The *Bowuzhi* (Records of Strange Things) states: When a woman is pregnant for less than three months, she should wear her husband's clothes and hat, walk around a well three times at dawn, look at her reflection in the water without looking back, and she will surely give birth to a boy. There was a man named Chen Cheng who had ten daughters; his wife walked around the well three times and cursed, saying, "Females are Yin, males are Yang; females bring disaster, males bring auspiciousness." She suppressed the well water for three days without drawing from it, and indeed gave birth to a son. Another version says that after two months but approaching three months of pregnancy, at dawn, wearing the husband's clothes and hat, walking around a clean water pool or basin three times and viewing one's reflection, indicates a male birth, which must be done on Yang days such as Jia, Bing, Wu, Geng, or Ren to be effective.

For pregnancies under three months, where the fetal form has not yet appeared and gender is undetermined, methods can be used to influence the sex. One method involves taking one tael of clear realgar (Realgar, 雄黄) in a single piece, placing it in a crimson silk bag, and wearing it on the left side of the pregnant woman's body, along with a bowstring or daylily flowers (Hemerocallis citrina, 萱草), known as the "suitable-for-male" grass. Additionally, hanging bows and arrows on the father, displaying them to the mother, and secretly placing axes and halberds under the bed without others knowing, while frequently reciting poetry and books, are considered superior methods to change a female fetus to male, altering it before formation. Thus, ancients established prenatal education (Taijiao, 胎教) to ensure children are kind, long-lived, loyal, filial, benevolent, righteous, intelligent, and healthy. During the ten months of gestation, observing good scenes and avoiding evil influences constitutes true good education.

Having a pregnant woman walk facing south and suddenly calling her: if she turns her head to the left, it is a boy; if to the right, it is a girl. Another test for the husband: a nodule in the left breast indicates a boy, while one in the right breast indicates a girl. In the husband's pulse, a full and vigorous Cun (Cun position, 寸) pulse on the left indicates a boy, while one on the right indicates a girl.

The Classics state: "Yin pulse beats distinctly, separated by Yang, this signifies pregnancy." "Bo" means near. The Yin pulse approaches from below, the Yang pulse emerges separately from above; seeing Yang within Yin is the Slippery Pulse (Huomai, 滑脉). A slippery and moving pulse indicates the transformation of Yang giving and Yin receiving, legally indicating pregnancy. Furthermore, a particularly strong beating of the Shaoyin (Lesser Yin, 少阴) pulse also indicates pregnancy. The Hand Shaoyin channel belongs to the Heart, and the Foot Shaoyin channel belongs to the Kidney. The Heart governs Blood, and the Kidney governs Essence. When Essence and Blood intersect and consciousness is implanted therein, pregnancy occurs. Additionally, if the pulses in all three positions (Cun, Guan, Chi) are deep, regular, and equal, and menstruation has ceased without illness, it is pregnancy. The *Maijing* (Pulse Classic) states: A floating and full Chi (Chi position, 尺) pulse on the left hand indicates a male fetus; a floating and full Chi pulse on the right hand indicates a female fetus; both Chi pulses being full indicates twin boys; both being deep and solid indicates twin girls. It also states: A pulse that skips every beat in the middle finger indicates a one-month fetus; skipping twice indicates a two-month fetus.

The *Majue* (Pulse Rhymes) states: "Liver governs Blood, Lung governs Qi; Blood is Ying (Nutritive), Qi is Wei (Defensive). Yin and Yang match without error, the two organs harmonize similarly. If Blood is deficient and Qi is abundant, there is no pregnancy; if Blood is abundant and Qi is deficient, there is pregnancy. Cun is slight, Guan is slippery, Chi carries rapidity; flowing freely like a sparrow pecking rice. The child's pulse shape appears, though months of gestation remain unnoticed. Left rapid is male, right is female; flowing freely, coming and going quickly. Both hands' Guan pulses large and corresponding, formation already indicated in previous words. Left pulse with longitudinal lines births two sons; right pulse with transverse lines births a pair of daughters. Left pulse reversing births three boys; right pulse smooth distances three girls. If Cun, Guan, and Chi all correspond, one boy and one girl show distinct signs. Sometimes the child dies while the mother lives, or the mother dies while the child survives. Flowing freely through all three positions, slippery and rapid intermixed, all are substantial. Yang excess and Yin deficiency make the pulse clear; full chest indicates reversed Qi. Left Hand Taiyang floating and large is male; Right Hand Taiyin floating and large is female. All Yang pulses are male, all Yin pulses are female; remember clearly under the fingers. Three positions deep and equal without cessation, Chi non-stop indicates true pregnant woman. Husband riding wife is longitudinal Qi like fog; wife holding husband is assisting transverse Qi. Child riding mother is reverse Qi intermixing; mother riding child is protective smooth Qi. When the child's days are full and the fetus gathers, body heat and chaotic pulse cause no suffering. Sweating, not eating, vomiting, spirit gathers inside. Slippery and rapid without dispersal is three-month fetus; only rapid without dispersal is five-month mother. String-tight, firm, strong, and slippery indicates safety; deep, fine, and faint leads to the spring road (death).

A woman about to deliver has a Lung pulse deviating from the standard (Li Jing Mai, 离经脉), which is deep, fine, and slippery, also called the same name. Pain felt at midnight indicates delivery; by noon the next day, birth is certain. (*Zhiyi* states that the Li Jing pulse is the intermittent pulse.)

The *Qimeng* (Enlightenment) states: A woman about to deliver has a pulse deviating from the standard; recognize the Li Jing pulse clearly. Its coming is irregular in size, or like a sparrow pecking or a house leaking. These are all intermittent pulses. Lower back pain, abdominal pain, and visual spots indicate delivery is imminent, not an illness.