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Since physicians understand the cultivation of virtue, they must also cherish their own spirit and essence. The difficulty in medicine lies precisely here. If one's spirit is confused and depleted, observation and discernment cannot be precise, and the selection of prescriptions and herbs cannot be appropriate. Although there may be a heart willing to help others, circumstances will prevent achieving this goal. As for illnesses that do not respond to herbal decoctions or acupuncture, it is because the patients do not know the methods of preserving health. The ancients said: "It is better to prevent illness well before falling sick than to take good medicine after becoming ill." The preceding section records the *Tianzhen Lun* (Discourse on Primal Truth), which represents the origin of preservation; the middle section records *Rudan* (Dietary Lightness) and *Yin Huo Lun* (Discourse on Yin Fire), indicating that preservation essentially involves regulating diet and sexual activity; the latter section further elaborates on expelling evil and revering righteousness, which is the method of adhering to the path of nurturing.

Yellow Emperor said: "I have heard that people in ancient times lived beyond a hundred years without decline in movement, whereas now people decline in movement by half their life span. Is this due to differences in times, or did people lose the way?" Qibo replied: "People in ancient times who understood the Dao followed Yin and Yang (One Yin and One Yang is called Dao). They aligned with Yin and Yang (Yin and Yang are the beginning and end of all things, the root of life and death; opposing them brings disaster, following them prevents severe diseases). They harmonized with techniques and numbers (Technique refers to the manifestation of Yin and Yang; number refers to the rhythm and limits of Yin and Yang. Harmonizing technique and number means following Yin and Yang. This implies regulated diet and daily routine, adapting to seasons and contentment without indulgence). Their diet was moderate, their daily routine regular, and they did not overexert themselves (The body requires slight exertion so that Qi and Blood do not stagnate; excessive exertion harms the body). Thus, their form and spirit remained united, allowing them to complete their natural lifespan and pass away after a hundred years. People today are different. They treat wine as water, make reckless labor a habit, engage in intercourse while drunk, exhaust their Jing (Essence) through desires, and dissipate their Zhen (True Qi) through depletion. They do not know how to maintain fullness, nor do they control their Shen (Spirit) in time (Not cherishing the body is like holding a full vessel, fearing it might spill; failing to control the Shen constantly is like driving six horses with rotten reins). They pursue only the satisfaction of their hearts, going against the joy of life, lacking regulation in daily routines (Intercourse is part of daily internal affairs). Therefore, by half their life span, their form and spirit decline. The sages of old taught the people to avoid empty evils and thieving winds at the proper times, to remain tranquil and void, allowing True Qi to follow, and keeping Spirit within, so that disease would have no place to arise. Thus, their wills were leisurely with few desires, their hearts peaceful without fear, their bodies labored but not exhausted, and their Qi and Blood flowed smoothly in accordance. Each followed their wishes and achieved their hopes (Without greed, desires are fulfilled; with contentment, hopes are realized; without seeking the extraordinary, nothing is difficult to obtain). They found delight in their food (accepting coarse or fine), comfort in their clothing (accepting beautiful or plain), and happiness in their customs (abandoning envy). They did not envy high or low positions, and the people were thus called simple (Having no demands, this is called mental contentment). Therefore, lustful desires could not disturb their eyes, and perverse thoughts could not confuse their minds. Whether foolish or wise, virtuous or unworthy, they were not frightened by external objects (Not being frightened means not being taken away by external things). Thus, they conformed to the Dao. This is why they could live beyond a hundred years without decline in movement: because their virtue was complete and they avoided danger (Not indulging emotions or desires, avoiding dangerous situations).

