Interesting TCM Facts 101: Pulse Taking with a String

In ancient China, the conservative cultural environment was such that men and women were not supposed to touch each other casually. The Chinese term “男女授受不亲” says it all.

This was especially so for Imperial Doctors treating the Empresses and Concubines. Therefore Imperial Doctors used string tied to the wrist of the VIP lady patient and feel for her pulse at the other end of the string. The term of this intricate diagnostic method of pulse taking was called “悬丝诊脉”.  It was true that this method was used in the past dynasties but of course other TCM diagnostic methods such as seeing, asking, listening etc. were implemented together to get an accurate diagnosis in the end.

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Nevertheless the famous physician in Tang Dynasty called Sun Simiao, who was also known as the King of Chinese Medicine had his story of Pulse Diagnosis with a String widely circulated in China.

Sun was a practicing TCM doctor among the commoners but his skills and ethics were famous among the people. One day the Empress Zhangsun, wife of Emperor Tang Taizong was pregnant for ten months but still could not give birth to the baby. All the Imperial Physicians had no solution. Then one of the ministers recommended Sun who was famous for being able to cure intractable diseases. He was summoned to the Imperial Palace but the Imperial Physicians were worried that if Sun cured the Empress, their status would be threatened. Hence the Imperial Physicians proposed to the Emperor that Sun was of an inferior status and should not be allowed to get close to nor touch the Empress. It was Sun that suggested that he could use a string for Pulse Taking. A red string was then tied to the Empress’ wrist and Sun held on the other end of the string. After a short while, he announced that he had known the Empress’ condition and that he only need to stick one needle to the Empress hand and she could give birth to the baby. Which he did and the outcome as expected.

TCM(Traditional Chin Med), TCM Wellness, Basics of TCMXiang Jun Limtcm, interesting facts, pulse taking, string, sun si miao, tang dynasty