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Illustration of Weak 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: The pulse image of Weak Pulse (ruomai) is as follows. The rise and fall of the pulse can be felt only with a gentle touch; it is extremely soft, deep and thin, and feels like soggy cotton; if pressed, it virtually ceases. Weak Pulse is an indicator of lack of strength. When Weak Pulse is found at the cun (Inch) pulse sector of the wrist, it relates to spontaneous sweating and shortness of breath; at the guan (Pass) pulse sector, it relates to Qi deficiency (qi xu) and exogenous heat (kere) in the stomach; at the chi (Foot) pulse sector, it relates to deficiency of Qi and blood, and deficiency-heat (xure).

Chinese/Japanese Pulse Image chart: Weak Pulse (ruomai)

Illustration of Sunken Pulse (chenmai) 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: The pulse image of Sunken Pulse is as follows. When palpated lightly (ju, lit. raised), it cannot be perceived; but if one presses hard, a strong pulse can be felt beating near to the bone. Sunken Pulse relates to water Qi. If found at the cun (Inch) pulse sector of the wrist, it indicates the presence of cold-fluid (hanyin) in the chest; if found at the guan (Pass) pulse sector, it relates to fullness in the heart (xin man) and shortness of breath; if found at the chi (Foot) pulse sector of the wrist, it relates to difficulty in urination or anuria.

Chinese/Japanese Pulse Image chart: Sunken Pulse (chenmai)

Illustration of Ultimate Pulse (taiji mai) 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: Ultimate Pulse is one of the Sixteen Weird Pulses (guai mai). It is also known as Consumed Corpse (hao shi). Its pulse image is like a fingerboard [of a stringed instrument(?)]; it is ample at its arrival and vigorous at its departure, and does not stop after arriving; or rather in the course of the pulse rhythm, it resumes weakly and then reintensifies, for each sequence of exhalation and inhalation. A patient having this pulse will die within about two hours (lit. one watch of the day, shichen).

Chinese/Japanese Pulse Image chart: Ultimate Pulse

Woodblock illustration from Maijing tuzhu (Canon of the Pulse, illustrated and annotated), author unknown, published in 1901 (27th year of the Guangxu reign period of the Qing dynasty). It shows the relationship between the three pulse sectors (cun [Inch], guan [Pass] and chi [Foot]) of the right wrist and the parts of the body affected by disease. In general terms, the cun, guan and chi sectors of the right wrist correspond to the shangjiao, zhongjiao and xiajiao (Upper, Middle and Lower Burner) respectively. More specifically, in the cun sector, the floating (fu) pulse corresponds to the chest cavity, and the sunken (chen) pulse to the lungs. In the guan sector, the floating pulse corresponds to the stomach and the sunken pulse to the spleen. In the chi sector, the floating pulse corresponds to the large intestine and triple burner, and the sunken pulse to the kidney.

Pulse diagnosis chart: Sectors and illnesses, right wrist

Illustration of Inverted Lotus pulse (fulian mai) 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: Inverted Lotus pulse is one of the Sixteen Weird Pulses (guai mai). It is also known as Escorting Corpse pulse (song shi mai). Its pulse image is like a lotus upside down on the finger. As it arrives, it is slight at first, then greater. It does not coincide with a consistent number of breaths.This pulse is found with fullness in the chest and shortness of breath, wheezing and panting. An elderly patient having this pulse will die within three days; a young one within one day.

Chinese/Japanese Pulse Image chart: Inverted Lotus pulse

Illustration of Slippery Pulse (huamai) 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: Slippery Pulse comes and goes smoothly, like an unbroken string of beads. When pressed, it is hidden (fu), but when palpated lightly (ju, lit. raised), it feels abundant. Slippery Pulse relates to nausea and vomiting from retrograde Qi. This is the case when this pulse is present at the cun (Inch) and guan (Pass) pulse sectors of the wrist. At the chi (Foot) pulse sector, it relates to diarrhoea. Slippery Pulse also relates to amenorrhea.

Chinese/Japanese Pulse Image chart:

Illustration of Long Pulse (changmai) 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: The pulse image of Long Pulse is as follows. The body of the pulse is relatively elongated. The area over which it can be felt exceeds the three pulse sectors of the wrist -- cun (Inch), guan (Pass) and chi (Foot). It comes and goes fluently, and feels like holding a rod. Long Pulse relates to high fever (zhuangre). When this pulse is found at the renying (Human Welcome) point, it is classed as a slight malignity (weixie) and spontaneous recovery may occur. When felt at the qikou (Qi Opening, i.e. cunkou -- wrist pulse), it indicates that Qi in the viscera is well balanced.

Chinese/Japanese Pulse Image chart: Long Pulse (changmai)

Illustration of Marble pulse (danshi mai) 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: Marble (i.e. taw) pulse is one of the Sixteen Weird Pulses (guai mai). It is also known as Ghost Corpse (gui shi) pulse. Its pulse image is staccato and sudden and rapid in onset, like stone pellets striking against rock. The presence of this pulse indicates that the Qi of the Kidney channel of Leg shaoyin is exhausted. A patient having this pulse will die within one day.

Chinese/Japanese Pulse Image chart: Marble pulse

Illustration of Overthrown Pulse (fanbai mai) 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: Overthrown Pulse is one of the Sixteen Weird Pulses (guai mai). It is also known as Peeling Corpse (tuo shi) pulse. The pulse image appears to the touch like two peas floating in water. It arrives vigorously and departs tardily. It occurs seven or eight times for each sequence of exhalation and inhalation. If this pulse is present in a patient suffering from cold damage and frenzied heat (kuangre), death will ensue within a day.

Chinese/Japanese Pulse Image chart: Overthrown Pulse

Illustration of Removing Door pulse (tuohu mai) 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: Removing Door pulse (tuohu mai) is one of the Sixteen Weird Pulses (guai mai). It is also known as Returning Corpse pulse (gui shi mai). Its pulse image is described as being as taut as the strings of a musical instrument. It arrives in haste and departs swiftly, is ample at the beginning and slight at the end, 'like the strings of a string instrument', and occurs three times in rapid, uninterrupted succession. For each sequence of exhalation and inhalation, this happens once or eight times followed by a pause. A patient having this pulse will die within a day.

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Chinese/Japanese Pulse Image chart: Weak Pulse (ruomai)

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Chinese/Japanese Pulse Image chart: Inverted Lotus pulse

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Chinese/Japanese Pulse Image chart: Long Pulse (changmai)

Chinese/Japanese Pulse Image chart: Marble pulse

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