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Without men and women, the Heaven and Earth (Qiankun) would almost cease to function. The matching of men and women is for the purpose of extending the lineage; this connection is not trivial, and one should not claim that it does not depend on human effort. To bear children, the male's Yang pathway must be robust and un-declining, and the female's menstrual cycle (Yuejing) must arrive on schedule without error. When Yin and Yang interact smoothly and essence and blood condense together, the fetal origin (Taiyuan) is easily formed. Otherwise, if Yang is too weak to respond downward to Yin, or Yin is too deficient to follow upward to Yang, Yin and Yang will be discordant, resulting in infertility. Although some may attribute this to fixed destiny, it is also likely due to insufficient human effort. Therefore, methods for conception require men to clear their minds and reduce desires to nourish their essence, and women to calm their hearts and steady their qi to nourish their blood. Nourishment through herbal medicine and assistance through sexual techniques constitute the proper fulfillment of human effort.

What is meant by "men value clearing the mind and reducing desires"? Generally, those whose bodies are at ease tend to become overly full, while those who indulge in pleasure tend to have dissipated spirits. Wealthy individuals who do not guard their spirit risk mental dissipation; those who do not guard their bodies risk depletion from excess. This is why clearing the mind and reducing desires is the foremost priority for men. What is meant by "women value calming the heart and steadying the qi"? Women often serve others with their bodies and thus have irritable natures; they please others with their appearance and thus have anxious emotions. If things are not as they wish, they fall into worry, rumination, resentment, and anger. Worry causes Qi stagnation; rumination causes Qi depression; anger causes Qi rebellion; resentment causes Qi obstruction. Blood follows Qi; if Qi rebels, Blood rebels. This is why calming the heart and steadying the qi is the foremost priority for women.

What constitutes medicinal nourishment? Men are suitable for taking Dihuang Wan (Rehmannia Pill) to tonify the Yin of the Left Kidney, adding Duzhong (Eucommia Bark), Rongrong (Cistanche Stem), Bajiji (Morinda Root), Buguzhi (Psoralea Fruit), and Chenxiang (Aquilaria Wood) to tonify the Yang of the Right Kidney. Women are suitable for taking Wuji Wan (Black Chicken Pill) to nourish their Qi and Blood and regulate their menstruation, which aligns with reason. Preparations containing Guizhi (Cinnamon Twig), Fuzi (Aconite Root), and Dan Shi (Mineral Drugs) that agitate Qi, consume Yang, damage Blood, and deplete Yin should be strictly avoided.

What constitutes assistance through sexual techniques? Examples include the *Zhongzi Ge* (Song of Conception) and discussions in the *Sunu* (Lady Su). Infertility in women is often due to irregular menstruation; therefore, auxiliary treatment with herbs is urgent. If intercourse occurs without regulating menstruation, effort is wasted. Thus, regulating menstruation is crucial for women seeking conception.

For obese women with strong constitutions, or those indulgent in alcohol and food, irregular menstruation prevents conception. This is termed "abdominal fat causing dampness and astringency," blocking the Uterus. Treatment should resolve dampness and dry phlegm using Cangsha Daotan Wan (Cang Zhu and Cyperus Phlegm-Resolving Pill) or Sizhi Xiangfu Wan (Four-Processed Cyperus Pill).

For thin, quick-tempered individuals with irregular menstruation preventing conception, this is termed "dryness and astringency of the Uterus due to lack of Blood," failing to capture fertilizing essence. Treatment should cool Blood and descend Fire using Dihuang Sanbu Wan (Three-Tonifying Rehmannia Pill).

For those with chronic leukorrhea or vaginal discharge, irregular menstruation preventing conception is termed "deficiency and exhaustion of the Lower Yuan," failing to gather Blood for fertilization. Treatment should tonify deficiency and secure leakage using Wuji Wan (Black Chicken Pill) or Bugong Wan (Uterus-Supplementing Pill).

