典藏书目

I have observed several elderly individuals who consume very little food, and this perspective has its merits. Zhang Maoze, a palace attendant, consumed no more than one bowl of coarse rice per meal and absolutely avoided rich and greasy foods. He lived peacefully in his old age and passed away at over eighty years old. Whenever Zhang advised others, he would always say, "Eat less in the morning; do not eat until fully stuffed." Wang Xi, titled Longtu, prepared food with extreme refinement. If he could not finish a whole vessel of food, he would eat no more than one or two steamed buns. He reached the age of eighty and remained robust and vigorous in spirit until his final days. Wang once told me, "Food should be taken merely to replenish Qi and prevent hunger; if one eats until full, various diseases will arise. Subsequently using medicinal herbs to digest such excess is particularly damaging to the body's harmonious state (He)." Liu Ji, a Secretariat Supervisor, had an even lighter diet, stopping as soon as he felt full. He also lived to eighty before passing away. Supervisor Liu particularly enjoyed drinking alcohol; on occasions when he drank, he ate no solid food, consuming only a small amount of fruit. Vice Minister Su of Xunzhou, whenever he saw me, advised me to regulate my diet, stating, "Eating less allows the Qi of the Zang-Fu organs to circulate freely, thereby reducing illness." When Vice Minister Su was demoted to a miasma-prone region for many years, nearing sixty, it was reported that he remained healthy and free from disease. This was likely due to this practice. Vice Minister Su drank alcohol but did not take medicinal drugs. Whenever he dined with guests, he would put down his spoon and chopsticks before feeling full. (From *Zhang Taishi Mingdao Zazhi*)

Medical texts state that turtle meat should not be eaten together with amaranth. Langzhong Wen Ge suffered from severe abdominal pain after consuming both simultaneously. During attacks, he nearly lost consciousness. Suspecting the combination of turtle and amaranth, but without definitive confirmation, he had two young servants test these two foods separately. They subsequently fell ill with symptoms similar to Wen Ge's, but much more severe and debilitating, and died suddenly shortly thereafter. Their corpses were placed in a stable before burial. Suddenly, countless tiny turtles emerged from their nine orifices and scattered around the stable. Upon encountering horse urine, they instantly dissolved into water. Upon hearing this, Wen Ge personally inspected the scene, gathered the turtles, and poured horse urine over them, causing them to dissolve immediately. Consequently, Wen Ge drank horse urine, and his illness healed. It is said that white horse urine is especially effective. Wen Ge, courtesy name Shupi. (From *Suosui Lu*)

Chen Zhengqing stated that some years ago, he traveled by boat with a Chengju (an official courier). The Chengju told those on board that he had once been dispatched to Changuo by a colleague, where he saw white crabs sold regardless of price. He spent a hundred gold pieces to purchase dozens of them. He drank heavily and ate voraciously, and also consumed persimmons. By nightfall, he suddenly vomited violently, followed by hematemesis (vomiting blood), fell into a coma, and his condition became critical, bordering on death. A fellow traveler who knew the cause expressed concern. Suddenly, a Daoist priest appeared and said, "Only Mugwort Root (Muxiang) can resolve this toxicity, but there is no such medicine late at night." Fortunately, there was a packet of Muxiang Biscuits available for trial. Although the patient's mouth was clenched shut, the medicated paste was administered via force-feeding. The patient gradually regained consciousness, the vomiting ceased, and he recovered. (From *Baiyi Xuanfang*)