Essential Life Preservation Record 保生要录

Compiled by Pu Qianguan, a scholar of Later Shu during the Five Dynasties period.

It consists of one volume and is included in the Methods Category of the Dongshen Section of The Daozang.

Essential Life Preservation Record

This book expounds the principles of nourishing and preserving life, divided into eight sections: Nourishing Spirit and Qi, Regulating Body Limbs, Discussing Clothing, Discussing Dwelling Places, Discussing Medicinal Diets, Fruits, Cereals and Vegetables, and Meats. The author holds that the fundamental of health preservation techniques is "to first consolidate the innate healthy Qi". This is because emotions such as joy, anger, sorrow and delight all harm the body; thus, one must regulate their mood to keep the mind unperturbed and the spirit unfatigued. When the spirit is not fatigued, Qi will not be disrupted; when Qi is not disrupted, the body will be healthy and longevity will be prolonged. Next comes regulating the body limbs, practicing daoyin massage, tooth tapping and saliva swallowing techniques, so as to achieve lightness of body, clarity of eyesight, and smooth flow of tendons, joints, blood and vessels. As for clothing, dwelling places, diet and medicinal remedies, they must also be properly adjusted in accordance with seasonal changes. By doing so, "all diseases will be prevented, and a long life will be naturally attained"—a concept that embodies the core tenets of Taoism health maintenance.