〔原文〕入火,垂两臂不息,即不伤火法。
向南方蹲踞,以两手从屈膝中入掌足五指,令内曲。利腰尻(考。脊骨末端, 尾部)完,
治淋,遗溺愈。
箕(基。同 )踞。交两脚手内并脚中,又叉两手极
引之。愈寤寐,精气不泄。
两手交叉颐(夷。面颊、腮)下,自极。利肺气,治暴气咳。
举两脚,夹两颊边,两手据地服(《病源》作蹲坐)疗宿壅(痈)。
举右手,展左手,坐,右脚上掩左脚,愈尻完痛。
举手交颈上相握,自极。治胁下痛。
舒左手,右手在下握左手拇指,自极;舒右手,左手在下握右手拇指,自极。
皆治骨节酸疼。
掩两脚,两手指着足五指上,愈腰折不能低仰,若血久瘀为之,即愈。
竖足五指。愈腰脊痛,不能反顾视者。
以右手从头上来下,又挽下手。愈颈不能反顾视。
坐地。掩左手,以右手指肩挽之。愈倾侧膝腰及小便不通。
东向坐,向日。左手揖目,举身望北斗,心服月气,始得众恶不入,理头仰苦难牵。
右手反折,各左右自极张弓。兼补五脏不足,气则至。
抱两膝着胸自极。此常令丹田气还,补脑。
坐地。直两脚,以手捻脚胫,以头至地。调脊诸椎,利发根,令长美。
坐地。交叉两脚,以两手从曲脚中入,低头叉项上,治久寒不能自温,耳不闻勿正倍声。
不息行气,从头至足心,愈疽痂,大风,偏枯诸痹。
极力左右振两臂,不息九通。愈臂痛、劳倦,风气不遂。
〔解说〕入火法,练功时要下垂两臂,不息行气,此即所谓不被火伤的功法。
采用面向南方(南方在五行属火)下蹲的蹲踞姿势,两手从屈膝的两膝之中伸入,
握住两足掌五趾,让双腿向内弯曲。能通利腰、 尾部,使之强健,治疗淋病、遗尿。
采用屈膝张足而坐的箕踞姿势,用两手攀足心,双足相并,再交叉两手,右手经
左足背握住右脚背,左手经右足背握住左脚背,用力拉脚。可以治疗嗜眠和精神不振。
原文“寤寐”,参照《诸病源候论》卷三十一,从“久寐”解,“精气不泄”从“精气
不明”解。
两手交错托在腮下,用力上引。可以疏通肺气,治疗突然发作的气逆咳嗽。
高举两脚膝,夹在面颊两旁,两手按地蹲坐。(参照《诸病源候论》卷二十,
“两脚”从“两膝”解,“据地服”从“蹲坐”解)。此功法可治疗宿痈病,就是积
水积气,日久成饮水不消的癖积病,因癖生痈。
举右手向上,展左手下垂,坐在地上,右脚上抬,掩压在左脚上,治尾骨部疼痛。
举两手交叉放在颈后,尽量用力相握。能治疗胁肋下疼痛。
伸展左手,右手在下握住左手拇指,尽量用力;伸展右手,左手在下握住右手拇指,
也尽量用力牵引。都能治疗骨节酸疼的疾患。
伸展两脚,两手指伸向脚五趾上。(“掩两脚”参照《诸病源候论》改为“伸两脚”)
。这种功法可治疗腰部疼痛似折,不能弯腰前后仰。如果是瘀血久停造成的,施用这种功
法很快就能痊愈。
竖立足五趾,仍采用伸展两脚的坐式,还能治疗腰脊疼痛,不能反转回视的疾患。
用右手从头上向下牵引左手。能治疗项部不能反转回视的疾患。
坐在地上,伸展左手,用右手指牵引左肩。可以治疗身体偏侧,膝部、腰部不通
利,小便不通。
面向东坐,向着太阳。左手遮目旁,抬头望北斗,心中存想月亮的光华。可以强壮
身体,使得诸邪气不能侵入,并能治疗头痛难以抬举转动。
右手反转弯曲,左手与右手用力交替进行,姿势如开弓状。此功法兼能补养五脏气虚
亏损,使正气恢复。
坐在地上,以两手抱两膝尽量用力贴胸。这种功法经常进行,能使丹田的元气回还,有
补脑的功效。
坐在地上,伸直两脚,用两手捏住脚腕,将头下弯到地。这种功法可调理各节脊椎,通
利头发根部,使头发长而美。
坐在地上,交叉两脚,将两手从脚弯中伸入,低头把手交叉放在项上。能治疗久寒不能自
己转温,耳朵听不见比正常声音加倍响的声音。
行不息行气的功法,用意念把“内气”从头引达足心为止。可治愈疽、 疝气、大风、半身
不遂和多种风痹证。
极力振动左右两臂,闭气不息,连续作九遍。可治疗臂痛、过劳疲倦、风气不遂等症。
小结∶
《云笈七签》“卷三十四·杂修摄篇”说∶“日初出、日中、日入时,向日正立,不息九
通,仰头吸日精光,九咽之,益精百倍。若入火,垂两臂不息,即不伤。”《规中指南》说∶
“神是火, 是药。”《金仙正论》说∶“火者神
也。曰汞、曰日、曰鸟、曰龙,皆我之真意也。”可见古人所说练功中的“火”就是用
意,用意来掌握呼吸,就是火候。如果只知道发功猛练,用意大过,一味追求发动内气,
就必然会影响体内的“阴阳平衡,水火既济”,引起所谓“走火”症。轻则气冲胸腹,胸
闷腹胀;重则火冲头目,致头痛目痛,胀重如箍;有的甚至周身气窜,外动不已,癫狂躁
越,“入魔”成疾。纠正的方法就是息火、退火、散火,使火降水升,“阴平阳秘”。“入
火法”承接于吸日精光之后,可以认为就是为了防止入火后火候太过,使火盛阳亢,
火水不济,故以垂两臂不息,以息过盛之火,所以又叫做“不伤火”法。所谓不伤火就是不
要被火所伤,引起阳亢而走火。至于吸日精的具体练习法见“十二、积聚门”。
本篇以“入火,垂两臂不息。即不伤火法”为纲,意在强调练气入火后,即应注意息火、
退火,勿使太过而伤火。垂两臂者,意在引气向下,降火平阳,和下面的“入水,举两手臂
不息”正相反,后者举两手臂是为了引火向上,其义详见入水法解说。
本篇后面各段功法,各自成段,与“入火法”似无特殊联系。
