典藏书目

Translation:
It is said: I am old, seeing my grandson grow up. His disposition is not only extremely arrogant and willful, but excessive affection further harms his natural constitution, preventing him from developing properly. When the child sleeps deeply, he is still made to chew food; when the heating chamber is warm, he is still allowed to move about freely; while considering heavy quilts for him to sleep under, he is still dressed in clothes; patting and stroking the back to prevent wind diseases (such as convulsions), pointing at objects and calling them insects, not taking lightly of ritual knowledge due to playfulness; with a flickering mind, sitting upright and letting go, laughing or showing dislike, wanting him to laugh joyfully, pointing at the ribs as if drilling doors, not associating with those of official families for foot games; if the age is inappropriate, do not comb frequently; when the interior and exterior are healthy, do not administer medicine frequently; playful items should not be indulged in; sharp or dangerous tools should not be given to hold; do not approach monkeys (which harm the Will/Zhi); do not hold starlings or sparrows (which damage the eyes); holding boys, let them read books; holding girls, let them observe female tasks (needlework); when boys begin to learn walking, do not let them be negligent; when children begin to speak, do not let them be extravagant or careless; when able to sit, do not sit for long periods to avoid loose waist and back; do not walk too early to avoid weak bones and tendons; do not show things they dislike, but allow them to learn from good examples; adjust and nourish according to the seasons for natural peace and joy; when thunder rolls or drums beat, do not cover their ears; if sleeping past the proper time, must make them rise early; if overfed, must restrain; non-seasonal foods should not be eaten; daily soups and vegetables should have light flavors; do not keep lights on at night for excrement; do not speak of ghosts during the day; do not sleep facing the wind; do not sit near water; when laughing excessively, provide calmness; when crying excessively, provide joy; wise people should know the ultimate principles of nurturing.

It is said: Under the whole heaven, the principles of childbirth and rearing are the same, but care and nursing differ, is this due to wealth and poverty? However, although rich and noble diets and bedding are beneficial to the child, what about the poor and lowly? The ancients said, "Not taking medicine when sick is considered 'Zhong Yi' (middle-level treatment)," which is exactly right. Externally protect against cold pathogens, internally regulate diet, examine things and follow the seasons, and what disease would arise? Previously it was said that the rich and noble cause excessive harm, while the poor and lowly suffer from insufficiency. However, the meaning of "insufficiency" aligns with the concept of "Zhong Yi," finding its appropriate place. For instance, during Bian Zheng (physiological changes in infant development), when the time comes, slight heat may appear, allowing the child to gradually solidify, stretch muscles and bones, grow hundred vessels, and harmonize meridians—this is natural law. Why add medicine? As children grow, their diet changes. Fruits and melons vary by region: rice in fields, millet and wheat in mountains, ferns and bamboo shoots in the wild, fish in streams, wood clear or turbid. Humans are born according to local suitability, and diet follows local availability. Southerners cannot eat Northern foods; they use flour for meals and dates for vegetables. How can Northerners eat Southern foods? They use fish for dishes and Zancheng rice for staple food. Those near the sea eat salty preserved foods; those in mountains eat game. Northern fruits are mostly cool in nature; Southern fruits are mostly hot; Eastern fruits are mostly sour; Western fruits are mostly astringent. How can one eat too much? Forcing the five zang and six fu organs leads to disease. If a child has heart disease, they should not eat salty or briny foods; lung disease, no charred foods; liver disease, no spicy/pungent foods; spleen disease, no sour/rancid foods; kidney disease, no sweet foods. This is because these flavors strengthen other organs' qi and harm the affected organ. Lotus seeds and cornelian cherries can unblock heart qi; pomegranates and phyllanthus are very astringent to the intestines and stomach; dried persimmons and boiled sugarcane benefit the lungs; steamed lotus root and cooked beans benefit the liver. Among the five flavors, only jujube (supplementing Wuweizi) suits the spleen; lung disease forbids fatty/greasy foods like goose, duck, fish, shrimp, salted/fishy/salty items; spleen disease forbids raw/cold/sweet/gas-producing foods like mantou, baozi, wontons, duck eggs, offal sandwiches—all gas-producing items; heart disease forbids blood, marrow, kidneys, chicken, mutton, roasted shoulders, braised/stir-fried/deep-fried foods; liver disease forbids lung, head, tripe, pig, sparrow, greasy/wet dough foods. Regardless of whether a child is sick or healthy, do not give kidney beans, tripe, marrow, or blood, as this causes "Zou Ma Gan" (gangrenous stomatitis); scallions, leeks, alliums, garlic, and cilantro should also be avoided, as they cause heart qi stagnation, block water passages, and lead to sanjiao deficiency with mental confusion; birds and sparrows should not be eaten, causing sores, tinea, eczema, irritability, and depression; dried fish, shrimp, crab, eel, loach, snails, clams, etc., should not be eaten, causing intestinal intolerance, diarrhea, dysentery, obstruction, or constipation. Sweet food causes malnutrition (gan syndrome); overeating damages qi; cold food causes accumulation; sour food damages intelligence; bitter food consumes spirit; salty food blocks qi; fatty food generates phlegm; spicy food injures the lungs. Eating bland flavors preserves the clear qi of the zang and fu organs. This is loving and cherishing one's child by setting taboos. To indulge in overeating and heavy flavors is to cherish without love, harming the affection, leading to conditions like Ding Xi or Lu Ji, leaving no cure for Wugu disease, regretting too late. Families raising children should know this and strictly observe these principles.