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The gathering of the locust (Zhongsi) is for the purpose of procreation. A single locust can produce ninety-nine offspring, thus its significance in broad procreation (Guangsi, widely propagating descendants) is worthy of reference. The principle involved is indeed profound and subtle! Heaven's generation of humans can initiate the mechanism of life, but it must rely on the way of compatibility to assist it. If the assistance is not in accordance with the proper way, the mechanism of continuous generation may cease. Generally, success achieved by combining Heaven and Humanity is due to ability; success achieved by people acting on impulse is due to chance. Relying solely on Heaven without human assistance is confusion; and those who dissipate their own essence yet blame Heaven are delusional. My fellow townsman, Xu Ruyuan, was concerned about this and deemed it correct, so he collected ancient and modern texts to compile this work. His benevolence for preserving life can be imagined. This collection takes conserving essence and regulating menstruation as its foundation, supplemented by knowledge necessary for pregnancy and childbirth. It investigates pulse and symptoms, carefully adjusting prescriptions based on deficiency/excess and cold/heat patterns; these are its principles. It gathers ancient and modern secrets to form a comprehensive book on broad procreation, avoiding the弊 (disadvantage) of being rigid and inflexible. It truly suffices to explore the depths of the sages' wisdom and assist the mechanism of cosmic transformation. If people of the world know how to use it, then they will have many sons, multiplying like locusts, benefiting not only people of their time but also extending their lineage for a hundred generations. Bestowing blessings upon eternal descendants, ultimately fulfilling the work of Heaven and Earth—who could deny that this is Ruyuan's merit? Thus is the preface. Wang Ziliang from Xingu, Yixian, wrote this preface.

Great indeed is human existence! How wondrous is the creation of Yin and Yang! The virtue of endless generation through Yin and Yang, when applied to things, is rooted in Qian and Kun; when applied to humans, it is rooted in Essence and Blood. Therefore, although one possesses the subtleties of the Dao's body, one actually encounters the opportunity for cultivation and application. Viewed from the normal perspective, even simple men and women can understand it; viewed from the perspective of change, even scholars and virtuous men may fail to achieve it. Thus, the substance is Yin-Yang, Essence, and Blood; the function is the combination of Yin and Yang. When Essence and Blood are abundant and the timing of intercourse is appropriate, this is the norm, which is what simple men and women know—a natural law. When Essence and Blood are deficient and the timing of intercourse is inappropriate, this is the variation, which is why even wise men and virtuous men cannot succeed—a situation of adversity. Regarding the norm, I naturally know no words are needed. However, regarding the variation, how can we not analyze it? How can gentlemen who understand the Great Way fail to pay attention during times of change and application? This principle was regarded as divine by ancient sages, and I too have grasped its meaning. Please allow me to elaborate below. The *I Ching* states: "Heaven and Earth interact, and the transformation of all things becomes pure; men and women combine their essences, and all things are born." It also says: "Yin and Yang combine their virtues, and hardness and softness take form," which precisely refers to the saying that "solitary Yang does not generate, solitary Yin does not complete." Couples are like Heaven and Earth.

In the way of Heaven and Earth, only when Yin and Yang are harmonious can all things be nurtured; in the way of couples, only when Yin and Yang are harmonious can males and females be born. If the father's Essence or the mother's Blood is lacking in any way, claiming there is a pregnancy would be unheard of. Therefore, those seeking children must first examine whether the wife's menstruation is regulated. "Jing" (Menstruation) means regularity, coming monthly on schedule and stopping on time without changing the routine, hence called Menstruation. Irregular cycles may come early or late, twice a month, or every other month; there may be amenorrhea or frequent prolonged bleeding; pain may precede or follow flow; the color may be black, purple, or pale; there may be leukorrhea, white discharge, or turbid white fluid. These are all signs of Qi and Blood disharmony. Such cases must be treated with herbs according to the syndrome.