[Original Text] Entering Fire: Hanging both arms down and holding the breath constitutes the method of "not injuring the fire."
Squat facing south, insert both hands between the bent knees to grasp the five toes of the feet, causing the legs to curve inward. This benefits the lower back and sacrum (the end of the spinal column, tail), curing strangury (dysuria with pain) and enuresis (involuntary urination).
Sit in a spread-legged posture (Ji Ju), cross the hands and feet internally, bringing the feet together, then cross both hands and pull them as far as possible. This cures excessive sleepiness and prevents the leakage of essence and Qi.
Cross both hands under the cheeks (zygomatic area) and pull upward as far as possible. This benefits Lung Qi and treats sudden-onset cough due to rebellious Qi.
Raise both legs, placing them against the sides of the cheeks, and press the hands on the ground in a squatting position. This treats chronic abscesses (long-standing accumulation of fluid and qi leading to phlegm-stasis disorders that generate sores).
Raise the right hand, extend the left hand downward, sit on the ground, and place the right foot over the left. This cures pain in the coccyx region.
Raise both hands, cross them behind the neck, and grip each other tightly. This treats pain below the ribs.
Extend the left hand; with the right hand underneath, grasp the thumb of the left hand and pull as hard as possible. Extend the right hand; with the left hand underneath, grasp the thumb of the right hand and pull as hard as possible. Both treat soreness and pain in the bone joints.
Stretch both legs, reaching the fingers of both hands toward the five toes of the feet. This cures severe lower back pain resembling a fracture, where bending forward or backward is impossible. If caused by long-standing blood stasis, recovery will be rapid.
Stand the five toes upright. While maintaining the seated posture with stretched legs, this also treats lower back and spine pain accompanied by an inability to look back.
Use the right hand to pull the left hand downward from above the head. This treats the inability to turn the neck to look back.
