經言春脈弦,夏脈鉤,秋脈毛,冬脈石,是王脈耶?將病脈也? 然:弦鉤毛石者,四時之脈也。春脈弦者,肝東方木也,萬物始生,未有枝葉,故其脈之來,濡弱而長,故曰弦。夏脈鉤者,心南方火也,萬物之所茂,垂枝布葉,皆下曲如鉤,故其脈之來疾去遲,故曰鉤。秋脈毛者,肺西方金也,萬物之所終,草木華葉,皆秋而落,其枝獨在,若毫毛也,故其脈之來,輕虛以浮,故曰毛。冬脈石者,腎北方水也,萬物之所藏也,盛冬之時,水凝如石,故其脈之來,沉濡而滑,故曰石。此四時之脈也。 如有變奈何? 然:春脈弦,反者為病。何謂反?然:其氣來實強,是謂太過,病在外;氣來虛微,是謂不及,病在內。氣來厭厭聶聶,如循榆葉曰平,益實而滑,如循長竿曰病,急而勁益強,如新張弓弦曰死。春脈微弦曰平,弦多胃氣少曰病,但弦無胃氣曰死,春以胃氣為本。 夏脈鉤,反者為病。何謂反?然:其氣來實強,是謂太過,病在外;氣來虛微,是謂不及,病在內。其脈來累累如環,如循琅玕,曰平,來而益數,如雞舉足者曰病。前曲後居,如操帶鉤曰死。夏脈微鉤曰平,鉤多胃氣少曰病,但鉤無胃氣曰死。夏以胃氣為本。 秋脈毛,反者為病。何謂反?然:其氣來實強,是謂太過,病在外;氣來虛微,是謂不及,病在內。其脈來藹藹如車蓋,按之益大曰平。不上不下,如循雞羽曰病,按之蕭索,如風吹毛曰死。秋脈微毛曰平。毛多胃氣少曰病,但毛無胃氣曰死,秋以胃氣為本。 冬脈石,反者為病。何謂反?然:其氣來實強,是謂太過,病在外;氣來虛微,是謂不及,病在內,脈來上大下兌,濡滑如雀之喙曰平,啄啄連屬,其中微曲曰病。來如解索,去如彈死曰死。冬脈微石曰平,石多胃氣少曰病,但石無胃氣曰死,冬以胃氣為本。 胃者,水穀之海,主稟四時,皆以胃氣為本,是謂四時之變病,死生之要會也。脾者,中州也,其平和不可得見,衰乃見耳,來如雀之啄,如水之下漏,是脾衰見也。
經に言ふ、春脈は弦、夏脈は鉤、秋脈は毛、冬脈は石、是れ王脈なるか、將た病脈なるか。
然り、弦鉤毛石は、四時の脈なり。春脈の弦なるは、肝は東方の木なり、萬物始めて生じ、未だ枝葉有らず、故に其の脈の來たるや、濡弱にして長し、故に弦と曰ふ。夏脈の鉤なるは、心は南方の火なり、萬物の茂る所、枝を垂れ葉を布き、皆下に曲がること鉤のごとし、故に其の脈の來たること疾く去ること遲し、故に鉤と曰ふ。秋脈の毛なるは、肺は西方の金なり、萬物の終はる所、草木の華葉、皆秋にして落ち、其の枝獨り在ること毫毛のごとし、故に其の脈の來たるや、輕虛にして以て浮く、故に毛と曰ふ。冬脈の石なるは、腎は北方の水なり、萬物の藏まる所なり、盛冬の時、水凝りて石のごとし、故に其の脈の來たるや、沉濡にして滑なり、故に石と曰ふ。此れ四時の脈なり。
如し變有らば奈何。
然り、春脈は弦なり、反する者は病と為す。何をか反と謂ふ。然り、其の氣の來たること實強なる、是れを太過と謂ひ、病外に在り。氣の來たること虛微なる、是れを不及と謂ひ、病內に在り。氣の來たること厭厭聶聶として、榆葉を循づるがごときを平と曰ひ、益ます實にして滑、長竿を循づるがごときを病と曰ひ、急にして勁く益ます強く、新たに張れる弓弦のごときを死と曰ふ。春脈微かに弦なるを平と曰ひ、弦多く胃氣少なきを病と曰ひ、但だ弦のみにして胃氣無きを死と曰ふ。春は胃氣を以て本と為す。
夏脈は鉤なり、反する者は病と為す。何をか反と謂ふ。然り、其の氣の來たること實強なる、是れを太過と謂ひ、病外に在り。氣の來たること虛微なる、是れを不及と謂ひ、病內に在り。其の脈の來たること累累として環のごとく、琅玕を循づるがごときを平と曰ひ、來たりて益ます數なること、雞の足を舉ぐるがごとき者を病と曰ひ、前は曲がり後は居して、帶鉤を操るがごときを死と曰ふ。夏脈微かに鉤なるを平と曰ひ、鉤多く胃氣少なきを病と曰ひ、但だ鉤のみにして胃氣無きを死と曰ふ。夏は胃氣を以て本と為す。
秋脈は毛なり、反する者は病と為す。何をか反と謂ふ。然り、其の氣の來たること實強なる、是れを太過と謂ひ、病外に在り。氣の來たること虛微なる、是れを不及と謂ひ、病內に在り。其の脈の來たること藹藹として車蓋のごとく、之を按じて益ます大なるを平と曰ひ、上らず下らず、雞羽を循づるがごときを病と曰ひ、之を按じて蕭索たること、風の毛を吹くがごときを死と曰ふ。秋脈微かに毛なるを平と曰ひ、毛多く胃氣少なきを病と曰ひ、但だ毛のみにして胃氣無きを死と曰ふ。秋は胃氣を以て本と為す。
冬脈は石なり、反する者は病と為す。何をか反と謂ふ。然り、其の氣の來たること實強なる、是れを太過と謂ひ、病外に在り。氣の來たること虛微なる、是れを不及と謂ひ、病內に在り。脈の來たること上は大に下は兌く、濡滑にして雀の喙のごときを平と曰ひ、啄啄として連屬し、其の中微かに曲がるを病と曰ひ、來たること解索のごとく、去ること彈石のごときを死と曰ふ。冬脈微かに石なるを平と曰ひ、石多く胃氣少なきを病と曰ひ、但だ石のみにして胃氣無きを死と曰ふ。冬は胃氣を以て本と為す。
胃は水穀の海にして、四時を主稟し、皆胃氣を以て本と為す、是れを四時の變病、死生の要會と謂ふなり。脾は中州なり、其の平和は見ることを得べからず、衰へて乃ち見るるのみ、來たること雀の啄むがごとく、水の下に漏るるがごときは、是れ脾の衰の見るるなり。
The classic says, “The spring pulse is wiry, the summer pulse hooked, the autumn pulse hairlike, and the winter pulse stone-like.” Are these flourishing (normal) pulses or diseased pulses? Answer: wiry, hooked, hairlike, and stone-like are the pulses of the four seasons. The spring pulse is wiry because the Liver corresponds to Wood in the east, when the myriad things begin to grow but have not yet produced branches and leaves; the arriving pulse is soft, weak, and long, hence “wiry.” The summer pulse is hooked because the Heart corresponds to Fire in the south, when things flourish and their branches and leaves hang down, bending like a hook; the pulse comes quickly and departs slowly, hence “hooked.” The autumn pulse is hairlike because the Lung corresponds to Metal in the west, when flowers and leaves fall and only branches remain like fine hairs; the arriving pulse is light, empty, and floating, hence “hairlike.” The winter pulse is stone-like because the Kidney corresponds to Water in the north, when things are stored away and severe cold congeals water like stone; the arriving pulse is deep, soft, and slippery, hence “stone-like.” These are the seasonal pulses. What if they change abnormally? The spring pulse is wiry; a departure from this is disease. What is meant by departure? Pulse qi arriving full and strong is called excess, and the disease is outside (at the exterior). Arriving empty and faint is called insufficiency, and the disease is inside. A pulse arriving gently and unhurriedly, like stroking elm leaves, is normal; one more full and slippery, like stroking a long pole, is diseased; one urgent, hard, and taut, like a newly strung bow, is a death pulse. In spring, slight wiriness is normal, much wiriness with little Stomach qi is disease, and wiriness alone without Stomach qi is death. Spring takes Stomach qi as its foundation. The summer pulse is hooked; departure from this is disease. A full, strong arrival is excess (disease outside), and an empty, faint arrival is insufficiency (disease inside). A pulse continuous like linked rings, like stroking jade-like langgan stone, is normal; one more rapid, like a chicken lifting its foot, is diseased; one bent in front and staying in place behind, like grasping a belt hook, is a death pulse. In summer, slight hookedness is normal, much hookedness with little Stomach qi is disease, and hookedness alone without Stomach qi is death; Stomach qi is the foundation. The autumn pulse is hairlike; departure is disease. Fullness and strength are excess (outside); emptiness and faintness are insufficiency (inside). A billowing pulse like a carriage canopy, becoming larger when pressed, is normal; one neither rising nor descending, like stroking chicken feathers, is diseased; one becoming desolate and dispersed under pressure, like wind blowing hairs, is a death pulse. In autumn, a slightly hairlike pulse is normal, much hairlikeness with little Stomach qi is disease, and hairlikeness alone without Stomach qi is death; Stomach qi is the foundation. The winter pulse is stone-like; departure is disease. Fullness and strength are excess (outside); emptiness and faintness are insufficiency (inside). A pulse broad above and pointed below, soft and slippery like a sparrow’s beak, is normal; continuous pecking with a slight bend in between is diseased; arrival like an unraveling rope and departure like a flicked stone is a death pulse. In winter, slight stone-likeness is normal, much stone-likeness with little Stomach qi is disease, and stone-likeness alone without Stomach qi is death; Stomach qi is the foundation. The Stomach is the sea of water and grain and governs all four seasons; all take Stomach qi as their foundation. This is the essential meeting point concerning diseases of seasonal disturbance and life and death. The Spleen is the central region: its harmonious pulse does not appear, but appears only as it declines. A pulse like a pecking sparrow or water leaking downward is the manifestation of Spleen decline.
Each edition’s relevant passage is presented with its source, original text, Japanese kundoku reading, and modern translation (click to expand).Yellowmarks key terms. Each edition’s color indicates itseditorial lineage. Click a colored work title under “Three perspectives” below to open the edition supporting that discussion.
Source: Nanjing benyi 2 fascicles (base text)(edition rb00004596・Hua Shou (Hua Boren))
十五難曰、經言春脈弦、夏脈鉤、秋脈毛、冬脈石、是王脈耶、將病脈也。然、弦鉤毛石者、四時之脈也。春脈弦者、肝東方木也、萬物始生、未有枝葉、故其脈之來濡弱而長、故曰弦。夏脈鉤者、心南方火也、萬物之所茂、垂枝布葉、皆下曲如鉤、故其脈之來疾去遲、故曰鉤。秋脈毛者、肺西方金也、萬物之所終、草木華葉皆秋而落、其枝獨在若毫毛也、故其脈之來輕虛以浮、故曰毛。冬脈石者、腎北方水也、萬物之所藏也、盛冬之時水凝如石、故其脈之來沈濡而滑、故曰石。此四時之脈也。如有變奈何。然、春脈弦、反者爲病、其氣來實強是謂太過病在外、氣來虛微是謂不及病在內。氣來厭厭聶聶如循榆葉曰平、益實而滑如循長竿曰病、急而勁益強如新張弓弦曰死。春脈微弦曰平、弦多胃氣少曰病、但弦無胃氣曰死、春以胃氣爲本。(夏鉤・秋毛・冬石も各々平病死を同例に説く。)胃者水穀之海、主稟四時、皆以胃氣爲本、是謂四時之變病、死生之要會也。脾者中州也、其平和不可得見、衰乃見耳、來如雀之啄、如水之下漏、是脾衰見也。 〔滑壽注〕此内經平人氣象・玉機眞藏論、參錯其文而爲篇也。春脈弦者肝主筋、應筋之象。夏脈鉤者心主血脈、應血脈來去之象。秋脈毛者肺主皮毛、冬脈石者腎主骨、各應其象、兼以時物之象取義也。來疾去遲、劉立之曰、來者自骨肉之分而出於皮膚之際、氣之升而上也。去者自皮膚之際而還於骨肉之分、氣之降而下也。如有變奈何、脈逆四時之謂變。
十五難に曰く、経に言う、春脈は弦、夏脈は鉤、秋脈は毛、冬脈は石、是れ王脈なるか、将た病脈なるか。然り、弦鉤毛石は四時の脈なり。春脈の弦なるは、肝は東方の木、万物始めて生じ未だ枝葉あらず、故に其の脈の来たるや濡弱にして長し、故に弦と曰う。夏脈の鉤なるは、心は南方の火、万物の茂る所、枝を垂れ葉を布き皆下に曲がること鉤のごとし、故に其の脈の来たること疾く去ること遅し、故に鉤と曰う。秋脈の毛なるは、肺は西方の金、万物の終わる所、枝独り在ること毫毛のごとし、故に其の脈の来たるや軽虚にして浮く、故に毛と曰う。冬脈の石なるは、腎は北方の水、万物の蔵まる所、盛冬に水凝りて石のごとし、故に其の脈の来たるや沈濡にして滑なり、故に石と曰う。此れ四時の脈なり。如し変あらば奈何。然り、春脈は弦、反する者を病と為す。其の気の来たること実強なるを太過と謂い病外に在り、気の来たること虚微なるを不及と謂い病内に在り。気の来たること厭厭聶聶として楡葉を循づるがごときを平と曰い、益ます実にして滑、長竿を循づるがごときを病と曰い、急にして勁く益ます強く、新たに張れる弓弦のごときを死と曰う。春脈微かに弦なるを平と曰い、弦多く胃気少なきを病と曰い、但だ弦のみにして胃気無きを死と曰う。春は胃気を以て本と為す。(夏の鉤・秋の毛・冬の石も各々平・病・死を同例に説く。)胃は水穀の海にして四時を主稟し、皆胃気を以て本と為す、是れを四時の変病、死生の要会と謂うなり。脾は中州なり、其の平和は見るを得べからず、衰えて乃ち見るるのみ、来たること雀の啄むがごとく、水の下に漏るるがごときは、是れ脾の衰の見るるなり。
〔滑寿注〕此れ内経の平人気象論・玉機真蔵論、其の文を参錯して篇と為すなり。春脈の弦なるは肝は筋を主り筋の象に応ず。夏脈の鉤なるは心は血脈を主り血脈来去の象に応ず。秋脈の毛なるは肺は皮毛を主り、冬脈の石なるは腎は骨を主り、各おの其の象に応じ、兼ねて時物の象を以て義を取るなり。来疾去遅は、劉立之曰く、来たるとは骨肉の分より出でて皮膚の際に至る、気の升りて上るなり。去るとは皮膚の際より還りて骨肉の分に至る、気の降りて下るなり。変とは脈の四時に逆らうを謂うなり。
The classic calls the spring pulse wiry, summer hooked, autumn hairlike, and winter stone-like. Are these normal or diseased pulses? Answer: these are the four seasonal pulses. Spring is wiry because the Liver is Wood in the east, when things first grow without branches or leaves, and the pulse is soft, weak, and long. Summer is hooked because the Heart is Fire in the south, when branches and leaves droop and bend like hooks, and the pulse comes quickly and departs slowly. Autumn is hairlike because the Lung is Metal in the west, when leaves fall and branches remain like fine hairs, and the pulse is light and floating. Winter is stone-like because the Kidney is Water in the north, when water congeals like stone, and the pulse is deep, soft, and slippery. These are the seasonal pulses. What of abnormal changes? Spring is wiry; departure from this is disease. Full, strong pulse qi is excess, with disease at the exterior; empty, faint pulse qi is insufficiency, with disease in the interior. A gentle pulse like stroking elm leaves is normal; one more full and slippery, like stroking a long pole, is diseased; one hard and taut like a newly strung bow is a death pulse. Slight wiriness is normal, much wiriness with little Stomach qi is disease, and wiriness alone without Stomach qi is death. Spring takes Stomach qi as its foundation. The summer hooked, autumn hairlike, and winter stone-like pulses are likewise explained in terms of normality, disease, and death. The Stomach is the sea of water and grain and governs all seasons; all take Stomach qi as their foundation. This is the essential point concerning seasonal disorders and life and death. The Spleen occupies the center: its harmonious pulse does not appear, becoming visible only as it declines. A pulse like a pecking sparrow or leaking water manifests that decline.
