One of the four diagnostic methods, divided into pulse diagnosis and palpation. This involves using the tactile sense of the fingers to touch and press on specific areas of the patient's body for examination. Pulse diagnosis typically focuses on the radial artery pulse located behind the patient's wrist joint. For more details, refer to the entries on "pulse diagnosis." "Palpation" involves touching and pressing the patient's skin, chest, abdomen, and areas of pain to detect local temperature changes, softness or hardness, tenderness, discolored lumps, or other abnormal changes.