脉经卷二 - 脉经

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Mai Jing Volume II

Overall Paraphrased Translation

"Mai Jing" Volume II contains four chapters in total, with the core principle being "determining the viscera and bowels by pulse, attributing the viscera and bowels to the meridians and collaterals, and discussing deficiency and excess through the meridians." The extensive correspondences of "symptoms - pulse manifestations - treatment methods" throughout the chapters represent a compilation of pulse diagnosis and meridian syndrome differentiation literature from the Han, Wei, and Western and Eastern Jin dynasties.

I. First Chapter: Calibrating the Twenty-Four Qi Pulses of the Three Guan Divisions (Yin and Yang)

Ancient physicians divided the Cun, Guan, and Chi positions on the left and right hands into Yin and Yang respectively, yielding a total of twenty-four pulse qi divisions. The correspondences are as follows:

Hand	Cun Kou (before Guan)	Guan Shang (at Guan)	Chi Zhong (after Guan)
Left Hand	Yang governs the Small Intestine, Yin governs the Heart	Yang governs the Gallbladder, Yin governs the Liver	Yang governs the Bladder, Yin governs the Kidney
Right Hand	Yang governs the Large Intestine, Yin governs the Lung	Yang governs the Stomach, Yin governs the Spleen	Yang governs the Uterus (or Bladder), Yin governs the Kidney

"Yang exhaustion (Yang Jue)" or "Yin exhaustion (Yin Jue)" refers to the decline of pulse qi at that particular position, where the pulse is faint and difficult to palpate; "Yang excess (Yang Shi)" or "Yin excess (Yin Shi)" refers to the excess of pulse qi at that position. Each entry follows a uniform format: pulse manifestation at a specific position (exhausted or excess) → corresponding viscera/bowel → associated symptoms → needling a specific meridian and acupoint.

For example:

Yang exhaustion (Yang Jue) at the left hand Cun Kou: Ancient physicians believed this indicated "no Small Intestine pulse," manifesting as blockage and obstruction in the navel region, hernia and palpable masses in the lower abdomen, and in the fifth month, cold pathogen rising upward to attack the chest and heart; needling the Pericardium Meridian of Hand-Jueyin at the PC-7 (Daling) acupoint.
Yang excess (Yang Shi) at the left hand Cun Kou: Small Intestine excess-heat, urgent pain beneath the heart, reddish-yellow urine; needling the Small Intestine Meridian of Hand-Taiyang at the SI-3 (Houxi) acupoint.
Yin excess (Yin Shi) at the left hand Guan Shang: Liver excess, muscle pain, susceptibility to muscle cramps; needling the Liver Meridian of Foot-Jueyin.
Yin excess (Yin Shi) at the right hand, after Guan in the Chi position: Kidney excess, bone pain, lower back and spinal pain, alternating internal chills and fever; needling the Kidney Meridian of Foot-Shaoyin.

The entire chapter emphasizes the one-to-one correspondence between pulse positions—viscera and bowels—meridians and collaterals—pathological manifestations, and that Yin disorders can be needled at Yang meridians, while Yang disorders can be needled at Yin meridians, reflecting the mutual cooperation of the exterior-interior meridian pairs.

II. Second Chapter: Calibrating the Anterior-Posterior Pulses of Renying, Shenmen, and Qikou

This chapter uses the anterior-posterior pulses of Renying, Qikou, and Shenmen to differentiate the deficiency and excess of the viscera and bowels. The left Cun position governs the Heart and Small Intestine, the left Guan position governs the Liver and Gallbladder, the left Chi position governs the Kidney and Bladder; the right Cun position governs the Lung and Large Intestine, the right Guan position governs the Spleen and Stomach, and the right Chi position governs the Kidney and Bladder. Each viscera/bowel is differentiated into excess and deficiency, with additional listings of combined excess and combined deficiency reflecting the exterior-interior relationships.

For example:

Heart excess: Difficult bowel movements, abdominal fullness, body heat, stomach distension.
Heart deficiency: Palpitations and fearfulness, unhappiness, heart and abdominal pain, absentmindedness.
Liver excess: Pain in both hypochondriac regions, irritability.
Liver deficiency: Abdominal fullness, loss of appetite, irregular menstruation in women.
Stomach excess: Hard, painful, and hot abdomen, dry lips and mouth.
Spleen and Stomach combined deficiency: A feeling of emptiness in the stomach, shortness of breath, cold extremities, incessant diarrhea.

This chapter categorizes pathological manifestations according to the viscera-bowel exterior-interior system, facilitating the deduction of the diseased location from the pulse positions.