The *Zhongzi Ge* states: "Thirty hours and half a day, you must calculate twenty-eight or twenty-nine; when red falls like rain, it is the auspicious date; after menstruation passes, efforts are in vain; wasting labor during chaos, looking for residual red under trees and roots; ensure flowers can bear fruit, why worry about cinnabar cassia not forming clusters?" This implies that before menstruation begins, the Sea of Blood is full and the Uterus is closed, unable to conceive. After menstruation starts, the Uterus opens and the Sea of Blood clears, allowing conception. Counting thirty hours from the start of menstruation equals two and a half days; timing is precious for conception. Intercourse on days 1–3 tends to produce males; days 4–6 tends to produce females; after day 7, the Uterus closes again, and conception is unlikely.

The female vagina is symbolized by the moon. If menstruation occurs regularly from the New Moon (Shuo) to the Full Moon (Wang), conception is easy, offspring are healthy, and longevity is likely, as the moonlight grows and the lunar disk fills. If menstruation occurs irregularly from the Full Moon to the Dark Moon (Hui), although conception may occur, offspring are often short-lived, as moonlight fades and the lunar outline empties. This is the principle of creation, discussable only with those who understand it.

The *Sunu Lun* mentions three arrivals for men and five arrivals for women. If the male arrives but the female has not yet arrived, and fluids are released before contact, although the male intends to respond to Yin, Yin does not comply. If the female arrives but the male has not, and fluids flow before penetration, although the female intends to follow Yang, Yang does not respond; thus, no conception occurs. However, the sequence of arrival determines gender: if Yang essence arrives first and Yin blood follows, essence wraps blood to form a female. If Yin blood arrives first and Yang essence follows, blood wraps essence to form a male. Divination texts state: "Yin wrapping Yang adds elegance to the cassia courtyard (female); Yang wrapping Yin brings immortals to the peach cave (male)."

What are the three arrivals for men? Impotence indicates Liver Qi has not arrived; erection without firmness indicates Kidney Qi has not arrived; firmness without heat indicates Heart Qi has not arrived. Forcing intercourse before Liver Qi arrives damages the Liver, resulting in semen that drips but does not shoot. Forcing intercourse before Kidney Qi arrives damages the Kidney, resulting in semen that scatters and does not coagulate. Forcing intercourse before Heart Qi arrives damages the Heart, resulting in cold semen. These are reasons for male infertility, emphasizing the need to clear the mind and reduce desires to nourish Liver, Kidney, and Heart Qi.

What are the five arrivals for women? Red and hot face indicates Heart Qi has arrived. Tears in eyes and sideways glancing indicate Liver Qi has arrived. Soft voice, low speech, and panting from mouth/nose indicate Lung Qi has arrived. Extending tongue, sucking lips, and leaning body indicate Spleen Qi has arrived. Opening of the genitalia and flow of vaginal fluids indicate Kidney Qi has arrived. When all five Qi arrive, intercourse leads to harmonious emotion, Yang giving and Yin receiving, which is the path to conception.

When both partners are healthy, intercourse should follow the proper timing. One must avoid the Three Deficiencies and Four Taboos. The Three Deficiencies refer to: heavenly deficiencies (dark skies, solar/lunar eclipses, storms); earthly deficiencies (earthquakes, landslides, floods); and human deficiencies (grief, anger, fear, drunkenness, overeating, fatigue). Violating these leads to infertility, miscarriage, or disease. The Four Taboo periods are: 1. Clashing dates with one's birth year (e.g., Jiazi, Gengshen); 2. Extreme weather (severe cold/heat) or states (overeating/intoxication); 3. Profane locations (near temples, altars, tombs); 4. Inauspicious events (conflicts, beatings). Violating these leads to infertility or premature death.

For conception, during the appropriate time, men should take Kidney-tonifying and essence-nourishing herbs, while women should regulate diet, keep flavors light, and avoid extreme temperatures. At midnight, when Sheng Qi (Vital Qi) is strongest, following the principles of the Three/Five Arrivals and avoiding the Three Deficiencies/Four Taboos ensures natural conception and successful pregnancy. Health preservation texts warn against intercourse before the Zi hour (11 PM–1 AM), as this is a time of declining Yang and flourishing Yin.