无男女则乾坤几乎息矣。男子匹配，所以广嗣，厥系非轻，勿谓无赖于人事也。生育者
，必
阳道强健而不衰，阴癸应候而不愆，阴阳交畅，精血合凝，而胎元易成矣。不然，阳衰不能
下应乎阴，阴亏不能上从乎阳，阴阳乖戾，是以无子，虽云天命之有定，抑亦人事之未尽与
。故种子者，男则清心寡欲以养其精，女则平心定气以养其血。补之以药饵，济以方术，是
谓人事之当尽也。何谓男贵清心寡欲?盖形乐者易盈，志乐者易荡。富贵之人，不知御神
，
则荡心倾，不知御形，则盈必亏，此清心寡欲为男子第一要紧也。何谓女贵平心定气?盖女
子
以身事人而性多躁，以色悦人而情多急，稍不如意，即忧思怨怒矣。忧则气结，思则气郁，
怒则气逆，怨则气阻。血随气行，气逆血亦逆，此平心定气为女子第一要紧也。药饵维何?
男子宜服地黄丸，以补左肾之阴，加杜仲、苁蓉、巴戟、补骨、沉香，以补右肾之阳。女子
宜服乌鸡丸，以养其血气，调其经候，斯为得理。若彼桂附丹石，动气耗阳，损血消阴之
剂，一切止之。何谓济之以方术。如种子之歌、素女之论是也。女人无子，多因经候不调，
药饵之辅，尤不可缓，若不调其经候而与之合，徒用力于无用之地，此调经为女人种子紧要
也。
如肥盛妇人，禀受甚浓，及恣于酒食之人，经候不调，不能成胎，谓之躯脂满涩，闭壅
子宫，宜行湿燥痰，用苍莎导痰丸、四制香附丸。
如瘦怯性急之人，经水不调，不能成胎，谓之子宫干涩无血，不能摄受精气。宜凉血降
火，用地黄三补丸调之。
如素有浊漏带下之人，经水不调，不能成胎，谓之下元虚惫，不能聚血受精。宜补虚涩
脱，用乌鸡丸、补宫丸调之。
种子歌云∶三十时辰两日半，二十八九君须算；落红满地是佳期，经水过时空霍乱；霍
乱之
时枉费工，树头木底觅残红；管取放花能结子，何愁丹桂不成丛。此盖言经水未行之时，血
海正满，子宫未开，不能受精以成胎。经水既行，则子宫开，血海净，斯能受精矣。然自行
经之时，算至三十个时辰，恰两日半，种子当贵其时。故一日二日三日与之交，则多生男；
四日五日六日与之交，则多生女；七日之后，子宫复闭，不受胎矣。
妇人阴盾取象于月，若是朔至望，经行不失其候者，结胎易生子多寿。以月光渐生，月
轮渐
满也。若自望至晦，经行或失其期者，胎虽结，生子多夭。以月光渐消，月廓渐空也，此造
化之理，可与得情者道之矣。素女论中，男有三至，女有五至，如男至而女未至，玉体才交
，琼浆先吐，虽欲下应乎阴，而阴不从也。如女至而男未至，桃浪先翻，玉露无滴，虽欲上
从乎阳，而阳不应也，所以无子。然气至者，亦有先后男女之别，如阳精先至，阴血后参，
则精开裹血而成女。阴血先至，阳精后冲，
则血开裹精而成男。故卜书云∶阴包阳，则桂庭添秀。阳包阴，则桃洞得仙。此之谓也。
何谓男有三至?盖阴痿而不举，肝气未至也；举而不坚，肾气未至也；坚而不热，心气
未至
也。肝气未至而强合，则伤肝，其精满滴而不射；肾气未至而强合，则伤肾，其精散漫而不
粘聚；心气未至而强合，则伤心，其精冷而不热。此男子之所以无子，贵乎清心寡欲，以养
肝肾心之气也。
何谓女有五至?盖交戏之时，面赤而热，心气至也。目中涎沥，渐睨视人，肝气至也。
娇声
低语，口鼻气喘，肺气至也。伸舌吮唇，以身偎人，脾气至也。玉户开张，琼涎流出，肾气
至也。五气皆至，而与之合，则情合意美，阳施阴受，有子之道也。
男女无疾，交会应期；三虚四忌，不可不避。三虚者，天地晦冥，日月薄蚀，电雷风雨
。晦
滋朔望，天之虚也；地震土陷，山崩水溢，地之虚也；忧怒悲恐，醉饱劳倦，人之虚也。犯
此三虚，交而不孕，孕而不育，疾病且生，身之灾也。四忌者，一忌本命正冲，甲子庚申，
灭没休废之日；二忌大寒大暑，大饱大醉之时；三忌日月星辰，寺观坛场之前，冢墓之处；
四忌触忤恼犯，骂詈击搏之事。犯此四者，令人无子，且至夭也。
凡种子者，当应候之时，男服补肾益精之药，女则调其饮食，淡其滋味，避其寒暑，至
夜半
