（其象轻手不得，重手乃得，按至肌肉以下，着于筋骨之间。）
沉潜脉主阴经病，数热迟寒滑有痰，无力而沉虚与气，沉而有力积兼寒。（此首总言沉
寸沉痰郁（右寸病）饮停胸（左寸病，）关主中寒痛不通（左右关病同，）尺部浊遗精血冷（
左尺病，男精冷，女血冷，）肾虚腰及下元 。（右尺病。此首统言左右手沉脉病。）
沉而不及为短（其象两头无，中间有，不及本位，应手而回，短脉只见寸尺，若在关部
，将上不接寸，下不接尺矣，故前人云，短不诊关。）
短脉内虚真气弱，三焦气壅是真因，胃衰宿食多停滞，寸主头疼尺腹疼（左右手同。）
沉而微软为细（其象小于微而常有，细直而软，指下寻之，往来如蚕丝。）
寸细应知呕吐频，入关腹胀胃虚形，尺逢定是丹田冷，泄痢遗精号脱阴。（此首统言左
沉而弦长为实（其象举手不绝，迢亘而长，不疾不徐，动而有力。血实则脉实。）
实脉为阳火郁成，发狂谵语吐频频，或为阳毒或伤食（古云∶脉实者，水谷为病，）大便
不通或气疼。（此首总言实脉病。）
寸心与面热兼风（左寸实，心中积热，口舌疮，咽喉痛，）痰嗽中烦气积胸（右寸实，胸
热，痰嗽烦满，）肝火（左关实，腹胁痛满）脾虚（右关实，脾虚少食，又兼胃气滞，伏阳蒸内
）关上见，尺脐腹痛便难通（左尺实，小腹痛，小便涩，右尺实，脐下痛，例难或时下痢。此
首统言左右手脉实病。）
沉极几无为伏（其象极重，按之着骨，指下隐隐然。伤寒病一手伏曰单伏，两手伏曰双
不可以阳症见阴为诊，乃火邪内郁，不得发越，阳极似阴，故脉伏也，必得大汗乃解。又夹
阴阳寒，先有伏阴在内，外又感寒，阴盛阳衰，四肢厥逆，六脉沉伏，须投姜桂，脉乃复
。若太溪、冲阳皆无脉，则必死矣。古云∶伏为真气不行，邪气积伏。又云∶痛甚者脉必伏
伏为霍乱食常停，蓄饮顽痰积聚真，荣卫气凝（凝，闭也）而厥逆，散寒温里莫因循。（
此首总言伏脉病。）
忧郁伤心神不守（左寸病，）胸中气滞冷痰凝（右寸病），当关腹痛分寒食（左关伏，胁下
气，血冷，腰脚痛。右关伏，中脘积块痛，脾胃停滞，）尺部腹疼与疝疼（左尺伏，肾寒精虚
，疝痛。右尺伏，脐下冷痛，下焦虚寒，旋中冷痛，此首统言左右手伏脉病。）
沉而有力为牢（其象似沉似伏，实大而长，少弦，按之动而不移。牢而疾，必发热，牢
而迟，必发寒，迟疾不常，寒热往来。）
牢为喘（气）促（息）皮肤肿（两寸病），心腹寒疼肝克脾（两关病）， 瘕疝 犹可治，阴虚
怎相宜（两尺病，失血。脉宜沉细，反浮大而牢，是虚病见实脉，必死。此首统言左右手牢
沉失常度曰革（其象沉硬实大，如按鼓皮一般。革为阴阳不交之名。）
革合芤弦寒与虚（芤为虚，弦为寒，虚寒相搏，故芤弦相合而成革脉，革因为虚寒失血
之候，）中风感湿胀兼医，女人半产并崩漏，男子营虚或梦遗。（此首总言革脉病。）
沉而更代为代（其象动而中止，不能自还，因而复动又复止，寻之良久，乃复强起而动
代脉原因脏气衰，腹疼便脓下元亏，或为吐泻兼泄痢，女子怀胎三月兮。（此首总言代
（沉脉的象是轻取不得，重按才能触及，按压至肌肉以下，感觉脉气着于筋骨之间。）
沉潜脉主要主阴经的病证，脉数主热，脉迟主寒，脉滑主有痰饮；脉沉而无力主虚证和气虚，脉沉而有力主积滞兼寒邪。（这一首总括论述沉脉）
右寸部见沉脉主痰郁，左寸部见沉脉主饮邪停聚在胸中；关部见沉脉主中焦寒邪导致疼痛不通（左右关部病机相同）；尺部见沉脉主下焦浊气、遗精及血冷（左尺部病，男性为精冷，女性为血冷）；右尺部病主肾虚、腰痛及下元虚冷。（这一首统言左右手沉脉所主的病证。）
