论曰∶人生一世，甚于过隙，役役随物，相视俱尽，不亦哀乎。就中养卫得理，必免夭
横之酷。若知进而不知退，知得而不知丧，嗜欲煎其内，权位牵其外，其于过分内热之损，
胡可胜言，况乎身灭覆宗之祸，不绝于世哉。念撰退居养志七篇。庶无祸败夭横之事，若
延年长生则存乎《别录》。高人君子，宜审思之。
山林深远，固是佳境，独往则多阻，数人则喧杂。必在人野相近，心远地偏，背山临水
，气候高爽，土地良沃，泉水清美，如此得十亩平坦处便可构居。若有人功可至二十亩，更
不得广。广则营为关心，或似产业，尤为烦也。若得左右映带岗阜形胜最为上地。地势好，
亦居者安，非他望也。
看地形向背，择取好处，立一正屋三间，内后牵其前梁稍长，柱令稍高，椽上着栈，栈
讫上着三四寸泥。泥令平，待干即以瓦盖之。四面筑墙，不然堑垒，务令浓密，泥饰如法。
须断风隙，拆缝门窗，依常法开后门。若无瓦，草盖令浓二尺，则冬温夏凉。于檐前西间作
一格子房以待客，客至引坐，勿令入寝室及见药局，恐外来者有秽气损人坏药故也。若院外
置一客位最佳。堂后立屋两间，每间为一房，修泥一准正堂，门令牢固，一房着药。药局更
造一立柜高脚为之，天阴雾气，柜下安少火，若江北则不须火也。一房着药器，地上安浓板，
板
库内东墙施一棚，两层，高八尺，长一丈，阔四尺，以安食物。必不近正屋，近正屋则恐烟
气及人，兼虑火烛，尤宜防慎。于厨东作屋二间，弟子家人寝处于正屋西北，立屋二间通之
，前作格子，充料理晒曝药物，以篱院隔之。又于正屋后三十步外立屋二间，椽梁长壮，柱
高间阔，以安药炉。更以篱院隔之，外人不可至也。西屋之南立屋一间，引檐中隔着门。安
功德，充念诵入静之处。中门外水作一池，可半亩余，深三尺。水常令满，种KT 荷菱芡，
绕池岸种甘菊。既堪采食，兼可悦目怡闲也。
论曰：人生一世，短暂得如同缝隙中闪过的一瞬，人们忙碌奔波，随波逐流，最终彼此相望都化为尘土，这难道不令人悲哀吗。如果在其中能够修养身心、护卫正气且方法得当，必定能避免暴死横祸的残酷命运。如果只知道进取而不知道退守，只知道获取而不知道舍弃，让嗜欲在体内煎熬，让权位在外在牵制，那么对于因过度消耗而导致内热损伤的危害，哪里说得完呢？更何况身死族灭的灾祸，在世间从未断绝过。因此我撰写了《退居养志》七篇，希望没有祸败夭折之事，至于延年益寿长生不老的方法则保存在《别录》中。高洁的君子，应当仔细思考这些道理。
山林深远，固然是美好的境界，但独自前往则多有阻碍，多人同行则喧闹杂乱。必须选择在人烟与荒野相近的地方，心境远离尘嚣，地势偏僻幽静，背靠山峦面临流水，气候高爽宜人，土地肥沃优良，泉水清澈美好，像这样的地方找到十亩平坦之地就可以建造居所。如果有人力可以扩展到二十亩，也不得再宽广。太宽广则经营营造会耗费心力，或者显得像产业一般，反而更加烦扰。如果左右有山岗丘陵环绕映衬，地形胜景最好。地势好，居住者就安心，没有其他奢望。
观察地形的朝向和背向，选择好的位置，建立一间三间的正屋，内部后面牵引前面的梁稍长一些，柱子稍微高一些，椽子上铺设栈板，栈板铺好后上面覆盖三四寸厚的泥土。泥土要平整，待干燥后用瓦片覆盖。四面筑墙，或者挖掘壕沟垒土，务必使其浓密厚实，按照规范用泥涂抹装饰。必须阻断风的缝隙，拆除并重新安装门窗，按照常规方法开设后门。如果没有瓦片，用草覆盖厚度达到二尺，就能做到冬天温暖夏天凉爽。在屋檐前的西间建造一间格子房用来接待客人，客人到来时引导入座，不要让客人进入寝室及看到药局，恐怕外来的人带有秽气损害人体或破坏药物。如果在院外设置一个客位最佳。堂后建立两间屋子，每间作为一间房，修建和涂泥的标准完全同于正堂，门要牢固，一间存放药物。药局另外建造一个立柜，做成高脚样式，如果是阴雨雾气天，柜子下面安放小火源，如果是江北地区则不需要火源。另一间存放药器，在地上安放厚木板。库房内东墙设置一个棚架，分两层，高八尺，长一丈，宽四尺，用来安放食物。必须不靠近正屋，靠近正屋则恐怕烟气熏人，并且担心火灾，尤其应该防备谨慎。在厨房东边建造两间屋子，弟子和家人居住在正屋西北方向，建立两间屋子与之相通，前面做格子窗，用来处理晾晒药物，用篱笆院子隔开它。又在正屋后面三十步外建立两间屋子，椽梁粗壮，柱子高阔，用来安放药炉。再用篱笆院子隔开它，外人不可到达。西屋的南面建立一间屋子，引檐中间隔着门。安放功德箱，作为念诵入静之处。中门外用水挖成一个池塘，大约半亩多，深三尺。水常令其满，种植荷花菱角芡实，围绕池岸种植甘菊。既可供采摘食用，又可以愉悦目光使人心境闲适。
Translation:
It is said that a human life is as fleeting as a shadow passing through a crack. People toil and bustle, following external things, and eventually look at each other only to see them all perish. Is this not sorrowful? If one can cultivate the body and protect the vital qi (Vital Energy) with proper methods within this life, one will surely avoid the cruelty of premature or violent death. If one knows only to advance but not to retreat, knows only to gain but not to lose, allowing desires to simmer internally and power/position to tug externally, how can one speak of the damage caused by excessive internal heat due to overexertion? Moreover, disasters of bodily destruction and clan annihilation have never ceased in the world. Therefore, I composed seven chapters on "Retiring to Cultivate One's Will." May there be no events of disaster, defeat, premature death, or violent harm. As for extending years and achieving longevity, these are preserved in the *Bielu* (Separate Records). Noble gentlemen should ponder this carefully.
