谷绵瓜瓞，当求基址，盖种植者必先择地，破砾之场，安望稻黍？求子者必先求母，
薄福之妇，安望熊罢？倘欲为子嗣之谋，而不先谋基址，计非得也。然而基址之说，隐
微叵测，察亦诚难，姑举其显而易者十余条，以见其概云耳。大都妇人之质，贵静而贱动，
贵重而贱轻，贵浓而贱薄，贵苍而贱嫩。故凡唇短嘴小者不堪，此子处之部位也。耳小
轮薄者不堪，此肾气之外候也。声细而不振者不堪，此丹田之气本也。形体薄弱者不堪，
此藏蓄之宫城也。饮食纤细者不堪，此仓廪血海之源也。发焦齿豁者不堪，肝亏血而肾
亏精也。睛露臀削者不堪，藏不藏而后无后也。颜色娇艳者不堪，与其华者去其实也。肉
肥胜骨者不堪，子宫隘而肾气 也。 娜柔脆筋不束骨者不堪，肝肾亏而根干不坚也。山
根唇口多青气者不堪，阳不胜阴，必多肝脾之滞逆也。脉见紧数弦涩者不堪，必真阴亏
弱，经候不调，而生气杳然者也。此外如虎头熊项，横面竖眉，及声如豺野狼之质，必多
刑克不吉，远之为宜。又若刚狠阴恶，奸险克薄之气，尤为种类源流，子孙命脉所系，乌
可近之。虽曰尧亦有丹朱，舜亦有瞽瞍，然二气相合，未必非一优一劣之所致。倘使阴
阳有序，种址俱宜，而稼穑有不登者，未之有也。唯一有偏胜，则偏象见矣，是种之不
可不择者有如此。不然则麟趾之诗，果亦何为而作者耶？余因人艰嗣之苦，复见人有不
如无之苦，故日愿天常生好人。
谷绵瓜瓞（比喻子孙昌盛），应当寻求良好的“基址”（受孕的基础条件）。大凡种植庄稼的人，必定先选择土地，在碎石遍布的地方，哪里能指望长出稻子和黍子呢？求取子嗣的人，必定先考察母亲，福薄之妇，哪里能指望生下像熊罴一样勇健的儿子呢？如果想要为子嗣做打算，却不先谋划好基础条件，这计策是不对的。然而关于“基址”的说法，隐微难测，观察起来确实很难，姑且列举其中显而易见的十余条，来展示其大概情况罢了。
大体上，妇女的体质，以静为贵而以动为贱，以重为贵以轻为贱，以浓为贵以薄为贱，以苍老为贵以嫩幼为贱。所以凡是嘴唇短、嘴巴小的，不堪胜任，这是子宫部位的特征。耳朵小、耳轮薄的，不堪胜任，这是肾气的外在表现。声音细弱而没有震动的，不堪胜任，这是丹田之气的根本。形体瘦弱的，不堪胜任，这是脏腑蓄积能量的宫城。饮食量少的，不堪胜任，这是仓廪和血海的源头。头发焦枯、牙齿稀疏脱落的，不堪胜任，这是肝血亏虚而肾精亏损的表现。眼睛外露、臀部削薄的，不堪胜任，这是脏腑不藏精气而后代无望的表现。容貌过于娇艳的，不堪胜任，这是外表华丽而内在实质空虚的表现。肉多胜过骨骼的，不堪胜任，这是子宫狭窄而肾气不足的表现。体态婀娜但柔弱、筋不能束骨的，不堪胜任，这是肝肾亏虚而根基不牢固的表现。山根（鼻根部）及唇口处多有青气的，不堪胜任，这是阳不胜阴，必然多有肝脾之气滞逆的表现。脉象出现紧、数、弦、涩的，不堪胜任，这必然是真阴亏弱，月经不调，而生机渺茫的表现。
此外，如虎头熊颈、脸横眉竖，以及声音像豺狼一样的体质，必然多有刑克不吉利，远离为宜。还有如果性格刚狠阴恶、奸险刻薄的气度，尤为关系到种类源流和子孙命脉的关键，怎么可以亲近这样的人呢？虽然说尧也有儿子丹朱（不肖），舜也有父亲瞽瞍（顽劣），但是阴阳二气相合，未必不是由一方优一方劣所导致。倘若阴阳有序，种子和基地都适宜，却有不丰收的情况，是从来没有过的。只要有一方偏胜，就会出现偏颇的现象，这就是为什么播种必须选择种子的原因如此。不然的话，《诗经》中的《麟趾》篇，究竟是为了什么而创作的呢？我因为人们难以生育的痛苦，又见到有人活着还不如死去的人痛苦，所以每天祈祷上天常生好人。
Abundant descendants, like the spreading vines and melons, require a solid "foundation" (the basic conditions for conception). Just as farmers must first select suitable land, how can one expect to harvest rice and millet on a field full of gravel? Similarly, those seeking offspring must first evaluate the mother; how can one hope for vigorous sons from a woman lacking fortune? If one plans for heirs without first securing this foundation, the strategy is flawed. However, the concept of "foundation" is subtle and difficult to discern. I shall briefly list over ten obvious indicators to illustrate the general principles.
Generally, a woman's constitution values stillness over activity, heaviness over lightness, richness over thinness, and maturity over youthfulness. Therefore:
Those with short lips and small mouths are unsuitable, as this reflects the condition of the uterus.
Those with small ears and thin ear helices are unsuitable, as this indicates weak Kidney Qi.
Those with thin voices lacking resonance are unsuitable, as this reflects the root of Dantian Qi.
Those with frail bodies are unsuitable, as this signifies an inadequate storage capacity for organs.
Those with poor appetites are unsuitable, as this points to the source of the Chong and Ren vessels (Blood Sea) being insufficient.
Those with dry hair and loose teeth are unsuitable, indicating Liver Blood deficiency and Kidney Essence depletion.
Those with protruding eyes and thin buttocks are unsuitable, suggesting that the organs fail to store essence, leading to a lack of descendants.
Those with overly delicate beauty are unsuitable, as external glamour often masks internal emptiness.
Those with excessive flesh outweighing bone structure are unsuitable, implying a narrow uterus and deficient Kidney Qi.
Those with graceful but fragile postures, where tendons fail to secure the bones, are unsuitable, indicating Liver and Kidney deficiency and an unstable root.
Those with bluish discoloration at the Shan Gen (root of the nose) and around the lips/mouth are unsuitable, signifying Yang failing to overcome Yin, likely resulting in Liver and Spleen Qi stagnation.
Those with tight, rapid, wiry, or choppy pulses are unsuitable, indicating true Yin deficiency, irregular menstruation, and a lack of vital energy.
Furthermore, individuals with tiger-like heads, bear-like necks, broad faces, and vertical eyebrows, or those whose voices resemble jackals or wild wolves, are likely to bring misfortune and should be avoided. Moreover, personalities characterized by ruthlessness, malice, deceit, or harshness are critical factors affecting lineage and the destiny of descendants; such traits should not be tolerated. Although historical figures like Yao had an unworthy son Danzhu, and Shun had an obstinate father Gusou, the union of Yin and Yang energies may well result from the interaction of superior and inferior qualities. If Yin and Yang are harmonious, and both the seed and the soil are suitable, failure to produce offspring would be unprecedented. Any imbalance leads to corresponding manifestations, which underscores the necessity of selecting the right partner. Otherwise, what purpose would the poem "Lin Zhi" (The Horned Beast) in the *Classic of Poetry* serve? Witnessing the suffering of those unable to conceive, and seeing that some lives are worse than death, I daily pray that Heaven always creates good people.