Chinese/Japanese Pulse Image chart: Director Vessel (renmai)

Illustration of the Director Vessel (pulse) 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 text states: Renmai (the Director Vessel, often translated as Conception Vessel) originates below the navel. Its pulse image is like a string of cash, with a tail but no head. It circulates inside the abdomen, ascending to the fengmen (Wind Portal) point. Illnesses related to the Director Vessel are metrorrhagia and metrostaxis (benglou), vaginal discharge, weakness in the limbs, etc.