• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.1347-1353
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• 2008

Pulse condition is the essential division for conducting pulse diagnosis which is one of the most fundamental and important diagnostics in traditional Korean/Chinese medicine. We studied the pulse condition referred to classics of traditional medicine for a full understanding in present time and come to a conclusion like below. The reference to pulse condition was concluded to 'twenty four pulse conditions' which is the fundamental conception generally accepted in present age since it had first mentioned in "Huangdi Neijing" and after it had passed through "Nanjing", "pulse pattern identification-chapter of normal pulse"of Zhang Zhongjing and reached "Maijing"of Wang Shuhe. Although medical partitioners had different views to some extent about pulse condition, there were no significant differences in the main theoretical frame. Even though there had been a diversity of opinions on the classification of pulse-condition between various medical practitioners, the method of Dae-dae and the method of systematic endeavored by Zhou Xueting and Zhou Xuehai who were medical scholars in the Ch'ing dynasty have been a criterion for the classification of pulse-condition up to date. We were able to recognize that the change of pulse condition caused by pathological situation should be compared to physiological pulse condition for detecting the deficiency and excess by researching the analyzing methods of pulse condition mentioned in the "Lingshu", and the book of Hua Shou and Zhou Xuehai). To sum up, first normal pulse which is the physiological pulse condition should be a standard for detecting physiological pulse condition. Secondly, Zhou Xueting insisted that relaxed pulse should be a standard pulse condition for detecting normal pulse.