Sit on the ground. Extend the left hand and use the right hand to pull the left shoulder. This treats lateral body deviation, stiffness in the knees and waist, and urinary obstruction.
Sit facing east, towards the sun. Cover one eye with the left hand, raise the body to gaze at the Big Dipper, and visualize the radiance of the moon in the mind. This strengthens the body, preventing evil pathogens from invading, and treats headaches difficult to lift or turn.
Bend the right hand backward; alternate pulling with the left and right hands as if drawing a bow. This simultaneously tonifies deficiency in the Five Zang organs and restores Zheng Qi (Upright Qi).
Sit on the ground, hugging both knees tightly against the chest. Regular practice causes the Yuan Qi (Primordial Qi) of the Dantian to return and nourishes the brain.
Sit on the ground, straighten both legs, grasp the shins with both hands, and bend the head down to the ground. This regulates the vertebrae of the spine, benefits the hair roots, and promotes healthy, beautiful hair growth.
Sit on the ground, cross both legs, insert both hands through the bends of the legs, lower the head, and cross the hands on the nape of the neck. This treats chronic cold conditions where self-warming is impossible, and hearing loss where sounds twice as loud as normal are not heard.
Practice holding the breath while circulating Qi from the head to the center of the soles of the feet. This cures carbuncles, Hansen's disease (leprosy), hemiplegia, and various wind-bi syndromes.
Vibrate both arms vigorously to the left and right, holding the breath continuously for nine cycles. This treats arm pain, fatigue, and dysfunction due to wind-pathogens.
[Commentary] The "Entering Fire" method involves hanging both arms down and holding the breath while circulating Qi; this is the technique referred to as "not being injured by fire."
Adopt a squatting posture facing south (South belongs to Fire in the Five Elements). Insert both hands between the bent knees to grasp the five toes of the palms/feet, curving the legs inward. This unblocks and strengthens the lower back and tail region, treating strangury and enuresis.
Adopt the "Ji Ju" (spread-legged sitting) posture with bent knees and extended feet. Use both hands to grasp the soles of the feet, bring the feet together, cross the hands, and pull forcefully. This treats somnolence and listlessness. Regarding the original text "Wu Mei" (waking and sleeping), referring to *Zhu Bing Yuan Hou Lun* Vol. 31, it is interpreted as "long sleep"; "Jing Qi Bu Xie" (essence and Qi not leaking) is interpreted from "Jing Qi Bu Ming" (essence and Qi unclear).
Cross both hands and support them under the cheeks, pulling upward with force. This unblocks Lung Qi and treats sudden-onset cough due to rebellious Qi.
Raise both knees high, placing them against the sides of the cheeks, and press the hands on the ground in a squat. (Referring to *Zhu Bing Yuan Hou Lun* Vol. 20, "two feet" is interpreted as "two knees," and "Ju Di Fu" as "squatting"). This method treats chronic abscesses, specifically disorders of accumulated water and qi that persist into indigestion and phlegm-stasis, which generate sores.
Raise the right hand upward, extend the left hand downward, sit on the ground, lift the right foot, and cover the left foot. This treats pain in the coccyx region.
Raise both hands, cross them behind the neck, and grip tightly with maximum effort. This treats pain in the hypochondriac region.
Extend the left hand; the right hand underneath grasps the left thumb and pulls maximally. Extend the right hand; the left hand underneath grasps the right thumb and pulls maximally. Both treat soreness and pain in the bone joints.
Stretch both legs, extending the fingers of both hands toward the five toes of the feet. ("Yan Liang Jiao" [cover two feet] is corrected to "Shen Liang Jiao" [stretch two feet] based on *Zhu Bing Yuan Hou Lun*). This method treats severe lower back pain resembling a fracture, with inability to bend forward or backward. If caused by long-standing blood stasis, applying this method leads to quick recovery.
Stand the five toes upright, still using the seated posture with stretched legs. This also treats lower back and spine pain with an inability to turn the head to look back.
Use the right hand to pull the left hand downward from above the head. This treats the inability to turn the neck to look back.
Sit on the ground, extend the left hand, and use the right hand to pull the left shoulder. This treats lateral body deviation, stiffness in the knees and waist, and urinary obstruction.
