Chinese/Japanese Pulse Image chart: Faint Pulse (weimai)

Illustration of Faint Pulse (weimai) from Renyuan maiying guizhi tushuo (Pictorial Handbook of Pulse Images Based on the Person). This is a specialist text on pulse diagnosis attributed to the third-century master Shuhe, edited and revised by Shen Jifen in the Ming period (1368-1644). It discusses various pulse images and the medical conditions to which they relate, and contains 48 pulse image diagrams. This undated edition was engraved and published in Japan.

The text states: The pulse image of Faint Pulse is as follows. When pressed, it is almost imperceptible; and when palpated lightly (ju, lit. raised), it cannot be felt at all. On examination, it comes and goes beneath the fingers like a soft thread, more clearly present with deep palpation. Faint Pulse (weimai) relates to Qi vacuity (qi xu). If present at the cun (Inch) pulse sector of the wrist, it relates to cold Qi in the chest; at the guan (Pass) sector, it relates to cold in the stomach; and at the chi (Foot) sector, it relates to retrograde cold (jueni) and tightness in the abdomen.