浮脉法天轻手可得泛泛在上如水漂木有力洪大来盛去悠无力虚大迟而且柔虚甚则散涣漫
不收有边无中其名曰芤浮小为濡绵浮水面濡甚则微不任寻按此言浮脉之形兼诸脉之义天覆于
上阳也浮脉似之故曰法天其脉应于皮毛轻手可得按之且有泛泛欲上之势如水中漂木虽按之使
沉亦必随手而起脉经所谓举之有余按之不足者是也若浮脉中加以洪大来盛去悠是谓有力之浮
脉谓之浮大之脉亦可若浮脉中加以虚大迟而且柔是谓无力之浮脉谓之虚大之脉亦可若浮而虚
大之甚则涣散弥漫不敛不实名曰散脉（脉经）所谓气实血虚有表无里者是也若四边有而中则
无
名曰芤脉芤者中空之草其状如葱脉经所谓浮大而软按之中央空两边实者是也若浮而小名曰濡
脉如帛浮于水按之软薄全无力也若浮濡之甚则极虚极小名曰微脉不胜重为寻按脉经所谓若有
若无或欲绝者是也
沉脉法地近于筋骨深深在下沉极为伏有力为牢实大弦长牢甚则实 而强无力为弱柔小
如绵弱甚则细如蛛丝然此言沉脉之形兼诸脉之义地载于下阴也沉脉似之故曰法地其脉近在筋
骨非重按不可得更有深深下沉之势（脉经）所谓举之不足按之有余者是也若沉之极似附着于
筋
骨名曰伏脉（脉经）所谓重按之乃得者是也若沉而有力实大弦长弦则强急且大且实坚牢之义
自
可想见若牢之甚则内外皆实 而强如有根蒂也沉而无力既小且柔是名为弱脉（脉经）所谓
极
软而沉细按之欲绝指下者是也弱之甚则更柔更小若有若无萦萦如蜘蛛之丝名曰细与微脉固不
相远也
浮脉的法则效法天，轻取即可触及，脉象泛泛在上，如同水面上漂浮的木头。若有力，则脉形洪大，来势盛而去势缓；若无力，则脉形虚大，迟滞且柔和。若虚损至极，则涣散漫溢，不能收敛，有边无中，这种脉象称为芤脉（中空之脉）。若浮而小，称为濡脉，如棉絮浮于水面，濡甚则变为微脉，不堪重按寻究。以上所述为浮脉的形态，兼及诸脉的含义。
天覆盖于上，属阳，浮脉与之相似，故称“法天”。其脉应于皮毛，轻手可得，按之且有泛泛欲上的趋势，如同水中漂木，即使按压使其下沉，也必会随手而起。《脉经》所谓“举之有余，按之不足”即是此意。若在浮脉中兼见洪大、来盛去悠的特征，这称为有力的浮脉，也可称为浮大脉。若在浮脉中兼见虚大、迟滞且柔和的特征，这称为无力的浮脉，也可称为虚大脉。若浮而虚大至极，则涣散弥漫，不敛不实，名为散脉。《脉经》所谓“气实血虚，有表无里”即是此意。若四边有脉而中间无脉，名为芤脉。“芤”意为中空的草，其状如葱管。《脉经》所谓“浮大而软，按之中央空，两边实”即是此意。若浮而小，名为濡脉，如丝绸浮于水面，按之软薄，全然无力。若浮与濡至极，则极虚极小，名为微脉，不胜重按寻究。《脉经》所谓“若有若无，或欲绝”即是此意。
沉脉的法则效法地，近于筋骨，深深在下，沉至极点则为伏脉。若有力，则为牢脉，实大弦长，牢甚则变为实脉，强劲有力；若无力，则为弱脉，柔小如绵，弱甚则变为细脉，如蛛丝般细微。以上所述为沉脉的形态，兼及诸脉的含义。
地承载于下，属阴，沉脉与之相似，故称“法地”。其脉近在筋骨，非重按不可得，更有深深下沉的趋势。《脉经》所谓“举之不足，按之有余”即是此意。若沉至极点，似附着于筋骨，名为伏脉。《脉经》所谓“重按之乃得”即是此意。若沉而有力，实大弦长，“弦”意味着强急，且大且实，具有坚牢的含义，由此可以想见。若“牢”至极，则内外皆实而强，如有根蒂一般。若沉而无力，既小且柔，名为弱脉。《脉经》所谓“极软而沉细，按之欲绝，指下感觉明显”即是此意。弱至极，则更柔更小，若有若无，萦萦如蜘蛛之丝，名为细脉与微脉，二者固然不相远也。
The principle of the Floating Pulse (Fu Mai, 浮脉) emulates Heaven; it can be obtained with light touch, floating superficially like a piece of wood drifting on water. If forceful, the pulse is surging and large, vigorous in onset and slow in decline; if deficient, the pulse is empty and large, slow and soft. If deficiency is extreme, it becomes scattered and diffuse, unable to gather, present at the edges but absent in the center, named KOU Pulse (Kou Mai, 芤脉 - hollow pulse). If floating and small, it is named RU Pulse (Ru Mai, 濡脉 - soggy pulse), like cotton floating on water; when Ru is extreme, it becomes WEI Pulse (Wei Mai, 微脉 - minute pulse), which cannot withstand heavy palpation. The above describes the form of the Floating Pulse, incorporating the meanings of various pulses.