III. Third Chapter: Calibrating the Pathological Manifestations of the Three Guan Divisions and Their Treatment Principles

This chapter is a clinical record of "pulse manifestations indicating disease + ancient treatment methods," divided into seventeen entries for the Cun position, eighteen entries for the Guan position, and sixteen entries for the Chi position. Pulse manifestations include: Floating (Fu), Tight (Jin), Minute (Wei), Rapid (Shuo), Relaxed (Huan), Slippery (Hua), Wiry (Xian), Weak (Ruo), Rough (Se), Hollow (Kou), Hidden (Fu), Deep (Chen), Soft (Ru), Slow (Chi), Excess (Shi), Fine (Xi), Surging (Hong), Firm (Lao), etc.

Basic patterns:

Floating (Fu): Generally indicates wind pathogen at the exterior, deficiency with fullness.
Tight (Jin): Generally indicates cold pathogen and pain.
Rapid (Shuo): Generally indicates heat.
Relaxed (Huan): Generally indicates wind and Spleen weakness.
Slippery (Hua): Generally indicates heat-excess and qi congestion.
Wiry (Xian): Generally indicates qi stagnation, fluid retention, and cold.
Weak (Ruo): Generally indicates qi deficiency.
Rough (Se): Generally indicates blood deficiency and qi stagnation.
Hollow (Kou): Generally indicates blood loss.
Hidden (Fu): Generally indicates qi blockage and fluid retention.
Deep (Chen): Generally indicates interior syndrome and water qi.
Soft (Ru): Generally indicates deficiency consumption and dampness stagnation.
Slow (Chi): Generally indicates cold.
Firm (Lao): Generally indicates interior excess and cold hernia.

The original text records after each entry such recommendations as "appropriate to take a certain decoction, needle a certain acupoint, moxa a certain location, apply a certain ointment," etc. For example: a Floating pulse at the Cun position indicates wind-strike with fever and headache; ancient physicians treated it with methods of dispersing wind and relieving the exterior, harmonizing nutritive and defensive qi, supplemented by needling Fengchi (GB-20) and Fengfu (GV-16). A Slow pulse at the Chi position indicates cold in the lower burner; ancient physicians regulated it with warming yang and dissipating cold methods.

These records represent the clinical reasoning of ancient physicians, embodying the therapeutic principles of treating cold with heat, treating heat with cold, supplementing deficiency, and draining excess. The specific formulas, medicinals, and acupuncture procedures must be used by modern licensed practitioners based on the patient's condition and in accordance with standard protocols; they cannot be directly applied from ancient texts.

IV. Fourth Chapter: Calibrating the Diseases of the Eight Extraordinary Meridians

This chapter employs a question-and-answer format to explain the Eight Extraordinary Meridians. The Eight Extraordinary Meridians are: Yang Wei, Yin Wei, Yang Qiao, Yin Qiao, Chong, Du, Ren, and Dai. They are "not restricted to the Twelve Regular Meridians," analogous to great reservoirs beyond the irrigation channels — the Twelve Regular Meridians are the main channels, while the Extraordinary Meridians are the lakes and marshes that store and regulate overflow; when qi and blood of the Twelve Regular Meridians are replete, the surplus overflows into the Extraordinary Meridians for storage; when the Twelve Regular Meridians are deficient, the Extraordinary Meridians can supply replenishment.

The pathways and key pathological manifestations of the Eight Extraordinary Meridians are as follows:

Yang Wei and Yin Wei: They bind and connect all the Yang meridians and Yin meridians of the body. Disease of the Yang Wei manifests as alternating chills and fever; disease of the Yin Wei manifests as heart pain.
Yang Qiao and Yin Qiao: Both originate at the heel, ascending along the lateral malleolus and medial malleolus respectively. Disease of the Yang Qiao manifests as spasm of the lateral (outer) aspect and relaxation of the medial (inner) aspect; disease of the Yin Qiao manifests as spasm of the medial (inner) aspect and relaxation of the lateral (outer) aspect.
Chong Meridian: The Sea of the Yin Meridians, originating at Guanyuan (CV-4) or Qichong (ST-30), ascending beside the umbilicus to the throat. Disease manifests as reversed qi flow and abdominal spasm.
Du Meridian: The Sea of the Yang Meridians, originating at the lower extremity (perineum), traveling within the spinal column to Fengfu (GV-16). Disease manifests as stiffness of the spine and back, and syncope.
Ren Meridian: Originating at the uterine gate, ascending beside the umbilicus to the chest. Disease manifests as the seven types of hernia in men and accumulations and masses in women.
Dai Meridian: Originating at the floating ribs, encircling the waist like a belt. Disease manifests as abdominal fullness and a feeling of lumbar laxity as if sitting in water.