Hua Shou comments that this chapter interweaves passages from the Suwen chapters “Discourse on the Qi and Manifestations of the Healthy Person” and “Discourse on the Jade Pivot and True Visceral Pulses.” Spring’s wiriness represents the sinews governed by the Liver; summer’s hookedness represents the coming and going of blood, since the Heart governs blood vessels; autumn’s hairlikeness represents the skin and hair governed by the Lung; winter’s stone-likeness represents the bones governed by the Kidney. Meanings are also drawn from seasonal phenomena and the myriad things. Citing Liu Lizhi’s account that arrival is qi ascending from bone and flesh to the skin, and departure is qi descending from the skin to bone and flesh, he states that “change” means the pulse running contrary to the four seasons.
The base edition of Hua Shou’s commentary. It treats this chapter as an interweaving of the Suwen’s “Qi and Manifestations of the Healthy Person” and “Jade Pivot and True Visceral Pulses.” The Liver corresponds to sinews, Heart to blood vessels, Lung to skin and hair, and Kidney to bones; meaning is also drawn from seasonal imagery. Citing Liu Lizhi on the pulse’s arrival and departure as qi’s ascent and descent, it defines “change” as opposition to the seasons and concisely states that all four seasons take Stomach qi as their foundation.
Source: Nanjing benyi 2 fascicles(including variant editions, headnoted copies, and extracts)(edition rb00022829・rb00019980・rb00004595・rb00004577・Hua Shou (Hua Boren))
十五難曰、經言春脈弦、夏脈鉤、秋脈毛、冬脈石、是王脈耶、將病脈也。然、弦鉤毛石者、四時之脈也。春脈弦者肝東方木也……冬脈石者腎北方水也、盛冬之時水凝如石、故其脈之來沈濡而滑、故曰石。此四時之脈也。(以下平病死・胃氣・脾衰の文は底本に同じ。) 〔異文・頭注〕rb00022829は滑注を「兼以時物之象取譬也」と作る。rb00019980は欄外に頭注を付し、評林を引きて「王脈者即七難少陽之至乍大乍小等語、病脈者即九難數則爲熱遲則爲寒之謂、四時脈者正此難春弦夏鉤秋毛冬石之謂也」とし、また「此篇與内經互有異同、越人欲使脈之易曉、重立其義爾」「來而益數如雞舉足者曰病、雞踐地形容其輕而緩、雞舉足形容脈來實而數、踐地與舉足不同」等の俗解・評林を載せる。rb00004595は玉機眞藏論を引きて「肝脈太過則令人善忘忽忽眩冒巔疾、其不及則令人胸痛引背……此岐伯之言、越人之意蓋本諸此」と各臓の太過不及症候を注し、「濡滑如雀之喙」に作り、脾注に「雀啄者脈來至數急而斷絶不定、屋漏者脈至緩散動而復止」と説く。rb00004577は「干」を「於」に作る上巻のみの抄録本。
十五難に曰く、経に言う、春脈は弦、夏脈は鉤、秋脈は毛、冬脈は石、是れ王脈なるか、将た病脈なるか。然り、弦鉤毛石は四時の脈なり。春脈の弦なるは肝は東方の木なり……冬脈の石なるは腎は北方の水なり、盛冬の時水凝りて石のごとし、故に其の脈の来たるや沈濡にして滑なり、故に石と曰う。此れ四時の脈なり。(以下、平病死・胃気・脾衰の文は底本に同じ。)
〔異文・頭注〕rb00022829は滑注を「兼ねて時物の象を以て譬えを取る」と作る。rb00019980は頭注に評林を引き、「王脈とは即ち七難の少陽の至り乍ち大乍ち小等の語、病脈とは即ち九難の数なれば熱と為し遅なれば寒と為すの謂、四時脈とは正に此の難の春弦夏鉤秋毛冬石の謂なり」とし、また「此の篇は内経と互いに異同あり、越人は脈を曉り易からしめんとし、重ねて其の義を立つるのみ」「来たりて益ます数なること雞の足を挙ぐるがごときを病と曰う、雞の地を踐むは其の軽くして緩なるを形容し、雞の足を挙ぐるは脈来の実にして数なるを形容す、踐地と挙足とは同じからず」等の俗解・評林を載せる。rb00004595は玉機真蔵論を引き、「肝脈太過なれば則ち人をして善く忘れ忽忽として眩冒し巔疾せしむ、其の不及なれば則ち人をして胸痛みて背に引かしむ……此れ岐伯の言、越人の意蓋し諸に本づく」と各臓の太過不及の症候を注し、「濡滑にして雀の喙のごとし」に作り、脾注に「雀啄とは脈の来至の数急にして断絶し定まらざるなり、屋漏とは脈至緩散し動きて復た止まるなり」と説く。rb00004577は「干」を「於」に作る上巻のみの抄録本。
The main text and Hua’s commentary are shared with the base edition: wiry, hooked, hairlike, and stone-like are the seasonal pulses; excess means disease at the exterior, insufficiency disease in the interior; Stomach qi is foundational. Details differ by edition. rb00022829 says “draw an analogy” rather than “draw meaning” from seasonal imagery. rb00019980 has headnotes citing Pinglin and popular explanations: the flourishing pulse is the intermittently large and small pulse of Difficulty 7, the diseased pulse the slow or rapid (cold or heat) pulse of Difficulty 9, and the seasonal pulses are the four named here. It says this chapter differs in places from the Neijing because Yueren restates the meaning to make pulses easier to understand; it contrasts the summer diseased pulse, a chicken lifting its foot, with a chicken treading the ground gently and slowly, depicting fullness and rapidity. rb00004595 cites “Jade Pivot and True Visceral Pulses” on excess and insufficiency symptoms of the Liver, Heart, Lung, and Kidney, identifying these as Qibo’s words on which Yueren’s meaning rests. It writes the normal winter pulse as “sparrow’s beak,” and explains the Spleen death pulses: sparrow-pecking is urgent, intermittent, and irregular; roof-dripping is slow and dispersed, moving and then stopping. rb00004577 is an extract containing only the upper fascicle and consistently writes 於 instead of 干 (“invade”).
Variant editions of the same work, Hua Shou’s Nanjing benyi. The text and commentary are shared, but rb00022829 reads “draw an analogy” for “draw meaning”; rb00019980 adds headnotes citing Pinglin and popular explanations (flourishing pulse = Difficulty 7, diseased pulse = Difficulty 9, differences from the Neijing, and chicken-treading versus lifting its foot). rb00004595 adds the excess/insufficiency symptoms from “Jade Pivot and True Visceral Pulses” and explanations of the Spleen’s sparrow-pecking and roof-dripping pulses, and reads “sparrow’s beak.” rb00004577 is an upper-fascicle extract with 干 replaced by 於.
Source: Yixue tongzong: Nanjing benyi buyi 2 fascicles(edition rb00020118・Hua Shou (Hua Boren) commentary / supplementer unidentified)
十五難曰、經言春脉弦、夏脉鈎、秋脉毛、冬脉石、是王脉耶、將病脉也。然、弦鈎毛石者、四時之脉也。春脉弦者肝東方木也……冬脉石者腎北方水也、盛冬之時水凝如石、故其脉之來沈濡而滑、故曰石。此四時之脉也。(以下、平病死・胃氣・脾衰の文は本義に同じ。) 〔頭注〕一滑氏曰、此内經平人氣象・玉機眞藏論參錯其文而爲一篇也。一陽曰、春夏秋冬四時之陰陽、假外象以象脉之形狀、槩言四時之脉是如此形狀爲安位得宜、脉與天地四時生長收藏一氣運用、言醫者必先歲氣、信矣。越人又重言此四時之脉也、可見南北政逐年運氣主客勝復、不拘於此。一陽曰、八難謂寸口脉平而死也、是重在尺上說。
十五難に曰く、経に言う、春脈は弦、夏脈は鈎、秋脈は毛、冬脈は石、是れ王脈なるか、将た病脈なるか。然り、弦鈎毛石は四時の脈なり。春脈の弦なるは肝は東方の木なり……冬脈の石なるは腎は北方の水なり、盛冬の時水凝りて石のごとし、故に其の脈の来たるや沈濡にして滑なり、故に石と曰う。此れ四時の脈なり。(以下、平病死・胃気・脾衰の文は本義に同じ。)
〔頭注〕一に滑氏曰く、此れ内経の平人気象論・玉機真蔵論、其の文を参錯して一篇と為すなり。一に陽曰く、春夏秋冬四時の陰陽は、外象を仮りて以て脈の形状を象る、概ね四時の脈は是くのごとき形状にして位に安んじ宜しきを得と言う、脈は天地四時の生長収蔵と一気の運用なり、医者は必ず先ず歳気を知るべしと言う、信なり。越人又た重ねて此れ四時の脈なりと言う、南北政・逐年の運気・主客の勝復は此れに拘らざるを見るべし。一に陽曰く、八難は寸口の脈平にして死すと謂う、是れ重きを尺の上に在いて説くなり。
The text and Hua’s commentary match the Benyi; this edition’s distinctive feature is headnotes attributed to “Yi Hua shi,” “Yiyang,” and others. In addition to Hua’s account that the chapter interweaves the two Suwen discussions, Yiyang says the seasons’ yin and yang borrow external images to represent pulse shapes. Because pulses operate through the same single qi as heaven and earth’s seasonal generation, growth, gathering, and storage, physicians must first know the year’s qi configuration. Yueren’s repeated discussion of seasonal pulses also indicates that the northern and southern governance cycles and the annual climatic phases’ host, guest, predominance, and counteraction are not confined to this uniform scheme. It adds that Difficulty 8’s statement that death may occur despite a normal cunkou pulse places emphasis on the chi position.
A Ming Yixue tongzong-lineage supplement to the Benyi, adding headnotes by “Yiyang” and “Yi Hua shi” to Hua’s commentary. Seasonal pulses borrow external images to portray pulse shapes and correspond to the operation of one qi through heaven and earth’s four seasons. Its distinctive contribution is a qi-configuration perspective: physicians must first know the year’s qi, while northern/southern governance and the annually changing host, guest, predominance, and counteraction are not bound by this schematic pattern.
