Loading...
Chapter 11 of 28
濒湖脉学
Overall Paraphrase
Binhu Maixue: Short Pulse discusses the short pulse. The short pulse belongs to the yin pulse category (a type of pulse reflecting deficiency, interior, and relative stillness). Its core characteristic is "not reaching its proper position": a normal pulse should fully occupy each of the cun, guan, and chi positions respectively, whereas the short pulse returns upon contact, with a shortened pulse body that cannot fill the entire position.
The Maijue states that the short pulse "does not reach its proper position," and the Maijing says it "returns upon contact and cannot fill the portion," meaning that just as the finger feels the pulsation, the pulse retreats and cannot fill that region. Dai Tongfu held that the short pulse generally appears only at the cun or chi position; if the guan position alone shows a short pulse—unable to reach upward to the cun or downward to the chi—the ancients regarded this as a "yin-yang severed pulse" indicating an extremely critical condition, hence the saying "the guan position is not examined for shortness." Li Jushi stated that long and short pulses have no absolutely fixed length, but rather depend on whether the pulse body exceeds or falls short of its proper position: when the pulsation range exceeds the proper position, it is called a long pulse; when it falls short, it is called a short pulse.
The long pulse corresponds to Liver Wood and is appropriate to appear predominantly in spring; the short pulse corresponds to Lung Metal and is appropriate to appear predominantly in autumn. When examining the states of the liver and lungs, long and short pulse patterns will manifest naturally. The short pulse is characterized by "absent at both ends, present in the middle"—unable to fill its proper position. The ancients believed this results from qi deficiency, where qi lacks the strength to lead blood circulation forward 💨.
The Form and Similarity poem states: a pulse body that is constricted at both ends is called a short pulse; short, choppy, slow, and thin pulses often resemble one another and are difficult to distinguish under the fingers. A short, choppy, and floating pulse appearing in autumn is favorable; if seen in spring, it indicates pathogenic invasion. Choppy pulse, faint pulse, stirring pulse, and bound pulse may all present with a concurrent short pulse quality.
The Disease-Indication poem states: the short pulse is primarily sought at the cun and chi positions. Short-slippery-rapid pulses are often related to excessive drinking and impairment of spirit-qi; short-floating pulses indicate sluggish blood flow; short-sunken pulses indicate obstructions and fullness. When the short pulse appears at the cun position, the ancients commonly associated it with headache; at the chi position, with abdominal pain. The classics state: "Shortness indicates qi disease," and the short pulse primarily reflects conditions of deficiency and insufficiency.
The essence of the short pulse is the pulse body not reaching its proper position—the pulsation range is shortened and cannot fill the corresponding portion of the radial pulse. The ancients explained this phenomenon through the relationship between qi and blood: qi is the commander of blood, driving blood circulation within the vessels; if qi is deficient and propulsion is weak, blood cannot adequately fill the vessels, resulting in a short pulse. Thus "shortness indicates qi disease" and "short pulse indicates deficiency conditions" became its core conclusions.
In terms of zang-fu correspondence, the short pulse belongs to Lung Metal and corresponds to autumn; the long pulse belongs to Liver Wood and corresponds to spring. This employs the framework of the five phases and four seasons to explain the physiological adaptability of pulse patterns: in autumn, with its contracting nature and the lung governing qi, a somewhat shortened pulse can be viewed as seasonally appropriate; in spring, with its ascending and dispersing nature and the liver governing free coursing, a longer pulse is more attuned to the season. If the opposite occurs, the ancients regarded it as disharmony between the season and visceral qi—"pathogenic interference."
The principle "the guan position is not examined for shortness" reflects the ancients' special understanding of the guan position. The guan lies between the cun and chi, regarded as the boundary between yin and yang. Since the short pulse already reflects failure of qi to course through, if the guan alone presents with shortness—unable to connect upward or downward—the ancients considered this a critical manifestation of yin and yang failing to meet. This belongs to traditional experiential judgment in pulse diagnosis and cannot be equated directly with modern prognosis.
From a modern perspective, the short pulse is a subjective tactile experience in traditional Chinese pulse diagnosis, primarily describing a relatively shortened pulsation range that cannot fill the position. It may relate to the combined perception of stroke volume, vascular filling, and peripheral vascular status by traditional physicians, but it cannot be directly mapped to modern anatomical or physiological parameters. Current pulse diagnosis research still lacks standardized objective criteria, and the modern pathological significance of the short pulse lacks clear evidence.
Statements in the original text such as "short-slippery-rapid from alcohol damaging the spirit" and "cun shortness indicates headache, chi shortness indicates abdominal pain" represent the ancients' empirical correlations between pulse patterns, symptoms, and etiologies. These have certain historical and cultural value but do not equate to modern diagnostic standards. Expressions like "certain death" and "yin-yang severed pulse" are empirical judgments from antiquity regarding critical conditions, carrying the limitations of their era and cannot be directly applied to today's patient assessment.
The short pulse suggests a tendency toward "qi deficiency," so daily health maintenance may focus on protecting the body's qi:
The above are general lifestyle suggestions only and are not directed at any specific disease.
Related Concepts:
Further Reading:
This content is based on classical Chinese medicine texts and is provided solely for traditional cultural study and research. It does not constitute any medical diagnosis, medication, or treatment advice. Please consult a healthcare professional if you are unwell.