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Wenkang stated: Is there no fixed rule for the timing of conception? As for distinguishing the sex of the fetus, it is not constrained by the sequence of arrival of Jing (Essence) and Xue (Blood), nor by the number of days after menstruation ends when intercourse occurs, nor by whether it happens before or after midnight, nor by whether the father is strong and the mother weak, or vice versa. It solely depends on which party's Jing or Xue, arriving via the Hundred Vessels (Bai Mai), has the superior force. Therefore, if the Jing arriving via the Hundred Vessels has a force that surpasses the Xue, a male fetus is formed; if the Xue arriving via the Hundred Vessels has a force that surpasses the Jing, a female fetus is formed. Regarding those who have miscarriages after pregnancy, those whose children are born but do not survive, those whose children survive but have short lives, and those who live long with boundless blessings, these differences are due to the robustness or fragility of the inherited Jing and Xue determining longevity. People in the world fail to observe this, unaware that the robustness or fragility of Jing and Xue is determined at the beginning of endowment. They blame miscarriages solely on the mother, attribute failure to nurture solely to the child, and ascribe longevity or premature death solely to fate. Is this not absurd?

[Diagnosis]
If a woman is seven months pregnant and this is unknown, and she frequently suffers from epistaxis (nosebleed) accompanied by muscle spasms (Zhuan Jin), this is a sign of pregnancy (Qu). If she sneezes and feels vibration during the nosebleed, it is not pregnancy. The *Su Wen* states: "When the pulse of the Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian moves vigorously, it indicates pregnancy." (*Ping Ren Qi Xiang Lun* refers to the Taixi pulse. Quan Yuanqi's version writes Foot Shaoyin, while Wang Bing's version writes Hand Taiyin; the former should be followed. Wang's commentary says: A Dong pulse is like a bean trembling. Another interpretation is that 'Dong Shen' means the movement is very large.) "Yin Bo Yang Bie" (The Yin pulse beats distinctly different from the Yang pulse) is called having a child. (Wang's commentary on *Yin Yang Bie Lun* says: Yin refers to the Chi (Cun-Guan-Chi) position, specifically the Chi pulse. Bo refers to the pulse striking the fingers. When the Chi pulse beats differently from the Cun pulse, it is a sign of pregnancy.)

[Pulse Diagnosis]
At the beginning of pregnancy, the Cun pulse is minute and small, with five breaths per pulse beat. By three months, the Chi pulse becomes rapid (Shu). If the pulse is slippery (Hua) and rapid (Ji), and feels scattered when pressed heavily, it indicates three months of pregnancy. If the pulse feels firm when pressed heavily, but is only rapid without being slippery, it indicates five months of pregnancy. (This is the meaning of "Yin Bo Yang Bie," stating that the Chi pulse is slippery and rapid, the Cun pulse is minute, and the difference between Chi and Cun indicates pregnancy.) If the Chi pulse is larger on the left, it is a male fetus; if larger on the right, it is a female fetus; if both are large, twins will be born. The pulse feels full and solid. (This is also the meaning of "Yin Bo Yang Bie," meaning the Chi pulse is solid and large, distinct from the Cun pulse, distinguishing male left and female right.) For a woman four months pregnant, to know the sex: Left pulse rapid indicates male, right pulse rapid indicates female, both rapid indicates twins. (Wang Ziheng said: If all three positions of the pregnancy pulse are slippery and rapid, left indicates male, upper indicates female.) Have the pregnant woman walk facing south, then call her back. If she turns her head to the left, it is a male fetus; if to the right, it is a female fetus. When she is using the toilet, have her husband call her urgently from behind. If she turns her head to the left, it is a male fetus; if to the right, it is a female fetus.

