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How great is medicine! Its origins are remote. Since the chaos was separated and the primeval era began to divide, the light and clear aspects of Yang Qi (vital energy) floated upward by nature to form Heaven; the heavy and turbid aspects of Yin Qi (substantial energy) condensed downward by form to form Earth. Heaven stands firmly in the upper position, and Earth rests steadily in the lower position. Thus, the essence of Yang became the Sun, rising in the East and setting in the West; the essence of Yin became the Moon, appearing at night and hiding during the day. The Two Modes (Yin and Yang) were established, and the two luminaries moved. Then, the dark Qi condensed in the sky, and Water began to generate; the red Qi shone in the sky, and Fire began to generate; the blue-green Qi floated in the sky, and Wood began to generate; the white Qi stretched across the sky, and Metal began to generate; the yellow Qi filled the sky, and Earth began to generate. With the Five Elements complete, all things were born, and the Way of the Three Powers (Heaven, Earth, and Humanity) was manifested. Therefore, human life is formed by inheriting the Yin and Yang of Heaven and Earth, borrowing the essence and blood of parents, and condensing through interaction into a fetus. The Dao of Qian (Heaven) creates males, and the Dao of Kun (Earth) creates females. From infancy to childhood, to adolescence, and then to adulthood, is it easy? Hence, one month of pregnancy is called "White Dew"; two months of gestation is called "embryo," compared to peach blossoms. By the third month, if the right Kidney forms first, it is a male, as Yin envelops Yang; if the left Kidney forms first, it is a female, as Yang envelops Yin. Next, the Kidney generates the Spleen, the Spleen generates the Liver, the Liver generates the Lung, and the Lung generates the Heart, generating those that overcome them. The Kidney belongs to Water, so the Zang Organs (solid organs) are thus considered Yin. Next, the Heart generates the Small Intestine, the Small Intestine generates the Large Intestine, the Large Intestine generates the Gallbladder, the Gallbladder generates the Stomach, the Stomach generates the Bladder, and the Bladder generates the Sanjiao (Triple Burner), generating those that overcome them. The Small Intestine belongs to Fire, so the Fu Organs (hollow organs) are thus considered Yang. Next, the Sanjiao generates the Eight Extraordinary Vessels, the Eight Extraordinary Vessels generate the Twelve Primary Meridians, the Twelve Primary Meridians generate the Twelve Luo Collaterals, the Twelve Luo Collaterals generate 180 Silk Collaterals, the Silk Collaterals generate 180 Coiled Collaterals, the Coiled Collaterals generate 34,000 Sun Collaterals, the Sun Collaterals generate 365 Bone Joints, the Bone Joints generate 365 Major Acupoints, and the Major Acupoints generate 84,000 Hair Pores. Thus, the ears, eyes, mouth, nose, limbs, and entire skeletal structure are complete. It is said: At four months, the image is complete; at five months, bone joints form; at six months, hair grows; at seven months, the Hun (Ethereal Soul) wanders, and the fetus can move its left hand; at eight months, the Po (Corporeal Soul) wanders, and the fetus can move its right hand; at nine months, it turns three times; at ten months, it is full-term, and mother and child separate. Those born after the due date will surely be noble children; those born before the due date will surely be poor individuals. After birth, there is Bianzheng fever (a physiological fever in infants), which nourishes spirit, strengthens bones and muscles, and develops willpower. At thirty-two days, the first Bianzheng occurs, generating Kidney Qi; at sixty-four days, the second Bianzheng occurs, generating Bladder Qi. The Kidney and Bladder belong to Water, their number being one. At ninety-six days, the third Bianzheng occurs, generating Heart Qi; at one hundred twenty-eight days, the fourth Bianzheng occurs, generating Small Intestine Qi. The Heart and Small Intestine belong to Fire, their number being two. At one hundred sixty days, the fifth Bianzheng occurs, generating Liver Qi; at one hundred ninety-two days, the sixth Bianzheng occurs, generating Gallbladder Qi. The Liver and Gallbladder belong to Wood, their number being three. At two hundred twenty-four days, the seventh Bianzheng occurs, generating Lung Qi; at two hundred fifty-six days, the eighth Bianzheng occurs, generating Large Intestine Qi. The Lung and Large Intestine belong to Metal, their number being four. At two hundred eighty-eight days, the ninth Bianzheng occurs, generating Spleen Qi; at three hundred twenty days, the tenth Bianzheng occurs, generating Stomach Qi. The Spleen and Stomach belong to Earth, their number being five. Once Bianzheng is complete, one year has passed; teeth grow, hair lengthens, and mental clarity differs from before. Thus it is said: Teeth are the surplus of the Kidney; hair is the surplus of Blood; nails are the surplus of Sinews. Alas! How rare and precious is the human body. In infancy, like bubbles on water or dew on grass, Qi and Blood are not yet settled, prone to cold and heat, with soft and fragile intestines and stomachs, prone to hunger and satiety. If mothers do not care for them properly, they cannot avoid diseases such as vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, and infantile malnutrition (Gan syndrome). As they grow, desires open, and self-cultivation fails; thus, the Six Evils (pathogenic factors) invade alternately from outside, and the Seven Emotions clash within. A hundred worries tire the heart, and myriad affairs exhaust the spirit. With merely a breath of Qi, how can one not fall ill? Infantile exanthems in children and Cold Damage (Shanghan) in adults are particularly severe. Therefore, the Yellow Emperor asked Qibo: I have heard that people in ancient times lived over a hundred years without decline in movement; now, people reach only half that age and their movements decline. Is it due to different times, or did people lose their way? Qibo replied: People in ancient times who understood the Great Way harmonized with Yin and Yang, followed proper methods, had regulated diets, regular起居 (daily routines), and did not labor recklessly. Thus, their form and spirit remained united, allowing them to fulfill their natural lifespan and pass away after a hundred years. People today are different. They treat wine as water, make recklessness a habit, exhaust their essence through desire, and dissipate their true Qi. They do not know how to maintain fullness, fail to regulate their spirit timely, seek only momentary pleasure, go against the joy of life, and lack regularity in daily routines. Thus, they decline by half a century. Therefore, sages do not treat disease after it has formed, but prevent it before it arises; they do not govern chaos after it has occurred, but prevent it before it happens. To medicate after disease has formed, or to govern after chaos has occurred, is like digging a well when thirsty or forging weapons when battle begins. Is this not too late?