Chinese/Japanese Pulse Image chart: Vine Pulse

Illustration of Vine Pulse (tengman mai) 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: Vine Pulse is one of the Sixteen Weird Pulses (guai mai). It is also known as Flying Corpse (fei shi) pulse. Its pulse image is like wisteria branches, creeping and spreading beneath the fingers. It feels scanty when pressed, but full when palpated lightly (ju, lit. raised). It occurs nine or ten times for each sequence of exhalation and inhalation. If this pulse is found at the guan (Pass) pulse sector of the wrist, death will ensue within one day.