，毛而有弦曰春病，弦甚曰金病。脏真高于肺，以
行营卫阴阳也。
冬胃微石曰平，石多胃少曰肾病，但石无胃曰死，石而有钩曰夏病，钩甚曰今病。脏真下于肾，肾藏
骨髓之气也。
人以水谷为本，故人绝水谷则死，无胃气亦死。所谓无胃气者。但得真脏脉不得胃气也。
罗东逸曰∶经云∶饮食入胃，脉道乃行。又曰∶脉得食即高。故知脉道之行，待此而起。此胃气者，
精气神三宝之神粮，而荣卫之根据也。为气流营溢卫合精，而神行于脉，五脏四时待此而得其平者也，
故其气昌大于春夏，收敛于秋冬，皆稍更改，历四时以应令，故微见微弦、微钩、微软、微毛、
微石。要其以微言者，正以状其胃气之充壮鼓行。要其不违四时，故不免有奉令脉，然不尽变其本气
，故皆曰微也。
若此气稍有衰飒，即所云弦、钩，软、毛、石之多而胃少也，胃少则五脏之真不能充，而本脏自病
，何怪也。夫弦、钩、软、毛、石五者，乘时而见，何尝不正？惟稍见偏胜，遂已成为脏病。况其已甚者，
无胃而单见也，故曰死也。又若春之胃而见毛，毛与弦反，而乃见之于春，是胃之不能相为于肝，而存弦
令，反受克于毛，则胃之衰已甚矣。其曰至秋病者，前此春夏三阳得令，皆能扶我，至秋则胃不能胜而为
病也。若毛甚则胃家之太和已戕，即曰今病，即今不能掩其恶也。此脉之根本源头，诊家第一首事，不可不
察也。
脏真者，即胃气也。胃气何以为脏真？以五脏得此，而后能立五行之体，主四时之行，主筋膜、血脉、
肌肉、骨髓、荣卫、阴阳之气。脏无此则不真，故必须胃气以为脏真，而后能散、能通、能濡，能高、能
下。苟谷神之不至，则五脏之魂游而魄散矣。此真脏也，故曰死。
健康人的常脉之气源于胃。胃，是健康人常脉之气的根本来源。人如果没有胃气，就称为“逆”，出现“逆”象则预示死亡。
健康人的常态，其气来源于饮食谷物。谷物进入胃中，五脏六腑都能从中汲取精气，这是人体一刻也不能没有的。它是脉象的主要主宰，四季、五脏、六经都以此为基础建立起来，如果没有它，就是“逆”，出现“逆”象就会死亡。
春季脉象中带有微微的弦象而兼有胃气，称为平脉（正常脉）；弦象多而胃气少，称为肝病；只有弦象而没有胃气，称为死脉；如果脉象中有毛（浮）象而仍有胃气，预示秋季会生病；如果毛象非常显著，则当下就会生病。脏真之气散布于肝，肝藏有筋膜之气。
夏季脉象中带有微微的钩象（洪大）而兼有胃气，称为平脉；钩象多而胃气少，称为心病；只有钩象而没有胃气，称为死脉；如果脉象中有石（沉）象而仍有胃气，预示冬季会生病；如果石象非常显著，则当下就会生病。脏真之气通达于心，心藏有血脉之气。
长夏季节脉象中带有微微的软弱象而兼有胃气，称为平脉；软弱象多而胃气少，称为脾病；如果出现代脉（间歇脉）而没有胃气，称为死脉；如果软弱脉中带有石象，预示冬季会生病；如果软弱与石象都很显著，则当下就会生病。脏真之气濡润于脾，脾藏有肌肉之气。
秋季脉象中带有微微的毛象（浮）而兼有胃气，称为平脉；毛象多而胃气少，称为肺病；只有毛象而没有胃气，称为死脉；如果脉象中有弦象而仍有胃气，预示春季会生病；如果弦象非常显著，则金（肺）气受损而致病。脏真之气高于肺，用以运行营卫阴阳之气。
冬季脉象中带有微微的石象（沉）而兼有胃气，称为平脉；石象多而胃气少，称为肾病；只有石象而没有胃气，称为死脉；如果脉象中有钩象而仍有胃气，预示夏季会生病；如果钩象非常显著，则当下就会生病。脏真之气下归于肾，肾藏有骨髓之气。
人以水谷为根本，所以人断绝水谷就会死亡，没有胃气也会死亡。所谓没有胃气，就是指只能见到真脏脉，而见不到胃气。
罗东逸说：经典记载：“饮食进入胃，脉道才能运行。”又说：“脉象在进食后会变得高起。”因此知道脉道的运行，依赖于此而起。这种胃气，是精、气、神三宝中“神”的粮食，也是营气和卫气的根基。气血流行，营气充盈，卫气调和，精气融合，神气行于脉中，五脏和四季都依赖它才能达到平衡。所以它的阳气在春夏季节昌盛盛大，在秋冬季节收敛潜藏，虽然略有变化，但历经四季以顺应时令，所以表现为微弦、微钩、微软、微毛、微石。之所以强调“微”，正是为了形容胃气的充盛壮实、鼓动前行。因为它不违背四时规律，所以难免有顺应时令的脉象，然而并没有完全改变其本有的胃气特征，所以都称为“微”。
如果这种气稍有衰弱，就是所说的弦、钩、软、毛、石象多而胃气少的情况。胃气少，那么五脏的真气就不能充盛，导致本脏自病，这有什么奇怪的呢？弦、钩、软、毛、石这五种脉象，乘时而现，何尝不正？只是稍微出现偏胜，就已经成为脏病了。何况那些严重的，没有胃气而单独显现的，所以说会死亡。又如春季脉象中见到毛象，毛象与弦象相反，却出现在春季，这是胃气不能辅助肝脏，维持弦令，反而受到毛象的克制，说明胃气已经极度衰败。所说的“到秋季生病”，是因为此前春夏三阳当令，都能扶助我，到了秋季，胃气不能胜任而发病。如果毛象非常显著，说明胃中的太和之气已被戕害，就说“当下生病”，即现在就不能掩盖其恶劣状况了。这是脉象的根本源头，诊脉医生的第一要务，不可不仔细考察。
所谓脏真，就是胃气。胃气为什么被称为脏真？因为五脏得到它之后，才能确立五行的形体，主持四时的运行，主管筋膜、血脉、肌肉、骨髓、营卫、阴阳之气。脏如果没有这个，就不真实，所以必须依靠胃气作为脏真，然后才能散布、通达、濡润、升高、下降。如果谷神（胃气）不至，那么五脏之魂就会游荡，魄就会离散。这就是真脏脉，所以说会死亡。
