Sun Simiao and Preserving Shn and rening Q

Posted on May 28, 2012 by Mikael Ikivesi

Sn Smio () is one of the best known of ancient Chinese doctors.

According to historians Sn Smio lived between 581-682. Legends however tell that he lived more than 140 years and his body did not decay after his death. When he wasburied his body was light as plain clothes. He, like many other great doctors, was also alchemist and scholar of classical Daoist scriptures like Dodjng () and Yjng (). Today every student of Chinese medicine knows his name and at least two of his works Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand in Gold ( Qinjn Yofng) and A Supplement to Prescriptions Worth a Thousand in Gold ( Qinjn Yfng). These works are both huge 30 volume writings combining knowledge from many classics. They are still in use today. The inuence of Buddhist medicine coming from India during early Tang-dynasty is also visible in these works and his other writings. The knowledge Sn Smio collected was so vast and important that he became known as King of medicines (Yowng ) and temples were later built in his honor. Like many other great scholar doctors he also wrote about alchemy and ways of preserving life. One of these writings is Inscription of Preserving Shn and rening Q (Cnshn linq mng ) which is found in Daoist Canon (DZ 834). Today many scholars and doctors consider these texts as mere wishful thinking. Regardless the truth studying them give us great deal of information about the philosophy and worldview of the most skilled doctors in past and helps us to understand and follow their thinking through the classics.

Note: While reading the following translation please bear in mind that the Heart also means Mind, Shn is usually translated as spirit and Lng is could be roughly translated as the Great Spirit or Numinous. http://taoistacupuncture.net/2012/05/28/sun-simiao-and-preserving-shen-and-rening-qi/

Sn Smio Cn shn lin q mng

INSCR IPT ION OF PR E SE R V ING SH N AND R E FINING Q

 Human embodiment is dwelling place of Shn and Q If Shn and Q are stored the embodiment is tranquil, strong and healthy If Shn and Q disperse the embodiment dies If one desires to maintain embodiment [one must] rst calm Shn and Q The Q is mother of Shn, Shn is the child of Q If Shn and Q are whole the life is long and there is no death

If one desires to calm Shn one must rene Yunq [When] Q is within embodiment The Shn is peacefully in Qhi [When] Qhi is full and overowing The Heart is calm and Shn is settled If [Shn] is settled and not dispersing The embodiment and Heart are concentrated and tranquil Tranquility peaks to being settled completely1 The embodiment is maintained years everlasting Always dwelling at the source of Dao and one naturally becomes a Saint 1. ( term comes from Buddhist sources and is usually translated as Samadhi)

Q is connected to condition of Shn, Shn is connected to wisdom and destiny (Mng) Destiny residing within [constantly] maintained embodiment unites with True nature [Thus one obtains] age equal to Sun and Moon and Dao is obtained According the inscriptions of rening Q if one wishes to learn this technique First the cereals must be renounced and Heart must be placed to Qhi Store Shn in Dntin and collect the Heart to tranquilize [its] anxieties When Qhi is whole one is naturally satised In concentrated Heart cultivation 100 days [bring]small accomplishments Three years [bring] great accomplishments First one enters ve states [of mind] and then one can go through seven stages

 Shn and Lng transform and change exiting and submerging freely Steep cliffs or thousands miles, leave or staying without hindrances If Q does not disperse Qhi lls to overowing [When] Shn is still in Dntin, the embodiment and Heart are always constant Naturally returns the [youthfulness of] colors to facial features and stature The embodiment changes to immortal The hidden and obvious [reveal their] natural origins One understands hundreds of transformations of Lng This is called Passing through the world [One is then] entitled as True person (Zhnrn) Heaven and Earth are like his years, sun and moon like his lifespan With this way one does not [need to] swallowing Q or saliva nor is it exhausting or painful [When] needs to eat one just eats, [when] requires rest one sets to rest Naturally and spontaneously without blocking and without obstacles Five states and seven stages [all happen by] entering the womb and xing the contemplation Student of Dao starts with ve states 1. State: Heart has lot of movement and peace is minimal [In mind] thoughts, green colors and 10 000 things Conditions come and go without continuity Jealous, anxious, considering and measuring like a wild horse is the usual human Heart 2. State: Heart has little peace but lot of movement [When] regulating movement one enters to peace but Heart disperses and escapes often [Mind] is difcult to control or suppress and direct it to [this] method Here the pursuit for Dao begins

 3. State: The Heart moves and is still equally Heart is peaceful and appear directed Heart in general is peaceful and scattered in equal amounts [One is able to ] use Heart for the method Gradually consciousness adjusts and becomes skilled [using the method] 4. State: Heart has lot of peace and little movement The Heart is collected and more and more skilled in [technique] The movement is right away directed with it One is truly focused to the present If [concentration is momentarily] lost then [focus is] immediately obtained 5. State: The Heart has unied direction and is pure and calm Then doing is not doing and [even] emotional blows dont move [Dn]tin has gatehered Heart deeply and steadfastly the scattered has made to set This already completed ones position is clear and one enters to the seven stages Making use of [method] one naturally obtains [Dao] without obstructions! 1. Stage: Old diseases dissolve The embodiment becomes light and the Heart joyful [When] Inside man the Heart is meditative Shn is tranquil and Q is peacful Four big (elements) are married and six passions are in profound peace The Heart is peacefully suspended [over] circumstances and embraces unity and protects the center Joyfully happy about every new day This is called Obtaining Dao

 2. Stage: Crossing over normal limits Ones appearance returns to younger outlook, form is joyous and Heart is in peace One opens to Lng and has [all] penetrating vision Change [your] residence, leave [your] country, select place and settle down Associates and relative who [once] had known one, no longer recognize him 3. Stage: Prolonging life years to thousand This is called immortality Traveling all famous mountains, ying and moving freely Azure servants follow as guardians, jade women are singing praises Rising and walking vaporous rosy clouds, green mists offer its support 4. Stage: Rening the embodiment to Q Q revolves [ones] embodiment with light [and one] is called True Human (Zhnrn) Appearing and disappearing (living and dying) freely Brightness and light naturally shines and day and night are constantly illuminated One can travel all caves and palaces or attend all immortals immediately 5. Stage: Rening Q to become Shn One is called Spirit-human (Shnrn) Transforming and going freely and doing and using without exhaustion One has power to move Qin and Kn (Heaven and Earth) Move mountains or empty the seas

 6. Stage: Rene Shn and uniting it with color (body) [One] is called Perfected man (Zhrn) [Being] Shn already one connects to Lng Color (bodily substance) and form are not xed They respond to moment by changing And [one] reects other beings with his shape and form 7. Stage: Embodiment transcends outside material One distances oneself outside all normal order [of the world] Together with Jade Emperor of Great Dao reside in Lng-realm Saints and wise assemble spreading the ultimate truth of Mother Nature and universal Lng There are no beings without realization, [all] cultivation and movement culminates at the root of Dao 10 000 ways all end here and therefore it is called The Ultimate

People of this age study Dao less [each] day and cannot [obtain even] the rst stage How could they obtain universal Lng? Ruled with maintaining their stupidity and sentimentality Only preserving and holding on to their lth and material [wealth] Four seasons turn and change, their shapes distort and color (body) grows weak Their substance declines and [they] return to the emptiness To call this obtaining Dao is absurd!

These Daoist techniques of embryo-breathing and xed contemplation preserve Shn and halt form [These] were transmitted orally and not written in language Having the virtue to meet the Perfected man and this teaching [One must] be very precise and throughout to retain the idea These must be learned without doubts. Man worthy of attainment will meet this Saint