沉脉如果搏动范围不及本位，称为短脉（其象是两头无脉，中间有脉，不及本位，应手即回，短脉只见于寸部和尺部，若在关部，则上不接寸脉，下不接尺脉，所以前人云：短脉不诊关部）。
短脉主内虚、真气虚弱，三焦气机壅滞是其真因，胃气衰弱、宿食多停滞也是原因；寸部见短脉主头疼，尺部见短脉主腹疼（左右手同）。
沉脉且微软细，称为细脉（其象比微脉小但常有，脉形细直而软，指下寻之，往来如蚕丝般细微）。
寸部见细脉应知呕吐频繁，入关部见细脉主腹胀、胃虚形态，尺部见细脉定是丹田寒冷，泄泻痢疾、遗精称为脱阴。（这一首统言左手细脉病证。）
沉脉且弦长有力，称为实脉（其象举手不绝，迢迢而长，不疾不徐，动而有力。血实则脉实）。
实脉属阳，由火郁而成，症状可见发狂、谵语、频频呕吐，或为阳毒或伤食（古云：脉实者，是水谷之病），大便不通或气滞疼痛。（这一首总言实脉病证。）
左寸实脉主心与面部热兼风（左寸实，心中积热，口舌生疮，咽喉痛）；右寸实脉主痰嗽、中焦烦闷、气积胸中（右寸实，胸热，痰嗽烦满）；左关实脉主肝火（左关实，腹胁痛满）；右关实脉主脾虚（右关实，脾虚少食，又兼胃气滞，伏阳蒸于内）；关上见实脉，尺部主脐腹痛、大便难通（左尺实，小腹痛，小便涩；右尺实，脐下痛，有时时下痢）。此首统言左右手脉实病证。
沉极近乎无，称为伏脉（其象极重，按之着骨，指下隐隐然。伤寒病一手伏称为单伏，两手伏称为双伏）。不可以阳症见阴脉作为诊断依据，这是火邪内郁，不得发越，阳极似阴，故脉伏也，必须得大汗乃解。又夹阴阳寒，先有伏阴在内，外又感寒，阴盛阳衰，四肢厥逆，六脉沉伏，须投姜桂等药，脉乃复。若太溪、冲阳皆无脉，则必死矣。古云：伏为真气不行，邪气积伏。又云：痛甚者脉必伏。
伏脉主霍乱、食常停，蓄饮顽痰积聚真，营卫气凝（凝，闭也）而厥逆，散寒温里莫因循。（这一首总言伏脉病证。）
忧郁伤心神不守（左寸病），胸中气滞冷痰凝（右寸病）；当关腹痛分寒食（左关伏，胁下气，血冷，腰脚痛。右关伏，中脘积块痛，脾胃停滞）；尺部腹疼与疝疼（左尺伏，肾寒精虚，疝痛。右尺伏，脐下冷痛，下焦虚寒，旋中冷痛）。此首统言左右手伏脉病证。
沉脉且有力，称为牢脉（其象似沉似伏，实大而长，少弦，按之动而不移。牢而疾，必发热，牢而迟，必发寒，迟疾不常，寒热往来）。
牢脉主喘促、皮肤肿（两寸病），心腹寒疼、肝克脾（两关病），瘕疝犹可治，阴虚怎相宜（两尺病，失血。脉宜沉细，反浮大而牢，是虚病见实脉，必死）。此首统言左右手牢脉病证。
沉失常度称为革脉（其象沉硬实大，如按鼓皮一般。革为阴阳不交之名）。
革合芤弦寒与虚（芤为虚，弦为寒，虚寒相搏，故芤弦相合而成革脉，革因为虚寒失血之候），中风感湿胀兼医，女人半产并崩漏，男子营虚或梦遗。（这一首总言革脉病证。）
(The image of the Deep pulse is that it cannot be felt with light pressure, but only with heavy pressure; pressing down to below the muscle layer, the pulse feels as if it is rooted between the tendons and bones.)
