典藏书目

Peng Zu said: "The Dao is not complicated; one need only refrain from thinking about food and clothing, sounds and colors, victory and defeat, right and wrong, gain and loss, and honor and disgrace."

One should practice in a supine position. Whenever at dawn during the fifth watch (5-7 AM), when warm qi rises, frequently closing the eyes indicates that the ascending vital qi has arrived, named "Yang increases and Yin decreases" (the growth of Yang energy and the decline of Yin energy). After sunset in the evening, when cold qi arrives and one feels chilly, lying down on the bed or sitting to sleep indicates that the descending vital qi has arrived, named "Yang decreases and Yin increases" (the decline of Yang energy and the growth of Yin energy). At dawn, the warm flow arrives; after sunset, the cold qi arrives. The metabolism and exchange within all things—sun, moon, heaven, earth, mountains, rivers, seas, humans, animals, plants—are unceasing for even a moment. One advance and one retreat, like the alternation of day and night, like the tides of the sea, this is the way of heaven and earth's waxing and waning. Face south, stretch both hands onto the knees and feet, slowly massage and rub the joints, exhale turbid air through the mouth, and inhale clear air through the nose. (What is exhaled is old air, also called dead air. What is inhaled is new air, also called vital air. Thus, Laozi's Classic says: 'The mysterious female is the root of heaven and earth. Continuous as it may seem, it exists forever. Use it, and you will never be exhausted.' This means the mouth and nose are the gates of heaven and earth, capable of receiving and emitting the qi of yin, yang, death, and life.)

After a long while, slowly use the hands to push left, push right, push up, push down, push forward, and push backward. Open the eyes wide, click the teeth, rub the eyes, press the head, pull the ears, comb the hair, and move the waist. Cough and vibrate the body. Perform these actions with both hands simultaneously or alternating, and reverse hand movements. Then, stretch the feet and vibrate vigorously, repeating eighty or ninety times and then stopping. Lie supine, slowly calm the mind, and employ the method of Zen contemplation. Close the eyes and visualize, imagining the Great Harmony Primordial Qi in the sky, like purple clouds forming a canopy, with distinct five colors. It enters through the hair follicles, gradually entering the crown of the head like rain clearing after a storm, clouds entering mountains, penetrating skin into flesh, reaching bones and brain, gradually descending into the abdomen. The four limbs and five zang organs all receive its nourishment, like water seeping into the ground. If thoroughly penetrated, one will hear a gurgling sound in the abdomen. Shift thoughts and focus, avoiding external distractions. In a short time, one will feel the primordial qi reach the Qihai (Sea of Qi) acupoint, and soon naturally reach the Yongquan (Springing Spring) acupoint. One will feel body vibration, legs curling, and even the bed making a rustling sound. This is called "one passage." Achieving two passages, or even three to five passages per day, results in physical joy, radiant complexion, moistened eyebrows and hair, sharp hearing and vision, improved appetite, strong qi and power, elimination of hundred diseases, longevity for five or ten years, and eternal life. Reaching ten million passages brings one close to becoming an immortal. The human body is void, containing only wandering qi. If the breath follows the proper principles, no disease arises. If regulation is improper, various diseases arise. Those skilled in nurturing life must know the methods of regulating qi. The method of regulating qi treats major ailments of hundreds of diseases; within one hundred days, eyebrows and beard grow back; other benefits need not be mentioned.

Generally, the method of regulating qi is suitable between midnight and noon, when qi is growing and can be regulated. Between noon and midnight, when qi is dying, it should not be regulated. During regulation, one should lie supine.

If suffering from chills and fever or carbuncles and sores, regardless of the time, regulate qi one meal's time before the onset of the illness. If not cured, continue regulating according to the format the next day.

For heart coldness and qi stagnation, use the "Hu" (呼) sound to exhale. For heat diseases, use the "Chui" (吹) sound to exhale. For lung diseases, use the "Xu" (嘘) sound to exhale. For liver diseases, use the "He" (呵) sound to exhale. For spleen diseases, use the "Xi" (唏) sound to exhale. For kidney diseases... (text missing here, presumably specific sound to exhale).

There are four types of diseases: one, cold bi (obstruction); two, qi disorders; three, evil wind; four, heat toxins. If there is a patient, calmly regulate qi; this method will surely cure.

All diseases are rooted in the five zang organs. Each of the five zang organs has eighty-one types of diseases. Cold, heat, wind, and qi combine to form four hundred and forty diseases. One must recognize their similarities and understand them well.

Heart disease manifests as alternating hot and cold sensations. Physiognomy states the heart color is red; patients dream of people wearing red clothes, holding red knives, staffs, and fire to frighten them. Therapy: use the "Hu" sound.

Lung disease manifests as fullness and distension in the chest and back, and irritability in the four limbs. Physiognomy states the lung color is white; patients often dream of beautiful men and women pretending to be intimate and hugging each other.

Liver disease manifests as sorrow and unhappiness, grief and longing, and frequent headaches and eye pain. Physiognomy states the liver color is green; patients dream of people wearing green clothes, holding green knives and staffs, or lions and other beasts.

Spleen disease manifests as wandering wind sensation on the upper body, widespread pain and irritability. Physiognomy states the spleen color is yellow, corresponding to earth; dreams may involve children hitting people, with evil still lingering.

Kidney disease manifests as coldness, genital weakness, and disfigured facial features. Physiognomy states the kidney color is black; patients dream of people in black clothes and beasts holding knives and staffs to frighten them. Use [specific] qi to exhale.

For cold diseases, use loud exhalation thirty times and soft exhalation ten times. The exhalation method: draw qi in through the nose, expel air out through the mouth, ensuring the sound accompanies the "Hu" character.

For lung diseases, use loud "Xu" thirty times and soft "Xu" ten times. For liver diseases, use loud "He" thirty times and soft "He" ten times. For spleen diseases, use loud "Xi" three... (text cut off).

These twelve methods of regulating qi, if practiced with reverence and focus by those who are ill, will surely cure. One must perform left and right guiding exercises three hundred and sixty times, and then... (text cut off).