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Commentary states: Before the age of forty, people often indulge in unrestrained behavior; upon reaching forty, one may suddenly feel a rapid decline in physical strength. Once this decline sets in, various diseases will arise like swarms of bees. If left untreated for a long time, it leads to an incurable state. Therefore, Peng Zu said, "Healing man with man [through sexual regulation] truly captures the essence of life." Thus, at the age of forty, one must understand the art of bedchamber (Fangzhong).

The art of bedchamber is not far-fetched, yet few can practice it. Its method involves intercourse with ten women in one night, focusing solely on retaining and securing the essence (Bi Gu). This constitutes the entirety of the bedchamber art. Combined with medicinal intake without interruption throughout the four seasons, one's strength will increase a hundredfold, and intelligence will renew daily. However, the purpose of formulating this method is not to pursue licentiousness or seek fleeting pleasure, but to conserve desire and expand the path of health preservation. This is the subtle purport of the bedchamber art. Therefore, those under forty who take bedchamber tonics are hastening disaster. Hence, one under forty should not be discussed regarding bedchamber matters, as their desire remains unchecked. Coupled with tonic herbs and excessive exertion, within half a year, the essence and marrow will be exhausted, bringing them close to death. Youth must be extremely cautious. Those over forty who constantly secure essence and nourish Qi without depletion can avoid aging. Additionally, consuming Yumu (Cloud Mother/Mica) can cure diseases and prolong life. One should avoid purgative drugs and frequently take tonics, which is highly beneficial.

In general, the principle of intercourse dictates that one should not engage when Qi is unaroused and Yang Qi is weak. One must first harmonize slowly, allowing spirit and intent to resonate for a long time, before Yin Qi can drive the process, leading to natural vigor. This is described as "welcoming inwardly while weak, withdrawing firmly and quickly." Movements should be slow and deliberate; stop when emotion stirs. Do not throw oneself recklessly, lest the Zang-Fu organs be inverted, Jing Mai (essence vessels) damaged, and myriad diseases born. Frequent, cautious intercourse can cure various ailments. One who can have intercourse a hundred times without ejaculation can achieve longevity. Generally, scant essence causes illness; exhausted essence leads to death. This requires deep reflection and caution. Frequent intercourse with infrequent ejaculation allows essence to regenerate, preventing deficiency. Infrequent intercourse with immediate ejaculation yields no benefit; although regenerated essence grows naturally, it does so slowly and weakly, inferior to the speed of regeneration seen in frequent non-ejaculatory intercourse. During intercourse, inhale deeply through the nose and exhale slightly through the mouth, which is naturally beneficial. Post-intercourse steaming heat indicates obtaining Qi. Apply three parts Changpu (Rhizoma Acori Tatarinowii) powder mixed with Bai Liang Fen (White Millet Flour) to the body until dry; this strengthens the body and prevents damp sores.

When intending to ejaculate, keep the mouth closed, eyes open, hold the breath, clench hands into fists (Wo Gu), inhale by contracting the nose up and down, contract the lower abdomen and perineum, arch the back slightly, and press the Pingyi acupoint with the middle and index fingers of the left hand. Exhale slowly and grind teeth a thousand times. This directs essence upward to nourish the brain, promoting longevity. Wasteful loss of essence damages Shen (Spirit). The *Xian Jing* (Immortal Classic) states this enables immortality. Begin with foreplay and drink Yu Jiang (Jade Fluid/Saliva). Use the left hand to grasp the penis, visualize red Qi in the Dantian (Lower Elixir Field), yellow inside and white outside, transforming into sun and moon imagery, circulating in the Dantian, merging into Ni Yuan (Mud Pill Palace/Upper Dantian). Hold breath, penetrate deeply without withdrawal, swallow Qi slowly. When arousal peaks, withdraw immediately. This is difficult for all but the wise and virtuous. The Dantian is three cun below the umbilicus. Ni Yuan is in the center of the head; visualize the sun and moon between the eyes, diameter about three cun, merging halves into one. Maintain this visualization during entry and exit. Another method for mutual immortality involves deep penetration without movement, visualizing red Qi in the navel the size of a chicken egg, moving slowly, retreating upon arousal. Doing this dozens of times daily extends life. Both partners should focus intensely. Regulating ejaculation to twice a month (twenty-four times a year) allows living to two hundred years with good complexion and health; adding herbs ensures longevity. Men aged twenty should ejaculate every four days; thirty, every eight days; forty, every sixteen days; fifty, every twenty days; sixty, retain essence without ejaculation. If physically robust at sixty, once a month is acceptable. Even those with exceptional strength should not suppress ejaculation indefinitely, as retention can cause carbuncles and sores. For men over sixty who go weeks without intercourse and feel neutral, retention is appropriate.

In the early Zhenguan era, a villager over seventy visited me, saying his Yang energy was unusually strong despite his frailty, asking if this was auspicious. I replied, "This is highly inauspicious. Have you not heard of oil lamps? When oil runs out, the flame flickers bright then dies. You are old and should have ceased desire; sudden passion is abnormal. I worry for you; restrain yourself." He died forty days later from illness, proving the danger of imprudence. Such cases are common; I record this to warn future generations. Good preservers of life must restrain rising Yang Qi, not indulging to self-harm. Controlling ejaculation extinguishes fire and adds oil. Indulgence extinguishes fire and removes oil, though late protection may still extend life. Young practitioners of this Dao may become immortals quickly. Some ask if one under sixty should retain essence. I say no: men need women, and women need men. Without women, mind wanders, Shen labors, and lifespan shortens. Only if one has no desires can they truly live long. Forced suppression is dangerous, causing leakage, turbid urine, and "ghost intercourse" disease, doing more harm than good. See the Tonics chapter for herbal details.

Avoid intercourse on Bing-Ding days, lunar quarters (Shang Xiang, Full Moon), New Moon (Hui Shuo), and during extreme weather (wind, rain, fog, cold, heat, thunder, lightning), celestial darkness, eclipses, earthquakes, or rainbow phenomena. Violating these harms Shen, especially for men, sickens women, and produces children who are foolish, deaf, mute, blind, crippled, short-lived, unfilial, and unkind. Avoid locations under stars/moon, firelight, temples, wells, stoves, latrines, or near graves/corpses. Proper intercourse brings fortune, attracting wise souls to the fetus, ensuring harmonious temperament and family prosperity. Improper intercourse attracts wicked souls, causing parental aggression, failure, family decline, and calamities. Fortune and misfortune follow like shadows; this is inevitable. To conceive, wait one, three, or five days after menstruation ends, choosing auspicious days/times (after midnight). Sons will be long-lived and noble. Conceive on two, four, or six days post-menstruation for daughters. After six days, do not attempt conception, as it yields neither child nor viability. The *Huangdi Za Jin Ji Fa* warns: Intercourse during anger disrupts Qi/Blood, causing sores. Do not urinate before intercourse to avoid painful dysuria and pallor. Do not have sex when fatigued from travel, to prevent Five Wastes deficiency and infertility. Intercourse during menstruation causes disease and Bai Bo (vitiligo). Mercury and deer fat applied to the genitals cause impotence and retraction.