The Yangxing Yanming Lu 养性延命录 Record of Nourishing Nature and Extending Life

The Yangxing Yanming Lu 养性延命录 Record of Nourishing Nature and Extending Life

Paul Peng
Yangxing Yanming Lu (Record of Nourishing Nature and Extending Life) was compiled by Tao Hongjing of the Southern Dynasties, who collected and sorted out the essential sayings on health preservation from previous scholars. The book is divided into two volumes:


  • The first volume discusses precautions such as teachings and admonitions, dietary precepts, miscellaneous warnings, and prayers for averting misfortune.
  • The second volume expounds on health-preserving methods including qi absorption for curing diseases, daoyin (guidance and stretching exercises) and massage, sexual techniques, and practices for nourishing nature and extending life.

In Yangxing Yanming Lu, Tao Hongjing quoted more than 30 ancient texts, such as Huangting Jing (Yellow Court Classic), Fuqi Jing (Classic of Qi Absorption), Dayou Jing (Classic of Great Abundance), Xiaoyou Jing (Classic of Minor Abundance), He Shanggong's annotation to Dao De Jing, and Ji Kang's annotation to Laozi's Chapter on Health Preservation. Through these quotations, he systematically expounded the Taoist views on health preservation.

All along, Yangxing Yanming Lu has been regarded as an extremely important work in Taoist health preservation studies. It is included in the "Methods" category of the Zhengtong Daozang (Orthodox Taoist Canon), and excerpts from it can also be found in Volume 32 of Yunji Qiqian (Seven Slips of a Cloudy Satchel).

Paul Peng — Zhengyi Taoist Priest, Longhu Mountain

About the Author

Paul Peng

Paul Peng is a Zhengyi Taoist priest from Longhu Mountain, Jiangxi — the ancestral home of the Celestial Masters' tradition. Ordained at 25 after a dream from the Celestial Master, he has practiced for 25 years under Master Zeng Guangliang. He is the curator of this store, which is officially authorized by Tianshi Fu. All items are consecrated at the temple by the resident priest team.

Read his full story →
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