《神仙食氣金櫃妙錄》

The Golden Cabinet Marvelous Record of Divine Immortals' Qi Consumption - Chapter 7

By Master Jing Hei

Method for Cultivating Yin-Yang Talismans to Summon the Six Jia Jade Maidens

Those who seek longevity and wish to study the immortal path must first learn to ingest primordial Qi, abstain from grains, and preserve their vital essence (Jing). These methods follow a gradual process—one cannot rush the practice. Acting recklessly will inevitably lead to failure; only by proceeding step by step can one avoid mistakes.

During the grain-abstention period, to prevent the disruption of the five viscera' spiritual energy (Shen Qi) and the invasion of pathogenic Qi, one should ingest the Divine Immortal's Grain-Abstention Talisman. The method is as follows:

At dawn, face east. Hold the talisman (Fulu) in your left hand and water in your right. Silently recite the invocation:

"Your disciple [state your name] reveres the true Dao and ingests the harmonious Qi of the Middle Harmony. May the Jade Maiden of Great Mystery, Cheng Yi (one of the Six Jia Jade Maidens), descend to assist me in my cultivation. May all my needs for nourishment be fulfilled."

After reciting, swallow the talisman with water. Starting from the Jiazi day, continue this practice for sixty days, but change the name of the corresponding Jade Maiden every ten days.

There are two types of talismans: one Yang talisman and one Yin talisman, to be written according to the Yin or Yang nature of the day.

Yang talismans are used on Yang days (Jia, Bing, Wu, Geng, Ren—corresponding to the Zi, Yin, Chen, Wu, Shen, and Xu earthly branches) and must be written in cinnabar ink.

Yin talismans are used on Yin days (Yi, Ding, Ji, Xin, Gui—corresponding to the Chou, Mao, Si, Wei, You, and Hai earthly branches) and must be written in black ink.

The names of the Six Jia Jade Maidens are as follows:

• Jiazi Day: Jade Maiden of Great Mystery (Tai Xuan), styled Cheng Yi
• Jiaxu Day: Jade Maiden of Yellow Purity (Huang Su), styled Fei Lian
• Jiashen Day: Jade Maiden of Grand Simplicity (Tai Su), styled Qiong Shi
• Jiawu Day: Jade Maiden of Crimson Palace (Jiang Gong), styled Yun Ling
• Jiachen Day: Jade Maiden of Essence Worship (Bai Jing), styled Ling Su
• Jiayin Day: (Note: The Six Jia Jade Maidens are Daoist goddesses who guard the six Jia days within the sexagenary cycle. Practitioners establish a connection with the Jade Maiden of a specific day through talismans and incantations to receive support in their cultivation.)

The Mysterious Record of the Golden Cabinet on Immortals' Breath-Feeding primarily elucidates Daoist methods of bigu (grain avoidance) cultivation.

The text opens by introducing a celestial maiden named Qingyao (courtesy name Huijing), who is attended by a jade maiden on duty every ten days. Practitioners should chant incantations while holding talismans (fulu) and drinking water at dawn, thereby securing the jade maiden's protection. This method can be practiced individually or collectively without numerical restrictions, provided participants maintain sincere devotion and purity of mind. When practicing, disciples should form orderly rows facing the sun, reverently bow to their master, and properly wield the talismans according to ritual protocols to attain the state of grain abstinence.

The scripture then explains how coordinating the Six Jia and Six Gui (Daoist terms denoting specific temporal and spatial orientations) with breath-swallowing techniques nourishes the shen (spirit). Those who embody the Dao understand the secrets of gathering qi (vital energy) to replenish the dantian (lower abdominal energy center) and guiding breath to consolidate jing (essence).

A detailed account follows of the "Middle Peak Xi Jian's Eleven-Temporal Breath Method": From dawn to midnight across eleven time periods, practitioners must swallow breath in prescribed cycles—for instance, 49 repetitions at dawn, 36 at sunrise—forming a comprehensive respiratory discipline.