Sit facing east, towards the sun. Cover the eyes with the left hand, raise the body to gaze at the Big Dipper, and visualize the moon's radiance in the mind. This strengthens the body, preventing evil pathogens from invading, and treats headaches difficult to lift or turn.
Bend the right hand backward; alternate pulling with the left and right hands with force, in a posture like drawing a bow. This method simultaneously tonifies deficiency in the Five Zang organs and restores Zheng Qi (Upright Qi).
Sit on the ground, hugging both knees tightly against the chest with maximum effort. Regular practice causes the Yuan Qi (Primordial Qi) of the Dantian to return and has the effect of nourishing the brain.
Sit on the ground, straighten both legs, grasp the ankles with both hands, and bend the head down to the ground. This method regulates the spinal vertebrae, benefits the hair roots, and makes hair grow long and beautiful.
Sit on the ground, cross both legs, insert both hands through the leg bends, lower the head, and cross the hands on the nape of the neck. This treats chronic cold conditions where self-warming is impossible, and hearing loss where sounds twice as loud as normal are not heard.
Practice the method of holding the breath and circulating Qi, using intention to guide "internal Qi" from the head to the center of the soles of the feet. This can cure carbuncles, hernias, Hansen's disease (leprosy), hemiplegia, and various wind-bi syndromes.
Vibrate both arms vigorously to the left and right, holding the breath continuously for nine cycles. This treats arm pain, overwork fatigue, and dysfunction due to wind-pathogens.
[Summary]
The *Yunji Qiqian*, "Volume 34: Miscellaneous Cultivation Chapter," states: "At sunrise, noon, and sunset, stand upright facing the sun, hold the breath for nine cycles, tilt the head back to inhale the essence of sunlight, swallow nine times, and benefit the essence a hundredfold. If entering fire, hang both arms down and hold the breath, thus not being injured." The *Guizhong Zhinan* states: "Shen (Spirit) is fire, Jing (Essence) is medicine." The *Jinxian Zhenglun* states: "Fire is Shen. It is called Mercury, Sun, Bird, Dragon; all are my true intent." Thus, the "fire" in ancient cultivation practices refers to the use of intention (Yi) to control breathing, which is the "fire degree" (Hou Huo). If one only knows how to exert power and practice fiercely, using excessive intention and blindly pursuing the activation of internal Qi, it will inevitably affect the "balance of Yin and Yang, and the intersection of Water and Fire" within the body, causing the so-called "Zou Huo" (deviation of fire) syndrome. Mildly, Qi rushes to the chest and abdomen, causing chest tightness and abdominal distension; severely, fire rushes to the head and eyes, causing headache and eye pain, with a sensation of heaviness like a箍 (hoop); some even experience Qi rushing throughout the body, external movement without cessation, mania and restlessness, becoming "possessed" and ill. The correction method is to extinguish, retreat, and dissipate the fire, causing fire to descend and water to rise, achieving "Yin Ping Yang Mi" (peaceful Yin and secure Yang). The "Entering Fire Method" follows the inhalation of sunlight essence and can be considered a measure to prevent excessive fire degree after entering fire, avoiding fire prosperity and Yang hyperactivity, and the failure of Water-Fire intersection. Therefore, hanging both arms down and holding the breath is used to quell excessive fire, hence it is also called the "Not Injuring Fire" method. "Not injuring fire" means not being injured by fire, which causes Yang hyperactivity and deviation. For specific practice methods of inhaling sunlight essence, see "Twelfth: Accumulation Gate."
This chapter uses "Entering Fire, hanging both arms down and holding the breath, i.e., the Not Injuring Fire Method" as the guideline, emphasizing that after practicing Qi entering fire, one should pay attention to extinguishing and retreating the fire, avoiding excess that injures the fire. Hanging both arms aims to guide Qi downward, lowering fire and calming Yang, which is exactly opposite to the following "Entering Water, raising both arms and holding the breath"; the latter raises both arms to guide fire upward, the meaning of which is detailed in the commentary on the Entering Water Method.
The subsequent sections of this chapter form independent paragraphs and seem to have no special connection with the "Entering Fire Method."