Chinese/Japanese Pulse Image chart: Vacuous Pulse (xumai)

Illustration of Vacuous Pulse (xumai) 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 Vacuous Pulse is as follows. It feels empty and hollow; when palpated lightly (ju, lit. raised) it feels feeble and flaccid; it is flaccid when pressed, and like a catkin to the touch. Vacuous Pulse relates to deficiency syndromes (xuzheng), cold syndromes (hanzheng), weakness in the legs, digestive problems, and heat damage. Vacuous Pulse at the renying (Human Welcome) point relates to weakness and constant fright, and lack of Qi and apnoea leading to death.