Chinese/Japanese Pulse Image chart: Throbbing Pulse (dongmai)

Illustration of Throbbing Pulse (dongmai) 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: With regard to the pulse image of Throbbing Pulse, it does not come and go beneath the fingers, and does not move from its location. It has the three characteristic features of slipperiness, frequency and brevity. It is generally seen in fear (jingkong) and pain conditions. Fear with disordered Qi, and pain with stagnated Qi (qijie) are indicators of conflict between Yin and Yang.