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*Da Sheng Yao Zhi* (Essentials for Great Birth) states: The way of Heaven and Earth values peace and harmony above all. Excessive heat leads to hyperactive Yang, while excessive cold leads to coagulated Yin. Coagulated Yin brings about a withering and killing energy; if people were aware of this, they would avoid it. However, hyperactive Yang consumes and melts away the body's fluids, yet people rarely notice this. It is common to see those who struggle with infertility seeking out transmitted prescriptions in hopes of conceiving. These prescriptions mostly consist of herbs that stimulate Yang and increase heat, even involving refined minerals and metals, or prepared toxic, filthy, fierce, and inferior substances, forcibly exhausting Yin essence to cultivate Yang. Coupled with heavy depletion from sexual intercourse, this gradually leads to exhaustion of marrow, loss of muscle mass, mental confusion, loss of Qi, brittle hair, and withered complexion. Yet, they remain unaware that they have been misled by these medicines—how can such cases be fully recounted!

Chen Chengqing said: Health preservation experts state that male licentiousness damages the body more than twice as much as female licentiousness. This is because males belong to Yang; when two Yangs interact excessively, essence must be exhausted. When essence is exhausted, cold arises; with cold, fertility is impossible. Therefore, those seeking offspring should first戒 (abstain from) male licentiousness. Moreover, the anus is a dark, cold, and filthy place. Repeatedly violating it causes Qi to become deviant and malignant. Even if Yang is not yet depleted and offspring are produced, they may either fail to survive after birth or grow up to be ruinous sons. Those who value the continuation of their lineage should certainly fear this. Furthermore, those indulging in this practice may suffer from impotence and disability, blindness, or premature aging, among other issues. Thus, even those who already have children should deeply abstain from it. If a person can sincerely repent, vow never to repeat past mistakes, rely externally on medicinal power, and internally nurture vital energy, persisting over time, the harmonious Yang will gradually recover. Not only will there be healthy and auspicious children to celebrate, but health and longevity can also be expected.

In Chu Shangshu's *Lun Qiu Nan* (Discourse on Seeking Male Offspring): The concubines of Princess Xiao of Jianping were all beautiful but childless. He selected young women from the populace who had not yet undergone the capping ceremony (Ji Li) to serve in the palace, yet still no children were born. He asked: "Is there a method to seek male offspring?" Cheng replied: "The union of man and woman must occur at the appropriate age. Although a man may emit semen at sixteen, he should not marry until thirty; although a woman's Tian Gui (menstruation) may begin at fourteen, she should not marry until twenty. This ensures that both Yin and Yang are complete and solid before intercourse, leading to conception, gestation, and childbirth. The resulting child will be robust and long-lived. Now, girls who have not yet undergone the Ji Li ceremony have just begun their Tian Gui; if they approach men prematurely, their Yin Qi leaks too early. Their bodies are incomplete and thus injured, and their essence is not yet full but moves recklessly. Consequently, intercourse fails to result in pregnancy, pregnancy fails to result in viable offspring, or offspring are weak and short-lived. This is why the Prince had no children. However, some women give birth only to daughters, while others give birth only to sons. If Your Highness could indeed find women in the palace who have borne many sons, that would be the way to obtain male offspring." The Prince said: "Excellent." Within less than a year, six boys were born. The meeting of Old Yang with Young Yin, or Old Yin with Young Yang, is also a way to have offspring.