伏脈 Fu Mai, Hidden

N/A

“Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion Reivised Edition” – Cheng

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HIDDEN PULSE

Hidden has the meaning of extremely hidden. The hidden pulse is in the deepest section of the muscle,
the pulse moves within the tendon and bone and it requires heavy pressing and pushing of the tendon
and bone to begin to feel it clearly. The Mai Jing states: 'A hidden pulse: extremely heavy finger pressing,
and finding the bone, and then it is obtained.' Li Zhong Zi even more clearly stated: 'Hidden is extremely
hidden, even lower than deep; push the sinew and find the bone, and then begin to feel its form.'

“Practical Diagnosis of Traditional Chinese Medicine” – Deng

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Hidden

The Hidden pulse is simply an extreme case of a Deep pulse: it is deeper than the Deep pulse and can be
felt only with a very strong pressure at a very deep level near the bone.

“Diagnosis in Chinese Medicine” – Maciocia

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The hidden pulse is deeper than the sinking pulse and strong pressure to the bone level most be applied
before it can be felt.

“Pulse Diagnosis by Li Shi Zhen” – Huynh

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The hidden pulse (伏脈 fu mai) is even deeper than the sunken pulse and considerable pressure has to
be applied in order to feel it. "The hidden pulse is found by pressing through the sinews right to the
bone."

“Fundamentals of Chinese Medicine” – Ellis & Wiseman

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Hidden Pulse (Yin)

When pressing the sinews heavily, the pulse cannot be palpated until one feels the bone. When the
pulse is extremely deep, it is described as hidden.

“Li Shi Zhen’s Pulse Studies, An Illustrated Guide” – Li & Morris

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A hidden pulse (fu mai) is an extreme form of the sinking pulse. Intense pressure must be applied to feel
it.

“The Web has no Weaver, Understanding Chinese Medicine” – Kaptchuk

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Hidden Pulses (Fu Mai)

Their pulses are deeply situated and impalpable unless pressed hard to the bone. The more serious a
condition is, the more pressure is needed to palpate the hidden pulse.

“Fundamentals of Acupuncture & Moxibustion” – Liu

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The hidden pulse (伏脈 fu mai) is even deeper than the sunken pulse and considerable pressure has to
be applied in order to feel it. "The hidden pulse is found by pressing through the sinews right to the
bone."

“Practical Dictionary of Chinese Medicine” – Wiseman

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XXII. HIDDEN PULSE (Fu Mai)

DESCRIPTION: The pulse cannot be felt when touching, seeking, or pressing. Only by pressing very
heavily to the bone can it be felt. The pulsation seems to come from beneath the tendons and bone.

KEY POINT: very deep

“Traditional Chinese Medicine, Diagnosis Study Guide” – Yi & Stone

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A pulse which can only be felt on pressing to the bone, situated even deeper than deep pulse, is called
伏脈 [fu mai). Most authors render it as "hidden pulse". A few authors use the words "deep-sited" or
"stealthy" to describe this pulse.

“On the Standard of Nomenclature of Traditional Chinese Medicine” – Xie

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The hidden pulse is a pulse imperceptible till the fingers touch the bone with extremely heavy pressure
[said in another version to be hardly (felt) pulsating under the fingers; in still another version, to be
impotent when pressure is applied and absent when pressure is released; said in yet another version to
be known as a deep pulse not emerging in the guan].

“The Pulse Classic” – Wang

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The Recondite Pulse (pulsus subreptus, fu mo)

Iconography

A pulse hidden away in the depth. It can only be detected weakly upon the application of extreme
pressure against the bone or the sinews. and even then is easily lost again.

“Chinese Medical Diagnostics, Comprehensive Textbook” – Porkert

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Fu mai, hidden pulse:

Difficult to feel, under the sinews, not obvious, requires heavy pressure to the bone to obtain.

This is also a subspecies of deep pulse. It is also a difficult-to-find pulse. It is difficult to find because it is
a very, very deep pulse. One must press with very heavy pressure to find it. In other words, it is even
deeper than the deep pulse. The hidden pulse must be found very deep and close to the bone. When
one finds this pulse, it is also fine and forceless. Hua Bo-ren emphasizes that this pulse is difficult to find
when he says: "Hidden, it is not apparent."

Definition to memorize:

1. Very deep

2. Fine

3. Forceless

“The Secret of Chinese Pulse Diagnosis” – Flaws

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Hidden: Clear with heavy pressing, finally obtained when the bone is found.

“Chinese Medicine Study Guide” – Chen

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Hidden pulse 伏脈 a pulse which can only be felt upon pressing to the bone, located deeper than sunken
pulse or even totally hidden.

“WHO INTERNATIONAL STANDARD TERMINOLOGIES ON TRADITIONAL MEDICINE IN THE WESTERN

PACIFIC REGION”