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The *Bian Chan Xu Zhi* (Necessary Knowledge for Childbirth) states: It is unfavorable for offspring; any disturbance will inevitably bring disaster. Whether it is construction or digging earth at a neighbor's house or one's own home, if it offends the maternal qi and affects the fetus, it may cause deformity or death to the child. Claims that being offended by knives or axes causes physical injury, by mud causes blockage of the orifices, by striking sounds causes dark complexion, or by binding sounds causes contracture of features, are all baseless words of charlatans. There is not one case in a hundred that verifies these claims, so they must not be believed. However, when construction begins and piles are driven into the ground, such scenes should not be seen by pregnant women; it is sufficient to avoid them carefully.

The *Qiankun Mi Qiao* (Secrets of Heaven and Earth) states: The ancients had methods to change a female fetus into a male. When man and woman join their essence, yang predominance results in a male, and yin predominance results in a female; qi condenses to form the body. How could there be a method to alter this through human effort? One method is: at the moment pregnancy is first detected, place an axe upside down under the pregnant woman's bed without her knowing, which will result in a boy. Another explanation says: If you do not believe this, wait until a hen is brooding eggs, place an axe in the nest, and the entire clutch will hatch as males. Another method is to tie a bowstring around the pregnant woman's waist and remove it after 100 days. Another method, before the third month of pregnancy, is to take three long tail feathers from a rooster, or the husband's hair and fingernails/toenails, and secretly place them under the woman's sleeping mat without her knowledge. Another method is to wear a bag containing realgar (Xionghuang), or carry Yinan Cao (Acorus tatarinowii). Can such trivial matters truly usurp the work of creation? These are hard to believe. However, while these techniques are unreliable, the principles have credibility. To change a female fetus into a male, there are indeed effective methods. If a person can cultivate virtue in the square inch of the heart, constantly nurturing it, accumulating merit and good deeds, then yang grows and yin diminishes, and yin transforms according to yang. Instead of playing with tiles (symbolizing girls), one plays with jade zhang (symbolizing boys); this is certain. Thus, human effort can surpass destiny, provided people can accumulate virtue themselves.

Eating chicken meat combined with glutinous rice causes the child to develop tapeworm infection (Cunbai Chong) after birth.
Eating dog meat causes the child to lose their voice.
Eating carp together with eggs causes the child to develop malnutrition (Gan syndrome) and numerous sores.
Eating rabbit meat causes cleft lip in the child.
Eating sheep liver causes the child to suffer many misfortunes.
Eating turtle meat causes the child to have a short neck.
Eating duck meat together with mulberries causes breech presentation and coldness of the heart in the child.
Eating eel together with frog meat causes the child to be mute.
Eating sparrow meat combined with bean paste causes freckles and black moles on the child's face.
Eating crab meat leads to difficult labor (transverse lie).
Eating young ginger causes polydactyly and sores on the child's fingers.
Drinking cold water causes infertility.
Eating sparrow meat and drinking alcohol causes the child to be licentious and shameless.
Eating colocasia (茨菰) dissipates fetal qi.
Dried ginger, garlic, and chicken are toxic to the fetus and offer no benefit.
Sticky and indigestible foods damage the fetus.
Eating goat meat causes the child to be prone to illness.
Scaleless fish should not be eaten.
Mushrooms contain severe toxins; eating them causes the child to suffer from wind diseases and die young.
Eating sparrow brains causes night blindness (Que Mu) in the child.