The Yellow Court Scripture states that oral saliva (termed "Jade Pool's Clear Water" or "Splendid Pool") nourishes the "spiritual root" (the body's foundational energy). Properly swallowing it through regulated breathing can alleviate hunger. Initial bigu practice may cause dizziness for three to seven days—a normal adjustment period—with full mastery achieved after twenty-one days. As skill deepens, one may eat when desired or continue abstaining. Celibacy is mandatory except when consuming grains, to prevent loss of jing or leakage of qi.

The final "Breath-Feeding Grain Avoidance Method" instructs: Inhale with closed mouth, swallow the breath, repeating at least 360 times daily (the more the better; a thousand repetitions is ideal). Gradually reduce food intake until complete bigu is achieved within ten days. Advanced practitioners retain qi without exhalation, maintaining perpetual satiety through mental focus. Beginners may experience abdominal emptiness during the first three days.

The Wondrous Record of Immortals' Qi Nourishment: A Modern Interpretation

[Method of Consuming Dates and Preserved Meat]

When experiencing hunger or noticing dark yellow urine, prepare nine high-quality dates or nine pieces of premium preserved meat of similar size. Silently intend to consume them, taking one to three pieces at a time, with a daily maximum of nine pieces. Do not force consumption if there is no mental inclination. Frequently retain the date pits in the mouth to perceive the Qi (vital energy), allowing saliva to naturally accumulate.

[Method of Consuming Yellow Qi by True Practitioners]

The cultivation method for ingesting yellow Qi: Continuously visualize the spleen as full and the stomach brimming with golden-yellow Qi (Huangqi), nourishing the entire body. Visualize a three-inch-tall divine being (the Yellow Court True Person) dressed in yellow robes, standing statue-like with each hand holding a smaller yellow-robed figure. Upon perceiving this vision, silently recite: "Huang Changzi, Huang Changzi, the Yellow Court True Person has taken root within me." Imagine exquisite wine, preserved meats, elixirs (Golden Elixir), and divine mushrooms arrayed before you, then swallow these visualized delicacies. Practice typically at cockcrow (pre-dawn). If hunger arises, face the sun and practice as described until satiety is achieved.

[Qi Circulation Method]

Initial practice may feel unfamiliar, but persistence makes it effortless. The technique:

1. Supine posture: Adopt the "fetal grip" (like an infant’s clenched fists), with feet and arms spread 4-5 inches apart, omitting pillows.

2. Breath regulation: Breathe slowly, counting 360 breath cycles (a four-nine numerological rhythm). Beginners completing 30 cycles will sense Qi flowing like mist through the body, nourishing tissues, permeating the skin, and saturating the five viscera and six bowels, gradually dissolving chronic ailments. Long-term practice strengthens vitality.

[Essentials of Qi Cultivation]

1. Stabilize the body first, harmonizing Qi without forceful mental control. Pause if disharmony arises, resuming only when equilibrium returns.

2. Consistent practice: Minor efforts yield minor gains; major efforts bring major rewards. When Qi settles, the body calms; bodily calmness harmonizes breath; harmonious breath invites pure Qi (Qingqi).

3. Practice responses: Warmth and mild sweating may occur—remain still, preserving mental serenity to witness the Dao’s manifestation.

4. Key to nurturing Qi: Sustain practice by dissolving anger and worry. Emotional balance prevents Qi disruption, allowing upright Qi (Zhengqi) to arrive. Sweet saliva emerges, breath grows refined, and the five viscera naturally harmonize.

(Note: "Qi" (炁) is a Daoist technical term denoting life-energy, more subtle than ordinary "qi"; the "Yellow Court True Person" refers to a deified internal presence achieved through cultivation; "fetal grip" is a Daoist hand-seal technique.)

This scripture primarily discusses essential methods of breath regulation and essence cultivation in Daoist practice.