生气乘旺之时，根据上三至五至，三虚四忌行之，自然交而必孕，孕而必成矣。养生书云∶行
房事切忌子时前，乃阳衰阴盛之候。
没有男女，天地阴阳几乎就要停息了。男子与女子婚配，是为了繁衍后代，这关系重大，不要说它不依赖于人的努力。生育子女，必须男子阳道强健而不衰败，女子月经按时来潮而没有差错，阴阳之气交合通畅，精血融合凝聚，胎元就容易形成了。不然的话，阳气衰弱不能下应阴气，阴血亏虚不能上从阳气，阴阳乖违背离，所以没有子嗣，虽然说是天命注定，但也可能是人事方面没有尽力啊。所以求子的方法，男子应当清心寡欲以保养精气，女子应当平心静气以保养血液。用药物补益，辅以房中术，这就是人事应当尽到的部分。
什么叫男子贵在清心寡欲？大概形体安逸的人容易气血充盈，志趣享乐的人容易心神放荡。富贵之人，不知道调摄精神，就会心神放荡倾覆；不知道调摄形体，就会因为过度充盈而亏损，这是清心寡欲作为男子第一要紧之事的原因。什么叫女子贵在平心定气？大概女子以身体侍奉他人而性情多急躁，以容貌取悦他人而情感多急切，稍微不如意，就会产生忧愁、思虑、怨恨和愤怒。忧愁则气机结滞，思虑则气机郁结，愤怒则气机上逆，怨恨则气机阻滞。血液随着气运行，气逆则血也逆，这是平心定气作为女子第一要紧之事的原因。
什么叫做药物补益？男子适宜服用地黄丸，以补左肾之阴，加上杜仲、肉苁蓉、巴戟天、补骨脂、沉香，以补右肾之阳。女子适宜服用乌鸡丸，以滋养其气血，调理月经周期，这就合乎情理。至于那些含有桂枝、附子以及丹石类的药物，这些会扰动气机、耗损阳气、损伤血液、消减阴液的方剂，一律禁止使用。
什么叫做辅以房中术？比如《种子歌》、《素女经》中的论述就是这类。女人没有子嗣，大多因为月经不调，药物的辅助治疗尤其不可迟缓，如果不调理月经就进行房事，只是在无用的地方用力，这是调理月经作为女子求子紧要环节的原因。
如果是肥胖的妇人，禀赋浓厚，以及放纵于酒食的人，月经不调，不能受孕，这叫作躯脂满涩，闭阻子宫，应当祛湿燥痰，使用苍莎导痰丸、四制香附丸。
如果是瘦弱性急的人，月经不调，不能受孕，这叫作子宫干涩无血，不能摄受精气。应当凉血降火，用地黄三补丸来调理。
如果有素有白带浊漏的人，月经不调，不能受孕，这叫作下元虚惫，不能聚血受精。应当补虚固脱，用乌鸡丸、补宫丸来调理。
《种子歌》说：“三十个时辰两日半，二十八九君须算；落红满地是佳期，经水过时空霍乱；霍乱之时枉费工，树头木底觅残红；管取放花能结子，何愁丹桂不成丛。”这大概是说在月经未行之前，血海正满，子宫未开，不能受精成胎。月经既行之后，子宫打开，血海洁净，才能受精。然而从月经开始自行来潮时算起，到三十个时辰，恰好两日半，求子应当重视这个时机。所以第一天、第二天、第三天同房，多生男孩；第四天、第五天、第六天同房，多生女孩；七天之后，子宫重新闭合，就不能受孕了。
妇人的阴道取象于月亮，如果从初一（朔）到十五（望），月经来潮不失其时，就容易结胎生子且多长寿。因为月光逐渐生成，月轮逐渐圆满。如果从十五到月末（晦），月经来潮有时失其期，虽然结胎，但生子多夭折。因为月光逐渐消退，月廓逐渐空虚。这是造化的道理，只能与懂得其中奥妙的人谈论。
《素女论》中记载，男子有三至，女子有五至。如果男至而女未至，阴茎刚接触，阴道津液先流出，虽然想要下应阴气，但阴气不随之而动。如果女至而男未至，阴道分泌物先涌出，阴茎却无反应，虽然想要上从阳气，但阳气不相应，所以没有子嗣。然而气至者，也有先后导致男女之别，如果阳精先到，阴血后参入，则精开裹血而成女。阴血先到，阳精后冲入，则血开裹精而成男。所以占卜书说：“阴包阳，则桂庭添秀（生女）；阳包阴，则桃洞得仙（生男）。”说的就是这个道理。
什么叫男子有三至？大概阳痿而不举，是肝气未到；举而不坚，是肾气未到；坚而不热，是心气未到。肝气未到而强行交合，则伤肝，其精液虽满滴但不射出；肾气未到而强行交合，则伤肾，其精液散漫而不粘聚；心气未到而强行交合，则伤心，其精液冷而不热。这就是男子之所以无子的原因，贵在清心寡欲，以保养肝肾心之气。