The Yellow Emperor asked: "When people grow old and have no children, is it because their strength has been exhausted, or is it the decree of Heaven?" Qibo answered: "At age seven, a girl's Kidney Qi becomes abundant, her teeth change, and hair grows. (The number of Old Yang peaks at nine, and Young Yang at seven. Girls belong to Young Yin Qi, so they correspond to the even number of Young Yang, illustrating that harmonious Yin and Yang Qi generates the physical form.) At fourteen, Tian Gui (Heavenly Water/Reproductive Essence) arrives, the Ren Mai (Conception Vessel) becomes unobstructed, and the Chong Mai (Penetrating Vessel) becomes vigorous. Menstruation occurs regularly, enabling conception. (Gui refers to Ren and Gui, the Northern Waters, and Heavenly Stems. When Kidney Qi is fully abundant, Chong and Ren vessels flow freely, and Primal Qi descends timely, hence called Tian Gui. Chong is the Sea of Blood, Ren governs the uterus; regular menstruation enables conception.) At twenty-one, Kidney Qi is balanced, wisdom teeth erupt, and growth reaches its limit. (Wisdom teeth are the last to emerge; teeth are the surplus of bone.) At twenty-eight, sinews and bones are firm, hair reaches its maximum length, and the body is robust. At thirty-five, the Yangming Meridian begins to decline, the face starts to wither, and hair begins to fall. (Yangming meridians nourish the face; their decline causes facial withering and hair loss.) At forty-two, the three Yang meridians decline above, the face completely withers, and hair turns white. (The three Yang meridians ascend to the head; their decline causes facial withering and whitening hair, due to monthly depletion.) At forty-nine, the Ren Mai is deficient, the Chong Mai declines, Tian Gui is exhausted, and the earthly pathway (menstruation) is blocked. (Menstrual blood ceases, which is called the blocking of the earthly pathway.) Thus, the form deteriorates and conception is impossible. (Qi and Blood no longer nourish the self, let alone generate offspring.)

At age eight, a boy's Kidney Qi becomes solid, hair grows, and teeth change. (The number of Old Yin peaks at ten, and Young Yin follows at eight. Boys belong to Young Yang Qi, so they correspond to the number of Young Yin.) At sixteen, Kidney Qi is abundant, Tian Gui arrives, Jing (Essence) overflows and is discharged, Yin and Yang harmonize, enabling conception. (Males and females differ in Yin-Yang constitution, and Tian Gui differs in form as semen and blood. Yin is still, like a full sea releasing blood; Yang is active, responding to blood by discharging semen. Their harmony enables conception. The *I Ching* says male and female combine essence to generate all things, which is what this refers to.) At twenty-four, Kidney Qi is balanced, sinews and bones are strong, wisdom teeth erupt, and growth reaches its limit. At thirty-two, sinews and bones are robust, muscles are full and strong. At forty, Kidney Qi declines, hair falls, and teeth become dry. (Lack of Jing nourishment causes hair loss and tooth decay.) At forty-eight, Yang Qi衰竭 (depletes) above, the face withers, and temples turn gray. (Yang Qi refers to Yangming Qi.) At fifty-six, Liver Qi declines, sinews cannot move, Tian Gui is exhausted, Jing is scarce, Kidney Qi fails, and the form reaches extremity. At sixty-four, teeth and hair fall out. (Falling out.) The Kidney governs Water and receives the essence of the Five Zang and Six Fu organs to store it. Thus, only when the Five Zang are abundant can it discharge. (Each Zang organ has its essence, which pours into the Kidney as needed. The Kidney is the hub and gatekeeper; it does not possess essence exclusively. Hence, 'when Five Zang are abundant, they discharge to the Kidney.') Now, when all Five Zang decline, sinews and bones become lax, Tian Gui is exhausted, temples turn white, the body feels heavy, gait is unsteady, and conception is impossible.

The Yellow Emperor asked: "Some people are old yet have children. Why?" Qibo answered: "This is due to exceeding normal longevity, constant patency of Qi and vessels, and surplus Kidney Qi. Although such people may have children, men do not exceed the limit of 8x8 (64 years), and women do not exceed the limit of 7x7 (49 years), at which point the essence and Qi of Heaven and Earth are exhausted. (Even if an old person has a child, the child's lifespan cannot exceed the duration of Tian Gui.) The Yellow Emperor asked: "Can those who have mastered the Dao, living past a hundred, still have children?" Qibo answered: "Those who master the Dao can resist aging and preserve their appearance. Although their chronological age is advanced, they can still reproduce."