Regarding breath regulation:

One should inhale through the nose and exhale through the mouth gently and continuously—this is called the "Long Breath Method." While there's only one way to inhale, there are six distinct exhalation techniques: Chui (blowing), Hu (exhaling), Xi (laughing), He (sighing), Xu (hissing), and Si (whistling). Ordinary people breathe without such distinctions, but practitioners use these methods to regulate the body. For example:

• Use the "Chui" method to dispel cold in winter
• Employ "Hu" to dissipate heat in summer
• "Xi" removes wind and alleviates pain
• "He" eliminates restlessness
• "Xu" resolves stagnation
• "Si" relieves extreme fatigue

Regarding essence cultivation:

1. Jing (essence) is the most precious substance in the human body. When released, it can create offspring; when retained, it nourishes life and extends longevity. Those seeking Daoist immortality carefully preserve their essence.

2. Laozi said: "Jing is the source of blood vessels and the guardian of bones. Without it, bones wither and death follows."

3. The human body resembles a kingdom:

• The physical form is the territory
• The heart serves as the ruler
• Jing acts as the minister
• Qi (vital energy) represents the common people

4. The cultivation process follows this sequence: Qi transforms into Jing, Jing refines into Shen (spirit), Shen materializes as the "infant" (a Neidan/internal alchemy term), which matures into a "true person," ultimately becoming the "red child" (a body of pure Yang).

Key cultivation centers:

1. The Three Dantian (energy centers):

• Upper Dantian: One inch behind the midpoint between eyebrows (Bright Hall), two inches (Grotto Chamber), three inches (Mud Ball Palace)
• Middle Dantian: Heart region (Crimson Palace)
• Lower Dantian: Three inches below the navel

2. Practitioners should regularly visualize true infants residing in these three Dantian—this constitutes the core of cultivation.

Laozi states: "Persist in such practice from dawn till dusk, and you shall attain eternal life."

The Divine Immortals' Golden Cabinet Treatise on Qi Absorption scripture primarily elucidates Daoist cultivation methods concerning the "Three Dantian" (energy centers) and "Qi Circulation" techniques.

The text first introduces three vital bodily regions:

1. The Upper Dantian (located in the head), termed the "Supreme Primordial Unity," also known as the "Red Infant," "Primal Ancestor," or "Imperial Minister"

2. The Middle Dantian (positioned at the Crimson Palace of the heart), called the "Central Primordial Unity," alternatively named the "Perfected Being," "Child Cinnabar," or "Luminous Firmness"

3. The Lower Dantian (three inches below the navel), referred to as the "Lower Primordial Unity," also designated as the "Newborn Infant," "Primal Yang," or "Valley Mystery"

During cultivation, practitioners should consistently visualize these three regions while coordinating with inhalation and exhalation techniques.

The scripture outlines three principal methods for attaining immortality:

1. Preserving Jing (essence conservation)

2. Circulating Qi (breath regulation)

3. Ingesting Elixirs (consuming alchemical preparations)

Among these, Qi circulation holds paramount importance, capable of curing all ailments, dispelling epidemics, repelling venomous creatures, stopping bleeding and healing wounds, maintaining underwater respiration, withstanding hunger and thirst, and prolonging life. The most crucial technique involves cultivating "embryonic respiration" (Taixi) - breathing without using mouth or nostrils like a fetus in the womb.

Specific cultivation methods include:

1. Practicing in a sealed, tranquil chamber

2. Using warm, comfortable bedding with a pillow about 2.5 inches high

3. Lying supine with closed eyes while controlling breath

4. Testing respiration by placing a goose feather near the nostrils until it ceases moving

5. Beginning with three to five breath cycles, gradually increasing to twelve cycles (minor accomplishment) then 120 cycles (major accomplishment)

6. Optimal practice time is the Zi hour (11 PM-1 AM) when Yang Qi begins ascending

7. The period from noon to midnight contains "dead Qi" and is unsuitable for practice

8. The You hour (5-7 PM) also permits cultivation

Essential precautions during practice:

