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*Mi Yao Zhi Mi* discusses nobility and baseness, stating: Among all things in heaven and earth, humans are the most precious. Those with clear *Qi* (vital energy) are virtuous, while those with turbid *Qi* are foolish. This is due to receiving the prenatal *Qi* from parents, which enables one to become an adult. A newborn is called "Ying'er" (infant), a one-year-old is called "Hai'er" (child), and a three-year-old is called "Xiao'er" (young child). Moreover, diseases in infants are difficult to understand, and medication differs from that for adults. Therefore, since infants have weak blood and *Qi*, emetic or purgative therapies should not be used lightly. If the medicine is too heavy for the mild illness, it will instead bring disaster. Once life is lost, it cannot be restored.

*Hui Yan Guan Zheng* states: Any baby from one week after birth up to being in swaddling clothes, as well as those under one year old, are called "Ya'er" (teething infant). Two-year-olds are called "Ying'er", three-year-olds "Nai Tong" (milk child), four-year-olds "Nai Xing", five-year-olds "Hai'er", and six-year-olds "Xiao'er". From one year to fifteen years of age, they can all be treated using pediatric pulse diagnosis methods (*Xiao Fang Mai*).

The chapter "Yun Yuan Li Ben" (Establishing the Root of Pregnancy) in the *Yuan Hua* section of *Sheng Ji Jing* says: There was Tai Chu (Great Beginning), and there was Tai Shi (Great Start). When the undifferentiated chaos was separated, *Qi* became visible, hence called Tai Chu; when form was established, hence called Tai Shi. *Qi* begins first, then form starts. Heaven and Earth rely on each other, generating and transforming endlessly, making all creatures manifest. Thus it is said: Great is the Creative Power (Qian Yuan), by which all things begin; Supreme is the Receptive Power (Kun Yuan), by which all things grow. At the beginning of life, although Yang provides the upright nature, nurturing and filling it must be led by Yin. As form shifts and changes, day by day and month by month, it is nothing but the substitutional role of the Way of Kun (Earth). It is called "Ren" (pregnancy) because Yang has received the start, and Yin protects it. It is called "Bao" (womb) because positive Yang exists, and Yin wraps it. It is called "Pei" (embryo) because it has not yet formed organs, like raw clay. It is called "Tai" (fetus) because it feeds on the mother, becoming nourishment for the mouth and belly. If called "Shen", it moves according to time; if called "Huai", it relies on the body. The virtue of Heaven, the *Qi* of Earth, and the highest harmony of Yin and Yang flow together into one entity. Only by following the seasonal cycles and carefully managing human affairs, without reckless movement that causes injury, can the way of reproduction be achieved. Observing the movement of the four seasons—birth, growth, harvest, and storage—they lend out all existence, and all rituals are complete. The reason why the *Qi* of Heaven and Earth is never depleted is that Yin and Yang nourish and assist each other. Ignorant people do not understand this; instead, they try to defy natural laws and absurdly seek methods to obtain offspring. They deduce the generation and restriction among the Five Elements and beg for nourishment through herbs, using falsehood to overcome truth, and human effort to assist Heaven. Even if they occasionally have children, many fail to nurture them during pregnancy, or raise them only to have them live short lives. Ancients discussed men having children in old age, saying men should not exceed the end of 8x8 (64 years), and women should not exceed the end of 7x7 (49 years). Thus we know that blood and *Qi* in humans have their limits; how could they escape the ultimate numbers of Yin and Yang?