Source: Nanjing benyi(edition rb00013401・Hua Shou (Hua Boren) commentary / Japanese printed illustrated edition)
十五難曰、經言春脈弦、夏脈鉤、秋脈毛、冬脈石、是王脈耶、將病脈也。然、弦鉤毛石者、四時之脈也。春脈弦者肝東方木也、萬物始生、未有枝葉、故其脈之來濡弱而長、故曰弦……冬脈石者腎北方水也、水凝如石、故其脈之來沈濡而滑、故曰石。此四時之脈也。 〔頭注・独自解〕按、春弦夏鉤秋毛冬石、古今註家大率苟且置過、未深究其立名之本旨、不能使學者參此法于實際施用、故皆看爲無用之空談。蓋春弦、陽氣將張陰氣猶半、陰陽平等、不上不下、如循弓弦是也。夏鉤者、言常鉤狀、所謂前曲後距如循帶鉤者是也、陽盛之極也。秋毛、當爲鳥毛之象、夏時鉤脈從陽之稍降而其象漸小無力、仍帶前曲後距之狀而成鳥毛之象、比之鳥毛之微曲輕軟也。至冬石、則陽氣斂降内實而沈重、推而按之初應指而有力、與夏鉤之外盛穹隆者正恰成反對、故以石爲喩、比之石之沈水中也。此四者古人設譬、喩人身陰陽四時消長進退之法、立象標名、使學者臨病以此爲準則、以爲斟酌寒熱虛實之尺度也。今又掲其圖于左、使學者一目了悟。(図に春弦=不浮不沈陰陽平等、夏鉤=陽氣怒張隆盛・前曲後距、秋毛=陽氣將降仍帶夏鉤前曲後距之象故喩鳥毛之微偃輕軟、冬石=陽全斂内實沈重・比石沈水下 を示す。)
十五難に曰く、経に言う、春脈は弦、夏脈は鉤、秋脈は毛、冬脈は石、是れ王脈なるか、将た病脈なるか。然り、弦鉤毛石は四時の脈なり。春脈の弦なるは肝は東方の木、万物始めて生じ未だ枝葉あらず、故に其の脈の来たるや濡弱にして長し、故に弦と曰う……冬脈の石なるは腎は北方の水、水凝りて石のごとし、故に其の脈の来たるや沈濡にして滑なり、故に石と曰う。此れ四時の脈なり。
〔頭注・独自解〕按ずるに、春弦・夏鉤・秋毛・冬石は、古今の注家おおむね苟且に置過し、未だ其の立名の本旨を深く究めず、学者をして此の法を実際の施用に参ぜしむること能わず、故に皆無用の空談と看做す。蓋し春弦は、陽気将に張らんとして陰気猶お半ば、陰陽平等にして上らず下らず、弓弦を循づるがごとし。夏鉤は、常の鉤状を言う、いわゆる前は曲がり後は距りて帯鉤を循づるがごとき、陽盛の極なり。秋毛は当に鳥毛の象たるべし、夏の鉤脈の陽に従いて稍や降り、其の象漸く小にして力なく、仍お前曲後距の状を帯びて鳥毛の象を成す、鳥毛の微曲軽軟に比するなり。冬石に至れば、則ち陽気斂降し内実にして沈重、推して之を按ずるに初めて指に応じて力あり、夏鉤の外盛穹隆なる者と正に恰も反対を成す、故に石を以て喩え、石の水中に沈むに比するなり。此の四者は古人の設けたる譬え、人身の陰陽四時消長進退の法を喩え、象を立て名を標し、学者をして病に臨みて此れを準則とし、寒熱虚実を斟酌する尺度と為さしむるなり。今また其の図を左に掲げ、学者をして一目に了悟せしむ。
The text matches the Benyi, but this edition has distinctive explanations and diagrams. A headnote criticizes earlier commentators for failing to investigate the true meaning of the names wiry, hooked, hairlike, and stone-like, thereby rendering them impractical and dismissing them as empty speculation. It reinterprets the four pulses as images of seasonal advance and retreat, waxing and waning of yin and yang in the body. Spring’s wiriness represents yang about to expand while yin still occupies half: yin and yang are equal, neither rising nor sinking, like stroking a bowstring. Summer’s hookedness resembles a belt hook bent in front and turned back behind, representing the peak of yang. Autumn’s hairlike pulse is summer’s hooked pulse descending, becoming small and weak, yet retaining a trace of its forward bend and rearward projection; it is lightly curved, light, and soft like a bird’s feather. Winter’s stone-like pulse represents yang fully gathered inward, internally full, deep, and heavy, responding strongly only when pressed. It is the opposite of summer’s outward swelling, hence the analogy of a stone sinking in water. These four images were established by the ancients to teach seasonal movements of bodily yin and yang and provide a measure for cold, heat, deficiency, and excess when encountering illness. Diagrams on the left make the comparison immediately visible.
A Japanese printed illustrated edition that criticizes ordinary commentators for failing to investigate why the four pulses were named and treating them as empty speculation. It independently reinterprets them as analogies for seasonal advance, retreat, waxing, and waning of bodily yin and yang. Its contrasting diagrams show spring’s wiriness (yin–yang balance, neither floating nor sinking), summer’s hookedness (abundant yang, bent front and projecting rear), autumn’s hairlikeness (a feather’s slight curve, lightness, and softness), and winter’s stone-likeness (yang gathered inward, internal fullness, depth, and weight), intending them as practical standards.
Source: Nanjing fahui(edition rb00004591・compiler unidentified (Japanese printed edition))
十五難曰、經言春脈弦、夏脈鉤、秋脈毛、冬脈石、是王脈耶、將病脈也。然、弦鉤毛石者、四時之脈也。春脈弦者肝東方木也、萬物始生、未有枝葉、故其脈之來濡弱而長、故曰弦。……冬脈石者腎北方水也、水凝如石、故其脈之來沈濡而滑、故曰石。此四時之脈也。如有變奈何。然、春脈弦、反者爲病……氣來厭厭聶聶如循楡葉曰平、益實而滑如循長竿曰病、急而勁益強如新張弓弦曰死。……胃者水穀之海、主稟四時、皆以胃氣爲本、是謂四時之變病、死生之要會也。脾者中州也、其平和不可得見、衰乃見耳、來如雀之啄、如水之下漏、是脾衰見也。 〔注〕冬脈如雀之啄者、石中之柔、故曰平。
十五難に曰く、経に言う、春脈は弦、夏脈は鉤、秋脈は毛、冬脈は石、是れ王脈なるか、将た病脈なるか。然り、弦鉤毛石は四時の脈なり。春脈の弦なるは肝は東方の木、万物始めて生じ未だ枝葉あらず、故に其の脈の来たるや濡弱にして長し、故に弦と曰う。……冬脈の石なるは腎は北方の水、水凝りて石のごとし、故に其の脈の来たるや沈濡にして滑なり、故に石と曰う。此れ四時の脈なり。如し変あらば奈何。然り、春脈は弦、反する者を病と為す……気の来たること厭厭聶聶として楡葉を循づるがごときを平と曰い、益ます実にして滑、長竿を循づるがごときを病と曰い、急にして勁く益ます強く、新たに張れる弓弦のごときを死と曰う。……胃は水穀の海にして四時を主稟し、皆胃気を以て本と為す、是れを四時の変病、死生の要会と謂うなり。脾は中州なり、其の平和は見るを得べからず、衰えて乃ち見るるのみ、来たること雀の啄むがごとく、水の下に漏るるがごときは、是れ脾の衰の見るるなり。
〔注〕冬脈の雀の啄むがごときは、石中の柔なり、故に平と曰う。
The text largely matches the base edition, with such variants as 大過 for 太過, and contains very little commentary. It adds only that the winter pulse resembling a sparrow’s peck is called normal because there is softness within the stone-like quality. Thus the normal winter pulse is not mere hardness but includes softness. This edition centers on the main text and directly conveys the chapter’s account of seasonal pulses founded on Stomach qi.
A Japanese printed edition centered on the main text. It largely matches the base edition and has scant commentary, merely adding the key point that the winter pulse resembling sparrow-pecking is normal because of softness within stone-likeness. It plainly conveys the seasonal pulses and Stomach qi as their foundation.
Source: Nanjing zhushu 2 fascicles(edition rb00000698・commentator unidentified (collects old Lü Guang/Yang Xuancao-lineage annotations))
十五難曰、經言春脉弦、夏脉鈎、秋脉毛、冬脉石、是王脉邪、將病脉也。〔注〕王脉如七難言少陽之至乍小乍大乍短乍長是也。四時之脉也、猶言四時之脉狀也。〔本文逐句に割注〕濡弱而長者弦狀也。鈎、帶鈎之鈎、其形頭大而末細、故來疾去遲者鈎狀也。輕虛以浮者毛狀也。沈濡而滑者石狀也、呂氏曰、腎狀法水、水凝如石、又伏行温於骨髓、故其脉實牢如石也。滑氏曰、此内經平人氣象・玉機眞藏論參錯其文而爲篇也。氣、脉氣也、内經既言脉、難經變脉言氣者、脉不自動、氣使之然、且主胃氣而言也。玉機眞藏論云、春脉太過則令人善怒忽忽眩冒而巓疾、其不及則令人胸痛引背下則兩脇胠滿。厭厭聶聶如循榆葉者、和柔而長也、此胃氣中帶弦也。朱肱曰、胃氣者清純沖和之氣也、沖和之氣者陰陽不偏倚而五藏之氣齊至。
十五難に曰く、経に言う、春脈は弦、夏脈は鈎、秋脈は毛、冬脈は石、是れ王脈なるか、将た病脈なるか。〔注〕王脈は七難に言う少陽の至り乍ち小乍ち大乍ち短乍ち長のごときは是れなり。四時の脈とは、猶お四時の脈状を言うがごとし。〔本文逐句に割注〕濡弱にして長きは弦の状なり。鈎は帯鈎の鈎、其の形頭大にして末細し、故に来たること疾く去ること遅きは鈎の状なり。軽虚にして浮くは毛の状なり。沈濡にして滑なるは石の状なり、呂氏曰く、腎は状として水に法り、水凝りて石のごとし、又た伏行して骨髄を温む、故に其の脈実牢にして石のごとし。滑氏曰く、此れ内経の平人気象論・玉機真蔵論、其の文を参錯して篇と為すなり。気とは脈気なり、内経は既に脈と言うに、難経が脈を変じて気と言うは、脈は自ら動かず、気之をして然らしむ、且つ胃気を主として言うなり。玉機真蔵論に云う、春脈太過なれば則ち人をして善く怒り忽忽として眩冒し巓疾せしむ、其の不及なれば則ち人をして胸痛みて背に引き、下れば則ち両脇胠満せしむ。厭厭聶聶として楡葉を循づるがごときは、和柔にして長きなり、此れ胃気の中に弦を帯ぶるなり。朱肱曰く、胃気とは清純沖和の気なり、沖和の気とは陰陽偏倚せずして五臓の気斉しく至るなり。
A commentary-and-subcommentary edition annotating the main text phrase by phrase. It identifies the flourishing pulse with Difficulty 7’s shaoyang pulse, whose size and length are unsettled, and seasonal pulses with their respective seasonal appearances. It explains each: soft, weak, and long is wiry; like a belt hook with a large head and tapering end, arriving quickly and departing slowly, is hooked; light, empty, and floating is hairlike; deep, soft, and slippery is stone-like. It cites Lü Guang’s old annotation that the Kidney follows Water and moves hidden to warm bone marrow, so its pulse is full and firm like stone. Alongside Hua Shou’s interweaving account, it explains that “qi” means pulse qi: the pulse does not move itself but is moved by qi, with Stomach qi chiefly intended. It cites spring excess symptoms from “Jade Pivot and True Visceral Pulses” (irascibility, dizziness/clouding, and vertex disorders) and insufficiency symptoms (chest pain and distension of both flanks). The normal pulse like stroking elm leaves is wiriness within Stomach qi. It adds Zhu Gong’s view that Stomach qi is clear, pure, and harmoniously gentle, without yin–yang bias, with the qi of all five viscera arriving together.
A two-fascicle commentary-and-subcommentary edition with interlinear explanations. It gathers old annotations such as Lü Guang’s “the Kidney follows Water and warms marrow, hence its full, firm pulse,” Hua Shou’s interweaving account, excess/insufficiency symptoms from “Jade Pivot and True Visceral Pulses,” and the account of Stomach qi as clear, pure, harmoniously balanced qi attributed to Zhu Gong (parenthetically identified as Zhu Danxi on the Japanese source page). It explains seasonal pulse forms through pulse qi and Stomach qi.