什么叫女子有五至？大概嬉戏交欢时，面色红润发热，是心气已到。眼中含泪，渐渐斜视对方，是肝气已到。娇声低语，口鼻气喘，是肺气已到。伸舌吮唇，以身偎依对方，是脾气已到。阴户张开，阴道津液流出，是肾气已到。五气都到了，再与之交合，则情合意美，阳施阴受，是有子之道。
男女无疾病，交会应合时节；三虚四忌，不可不避开。三虚者，指天地昏暗，日月蚀，电闪雷鸣风雨。晦日、朔日、望日，是天的虚；地震土陷，山崩水溢，是地的虚；忧愁愤怒悲伤恐惧，醉酒饱食劳累疲倦，是人的虚。触犯这三虚，交合而不孕，怀孕而不育，疾病将会产生，是身体的灾祸。四忌者，一是忌讳本命正冲，甲子庚申，灭没休废之日；二是忌讳大寒大暑，大饱大醉之时；三是忌讳日月星辰之下，寺观坛场之前，冢墓之处；四是忌讳触怒恼犯，骂詈击搏之事。触犯这四者，令人无子，甚至夭折。
凡是求子，应当在应候之时，男子服用补肾益精的药物，女子则调理饮食，清淡滋味，避开寒暑，直到夜半生气旺盛之时，根据上述三至五至、三虚四忌的原则行事，自然交合必孕，怀孕必成。养生书说：行房事切忌在子时前，那是阳气衰弱阴气盛行的时候。
Without men and women, the Heaven and Earth (Qiankun) would almost cease to function. The matching of men and women is for the purpose of extending the lineage; this connection is not trivial, and one should not claim that it does not depend on human effort. To bear children, the male's Yang pathway must be robust and un-declining, and the female's menstrual cycle (Yuejing) must arrive on schedule without error. When Yin and Yang interact smoothly and essence and blood condense together, the fetal origin (Taiyuan) is easily formed. Otherwise, if Yang is too weak to respond downward to Yin, or Yin is too deficient to follow upward to Yang, Yin and Yang will be discordant, resulting in infertility. Although some may attribute this to fixed destiny, it is also likely due to insufficient human effort. Therefore, methods for conception require men to clear their minds and reduce desires to nourish their essence, and women to calm their hearts and steady their qi to nourish their blood. Nourishment through herbal medicine and assistance through sexual techniques constitute the proper fulfillment of human effort.