The Deep (Chen) pulse primarily indicates diseases of the Yin meridians. A rapid rate indicates Heat, a slow rate indicates Cold, and a slippery quality indicates Phlegm-fluids. A Deep pulse that is forceless indicates Deficiency and Qi deficiency, while a Deep pulse that is forceful indicates Accumulation combined with Cold. (This stanza generally discusses the Deep pulse.)
A Deep pulse at the Right Cun position indicates Phlegm stagnation; at the Left Cun position, it indicates Fluid retention in the chest. At the Guan position, it indicates Cold in the Middle Jiao causing pain and obstruction (the pathology is the same for both left and right Guan positions). At the Chi position, it indicates turbid Qi, spermatorrhea, and Cold Blood (Left Chi disease: in males, cold essence; in females, cold blood); the Right Chi disease indicates Kidney Deficiency, lower back pain, and coldness of the Lower Yuan. (This stanza collectively describes the diseases indicated by the Deep pulse on both hands.)
If a Deep pulse does not extend to its proper position, it is called the Short (Duan) pulse. Its image is that there is no pulse at the two ends but present in the middle, failing to reach its standard position, returning upon touch. The Short pulse is only seen at the Cun and Chi positions; if it were at the Guan position, it would not connect upward to the Cun nor downward to the Chi, hence the ancients said, "The Short pulse is not diagnosed at the Guan."
The Short pulse indicates internal Deficiency and weak True Qi; stagnation of Qi in the Triple Burner is the true cause. Weak Stomach Qi and retained food causing stagnation are also factors. A Short pulse at the Cun position indicates headache, while at the Chi position, it indicates abdominal pain (same for both hands).
A Deep pulse that is soft and fine is called the Fine (Xi) pulse. Its image is smaller than the Micro pulse but constantly present; it is straight and soft, feeling like silk threads moving back and forth under the fingers.
A Fine pulse at the Cun position indicates frequent vomiting; at the Guan position, it indicates abdominal distension and signs of Stomach Deficiency; at the Chi position, it definitely indicates coldness of the Dantian. Diarrhea, dysentery, and spermatorrhea are termed "Depletion of Yin." (This stanza collectively discusses the Fine pulse diseases of the left hand.)
A Deep pulse that is wiry and long and forceful is called the Excess (Shi) pulse. Its image is uninterrupted upon lifting, stretching far and long, neither fast nor slow, and moving with force. When Blood is Excess, the pulse is Excess.
The Excess pulse belongs to Yang and is formed by Fire stagnation. Symptoms include mania, delirious speech, and frequent vomiting, or it may indicate Yang Toxin or Food Injury (as the ancients said: "When the pulse is Excess, it is a disease of water and grain"). It can also indicate constipation or Qi stagnation pain. (This stanza generally discusses Excess pulse diseases.)
Excess at the Left Cun indicates Heat in the Heart and face combined with Wind (Left Cun Excess: accumulation of Heat in the heart, sores in the mouth and tongue, sore throat). Excess at the Right Cun indicates Phlegm cough, mid-jiao vexation, and Qi accumulation in the chest (Right Cun Excess: chest heat, phlegm cough, vexation and fullness). Excess at the Left Guan indicates Liver Fire (Left Guan Excess: abdominal and hypochondriac pain and fullness). Excess at the Right Guan indicates Spleen Deficiency (Right Guan Excess: Spleen Deficiency with poor appetite, combined with Stomach Qi stagnation and latent Yang steaming internally). Seeing Excess at the Guan position, and at the Chi position indicating umbilical abdominal pain and difficult bowel movements (Left Chi Excess: lower abdominal pain,涩 urine; Right Chi Excess: pain below the navel, sometimes accompanied by dysentery). This stanza collectively discusses Excess pulse diseases on both hands.
