Library

(Chu Cheng, Grand Master of the Court of the Qi Dynasty)

When male and female unite, their two essences blend smoothly. If yin blood arrives first and yang essence follows to strike, the blood opens to wrap the essence; the essence enters to form the foundation of bone, and the male fetus is formed. If yang essence enters first and yin blood subsequently participates, the essence opens to wrap the blood; the blood enters to reside in the root, and the female fetus is formed. Yang qi gathers at the face, therefore men have heavier faces; those who drown by water must lie prone. Yin qi gathers at the back, therefore women have heavier backs; those who drown by water must lie supine. For quadrupeds drowning, both postures occur. When yin and yang arrive equally, a body that is neither male nor female results; when essence and blood are scattered and divided, this is the sign of twin or multiple fetuses. If the father is young and the mother old, the daughter born will surely be frail; if the mother is strong and the father weak, the son born will surely be weak. Ancient skilled physicians first observe this: if the received qi is biased leading to weakness, they provide supplementation. To supplement a frail woman, one nourishes blood and strengthens the Spleen; to supplement a weak man, one strengthens the Spleen and regulates sexual activity. Frail women should marry in due time; weak men should wait until they are robust before marrying. This is the root of treating external manifestations of disease and cannot be neglected.

(Ma Yiqing)

It is stated: Books on prenatal education (Taijiao) and birth diagrams should not be dismissed as pedantic and ignored, yet they should not be rigidly adhered to either. Currently, among common folk and those of improper conduct, rest and taboos are largely disregarded. Some use inappropriate or toxic medicines; some give birth exposed to wind and dew. If there are no complications during childbirth, safety for both mother and child is natural. However, if it hinders lineage continuation, or if residing in a remote area causes disturbances upon movement, disaster will inevitably follow. Even if neighbors undertake construction, it may disturb fetal qi, causing deformity or death to the fetus. Injury by blades leads to physical damage; injury by mud blocks the orifices; injury by blows results in dark discoloration; binding leads to contracture. Such cases are easily verified. The principle of rewarding goodness and punishing wickedness is indeed incomprehensible.

