Perfected Sun is Sun Simiao (541–682), a native of Huayuan in Jingzhao (today's Yaozhou District, Tongchuan, Shaanxi Province), a physician-pharmacologist and Taoist priest of the Tang dynasty, revered by later generations as the “King of Medicine.”
Sun Simiao was born in the seventh year of the Datong era of the Western Wei (541) into a poor farming family. He loved learning as a boy and was naturally gifted: at seven he could recognize more than a thousand characters and recite passages of a thousand characters every day; according to the Old Book of Tang, he was called a “holy child.” At eighteen he resolved to study medicine, and “gained considerable understanding, so that among his relatives and neighbors near and far, many who fell ill were helped by him.” By twenty he could discourse eloquently on the teachings of Laozi and Zhuangzi and had mastered the Taoist classics. In the first year of the Kaihuang era of the Sui (581), seeing that the affairs of state were in turmoil, he withdrew to live as a recluse in the Zhongnan Mountains of Shaanxi. There he studied closely ancient medical works such as the Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic (Huangdi Neijing), the Treatise on Cold Damage and Miscellaneous Diseases (Shanghan Zabing Lun), and Divine Farmer's Classic of Materia Medica (Shennong Bencao Jing), while widely collecting folk remedies and eagerly treating the sick, accumulating a wealth of valuable clinical experience. Moving from theory to practice, and then distilling new findings in medicine and pharmacology from practical experience, he devoted his whole life to writing the medical works Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand in Gold (Qianjin Yaofang) and Supplementary Prescriptions Worth a Thousand in Gold (Qianjin Yifang). In the fourth year of the Xianqing era under Emperor Gaozong of Tang (659), the Tang court promulgated the Newly Revised Materia Medica (Xinxiu Bencao), the world's first national pharmacopoeia.
Perfected Sun's Discourse on Preserving and Nurturing Life
In the first month, the kidney qi is affected by illness and the lung qi is faint. Reduce salty and sour flavors and increase pungent ones, to aid the kidneys, tonify the lungs, and settle and nurture the stomach qi. Do not brave ice and frost, and do not seek extreme warmth; rise early and go to bed late, to ease body and spirit. Do not eat raw scallions, which damage the body's fluids and blood. Do not eat raw smartweed, which is sure to cause stubborn abdominal masses and wandering wind rashes on the face. Do not eat hibernating creatures, which cut short one's life. Do not eat the meat of tigers, leopards, or wildcats, which makes the spirit and soul restless. On the fourth day of this month it is good to pluck white hairs; on the seventh day it is good to quiet the mind and contemplate the True, and fasting brings increased blessings; on the eighth day it is good to bathe, and on that day avoid long journeys.
In the second month, the kidney qi is faint and the liver is at its height. Reduce sour and increase pungent, to aid the kidneys and tonify the liver. It is good to calm the diaphragm and clear phlegm and fluid, and to open the skin slightly with a light sweat so as to disperse the qi stored up during the dark winter. Do not eat daylily, aged vinegar, or pickled vegetables, which set off chronic ailments. Do not eat garlic or wild garlic, which cause qi congestion and blockage at the diaphragm. Do not eat mallow or eggs, which make blood and qi sluggish and congeal the essence. Do not eat hare, fox, or raccoon dog, which make the spirit and soul restless. On the eighth day of this month it is good to pluck white hairs; on the ninth day avoid all fish, which the immortals greatly dread. On the fourteenth day long journeys are unsuitable. In mid-spring the qi is at its most correct; it is good to moderate wine to keep one's true nature intact.
In the third month, the kidney qi has come to rest, the heart qi is gradually arriving, and the Wood qi is at its height. Reduce sweet and increase pungent, to replenish essence and benefit qi. Take care to avoid the west wind; loosen the body and ease the frame so that one's nature is peaceful. Do not engage in killing, so as to follow the way of heaven. Do not eat daylily, aged vinegar, or pickled vegetables, which set off abdominal masses and give rise to epidemics. Do not eat raw mallow, which causes bloating that turns into edema. Do not eat any spleen, for the spleen spirit is at its height. Do not eat eggs, which bring lifelong confusion. On the third day of this month avoid eating the five zang organs of animals or the hearts of any plants; eating them brings calamity from heaven and earth. On the sixth day it is good to bathe; on the twelfth day it is good to pluck white hairs; on the twenty-seventh day avoid long journeys, and it is good to fast, quiet the mind, and contemplate the True.
In the fourth month, the liver is already ailing and the heart is gradually growing strong. Increase sour and reduce bitter, to tonify the kidneys, aid the liver, and regulate the stomach qi. Do not expose yourself under the stars, and avoid winds from the west and north. Do not eat garlic, which harms the spirit and soul and damages the gallbladder qi. Do not eat raw Chinese onion, which brings much mucus and spittle and sets off phlegm and fluid. Do not eat chicken or pheasant, which cause carbuncles and abscesses and go against the original qi. Do not eat eel, which harms people. On the fourth day of this month it is good to bathe and pluck white hairs. On the seventh day it is good to settle the heart and quiet the mind and to fast, and the heart will have blessings and good fortune. On that day avoid long journeys.
In the fifth month, the liver qi rests and the heart is at its height. Reduce sour and increase bitter, to benefit the liver and tonify the kidneys, and seal in the essence and qi; go to bed and rise early. Whenever you open the pores, do not expose your body under the stars, and take care to avoid the north wind. Do not stay on damp ground, which invites evil qi. Do not eat Chinese onion or Chinese chives, which cause stubborn masses and harm spirit and qi. Do not eat horse meat or the meat of river deer and deer, which make the spirit and qi restless. On the fifth day of this month it is good to fast and keep to clarity and stillness; on that day avoid seeing any fresh blood, and do not eat any vegetables. On the sixteenth day strictly avoid sexual indulgence; violating this shortens life and harms the spirit. On that day avoid long journeys. On the twenty-seventh day it is good to bathe and pluck white hairs.