Lou Quanshan said: According to Danxi, male fetuses conceive in the left uterus, and female fetuses in the right uterus. This statement greatly agrees with the above theory. Generally, if the male fetus is on the left, the left side is heavier, so when turning her head, she protects the heavy side and turns left. If the female fetus is on the right, the right side is heavier, so she protects the heavy side and turns right. Applying this to pulses, the principle is the same. If the fetus is on the left, blood and Qi protect the fetus and become abundant on the left, so the pulse follows suit, making left rapid indicate male and left large indicate male. If the fetus is on the right, blood and Qi protect the fetus and become abundant on the right, so the pulse follows suit, making right rapid indicate female and right large indicate female. This is also like the classic saying: "Yin Bo Yang Bie, Wei Zhi You Zi." It means the conception site is below the navel and abdomen, where blood and Qi protect the fetus and become abundant below, so the Yin Chi pulse beats vigorously and differs from the Yang Cun pulse. Similarly, if an abscess boils up above, blood and Qi go up and the Cun pulse is strong; if below, blood and Qi go down and the Chi pulse is strong; if on the left, blood and Qi go left and the left pulse is strong; if on the right, blood and Qi go right and the right pulse is strong. Danxi believed left large conforms to male and right large conforms to female, referring to the doctor's left and right hands, which is a mistake by even the wise.

Song on Diagnosing Pregnancy in Women
The Liver stores Blood, the Lung governs Qi. Blood forms Ying (Nutritive), Qi forms Wei (Defensive). Yin and Yang match without discrepancy; the two organs harmonize similarly. If Blood is deficient and Qi is prosperous, there will definitely be no pregnancy. If Blood is prosperous and Qi is deficient, there will be pregnancy. (The Liver stores Blood forming Ying, belonging to Yin; the Lung governs Qi forming Wei, belonging to Yang. Yin-Yang matching refers to the union of husband and wife, combining essence to conceive. If Blood is scanty and Qi is excessive, there is no pregnancy. If Blood is excessive and Qi is scanty, there is pregnancy.) Cun is minute, Guan is slippery, Chi carries Shu (rapid). Flowing and smooth, coming and going like a sparrow pecking. The pulse of the child already shows form, though several months of pregnancy are still unnoticed. (Cun minute, Guan slippery, Chi carrying Shu, flowing and smooth like sparrow pecking, all indicate meridians blocked, leading to conception. The above pulses are all pulses of much Blood and little Qi, showing the form of pregnancy.) Left rapid indicates male, upper indicates female. Flowing and connected, coming and going quickly. Both hands' Guan pulses large and corresponding, the form is already present as previously discussed. (Left hand pulse rapid indicates male pregnancy, right hand pulse rapid indicates female pregnancy. Also, if both pulses flow smoothly and connect, coming and going rapidly, or if both Guan parts are large and corresponding, the fetus already has form.) Left hand Dai Zong (Vertical) indicates two sons. (Zong means Husband riding Wife, Water riding Fire, Metal riding Wood, i.e., Gui Zei pulse, named Zong. Seen in the left hand, it indicates two male children.) Right hand Dai Heng (Horizontal) indicates twin daughters. (Heng means Wife riding Husband, Fire riding Water, Wood riding Metal, i.e., Suo Sheng pulse, named Heng. Seen in the right hand, it indicates twin female children.) Left hand pulse Ni (Reverse) gives birth to three males. (Ni means Child riding Mother, Water riding Metal, Fire riding Wood, i.e., Yi Sheng pulse, named Ni. Seen in the right hand, it indicates three male children.) Right hand pulse Shun (Smooth) returns three females. (Shun means Mother riding Child, Metal riding Water, Wood riding Fire, i.e., Sheng Yi pulse, named Shun. Seen in the right hand, it indicates three female children.) Cun, Guan, and Chi positions all correspond; one male and one female show distinct signs. (When Cun, Guan, and Chi pulses are equal