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When heaven and earth were separated, yin and yang began to form. Endowed with the Five Phases (Wu Xing), the physical body is constituted; harmonizing with the Four Seasons, the shape is completed. The human body mirrors and embodies the cosmos; the nine zang organs correspond to the Nine Provinces. The father's essence is white, light, and agile; the mother's blood is black, heavy, and turbid. Thus, the yang fetal qi accounts for nine parts (light and clear), while the yin seasonal qi accounts for ten parts (heavy and turbid). Generally, if yin qi does not overcome yang qi, a male child is born; if yang qi does not overcome yin qi, a female child is born.

During the ten months of pregnancy, the fetus develops distinctively each month: in the first month, it resembles a dewdrop; in the second month, it blooms like a peach blossom; in the third month, the sexes begin to differentiate. For males, the left hypochondrium, left eye, and left kidney develop first; for females, the reverse occurs. In the fourth month, the physical form is complete; in the fifth month, sinews and bones are formed; in the sixth month, hair grows; in the seventh month, the Hun (Ethereal Soul) wanders, enabling movement of the left hand; in the eighth month, the Po (Corporeal Soul) wanders, enabling movement of the right hand, and the zang-fu organs are fully established; in the ninth month, the three rotations are completed, and grain qi enters the stomach; in the tenth month, the spirit is complete, and birth occurs. However, in reality, this period amounts to only 270 days, which is the definitive conclusion. One month is virtually counted to correspond to the number ten. Therefore, the *Classic* states: "Nine nines" is the highest grade, "eight eights" is the next, and "seven sevens" is further below.

Human life originates from the qi of Heaven and Earth (the Two Powers), integrating the Way of the Three Powers (Heaven, Earth, Man). If the Three Powers each attain their nine, then three times nine equals twenty-seven, representing 270 days of gestation; such infants have abundant blood and qi, pure and solid spirit, complete appearance, and accessible wisdom. If they follow the pattern of eight eights, three times eight equals twenty-four, representing 240 days of gestation. If they follow the pattern of seven sevens, the Three Powers each attain their seven, three times seven equals twenty-one, representing 210 days of gestation. Birth after ten months is termed "Excess" (Tai Guo); birth in the seventh or eighth month is termed "Deficiency" (Bu Ji). "Excess" indicates an abundance of yin in blood and qi; "Deficiency" indicates insufficient nourishment by blood and qi.

Generally, when humans adhere to the Mean (Zhong Dao), they become pure; yin and yang are properly balanced, rigidity and flexibility complement each other, blood and qi are harmonious, all meridians flow smoothly, the mind and intelligence are clear, the spirit is complete, the zang-fu organs are full, and the body is strong. This can be known by observing the fontanelle. An infant under one year old whose cranial fontanelle is firm and closed, with black and spirited eyes, square mouth, thick back, coarse bones, full buttocks, soft abdomen, deep umbilicus, small penis, large scrotum, fine teeth, lustrous hair, loud voice, steady sleep, robust breath, clear sound, tight form, and purplish complexion, has received balanced primordial qi.

If at two or three years old the fontanelle remains open, limbs are contracted, teeth and hair have not grown, knees resemble crane joints, or walking is delayed until five years old, with thin hands, emaciated spine, pale complexion, withered form, timid breath, and turbid voice, these are signs of deficient primordial qi. Primordial qi manifests in six aspects: sinews, bones, flesh, blood, essence, and qi. When sinews are substantial, strength is great; when bones are substantial, walking and standing occur early; when blood is substantial, the body is lean but hair is abundant; when flesh is substantial, illness is rare; when essence is substantial, the child is sharp and intelligent, talks and laughs often, and fears neither cold nor heat; when qi is substantial, illness is rare and the body is plump.

However, some children appear fat externally but are weak internally, with a pale face, abdominal rumbling, vomiting of milk and food, or green stools, large head, and open fontanelle. This indicates the weakest fetal qi, improper care, and a tendency toward Slow Convulsion (Man Jing Feng).