1. Avoid raw, cold, pungent foods, fish and meat

2. Maintain emotional equilibrium

3. Progress gradually without forcing quick results

This scripture discusses the Daoist practice of "ingesting Qi" (Fuqi) – absorbing cosmic energy through breath regulation – and its therapeutic applications. The content is divided into two main sections:

I. Qi Ingestion for Nourishing Life

1. Optimal practice times correspond to the earthly branches: Zi (11 PM-1 AM), Wu (11 AM-1 PM), Mao (5-7 AM), and You (5-7 PM). Important considerations:

• Avoid Zi hour in winter due to excessive cold
• Avoid Wu hour in summer due to extreme heat
• For cold abdomen: utilize midday Yang Qi
• For body heat: absorb midnight or dawn Yin Qi

2. Special circumstances:

• Winter practice may involve charcoal fires in warm rooms
• Summer heat can be countered by absorbing lunar essence (Yuejing)

3. Essential techniques:

• Practice only when physically comfortable
• Beginners should stop when feeling "full" of Qi
• Enhanced effects when combined with Daoyin (Qi-guiding movements similar to Qigong)

II. Therapeutic Methods

1. Posture adjustments for ailments:

• Throat/chest disorders: use 7-inch pillow
• Heart region issues: 4-inch pillow
• Below navel conditions: no pillow

2. Breath therapies:

• "Draining method": exhale through mouth, inhale through nose
• "Supplementing method": retain warm Qi with closed mouth before swallowing

3. Daoyin for specific areas:

• Head ailments: tilt head backward
• Waist/leg disorders: lift toes upward
• Chest problems: press toes downward
• Abdominal cold/heat: hold breath while puffing abdomen

4. Specific healing movements:

• Sit straight, extend legs, support with hands, slow exhale/quick inhale – treats chest/lung pain
• Upright sitting with breath retention and head shaking – relieves dizziness
• Left-side lying breathing – dissolves food stagnation in heart region

The text also describes advanced practitioners using "Xūqi" (a special exhalation technique) to produce extraordinary effects like reversing water flow, extinguishing fires, or intimidating wild beasts – representing the supernatural abilities sought by ancient adepts.

1. Sit upright with your back straight. Inhale slowly through your nose while pinching your nostrils with your right hand (this method treats blurred vision and tearing. If there is turbid Qi in the nose, it can also cure deafness and alleviate cold-induced headaches. Practice until sweating occurs).

2. While lying flat, exhale gently through the mouth and inhale through the nose (this method relieves abdominal cramps. After meals, swallow saliva in small amounts. Swallowing Qi ten times until warmth is achieved is ideal. If cold Qi causes nausea or abdominal pain, inhale through the nose and swallow seven to ten times—up to a hundred times—to fill the abdomen, expel pathogenic Qi, and replenish healthy Qi).

3. Lie on your right side and inhale through the nose, then exhale softly through the mouth ten times (rub your hands warm and massage the abdomen to guide Qi downward. This eliminates pain and fullness in the ribs. Stop once improvement is felt).

4. Sit upright, expand the abdomen, raise both arms with palms facing upward, inhale through the nose, and hold the breath seven times (this method is called "Shu Yu Tai" and disperses stagnant Qi and blood beneath the ribs).

5. Lie prone without a pillow, stretch the feet straight, inhale through the nose four times, then exhale four times (when exhaling to the limit, allow faint Qi to re-enter. Maintain such subtle breathing that the nose barely detects it. This eliminates bodily heat and back pain).

6. Sit upright with a straight back, raise the left palm upward, and extend the right arm backward (this method treats pain in both arms and back, resolving Qi stagnation and blood stasis).

7. Sit upright, hug the knees, hold the breath, and distend the abdomen fourteen or twenty-one times (release the breath only when Qi is full, ensuring smooth circulation. Practicing this for ten years may reverse aging).

8. Sit upright with a straight back, lean alternately left and right, close the eyes, and inhale through the nose (treats wind-induced headaches; hold the breath seven times).

