Nourishing Temperament and Prolonging Life: Annotated Classics of Chinese Medical Literature

Author: Tao Hongjing
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-06-01
Features: Yangxing Yanning Lu was originally compiled by Tao Hongjing. Tao Hongjing was born in 456 AD and passed away in 536 AD at the age of 81. He was a Taoist thinker and medical expert during the Southern Dynasties of Qi and Liang periods. Based on his personal experiences in self-cultivation and building upon the knowledge of predecessors, he provided a relatively comprehensive summary of the art of longevity.
In terms of static cultivation, the book emphasizes that boosting qi, preserving essence, and regulating the spirit are the fundamental methods of longevity. It holds that "excessive use of the spirit will deplete it, and excessive labor of the body will lead to exhaustion." It also points out that cultivating longevity should align with the rhythms of nature, adapt to geographical conditions, and harmonize yin and yang, seeking balance without excess or deficiency. For example, "Avoid excessive warmth that dissolves the marrow, excessive cold that harms the muscles, spitting or coughing that wastes vital fluids, sudden shouting that startles the soul, prolonged weeping that saddens the spirit, anger that disturbs the mind, or brooding that clouds the inner will." Only by doing so, "those who maintain balance will surely live a long life."
In terms of dynamic cultivation, the book mentions that practices such as qigong, daoyin, fuxi (breath retention), and tunkin (swallowing saliva) are beneficial for health. For instance, in the Fuxi Liaobing chapter, it states: "When practicing breath, inhale through the nose and exhale through the mouth, gently drawing the breath in—this is called changxi (long breath). There is one inhalation and six exhalations. The single inhalation is called xi (sucking in), and the six exhalations are chuī (blowing), hu hū (shouting), xī (sighing), hē (hissing), xū (hissing softly), and kǒu sì (opening the mouth). All are forms of exhalation. The natural breath of a person has this rhythm. To practice long breath and exhalation, one may blow when cold and sigh when warm. Blowing dispels wind, sighing removes heat, sighing alleviates distress, hissing lowers qi, hissing disperses stagnation, and opening the mouth relieves exhaustion."
The Jiaojue chapter cites the Huangting Jing (Yellow Court Sutra) saying: "Clear water from the jade pool nourishes the spiritual roots. If one practices it diligently, they may live forever. This is called yinshi ziran (natural nourishment). Natural nourishment refers to the huachi (flower pool), which is saliva in the mouth. Gargle and swallow it to moisten the organs, nourish the body, promote the flow of meridians, and nourish all spirits, ensuring the growth of limbs, joints, hair, and nails." Modern research shows that salivary secretion disorders can lead to skin atrophy, reduced elasticity, hyperpigmentation, hair loss, and decreased sebum secretion. Thus, during qigong and daoyin practices, gargling and swallowing saliva can help improve the condition of hair, skin, bones, and joints, enhancing the practice's effectiveness.
In terms of dietary cultivation, the book proposes the view that "most diseases and early deaths stem from improper eating" and that "overeating before sleeping leads to a hundred diseases." Therefore, in the Shi Jiao chapter, it advises against overeating, excessive drinking, and eating late at night. The book also points out that after fasting, one should eat "more than usual," and after extreme thirst, one should drink "more than usual." Thus, one should "eat before feeling hungry and drink before feeling thirsty" to benefit the body. To prevent diseases caused by overeating before sleeping, the book suggests that after meals, one should "walk and have someone massage the abdomen repeatedly," which is highly beneficial."