Source: Nanjing zhushu 3 fascicles(edition rb00004590・commentator unidentified (collects old Lü Guang/Yang Xuancao-lineage annotations))
十五難曰、經言春脉弦、夏脉鉤、秋脉毛、冬脉石、是王脉也。〔注〕王脉如此難言少陽之至乍大乍小乍短乍長是也。四時之脉也、猶言四時之脉狀也、春夏秋冬各應其氣而相應。沈濡而滑者石狀也、腎狀法水、水凝如石、又伏行温於骨髓、故其脉實牢如石也。滑氏曰、此内經平人氣象論參錯其文而爲篇也。〔氣の注〕脉氣也、内經既言脉、難經變脉言氣者、脉不自動、氣使之然、且言胃氣而言也。玉機眞藏論云、夏脉太過則令人身熱而膚痛爲浸淫、不及則令人煩心上見欬唾下爲氣泄。琅玕、石之似玉者、生于南海石崖間、如筍質似玉、纍纍如環如循琅玕、和緩之中帶鉤也。汪機素問抄曰、雞之啄地與舉足不同、踐地是雞少整而徐行也、舉足被發驟疾行也。張氏曰、操持也、前曲者謂輕取則堅強而不柔、後居者謂重取則牢實而不動、如持革帶之鉤而全失和之氣、是但鉤無胃也、故曰必死。
十五難に曰く、経に言う、春脈は弦、夏脈は鉤、秋脈は毛、冬脈は石、是れ王脈なり。〔注〕王脈は此の難に言う少陽の至り乍ち大乍ち小乍ち短乍ち長のごときは是れなり。四時の脈とは猶お四時の脈状を言うがごとし、春夏秋冬各おの其の気に応じて相応ず。沈濡にして滑なるは石の状なり、腎は状として水に法り、水凝りて石のごとし、又た伏行して骨髄を温む、故に其の脈実牢にして石のごとし。滑氏曰く、此れ内経の平人気象論、其の文を参錯して篇と為すなり。〔気の注〕脈気なり、内経は既に脈と言うに、難経が脈を変じて気と言うは、脈は自ら動かず、気之をして然らしむ、且つ胃気を言うなり。玉機真蔵論に云う、夏脈太過なれば則ち人をして身熱して膚痛み浸淫を為さしむ、不及なれば則ち人をして煩心し上は欬唾を見わし下は気泄を為さしむ。琅玕は玉に似たる石、南海の石崖の間に生じ、筍のごとく質玉に似たり、纍纍として環のごとく琅玕を循づるがごときは、和緩の中に鉤を帯ぶるなり。汪機素問抄に曰く、雞の地を啄むと足を挙ぐるとは同じからず、地を踐むは雞の少しく整いて徐ろに行くなり、足を挙ぐるは驚かされて驟かに疾く行くなり。張氏曰く、操とは持つなり、前曲とは軽く取れば則ち堅強にして柔ならざるを謂い、後居とは重く取れば則ち牢実にして動かざるを謂う、革帯の鉤を持つがごとくにして全く和の気を失う、是れ但だ鉤のみにして胃なきなり、故に必ず死すと曰う。
Similar in approach to the two-fascicle commentary but divided into three fascicles, this edition offers fuller phrase-by-phrase annotations on normal, diseased, and death pulses of summer. The flourishing pulse is shaoyang, unsettled in size and length, while seasonal pulses correspond to each season’s qi. It cites the Lü Guang-lineage explanation that the Kidney follows Water and warms marrow, hence its full, firm pulse, and Hua Shou’s interweaving account. “Qi” means pulse qi: the pulse is not self-moving but moved by qi, specifically Stomach qi. Summer excess symptoms from “Jade Pivot and True Visceral Pulses” include bodily heat, skin pain, and spreading lesions; insufficiency includes vexation of the Heart, coughing and spitting, and leakage of qi. The normal summer pulse “like stroking langgan” refers to a jade-like stone from the southern seas: hookedness within gentle ease. For the diseased pulse like a chicken lifting its foot, it cites Wang Ji’s Suwen extracts: treading the ground is calm walking, lifting the foot is startled, rapid running. For the death pulse “bent in front, staying behind,” it cites Master Zhang: light palpation finds hardness without softness; heavy palpation finds immobility, as when grasping a belt hook. It says death is certain because the Stomach’s harmonious qi is entirely lost.
A three-fascicle edition similar to the two-fascicle Nanjing zhushu, especially detailed on summer’s normal, diseased, and death pulses. Beyond Lü Guang-lineage annotations and Hua Shou’s interweaving account, it cites excess/insufficiency symptoms from “Jade Pivot and True Visceral Pulses,” Wang Ji’s contrast between chicken-treading and foot-lifting, and Master Zhang’s explanation of “bent in front, staying behind” as grasping a belt hook—a death pulse lacking Stomach qi. Presence or absence of Stomach qi organizes its discussion.
Source: Nanjing pinglin 6 fascicles(edition rb00004592・Wang Wenjie (Yuechizi), compiler / Liu’s Pinglin commentary)
十五難曰、經言春脈弦、夏脈鈎、秋脈毛、冬脈石、是王脈耶、將病脈也。然、弦鈎毛石者四時之脈也……此四時之脈也。如有變奈何。然、春脈弦反者爲病……春以胃氣爲本。(夏鈎・秋毛・冬石も同例。) 〔劉平之(評林)曰〕按岐伯所謂氣來者、非承上文萬物之氣也、正言吾身之脈氣也。春脈氣來軟弱輕虛而滑、端直以長、比難經濡弱而長爲尤詳。夏脈氣來盛去衰、即難經來疾去遲也、但疾遲不若盛衰之尤切。此總問四時之脈必有變、正以發下五邪之意也、言春弦夏鈎秋毛冬石者、四時之常脈也、或不能以無變則將如之何。此言春脈本弦、反者則病有外内之殊、又狀平脈病脈死脈之體而申言之、以見胃氣爲甚重也。所謂胃氣者、即微弦之和且緩矣、其誠土性之謂歟。
十五難に曰く、経に言う、春脈は弦、夏脈は鈎、秋脈は毛、冬脈は石、是れ王脈なるか、将た病脈なるか。然り、弦鈎毛石は四時の脈なり……此れ四時の脈なり。如し変あらば奈何。然り、春脈は弦、反する者を病と為す……春は胃気を以て本と為す。(夏の鈎・秋の毛・冬の石も同例。)
〔劉平之(評林)曰く〕按ずるに岐伯のいわゆる気来とは、上文の万物の気を承くるに非ず、正に吾が身の脈気を言うなり。春脈の気来は軟弱軽虚にして滑、端直にして以て長し、難経の濡弱にして長しに比すれば尤も詳らかなり。夏脈の気来は盛んに去は衰う、即ち難経の来疾去遅なり、但し疾遅は盛衰の尤も切なるには若かず。此れ総じて四時の脈に必ず変あるを問い、正に以て下の五邪の意を発するなり、春弦夏鈎秋毛冬石とは四時の常脈なり、或いは変なきこと能わずんば則ち将た如何せんとなり。此れ春脈は本と弦、反する者は則ち病に外内の殊あるを言い、又た平脈・病脈・死脈の体を状して申べ言い、以て胃気の甚だ重きたるを見わすなり。いわゆる胃気とは、即ち微弦の和にして且つ緩なり、其れ誠に土性の謂いか。
An edition pairing the text with Liu’s (Liu Pingzhi’s) Pinglin commentary. Liu says Qibo’s “arrival of qi” does not refer back to the qi of the myriad things but specifically to human pulse qi. He compares the Suwen’s spring-pulse description—soft, weak, light, empty, slippery, straight, and long—with the less detailed Nanjing phrase “soft, weak, and long.” Summer’s “abundant arrival, declining departure” corresponds to the Nanjing’s “quick arrival, slow departure,” but abundance and decline are judged more precise than speed. He positions the chapter as a general inquiry into seasonal pulse changes that introduces the ensuing five-pathogen discussion from Difficulty 16 onward. Spring’s wiry, summer’s hooked, autumn’s hairlike, and winter’s stone-like pulses are seasonal norms; the question is how to understand deviations. The spring pulse is naturally wiry; departure differentiates exterior and interior disease. The three appearances—normal, diseased, and death—show Stomach qi’s paramount importance. Stomach qi is slightly wiry yet harmonious and unhurried: precisely the nature of Earth.
Wang Wenjie’s compiled Pinglin edition carrying Liu Pingzhi’s comments. It compares the Suwen’s descriptions with the Nanjing’s wording (soft, weak, and long / quick arrival, slow departure) and explicitly identifies “qi arriving” as bodily pulse qi, not that of all things. It situates the inquiry into seasonal changes as leading to the five-pathogen discussion, emphasizing Stomach qi through the normal, diseased, and death pulses: slight wiriness with gentle ease corresponds to Earth’s nature.
Source: Nanjing shuzheng 2 fascicles(edition rb00004587・commentator unidentified (examines Xu Dachun, Hua Shou, Yang Xuancao, and others))
十五難〔前段は前曲後居・上下部有脈の割注と元氣の考証〕前曲後居之前後、以始末言也。……脈有根本、人有元氣故知不死。按、元氣者人身所稟天眞本原之氣、六十六難曰臍下腎間動氣者人之生命也、十二經之根本也、故名曰原、三焦者原氣之別使也。〔十五難本文〕十五難曰、經言春脈弦、夏脈鉤、秋脈毛、冬脈石、是王脈耶、將病脈也。然、弦鉤毛石者四時之脈也。春脈弦者肝東方木也……冬脈石者腎北方水也、水凝如石、故其脈之來沈濡而滑、故曰石。此四時之脈也。〔滑注〕此内經平人氣象・玉機眞藏論、參錯其文而爲篇也。春脈弦者肝主筋、應筋之象。
十五難〔前段は前曲後居・上下部有脈の割注と元気の考証〕前曲後居の前後は、始末を以て言うなり。……脈に根本あり、人に元気あり、故に死せざるを知るなり。按ずるに、元気とは人身の禀くる所の天真本原の気なり、六十六難に曰く臍下腎間の動気は人の生命なり、十二経の根本なり、故に名づけて原と曰う、三焦は原気の別使なり。〔十五難本文〕十五難に曰く、経に言う、春脈は弦、夏脈は鉤、秋脈は毛、冬脈は石、是れ王脈なるか、将た病脈なるか。然り、弦鉤毛石は四時の脈なり。春脈の弦なるは肝は東方の木なり……冬脈の石なるは腎は北方の水、水凝りて石のごとし、故に其の脈の来たるや沈濡にして滑なり、故に石と曰う。此れ四時の脈なり。〔滑注〕此れ内経の平人気象論・玉機真蔵論、其の文を参錯して篇と為すなり。春脈の弦なるは肝は筋を主り筋の象に応ず。
Distinctively, the opening of Difficulty 15 includes interlinear notes continuing the previous difficulty’s discussion of “bent in front, staying behind” and the presence or absence of pulses in upper and lower positions, plus extensive textual research on original qi. “Front” and “back” mean the beginning and end of a pulse, not cun and chi. Original qi is the fundamental qi received from Heaven: Difficulty 66’s moving qi below the navel between the Kidneys, the root (yuan) of life and the twelve channels. Citing such works as Chunqiu fanlu and the Hanshu’s treatise on pitch standards and the calendar, it explains that the Triple Burner is the envoy of original qi. It then presents Difficulty 15, asking whether seasonal pulses are normal or diseased and identifying the four forms as seasonal pulses. Hua Shou’s commentary is cited: the chapter interweaves the two Suwen discussions, and spring’s wiriness images the Liver’s governance of sinews.
A text-critical edition examining the views of Xu Dachun, Hua Shou, Yang Xuancao, and others. Its distinctive opening continues the previous difficulty’s interlinear discussion of front-bending/rear-staying and upper/lower pulses, followed by wide-ranging research on original qi centered on Difficulty 66’s moving qi between the Kidneys. For the chapter itself, it cites Hua Shou’s interweaving account to confirm the seasonal pulses and Stomach qi.
Source: Huangdi bashiyi nanjing jishi beikao(edition rb00002419・compiler unidentified (collates the New Collation and other editions))
十五難曰、經言春脈弦、夏脈鈎、秋脈毛、冬脈石、是王脈耶、將病脈也。然、弦鈎毛石者四時之脈也。〔校〕經文見素問平人氣象論及玉機眞藏論、四時之脈謂脈之應乎四時、即王脈也。○聖惠方注云有而字。○脈來間舊有之字、今據玉機眞藏論新校正所引刪。○藏下舊有也字、今據新校正所引刪。〔義〕濡弱而長是弦之正象、否則即爲太過不及之脈也。○按藏府之與五行各有所屬、而春夏秋脈皆以木爲喩者、蓋唯木爲因時遷變也。然春脈弦反者爲病……實強者陽氣盛也、少陽當微弱、今更實強謂之太過、陽處表故令其病在外也。厥陰之氣養於筋、其脈弦、今更虛微故曰不及、陰處中故令其病在内也。○薛庭先生云、厭厭聶聶如循榆葉曰平、當作其脈如榆葉曰平。○按素問平人氣象論曰、平肺脈來厭厭聶聶如落榆莢曰肺平、新校正云、詳越人云厭厭聶聶如循榆葉曰春平脈。
十五難に曰く、経に言う、春脈は弦、夏脈は鈎、秋脈は毛、冬脈は石、是れ王脈なるか、将た病脈なるか。然り、弦鈎毛石は四時の脈なり。〔校〕経文は素問の平人気象論及び玉機真蔵論に見ゆ、四時の脈とは脈の四時に応ずるを謂う、即ち王脈なり。○聖恵方の注に而の字ありと云う。○脈来の間、旧と之の字あり、今玉機真蔵論の新校正の引く所に拠りて刪る。○蔵の下、旧と也の字あり、今新校正の引く所に拠りて刪る。〔義〕濡弱にして長きは是れ弦の正象なり、否らざれば即ち太過不及の脈と為るなり。○按ずるに蔵府と五行とは各おの属する所あり、而して春夏秋の脈皆な木を以て喩うるは、蓋し唯だ木のみ時に因りて遷変すればなり。然り、春脈は弦、反する者を病と為す……実強とは陽気の盛んなるなり、少陽は当に微弱なるべきに、今更に実強なる、之を太過と謂う、陽は表に処る故に其の病をして外に在らしむるなり。厥陰の気は筋を養い、其の脈弦なり、今更に虚微なる故に不及と曰う、陰は中に処る故に其の病をして内に在らしむるなり。○薛庭先生云う、厭厭聶聶として楡葉を循づるがごときを平と曰うは、当に其の脈楡葉のごときを平と曰うに作るべし。○按ずるに素問の平人気象論に曰く、平肺脈の来たること厭厭聶聶として落つる楡莢のごときを肺平と曰う、新校正に云う、詳らかにするに越人は厭厭聶聶として楡葉を循づるがごときを春平脈と云う。
A text-critical work carefully recording variants across editions and the New Collation. It locates the classic’s wording in the Suwen’s two discussions and identifies seasonal pulses as those corresponding to the seasons—that is, flourishing pulses. Individual notes record that Shenghui fang has 而; the old edition’s 之 between 脈 and 來 and 也 after 藏 are deleted on the evidence of quotations in the New Collation of “Jade Pivot and True Visceral Pulses.” Softness, weakness, and length are the proper wiry form; otherwise the pulse is excessive or insufficient. Although the viscera and bowels belong to different phases, spring, summer, and autumn pulses are all compared to trees because trees alone change with the seasons. Excess means yang qi is abundant: shaoyang, properly slight and weak, becomes full and strong; since yang is at the surface, disease is outside. Jueyin qi nourishes the sinews and gives a wiry pulse; when it becomes empty and faint, that is insufficiency, and because yin is within, disease is inside. It also cites Xue Ting’s proposed replacement of “gently, like stroking elm leaves, is normal” with “a pulse like elm leaves is normal,” and the New Collation’s observation that the same Suwen wording describes the normal Lung pulse whereas Yueren uses it for normal spring.