Regarding pulse diagnosis, the chapter records: pulse at both Cun and Chi positions being Floating, and straight- ascending-straight-descending, indicates the Du Meridian; pulse at both Cun and Chi positions being Firm, and straight-ascending-straight-descending, indicates the Chong Meridian; a rounded, bead-like pulse at the edge of the transverse Cun Kou indicates the Ren Meridian; fine and soft, lingering pulses at the Yin and Yang positions of both hands indicate the Yin Qiao and Yang Qiao. These are descriptions of characteristic pulse manifestations for Extraordinary Meridian disorders and may be studied, but should not be used as independent diagnostic criteria.

🧠 Deep Understanding

Core Principles 💡

Holographic Correspondence of Pulse Positions: The Cun, Guan, and Chi positions on the left and right hands correspond to the viscera and bowels, forming a diagnostic model in which "the local reflects the whole."
Yin-Yang Deficiency-Excess as the Guideline: The exhaustion, excess, deficiency, and repletion of the pulse serve as the core basis for determining the rise and decline of the viscera and bowels.
Mutual Treatment of Exterior-Interior Meridians: For example, Small Intestine disorders are needled at the Pericardium Meridian, and Kidney disorders may be needled at the Bladder Meridian, reflecting the complementary relationship between viscera-bowels exterior-interior pairs and Yin-Yang meridians.
Extraordinary Meridian Theory: The Eight Extraordinary Meridians serve as the regulatory system for the Twelve Regular Meridians, representing an ancient explanatory model of the "trunk—storage/overflow" structure of qi and blood circulation.

Modern Perspectives 🌟

The pulse diagnostic concept that "a specific position corresponds to a specific viscera" is an ancient visceral manifestation (zangxiang) model that cannot be directly mapped to modern anatomy; it contains early sprouts of systems theory and holographic thinking.
Basic pulse qualities such as Floating, Deep, Rapid, Slow, Deficient, and Excess bear partial correlation with heart rate, vascular filling, peripheral resistance, and autonomic nervous system state, but pulse diagnosis is highly subjective and must be integrated with modern examinations.
Expressions in the text such as "seeing ghosts," "dreaming of entering water and seeing ghosts," and "death from ghostly influences" reflect the cultural explanations ancient people gave to psychiatric and neurological symptoms; these should be viewed rationally and not mystified.
The medicinal formulas and acupuncture content belong to classical literature and cannot replace modern diagnosis and treatment; in particular, the correspondence of "a specific pulse must require a specific formula" is far too simplistic for actual clinical practice.

Health Cultivation Insights ⚡

Emotional Balance: Anger harms the Liver, fear harms the Kidney, and excessive rumination harms the Spleen; avoid prolonged extreme emotional states.
Moderation in Diet: The Spleen and Stomach are the root of acquired constitution; avoid overeating and regulate intake of raw and cold foods.
Avoid Cold in Daily Life: Keep the lower back, abdomen, and feet warm to reduce cold pathogen entering from below.
Balance Work and Rest: Excessive fatigue depletes Kidney essence, qi, and blood; maintain a regular daily routine.
Do Not Self-Treat Symptoms: Palpitations, dizziness, abdominal pain, and urinary abnormalities should receive prompt medical attention; do not use ancient text entries as a self-prescription manual.

📚 Related Knowledge

Related Concepts

Three Positions and Nine Indicators (San Bu Jiu Hou): An ancient pulse method that later evolved into taking only the radial artery at the wrist (Cun Kou).
Cun Kou Pulse Method: Divided into Cun, Guan, and Chi positions corresponding to different viscera and bowels.
Renying-Qikou Pulse Method: Compares the Renying (carotid) and Qikou (radial) pulses to assess the rise and decline of the viscera and bowels.
Viscera-Bowel and Meridian Exterior-Interior Relationships: Heart with Small Intestine, Liver with Gallbladder, Spleen with Stomach, Lung with Large Intestine, Kidney with Bladder, etc.
Eight Extraordinary Meridians: Chong, Ren, Du, Dai, Yang Wei, Yin Wei, Yang Qiao, and Yin Qiao.
Pulse Manifestations and Indicated Diseases: Clinical significance of basic pulse qualities including Floating, Deep, Slow, Rapid, Deficient, Excess, Slippery, and Rough.