人禀天地阴阳之气以生,藉父母精血以成其形。人之始孕,一月如珠露,二月如桃花,三
月男女分,四月形象具,五月五脏生,六月六腑成,七月关窍通,八月游其魂,九月三转身,
十月受气足。及其生也,头圆象天,足方象地,五脏以法五岳,九窍以布九州,四肢分比四时,
六腑配乎六律。胆视同乎日月,呼吸犹乎风云,气血行类江河,毛发比之草木。一年象三百六
十节,二肠应二十四气。天有风水寒暑,人有取与喜怒。天之气升,人之气亦升;天之气降,
人之气亦降;浮亦浮,沉亦沉。人与天地同一橐 ,其不与天地参者矣?
《千金》论曰∶儿在母胎受其精气,一月胚,二月胎,三月血脉,四月形体成,五月能动,
六月筋骨成,七月毛发生,八月脏腑具,九月谷神入胃,十月百神备而生。生后六十日瞳子成,
能笑语识人,百日任脉生能反复,一百八十日尻骨成,能独立,二百一十日掌骨成,能匍匐,
三百日髌骨成,能独倚,三百六十日为一期,膝骨成乃能移步。此理之常,不如是者,身不得
其平矣。或有四五岁不能行立,此皆受胎气之不足者也。若筋实则多力,骨实则早行,血实则
形瘦多发,肉实则少病,精实则伶利多语笑,不怕寒暑,气实则少发而体肥。
此皆受胎气之充足者也。大抵禀赋得中,阴阳纯粹,刚柔兼济,气血相和,精神全备,形体壮
健。其未周之先,颅顾坚合,睛黑神清,口方背浓,骨粗臀满,脐深肚软,茎小卵大,齿细发
润,声洪稳睡。此皆受胎气之得中和者也。以故听其声,观其形,则可以知其虚实寿夭矣。
Human beings are born by inheriting the Qi of Yin and Yang from Heaven and Earth, and their physical forms are constituted by relying on the essence and blood of their parents. At the beginning of conception, in the first month, the embryo is like a dewdrop; in the second month, it resembles a peach blossom; in the third month, male and female distinctions emerge; in the fourth month, the physical shape is formed; in the fifth month, the Zang organs (solid organs) develop; in the sixth month, the Fu organs (hollow organs) are completed; in the seventh month, the orifices become patent; in the eighth month, the Hun soul (ethereal soul) wanders; in the ninth month, the fetus turns its position; and in the tenth month, the Qi is fully received. Upon birth, the head is round symbolizing Heaven, and the feet are square symbolizing Earth; the five Zang organs correspond to the Five Sacred Mountains, and the nine orifices are distributed like the Nine Provinces; the four limbs correspond to the Four Seasons, and the six Fu organs align with the Six Pitch-pipes. The function of the Gallbladder in vision is akin to the Sun and Moon; respiration is comparable to wind and clouds; the circulation of Qi and Blood resembles rivers and streams; hair and nails are compared to grass and trees. One year corresponds to 365 days (or 360 joints in some interpretations), and the Large Intestine and Small Intestine correspond to the 24 Solar Terms. Heaven has wind, water, cold, and heat; humans have giving/taking, joy, and anger. When Heaven's Qi ascends, human Qi also ascends; when Heaven's Qi descends, human Qi also descends; floating and sinking follow the same patterns. Humans and Heaven and Earth share the same "Tuoyue" (bellows, metaphor for the mechanism of Qi transformation); does this not make humans one of the Three Powers (Heaven, Earth, Human)?
The *Qianjin Fang* states: While in the womb, the fetus receives essence and Qi. In the first month, it is a "Pei" (germ); in the second month, it is a "Tai" (embryo); in the third month, blood vessels form; in the fourth month, the body shape is established; in the fifth month, movement begins; in the sixth month, sinews and bones develop; in the seventh month, hair grows; in the eighth month, the Zang and Fu organs are complete; in the ninth month, the "Gu Shen" (spirit of grain/digestion) enters the stomach; in the tenth month, all spirits are prepared, and the child is born. After birth, at sixty days, the pupils are formed, and the infant can smile, speak, and recognize people; at one hundred days, the Ren Mai (Conception Vessel) develops, allowing the infant to roll over; at one hundred and eighty days, the sacral bone forms, enabling standing; at two hundred and ten days, the metacarpal bones form, allowing crawling; at three hundred days, the patella forms, enabling leaning independently; at three hundred and sixty days, completing a cycle, the knee bones mature, permitting walking. This is the normal physiological process; deviations indicate that the body is not balanced or healthy. Some children cannot walk or stand at four or five years of age; this is due to insufficient prenatal Qi. If sinews are substantial, strength is great; if bones are substantial, walking begins early; if blood is substantial, the body is thin but hair is abundant; if flesh is substantial, illness is rare; if essence is substantial, the child is intelligent, talkative, and resistant to cold and heat; if Qi is substantial, hair is sparse and the body is obese. These are signs of sufficient prenatal Qi. Generally, those with moderate endowment possess pure Yin and Yang, balanced rigidity and flexibility, harmonious Qi and Blood, complete spirit, and robust physique. Before the first year is complete, the skull sutures are firm, eyes are black and clear with bright spirit, mouth is square, back is thick, bones are coarse, buttocks are full, navel is deep, abdomen soft, penis small, testicles large, teeth fine, hair lustrous, voice resonant, and sleep steady. These indicate that the prenatal Qi was balanced and moderate. Therefore, by listening to the voice and observing the form, one can determine the deficiency or excess, as well as longevity or shortness of life.