A text-critical compilation collating the New Collation, Shenghui fang, and other witnesses. It identifies the two Suwen source chapters and scrutinizes wording, deleting redundant 之 and 也 on the New Collation’s evidence. It explains excess as shaoyang’s fullness and strength, insufficiency as jueyin’s emptiness and faintness, and documents through Xue Ting and the New Collation the shift from the Suwen’s normal Lung pulse to Yueren’s normal spring pulse.
Source: Nanjing jingshi 2 fascicles(edition rb00004583・Xu Lingtai (Xu Dachun))
十五難曰、經言春脈弦、夏脈鉤、秋脈毛、冬脈石、是王脈邪、將病脈也。然、弦鉤毛石者四時之脈也……此四時之脈也。〔釈〕冬氣歛聚故沈而濡滑水之象也。按、藏府之與五行各有所屬、而春夏秋脈皆以木爲喩者、蓋唯木爲因時遷變也。如有變奈何、變謂失常也。……厭厭素問王冰注以爲浮薄而虛也。按素問平人氣象論云、平肝脈來耎弱招招如揭長竿末梢曰肝平、又云平肺脈來厭厭聶聶如落榆莢曰肺平、蓋形容肺脈如毛之義、今引爲肝平恐不合。……按素問平人氣象論云、病心脈來喘喘連屬其中微曲曰心病、又云實而盈數如雞舉足曰脾病、今引爲心病之脈亦誤。……按素問平人氣象論云、喘喘累累如鉤按之而堅曰腎平、至於如鳥之啄乃脾之死脈、啄啄連屬其中微曲乃心之病脈、不知何以錯誤如此。
十五難に曰く、経に言う、春脈は弦、夏脈は鉤、秋脈は毛、冬脈は石、是れ王脈なるか、将た病脈なるか。然り、弦鉤毛石は四時の脈なり……此れ四時の脈なり。〔釈〕冬気は歛聚す、故に沈にして濡滑なるは水の象なり。按ずるに、蔵府と五行とは各おの属する所あり、而して春夏秋の脈皆な木を以て喩うるは、蓋し唯だ木のみ時に因りて遷変すればなり。変あらば奈何、変とは常を失うを謂うなり。……厭厭は素問の王冰の注に以て浮薄にして虚なりと為す。按ずるに素問の平人気象論に云う、平肝脈の来たること耎弱招招として長竿の末梢を揭ぐるがごときを肝平と曰う、又た云う平肺脈の来たること厭厭聶聶として落つる楡莢のごときを肺平と曰う、蓋し肺脈の毛のごとき義を形容す、今引きて肝平と為すは恐らくは合わず。……按ずるに素問の平人気象論に云う、病心脈の来たること喘喘連属し其の中微かに曲がるを心病と曰う、又た云う実にして盈数、雞の足を挙ぐるがごときを脾病と曰う、今引きて心病の脈と為すも亦た誤りなり。……按ずるに素問の平人気象論に云う、喘喘累累として鉤のごとく之を按じて堅きを腎平と曰う、鳥の啄むがごときに至りては乃ち脾の死脈、啄啄連属し其の中微かに曲がるは乃ち心の病脈なり、何を以て錯誤すること此くのごときかを知らず。
Xu Dachun’s explanation compares each Nanjing expression with the Suwen and sharply identifies displacement in Yueren’s quotations. Winter qi gathers inward, hence the deep, soft, slippery pulse as an image of Water. Although the viscera and bowels have distinct phase affiliations, the spring, summer, and autumn pulses are compared to trees because trees alone change with the seasons; “change” means losing the norm. He particularly questions the Nanjing’s use of “gently, like falling elm pods” for normal Liver when the Suwen uses it for normal Lung (the hairlike pulse). “Full and rapid, like a chicken lifting its foot” originally describes a diseased Spleen pulse, so applying it to diseased Heart (summer) is also an error. A pecking bird originally describes the Spleen death pulse, and “continuous pecking with a slight bend between” a diseased Heart pulse; he cannot explain their misapplication to winter. He thus identifies successive places where Yueren confuses Suwen expressions assigned to different viscera.
Xu Dachun’s explanation is characterized by strict textual investigation. Comparing every pulse expression with the Suwen’s two chapters, it critically identifies alleged misapplications: the gentle expression for normal Lung assigned to normal Liver; chicken-foot-lifting for diseased Spleen assigned to diseased Heart; and bird-pecking (Spleen death) plus continuous, slightly curved pecking (diseased Heart) assigned to winter.
Source: Nanjing wenzi kao 2 fascicles(edition rb00004598・author unidentified (philology and character study))
十五難曰、氣來厭厭攝攝如循楡葉曰平。謹案、厭厭攝攝四字、舊解皆不明。厭厭蓋脈來順從無追戻之貌也、荀子儒效篇曰天下厭然猶一也、楊注云順從之貌。攝攝是整正安柔貌也。肝脈之來以下順從而無逆戻、整正安柔爲肝之平也。此素問平人氣象論雖以此四字爲肺平之脈、如其意義蓋相同矣。○又曰前曲後居如操帶鈎曰死。謹案、居當訓壅閉、王冰以不動釋之恐非。操當訓執持亦恐非、操字有玩弄意、蓋帶鈎着帶而玩弄之、前曲則可弄、後面則相滯壅閉。○又曰其脈來藹藹如車蓋、按之益大曰平。謹案、藹藹蓋雲之升輕浮盈大、故以藹藹形容如車蓋者也。○又曰脈來上大下兌、濡滑如雀之喙曰平。謹案、上下字錯用、是古文一法、下文曰如雀之啄、則其爲錯用可知也。○又曰來如解索、去如彈石曰死。謹案、素問解索作奪索、王注云猶蛇之走也、如解索者言左右紛亂也、奪解亦同義。
十五難に曰く、気来たること厭厭攝攝として楡葉を循づるがごときを平と曰う。謹んで案ずるに、厭厭攝攝の四字、旧解皆な明らかならず。厭厭は蓋し脈来の順従して追戻なきの貌なり、荀子の儒效篇に曰く天下厭然として猶お一のごとし、楊注に順従の貌と云う。攝攝は是れ整正安柔の貌なり。肝脈の来たること以下順従して逆戻なく、整正安柔なるを肝の平と為すなり。此れ素問の平人気象論に此の四字を以て肺平の脈と為すと雖も、其の意義のごときは蓋し相同じ。○又た曰く前曲後居して帯鈎を操るがごときを死と曰う。謹んで案ずるに、居は当に壅閉と訓ずべし、王冰の不動を以て之を釈するは恐らくは非なり。操は当に執持と訓ずべきも亦た恐らくは非なり、操の字に玩弄の意あり、蓋し帯鈎を帯に着けて之を玩弄す、前曲なれば則ち弄すべく、後面なれば則ち相い滞りて壅閉す。○又た曰く其の脈来たること藹藹として車蓋のごとく、之を按じて益ます大なるを平と曰う。謹んで案ずるに、藹藹は蓋し雲の升りて軽浮盈大なり、故に藹藹を以て車蓋のごときを形容するなり。○又た曰く脈来たること上は大に下は兌く、濡滑にして雀の喙のごときを平と曰う。謹んで案ずるに、上下の字は錯用す、是れ古文の一法なり、下文に如雀之啄と曰えば、則ち其の錯用たるを知るべし。○又た曰く来たること解索のごとく、去ること弾石のごときを死と曰う。謹んで案ずるに、素問は解索を奪索に作る、王注に猶お蛇の走るがごとしと云う、解索のごときとは左右の紛乱を言うなり、奪と解も亦た義を同じくす。
A philological work explaining pulse expressions character by character. Finding previous accounts of 厭厭攝攝 unclear, it cites Yang Liang’s Xunzi commentary and other sources: 厭厭 means compliant, not resisting; 攝攝 means orderly, peaceful, and soft. Such a Liver pulse is normal; the Suwen’s application of the same expression to normal Lung has the same meaning. In “bent in front, staying behind, like handling a belt hook,” 居 should mean obstruction or closure, not Wang Bing’s “not moving”; 操 means playing with, not grasping. With the hook attached to the belt and manipulated, the front bends and can be moved, while the rear is held back and obstructed. “Billowing like a carriage canopy” depicts clouds rising, lightly floating, large and full. “Large above, pointed below” exemplifies an ancient prose convention interchanging upper and lower, as the following “like a sparrow’s peck” shows. “Unraveling rope” appears as “snatching rope” in the Suwen and corresponds to Wang’s “like a running snake,” meaning disorder from side to side; 奪 and 解 are treated as equivalent.
A character-based investigation using dictionaries and classical examples to explain pulse language. It precisely defines 厭厭攝攝 as compliant, orderly, peaceful, and soft; 居 as obstruction and 操 as playing with; 藹藹 as clouds’ light, floating fullness; “large above, pointed below” as ancient word transposition; and “unraveling rope” as equivalent to “snatching rope,” indicating side-to-side disorder. It critically revisits Wang Bing and conventional explanations.
Source: Nanjing Huayi buzheng(edition rb00004580・rb00004581・corrector unidentified (corrects and supplements Hua Shou’s Benyi))
十五難。正、厭厭聶聶如循榆葉。瀕湖脈學云、厭厭聶聶輕汎貌、類經云衆苗齊秀貌、經釋云厭厭素問王冰注以爲浮薄而虛也、又云平肺脈來厭厭聶聶如落榆莢曰肺平、蓋形容肺脈如毛之義、今引爲肝平恐不合。或問云、内經厭厭聶聶如落榆莢曰肺平、難經如循榆葉曰肝平、其言雖少異而其義實同也、按難經所述肝肺之平脈前後錯簡也、蓋肝平者和中帶弦也、肺平者和中帶微毛也。如循琅玕、說文云琅玕石之似玉者、爾雅云今南海有青琅玕珊瑚屬也。如操帶鉤、平人氣象論云死心脈來前曲後居如操帶鉤曰心死、類注云操持也、前曲者謂輕取則堅強而不柔、後居者謂重取則牢實而不動、如持革帶之鉤而全失充和之氣、是但鉤無胃也故曰死。藹藹如車蓋、經釋云仲景傷寒論辨脈法云脈藹藹如車蓋者名曰陽結也、此又一義。上大下兌、案是上兌下大之誤。如雀之啄、啄當作喙、平人氣象論云死脾脈來鋭堅如烏之喙如烏之距、類經云言堅鋭不柔也。
十五難。正す、厭厭聶聶として楡葉を循づるがごとし。瀕湖脈学に云う、厭厭聶聶は軽汎の貌、類経に云う衆苗斉秀の貌、経釈に云う厭厭は素問の王冰の注に浮薄にして虚なりと為す、又た云う平肺脈の来たること厭厭聶聶として落つる楡莢のごときを肺平と曰う、蓋し肺脈の毛のごとき義を形容す、今引きて肝平と為すは恐らくは合わず。或問に云う、内経は厭厭聶聶として落つる楡莢のごときを肺平と曰い、難経は楡葉を循づるがごときを肝平と曰う、其の言少しく異なると雖も其の義実は同じ、按ずるに難経の述ぶる所の肝肺の平脈は前後錯簡なり、蓋し肝平は和中に弦を帯び、肺平は和中に微毛を帯ぶるなり。如循琅玕、説文に云う琅玕は玉に似たる石、爾雅に云う今南海に青琅玕あり珊瑚の属なり。如操帯鉤、平人気象論に云う死心脈の来たること前曲後居して帯鉤を操るがごときを心死と曰う、類注に云う操は持つなり、前曲とは軽く取れば堅強にして柔ならざるを謂い、後居とは重く取れば牢実にして動かざるを謂う、革帯の鉤を持つがごとくにして全く充和の気を失う、是れ但だ鉤のみにして胃なきなり故に死と曰う。藹藹如車蓋、経釈に云う仲景の傷寒論辨脈法に脈藹藹として車蓋のごとき者は名づけて陽結と曰うと云う、此れ又た一義なり。上大下兌、案ずるに是れ上兌下大の誤りなり。如雀之啄、啄は当に喙に作るべし、平人気象論に云う死脾脈の来たること鋭堅にして烏の喙のごとく烏の距のごとし、類経に云う堅鋭にして柔ならざるを言うなり。
An edition correcting and supplementing Hua Shou’s Benyi by gathering comments on each pulse expression. For “gently, like stroking elm leaves,” it juxtaposes Binhū maixue (light drifting), Leijing (shoots producing ears together), and Jingshi (Wang Bing’s floating, thin, empty account). Since the Suwen uses this for normal Lung, it questions the Nanjing’s use for normal Liver. Citing Huowen, it says the Neijing’s normal Lung and Nanjing’s normal Liver differ slightly in wording but not meaning: the Nanjing’s normal Liver and Lung passages have been transposed. Normal Liver should be wiriness within harmony, normal Lung slight hairlikeness within harmony. It identifies langgan as a jade-like stone, including green langgan of the southern seas, akin to coral. “Bent in front, staying behind, like grasping a belt hook” is the Suwen’s Heart death pulse, wholly lacking harmonious qi. “Billowing like a carriage canopy” has another meaning in the Shanghan lun, a yang-binding pulse. “Large above, pointed below” should be “pointed above, large below.” In “sparrow’s peck,” 啄 should be 喙 (beak), corresponding to the Suwen’s Spleen death pulse, hard and sharp like a crow’s beak or kicking claws. It corrects and annotates these details one by one.