9. Sit upright with a straight back and inhale through the nose dozens of times (relieves abdominal bloating and indigestion. Stop when comfortable; repeat if unrelieved. Also useful for cold-induced abdominal discomfort).

10. Sit upright and mimic drawing a bow (treats soreness in the limbs and stiffness in the back. Practice daily or frequently for best results).

11-12. Sit upright with a straight back, raise either the left or right palm upward while supporting the corresponding rib with the other hand. Inhale through the nose and hold the breath seven times (specifically treats stomach cold and poor digestion).

This scripture describes health preservation techniques for treating various ailments through breath regulation and specific postures. Here's the modern interpretation:

Taking seven deep breaths through the nose can dissolve blood stasis. This breathing method also treats similar conditions.

Support your body with hands behind your back, tilt your head upward while inhaling through the nose, then swallow the breath. Repeat dozens of times to eliminate internal dryness-heat and heal muscle injuries.

Lie flat with limbs extended, inhale seven times through the nose, then swing both feet thirty times. This dispels cold from the chest and feet while relieving whole-body numbness, cold extremities, and coughing.

Lie down with knees bent inward, holding both feet with your hands. Engage the waist and inhale seven times through the nose to eliminate numbness, feverish pain, and leg mobility issues.

Sit cross-legged while holding your head and rotating it vertically—this "rib-opening" technique relieves bodily lethargy and stagnant Qi (vital energy) and blood.

Sit with right leg extended, holding left knee with both hands. Engage the waist and inhale seven times through the nose to improve joint flexibility and relieve thigh pain when kneeling.

Sit with left leg extended, holding right knee with both hands. Engage the waist and inhale seven times, then stretch left foot outward to enhance joint mobility. Alternate versions mention treating wind disorders, blurred vision, and deafness.

Lie flat with arms extended, gathering the groin area like wrapping medicine in an oil pouch. This alleviates groin dampness, difficult urination, and lower abdominal distension. For abdominal heat, simply exhale through mouth and inhale through nose dozens of times without swallowing breath. Without heat, perform seven breaths while swallowing warm Qi ten times.

Lie prone while looking at heels, engage the waist, and inhale seven times through the nose to relieve foot cramps, spasms, and soreness.

Sit cross-legged while hugging knees, inhaling seven times through the nose to eliminate back and waist pain.

Lie with legs extended, bringing both heels together with hands while inhaling seven times to relieve muscle stiffness and cold legs.

Lie down bringing all limbs and left heel together while inhaling seven times to improve food stagnation and vomiting.

Sit with engaged waist while pulling heels with hands, inhale seven times, then turn toward knees to eliminate bodily numbness and vomiting.

These methods represent health preservation techniques that regulate the body through specific postures coordinated with breathing, resembling contemporary Qigong therapy.

The Divine Immortals' Golden Cabinet Treatise on Qi Consumption scripture primarily discusses health preservation methods through breath regulation and posture adjustment, along with fundamental principles for cultivating Qi. Here's a modern interpretation:

【Postures and Breathing Techniques for Health】

1. Supine posture: Lie flat with limbs extended and toes pointing upward. Inhale deeply through the nose to full capacity, repeating this seven times to relieve abdominal cramps.

2. Crossed-feet method: While lying supine, press the left heel against the right big toe (or vice versa) while performing seven deep breaths to treat cold extremities. Adjust foot positioning flexibly if needed.

3. For bodily numbness: Press the right heel against the left big toe while taking seven deep breaths.

【Breath Regulation for Specific Ailments】

• Left-side discomfort: Sit upright with straightened spine, gaze rightward, inhale deeply through the nose and exhale slowly, repeating dozens of times before closing eyes to regulate breath.
• Chest congestion: Sit upright facing the sun with head tilted back, slowly inhale through nose and swallow the breath, repeating thirty times before opening eyes.
• Right-side pain: Sit upright while gazing left, slowly inhale through nose and swallow the breath, repeating dozens of times.

