Library

[Background Information]
Book: Yixin Fang (Prescriptions from the Heart of Medicine)
Author: Danbo Kanglai (Japanese, Northern Song Dynasty)
Chapter: Volume 28 / Zhi Li Di Yi (First Principle)
Category: Formulas

In the Chamber

The *Yufang Mijue* (Secrets of the Jade Chamber) states: Chonghezi said, "The unity of one Yin and one Yang is called the Dao. The interaction of essence to generate life—how profound is its principle? Therefore, when Emperor Xuanyuan (Yellow Emperor) questioned Sūnnü, and Pengkeng (Peng Zu) responded to the King of Yin, there was indeed deep significance!"

The Yellow Emperor asked Sūnnü: "My Qi is declining and disordered; my heart is not at ease, and I constantly fear danger. What should I do?" Sūnnü replied: "The reason why ordinary people decline and weaken is all due to injury in the way of Yin-Yang intercourse. A woman overcoming a man is like water extinguishing fire. If one knows how to practice it properly, like using a cauldron, one can harmonize the five flavors to make soup. Those who understand the Way of Yin and Yang achieve five joys; those who do not will have their lives cut short prematurely. How can they find joy? One must be cautious."

Sūnnü said: "There was a woman named Cai Nü, who skillfully obtained the arts of the Dao. The King sent Cai Nü to ask Peng Zu about the method for prolonging life and increasing longevity. Peng Zu said: 'Cherish your essence and nourish your spirit, take various medicines, and you can attain long life. However, without knowing the way of intercourse, taking medicine is of no benefit. Men and women complement each other, just as Heaven and Earth generate each other. Heaven and Earth, by obtaining the way of intersection, have no end limit. Humans, by losing the way of intercourse, gradually face premature death. If one can avoid things that cause gradual injury and master the art of Yin and Yang, this is the way to immortality.' Cai Nü bowed twice and said: 'I wish to hear your essential teachings.' Peng Zu said: 'The Dao is very easy to understand; people simply cannot believe in it and practice it. Now, Your Majesty manages ten thousand affairs and governs the world, so you certainly cannot prepare for all kinds of Daoist practices. Fortunately, you have many women in the harem; you ought to know the methods of intercourse. The key to these methods lies in engaging with many young girls while rarely ejaculating, making the body light and eliminating hundred diseases.'

Wu Zidu, Marquis Duwei of the Han Dynasty, lived to be 138 years old. When General Xiaowu Xun saw Zidu by the Wei River, he noticed an unusual aura above his head, rising over a zhang high. The Emperor was surprised and asked about it. Dongfang Shuo physiognomized him and replied: "This gentleman has Qi connecting through the heavens, practicing the art of Yin and Yang." The Emperor dismissed his attendants and asked Zidu directly. Zidu said: "The matter of Yin and Yang is a secret among gentlemen. It is not suitable for subjects to speak of it. Moreover, few can practice it, so I dare not tell. I received this from Lingyang Zi. Next year I will be sixty-five. Having practiced this art for seventy-two years, those seeking life should seek the source of life. Greedily desiring a woman's beauty and forcing intercourse with extreme effort injures all meridians and causes hundred diseases to arise simultaneously."

The *Yufang Zhiyao* (Essentials of the Jade Chamber) states: Peng Zu said: "The Yellow Emperor engaged with twelve hundred women and ascended to immortality, while common people harm their lives by engaging with even one woman. Is the difference between knowing and not knowing not vast? Those who know the Dao complain only that they do not have enough women. They do not necessarily need to be beautiful; they merely need to be young, with breasts not yet developed but with ample muscle. Being able to obtain seven or eight such women brings great benefit."

Sūnnü said: "When engaging with a partner, view her as tiles and stones, but view yourself as gold and jade. If your essence moves, quickly withdraw. Engaging with women should be like controlling a galloping horse with a rotten rope, or standing near a deep pit with blades below, fearing falling into it. If you can cherish your essence, your life will not be exhausted."

The Yellow Emperor asked Sūnnü: "Now I wish to abstain from intercourse for a long time; what should I do?" Sūnnü said: "This is not possible. Heaven and Earth have opening and closing; Yin and Yang have transformation. Humans follow Yin and Yang and adapt to the four seasons. If you now wish to abstain from intercourse, your Shen (Spirit) and Qi will not be disseminated, Yin and Yang will be closed off, and how can you replenish yourself? Practice breathing exercises frequently to discard the old and absorb the new, thereby assisting yourself. If the jade stem remains inactive, its residence becomes stagnant and dead. Therefore, constant practice serves as Daoyin (guiding and pulling). Those who can move without emitting are called 'returning the essence.' Returning the essence provides benefit, and thus the Way of Life is established."