Deep mountains and forests are indeed beautiful realms, but going alone brings many obstacles, while going in numbers brings noise and clutter. One must choose a place near the boundary of human habitation and wilderness, where the heart is distant from the mundane and the location is remote. Backing onto mountains and facing water, with a high and crisp climate, fertile land, and clear, beautiful springs, such a place allows for the construction of a residence on ten mu of flat ground. If human effort can extend this to twenty mu, it should not be wider. Being too wide makes management a concern of the mind, resembling an industrial enterprise, which is particularly troublesome. If there are hills and mounds surrounding and complementing the site on the left and right, forming a superior terrain, this is the best land. A good terrain ensures peace for the dweller; there are no other expectations.
Observe the orientation and exposure of the terrain, select the favorable spot, and erect a main house with three rooms. Internally, make the rear beam slightly longer than the front, and the pillars slightly higher. Place plank flooring on the rafters; after the planks are set, cover them with three to four cun of mud. Level the mud, wait for it to dry, and then cover it with tiles. Build walls on all four sides, or dig trenches and pile earth, ensuring they are dense and thick, and plaster them according to standard methods. It is necessary to block wind gaps, dismantle seams, and install doors and windows according to usual practices, opening a back door. If tiles are unavailable, thatch with a thickness of two chi will keep it warm in winter and cool in summer. In the west room under the eaves, construct a lattice room to receive guests. When guests arrive, guide them to sit; do not allow them to enter the sleeping quarters or see the medicine bureau, lest outsiders bring foul air that harms people or spoils medicines. It is best if a guest area is placed outside the courtyard. Behind the hall, build two rooms, each serving as one chamber, constructed and plastered exactly like the main hall, with sturdy doors. One room stores medicines. The medicine bureau should additionally have a tall cabinet with legs. On cloudy or foggy days, place a small fire source under the cabinet; in the Jiangbei region, fire is unnecessary. Another room stores medicinal utensils, with thick wooden boards placed on the ground. Inside the storehouse, on the east wall, install a shelf, two layers high, eight chi tall, one zhang long, and four chi wide, to store food. It must not be close to the main house, as proximity risks smoke affecting people and worrying about fire; extreme caution is required. East of the kitchen, build two rooms. Disciples and family members sleep in the northwest of the main house, connected by two newly built rooms. The front features lattice windows for processing and drying medicines, separated by a fenced courtyard. Thirty steps behind the main house, build two more rooms with strong rafters and beams and high, spacious pillars to house the medicine furnace. Separate this with a fence so outsiders cannot reach it. South of the west house, build one room, divided by a door in the middle of the eaves. Install a merit box here as a place for chanting and entering tranquility. Outside the central gate, dig a pond using water, covering slightly more than half a mu, with a depth of three chi. Keep the water full, planting lotus, water caltrop, and Euryale seed (Qian Shi). Plant sweet chrysanthemum around the pond bank. These can be harvested for food and also please the eyes and soothe the mind.