Chapter 1: On the Primal Purity of Ancient Humanity
This excerpt from Huangdi Neijing: The Way of Health Preservation
Click here to listen (Podcast):
https://notebooklm.google.com/notebook/c3bac937-4471-4573-999f-88eaad5a7b1b/audio
This excerpt from Huangdi Neijing: The Way of Health Preservation explains why the ancients lived long lives while modern people age prematurely. The ancients lived to a full life span by living in harmony with nature, following the laws of life, and avoiding overindulgence to maintain physical and mental health. In contrast, modern people, due to disordered lifestyles and excessive desires, have depleted their own essence and energy, leading to premature physical decline. The article emphasizes the importance of maintaining a peaceful state of mind, following the laws of nature, and restraining desires in health preservation, and describes in detail how the rise and fall of kidney qi during a man's life cycle affects physical changes, ultimately attributing aging to the exhaustion of kidney qi.
Harmony of the Way
Click here to listen (Music):
https://suno.com/s/wsGx9Z26PrmQfUXD
Beneath the sky so wide so vast
They walked the path that shadows cast
With Yin and Yang as their refrain
In balance found
No loss
No gain
[Prechorus]
They whispered truths the winds would keep
Through rivers deep through mountains steep
[Chorus]
Harmony
Oh harmony
The Way is not a mystery
Flow with the tide
The sun
The rain
Let balance heal the heart's refrain
[Verse 2]
They saw the stars
They knew their place
The moon’s soft glow
The sun’s warm face
No rush
No fight
No need to sway
Just living by the Dao’s own way
[Bridge]
Oh ancient voices call to me
Through leaves that dance upon the tree
A rhythm soft
A timeless song
The Way has held us all along
[Chorus]
Harmony
Oh harmony
The Way is not a mystery
Flow with the tide
The sun
The rain
Let balance heal the heart's refrain
Click here to listen (Audio):
The Yellow Emperor asked Qibo: “I have heard that in ancient times, people lived over a hundred years and remained physically vigorous throughout their lives. Yet now, people become weak and frail before the age of fifty. Is this due to changes in the times? Or have people themselves lost the Way of Life?”
Qibo replied: “In ancient times, those who understood the Dao (Way) lived in harmony with the rhythms of Yin and Yang, aligned themselves with natural laws, practiced moderation in food and drink, and maintained regular habits of rest and activity. They avoided overexertion and reckless behavior, thus preserving both their physical form and spiritual essence. As a result, they fulfilled their natural lifespan, living a full hundred years before passing.”
In ancient times, sages taught their people to avoid the disruptive forces of wind and evil influences, recognizing when to withdraw. They maintained inner calm and embraced emptiness. By doing so, true Qi would naturally flow, and the spirit would dwell securely within. From where, then, could illness arise?
Thus, when one remains tranquil and empty in heart, true Qi flows smoothly. With spirit firmly guarded within, how could illness ever come?
Therefore, the mind was at ease and desires were few. Their hearts were at peace, untouched by fear. Though their bodies labored, they never felt weary.
Vital energy followed its natural course; each bodily function aligned with its origin. Thus their lives were enduring, their lifespan reaching a full hundred years before departing.
At sixteen, a
man’s Kidney Qi flourishes; his adult teeth replace the baby teeth, and his
hair grows.
At twenty-four,
Kidney energy balances, his permanent teeth are established and his growth
reaches its peak.
At thirty-two,
his bones and tendons are strong, his body in full strength.
At forty, Kidney Qi begins to decline, hair starts to fall,
and teeth weaken.
At forty-eight, Yang Qi weakens in the upper body, the complexion becomes withered, and the hair turns white at the temples.
At fifty-six, Liver Qi diminishes, the tendons stiffen, Tian Gui (reproductive essence) is exhausted, essence is scarce, and the Kidney’s storage fails—thus the body begins to decline.
Thus, by a hundred years of age, all movement and vitality have waned.
Bilingual Reference
第一段（起首）
黃帝問於岐伯曰：余聞上古之人，春秋皆度百歲，而動作不衰，今時之人，年半百而動作皆衰者，時世異耶？人將失之耶？
Huáng Dì wèn yú Qí Bó yuē:
"Yú wén shànggǔ zhī rén, chūnqiū jiē dù bǎi suì, ér dòngzuò bù shuāi. Jīnshí zhī rén, nián bàn bǎi ér dòngzuò jiē shuāi zhě, shíshì yì yé? Rén jiāng shī zhī yé?"
英文翻譯：
The Yellow Emperor asked Qibo:
“I have heard that in ancient times, people lived over a hundred years and remained physically vigorous throughout their lives. Yet now, people become weak and frail before the age of fifty. Is this due to changes in the times? Or have people themselves lost the Way of Life?”
第二段
岐伯對曰：上古之人，其知道者，法於陰陽，和於術數，食飲有節，起居有常，不妄作勞，故能形與神俱，而盡終其天年，度百歲乃去。
Qí Bó duì yuē:
"Shànggǔ zhī rén, qí zhī dào zhě, fǎ yú yīnyáng, hé yú shùshù, shíyǐn yǒu jié, qǐjū yǒu cháng, bù wàng zuò láo, gù néng xíng yǔ shén jù, ér jìn zhōng qí tiānnián, dù bǎi suì nǎi qù."
英文翻譯：
Qibo replied:
“In ancient times, those who understood the Dao (Way) lived in harmony with the rhythms of Yin and Yang, aligned themselves with natural laws, practiced moderation in food and drink, and maintained regular habits of rest and activity. They avoided overexertion and reckless behavior, thus preserving both their physical form and spiritual essence. As a result, they fulfilled their natural lifespan, living a full hundred years before passing.”
