Lingshu (The Spiritual Pivot) is a Han Dynasty acupuncture text written sum 2000 years ago. Below I have taken a paragraph from Chapter 8 Benshen (Rooted in Spirit), a paragraph so rich and deep in meaning that in such few characters the classical acupuncturists were able to articulate the ebb and flow of creation itself.
I have copied the translation of Wu Jing-Nuan word for word, adding nothing but the aspects of the spirit in brackets. I have intentionally not added my own commentary so as to allow the readers to interpret the text and draw conclusions freely & uninfluenced.
The paragraph begins with the Yellow Emperor (Hung Di) asking his physician Qi Bo:
“What is meant by virtue, qi, life, seminal essence, spirit, human soul, animal spirit, heart and mind, thought, will, consideration, wisdom, planning? Please explain these questions.”
Qi Bo replied, “Heaven abides so that we have virtue. Earth abides so that we have qi. When virtue flows and qi is blended, there is life. Life comes from what is spoken of as the seminal essence. When two seminal essence strike each other, it is spoken of as the spirit. Following the spirit as it goes and comes is the animal spirit (Hun). Together with the seminal essence as it exits and enters is that which is spoken of as the human soul (Po). Those which are in accord with the control of myriad things are the heart and mind. The mind has recall, which is spoken of as thought (Yi). Thought is that which, when kept and changed is spoken of as will (Zhi). From will and that which is kept and changed is spoken of as consideration. From consideration of distant longings comes planning. From planning, to the management of myriad things, is that which is spoken of as wisdom. Thus the wise nourish life by flowing with the four seasons and adapting to cold or heat, by harmonizing joy and anger in a tranquil dwelling, by balancing yin and yang, and what is hard and soft. So it is that dissolute evil cannot reach the man of wisdom, and he will be witness to a long life.”
Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have.
Warm Regards,
Giancarlo Nerini - Acupuncturist (Melbourne CBD)
I have copied the translation of Wu Jing-Nuan word for word, adding nothing but the aspects of the spirit in brackets. I have intentionally not added my own commentary so as to allow the readers to interpret the text and draw conclusions freely & uninfluenced.
The paragraph begins with the Yellow Emperor (Hung Di) asking his physician Qi Bo:
“What is meant by virtue, qi, life, seminal essence, spirit, human soul, animal spirit, heart and mind, thought, will, consideration, wisdom, planning? Please explain these questions.”
Qi Bo replied, “Heaven abides so that we have virtue. Earth abides so that we have qi. When virtue flows and qi is blended, there is life. Life comes from what is spoken of as the seminal essence. When two seminal essence strike each other, it is spoken of as the spirit. Following the spirit as it goes and comes is the animal spirit (Hun). Together with the seminal essence as it exits and enters is that which is spoken of as the human soul (Po). Those which are in accord with the control of myriad things are the heart and mind. The mind has recall, which is spoken of as thought (Yi). Thought is that which, when kept and changed is spoken of as will (Zhi). From will and that which is kept and changed is spoken of as consideration. From consideration of distant longings comes planning. From planning, to the management of myriad things, is that which is spoken of as wisdom. Thus the wise nourish life by flowing with the four seasons and adapting to cold or heat, by harmonizing joy and anger in a tranquil dwelling, by balancing yin and yang, and what is hard and soft. So it is that dissolute evil cannot reach the man of wisdom, and he will be witness to a long life.”
Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have.
Warm Regards,
Giancarlo Nerini - Acupuncturist (Melbourne CBD)
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