There is Taichu (Primordial Qi) and Taishi (Primordial Form). Once chaos is differentiated, boundaries appear. Since Qi is seen, it is called Taichu; since Form is established, it is called Taishi. Qi appears first, Form follows; Heaven and Earth rely on each other, generating endlessly, so all things become manifest. Thus it is said: Great is Qianyuan (Primal Creative Force), by which all things begin; Supreme is Kunyuan (Primal Receptive Force), by which all things are nurtured. (Wu's commentary: Before chaos differentiates, Qi and Form are obliterated; after differentiation, Qi and Form are separated. Seeing Qi constitutes Taichu; establishing Form constitutes Taishi. Taichu is the root of all Qi, thus Heaven uses it to govern Primal Qi. Taishi is the root of all Form, thus Earth uses it to govern Primal Qi. Heaven and Earth interact mutually forming Qi and Form. Those who generate obtain the way of generation; those who transform obtain the way of transformation. All things flow into form, and their shapes, colors, and reputations become manifest. Great is Qianyuan, embodied in Taichu, hence speaking of all things beginning from it. Supreme is Kunyuan, embodied in Taishi, hence speaking of all things being nurtured by it. Only through Qianyuan do things begin, born of Heaven and Earth, so Qianyuan shows signs. Supreme is Kunyuan, then no form remains unformed.) At the beginning of life, although Yang is present, providing righteous energy to nurture and fill it requires Yin to take the lead. (Xue Zuocheng's commentary: *Yin-Yang Lihe Lun* states: Heaven covers and Earth bears, all things begin to grow. Not yet out of the earth, it is called Yin place, named Yin within Yin; once out of the earth, it is called Yin within Yang. Yang provides righteousness, Yin acts as master. Wang Bing says Yang imparts righteous energy, all things begin to grow; Yin acts as host, various forms stand. *Zishuo*: Spring begins and generates, this is Heaven and Earth; nurturing and filling is human action.) Through form changes, day alters and month transforms, nothing but the Dao of Kun replacing and completing cycles. (*Liezi · Zhou Mu Pian*, Mr. Yan Wen says: Changing with form is called transformation. *Zhuangzi · Tianzi Fang Pian*, Hunyuan says: Waning and waxing, full and empty, dark and bright, day alters and month transforms, daily acting yet unseen efficacy. *I Ching* Kun Hexagram Commentary says: The Way of Earth achieves nothing but replaces to complete ends. Earth receives Heaven, achieving nothing yet completing ends. Is it forced? No. It is where the Dao lies; losing it means death, opposing it allows living beings to listen to its command. Thus, achieving nothing but replacing to complete ends, speaks of the Dao.) Called Ren (Pregnancy), Yang has received the start, Yin rens it. (Renzhi is called Ren. *Zishuo*: Ren is one Yang, two Yins. Yang has received the start, Yin rens it to be called Ren. Explanation: Ren is Yang Water. Position between Hai and Zi, Yin reaches extreme at Hai. Yang conceives again, and is called Ren at Ren to Zi before birth.) Called Bao (Womb/Embryo), Si is correct Yang, wrapped by Yin. (Si is correct Yang, yet Yin wraps it, due to Yin and Yang alternating functions. Si is early summer month, trigram Qian, pure Yang in charge, hence *Shijing* calls it Zhengyue. Zhengyue is the month of correct Yang. Yin is just taking charge, becoming master of things, so even correct Yang is wrapped and yields.) Called Pei (Germ), organs not yet formed, like unfired clay. (*Shuowen Jiezi*: Unfired pottery is called Pi. Pei is one month of pregnancy. *Zishuo*: Pi not yet formed into vessel, like Pi.) Called Tai (Fetus), having fed on mother via mouth. (*Shuowen Jiezi*: Tai is two months of pregnancy. *Zishuo*: Yuan Tai feeds on mother, via mouth.) If Shen (Pregnant), it moves according to time. (*Zishuo*: Female Shen moves according to time.) If Huai (Carrying), the body relies on it. (*Zishuo*: What heart holds, body relies on, eyes follow.) Heaven's virtue, Earth's Qi, the highest harmony of Yin and Yang, flow together into one body. (*Lingshu Jing* says: Heaven's virtue in us, Earth's Qi in us, virtue flows and Qi presses, thus life arises.) Only by following time numbers and carefully managing human affairs, avoiding disturbance and injury, can the morality of reproduction be achieved. (Accumulating from one month to ten months is time number. Protecting and assisting has its way, preventing and cautioning fits appropriateness, this is human affairs.) Observing the movement of four seasons, birth, growth, harvest, storage, lending all things, instruments and rules are complete. Heaven and Earth's Qi never diminishes, likely because Yin and Yang nourish and assist each other. (*Yin-Yang Lihe Lun* says: Heaven covers and Earth bears, all things begin to grow, Yang provides righteousness, Yin acts as master. Thus birth depends on Spring, growth on Summer, harvest on Autumn, storage on Winter. Losing order seals Heaven and Earth. *Zhuangzi · Tian Di Pian* says: Flowing generates things, things generate principles, called Form. Form protects Spirit, each has ritual, called Life.) Ignorant people do not know this, instead trying to defy natural principles, absurdly seeking methods of rest. They push life and death to Five Elements, seek nourishment from herbs and minerals, using falsehood to defeat truth, human effort to help Heaven. Although some may have children, many are conceived but not raised, or raised but not long-lived. Ancients discussed elderly parents having children: men do not exceed 8x8 years, women do not exceed 7x7 years. Thus knowing Qi and Blood in humans have fixed limits, how can they escape the ultimate numbers of Yin and Yang? (*Tianzhen Lun*: Emperor asks: Why do old people have children? Qibo answers: Their natural longevity exceeds normal, Qi channels are open, Kidney Qi is surplus. Though they have children, men do not exceed 8x8, women do not exceed 7x7, and Heaven-Earth essence is exhausted. Note: Though old people bear children, the child's lifespan cannot exceed the number of Tian Gui.)