Sun Simiao Health Maxims 保生铭
Paul PengSun Simiao Health Maxims
Written by Sun Simiao of the Tang Dynasty.
This inscription is included in the Methods Category of the Dongshen Section of The Daozang.
Sun Simiao Health Maxims
The entire text is composed of five-character rhyming verses, serving as health preservation maxims covering various aspects such as diet, daily routines and living habits. For example, it states: "If one exercises the body moderately, a hundred diseases will not take shape; Avoid getting dead drunk when drinking wine, and all illnesses will not arise naturally; Take a hundred steps after meals, and rub your belly repeatedly with your hands." It also says: "Cut your nails on the days of Yin and Chou; Comb your hair a hundred times; Urinate while standing when full, and urinate while sitting when hungry; Do not sit or walk against the wind, and ensure your dwelling has no tiny draughts" and so on—all of which are the accumulated experiences of Taoism-oriented health maintenance and life nurturing. These maxims also embody the concept of Qi regulation, a core idea in traditional health preservation theories.