The chapter "Zang Zhen Fu Xu" in the *Yuan Hua* section of *Sheng Ji Jing* states: The order of Water, Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal exists because they generate each other, possessing the way of mother and son. The order of Water, Fire, Metal, Wood, Earth exists because they restrict each other, possessing the meaning of husband and wife. Generation ensures succession; restriction ensures governance. Humans receive life, and the Gate of Vitality (Ming Men) originates at the start. After conception, none are completed without mutual restriction. Originating from the interaction of Qian and Kun at the Hai hour, one Yang begins in the northwest. Ren is Yang Water, combining with Ding's Yin Fire to produce Bing. Bing is Yang Fire, combining with Xin's Yin Metal to produce Geng. Geng is Yang Metal, combining with Yi's Yin Wood to produce Jia. Jia is Yang Wood, combining with Ji's Yin Earth to produce Wu. Wu is Yang Earth, combining with Gui's Yin Water to produce Ren. This is the meaning of husband and wife; the wonder of transformation arises from this principle. When Ren signals the conception of the Ming Men, initially the Ming Men exists, then the Heart is born. The Heart governs Blood, modeling Ding producing Bing. With the Heart, the Lungs are born next; the Lungs generate skin and hair, modeling Xin producing Geng. With the Lungs, the Liver is born next; the Liver generates tendons, modeling Yi producing Jia. With the Liver, the Spleen is born next; the Spleen generates flesh, modeling Ji producing Wu. With the Spleen, the Kidneys are born next; the Kidneys generate bone marrow, modeling Gui producing Ren. With the Kidneys, they combine with the Ming Men, and the two numbers are complete. Ren refers to one water and one stone? This is why the Kidney is uniquely paired among the Five Zang Organs. If one only knows that in vessels there are weights and measures, in objects there are turtles and snakes, and in colors there are red and black, but does not understand the way of one water and one stone, one has not reached the subtlety of generation and transformation. The True Essence of Tai Yi manifests in Water and stands in Stone; thus the fierceness of Fire, hardness of Metal, flexibility of Wood, and harmony of Earth are contained within. Those that restrict and govern each other are precisely what accomplish each other. Can the formation of humans rely solely on mutual generation and succession, hoping thereby to achieve the function of harvesting all things? Analyzing and deducing this: In the first month, blood coagulates; in the second, the embryo appears; in the third, Yang Spirit becomes Hun (Ethereal Soul); in the fourth, Yin Spirit becomes Po (Corporeal Soul); in the fifth, the Five Elements divide into the Five Zang Organs; in the sixth, the Six Harmonies determine the Six Fu Organs. Using this to explain the opening of seven apertures, the presence of eight spiritual scenes, the arrangement of palaces, the sufficiency of *Qi* and formation of images—all follow a natural order. Those who observe the subtle use the changes of nine apertures to verify and the movements of nine viscera to investigate, understanding clearly in their minds, avoiding reverse actions, because they grasp this initial order of birth.

*Culuo Jing* states: The term "Culuo" (cranium fontanelle) is named because Heaven and Earth's Yin-Yang transformation affects the cranium fontanelle. I once read the *Nei Zhuan of Huangdi* and the Golden Text of Queen Mother, which began to expound the arts of Four Narratives, Two Instruments (Yin-Yang), and the Way of Three Powers and One Origin. Collecting spiritual mechanisms, Huangdi attained them and ascended to heaven, hiding them in golden chests, strictly guarding the *Nei Jing*, so common people could not see them. Later, wise men and shamans of King Mu found them in Kongtong Cave and interpreted the great virtue of Heaven and Earth, the transformative power of Yin-Yang, the harmony of parents, and the formation of fetal substance. Since essence and blood coagulated in the uterus, the fetus feels Yang principles; blood enters the essence palace, and the female follows Yin residence. Thus, clear *Qi* descends and Yang Valley generates; turbid *Qi* ascends and Yin Well flourishes. These two represent the interchange of Two Instruments and the participation of Five Qi. Witnessing the primal mechanism, only the virtuous can approach it. It is said that true Yin and Yang mix, causing essence and blood to have order but resulting in calamity. Yang emits heterodoxy, affecting Ying and Wei, combining to cause disease, so that infants, just nurtured, often suffer from fright syndromes. Vulgar and foolish people, unaware of the origin and end, indiscriminately apply attacking treatments, causing unjust harm to infants. Alas! Alas! Thus investigating ancient words and tracing the causes, listing disease categories, it is called *Culuo Jing*. Relying truly on syndrome differentiation determines life and death; later learners should examine and base their relief on this. Tian He Da Qing descends to Chi Hai, called Zhen Yi. Yuan Qi rides it, so maternal emotion shines, rippling fiercely. This is Yang flourishing emitting Yin, indicating male pregnancy. All pulses and meridians show Yang syndromes. If pregnancy is weak and cannot withstand organ *Qi*, it leads to shock and injury. If competitive but *Qi* is poor, maternal illness arises in the third or fifth month, following the Five Zang. If Heart is dry, mouth is bitter and tongue dry; if Lung is dry, there is much phlegm and cold; if Liver has pathogenic factors, sour taste prevails and sleepiness increases; if Spleen is affected, vomiting and aversion to food occur; if Kidney is exhausted, weakness and lack of strength result. If organ pregnancy *Qi* is balanced, there is harmony without suffering. If the fetus is poor but strongly nourished by organs, it will still have many diseases after birth. Pure Yin syndromes of Two Instruments, mixing with Zhen Yi, indicate Yin flourishing Yang, suggesting paternal emotion is broad, predicting female pregnancy. All pulses and meridians show Yin syndromes. If blood is abundant and *Qi* is weak, the body is fat but *Qi* is poor. If *Qi* is abundant and blood is weak, the body is thin but *Qi* is strong. The pregnancy *Qi* of other organs is the same as for males. The child within the mother's womb constantly receives the righteous *Qi* of harmony and division of Yin-Yang guidelines. Heaven and Earth descend spirit, sun and moon transform all things to generate and form. Following temporal changes, the great principle's emotion becomes pure and unified, forming the foundation of auspiciousness. Preserving true Dao unity, thus generation occurs. Month one is Pulse, essence and blood coagulate. Month two is Fetus, form appears. Month three Yang Spirit becomes Three Hun, moving to generate. Month four Yin Spirit becomes Seven Po, purifying and stabilizing form. Month five Five Elements divide, organs settle spirits. Month six Six Harmonies determine, navel posture becomes spiritual. Month seven essence opens apertures, connecting to light. Month eight primordial spirit is complete, descending true spirit. Month nine palaces are arranged, giving birth to humans. Month ten *Qi* is sufficient, myriad phenomena form. The Primordial True One in the head is Niwan, gathering all spirits. Obtaining hundred spirits to resist evil *Qi*. Filtering myriad categories, taking stillness as source, knowing that careful ending and distant stillness, maintaining tranquility and harmony, can preserve long life. Thus, the emaciation of children is generally the fault of others.

