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The pulse moves twice for one arrival, and if it arrives twice and is tight, it seizes the qi. In one ke (a unit of time), there are 135 breaths, in ten ke, 1,350 breaths, and in one hundred ke, 13,500 breaths. Two ke make a grade I, and in grade I, the qi circulates once around the body. In a day and night, it circulates fifty times. If the pulse arrives three times, it is called "departing from the meridians." In one exhalation, the pulse moves three times, and the qi travels four and a half inches. In one breath, the pulse moves seven times, and the qi travels nine inches. In ten breaths, the pulse moves seventy times, and the qi travels nine feet. In one complete cycle of qi, the pulse moves 140 times, and the qi travels eighteen feet, completing one circulation around the body. The qi passes through 180 degrees, hence it is called "departing from the meridians." Departing from the meridians indicates illness, which is the case with one yin and two yang.

If the pulse arrives three times and is tight, it seizes the blood. If the pulse arrives four times, it seizes the essence. In one exhalation, the pulse moves four times, and the qi travels six inches. In one breath, the pulse moves nine times, and the qi travels one foot and two inches. In ten breaths, the pulse moves ninety times, and the qi travels twelve feet. In one complete cycle of qi, the pulse moves 180 times, and the qi travels twenty-four feet, completing one circulation around the body. The qi passes through 360 degrees, circulating twice around the body, deficient in five sections. When the qi arrives heavily in one period, and all pulses are floating and rough, it is difficult to treat the five viscera aspermia, which is the case with one yin and three yang. If the pulse arrives four times and is tight, it seizes the form.

If the pulse arrives five times, it indicates death. In one exhalation, the pulse moves five times, and the qi travels six and a half inches ⁽¹⁾ In one breath, the pulse moves eleven times, and the qi travels one foot and three inches ⁽²⁾ In ten breaths, the pulse moves 110 times, and the qi travels thirteen feet ⁽³⁾ In one complete cycle of qi, the pulse moves 220 times, and the qi travels twenty-six feet ⁽⁴⁾ Completing one circulation around the body, through 365 sections, the qi passes through 540 degrees, circulating twice around the body, passing through 170 degrees. When the qi arrives at this point, it is floating and rough, the meridians are exhausted, and the blood and qi are not retained within. The five viscera are withered, and the spirit is scattered. If the pulse arrives five times and is tight, it indicates death, which is the case with three yin ⁽⁵⁾ and three yang ⁽⁶⁾ Even if it is five, there is nothing that can be done.

If the pulse is deficient by one and multiplied by one, in one exhalation, the pulse moves once, and in one breath, the pulse moves twice, with the qi traveling three inches. In ten breaths, the pulse moves twenty times, and the qi travels three feet. In one complete cycle of qi, the pulse moves forty times, and the qi travels six feet, deficient in circulating around the body, through 180 sections. The qi is short and cannot circulate fully around the body, causing shortness of breath and physical fatigue.

If the pulse is deficient by two, in one breath, the pulse moves once, and the qi travels one and a half inches. In ten breaths, the pulse moves ten times, and the qi travels one foot and five inches. In one complete cycle of qi, the pulse moves twenty times, and the qi travels three feet, deficient in circulating around the body, through two joints of the body (doubtful) ⁽⁷⁾ The qi and blood are exhausted in the meridians and cannot reach, hence it is called "departing from the meridians." The blood is lost and not in its proper place, and both urine and stool contain blood.

If the pulse is deficient by three, in one breath and one exhalation, the pulse moves once. In ten breaths, the pulse moves seven times, and the qi travels one foot and five inches ⁽⁸⁾ In one complete cycle of qi, the pulse moves fourteen times, and the qi travels three feet and one inch ⁽⁹⁾ Deficient in circulating around the body, through 297 sections, hence it is called "contention." The qi moves but the blood remains, unable to both become weak together. If the qi is blocked and replete, it causes chest fullness and withered viscera, contending within. The qi does not rise, and the blood coagulates within, leading to death.

If the pulse is deficient by four, in two breaths, the pulse moves once. In ten breaths, the pulse moves five times, and the qi travels seven and a half inches. In one complete cycle of qi, the pulse moves ten times, and the qi travels one foot and five inches, deficient in circulating around the body, through 315 sections. Hence it is called "loss of blood." Loss of blood means losing its measure, the body becomes emaciated and fatigued, skin wrapped around bones. Thus, both qi and blood are exhausted, the five viscera lose their spirit, and death is evident.

If the pulse is deficient by five, in two breaths and one exhalation, the pulse moves once. In ten breaths, the pulse moves four times, and the qi travels six inches. In one complete cycle of qi, the pulse moves eight times, and the qi travels one foot and two inches, deficient in circulating around the body, through 324 sections. Hence it is called "cut off." Cut off means the qi is urgent and cannot leave the bed, the breath is cold, and the pulse is completely cut off, leading to death.

1. (should be seven and a half inches).
2. (should be one foot and five inches).
3. (should be fifteen feet).
4. (should be thirty feet).
5. (some texts say two).
6. (according to the above text, it should be one yin and four yang).
7. (the character "doubtful" is likely a note mistakenly included in the main text).
8. (should be one foot and five tenths of an inch).
9. (should be two feet and one inch).