in size, slowness/rapidity, it is the pulse sign of one male and one female. Guan front is Yang, Guan back is Yin. Yin and Yang pulses correspond, hence one male and one female.) Sometimes the child dies but the mother survives, or the mother dies but the child's life remains. (These two lines lack a method to distinguish parent-child survival.) Coming and going through the three positions, all smooth and flowing. Hua (Slippery) and Shu (Rapid) intermingle, all Titi (vigorous). Yang excess and Yin deficiency make the pulse clear; filling the chest is all rebellious Qi. (If Cun, Guan, and Chi all flow smoothly, all Titi vigorous and slippery/rapid, these are all Yang excess and Yin deficiency pulses, indicating pregnant women with rebellious Qi filling the chest and不顺.) Left hand Taiyang floating and large indicates male. (Left hand Cun Kou is Taiyang; its pulse floating and large indicates male pregnancy.) Right hand Taiyin sinking and fine indicates female. (Right hand Cun Kou is Taiyin; sinking and fine indicates female pregnancy.) All Yang pulses are male, all Yin pulses are female. Clearly remember this under the fingers. (All Yang pulses are male, such as floating, large, rapid, slippery, solid. Should be male. All Yin pulses are such as sinking and fine. Should be female.) Three positions sinking and straight, equal without interruption. Chi internal rising and pressing does not stop, truly a pregnant woman. (Cun, Guan, Chi pulses float/sink straight and equal, lifting/pressing without interruption, and Chi internal lifting/pressing does not stop, truly a pregnant woman.) Husband rides Wife, Zong Qi is like fog/mist. (Classic says: Zong is Husband riding Wife, Water riding Fire, Metal riding Wood, i.e., Gui Zei pulse. Zong Qi Wu, mist/dew, also up/down. Means Husband's Yang Qi rides Wife's Yin Qi, two energies chase each other up/down, like mist moistening to form the seed.) Wife rides Husband, Heng Qi assists. (Heng is Wife riding Husband, see previous note. Means lateral Heng Qi assists.) Child rides Mother, Ni Qi participates. (Ni is Child riding Mother, means Child Qi offends Mother Qi riding, rebellious Qi participates.) Mother rides Child, Shun Qi protects. (Mother Qi rides Child Qi, is Shun Qi protecting. All fetuses gather Zong, Heng, Ni, Shun four Qi to nourish, thus forming shape.) Child's days complete, fetus gathers. Body hot, pulse chaotic, no suffering. (When a woman carries a child for five months, the count is complete, the fetus is accomplished and gathered. The mother must have body heat and chaotic pulse, not a pathological suffering. It means at five months the fetus is formed, receiving Fire Essence to form Qi, so body heat and chaotic pulse are disease-free.) Sweating, not eating, vomiting and reflux at times. Spirit and essence gather and reside within. (Pregnancy receives Five Elements essence to form shape, inherits two meridians to nourish the mother. At five months pregnancy, although the fetus is formed, its Qi is not prepared. Thus fetal Qi is unstable, rushing up to heart/chest causing sweating, not eating, vomiting/reflux, named E Zu (Morning Sickness), commonly called Xuan Fan, craving sour/spicy flavors to regulate fetal Qi.) Slippery and rapid without scattering: three-month fetus. (Three months pregnancy is named Shi Tai. Definition not yet fixed, Pericardium meridian nourishes it. Pulse appears slippery/rapid/smooth, indicating little Qi much Blood. Without scattering indicates abundant Blood/Qi, thus initially forming fetus.) Only rapid without scattering: five-month mother. (Pulse only rapid/numerous without scattering indicates five-month pregnant mother.) Xian (Bowstring), Jin (Tight), Lao (Firm), Qiang (Strong), Hua (Slippery), Li (Smooth) indicate peace. Chen (Sinking), Xi (Fine), Wei (Minute) lead to the spring path. (Pregnant women's pulses should be Xian, Jin, Lao, Qiang, Hua, Li, indicating auspiciousness. If Chen, Xi, Wei, it means pulse and form do not correspond, hence death. Although previous text said Taiyin Chen Xi and all Yin are female, this seems contradictory, but it means if all three positions are not Chen/Xi/Wei, they are different.)