The *Sūnnü Jing* (Classic of Sūnnü) states: The Yellow Emperor said: "What is the regulation for Yin-Yang intercourse?" Sūnnü said: "The way of intercourse naturally has forms. For men, it leads to non-declining vitality; for women, it eliminates hundred diseases. It brings mental joy and strengthens Qi. However, those who do not know how to practice it gradually suffer decline and damage. To know the way, one must stabilize Qi, calm the mind, and harmonize the will. When these three Qi arrive, the Spirit returns as one. Not cold, not hot; not hungry, not full. Stabilize the body and posture; temperament must be relaxed and slow. Insert shallowly and move slowly; entry and exit should be infrequent. When the woman feels pleasure and the man remains vigorous without declining, this is the regulation."

The *Xuannü Jing* (Classic of Lady Xuan) states: The Yellow Emperor asked Lady Xuan: "I have received the Yin-Yang art from Sūnnü and already have methods. I wish for you to instruct me further to clarify the Dao." Lady Xuan said: "Between Heaven and Earth, movement requires Yin and Yang. Yang transforms through Yin; Yin connects through Yang. One Yin and one Yang must act together. Thus, men feel firmness and strength; women move and open up. The two energies intersect in essence, and fluids flow and connect. Men have eight joints/segments; women have nine palaces. Using them improperly causes men to develop carbuncles and ulcers, harms women's menstruation, generates hundred diseases, and shortens life. Knowing the Dao brings joy and strength, extends longevity, and keeps the complexion like flowers. The *Baopuzi* states: 'Even if one takes thousands of doses of medicine and eats the meat of three sacrifices, without knowing the art of the chamber, there is no benefit.' Therefore, the ancients feared people would indulge their desires lightly, so they beautified the discourse, but it cannot be fully believed. Xuan and Sū are compared to water and fire; water and fire can kill people but also sustain life, depending on whether one can use them correctly. Generally, mastering the essential methods, engaging with more women is better. If one does not understand the method and uses even one, it is sufficient to hasten death."

It also states: "Humans cannot completely avoid Yin-Yang non-intercourse; otherwise, carbuncles and stasis diseases arise. Therefore, those who remain secluded and resentful often fall ill and do not live long. Indulging emotions and desires also destroys lifespan. Only by achieving the harmony of moderation and release can one avoid damage. Dongxuanzi said: 'Heaven and Earth generated all things, but humans are the most precious. Among human pursuits, none exceed sexual desire. Following Heaven and imitating Earth, regulating Yin and measuring [Yang], those who comprehend its principles nourish their nature and extend their years; those who neglect its truth injure their spirit and shorten their lives. As for the methods of Lady Xuan, transmitted for ten thousand ages, presenting the outline still does not exhaust its subtleties. Whenever I read its sections, I think of filling its gaps, compiling old rituals, and editing this new classic. Although I do not reach pure perfection, I grasp the dregs. Its postures of sitting, lying, stretching, and curling; positions of prostration and expansion; methods of side, back, front, and retreat; rules of entry, exit, depth, and shallowness—all integrate the principles of the Two Powers and conform to the numbers of the Five Elements. Those who guide [practice] preserve their lifespan; those who fail fall into peril and death. Since it benefits ordinary people, how could it not be transmitted for ten thousand generations?"

The *Qianjin Fang* (Thousand Gold Prescriptions) states: "Men cannot be without women; women cannot be without men. If one is lonely and desires intercourse, it damages lifespan and generates hundred diseases. Furthermore, demons may exploit this opportunity; exchanging essence in this manner causes damage where one loss equals a hundred."

It also states: "People under thirty (forty, in some editions) often indulge excessively; after forty, they suddenly feel a decline in Qi and strength. Once decline arrives, various diseases rise sharply. If left untreated for a long time, it becomes incurable. Therefore, upon reaching forty, one must understand the art of the chamber. The Dao is very close, yet people do not know the method. Its method is to engage with ten women in one night without ejaculating. This completes the art of the chamber. Combined with herbal medicines, uninterrupted through the four seasons, Qi and strength become a hundredfold, and wisdom renews daily. However, this is merely the technique of formulas."