【Fundamental Principles of Qi Cultivation】

1. Daily breathing method: Inhale through nose, hold in mouth, stir with tongue as if rinsing, then swallow. Swallowing Qi a thousand times daily is ideal.

2. Dietary caution: Eat sparingly - overeating causes Qi disruption, meridian blockages, and illness.

【Essential Practice Guidelines】

• The will commands Qi, while Qi energizes the body. Skillful cultivators preserve vitality while the unskilled deplete their form.
• Key points for circulating Qi: eat lightly, calm the mind, strengthen resolve, and maintain focused intention - these are the paths to immortality.
• Practitioners must study these methods meticulously to succeed.

【Primary Principle of Life Cultivation】

• The Perfected Being says: Those understanding life cultivation must first practice "self-vigilance." Like sages who remain alert in peace, recklessness invites disaster.
• Scripture states: Those who disregard the Dao of Heaven invite great calamity. This truth applies equally to self-cultivation, household harmony, state governance, and world peace.

These methods integrate breath control, physical guidance, and mental regulation, representing classic Daoist longevity practices. The core philosophy maintains life energy (Qi) through controlled breathing, dietary moderation, and mental cultivation.

The Divine Immortals' Golden Cabinet Treatise on Qi Consumption primarily addresses two key principles: the importance of "reverential awe" and dietary prohibitions for nurturing life.

Regarding "reverential awe" (a mindset of solemn respect), the scripture states: This attitude forms the foundation of human conduct. Scholars without reverence cannot establish their character or reputation; farmers without reverence cannot grow good crops; artisans without reverence cannot craft precise implements; merchants without reverence cannot expand their trade; children without reverence cannot practice true filial piety; parents without reverence cannot express profound kindness; ministers without reverence cannot achieve meritorious deeds; rulers without reverence cannot bring stability to their nations. When Daoist practitioners engage in embryonic respiration (a breathing technique) or pursue the secret methods of immortality, losing this reverential awe leads to scattered Shen (spirit), agitated physical form, and dissipated Qi—resulting in premature death where life should flourish, failure where success was destined, and misfortune replacing good fortune. Reverential awe must be maintained as constantly as one remembers the presence of fire and water.

The Supreme Lord Lao (Daoism's highest deity) holds the Dao in greatest reverence, followed by reverence for all things, then for other people, and finally for oneself. Those who understand self-reverence remain unbound by others' constraints; those cautious in small matters avoid major failures; those disciplined in present conduct feel no future regrets. One who comprehends this principle remains unharmed by aquatic dragons or land beasts, unaffected by worldly slander.

Concerning dietary health preservation, the text observes: Most illnesses and premature deaths stem from improper eating. While sensory pleasures can be abstained from, food cannot be avoided for even a day, making dietary hazards particularly insidious. When incompatible flavors combine or prohibitions are violated, they form toxins—causing chronic illness in mild cases or sudden death in severe ones. Special warning: Between summer solstice and autumn equinox, avoid greasy or fried foods, as these conflict with alcohol and melons. Though no immediate discomfort may appear, autumn will bring sudden diarrhea and similar ailments. Many mistake the day symptoms appear for the illness's onset, when in fact causes accumulate gradually. True masters of life preservation maintain vigilant prevention at the subtlest levels.

(Supplementary note: This passage embodies the Daoist health preservation concept of "nipping problems in the bud," integrating psychological cultivation with physiological regulation. It emphasizes reverential awe's crucial role in spiritual practice while highlighting dietary prohibitions' impact on health.)