As for men's diseases, these must also be known. Deficiencies include Kidney Essence deficiency with slippery sperm, cold or clear semen; inability to maintain erection during intercourse, or emission without ejaculation upon erection; night sweats and nocturnal emissions; turbid urine and dysuria; lower back fatigue preventing turning; Yin deficiency caused by lust; heat from overwork; and deficiency-cold. All these are signs of insufficient Essence and Qi. Such cases must be tonified with herbs according to the syndrome. Only if the man has none of the above ailments can the responsibility fall solely on the woman. This is indeed the man's responsibility; how can he blame the woman? If the woman is also healthy, nothing can be done. Once the woman's meridians are regulated and the man's True Essence is sufficient, such that Yin and Yang are harmonious and Qi and Blood are balanced, then a hundred illnesses will not arise, and one will happily have children and live long. Why would procreation be difficult? Having harmonized Yin and Yang and followed methods, human effort must also be exerted. The formula states: "At thirty years old, two and a half days are key; calculate twenty-eight or twenty-nine. Where red falls fully on the ground is the auspicious period; after the Golden Water period passes, labor is wasted. Wasting effort during the wrong time is like seeing faded red on trees. If you understand that flowers can bear fruit, why worry that osmanthus will not bloom in clusters?" This refers to the time just after menstruation ends, when Golden Water (post-ovulatory phase) begins, the uterus is open, and it is the moment for conception and fertilization, a time of perfect harmony. Human intercourse should coincide with this to not miss the miracle of creation. After this period, the uterus closes and cannot conceive. However, there are subtleties in the difference between male and female. Intercourse on the 1st, 3rd, or 5th day after menstruation leads to a male (Qian path); on the 2nd, 4th, or 6th day leads to a female (Kun path). It is also said: If Yin Blood arrives first and Yang Essence follows, with Qi assisting, the blood opens to wrap the essence, with Yang inside and Yin outside, then Essence dominates Blood. Thus Yang is master, forming the male shape. If Yang Essence enters first and Yin Blood follows, with Qi assisting, the essence opens to wrap the blood, with Yin inside and Yang outside, then Blood dominates Essence. Thus Yin is master, forming the female shape. Those wishing for numerous descendants must follow this path. Indeed, seeking through this path yields results through this path. If not, exceptions occur, relying on chance. However, pregnancies resulting from illness in either partner do occur. I have examined them: though pregnant, miscarriage is common; though giving birth, difficulty is common; though having children, sickness is common. How do I know this? I have observed infants in swaddling clothes, free from internal emotional disturbances and external climatic invasions, seemingly disease-free. Yet they suffer from Bianzheng (feverish changes), Jingji (fright palpitations), Banlan (rashes), Fengxian (wind epilepsy), Yuechuang (monthly sores), Faxu (convulsions), Tanchuan (phlegm wheezing), Douzhen (smallpox/rubella), Huozhen (fire rash), Chilou (red tumors), Jielu (open fontanelle), Guixiong (turtle chest), Zhiyi (drooling), Neidiao (internal strangulation), Ekou (goose mouth), Mushe (wooden tongue), Chongshe (double tongue), etc. Are these not rooted in the initial state of parents' Essence and Blood, and the pregnant woman's weakness and lack of restraint? Or, before one hundred days, giving salty/sour flavors, or before the cycle is set, giving rich/greasy foods, causing a hundred illnesses? Diseases include Dingxi, Bulu, Wugan (five types of malnutrition), Tuoni (vomiting), Huangdan (jaundice), Zhangfu (abdominal distension), Fengzhong (edema), Pipi (masses), Moli (malaria/dysentery), Jizhi (accumulations), Xunxie (undigested stool diarrhea), Dongxie (profuse diarrhea), etc. Are these not caused by dietary excess and improper nursing? From this, most are fetal diseases, and a minority are food injuries. Some are constitutionally weak with thin endowment. Also, if a pregnant woman's desires stir internally, fetal Qi flares; if she likes fried/spicy foods; or if she has violent emotions, extreme cold exposure, or uncontrolled desires. Unknowingly, the fetus is connected by one vessel; if the mother is hungry, the fetus is hungry; if full, the fetus is full. Movement, diet, and breathing affect fetal Qi, causing harm to the child. During pregnancy, one should follow ancient practices: sleep without side-sleeping, sit without leaning, stand without limping. Avoid strange tastes, meat cut improperly, or mats placed incorrectly. Do not look at lewd sights, listen to obscene sounds, or recite poetry of righteousness at night. Then the child will be handsome and talented. Why do modern people love children improperly, spoiling them excessively, leading to injury and premature death? This is no different from leaning against a dangerous wall or wearing shackles, failing to fulfill one's natural destiny. I often see gentle women who regulate their pregnancy lifestyle, whose children are rarely sick and have few rashes; they are worth emulating. Parents, should you not pay attention to this? Thus, the difference between the wise and foolish is clear. Mencius said: "There are three forms of unfilial conduct, of which having no descendants is the greatest." Filial piety serves parents, which everyone knows, but who knows that the greatest filial piety is to properly continue the lineage? It is pitiful that some know this but do not seek the way to have children. How lamentable that some resign themselves to fate, while others are confused by witchcraft due to excessive anxiety. Cruelty and injustice are severe. Generally, gentlemen should create their destiny, not surrender to it. I wrote this treatise based on principles and methods, not without evidence.