Nine Principles of Health Preservation from Ancient Figures
"One Virtue"
Medical scholar Lü Kun of the Ming Dynasty said: “Kindness leads to longevity; virtue extends life. Cultivating virtue is the foremost priority in health preservation.”
"Two Words"
Su Dongpo, literary figure of the Song Dynasty, believed life depends on “peace” and “harmony.” “Peace” means tranquility of mind; “harmony” means contentment. “Peace makes external influences less impactful; harmony makes responses to things smoother.”
"Three Abstentions"
Confucius said: “A noble person has three abstinences: In youth, when blood and qi are unstable, abstain from lust; in adulthood, when blood and qi are vigorous, abstain from fighting; in old age, when blood and qi decline, abstain from greed.”
"Four Methods"
Medical scholar Wan Mizhai of the Ming Dynasty stated: “There are four methods of health preservation: moderation in desires, cautious movement, following seasonal rhythms, and preventing illness.”
"Five Knowledges"
Zhou Shouzhong of the Song Dynasty said: “Know that joy and anger harm temperament, so release emotions to ease the heart; know that overthinking drains spirit, so reduce emotions and guard inwardly; know that excessive talking harms qi, so close your mouth and forget words; know that sorrow and joy shorten lifespan, so suppress them; know that desire steals life, so restrain it.”
"Six Moderations"
Medical scholar Jiang Qishi of the Ming Dynasty said: “Moderate desires to preserve essence; moderate worries to protect spirit; moderate anger to safeguard the liver; moderate labor to conserve strength; moderate thinking to nurture the heart; moderate grief to protect the lungs.”
"Seven Dietary Rules"
Health preserver Shi Chengjin of the Qing Dynasty advised: “Eat earlier, not late; eat slowly, not hastily; eat until 8–9 parts full, not overly full; eat lightly, not heavily seasoned; eat warm, not cold; eat soft and tender, not hard; after eating, drink two or three sips of tea to rinse mouth and ensure cleanliness.”
"Eight Joys"
Shi Chengjin’s “Eight Joys”: peace in sitting, joy in reading, pleasure in viewing flowers, delight in moon gazing, satisfaction in viewing paintings, enjoyment in listening to music, freedom in singing loudly, comfort in lying down lazily.
"Nine Reflections"
Confucius said: “A noble person reflects nine times: See clearly, hear attentively, look kind, appear respectful, speak sincerely, act respectfully, doubt and ask, control anger, see virtue and think of righteousness.”