The method of using thread for pulse diagnosis has appeared in many Chinese films and even convinced Emperor Qianlong of its authenticity. So, did this diagnostic technique really exist?
Using thread for pulse diagnosis, also known as “mystical thread pulse diagnosis”, involves placing one end of the thread on the wrist of a female patient while the other end is held by the physician to feel the pulse.
This form of medical examination originated in the imperial palace. Under the influence of the feudal patriarchal system, where men and women were not allowed to touch each other, physicians were prohibited from directly touching any part of a woman’s body, even for examination purposes.
In episode 20 of the 1986 film *Journey to the West*, the character Sun Wukong disguised himself as a divine physician to enter the emperor’s palace and diagnose the condition of King Zhou’s health, stating “exactly as the divine seer predicted” based solely on three strands of golden thread.
Sun Wukong diagnosed ‘exactly as the divine seer predicted’ using three strands of golden thread.
Not only does this method appear in the fantastical *Journey to the West*, but it was also employed by the renowned physician Sun Simiao during the Tang Dynasty to diagnose and treat the Empress. According to legend, the Empress had been pregnant for a long time without giving birth, prompting her to summon Sun Simiao to cure her.
As a person of noble birth, the eunuch beside the Empress sought to test the famous physician’s skill with the thread pulse diagnosis method before he prescribed any treatment. He tied a strand of thread to the leg of a parrot to see if the renowned doctor was as capable as rumored. Sun Simiao shocked the eunuch by discerning that the pulse being diagnosed was not that of the parrot.
Consequently, the eunuch tied the thread to the Empress’s hand for Sun Simiao to examine. Indeed, after taking the medicine prescribed by him, the Empress easily gave birth to a dragon son for the king.
However, researchers have investigated and recorded in ancient medical texts that “mystical thread pulse diagnosis” was merely a clever technique to deceive outsiders. Genuine physicians could not prescribe medicine based solely on such flimsy threads.
The concubines and princesses at that time were very close to the eunuchs and palace maids serving them. Therefore, before feeling the pulse, the imperial physicians would inquire about the patient’s condition through close associates like eunuchs, palace maids, and family members, as well as observe the patient’s symptoms through their demeanor, facial expressions, and gestures to accurately prescribe medicine.
After gathering all necessary information, the imperial physicians would proceed with pulse diagnosis using the thread, appearing focused and observant. In reality, this was merely a ritual to show respect to the royal family. Additionally, they utilized this time to further contemplate the prescription and treatment to avoid any mistakes.
