Common Life Nurturing Manual 混俗颐生录

Compiled by Liu Ci, a scholar-recluse of Maoshan during the Northern Song Dynasty.

It is recorded in both Tongzhi·Essentials of Arts and Literature and History of Song·Treatise on Arts and Literature.

Consisting of two volumes, it is included in the Methods Category of the Dongshen Section of The Daozang.

There is a preface written by the author at the beginning of the book, in which he claims that in his early years, he indulged excessively in alcohol and food, which led to chronic illnesses plaguing his body. Later, he devoted himself to practicing Taoism, dwelling in seclusion amidst forests and springs, and gradually recovered from his ailments. Thus, he summarized his experiences in health preservation and compiled this book. Divided into ten chapters, the book covers the following aspects: Regulations on Diet, Regulations on Alcohol Consumption, Regulations for Spring, Regulations for Summer, Regulations for Autumn, Regulations for Winter, Regulations for Consumptive Diseases, Regulations for Wind Diseases, Regulations for Household Life, and Regulations for Taboos. Each chapter expounds respectively on the principles and taboos of dietary conditioning, the nourishing regimens for the four seasons, the treatment and nursing of consumptive and wind diseases, as well as the moderation and taboos in conjugal life. The core tenet of the book centers on restraining desires, conforming to one’s natural disposition, maintaining a tranquil and simple lifestyle, and nurturing the harmonious Qi to eliminate diseases and prolong lifespan.