An edition correcting Hua Shou’s Benyi; rb00004580 and rb00004581 have the same content. Citing Binhū maixue, Leijing, Jingshi, Huowen, Shanghan lun, and many other works, it closely corrects wording and sources for the gentle pulse expression (transposed normal Liver/Lung passages), langgan, front-bending/rear-staying, carriage-canopy billowing (yang-binding), large-above/pointed-below (reversed wording), and sparrow-pecking (啄 to 喙).
Source: Nanjing benyi dachao 20 fascicles, 2 preface fascicles, and 1 collected-studies fascicle(edition rb00004597・Morimoto Shōkei (Genkan), exposition)
十五難曰、經言春脈弦、夏脈鉤、秋脈毛、冬脈石、是王脈邪、將病脈也。△此難言四時之脈也。辨正云、也今作耶。經直承問平人氣象論・玉機眞藏論也。王脈、評林曰、王脈者即七難血脈之證也。病脈、評林曰、病脈者即九難數則爲熱遲則爲寒之謂也。△玉機眞藏論類註曰、弦者端直以長、狀如弓弦有力、然受氣輕虛而滑則弦中自有和意、肝藏主之。其脈之來、素問作其氣來、今越人更氣字作脈字、即解素問氣字之意也。夏脈鉤者、莊子胠篋篇云彼竊鉤者誅、或曰後來以洪代鉤者、蓋以來疾去遲比洪水而用之。評林曰、李瀕湖以來疾爲寸脈去遲爲尺脈者非也。俗解曰、夏之脈來疾而去遲如鉤、是微洪也。
十五難に曰く、経に言う、春脈は弦、夏脈は鉤、秋脈は毛、冬脈は石、是れ王脈なるか、将た病脈なるか。△此の難は四時の脈を言うなり。辨正に云う、也は今耶に作る。経は直ちに問いを承く、平人気象論・玉機真蔵論なり。王脈、評林に曰く、王脈とは即ち七難の血脈の証なり。病脈、評林に曰く、病脈とは即ち九難の数なれば熱と為し遅なれば寒と為すの謂なり。△玉機真蔵論の類註に曰く、弦とは端直にして以て長く、状は弓弦のごとく力あり、然れども気を受くること軽虚にして滑なれば則ち弦の中に自ら和の意あり、肝蔵之を主る。其の脈の来たる、素問は其の気来に作る、今越人は気の字を更めて脈の字に作る、即ち素問の気の字の意を解するなり。夏脈の鉤なるは、荘子の胠篋篇に云う彼の鉤を竊む者は誅せらると、或るひと曰く後来洪を以て鉤に代うるは、蓋し来疾去遅を以て洪水に比して之を用うるなり。評林に曰く、李瀕湖の来疾を以て寸脈と為し去遅を以て尺脈と為すは非なり。俗解に曰く、夏の脈来たること疾く去ること遅くして鉤のごとし、是れ微洪なり。
Morimoto Shōkei’s extensive annotated extracts from the Benyi quote Bianzheng, Pinglin, classified annotations, popular explanations, and other views phrase by phrase. It says this difficulty discusses seasonal pulses, that 也 appears as 耶 in current editions, and that the wording directly follows the two Suwen chapters. Following Pinglin, the flourishing pulse is Difficulty 7’s blood-vessel manifestation, and the diseased pulse Difficulty 9’s “rapid means heat, slow means cold.” For wiriness it cites classified annotations to “Jade Pivot and True Visceral Pulses”: straight, long, and forceful like a bowstring, yet naturally gentle within if its qi is light, empty, and slippery; this is governed by the Liver. Yueren’s replacement of the Suwen’s “its qi arrives” with “its pulse arrives” explains what “qi” means there. For summer’s hookedness, it cites the Zhuangzi’s “Opening Trunks” statement that the thief of a belt hook is executed. Later replacement of the hooked pulse by the surging pulse compares quick arrival and slow departure to floodwater. It juxtaposes Pinglin’s criticism of Li Shizhen for assigning quick arrival to cun and slow departure to chi, and the popular explanation that the summer pulse is hooked—coming quickly, departing slowly—and slightly surging.
Morimoto Shōkei (Genkan)’s extensive Benyi extracts. It cites Japanese and Chinese discussions phrase by phrase: Bianzheng, Pinglin, classified annotations to the Suwen chapter, popular explanations, Li Shizhen’s pulse studies, and Zhuangzi. It elaborates on 也/耶, the flourishing pulse as Difficulty 7’s blood-vessel manifestation and diseased pulse as Difficulty 9’s cold/heat, Yueren’s intention in changing “qi arrives” to “pulse arrives,” and the relationship between quick arrival/slow departure and the surging pulse.
Source: Nanjing chao (undivided into fascicles)(edition rb00008889・rb00019981・excerptor unidentified (lecture-note extracts citing Pinglin and others))
十五難、前曲後居之前後、以始末言也。評林曰、素問岐伯曰、人一呼脈三動一吸脈三動而躁、尺熱曰病溫、尺不熱脈滑曰病風、脈濇曰痺、玄臺此說與熊宗立同、張世賢分前後爲尺寸大小爲寒熱者非、當知六至之脈有熱而無寒也。脈訣刊誤云、難經曰前小後大前大後小、其前後以尺寸論也。一呼四至一吸四至、已下論八動之脈也。評林曰、此言一息十至之脈、或有困於夜者或有困於晝者、夫一息十至即歸墓脈也、若十至中見沈細是陰之極主夜必加病、若十至中見浮大是陽之極主晝必加病、但沈細浮大之中而不乍大乍小者雖危亦有可治、蓋以胃氣尚存故脈猶平和耳。再呼一至再吸一至、評林曰、張世賢以爲一息一至之脈則訛矣、此言二息二至之脈其人必當死也。上部有脈下部無脈、本義曰、此又以脈之有無明上下部之病也。
十五難、前曲後居の前後は、始末を以て言うなり。評林に曰く、素問の岐伯曰く、人一呼に脈三動一吸に脈三動して躁、尺熱するを病温と曰い、尺熱せず脈滑なるを病風と曰い、脈濇なるを痺と曰う、玄臺の此の説は熊宗立と同じ、張世賢の前後を分かちて尺寸と為し大小を寒熱と為すは非なり、当に六至の脈は熱ありて寒なきを知るべし。脈訣刊誤に云う、難経に曰く前小後大前大後小、其の前後は尺寸を以て論ずるなり。一呼四至一吸四至、已下八動の脈を論ずるなり。評林に曰く、此れ一息十至の脈を言う、或いは夜に困む者あり或いは昼に困む者あり、夫れ一息十至は即ち帰墓の脈なり、若し十至の中に沈細を見わすは是れ陰の極、夜を主どり必ず病を加う、若し十至の中に浮大を見わすは是れ陽の極、昼を主どり必ず病を加う、但だ沈細浮大の中にして乍ち大乍ち小ならざる者は危うしと雖も亦た治すべきあり、蓋し胃気尚お存する故に脈猶お平和なるのみ。再呼一至再吸一至、評林に曰く、張世賢の一息一至の脈と為すは則ち訛なり、此れ二息二至の脈にして其の人必ず当に死すべきを言うなり。上部に脈ありて下部に脈なし、本義に曰く、此れ又た脈の有無を以て上下部の病を明かすなり。
Lecture-note extracts explain, with Pinglin and other sources, interlinear notes at the opening of Benyi Difficulty 15 that continue the previous difficulty’s discussion of front-bending/rear-staying, slow and fast pulses, and presence or absence of upper and lower pulses. Front and back refer to beginning and end, not cun and chi. Citing Qibo in the Suwen through Pinglin, it says three agitated beats in one inhalation and exhalation, with heat at chi, mean warm disease; without chi heat, a slippery pulse means wind disease and a rough pulse impediment. Xuantai agrees with Xiong Zongli; Zhang Shixian is wrong to divide front/back into cun/chi and large/small into cold/heat: a six-beat pulse has heat, not cold. Four beats on inhalation and four on exhalation introduce discussion of an eight-beat pulse. Ten beats in a breath is the “returning to the grave” pulse leading to death. A deep, fine pulse marks extreme yin, with illness worsening at night; a floating, large pulse marks extreme yang, with worsening by day. Yet if size does not fluctuate chaotically, Stomach qi remains and the pulse is harmonious, so treatment may succeed despite danger. Zhang Shixian is wrong to read “one beat over two exhalations and one over two inhalations” as one beat per breath: this means two beats over two breaths and, the text says, certain death. It cites the Benyi that a pulse present above but absent below reveals upper/lower disease through pulse presence or absence.
Lecture-note extracts on the opening interlinear annotations of Hua Shou’s Difficulty 15, continuing the previous discussion of front/back, pulse speed, and upper/lower pulse presence. rb00008889 and rb00019981 are of the same lineage. Citing Pinglin, Maijue kanwu, and Benyi, it rejects Zhang Shixian’s account and discusses the ten-beat “returning to the grave” pulse, prognosis through Stomach qi, and the two-beat death pulse.
Source: Nanjing dayan 3 fascicles (upper, middle, lower)(edition rb00019982・rb00004588・rb00004589・author of Dayan (Japanese edition centered on authorial notes))
十五難曰、經言春脈弦、夏脈鉤、秋脈毛、冬脈石、是王脈耶、將病脈也。然、弦鉤毛石者四時之脈也……此四時之脈也。〔按語〕四藏之脈各形而至、莫不至兩手三部而然、主其時而知變、謂之規矩權衡。内經以至難經、見天成於人道、千古聖人之法不可易、言之以後人之言而爲支離於六部、密排高下之際、紊四時於三指、立之法而從則無所觀乎聖人。……曰氣之來、曰脈之來、一息之中致有天倪、緼緼之眞與中焦之和、散於肝而通於心而濡於脾而高於肺而下於腎者、跳然而出、婉然而入。胃者水穀之海、主稟四時、皆以胃氣爲本、是謂四時之變病、死生之要會也。〔按〕五藏者皆稟氣於胃、胃者五藏之本也、藏氣者不能自致於手太陰、必因於胃氣乃至於手太陰也。眞藏論曰、脾脈者土也、孤藏以灌四傍者也、善者不可得見、惡者可見。
十五難に曰く、経に言う、春脈は弦、夏脈は鉤、秋脈は毛、冬脈は石、是れ王脈なるか、将た病脈なるか。然り、弦鉤毛石は四時の脈なり……此れ四時の脈なり。〔按語〕四蔵の脈は各おの形れて至り、両手三部に至りて然らざるはなし、其の時を主どりて変を知る、之を規矩権衡と謂う。内経より難経に至るまで、天の人道に成るを見わす、千古聖人の法は易うべからず、之を後人の言を以て六部に支離し、高下の際に密排し、四時を三指に紊し、法を立てて従わば則ち聖人を観る所なし。……気の来たると曰い、脈の来たると曰う、一息の中に天倪あるを致す、緼緼の真と中焦の和と、肝に散じて心に通じ脾に濡おい肺に高く腎に下る者、跳然として出で、婉然として入る。胃は水穀の海にして四時を主稟し、皆胃気を以て本と為す、是れを四時の変病、死生の要会と謂うなり。〔按〕五蔵は皆な気を胃に稟く、胃は五蔵の本なり、蔵気なる者は自ら手太陰に致すこと能わず、必ず胃気に因りて乃ち手太陰に至るなり。真蔵論に曰く、脾脈は土なり、孤蔵にして以て四傍に灌ぐ者なり、善なる者は見るを得べからず、悪なる者は見るべし。
A Japanese printed edition distinctive for long interspersed discussions expressing the author’s views. The four visceral pulses each show their form at the three positions of both hands, govern their season, and reveal changes: these are the compass, square, weight, and balance—the standards. It criticizes contemporary elaborate pulse-position theories: from the Neijing to the Nanjing, Heaven’s principle appears in human practice, and the sages’ enduring method cannot be changed. Following later theories that subdivide the pulse into six positions, arrange minute upper/lower divisions, and confuse the four seasons among three fingers loses the sages’ intention. Whether one says “qi arrives” or “the pulse arrives,” a breath contains Heaven’s divisions. Undivided true qi and middle-burner harmony spread to the Liver, communicate with the Heart, moisten the Spleen, rise in the Lung, and descend in the Kidney, springing outward and entering gently. The Stomach is the sea of water and grain and governs the seasons; all take Stomach qi as their foundation, the essential point of seasonal disease and life and death. All five viscera receive qi from the Stomach; their qi cannot reach hand taiyin (cunkou) unaided but arrives through Stomach qi. It cites the “True Visceral Pulses” account that the Spleen is Earth, an independent viscus irrigating all directions: its good, harmonious pulse is not seen, only its bad pulse.
