Treatise on the Subtleties of Embryonic Respiration 胎息精微论

The author is unknown. It was roughly compiled during the Tang Dynasty.

Tongzhi·Yiwen Lue (Comprehensive Records of Literature and Arts) recorded it as three volumes.

The surviving version is one volume, included in the Methods Category of the The Dongshen Section in The Daozang.

Treatise on the Subtleties of Embryonic Respiration

Volume 58 of Yunji Qiqian (Seven Bamboo Slips of the Cloudy Satchel) extracts chapters from this text, with slight textual variations.

This text is divided into three parts.

First, Treatise on the Subtleties of Embryonic Breathing holds that "guarding tranquility, cherishing Qi, preserving complete essence, valuing the spirit, consolidating morality and virtue, and firmly keeping the hun and po souls" will enable one to attain the Dao. Its method uses embryonic breathing to nourish internal Qi, and also emphasizes cultivation practices of calming the spirit and embracing harmony. Second, Essential Secrets of Internal True Efficacy regards essence and Qi as the foundation of life; spirit is generated from Qi, and when spirit and Qi remain united, the spirit will be bright and Qi will be harmonious. Third, Secret Formula of the Seven Returns Internal Elixir Through Spirit Convergence in Embryonic Breathing, also known as Preserving Essence, Returning Qi and Replenishing the Brain, expounds the method of internal elixir cultivation through embryonic breathing, stating: "The internal elixir consists of bodily fluids, water, saliva, blood, essence, brain, and Qi." Its methods are consistent with the popular internal cultivation techniques of Taoism during the Tang Dynasty.