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In ancient times, the primordial qi (vital energy) was thick and profound, and the supreme harmony (Taihe) was overflowing. The eight winds (winds from eight directions) were upright, and cold and heat were harmonious; the six qi (wind, cold, summer heat, dampness, dryness, fire) were balanced, and rain fell in due season. Therefore, the prenatal essence received by the fetus from its parents was abundant. However, as heaven and earth had been open for a long time, living beings multiplied, excessive expenditure caused injury, disasters such as floods, droughts, and wars appeared one after another. Moreover, people’s diets differed between rich foods (gaoliang) and coarse grains (lihuo), their circumstances varied, and they exhausted their spirit and mind, depleting their primordial qi. Thus, the prenatal essence received by the fetus from its parents became thin. Since the endowment is already divided into abundant and thin, it is evident that one cannot rigidly apply ancient prescriptions to treat modern diseases.

Heaven and earth love life, and all things are transformed and generated. The nourishment of the prenatal essence concerns the natural process of creation. Hereinafter, following the *Cranium and Fontanelle Classic* (*Luxin Jing*), the stages after conception are listed month by month:
The first month of pregnancy is called the embryo sac, where essence and qi condense.
The second month is called the fetal form, where the embryo begins to take shape.
In the third month, the yang spirit transforms into three po (corporeal souls).
In the fourth month, the yin spirit transforms into seven hun (ethereal souls).
In the fifth month, corresponding to the Five Elements, the five zang organs are differentiated.
In the sixth month, corresponding to the Six Pitch-pipes, the six fu organs are established.
In the seventh month, the orifices of essence open, allowing access to light and clarity.
In the eighth month, the yuan shen (original spirit) is complete, and the true spirit descends.
In the ninth month, the palace chambers (organ structures) are arranged to defend against external invasions.
In the tenth month, the qi is sufficient, and all phenomena (physical forms) are accomplished.
Observing the above list, one knows that the nourishment of the prenatal essence follows the natural way of Heaven, not human effort. The ancients’ teachings on prenatal education will not be repeated here. It is only that the pregnant mother protects the fetus with her zang organ qi. Her fullness or hunger, labor or rest, joy, anger, worry, or fright, diet temperature, and careful or careless daily routine are all closely related to the fetus. I privately wish to encourage pregnant mothers to regulate their diet, adapt to cold and heat, abstain from anger, and reduce desires.

At one month of pregnancy, the fetus resembles white dew; at two months, like peach blossoms. In the third month, if the right kidney develops first, it is a male, representing yin enveloping yang; if the left kidney develops first, it is a female, representing yang enveloping yin.
Next, the Kidney generates the Spleen, the Spleen generates the Liver, the Liver generates the Lung, and the Lung generates the Heart. The Kidney belongs to Water, so the five zang organs belong to Yin.
Next, the Heart generates the Small Intestine, the Small Intestine generates the Large Intestine, the Large Intestine generates the Gallbladder, the Gallbladder generates the Stomach, the Stomach generates the Bladder, and the Bladder generates the Sanjiao (Triple Burner). The Small Intestine belongs to Fire, so the six fu organs belong to Yang.
Next, the Sanjiao generates the Eight Extraordinary Vessels, the Eight Extraordinary Vessels generate the Twelve Primary Meridians, the Twelve Primary Meridians generate the Twelve Luo-connecting vessels, the Twelve Luo-connecting vessels generate 180 silk collaterals, the silk collaterals generate 180 coiled collaterals, the coiled collaterals generate 34,000 sun collaterals, the sun collaterals generate 365 bone joints, the bone joints generate 365 major acupoints, and the major acupoints generate 84,000 hair pores. Thus, the body with five sense organs and eight skeletal parts can be considered complete.