[Methods to Verify Pregnancy]
[Hai] Divine Formula Yan Tai San. For women two or three months pregnant, menstruation stops. Suspecting pregnancy, yet worrying about Blood stasis causing vexation, cold/heat, and confusion, this medicine can verify if conception is inside. If externally pregnant, with no evil pulse, deducing by *Su Wen* pulse methods, eight or nine out of ten are accurate.
Zhen Que Nao Xiong (One Liang) Dang Gui (Use whole, weighing one Liang, use only Seven Qian).
Grind into fine powder, divide into two doses. Mix well with decoction of Mugwort (Ai Ye) tea, take orally. Or mix with good wine. Wait two or three hours. If feeling slight frequent movement in abdomen/navel, there is a fetus. After movement stops, health returns, safe and secure. If not a fetus, no movement occurs, stagnant evil matter expels itself, mother is also safe. If no effect after taking medicine, decoct Hong Hua (Safflower) tea again to take, must have divine effect.
[Ling Yuan] Method to verify pregnancy for women with stopped menstruation for three months. True Chuan Xiong ground into fine powder. Take one Bi (measure) mixed with thick Mugwort tea. Gradual movement in abdomen indicates pregnancy.
Tan Tai San. To probe whether fetal Qi exists in women, in doubt, use this to test. With fetus, vomit; without, no vomit.
Zao Jiao (Remove skin) Gan Cao (Roasted, each One Qian) Huang Lian (Half Qian).
Grind into fine powder, make one dose. Mix with warm wine to take.
Hao Weng, a divine physician from Boling, treated the wife of Scholar Chen Yaozun who was ill. Many doctors considered it Labor Injury (Lao Shang). Hao said: Quickly discard medicines, this is a pregnancy syndrome, and congratulate you on getting a son. Later it proved true. Again, two pregnant women: one was aphasic and silent. Hao said: The fetus is large, meridians are blocked. Once the child is born and meridians open, she will speak. Do not poison with medicine. Another was extremely robust. Hao diagnosed her pulse: "Mother's Qi is already dead. The reason she lives is relying on the fetus's Qi." Predicted: Child born on time, mother dies. (Aphasia in pregnancy is not illness. Hearing this, no need to take medicine. On delivery day, only take Bao Sheng Wan, Si Wu Tang etc. She will speak naturally after birth, natural principle, not drug power.)
One woman had sudden thirst, drinking only Wu Wei Zhi (Five Flavor Juice). Famous doctor Geng Yu diagnosed her pulse: "Blood wants to coagulate, not a disease." Later indeed pregnant. Ancient formulas have the syndrome of blood wanting to coagulate causing thirst for Wu Wei, must know this.
Pan Wensou diagnosed Yu Bu Yuan Wai Lang Zhang Xian's wife pregnant for five years, Nan Ling Wei Fu Changling's wife pregnant for two years, Tuan Lian Shi Liu Yisun's maternal relative pregnant for fourteen months, all without childbirth. Pan Wensou viewed them and said: "It is a disease. All doctors wrongly assumed pregnancy." Then gave large doses of Blood-breaking and Poison-attacking drugs. Yu Bu's wife expelled over a hundred flesh lumps, shaped with eyebrows and eyes. Changling's wife dreamed of two black-skinned boys, fled in panic. Liu's relative expelled a large snake, still wriggling alive. All three women were unharmed.
Chen Douyan treated Ye Nanzhou's wife who had amenorrhea for five months, discharging white or red fluid, afternoon fever, cough, and vomiting. Doctors considered it Lao Zhai (Consumption/TB). Chen viewed and said: Both Chi pulses are solid. This must be pregnancy, caused by external Wind Evil attacking. Given Qing He (Clearing and Harmonizing) agents and stabilized. Half a year later, gave birth to a son.