🌿 Folk Prescriptions

Twenty years ago, a centenarian in Japan with silver hair and youthful appearance publicly revealed her family’s treasured manuscript, "Sixteen Essentials of Health Preservation," sparking nationwide copying frenzy: comb hair frequently, rub face often, move eyes regularly, tap ears frequently, lick tongue often, knock teeth regularly, swallow saliva often, keep mind calm, keep back warm, protect chest, massage abdomen, contract anus (anal lift), shake limbs often, rub soles of feet frequently, dry skin often, and refrain from talking during bowel movements. These sixteen self-regulation techniques, primarily involving massage and qigong, are practiced upon waking and before sleeping. If performed accurately and consistently, they can achieve health preservation and disease prevention. This Japanese lady and her ancestors attained longevity and good health precisely by following the "Sixteen Essentials of Health Preservation."
Looking back at Chinese history, reviewing emperors throughout dynasties, the most notable long-lived figure was Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty, Aisin Gioro Hongli, who lived to 89 years old and reigned for 60 years—unmatched by any other emperor. Why did most emperors die young, yet Qianlong enjoyed robust health and exceptional longevity? Besides his early training in horseback riding and archery, his longevity stemmed from sound health preservation practices. According to a descendant of a court physician, Qianlong’s health regimen boiled down to sixteen characters: "Purify lungs through breathing, move joints, follow ten regular habits and four taboos." The "Ten Regular Habits and Four Taboos" merit further explanation.
The "Ten Regular Habits" refer to ten fundamental daily actions: knock teeth, swallow saliva, tap ears, rub nose, move eyes, rub face, massage feet, move abdomen, stretch limbs, and lift anus. The "Four Taboos" mean avoiding four daily pitfalls: do not speak while eating, do not talk while lying down, do not drink to excess, and do not become obsessed with sexual indulgence. Clearly, Emperor Qianlong’s longevity secrets were rooted in the "Sixteen Essentials of Health Preservation."
Some say genetics determine constitution and lifespan. But examining Qianlong’s case, his father Yongzheng died young from illness after ruling only 13 years, and his son Jiaqing ruled only 25 years. This shows that postnatal care and adjustment are closely linked to health and longevity. Overemphasizing genetics while neglecting effort often leads people into fatalism, missing opportunities to change fate—a true regret.
Research indicates that "Sixteen Essentials of Health Preservation" originated from ancient "Five Essentials of Kunlun Cultivation," "Sixteen Lines on Preventing Illness and Extending Life," and parts of the "Left Cave True Scripture’s Massage and Qigong Instructions." References appear in Ge Hong’s "Baopuzi" from the Jin Dynasty, Gong Ju Zhong’s "Honglu Dianxue," Hu Wenhuang’s "Leixiu Yaoyue," Li Zhongzi’s "Yisheng Wei Lun," and Leng Qian’s "Xiuling Yaoyi," though content varies slightly.
Among common people, countless have benefited from applying one or two of these techniques for health preservation. Yet those who truly grasp the essence, understand the principles, and know both what and why—these are rare, like phoenix feathers or unicorn horns—still a great deficiency.
Based on modern health science and using Leng Qian’s "Xiuling Yaoyi" as a model, this book compiles extensive historical and contemporary literature, scientific data, and personal experience to reorganize and present "Secrets of Healthy Living," aiming to apply ancient wisdom to modern life—simple, practical, and easy to learn.
Postscript: Dr. Zhang Junbin graduated from the Wàngjīng Hospital of the China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine under Professor Luo Kan. Currently, he serves as Chairperson of the Kaohsiung Health Preservation Association, actively promoting preventive medicine, auricular diagnosis, and traditional health preservation across Taiwan, mainland China, and Hong Kong. Starting this issue, we will serially publish Dr. Zhang’s "Secrets of Healthy Living" for readers’ enjoyment.