In the sixth month, the liver qi is faint and the spleen alone is at its height. Reduce bitter and increase salty, cut back on rich and heavy foods, tonify the liver and aid the kidneys, and benefit the sinews and bones. Beware of the east wind; exposure to it can paralyze the hands and feet. Do not soak your hands and feet in cold water. Do not eat mallow, which is sure to cause fluid retention. Do not eat evodia (wu zhu yu), which causes qi congestion. On the sixth day of this month it is auspicious to fast and bathe; it is also a good day for breaking ground and beginning construction. On the twenty-fourth day it is good to pluck white hairs, and on that day avoid long journeys. On the twenty-seventh day it is auspicious to bathe, quiet the mind, contemplate the True, and do deeds of hidden merit.
In the seventh month, the liver and heart are short of qi and the lungs alone are at their height. Keep your temperament calm and peaceful; increase salty and reduce pungent, to aid the qi and tonify the sinews and so nurture the spleen and stomach. Do not brave extreme heat, do not indulge in coolness and cold, and do not sweat heavily. Do not eat evodia, which causes qi congestion. Do not eat pork, which damages the spirit and qi. In this month do not think of evil things; this is a great taboo of the immortals. On the fifth day it is good to bathe; on the seventh day it is good to cut off thoughts and fast. On the ninth day, confess past transgressions and pray for new blessings. On the twenty-eighth day it is good to pluck white hairs. On the twenty-ninth day avoid long journeys.
In the eighth month, the heart qi is faint and the lungs, belonging to Metal, are in charge. Reduce bitter and increase pungent, to aid the sinews and replenish the blood and so nurture the heart and liver. Do not expose yourself to evil winds, which cause sores in the bones and flesh that turn into scrofula and dysentery. Do not eat wild garlic, which harms the spirit and qi and makes the hun and po restless. Do not eat pig tripe, which brings a cough in winter that does not heal for a year. Do not eat chicken or pheasant, which damage the spirit and qi. On the fourth day of this month do not buy shoes or anything worn on the feet; this is a great taboo of the immortals. On the eighteenth day it is good to fast and think of auspicious things; it is a time when heaven and humanity bring forth blessings. On the twenty-first day it is good to pluck white hairs; avoid long journeys, for one may go and never return. It is also auspicious to bathe.
In the ninth month, the yang qi has already declined and the yin qi is at its fullest; violent winds rise often, so strictly guard against harmful evil winds. Reduce bitter and increase salty, to tonify the liver, benefit the kidneys, and support the spleen and stomach. Do not brave wind and frost, and do not indulge in drinking and eating your fill. Do not eat water shield, which harbors worms that cannot be seen. Do not eat ginger or garlic, which damage the spirit and qi. Do not eat raw vegetables or melons that have been touched by frost, which cause heart pain. Do not eat mallow, which turns into edema. Do not eat dog meat, which reduces one's reckoned lifespan and brings early death. On the ninth day of this month it is good to fast. On the sixteenth day it is good to bathe and pluck white hairs. On the twenty-seventh day avoid long journeys; it is called the “day of the net.”
In the tenth month, the heart and lung qi are weak and the kidney qi is strong and abundant. Reduce pungent and bitter to nurture the kidneys. Do not injure the sinews and bones, and do not let the pores open. Do not use acupuncture or moxibustion carelessly, because the blood is sluggish and the body fluids do not flow. Do not eat raw Sichuan pepper, which damages the blood vessels. Do not eat raw Chinese onion, which increases phlegm and fluid. Do not eat bear, pork, or water shield, which fade the complexion. On the first day of this month it is good to bathe. On the fourth and fifth days do not punish anyone; this is a great taboo of the immortals. On the tenth day of this month avoid long journeys; on the thirteenth day it is good to pluck white hairs; on the fifteenth day it is good to fast, quiet the mind, and contemplate the True, and one will surely receive blessings and good fortune. On the twentieth day strictly avoid long journeys.
In the eleventh month, the kidneys are at their height and the heart and lungs are weak and faint. Increase bitter flavors and cut out salty ones, to tonify and regulate the lungs and stomach. Do not apply moxibustion to the abdomen or back, do not warm yourself suddenly, and take care to avoid harmful evil winds; exposure to them causes facial swelling and stiff, painful lower back and spine. Do not eat raccoon dog, which harms the spirit and soul. Do not eat snails, clams, crabs, or soft-shelled turtles, which damage the original qi and breed corpse worms. Do not eat vinegar kept through the summer, which sets off head wind and causes edema. Do not eat raw vegetables, which cause heart pain. On the third day of this month it is good to fast and quiet the mind. On the tenth day it is good to pluck white hairs; on that day avoid long journeys and do not go out; it is good to think of goodness, and heaven will grant blessings and remove calamity. On the sixteenth day it is auspicious to bathe.
In the twelfth month, Earth is at its height and the Water qi does not flow. Reduce sweet and increase bitter, to tonify the heart, aid the lungs, and regulate the kidneys. Do not brave frost and dew, and do not let body fluids or sweat escape. Do not eat mallow, which turns into edema. Do not eat Chinese onion, which often sets off chronic ailments. Do not eat giant softshell turtles or soft-shelled turtles.