典藏书目

The methods for conceiving offspring have been discussed extensively by the ancients, yet I consider some of them to be imperfect, likely due to lingering doubts. I have carefully listed these viewpoints side by side for analysis, hoping they may serve as a reference for discerning scholars to judge and correct.

*Guangsi Jue (Instructions for Prolonging Offspring)* states: "Thirty hours plus two and a half days, you must calculate approximately twenty-eight or twenty-nine days. When menstrual blood falls covering the ground, it is the auspicious period; missing the 'Jin Shui' (menstrual) period leads to futile confusion. During this confusion, efforts are wasted, searching for residual redness under trees and branches. If one understands that blooming flowers can bear fruit, why worry that the osmanthus will not grow in clusters?" Commentary: This implies that when a woman's menstruation has just ceased, the uterus is open, which is the time for sowing seed (conception). After this auspicious period, the uterus closes and cannot receive conception. However, what about cases where conception occurs ten days, half a month, or even twenty days later? Why is this so? Another virtuous woman remarked: "If we follow this theory, then anyone engaging in improper conduct could simply wait until the second half of the cycle to engage in intercourse, thereby avoiding any worries." A profound statement! Is this claim truly credible?

*Daozang Jing (Scriptures of the Daoist Canon)* states: "After a woman's menstrual flow stops, intercourse on the first, third, or fifth day follows the Qian Dao (Yang Path) and results in a male. Intercourse on the second, fourth, or sixth day follows the Kun Dao (Yin Path) and results in a female." Commentary: This attributes odd numbers to Yang, thus producing males, and even numbers to Yin, thus producing females. If this were true, who would not know it? Would obtaining a son be difficult? In total, this is not necessarily the case.

*Chu Shi Yi Shu (Remnant Book of Master Chu)* states: "When man and woman unite, their emotions flow smoothly. If Yin Blood arrives first and Yang Essence rushes in later, the blood opens to wrap the essence; the essence enters to form the bone structure, and the male form is created. If Yang Essence arrives first and Yin Blood participates later, the essence opens to wrap the blood; the blood enters to become the root, and the female form is created." Commentary: At first glance, this theory seems plausible and reasonable. However, upon closer examination over time, it appears largely incorrect. During the act of union, how can blood be stirred? Only after conception has taken place does the essence establish the foundation and the blood provide nourishment, allowing the fetus to gradually form. Even if we replace the character 'blood' with 'essence,' saying 'Yin Essence arrives first,' it might still be acceptable. Yet, I often see young women who conceive immediately after a single act of intercourse. At such times, they are busy avoiding pregnancy and have no leisure to control ejaculation; how can it be said that essence was expelled? Rather, when desire moves, Qi arrives; when Qi arrives, the Yin aperture opens; when the Yin aperture opens, it absorbs and receives Qi; once received, conception inevitably occurs. This is the natural principle. The theory of Master Chu seems far-fetched and forced.

Li Dongyuan stated: "After menstruation ceases, during the first one or two days, the Sea of Blood is just cleansed, and Essence surpasses Blood; conception during this time results in a male. Four or five days later, the Blood vessels are vigorous, and Essence cannot surpass Blood; conception during this time results in a female." Commentary: This view is also not a definitive conclusion. Nowadays, many couples trying specifically during the early days after menstruation clean still give birth to daughters. Could this also be because Blood surpasses Essence?

Zhu Danxi stated: "When Yin and Yang interact and combine, pregnancy condenses. The storage site is called the Zi Gong (Uterus). It has a ligament below, with two branches above, divided into two parts in the middle, shaped like a joined bowl. One reaches to the left, and one to the right. If Essence surpasses Blood, Yang becomes dominant, Qi is received in the left Zi Gong, and the male form is created. If Essence does not surpass Blood, Yin becomes dominant, Qi is received in the right Zi Gong, and the female form is created." Commentary: This aligns with the theory in *Shengji Jing (Holy Relief Classic)* that 'movement on the left creates a male, movement on the right creates a female.' Judging by seeds, none lack two lobes; similarly, men have two testicles. Thus, the concept of the Zi Gong likely implies duality. However, the specific notion that receiving Qi on the left creates a male and on the right creates a female is inexplicable post-hoc. Even with techniques for aiming left or right, the opening and closing of the Yin aperture have their own mechanisms; desiring left does not guarantee left, nor does desiring right guarantee right. The principle of Yin and Yang overcoming each other seems to lie within the interplay of heavenly timing and human affairs, suggesting there is another way altogether.