When the Deep pulse is extremely profound and nearly imperceptible, it is called the Hidden (Fu) pulse. Its image is extremely deep, touching the bone when pressed, faintly perceptible under the fingers. In Cold Damage disease, one Hand being Hidden is called Single Hidden, and both Hands being Hidden is called Double Hidden. One should not diagnose based on Yang symptoms presenting with Yin pulses; this is due to Fire pathogen being internally constrained and unable to vent out. Extreme Yang resembles Yin, hence the pulse is Hidden; it must be resolved through profuse sweating. Alternatively, it involves Yin-Cold: prior internal latent Yin, compounded by external Cold contraction, leading to Yin excess and Yang decline, cold limbs, and six pulses sinking and hidden. Ginger and Cinnamon Twig must be administered for the pulse to recover. If both Taixi (KI3) and Chongyang (ST42) pulses are absent, death is certain. The ancients said: "Hidden indicates True Qi does not flow, and pathogenic factors accumulate and hide." Also: "In severe pain, the pulse must be Hidden."
The Hidden pulse indicates Huoluan (cholera-like disorder), chronic food retention, true accumulation of retained fluids and stubborn Phlegm, coagulation of Ying and Wei Qi (coagulation means closure) leading to syncope/cold extremities. Dispel Cold and warm the interior without delay. (This stanza generally discusses Hidden pulse diseases.)
Melancholy injuring the Heart fails to guard the Spirit (Left Cun disease); Qi stagnation in the chest and congealing of cold Phlegm (Right Cun disease). Abdominal pain at the Guan position distinguishes between Cold and Food (Left Guan Hidden: Qi under the hypochondrium, cold Blood, lower back and leg pain. Right Guan Hidden: pain from accumulations in Zhongwan, Stomach and Spleen stagnation). Abdominal pain and Hernia pain at the Chi position (Left Chi Hidden: Kidney Cold, deficient essence, Hernia pain. Right Chi Hidden: cold pain below the navel, Lower Jiao Deficiency-Cold, cold pain in the abdomen). This stanza collectively discusses Hidden pulse diseases on both hands.
A Deep pulse that is forceful is called the Firm (Lao) pulse. Its image is similar to Deep and Hidden, solid, large, and long, slightly wiry, moving upon pressure but not shifting. Firm and rapid indicates Fever; Firm and slow indicates Cold; irregular speed indicates alternating Cold and Heat.
Firm pulse indicates panting and skin edema (both Cun positions), Cold pain in the Heart and Abdomen, Liver overcoming Spleen (both Guan positions). Masses and Hernias are still treatable, but how suitable is it for Yin Deficiency? (Both Chi positions: loss of blood. The pulse should be Deep and fine; if it reversely becomes floating, large, and firm, it is a Deficient disease presenting with an Excess pulse, indicating certain death). This stanza collectively discusses Firm pulse diseases on both hands.
A Deep pulse that loses its normal degree is called the Leathery (Ge) pulse. Its image is Deep, hard, solid, and large, like pressing on a drumhead. Ge signifies the non-interaction of Yin and Yang.
Ge combines with Kou (Bamboo-slip) and Xian (Wiry) indicating Cold and Deficiency (Kou indicates Deficiency, Xian indicates Cold; Deficiency and Cold contend, thus Kou and Xian combine to form the Ge pulse. Ge is therefore a sign of Deficiency-Cold and blood loss). It indicates Wind-Stroke, dampness-induced distension, and medical conditions. In women, it indicates miscarriage and metrorrhagia/metrostaxis; in men, it indicates Ying Deficiency or nocturnal emission. (This stanza generally discusses Ge pulse diseases.)
Deep and intermittent is the Intermitting (Dai) pulse. Its image is movement stopping, unable to return immediately, then moving again and stopping again; searching for a long time, it rises strongly again to move.
The cause of the Intermitting pulse is the decline of Zang Qi. Abdominal pain and pus in stool indicate deficiency of the Lower Yuan. It may also indicate vomiting, diarrhea, and dysentery. For women, it may indicate pregnancy of three months. (This stanza generally discusses Intermitting pulse diseases.)