*Qian Jin* states: While in the womb, a fetus in the first month is Pei, in the second month is Tai, in the third month blood vessels appear, in the fourth month form is complete, in the fifth month it can move, in the sixth month bones are complete; in the seventh month hair grows, in the eighth month internal organs are complete, in the ninth month grain enters the stomach, in the tenth month hundred spirits are prepared, then it is born. Sixty days after birth, pupils form, able to cough, laugh, respond, and interact. Hundred days after birth, Ren Mai forms (*Qian Jin Yi* says: Ren Mai forms in fifty days), able to roll over independently. One hundred eighty days after birth, body bones form, able to sit alone. Two hundred ten days after birth, palm bones form, able to crawl. Three hundred days after birth, patella forms, able to stand independently. Three hundred sixty days after birth, knee bones form, able to walk (*Qian Jin Yi* says knee patella forms). If unable to meet these timelines, there must be abnormalities (*Qian Jin Yi* is consistent with this, differences annotated below).

Zhang Huan discusses the initial reception of *Qi* in children. The Classic says: Pulsation of Yin distinct from Yang is called pregnancy. When parents' blood and *Qi* are harmonious, Yang applies and Yin transforms to create pregnancy. It entirely depends on the mother's cautious care and regulation; then the child will be born with few illnesses and easy to raise. If initially not cautious, the child has no way to be safe. Furthermore, the sex of the infant in the womb can be distinguished by diagnosing the mother's pulse: deep and solid left hand indicates male, floating and large right hand indicates female. Also, if the mother walks facing south and calls back, turning head left indicates male, turning head right indicates female. During the first and second months of pregnancy, blood vessels run sluggish; the mother should not eat fishy or pungent foods and must reside in quiet places. In the third and fourth months, image gradually forms; do not eat ginger, rabbit, etc. In the fifth and sixth months, do not eat various pungent foods. In the seventh and eighth months, do not eat melons, fruits, or sour substances. In the ninth and tenth months, avoid raw, cold, wind-moving, and phlegm-generating foods. One must constantly maintain a pure and empty heart, sit without slanting mats, stand without leaning, walk without deviant paths, look without evil sights, listen without evil sounds, speak without evil words, think without evil thoughts, and avoid excessive joy, anger, worry, or contemplation. Whenever seeing hunchbacked or ugly people, avoid them, and do not go to fields to view all kinds of birds and beasts. Because whatever the mother moves, the fetus must sense it. Movement, stillness, hearing, and smelling all follow the mother. If not following this method, the child will lack intelligence and wisdom, naturally prone to many diseases, difficult to raise, and medical decoctions will be useless. Also, during pregnancy, one must always adjust to cold and heat and observe all taboos. As soon as slight discomfort occurs, one must take medicine to remove disease, benefit blood and *Qi*, and nourish fetal *Qi*, so the born child will be strong. Be extremely cautious.