What is meant by "men value clearing the mind and reducing desires"? Generally, those whose bodies are at ease tend to become overly full, while those who indulge in pleasure tend to have dissipated spirits. Wealthy individuals who do not guard their spirit risk mental dissipation; those who do not guard their bodies risk depletion from excess. This is why clearing the mind and reducing desires is the foremost priority for men. What is meant by "women value calming the heart and steadying the qi"? Women often serve others with their bodies and thus have irritable natures; they please others with their appearance and thus have anxious emotions. If things are not as they wish, they fall into worry, rumination, resentment, and anger. Worry causes Qi stagnation; rumination causes Qi depression; anger causes Qi rebellion; resentment causes Qi obstruction. Blood follows Qi; if Qi rebels, Blood rebels. This is why calming the heart and steadying the qi is the foremost priority for women.
What constitutes medicinal nourishment? Men are suitable for taking Dihuang Wan (Rehmannia Pill) to tonify the Yin of the Left Kidney, adding Duzhong (Eucommia Bark), Rongrong (Cistanche Stem), Bajiji (Morinda Root), Buguzhi (Psoralea Fruit), and Chenxiang (Aquilaria Wood) to tonify the Yang of the Right Kidney. Women are suitable for taking Wuji Wan (Black Chicken Pill) to nourish their Qi and Blood and regulate their menstruation, which aligns with reason. Preparations containing Guizhi (Cinnamon Twig), Fuzi (Aconite Root), and Dan Shi (Mineral Drugs) that agitate Qi, consume Yang, damage Blood, and deplete Yin should be strictly avoided.
What constitutes assistance through sexual techniques? Examples include the *Zhongzi Ge* (Song of Conception) and discussions in the *Sunu* (Lady Su). Infertility in women is often due to irregular menstruation; therefore, auxiliary treatment with herbs is urgent. If intercourse occurs without regulating menstruation, effort is wasted. Thus, regulating menstruation is crucial for women seeking conception.
For obese women with strong constitutions, or those indulgent in alcohol and food, irregular menstruation prevents conception. This is termed "abdominal fat causing dampness and astringency," blocking the Uterus. Treatment should resolve dampness and dry phlegm using Cangsha Daotan Wan (Cang Zhu and Cyperus Phlegm-Resolving Pill) or Sizhi Xiangfu Wan (Four-Processed Cyperus Pill).
For thin, quick-tempered individuals with irregular menstruation preventing conception, this is termed "dryness and astringency of the Uterus due to lack of Blood," failing to capture fertilizing essence. Treatment should cool Blood and descend Fire using Dihuang Sanbu Wan (Three-Tonifying Rehmannia Pill).
For those with chronic leukorrhea or vaginal discharge, irregular menstruation preventing conception is termed "deficiency and exhaustion of the Lower Yuan," failing to gather Blood for fertilization. Treatment should tonify deficiency and secure leakage using Wuji Wan (Black Chicken Pill) or Bugong Wan (Uterus-Supplementing Pill).