Heaven covers from above, belonging to Yang; the Floating Pulse resembles this, hence termed "emulating Heaven." Its pulse corresponds to the skin and hair, obtainable with light touch, and upon pressing, there is a tendency to float upward, like wood drifting in water; even if pressed down, it rises immediately with the release of pressure. This is what the *Mai Jing* (Pulse Classic) refers to as "abundant upon lifting, insufficient upon pressing." If the Floating Pulse is accompanied by surging and large qualities, vigorous onset and slow decline, it is called a Forceful Floating Pulse, or also a Floating-Large Pulse. If the Floating Pulse is accompanied by empty and large qualities, slow and soft, it is called a Deficient Floating Pulse, or also an Empty-Large Pulse. If the Floating and Empty-Large qualities are extreme, it becomes scattered and diffuse, not gathering and not solid, named SAN Pulse (San Mai, 散脉 - scattered pulse). The *Mai Jing* states this corresponds to "excess Qi and deficiency Blood, exterior without interior." If present at the four sides but absent in the center, it is named KOU Pulse. "Kou" refers to hollow grass, resembling a scallion stalk. The *Mai Jing* states: "Floating, large, and soft; pressing reveals emptiness in the center and solidity at the sides." If floating and small, it is named RU Pulse, like silk floating on water, soft and thin upon pressing, entirely lacking force. If Floating and Ru are extreme, they become extremely empty and small, named WEI Pulse, which cannot withstand heavy palpation. The *Mai Jing* states: "As if present and as if absent, or nearly imperceptible."
The principle of the Deep Pulse (Chen Mai, 沉脉) emulates Earth; it lies near the sinews and bones, deep within. When sinking to the extreme, it becomes FU Pulse (Fu Mai, 伏脉 - hidden pulse). If forceful, it is LAO Pulse (Lao Mai, 牢脉 - firm pulse), solid, large, wiry, and long; when Lao is extreme, it becomes SHI Pulse (Shi Mai, 实脉 - excess pulse), strong and powerful. If deficient, it is RUO Pulse (Ruo Mai, 弱脉 - weak pulse), soft and small like cotton; when Ruo is extreme, it becomes XI Pulse (Xi Mai, 细脉 - thready pulse), fine as a spider's thread. The above describes the form of the Deep Pulse, incorporating the meanings of various pulses.
Earth supports from below, belonging to Yin; the Deep Pulse resembles this, hence termed "emulating Earth." Its pulse lies near the sinews and bones, obtainable only with heavy pressure, possessing a deeply sinking trend. The *Mai Jing* states this corresponds to "insufficient upon lifting, abundant upon pressing." When sinking to the extreme, appearing attached to the sinews and bones, it is named FU Pulse. The *Mai Jing* states: "Obtained only with heavy pressing." If deep and forceful, solid, large, wiry, and long, "Wiry" implies tension and strength, being both large and solid, implying firmness, which can be inferred. When Lao is extreme, both interior and exterior are solid and strong, like having a root. If deep and deficient, both small and soft, it is named RUO Pulse. The *Mai Jing* states: "Extremely soft, deep, and thin; pressing makes it feel nearly absent, distinct under the fingers." When Ruo is extreme, it becomes softer and smaller, as if present and as if absent, lingering like a spider's thread, named XI Pulse and WEI Pulse; these two are indeed closely related.