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第三段
原文：
今時之人不然也，以酒為漿，以妄為常，醉以入房，以欲竭其精，以耗散其真，不知持滿，不時御神，務快其心，逆於生樂，起居無節，故半百而衰也。
拼音：
Jīnshí zhī rén bùrán yě, yǐ jiǔ wéi jiāng, yǐ wàng wéi cháng, zuì yǐ rù fáng, yǐ yù jié qí jīng, yǐ hàosàn qí zhēn, bù zhī chí mǎn, bù shí yù shén, wù kuài qí xīn, nì yú shēng lè, qǐjū wú jié, gù bàn bǎi ér shuāi yě.
英文翻譯：
But people today are not like this. They take wine as water, indulge in reckless desires as though it were routine. Drunken, they enter the bedroom, exhausting their essence through unrestrained lust, scattering their true energy. They do not know how to preserve fullness, nor do they guard their spirit in harmony with time. Obsessed with momentary pleasure, they act against the joy of life. Their habits lack rhythm and restraint—thus, they grow weak before reaching fifty.
第四段
原文：
夫上古聖人之教下也，皆謂之虛邪賊風，避之有時，恬惔虛無，真氣從之，精神內守，病安從來？
拼音：
Fū shànggǔ shèngrén zhī jiào xià yě, jiē wèi zhī xū xié zéi fēng, bì zhī yǒu shí, tiántán xūwú, zhēnqì cóng zhī, jīngshén nèi shǒu, bìng ān cóng lái?
英文翻譯：
In ancient times, sages taught their people to avoid the disruptive forces of wind and evil influences, recognizing when to withdraw. They maintained inner calm and embraced emptiness. By doing so, true Qi would naturally flow, and the spirit would dwell securely within. From where, then, could illness arise?
第五段
原文：
內恬以藏於心，外無所殃於形，形與神俱，而盡終其天年，斯人也。
拼音：
Nèi tián yǐ cáng yú xīn, wài wú suǒ yāng yú xíng, xíng yǔ shén jù, ér jìn zhōng qí tiānnián, sī rén yě.
英文翻譯：
Their minds were calm, their hearts undisturbed. No external harm afflicted their bodies. Body and spirit were in unity, and so they fulfilled their destined lifespan. Such were the people of old.
第六段
原文：
故恬惔虛無，真氣從之，精神內守，病安從來。
拼音：
Gù tiántán xūwú, zhēnqì cóng zhī, jīngshén nèi shǒu, bìng ān cóng lái.
英文翻譯：
Thus, when one remains tranquil and empty in heart, true Qi flows smoothly. With spirit firmly guarded within, how could illness ever come?
第七段
原文：
是以志閑而少欲，心安而不懼，形勞而不倦。
拼音：
Shì yǐ zhì xián ér shǎo yù, xīn ān ér bù jù, xíng láo ér bù juàn.
英文翻譯：
Therefore, the mind was at ease and desires were few. Their hearts were at peace, untouched by fear. Though their bodies labored, they never felt weary.
第八段
原文：
氣從以順，各從其根，故壽命無窮，度百歲乃去。
拼音：
Qì cóng yǐ shùn, gè cóng qí gēn, gù shòumìng wúqióng, dù bǎi suì nǎi qù.
英文翻譯：
Vital energy followed its natural course; each bodily function aligned with its origin. Thus their lives were enduring, their lifespan reaching a full hundred years before departing.
第九段
原文：
是故男子二八，腎氣盛，齒更髮長；三八，腎氣平均，故真牙生而長極；四八，筋骨堅，髮長極，身體盛壯；五八，腎氣衰，髮墮齒槁。
拼音：
Shì gù nánzǐ èr bā, shèn qì shèng, chǐ gēng fà zhǎng; sān bā, shèn qì píngjūn, gù zhēn yá shēng ér zhǎng jí; sì bā, jīngǔ jiān, fà zhǎng jí, shēntǐ shèng zhuàng; wǔ bā, shèn qì shuāi, fà duò chǐ gǎo.
英文翻譯：
At sixteen, a man’s Kidney Qi flourishes; his adult teeth replace the baby teeth, and his hair grows.
At twenty-four, Kidney energy balances, his permanent teeth are established and his growth reaches its peak.
At thirty-two, his bones and tendons are strong, his body in full strength.
At forty, Kidney Qi begins to decline, hair starts to fall, and teeth weaken.
第十段
原文：
六八，陽氣衰竭於上，面焦，髮鬢頒白；七八，肝氣衰，筋不能動，天癸竭，精少，腎藏衰，形體皆極。
拼音：
Liù bā, yáng qì shuāi jié yú shàng, miàn jiāo, fà bìn bān bái; qī bā, gān qì shuāi, jīn bù néng dòng, tiān guǐ jié, jīng shǎo, shèn cáng shuāi, xíngtǐ jiē jí.
英文翻譯：
At forty-eight, Yang Qi weakens in the upper body, the complexion becomes withered, and the hair turns white at the temples.
At fifty-six, Liver Qi diminishes, the tendons stiffen, Tian Gui (reproductive essence) is exhausted, essence is scarce, and the Kidney’s storage fails—thus the body begins to decline.
結語段
原文：
故百歲而動作皆衰也。
拼音：
Gù bǎi suì ér dòngzuò jiē shuāi yě.
英文翻譯：
Thus, by a hundred years of age, all movement and vitality have waned.
Chapter 2:
https://huangdineijing2025.blogspot.com/2025/07/chapter-2-great-discourse-on.html
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