《胎息祕要歌訣》

Secret Essentials of Embryonic Breathing: A Vernacular Interpretation

Breath Regulation Technique

When experiencing sudden physical discomfort, first rule out external injuries. Calm your mind and enter a quiet room. Remove outer garments and lie flat on a bed. Assume the supine position with hands in Daoist meditation mudras, knock the teeth together thirty-six times, and light incense. Guide the breath downward to the Dantian (the lower abdominal energy sea), then direct the Qi flow intentionally toward the affected area for optimal effect. Cease the practice when slight perspiration appears—this method is both simple and practical.

Qi Emission Therapy (for healing others)

Long-term practitioners who have achieved mastery will develop embryonic breathing (natural Dantian respiration). When treating others, first diagnose the visceral root of illness. Have the patient face an auspicious direction (aligned with beneficial Qi), then concentrate your spirit. Transmit genuine Qi through oral instruction for the recipient to swallow repeatedly. Simultaneously visualize pathogenic Qi dispersing—malignant energies will naturally retreat, allowing recovery to occur.

Six Healing Sounds (discontinue after healing; overuse harms vitality)

1. "Sī" (呬) sound: Treats nasal/lung disorders; effective for chills, feverish restlessness, and skin ulcers

2. "Hē" (呵) sound: Corresponds to the heart; alleviates dry mouth, tongue sores, and bodily heat agitation

3. "Hū" (呼) sound: Regulates the spleen; relieves abdominal distension and limb heaviness

4. "Xū" (嘘) sound: Nourishes the liver; improves red eyes and tearing from liver-fire symptoms

5. "Chuī" (吹) sound: Warms kidney Yang; treats cold lumbar/knees and impotence

6. "Xī" (嘻) sound: Harmonizes the Triple Burner (Qi mechanisms of upper/middle/lower body), balancing overall Qi circulation

Bodily Fluids Regulation

Excessive consumption of the five flavors obstructs the Triple Burner. Internal heat causes bitter taste; cold conditions induce excess saliva. Use primordial Qi for adjustment—no need for herbal remedies. Employ "Hē" to reduce fever, "Chuī" to dispel chills. Regular cheek-rinsing and saliva-swallowing naturally harmonize hot/cold constitutions.

Dietary Guidance for Cultivation

Practitioners should maintain bland diets: morning congee quenches thirst; sesame moistens the throat and generates fluids. Japonica rice suits daily consumption best—avoid greasy, heavy flavors.

Secret Essentials of Embryonic Breathing: A Vernacular Interpretation

Dietary Prohibitions:

Light wheat-based foods are most suitable, while moderate alcohol helps disperse stagnant Qi. Raw peppercorns can treat various ailments. Before meals, swallow saliva six or seven times, making food the primary nourishment. After eating, exhale gently three to five times to prevent turbid food Qi from accumulating in the chest.

Lifestyle Precautions:

During practice, close windows and doors to avoid wind; sleep on an elevated bed to ward off pathogenic influences. Preserving Jing (essence) benefits health; guarding primordial Qi extends longevity. Regulate emotions of joy and anger; relinquish desires for fame and wealth. Animal heads, claws, and bloody meats are harmful—rich foods corrupt Qi, while extreme hunger or overeating are equally detrimental. Avoid raw, cold, or hard foods; consume sour, salty, and spicy flavors in moderation. Suspend practice during thunderstorms; abstain from turnip soup and plain noodle broth. Shun piping-hot meals; consume only fresh melons and fruits. Never ingest spoiled or unclean substances.

Grain Abstinence (Bigu) Method:

Persist unwaveringly in practice for a thousand days to eradicate the Three Corpses (Daoist concept of three malevolent parasites in the body). Strengthen the upper, middle, and lower Dantian (energy centers), fortifying tendons and bones. During fasting, maintain focused visualization; when hungry, swallow primordial Qi from the lower Dantian. After eating, calmly center your awareness (focus on the Dantian); when fasting, hold breath, swallow saliva, and refrain from speech. Only prolonged dedication yields results—this is the true essence of nurturing life. Far superior to those who consume medicines aimlessly, this practice preserves the Great Harmony Qi (innate vital essence), naturally purifying body and mind. Indulgence in sensory pleasures disrupts primordial Qi, inviting myriad ailments and debility.

Essence Preservation Formula:

Resolutely guard your Jing (essence); meticulous cultivation ensures longevity. Most people harm themselves through unrestrained desires—few achieve complete abstinence. Without prevention before illness strikes, cure becomes difficult; realizing value only when calamity arrives is too late. Even rigorous Embryonic Breathing (a breath cultivation technique) invites misfortune if lust remains unrenounced. Only through attaining the Yin Elixir (Neidan term for cultivated internal energy) can one achieve Daoist perfection—yet those who reach this state are exceedingly rare.

Nine-Year Transformation:

Through nine years of cultivation, primordial Qi progressively transforms the entire body: In the first year, it alters breath Qi; subsequently, it sequentially transforms blood vessels, muscles, marrow, sinews and bones, body hair, and physical form. Each year completes one layer of transformation. After nine years, the entire body is renewed, enabling the reversal of aging.

(Note: Daoist terms like "Three Corpses," "Dantian," "Embryonic Breathing," and "Yin Elixir" are retained with brief explanations in parentheses.)

This passage explains the specific practice method of Daoist Embryonic Breathing (taixi), an advanced breath cultivation technique:

First, sit upright with eyes closed, calm the Shen (spirit), and regulate the breath. Then perform the "Heavenly Drum" exercise (lightly tapping the back of the head with fingers) 32 times (4×8).

Next, use the tongue to:

1. Stroke the outer surface of the upper lip 9 times

2. Stroke the outer surface of the lower lip 9 times

3. Stroke the inner surface of the upper lip 9 times

4. Stroke the inner surface of the lower lip 9 times

There's a directional correspondence here:

• Outer upper lip represents South
• Outer lower lip represents North
• Inner upper lip represents East
• Inner lower lip represents West
• The tongue's touching position represents Center

When saliva fills the mouth, puff the cheeks 21 times while gently exhaling a small amount of Qi through the nose. When swallowing, create a gurgling sound in the throat to symbolize the descent of saliva and Qi into the lower Dantian (the vital energy center three inches below the navel). Repeat this process 3-5 times.

Each swallow should coincide with the natural exhalation phase of breathing.