Britannica Sources used in this answer

Who was Wang Shuhe and why was the Pulse Classic influential?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Moxibustion — traditional Chinese medicine In moxibustion, or moxa treatment, small cones of an herb (typically *Artemisia moxa*) are burned on top of needles placed in designated points of the body, generally the same points as those used in acupuncture.

Wang Shuhe (c. 180–270 CE) was a prominent Chinese physician who attained the highest rank in his field primarily through his extensive work on pulse diagnosis. In addition to his pulse studies, he authored an important commentary on the Huangdi neijing (The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine).12

His most influential work, the Maijing (The Pulse Classics), became the definitive text on pulse examination. Because diagnosis was of paramount importance in traditional Chinese medicine—often superseding surgery—Wang’s detailed system for reading the pulse became a cornerstone of medical practice.12

The Pulse Classics codified the method of assessing the pulse at three specific positions on each wrist—the cun (inch), guan (bar), and chi (cubit)—at two different levels of pressure. By correlating these readings with the state of various internal organs, Wang provided a structured framework that allowed trained physicians to perform sophisticated clinical assessments. His work solidified the pulse as the primary diagnostic tool in Chinese medicine for centuries.12