Chinese/Japanese Pulse Image chart: Governor Vessel (dumai)

Illustration of the Governor Vessel (pulse) from Renyuan maiying guizhi tushuo (Pictorial Handbook of Pulse Images Based on the Person). This is a specialist text on pulse diagnosis attributed to the third-century master Shuhe, edited and revised by Shen Jifen in the Ming period (1368-1644). It discusses various pulse images and the medical conditions to which they relate, and contains 48 pulse image diagrams. This undated edition was engraved and published in Japan.

The text states: Dumai (Governor Vessel) originates inside the lower abdomen and runs upwards inside the spinal column as far as fengfu (Palace of Wind). Its pulse image is like a dulcimer string. It relates to illnesses such as lumps and masses (pizhang); pain in the sides; blurred vision and dry, painful eyes.