The Method of Ingesting the Five "Ya" (Essences) in Taoism

The Five "Ya" refer to the vital essences of the five directions (east, south, center, west, north). As recorded in Treatise on the Essential Meaning of Qi Absorption by Sima Chengzhen, a Taoist priest of the Tang Dynasty:

"The green essence of the East connects with the liver, opens into the eyes, and corresponds to the meridians in the human body; the red essence of the South connects with the heart, opens into the tongue, and corresponds to the blood; the yellow essence of the Center connects with the spleen, opens into the mouth, and corresponds to the muscles; the white essence of the West connects with the lungs, opens into the nose, and corresponds to the skin; the black essence of the North connects with the kidneys, opens into the ears, and corresponds to the bones."

Taoism associates the five directions with the five internal organs (zang-fu) and five sense organs of the human body, forming a systematic method for health preservation and cultivation. The Method of Ingesting the Five "Ya"—also known as the "Gurgling Method"—is practiced as follows: Around 4 to 5 o'clock in the early morning, one sits upright facing each of the five directions in turn, with hands in the "firm grip" (wogu) posture, eyes closed. First, tap the upper and lower teeth on the left, right, front, and back sides three times respectively. Then, use the tongue to stir the inside of the mouth and the surfaces of the upper, lower, left, and right teeth—this stimulates the secretion of saliva. Once the mouth is filled with saliva, take a deep breath and swallow the saliva in several mouthfuls. This entire process is called the "gurgling exercise."

In this method, the "firm grip" (wogu) refers to a tight, specific hand gesture, whose origin can be traced to Chapter 55 of Laozi (Tao Te Ching). The Taoist classic Methods of Daoyin for Health Preservation states: "To restrain the gate of the soul and control the door of the corporeal soul—this is called the 'firm grip.' The method is to bend the thumb inward and enclose it with the other four fingers."

The "firm grip" is a common hand gesture in Taoism: the thumb is bent toward the palm, and the other four fingers wrap around it to hold the thumb tightly. "Tooth tapping" (kouchi) means tapping the upper and lower teeth. The Taoist scripture The Divine Scripture of the Supreme Treasure Book of the Nine True Immortals explains: "The method of tooth tapping: tapping the left upper and lower teeth together is called 'striking the heavenly bell'; tapping the right upper and lower teeth together is called 'beating the heavenly chime'; tapping the front upper and lower teeth together is called 'ringing the heavenly drum.'"

Taoism holds that tooth tapping helps concentrate vitality and ward off evil qi. From the perspective of modern medicine, teeth are not only the "surplus of bones" (a concept in traditional Chinese medicine) but also closely related to muscles, bones, and blood vessels. Tooth tapping promotes blood circulation in the gums, periodontal ligaments, and dental pulp cavity. It also helps remove food residues, keeping the teeth clean, enhancing nutrient supply to the teeth (preventing loosening, falling out, and dental caries), strengthening chewing function, and boosting digestive system performance.

Thus, Methods of Daoyin for Health Preservation asserts: "Tap your teeth morning and evening, and your teeth will not develop caries." It further notes: "Tap your teeth 14 times and swallow your breath 14 times; repeat this 300 times, then stop. Practice this for 20 days, and all evil qi will be dispelled; practice for 60 days, and minor illnesses will be cured; practice for 100 days, and major illnesses will be eliminated." Sometimes, tooth tapping and gurgling can be practiced separately. For example, The Eight-Section Brocade of Internal Taoist Exercises records: "The red dragon (referring to the tongue) stirs the fluid of the mouth; gurgle the saliva 36 times, then evenly distribute the divine fluid (saliva) throughout the mouth"—focusing solely on swallowing saliva.

The Method of Ingesting the Five "Ya" of the Five Directions is of great importance in Taoist cultivation. In Treatise on the Five "Ya", Sima Chengzhen wrote: "The integrity of the human body is rooted in the internal organs; the stability of the spirit depends on vital essence and qi. Although the body is endowed with the images of the five spirits (corresponding to the five directions), it will decline and 耗损 (qi depletion) over time, leading to decay. Therefore, one must absorb the 'cloud ya' (i.e., the Five 'Ya') to nourish the body’s fluids, and inhale the essence of the cosmos to nurture the spirit. This preserves the harmony of the nutrient qi and defensive qi, slows the aging of one’s appearance, and with long-term practice, one achieves profound mastery. Accumulated devotion connects one to the divine, allowing one to ascend with the Five Elders (deities of the five directions) and attain the status of the Nine True Immortals"—thus achieving immortality.

During the practice of ingesting the Five "Ya," Taoists emphasize that before starting, one must first focus their thoughts on each of the target internal organs, ensuring that the qi and fluids of the five directions circulate smoothly, nourish the five organs, and flow throughout the body. Before practice, one should calm their mind and clear their thoughts; during practice, they must focus their spirit on the five directions. For instance:

"When ingesting the green 'ya' (of the East), visualize the qi entering the liver—see the green qi swirling densely and the green fluid flowing gently. After maintaining this visualization for a long time, you will perceive the qi from the Dadun acupoint (on the big toe, associated with the liver meridian) ascending and merging into the meridians, spreading through all meridians and finally reaching the eyes." The circulation of qi for the other four directions (West, South, North, and Center) follows a similar pattern.

The Method of Ingesting the Five "Ya" of the Five Directions is an ancient practice from the Taoist scripture The Five Talismans of the Numinous Treasure. As early as the Wei and Jin dynasties (220–420 AD), the Shangqing (Supreme Clarity) school of Taoism already had the "Method of Ingesting the Cloud 'Ya' of the Four Poles."

The "Four Poles" here refer to the divine elders of the four directions: the Elder of the Eastern Pole, the Elder of the Western Pole, the Elder of the Northern Pole, and the Elder of the Southern Pole. "Cloud 'Ya'" denotes the vital essence of these elders, which is a figurative term for the qi of different directions. This method was already prevalent before the Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD) and was recorded in General Treatise on the Causes and Symptoms of Diseases by Chao Yuanfang of the Sui Dynasty (581–618 AD), though it did not involve reciting secret mantras for the five directions at that time. From the late Sui to the early Tang Dynasty, the method gradually acquired religious overtones and was formally incorporated into Taoism.

To "ingest the Five 'Ya'" essentially means ingesting saliva from the mouth. Saliva is an essential bodily fluid, containing lysozyme, amylase, secretory antibodies, and water. It functions to kill bacteria, detoxify, resist certain diseases, and enhance digestive ability. The gurgling action stirs the mouth, stimulating saliva secretion and improving the normal defensive function of the oral mucosa.

Frequent gurgling also prevents atrophy of the masticatory muscles and sagging of the cheeks, thereby maintaining facial muscle function and disease resistance.

Moreover, under the influence of subjective intention (visualization), ingesting the Five "Ya" can help treat diseases of the five internal organs.

The Method of Ingesting the True Five "Ya" states: "All those who ingest the qi of the Five 'Ya' should visualize the qi entering their respective organs, allowing the fluids to circulate smoothly and act on their target organs. This not only enables the qi to flow throughout the body but also helps treat diseases." In essence, ingesting the saliva obtained by gurgling while facing the five directions can treat diseases of the five internal organs and corresponding body parts respectively.