The normal qi of a healthy person is derived from the Stomach. The Stomach is the source of the normal qi in a healthy person. If a person lacks Stomach qi, it is termed "Ni" (Reversal/Counterflow), and the appearance of "Ni" indicates death.
The normal state of a healthy person relies on qi obtained from grain. When grain enters the Stomach, the Five Zang organs and Six Fu organs all receive its qi; this is something that cannot be absent for even a moment. It is the primary master of the pulse. The Four Seasons, Five Zang organs, and Six Meridians are all established upon this foundation. Without it, there is "Ni" (Reversal), and the appearance of "Ni" leads to death.
In Spring, if the pulse shows a slight [Xian] (String-like/Taut) quality accompanied by Stomach qi, it is called Ping (Normal). If the [Xian] quality is excessive and Stomach qi is scant, it indicates Liver disease. If there is only [Xian] without Stomach qi, it is a Dead pulse. If the pulse has [Mao] (Floating) qualities but still retains Stomach qi, illness will occur in Autumn. If the [Mao] quality is pronounced, illness occurs immediately. The Zhen Zhen (True Visceral Qi) scatters into the Liver, which stores the qi of the sinews and fascia.
In Summer, if the pulse shows a slight [Gou] (Hook/Crescent -洪大) quality accompanied by Stomach qi, it is called Ping (Normal). If the [Gou] quality is excessive and Stomach qi is scant, it indicates Heart disease. If there is only [Gou] without Stomach qi, it is a Dead pulse. If the pulse has [Shi] (Stone/Sunken) qualities but still retains Stomach qi, illness will occur in Winter. If the [Shi] quality is pronounced, illness occurs immediately. The Zhen Zhen (True Visceral Qi) connects to the Heart, which stores the qi of the blood vessels.
During the Late Summer, if the pulse shows a slight soft and weak quality accompanied by Stomach qi, it is called Ping (Normal). If the soft/weak quality is excessive and Stomach qi is scant, it indicates Spleen disease. If there is only a Dai (Intermittent) pulse without Stomach qi, it is a Dead pulse. If the soft/weak pulse has [Shi] (Stone/Sunken) qualities, illness will occur in Winter. If both soft/weak and [Shi] qualities are pronounced, illness occurs immediately. The Zhen Zhen (True Visceral Qi) moistens the Spleen, which stores the qi of the muscles.