A discursive Japanese printed edition inserting long authorial comments. It takes the four visceral pulses as standards and criticizes later subdivision into six pulse positions and confusion of four seasons among three fingers as losing the sages’ intention. Its forceful Stomach-qi-centered pulse theory makes Stomach qi the root of all five viscera, necessary for their qi to reach cunkou, and cites the Spleen as an independent viscus in “True Visceral Pulses.”
Source: Nanjing guankui jingyi(edition rb00004582・author unidentified (essential meanings with Japanese prose))
十五難、脾脈平和、精義第二十。十五難曰、脾者中州也、其平和不可得見、衰乃見耳、云云。〔精義〕素問天元紀・玉機眞藏論ニ平脾脈長夏脈ヲ説ク、此脾ノ平脈モ見ルベキト疑ヒ、越人ニ毫モ不合ニ似タリ。審ニ奧旨ヲ察スルニ各深意アリ、越人ハ四時ヲ主トシ云フ、素問ハ五行ヲ主トシ云フ。夫レ四時ヲ以テ論ズレバ、春夏秋冬ニ於テ弦鉤毛石ノ四脈ヲ見ハス、脾ノ脈專ラ四脈ノ中ニ寄寓シテ專ラ其脈ヲ見ハサズ、是越人脾ノ平脈不可見ト云者也。又五藏ヲ以テ論ズレバ、心肺肝腎上下分レ、脾土其中ニ居ス、一歳ヲ以テ云フトキハ長夏ハ金火ノ間ニ居シテ土ノ事主ナリ、和緩ノ象ヲ形容スベシ、是素問平脾脈長夏ノ脈ヲ説者ナリ。二經ノ説殊ナリト云ヘドモ其義悖ラズ、參看テ其理ヲ明スベシ。
十五難、脾脈平和、精義第二十。十五難に曰く、脾は中州なり、其の平和は見るを得べからず、衰えて乃ち見るるのみ、云云。〔精義〕素問の天元紀・玉機真蔵論に平脾脈・長夏脈を説く、此れ脾の平脈も見るべしと疑い、越人に毫も合わざるに似たり。審らかに奥旨を察するに各おの深意あり、越人は四時を主として云い、素問は五行を主として云う。夫れ四時を以て論ずれば、春夏秋冬に於て弦鉤毛石の四脈を見わし、脾の脈は専ら四脈の中に寄寓して専らには其の脈を見わさず、是れ越人が脾の平脈は見るべからずと云う者なり。又た五蔵を以て論ずれば、心肺肝腎は上下に分れ、脾土は其の中に居す、一歳を以て云う時は長夏は金火の間に居して土の事を主どるなり、和緩の象を形容すべし、是れ素問が平脾脈・長夏の脈を説く者なり。二経の説殊なりと云えども其の義悖らず、参看して其の理を明かすべし。
A work mixing Japanese prose into a discussion of the harmonious Spleen pulse. It poses a problem: the Nanjing says the central Spleen’s harmonious pulse does not appear until decline, but the Suwen’s “Heavenly Origin and Era” and “Jade Pivot and True Visceral Pulses” describe normal Spleen and late-summer pulses. Surely the normal Spleen pulse is visible, seemingly contradicting Yueren. Looking deeper, each has its own intention: Yueren speaks primarily of four seasons, the Suwen of five phases. In four-season terms, spring, summer, autumn, and winter show wiry, hooked, hairlike, and stone-like pulses; the Spleen pulse resides within these and does not appear independently. This is what Yueren means. In five-viscus terms, Heart, Lung, Liver, and Kidney occupy upper/lower divisions with Spleen-Earth at the center. In the year, late summer lies between Metal and Fire and governs Earth’s activity, showing gentle, unhurried qualities: this is the Suwen’s normal Spleen or late-summer pulse. The two classics differ in statement but not meaning; comparing both clarifies the principle.
A discussion mixing Japanese prose, centered on the harmonious Spleen pulse. It reconciles the Nanjing’s invisible-until-decline Spleen pulse with the Suwen’s normal late-summer pulse by distinguishing Yueren’s four-season emphasis from the Suwen’s five phases. In four seasons, Spleen resides within the four pulses without independent appearance; in five phases, central Earth shows gentle ease in late summer. The two classics’ meanings therefore do not conflict.
Source: Nanjing huowen 2 fascicles with 1 supplementary fascicle(edition rb00004599・author unidentified (questions and answers))
十五難、論四時之脈與内經不同、他無大異、而獨肝平脈與内經大不同。難經曰、氣來厭厭聶聶如循楡葉曰肝平、内經厭厭聶聶如落楡莢曰肺平、其言雖少異、所譬諭實同也。難經之譬諭於肝脈是者、内經之譬諭於肺脈非也。以何之譬諭爲當乎。對曰、恐難經所述肝肺之平脈其言前後錯簡歟。蓋肝平者和中帶微弦也、言厭厭聶聶如循榆葉則有輕浮潤滑之意而可象肺脈微毛之體、靄靄如車蓋之益大則其脈圓滑舒張而有帶微弦之體而象微毛不及。如此前後互看、則素難二經雖其言少異、於其理無異也。又問、鉤毛石之有實虛既是病脈也、然又重說一之病脈者何謂也。曰、虛實之脈者猶言強弱、其氣自有太過不及、未失藏胃之和而生病者也。若中和之氣衰而其本脈見多、則爲四時之病脈也、若中和之氣全絶而特見本藏之脈者、爲四時之死脈也。
十五難、四時の脈を論ずるは内経と同じからず、他は大異なきも、独り肝平脈は内経と大いに同じからず。難経に曰く、気来たること厭厭聶聶として楡葉を循づるがごときを肝平と曰い、内経は厭厭聶聶として落つる楡莢のごときを肺平と曰う、其の言少しく異なると雖も、譬諭する所は実は同じきなり。難経の肝脈に譬諭するを是とせば、内経の肺脈に譬諭するは非なり。何れの譬諭を以て当と為すや。対えて曰く、恐らくは難経の述ぶる所の肝肺の平脈は其の言前後錯簡ならんか。蓋し肝平は和中に微弦を帯ぶ、厭厭聶聶として楡葉を循づるがごときと言えば則ち軽浮潤滑の意ありて肺脈微毛の体を象るべく、靄靄として車蓋の益ます大なるがごときと言えば則ち其の脈円滑舒張して微弦を帯ぶる体ありて微毛を象るには及ばず。此くのごとく前後互いに看れば、則ち素難二経は其の言少しく異なると雖も、其の理に於て異なるなし。又た問う、鉤毛石の実虚あるは既に是れ病脈なり、然るに又た重ねて一の病脈を説くとは何の謂ぞや。曰く、虚実の脈とは猶お強弱を言うがごとし、其の気に自ら太過不及ありて、未だ蔵胃の和を失わずして病を生ずる者なり。若し中和の気衰えて其の本脈の見わるること多ければ、則ち四時の病脈と為り、若し中和の気全く絶えて特に本蔵の脈のみを見わす者は、四時の死脈と為るなり。
A question-and-answer work examining doubts about the Nanjing. Seasonal pulses largely agree with the Neijing except for normal Liver: the Nanjing’s “gently, like stroking elm leaves” is assigned to normal Lung in the Neijing. Wording differs slightly but the analogy is the same. If Liver is correct, Lung must be wrong—which is valid? The answer proposes transposed passages: normal Liver has slight wiriness within harmony; stroking elm leaves suggests lightness, floating, moisture, and slipperiness, fitting the normal Lung’s slight hairlikeness. The carriage-canopy pulse that grows larger under pressure, round, slippery, taut, and slightly wiry, fits Liver. Swapping them reconciles the Suwen and Nanjing. It then asks why, if fullness and emptiness in hooked, hairlike, and stone-like pulses already signify disease, another diseased pulse is described. The answer distinguishes strength/weakness: qi may be excessive or insufficient while the viscera and Stomach retain harmony, yet disease occurs. When balanced harmonious qi declines and the characteristic pulse becomes prominent, it is a seasonal diseased pulse; when harmonious qi entirely ceases and only the visceral pulse appears, it is a seasonal death pulse. Thus normal, diseased, and death pulses are differentiated by harmonious qi’s presence or absence.
A question-and-answer examination of Nanjing difficulties focused on the normal Liver passage’s possible transposition. The discrepancy between its “gently, like stroking elm leaves” for Liver and the Neijing’s assignment to Lung is treated as displaced text: swapping normal Liver and Lung reconciles the classics. It also distinguishes disease pulses of fullness/emptiness (strength/weakness) from disease and death pulses caused by decline or extinction of harmonious qi, differentiating the three states by the Stomach’s balanced qi.
Source: (Master Yuyi)Nanjing kao(edition rb00004584・Master Yuyi)
十五難、或曰、難經謂春脈氣來厭厭聶聶如循楡葉曰平、素問人氣象論曰平肝脈來耎弱招招如揭長竿末梢曰肝平、又平肺脈厭厭聶聶如落楡莢曰肺平、越人以平肝脈與平肺同、有說乎。曰、越人探經旨而論之、蓋厭厭聶聶恬靜和緩之謂、實胃氣也。楡葉似山茱萸葉、滑澤、以脈言之濡弱輕虛而滑、端直而以長、此肝實胃氣之脈、雖曰如揭長竿末梢、蓋長乎象長脈、末梢輕虛而和緩、以此象胃氣、文與經不同、理則一也、豈何疑哉。秋脈氣來藹藹如車蓋、按之益大以爲平脈、藹藹衆多皃、來疾之象、車蓋輕而虛之象、輕虛以浮則胃氣也。
十五難、或るひと曰く、難経は春脈の気来たること厭厭聶聶として楡葉を循づるがごときを平と謂い、素問の平人気象論に曰く平肝脈の来たること耎弱招招として長竿の末梢を揭ぐるがごときを肝平と曰い、又た平肺脈は厭厭聶聶として落つる楡莢のごとしと曰う、越人は平肝脈を以て平肺と同じくす、説ありや。曰く、越人は経旨を探りて之を論ず、蓋し厭厭聶聶は恬静和緩の謂、実に胃気なり。楡葉は山茱萸の葉に似て滑沢なり、脈を以て之を言えば濡弱軽虚にして滑、端直にして以て長し、此れ肝の実に胃気の脈なり、如揭長竿末梢と曰うと雖も、蓋し長は長脈を象り、末梢は軽虚にして和緩、此れを以て胃気を象る、文は経と同じからざるも理は則ち一なり、豈に何ぞ疑わんや。秋脈の気来たること藹藹として車蓋のごとく、之を按じて益ます大なるを以て平脈と為す、藹藹は衆多の皃、来疾の象、車蓋は軽くして虚の象、軽虚にして浮くは則ち胃気なり。
A text-critical examination of the Nanjing’s normal Liver pulse disagreement with the Neijing. A questioner notes that the Nanjing calls spring’s gentle elm-leaf pulse normal, whereas the Suwen describes normal Liver as soft and swaying, like lifting the tip of a long pole, and normal Lung as gently falling elm pods. Why does Yueren equate normal Liver with normal Lung? The answer says Yueren investigated the classic’s intention: the gentle expression depicts quiet, harmonious ease, precisely Stomach qi. Elm leaves resemble Cornus officinalis leaves and are smooth; in pulse terms this means soft, light, empty, slippery, straight, and long—the Liver pulse with Stomach qi. “Lifting the tip of a long pole” likewise makes length the long pulse and the light, empty, gentle tip Stomach qi. Wording differs but the principle is one, so there is no reason for doubt. Autumn’s “billowing like a carriage canopy, larger when pressed” is likewise explained: billowing suggests gathering in abundance and rapid arrival; the canopy suggests lightness and emptiness, and light, empty floating is Stomach qi.
A text-critical examination of the normal Liver/Lung discrepancy between the Nanjing and Neijing. It reconciles rather than posits transposition: Yueren sought the classic’s intention, and the gentle expression means quiet, harmonious ease—Stomach qi. Although wording differs from the Suwen, the principle is one. The carriage-canopy expression likewise images Stomach qi’s light, empty floating.
