The 16 Health Cultivation Principles from the Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic:
I. Heaven-Human Correspondence (Conforming to Nature)
1. Follow Yin and Yang: Emulate the yin and yang of heaven and earth, nourish yang in spring and summer, nourish yin in autumn and winter. 2. Harmonize with techniques: Practice daoyin, anqiao, breathing exercises, tai chi, etc., to regulate qi and blood. 3. Conform to the four seasons: Spring generates, summer grows, autumn harvests, winter stores; adjust daily routines and diet according to seasons. 4. Guard against evil wind and pathogenic factors with timely avoidance: Promptly avoid wind, cold, heat, dampness, and other external pathogens.
II. Daily Life and Diet (Life in Regularity)
5. Moderate eating and drinking: Regular timing and portions, appropriate temperature, grains as staple nutrition, fruits as supplements. 6. Harmonize the five flavors: Balance sour, bitter, sweet, acrid, and salty; avoid excessive preference that harms the five organs. 7. Maintain regular routines: Consistent sleep schedule; in spring and summer retire late and rise early, in autumn and winter retire early and rise late. 8. Avoid excessive labor: Exercise moderation in work, physical activity, and sexual relations; avoid "five excesses" (excessive viewing/lying/sitting/standing/walking).
III. Spirit Internally Guarded (Emotional Regulation)
9. Peaceful emptiness: Few desires and few attachments, peaceful mind and quiet spirit, true qi follows naturally. 10. Spirit internally guarded: Gather the spirit inward, do not wastefully deplete vital qi; where can illness originate. 11. Will at ease and desires few: Heart at peace without fear, untroubled by external matters. 12. Regulate the seven emotions: Joy, anger, worry, pensiveness, grief, fear, and fright in proper measure; prevent excessive emotions from harming organs.
IV. Prevent Disease and Strengthen Foundation (Root of Health Cultivation)
13. Treat the untreated disease, not the treated: Prevent disease before it arises, prevent progression once disease occurs, prevent recurrence after recovery. 14. Carefully discern yin and yang and regulate them: Identify yin-yang imbalance and promptly harmonize; take balance as the goal. 15. Conserve desire and preserve essence: Exercise moderation in sexual relations, preserve kidney essence, solidify the foundation of prenatal qi. 16. Form and spirit united: Body and mind mutually regulated, form healthy and spirit at ease, complete the years of life.
The 16 Health Cultivation Principles from the Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic:
I. Heaven-Human Correspondence (Conforming to Nature)
1. Follow Yin and Yang: Emulate the yin and yang of heaven and earth, nourish yang in spring and summer, nourish yin in autumn and winter.
2. Harmonize with techniques: Practice daoyin, anqiao, breathing exercises, tai chi, etc., to regulate qi and blood.
3. Conform to the four seasons: Spring generates, summer grows, autumn harvests, winter stores; adjust daily routines and diet according to seasons.
4. Guard against evil wind and pathogenic factors with timely avoidance: Promptly avoid wind, cold, heat, dampness, and other external pathogens.
II. Daily Life and Diet (Life in Regularity)
5. Moderate eating and drinking: Regular timing and portions, appropriate temperature, grains as staple nutrition, fruits as supplements.
6. Harmonize the five flavors: Balance sour, bitter, sweet, acrid, and salty; avoid excessive preference that harms the five organs.
7. Maintain regular routines: Consistent sleep schedule; in spring and summer retire late and rise early, in autumn and winter retire early and rise late.
8. Avoid excessive labor: Exercise moderation in work, physical activity, and sexual relations; avoid "five excesses" (excessive viewing/lying/sitting/standing/walking).
III. Spirit Internally Guarded (Emotional Regulation)
9. Peaceful emptiness: Few desires and few attachments, peaceful mind and quiet spirit, true qi follows naturally.
10. Spirit internally guarded: Gather the spirit inward, do not wastefully deplete vital qi; where can illness originate.
11. Will at ease and desires few: Heart at peace without fear, untroubled by external matters.
12. Regulate the seven emotions: Joy, anger, worry, pensiveness, grief, fear, and fright in proper measure; prevent excessive emotions from harming organs.
IV. Prevent Disease and Strengthen Foundation (Root of Health Cultivation)
13. Treat the untreated disease, not the treated: Prevent disease before it arises, prevent progression once disease occurs, prevent recurrence after recovery.
14. Carefully discern yin and yang and regulate them: Identify yin-yang imbalance and promptly harmonize; take balance as the goal.
15. Conserve desire and preserve essence: Exercise moderation in sexual relations, preserve kidney essence, solidify the foundation of prenatal qi.
16. Form and spirit united: Body and mind mutually regulated, form healthy and spirit at ease, complete the years of life.