In Autumn, if the pulse shows a slight [Mao] (Floating) quality accompanied by Stomach qi, it is called Ping (Normal). If the [Mao] quality is excessive and Stomach qi is scant, it indicates Lung disease. If there is only [Mao] without Stomach qi, it is a Dead pulse. If the pulse has [Xian] (String-like/Taut) qualities but still retains Stomach qi, illness will occur in Spring. If the [Xian] quality is pronounced, Metal (Lung) qi is damaged and disease arises. The Zhen Zhen (True Visceral Qi) is superior in the Lung, facilitating the circulation of Ying (Nutritive) and Wei (Defensive) and Yin-Yang qi.
In Winter, if the pulse shows a slight [Shi] (Stone/Sunken) quality accompanied by Stomach qi, it is called Ping (Normal). If the [Shi] quality is excessive and Stomach qi is scant, it indicates Kidney disease. If there is only [Shi] without Stomach qi, it is a Dead pulse. If the pulse has [Gou] (Hook/Crescent) qualities but still retains Stomach qi, illness will occur in Summer. If the [Gou] quality is pronounced, illness occurs immediately. The Zhen Zhen (True Visceral Qi) descends to the Kidney, which stores the qi of the bone marrow.
Humans rely on water and grain as their root; therefore, if humans cut off water and grain, they die, and if they lack Stomach qi, they also die. What is meant by lacking Stomach qi is that one can only observe the True Zang Pulse without any sign of Stomach qi.
Luo Dongyi stated: The classics say, "When food and drink enter the Stomach, the pulse channels begin to flow." It also says, "The pulse rises after eating." Thus, we know that the flow of the pulse channels depends on this to arise. This Stomach qi is the spiritual food for the Spirit (Shen) among the Three Treasures of Essence, Qi, and Spirit, and it is the foundation of Ying (Nutritive) and Wei (Defensive) qi. As Qi flows, Ying fills, Wei harmonizes, and Essence combines, Shen travels within the pulse. The Five Zang organs and Four Seasons await this to achieve balance. Therefore, its qi flourishes greatly in Spring and Summer, and converges in Autumn and Winter. Although it undergoes slight changes, it traverses the four seasons to respond to the commands, thus manifesting as slightly Xian, slightly Gou, slightly soft, slightly Mao, and slightly Shi. The emphasis on "slightly" serves to describe the robustness and vigorous movement of Stomach qi. Because it does not violate the laws of the four seasons, it inevitably has pulses that obey the seasonal command, yet it does not completely change its original nature, hence all are described as "slightly."
If this qi declines even slightly, it is what is referred to as excessive Xian, Gou, soft, Mao, or Shi with scant Stomach qi. When Stomach qi is scant, the true qi of the Five Zang organs cannot be filled, leading to self-disease of the respective organ. What is strange about this? The five qualities of Xian, Gou, soft, Mao, and Shi appear according to the season; how could they be incorrect? Only when they show slight excess do they become diseases of the Zang organs. Moreover, in severe cases where Stomach qi is absent and they appear alone, it is said to indicate death. For example, in Spring, if Mao (Floating) appears, Mao is contrary to Xian (Taut). Its appearance in Spring means that Stomach qi cannot assist the Liver to maintain the Xian command, but instead suffers control from Mao, indicating that Stomach qi is extremely depleted. The statement "illness in Autumn" implies that during the preceding Spring and Summer, the three Yang periods were in command and could support me; by Autumn, Stomach qi cannot withstand the pressure and disease arises. If Mao is very pronounced, it means the Taihe (Great Harmony) qi of the Stomach has been destroyed, so it is said "illness now," meaning the current condition cannot conceal its malignancy. This is the root source of the pulse, the first priority for pulse diagnosticians, and must not be overlooked.
Zhen Zhen (True Visceral Qi) is none other than Stomach qi. Why is Stomach qi called Zhen Zhen? Because once the Five Zang organs obtain it, they can establish the forms of the Five Elements, govern the movements of the Four Seasons, and manage the qi of sinews/fascia, blood vessels, muscles, bone marrow, Ying/Wei, and Yin/Yang. Without this, the Zang organs are not "true"; therefore, they must rely on Stomach qi as Zhen Zhen to be able to scatter, connect, moisten, rise, and descend. If Gu Shen (Grain Spirit/Stomach qi) does not arrive, the Hun (Ethereal Soul) of the Five Zang will wander, and the Po (Corporeal Soul) will scatter. This is the True Zang Pulse, hence it is said to indicate death.