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The Way of Medicine is truly great! Its origins are far-reaching. Since the separation of chaos and the beginning of the primordial age, the light and pure aspects of Taiyang (Supreme Ultimate) floated upward by virtue of Qi to become Heaven; the heavy and turbid aspects condensed downward by virtue of Form to become Earth. Heaven stands firmly in the upper position, and Earth shines brightly in the lower position. Thus, the essence of Yang became the Sun, rising in the East and setting in the West; the essence of Yin became the Moon, appearing at night and hidden during the day. The Two Modes (Liangyi, i.e., Yin and Yang) were established, and the Two Luminaries (Sun and Moon) moved. Thus, the dark Qi condensed in the void, and Water began to generate; the red Qi dazzled in the void, and Fire began to generate; the blue/green Qi floated in the void, and Wood began to generate; the white Qi stretched across the void, and Metal began to generate; the yellow Qi permeated the void, and Earth began to generate. With the Five Elements (Wuxing) complete, all things were born, and the Dao of the Three Powers (Heaven, Earth, and Humanity) was revealed.

Therefore, human birth involves inheriting the Yin and Yang of Heaven and Earth, borrowing the essence and blood of parents, undergoing interaction and condensation to form the fetal sac. The Dao of Qian (Heaven/Yang) forms the male, and the Dao of Kun (Earth/Yin) forms the female. From infancy to childhood, then to pre-adolescence and adulthood, is this process easy? Hence, at one month of gestation, the embryo is called "White Dew"; at three months, the fetal mass is likened to "Dried Peach Blossom". By the third month, if it is a boy, the right Kidney generates first, as Yin envelops Yang; if it is a girl, the left Kidney generates first, as Yang envelops Yin. Subsequently, the Kidney generates the Spleen, the Spleen generates the Liver, the Liver generates the Lung, and the Lung generates the Heart, following the generative sequence. The Kidney belongs to Water, thus the Zang Organs (Five Viscera) are determined as Yin. Subsequently, the Heart generates the Small Intestine, the Small Intestine generates the Large Intestine, the Large Intestine generates the Gallbladder, the Gallbladder generates the Stomach, the Stomach generates the Bladder, and the Bladder generates the Sanjiao (Triple Burner), following another generative sequence. The Small Intestine belongs to Fire, thus the Fu Organs (Six Bowels) are determined as Yang.

Subsequently, the Sanjiao generates the Eight Extraordinary Vessels, the Eight Extraordinary Vessels generate the Twelve Primary Meridians, the Twelve Primary Meridians generate the Twelve Collaterals, the Twelve Collaterals generate 180 Silk-like Collaterals, the 180 Silk-like Collaterals generate 180 Coiled Collaterals, the 180 Coiled Collaterals generate 34,000 Meridian Channels, the 34,000 Meridian Channels generate 365 Bone Joints, the 365 Bone Joints generate 365 Major Acupoints, and the 365 Major Acupoints generate 84,000 Hair Pores. Thus, the ears, eyes, mouth, nose, limbs, and entire skeletal structure are complete. This is what is meant by: at four months, the physical form is complete; at five months, sinews and bones are formed; at six months, hair grows; at seven months, the Hun (Ethereal Soul) moves, and the fetus can move its left hand; at eight months, the Po (Corporeal Soul) moves, and the fetus can move its right hand; at nine months, the body turns three times; at ten months, full term is reached, and mother and child separate. Those born after exceeding ten months will surely be noble children; those born before full term will surely be people of low status. After birth, there is the heat of Bianzheng (Metamorphosis and Steaming), which nourishes the spirit, strengthens the sinews and bones, and develops the will. Once Bianzheng is complete, the child reaches one year of age, teeth grow, hair lengthens, and the mind and consciousness differ from before. It is said: Teeth are the surplus of the Kidney; Nails are the surplus of the Sinews; Spirit (Shen) is the surplus of Qi. Alas, how precious is the human body!

In early childhood, one is like bubbles on water or dew on grass; Qi and Blood are not yet settled, prone to both cold and heat; the intestines and stomach are soft and fragile, prone to both hunger and satiety. If the mother fails to provide proper care and regulation, diseases such as vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, and malnutrition (Gan syndrome) are inevitable. As the child grows, desires open up, and self-cultivation is neglected. Consequently, the Six Evils (pathogenic factors) invade from outside, and the Seven Emotions clash within. A hundred worries burden the heart, and ten thousand tasks exhaust the spirit. How can the Qi of the body remain free of disease? The rashes and sores of children and the Shanghan (Cold Damage) of adults are particularly severe. Therefore, the sages do not treat disease that has already occurred but prevent disease that has not yet occurred; they do not govern chaos that has already arisen but prevent chaos that has not yet arisen. To use medicine only after a major illness has formed, or to govern only after chaos has erupted, is like digging a well only when thirsty or forging weapons only when battle begins. Is this not too late?