The truth falls back on the famous method of using silk to catch the pulse 'Journey to the West'

Using silk to catch the pulse or use a thread, also known as "pulse catching", one end of the rope is placed on the patient's wrist and the other end will be held by the doctor to catch the pulse.

This form of medical examination originated in the royal palace. Under the influence of the feudal ideology that men and women accept immortality, doctors are not allowed to directly touch any part of a woman, even for medical examination.

In episode 20 of Journey to the West (1986), by pretending to be a medical god to enter the king's palace to meet King Chu Tu, Qi Tian Dai Thanh - Ton Ngo Khong took his pulse and diagnosed 'just like a sad god' based only on into 3 golden silk threads.

 Ton Ngo Khong took his pulse and diagnosed 'just like the god of sorrow' based on only 3 golden threads.

Not only appearing thrilling and magical in the movie Journey to the West, this method was also used by the medical deity Ton Tu Mac of the Tang Dynasty to take the pulse to treat the Empress Dowager at that time. According to legend, because the queen was pregnant for a long time but could not give birth, she invited Ton Tu Mac to the palace for treatment.

As a person of noble birth, the eunuch beside the Empress tried to test the famous medical god famous for his method of catching the pulse before prescribing and diagnosing her. He used a silk thread to tie the pulse to the parrot's leg to see if this famous doctor was really as talented as rumored. Ton Tu Mac made that eunuch a little scared when he touched the thread and guessed that the pulse being diagnosed was not his.

Therefore, he immediately used a silk thread to tie the Queen's hand to Sun Tu Mac for treatment. Indeed, after that, the reputation of the god of medicine with miraculous therapy became more and more resounding when the Queen, after taking the medicine he prescribed, gave birth to the king easily.

However, researchers have learned and documented in Ancient Medicine that the 'occult pulse' is just a trick to hide the eyes of outsiders. With genuine famous doctors, they cannot prescribe medicine based on such fragile threads.

The concubines and princesses at that time were very close to the eunuchs, the palace maids serving them. Therefore, before taking the pulse, the medical doctors will ask about the patient's condition through close people such as eunuchs, palace maids, family members as well as observe the patient's symptoms through facial expressions and facial expressions. and gestures so that they can prescribe and dispense the right medicine.

After knowing all the necessary information, the physicians will proceed to take the pulse through the silk thread, they appear attentive, observing. Actually, this is just a ritual to show respect to the royal family. Besides, they also take the time to think more about prescriptions and treatments to avoid making mistakes.