Nourishing the spirit is essential to Taoist health preservation. The Taiping Jing (Classic of Great Peace), a classic text of primitive Taoism, holds that nourishing the spirit is the foundation and prerequisite for all health-preserving practices. Huainanzi states: "The highest form of cultivation is to nourish the spirit; the next is to nourish the body." Taoist techniques for nourishing the spirit are based on the principles of "refining essence into qi, refining qi into spirit, and refining spirit to return to emptiness."
The value of life lies in the spirit: when the spirit thrives, life's vitality flourishes; when the spirit declines, life's vitality weakens; when the spirit is vigorous, life's capacity is strong; when the spirit is lost, life's capacity fails. Therefore, what matters most in health preservation is nourishing the spirit.
In daily life, there are many ways to nourish the spirit, such as:
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Nourishing the spirit through sleep
Sleep puts the brain in a resting state, while relieving the nervous system, joints, ligaments, muscles, and organs from excessive load or allowing them to function with minimal strain. This helps accumulate energy and restore physical fitness. Medical research shows that 6-8 hours of sleep can store enough energy to sustain normal activities for 16-18 hours. However, complex climatic or environmental conditions, or excessive labor, can lead to overfatigue or dysfunction of certain organs. Thus, it is important to balance work and rest in daily life. -
Nourishing the spirit through peace of mind
Those who are skilled in health preservation know to keep their minds calm and free from distractions, ensuring the smooth flow of vital energy (qi) and keeping the spirit rooted within. This way, even physical labor will not cause exhaustion, and the body will remain healthy and free from illness. -
Nourishing the spirit through recreation
This involves activating neural pathways that are not frequently used to replace overworked and fatigued ones, thereby fully regulating the "enthusiasm" of various nerves. Recreational activities for nourishing the spirit include playing chess, fishing, dancing, listening to music, and watching performances. One can engage wholeheartedly in such activities according to personal preferences and circumstances. -
Nourishing the spirit by closing the eyes
Gently closing the eyes and imagining a relaxed, pleasant environment helps block external distractions. Persisting in this practice over time can promote the activation of brain nerves and cells, helping to alleviate fatigue. -
Nourishing the spirit by restraining anger
Moderating emotions, forbearing anger, and being tolerant in daily life are signs of high moral cultivation and important ways to maintain health. Additionally, another aspect of "restraining anger to nourish the spirit" is regulating the spirit with the mind, as "mental illness requires a mental cure." One should adjust their emotions at all times, avoiding excessive overthinking, anger, or resentment, as these can harm health. -
Nourishing the spirit by "being muddle-headed"
This means intentionally refraining from engaging in trivial, low-value matters, avoiding unnecessary disputes over non-principled issues, and not haggling over petty conflicts in daily behavior. This allows the mind and mood to relax. -
Nourishing the spirit in harmony with the four seasons
Human consciousness changes with the seasons. Ancient people proposed methods to regulate the spirit and maintain health according to the seasons: adapting one's emotions to the characteristics of each season—lively in spring, unimpeded in summer, tranquil in autumn, and reserved without dissipation in winter.