Interpretation of the Mysterious Golden Cabinet Scripture on Immortals' Qi Consumption

The essence of cultivating the Dao and nurturing life lies in maintaining moderation, embodied in twelve "reductions": reduce overthinking, reduce distracting thoughts, reduce desires, reduce busyness, reduce speech, reduce excessive laughter, reduce sorrow, reduce indulgence, reduce euphoria, reduce anger, reduce strong preferences, and reduce aversions. These twelve principles form the foundation of Daoist practice. Conversely, excessive thinking depletes Shen (spirit), excessive distractions confuse the will, excessive desires harm resolve, excessive labor exhausts the body, excessive speech wastes Qi (vital energy), excessive laughter injures the internal organs, excessive sorrow oppresses the heart-mind, excessive indulgence disperses willpower, excessive euphoria disturbs consciousness, excessive anger disrupts Qi and blood harmony, excessive preferences lead to delusion, and excessive aversions cause melancholy. These twelve "excesses," if not eliminated, become the root of depleting one's primordial vitality. Only by achieving neither excess nor deficiency can one approach the true essence of the Dao.

Recluses seldom fall ill, while those constantly on the move suffer frequent ailments; farmers enjoy longevity while nobles often die young—these are proofs of how desires affect life. Ordinary people cannot entirely rid themselves of desires and obligations, but by restraining selfish thoughts, purifying body and mind, and reducing mental agitation, one can gradually attain a state of equilibrium.

The ancient longevity master Feng Junda advised: The body should move regularly, and food should be consumed in moderation. Labor should not be excessive, and dietary restrictions should not be extreme. Reduce greasy and heavily seasoned foods, moderate salt and sour flavors, lessen overthinking, control joy and anger, avoid exhausting travel, and practice restraint in sexual activity. In spring and summer, gentle dispersal is appropriate, while autumn and winter call for storing and nourishing Jing (essence). Raw fish and meat harm the body and are best avoided. Maintain virtuous thoughts and abstain from deceitful or harmful actions—such behavior shortens blessings and longevity, so remain vigilant.

Pengzu (the legendary long-lived sage) cautioned: Overly thick clothing and excessively soft bedding invite wind-cold ailments; gluttony leads to digestive disorders; obsession with beauty depletes primordial Qi; decadent music induces neglect; unrestrained hunting fosters madness; and contentious striving results in arrogance and downfall. These are the warnings left to us by the sages.

For nourishing life through Qi absorption (a breath cultivation method), observe these principles: Avoid maintaining one posture for too long, do not force eating, and refrain from excessive worry. Eat only when hungry, drink only when thirsty. Let daily routines follow natural rhythms—this is the true way of life cultivation.

This scripture expounds the health preservation method of "absorbing Qi" (Fuqi, a Daoist cultivation practice of regulating breath to draw upon the primordial energy of heaven and earth):

Regarding diet and movement:

• After meals, one should walk several hundred steps, which greatly benefits the body
• It's best to avoid eating at night; if one must eat, walk five li (approximately 2.5 kilometers) afterward to prevent harm
• Daytime activities should be moderate—neither excessively strenuous nor completely sedentary
• Just as flowing water doesn't stagnate and door hinges don't gather worms, balanced movement maintains health

Health preservation prohibitions:

• Prolonged viewing damages blood
• Excessive lying weakens Qi (vital energy)
• Prolonged standing harms bones
• Excessive walking injures tendons
• Sitting too long deteriorates muscles
• Overthinking damages the body
• Grief and sorrow harm the body
• Excessive joy injures the body
• Unresolved anger harms the body
• Intense desires damage the body
• Excessive worry weakens the body
• Improper temperature regulation harms the body
• Imbalanced Yin-Yang injures the body

Key cultivation principles:

• Should be combined with Daoyin (ancient health-preserving exercises) for regulation
• Avoiding these harmful behaviors while understanding Yin-Yang harmony constitutes the path to longevity
• Ordinary people chase after delicious flavors without realizing they can absorb primordial Qi
• Sages recognize rich flavors as harmful and thus abstain, knowing primordial Qi's benefits they calmly regulate breath

Final emphasis:

Those practicing Qi absorption should carefully study this text and diligently apply it to grasp the essence of the Dao (the Way).

(Note: The character "炁" is a Daoist technical term referring to innate primordial Qi, distinct from ordinary breath "气")