The Pillowed Taoist Methods 枕中记

The original author is unknown.

It is included in the Methods Category of the Dongshen Section of The Daozang.

The Pillowed Taoist Methods

New Book of Tang·Treatise on Arts and Literature records Sun Simiao’s Plain Book in the Pillow in one volume; Bibliography of Chongwen Academy of the Song Dynasty lists Sun Simiao’s Records of the Pillow in one volume, which refers to this very book. In addition, Sun Simiao’s Prescriptions for Nourishing Life in the Pillow collected in Volume 33 of Cloudy Satchel of Seven Signatures has roughly the same content as the version in The Daozang, but there are considerable differences in chapters and texts. The entire book is divided into five chapters, expounding the methods of nourishing life and cultivating one’s nature for those who practice Taoism. The first chapter is Self-Restraint, stating that those who cultivate their bodies and nourish their nature must have a sense of reverence and caution, and exercise self-discipline and moderation in clothing, food, daily routines, behaviors and words. The second chapter is Taboos, listing dozens of prohibitions for those who cultivate immortality and nourish life. The third chapter is Daoyin Exercises, discussing the techniques of massage and daoyin. The fourth chapter is Regulating Qi, expounding three methods of health preservation: preserving essence, regulating qi and taking medicinal herbs. The fifth chapter is Guarding the One, explaining the method of concentrating on the true One in the three dantians, with attached mnemonics for concentrating the spirit and refining qi.

According to research, the version of this book in The Daozang has many missing texts and misplaced bamboo slips at the beginning and end, and should be collated and supplemented based on Cloudy Satchel of Seven Signatures.