THE LIVING TAO : TIMELESS WISDOM FOR THE MODERN WORLD

The Yellow Emperor Chapter 71 - The Spiritual Pivot – Intruding Evil Qi 邪客

This Chapter is a selection from The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine, specifically focusing on chapters discussing the nature of qi (vital energy) and its imbalances. It details the three types of qi—ancestral, nutritive, and defensive—and their roles in health and illness, particularly sleeplessness caused by evil qi. The text explores diagnostic methods and treatments, including a Pinellia Decoction recipe and acupuncture techniques. Furthermore, it describes correspondences between the human body and the natural world, explaining how various bodily parts relate to celestial and terrestrial elements, ultimately aiming to explain the principles of maintaining health through the harmonization of yin and yang.

The Yellow Emperor Chapter 72 - The Spiritual Pivot – Communication with Heaven 通天

This Chapter is a dialogue from the Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine, specifically Chapter 72, "Communication with Heaven." The dialogue explores five distinct human personality types—Taiyin, Shaoyin, Taiyang, Shaoyang, and Harmonious Yin-Yang—categorized by their imbalance or balance of yin and yang energies. Each type is described in terms of temperament, physical characteristics, and appropriate medical treatments. The text emphasizes the importance of understanding these individual constitutions for effective medical intervention. Finally, the text explains how to visually identify each personality type.

The Yellow Emperor Chapter 73 - The Spiritual Pivot – The Function of Officials 官能

This Chapter is a dialogue from the Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine, specifically Chapter 73, detailing the principles and practice of acupuncture. The Yellow Emperor questions Qi Bo and Lei Gong about proper acupuncture techniques, including diagnosing imbalances of qi and blood, choosing appropriate needle manipulation, and selecting qualified practitioners. The discussion emphasizes the importance of understanding yin and yang, the five elements, and the body's meridians. Finally, it stresses the ethical responsibility of transmitting this knowledge only to worthy individuals.

The Yellow Emperor Chapter 74 - The Spiritual Pivot – On Diagnosing Disease Through the Cunkou Pulse 论疾诊尺

This Chapter is an excerpt from The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine, specifically Chapter 74, detailing a method of diagnosing illnesses through pulse and visual examination. Qi Bo, a physician, describes how to assess the radial artery's characteristics, skin conditions, and eye coloration to identify various diseases and their severities. The text covers a wide array of symptoms, including edema, fevers, and jaundice, correlating them to specific organ imbalances and prognoses. Finally, it explains the relationship between seasonal changes and the development of particular illnesses.

The Yellow Emperor Chapter 75 - The Spiritual Pivot – Puncturing Methods for Disease and Deviant Qi 刺节真邪

This Chapter is a dialogue from the Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine, specifically Chapter 75 of the Spiritual Pivot. The dialogue between the Yellow Emperor and Qi Bo details five acupuncture methods—Dispelling Dust, Unveiling Obscurity, Removing Obstructions, Penetrating Layers, and Resolving Perplexity—explaining their applications, techniques, and underlying principles for treating various illnesses. Each method addresses specific imbalances of Qi and blood, employing targeted acupuncture points and techniques to restore equilibrium. The discussion also covers the treatment of different disease presentations using various needle types and techniques.

The Yellow Emperor Chapter 76 - The Spiritual Pivot – The Circulation of Wei Qi 卫气行

This Chapter from the Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine details the cyclical flow of wei qi (defensive qi) through the body. Wei qi's daily circulation aligns with celestial movements, completing approximately fifty circuits, twenty-five through yang regions during the day and twenty-five through yin regions at night. The text describes the pathways of wei qi, its relationship to the twelve double-hours and twenty-eight lunar mansions, and the importance of timing acupuncture treatments according to its flow for optimal therapeutic effect. Seasonal variations and the specific location of wei qi at different times of day are also discussed. The text ultimately emphasizes the interconnectedness of celestial and human rhythms in maintaining health.

The Yellow Emperor Chapter 77 - The Spiritual Pivot – Nine Palaces and Eight Winds 九宫八风

The Chapter is an excerpt from the Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine, specifically Chapter 77, "The Spiritual Pivot – Nine Palaces and Eight Winds." It details the cyclical movement of Tai Yi, a celestial force, through nine palaces, influencing weather patterns and human health. The text describes how Tai Yi's movement, particularly its alignment with eight directional winds, impacts societal well-being and individual health, emphasizing the importance of avoiding "false winds" to prevent illness. The excerpt also outlines the internal organ associations and pathogenic effects of these eight winds. Finally, it underscores the significance of understanding these celestial influences for maintaining health and predicting societal changes.

The Yellow Emperor Chapter 78 - The Spiritual Pivot – The Nine Needles 九针论

This Chapter is a section from the Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine, specifically Chapter 78: The Spiritual Pivot – The Nine Needles. It details a traditional Chinese medicine system of nine acupuncture needles, each correlated with a cosmological element (heaven, earth, humanity, etc.) and a specific area of the body. The chapter also explores the relationship between body and mind, the five elements, and the functions of various organs and meridians, providing diagnostic and treatment principles based on these correspondences. Detailed needle types, lengths, and functions are described, along with guidelines for avoiding treatment on specific days.

The Yellow Emperor Chapter 79 - The Spiritual Pivot – The Discussion of Seasonal Exposures 岁露论

This Chapter is from The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine, specifically Chapter 79, "The Spiritual Pivot – The Discussion of Seasonal Exposures." It explores the relationship between seasonal changes, the body's defensive energy (wei qi), and the susceptibility to illness. The dialogue between the Yellow Emperor and his physicians Qi Bo and the Minor Master examines the mechanisms of disease transmission, emphasizing the role of pore openings, the movement of pathogenic qi through meridians, and the influence of lunar cycles. The text also details how seasonal winds and weather patterns correlate with the prevalence and severity of various illnesses, even predicting mortality rates based on specific wind directions. Finally, it introduces the concepts of "Three Vulnerabilities" and "Three Strengths" to explain individual susceptibility to disease.

The Yellow Emperor Chapter 80 - The Spiritual Pivot – Discussion of Great Perplexities 大惑论

This Chapter is a dialogue from the Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine, specifically Chapter 80, "Discussion of Great Perplexities." The Yellow Emperor questions Qibo about various physical and mental ailments, including dizziness, forgetfulness, insomnia, and unusual sleep patterns. Qibo explains these conditions using the principles of traditional Chinese medicine, focusing on the balance of qi, the five zang organs, six fu organs, and the flow of energy throughout the body. The discussion highlights the interconnectedness of physical and mental health within a holistic framework, offering explanations and treatment approaches rooted in the theory of yin and yang. The text emphasizes understanding a patient’s individual constitution before treatment.