Source: Xinbian sujie bashiyi nanjing tuyao(edition rb00003590・illustrator unidentified (popular explanation))
十五難、四時胃氣之圖。春肝、萬物始生・未有枝葉、來如循長竿・益實而滑、弦―微弦―弦多―但弦。夏心、萬物既茂・垂枝布葉、來如連珠・前曲後居如操帶鉤、鉤―微鉤―鉤多―但鉤。四季脾、脾象中州脈之平和不可得見、水穀之海、來如雀之啄・如水之下漏、脾―無胃氣。秋肺、萬物萎落・華葉而落、不上不下如循鷄羽・按之蕭索如風吹毛、毛―微毛―毛多―但毛。冬腎、萬物之藏・水凝如石、來如解索去如彈石、石―微石―石多―但石。(別に五藏正色臭味形數藏府之圖を掲げ、肝は東・震・木・青・呼・酸・怒・筋・目・三八、心は南・離・火・赤・苦・笑・血脈・舌・二七、脾は中央・坤・土・甘・思・歌・肌肉・口・五十、肺は西・兌・金・白・辛・悲・皮毛・鼻・四九、腎は北・坎・水・鹹・恐・骨・耳・一六を配す。)
十五難、四時胃気の図。春の肝、万物始めて生じ・未だ枝葉あらず、来たること長竿を循づるがごとく・益ます実にして滑、弦―微弦―弦多―但弦。夏の心、万物既に茂り・枝を垂れ葉を布く、来たること連珠のごとく・前は曲がり後は居して帯鉤を操るがごとし、鉤―微鉤―鉤多―但鉤。四季の脾、脾は中州を象り脈の平和は見るを得べからず、水穀の海、来たること雀の啄むがごとく・水の下に漏るるがごとし、脾―胃気なし。秋の肺、万物萎落し・華葉落つ、上らず下らず鷄羽を循づるがごとく・之を按ずれば蕭索として風の毛を吹くがごとし、毛―微毛―毛多―但毛。冬の腎、万物の蔵・水凝りて石のごとし、来たること解索のごとく去ること弾石のごとし、石―微石―石多―但石。(別に五蔵の正色・臭・味・形・数と蔵府の図を掲げ、肝は東・震・木・青・呼・酸・怒・筋・目・三八、心は南・離・火・赤・苦・笑・血脈・舌・二七、脾は中央・坤・土・甘・思・歌・肌肉・口・五十、肺は西・兌・金・白・辛・悲・皮毛・鼻・四九、腎は北・坎・水・鹹・恐・骨・耳・一六を配す。)
An illustrated popular explanation rendering Difficulty 15 immediately visible. Its “Diagram of Seasonal Stomach Qi” arranges spring Liver (things newly growing without branches/leaves; stroking a long pole, fuller and slippery; wiry → slightly wiry → much wiriness → wiriness alone); summer Heart (flourishing things with drooping branches/leaves; linked pearls, front-bending/rear-staying like grasping a belt hook; hooked → slightly hooked → much hookedness → hookedness alone); Spleen across all seasons (central position, invisible harmonious pulse, sea of water and grain; sparrow-pecking and leaking water; Spleen → absence of Stomach qi); autumn Lung (withering things and falling leaves; neither rising nor descending, stroking chicken feathers; desolate under pressure like wind blowing hairs; hairlike → slightly hairlike → much hairlikeness → hairlikeness alone); and winter Kidney (storage and water congealing like stone; arrival like unraveling rope and departure like a flicked stone; stone-like → slightly stone-like → much stone-likeness → stone-likeness alone). It charts diminishing Stomach qi through normality, disease, and death. An accompanying visceral diagram assigns colors, odors, flavors, numbers, and other correspondences to the five viscera.
An illustrated popular explanation mapping Difficulty 15 as a “Diagram of Seasonal Stomach Qi.” For each viscus it aligns seasons, natural imagery, normal-pulse descriptions, and death-pulse terms, charting diminished Stomach qi through stages such as wiry → slightly wiry → much wiriness → wiriness alone, and normality → disease → death. A further visceral diagram assigns colors, odors, flavors, dispositions, bodily tissues, and numbers, supporting visual understanding.
Difficulty 15 asks whether spring’s wiry, summer’s hooked, autumn’s hairlike, and winter’s stone-like pulses are normal flourishing pulses or diseased pulses, answering that each follows its season’s qi. The three perspectives converge on one principle. The four pulses mirror movement of heaven-and-earth qi: spring Wood’s soft first growth gives a soft, weak, long wiry pulse; summer Fire’s peak yang gives quick-arriving, slow-departing hookedness; autumn Metal’s gathering gives light, empty, floating hairlikeness; winter Water’s storage gives the deep stone-like pulse. The annual spiral of generation, growth, gathering, and storage is translated directly into pulse images beneath the fingers. Within this diagnostic interpretation, seasonal pulses provide the baseline: overly full, strong excess means “disease outside,” while empty, faint insufficiency means “disease inside,” orienting exterior/interior and deficiency/excess assessment. Stomach qi is decisive for prognosis. Slight seasonal coloring over a gentle, smooth foundation of water-and-grain qi is normal (life); a starkly strong seasonal pulse with little Stomach qi is disease; complete loss of Stomach qi, leaving only wiriness or stone-likeness—the true visceral pulses of a newly strung bow or unraveling rope/flicked stone—is death in this classical scheme. The unobtrusive harmony of central Earth, Spleen and Stomach, supports the seasons; the Spleen’s appearance as sparrow-pecking or roof-dripping signals collapse. Stomach qi throughout the seasons thus represents the crucial meeting point of life and death, linking heaven, earth, and the human body through one qi.
Difficulty 15 begins with the classic’s spring-wiry, summer-hooked, autumn-hairlike, winter-stone-like statement and asks whether these are flourishing or diseased pulses. It answers that they are seasonal pulses; through excess (“disease outside”) and insufficiency (“disease inside”), presence or absence of Stomach qi distinguishes normality, disease, and death. Philology first asks about sources. Hua Shou’s Benyi treats the chapter as an interweaving of the Suwen’s “Qi and Manifestations of the Healthy Person” and “Jade Pivot and True Visceral Pulses”; Ye Lin and Huang Yuanyu likewise refer it to both. Huang judges its wording somewhat displaced. Indeed, the Suwen’s gentle falling-elm-pods description of hairlikeness (normal Lung) is reassigned by Yueren to spring wiriness (normal Liver). “Like a chicken lifting its foot” (Suwen diseased Spleen) and “billowing like a carriage canopy” (Zhongjing’s yang-binding) also shift position. The Japanese printed Jingshi (edition [14]) identifies these one by one as “probably inappropriate for normal Liver” and “also erroneous”; Jishi beikao ([13]) similarly corrects them through Xue Ting and the New Collation. These are traces of Yueren’s simplifying and rearranging pulse descriptions.
Among textual variants, the normal winter pulse “like a sparrow’s beak” in the base/Benyi text [15] often becomes “like a sparrow’s peck” in Japanese editions ([1][2][6][14]). Beak (the broad-above/pointed-below shape) and pecking (a Spleen death or insufficient pulse) differ in meaning, making 啄 likely erroneous. For normal spring, the base text’s “qi arrives gently” becomes “pulse arrives” in the Dayan lineage ([1][6][8]). Nanjing zhushu ([10]) comments that the Neijing already says “pulse,” while the Nanjing changes this to “qi,” connecting it to Yueren’s emphasis on Stomach qi. The term 太過 is consistently written 大過 inNanjing fahui(edition [2]); 王脈耶 becomes 王脈邪 in Benyi and Jingshi witnesses (耶 and 邪 interchangeable), and variant forms 鉤/鈎 and 榆/楡 coexist in editions [5][12][13][17].
Regarding lineages, one Benyi witness ([4]) opens “What does ‘thus’ mean? Thus means the pulses of the four seasons,” omitting “wiry, hooked, hairlike, and stone-like.” Nanjing zhushu ([17]) contains the obvious printing error “these are flourishing pulses; thus, hooked, hairlike, and stone-like,” dropping 弦. Jishi beikao ([13]) follows the New Collation of “Jade Pivot and True Visceral Pulses” in removing 之 after “pulse arrives” and even records the presence or absence of 而 in Shenghui fang, demonstrating its textual scrutiny.
Commentarial lineages also affect interpretation. The earliest, Lü Guang, explains pulses through five-phase correspondences; Nanjing zhushu ([10]) preserves his lost statement that the Kidney follows Water and is full and firm like stone. Song commentators Yu Shu and Ding Deyong assign excess/insufficiency to internal/external visceral and bowel manifestations. The final Spleen passage diverges in Japanese editions into “water leaking downward” and “water flowing” ([6]). Yu Shu reads sparrow-pecking as insufficiency and downward leaking as excess, described here as contrary to “True Visceral Pulses” (flowing water = excess, bird’s beak = insufficiency). Since the chapter reorganizes the Neijing, many variants do not change the argument, but beak/peck, qi-arrival/pulse-arrival, and omissions cannot be overlooked.
Difficulty 15 asks whether the four seasonal pulses are normal flourishing or diseased pulses and answers through practical pulse interpretation. For a clinician, its notable feature is a three-part presentation: seasonal normal-pulse baselines, how to read departures, and the decisive factor in prognosis.
The baseline seasonal pulses are understood as tactile impressions at the fingertips. Spring wiriness is soft and slender-long, like stroking a bowstring; summer hookedness is quick arrival and slow departure with forward-bending/rear-staying tension; autumn hairlikeness is light and floating like stroking feathers; winter stone-likeness sinks deeply and smoothly. These embody seasonal yang’s waxing and waning. Marginal diagrams in the Japanese printedNanjing benyi(Hua Shou lineage) depict yin–yang equality, expansion, and inward gathering/descent and recommend them as a clinical measure. Because a person’s normal pulse changes with the season, a hairlike pulse in winter is interpreted as a change contrary to the season.
The diagnostic key is distinguishing excess from insufficiency. Overly full, strong pulse qi is excess, with “disease outside (exterior)”; empty, faint pulse qi is insufficiency, with “disease inside (interior).” In this reading, even within one seasonal type, strong resistance to the finger suggests exterior/excess, and weak sinking suggests interior/deficiency, orienting the assessment. Yu Shu and Ye Lin cite the Suwen to connect summer excess with bodily heat and skin pain, and insufficiency with vexation and coughing. The passage can thus be read as a method for inferring disease location and character from the pulse.
Stomach qi is the core of this prognostic interpretation. Slight wiriness, hookedness, hairlikeness, or stone-likeness over a gently harmonious, smooth foundation of water-and-grain qi is normal (life); a strong seasonal pulse with little Stomach qi is disease; complete loss, leaving only wiriness or stone-likeness, is death in the classical account. As Ding Deyong stresses, a seasonal pulse exposed in isolation signals loss of Stomach qi. The death-pulse images—new bowstring, belt hook, windblown hairs, unraveling rope and flicked stone—are true visceral pulses stripped of underlying softness. This clinical interpretation takes them as findings marking the limits of assessment rather than merely targets for treatment.
From the perspective of supplementing/draining and point selection, the proposed logic is to drain excessive qi in excess (exterior/fullness) and supplement to nourish the interior in insufficiency (interior/deficiency), always preserving each viscus’s Stomach qi. The closing Spleen account warns that healthy central Earth does not appear independently in the pulse; appearance as sparrow-pecking or roof-dripping already marks decline. It reiterates the clinical importance assigned here to protecting Spleen and Stomach as the acquired foundation.
Difficulty 15 asks whether the four seasonal pulses are normal flourishing or diseased pulses and answers that each is a flourishing pulse following seasonal qi. It articulates the foundational correspondence between Heaven and humanity: the body’s pulse mirrors the movement of heaven-and-earth qi.
Theoretically, the four pulses embody the five phases’ generation, waxing, and waning. In spring, eastern Wood and the Liver respond to the soft expansion of newly growing things with a soft, weak, long wiry pulse. In summer, southern Fire and the Heart at peak yang produce quick-arriving, slow-departing hookedness. In autumn, western Metal and the Lung at gathering time show light, empty, floating hairlikeness. In winter, northern Water and the Kidney receive storage and congealing qi, giving a deep, soft, slippery stone-like pulse. The annual qi spiral of generation, growth, gathering, and storage is translated into the pulse under the fingers. Hua Shou’s account that the chapter interweaves the two Suwen discussions and that each of the four viscera answers its image likewise clarifies this qi correspondence.
The numerical and qi-theoretical core is “take Stomach qi as the foundation.” The four directional qi of Wood, Fire, Metal, and Water circulate without bias only when nourished by central Earth—the harmonious qi of Spleen and Stomach. Hence slight seasonal coloring, “slightly wiry” or “slightly hooked,” is normal. Li Jiong explains the normal pulse as one part Stomach qi to two parts visceral qi: a numerical balance in which the center nourishes the four. Yu Shu’s statement that the Stomach flourishes in chen, xu, chou, and wei and governs nourishment throughout the seasons likewise assigns Earth to seasonal junctions, permeating the other four phases.
Excess and insufficiency can also be read as qi’s waxing and waning. Overfull strength is excessive yang overflowing outward, so disease is outside; deficient emptiness and faintness are insufficiency shrinking inward within yin, so disease is inside. Disruption in the measure of qi’s ascent, descent, exit, and entry appears directly as a pulse change.
The conclusion says the Spleen pulse is invisible in harmony, appearing as sparrow-pecking or water-leaking with decline. Highlighted by Ding Deyong and Ye Lin, this passage expresses the cosmological principle that central Earth—Stomach qi—supports the seasons while remaining hidden. Unobtrusive balance is life’s foundation; its stark exposure signals collapse. The principle of Stomach qi running through seasonal pulses is thus the vital meeting point of life and death, connecting heaven, earth, and the human body through one qi.
Disagreement chiefly concerns the text and its correspondences. First, sources and composition: Hua Shou sees an interweaving of the two Suwen chapters, while Huang Yuanyu judges expressions somewhat displaced. Reassignment of the Suwen’s gentle normal-Lung description to spring wiriness shows rearrangement; Jingshi and Jishi beikao correct such cases as inappropriate for normal Liver. Second, characters: many Japanese editions change the normal winter “sparrow’s beak” to “sparrow’s peck.” Beak and pecking—the latter a Spleen death pulse—differ, so 啄 is likely erroneous. The qi-arrival/pulse-arrival distinction in the Dayan lineage also concerns Yueren’s emphasis on Stomach qi. Third, the Spleen passage: Yu Shu reads sparrow-pecking as insufficiency and downward water-leaking as excess, described here as contrary to “True Visceral Pulses” (flowing water = excess, bird’s beak = insufficiency). Japanese endings likewise diverge into “water leaking downward” and “water flowing.”