The *Zhongzi Ge* states: "Thirty hours and half a day, you must calculate twenty-eight or twenty-nine; when red falls like rain, it is the auspicious date; after menstruation passes, efforts are in vain; wasting labor during chaos, looking for residual red under trees and roots; ensure flowers can bear fruit, why worry about cinnabar cassia not forming clusters?" This implies that before menstruation begins, the Sea of Blood is full and the Uterus is closed, unable to conceive. After menstruation starts, the Uterus opens and the Sea of Blood clears, allowing conception. Counting thirty hours from the start of menstruation equals two and a half days; timing is precious for conception. Intercourse on days 1–3 tends to produce males; days 4–6 tends to produce females; after day 7, the Uterus closes again, and conception is unlikely.
The female vagina is symbolized by the moon. If menstruation occurs regularly from the New Moon (Shuo) to the Full Moon (Wang), conception is easy, offspring are healthy, and longevity is likely, as the moonlight grows and the lunar disk fills. If menstruation occurs irregularly from the Full Moon to the Dark Moon (Hui), although conception may occur, offspring are often short-lived, as moonlight fades and the lunar outline empties. This is the principle of creation, discussable only with those who understand it.
The *Sunu Lun* mentions three arrivals for men and five arrivals for women. If the male arrives but the female has not yet arrived, and fluids are released before contact, although the male intends to respond to Yin, Yin does not comply. If the female arrives but the male has not, and fluids flow before penetration, although the female intends to follow Yang, Yang does not respond; thus, no conception occurs. However, the sequence of arrival determines gender: if Yang essence arrives first and Yin blood follows, essence wraps blood to form a female. If Yin blood arrives first and Yang essence follows, blood wraps essence to form a male. Divination texts state: "Yin wrapping Yang adds elegance to the cassia courtyard (female); Yang wrapping Yin brings immortals to the peach cave (male)."
What are the three arrivals for men? Impotence indicates Liver Qi has not arrived; erection without firmness indicates Kidney Qi has not arrived; firmness without heat indicates Heart Qi has not arrived. Forcing intercourse before Liver Qi arrives damages the Liver, resulting in semen that drips but does not shoot. Forcing intercourse before Kidney Qi arrives damages the Kidney, resulting in semen that scatters and does not coagulate. Forcing intercourse before Heart Qi arrives damages the Heart, resulting in cold semen. These are reasons for male infertility, emphasizing the need to clear the mind and reduce desires to nourish Liver, Kidney, and Heart Qi.
What are the five arrivals for women? Red and hot face indicates Heart Qi has arrived. Tears in eyes and sideways glancing indicate Liver Qi has arrived. Soft voice, low speech, and panting from mouth/nose indicate Lung Qi has arrived. Extending tongue, sucking lips, and leaning body indicate Spleen Qi has arrived. Opening of the genitalia and flow of vaginal fluids indicate Kidney Qi has arrived. When all five Qi arrive, intercourse leads to harmonious emotion, Yang giving and Yin receiving, which is the path to conception.
When both partners are healthy, intercourse should follow the proper timing. One must avoid the Three Deficiencies and Four Taboos. The Three Deficiencies refer to: heavenly deficiencies (dark skies, solar/lunar eclipses, storms); earthly deficiencies (earthquakes, landslides, floods); and human deficiencies (grief, anger, fear, drunkenness, overeating, fatigue). Violating these leads to infertility, miscarriage, or disease. The Four Taboo periods are: 1. Clashing dates with one's birth year (e.g., Jiazi, Gengshen); 2. Extreme weather (severe cold/heat) or states (overeating/intoxication); 3. Profane locations (near temples, altars, tombs); 4. Inauspicious events (conflicts, beatings). Violating these leads to infertility or premature death.
For conception, during the appropriate time, men should take Kidney-tonifying and essence-nourishing herbs, while women should regulate diet, keep flavors light, and avoid extreme temperatures. At midnight, when Sheng Qi (Vital Qi) is strongest, following the principles of the Three/Five Arrivals and avoiding the Three Deficiencies/Four Taboos ensures natural conception and successful pregnancy. Health preservation texts warn against intercourse before the Zi hour (11 PM–1 AM), as this is a time of declining Yang and flourishing Yin.