上古天真論
黃帝乃問於太師歧伯:「余聞上古之人,春秋皆度百歲,而動作不衰。今時之人,年半百而動作皆衰者,時世異耶?人將失之耶?」歧伯對曰:「今時之人不然也,以酒為漿,以妄為常,醉以入房,以欲竭其精,以耗散其真, 不知持滿,不時御神,務決其心,逆於生樂,起居無節,故半百而衰也。」
The universal truth
During his reign, the Yellow Emperor discoursed on medicine, health, lifestyle, nutrition, and Taoist cosmology with his ministers Qi Bo, Lei Gong, and others. Their first discussion began with the Yellow Emperor inquiring, "I have heard that in the days of old everyone lived one hundred years without showing the usual signs of aging. In our time, however, people age prematurely, living only fifty years. Is this due to a change in the environment, or is it because people have lost the correct way of life?" Qi Bo replied, "... These days, people have changed their way of life. They drink wine as though it were water, indulge excessively in destructive activities, drain their jing (the body's essence that is stored in the kidneys) and deplete their qi (energy). They do not know the secret of conserving their energy and vitality. Seeking emotional excitement and momentary pleasures, people disregard the natural rhythm and order of the universe. They fail to regulate their lifestyle and diet, and sleep improperly. So it is not surprising that they look old at fifty and die soon after..."
昔在黃帝,生而神靈,弱而能言,幼而徇齊,長而敦敏,成而登天。乃問於天師曰:「余聞上古之人,春秋皆度百歲,而動作不衰;今時之人,年半百而動作皆衰者,時世異耶?人將失之耶?」
岐伯對曰:「上古之人,其知道者,法於陰陽,和於術數,食飲有節,起居有常,不妄作勞,故能形與神俱,而盡終其天年,度百歲乃去。
今時之人不然也,以酒為漿,以妄為常,醉以入房,以欲竭其精,以耗散其真,不知持滿,不時御神,務快其心,逆於生樂,起居無節,故半百而衰也。
夫上古聖人之教下也,皆謂之:虛邪賊風,避之有時;恬淡虛無,真氣從之;精神內守,病安從來?
是以志閒而少欲,心安而不懼,形勞而不倦,氣從以順,各從其欲,皆得所願。
故美其食,任其服,樂其俗,高下不相慕,其民故曰樸。
是以嗜欲不能勞其目,淫邪不能惑其心,愚智賢不肖,不懼於物,故合於道。
所以能年皆度百歲,而動作不衰者,以其德全不危也。」
帝曰:「人年老而無子者,材力盡邪?將天數然也?」
岐伯曰:「女子七歲,腎氣盛,齒更髮長。
二七而天癸至,任脈通,太衝脈盛,月事以時下,故有子;
三七,腎氣平均,故真牙生而長極;
四七,筋骨堅,髮長極,身體盛壯;
五七,陽明脈衰,面始焦,髮始墮;
六七,三陽脈衰於上,面皆焦,髮始白;
七七,任脈虛,太衝脈衰少,天癸竭,地道不通,故形壞而無子也。
丈夫八歲,腎氣實,髮長齒更;
二八,腎氣盛,天癸至,精氣溢寫,陰陽和,故能有子;
三八,腎氣平均,筋骨勁強,故真牙生而長極;
四八,筋骨隆盛,肌肉滿壯;
五八,腎氣衰,髮墮齒槁;
六八,陽氣衰竭於上,面焦,髮鬢頒白;
七八,肝氣衰,筋不能動,天癸竭,精少,腎藏衰,形體皆極;
八八,則齒髮去。腎者主水,受五藏六府之精而藏之,故五藏盛乃能寫。今五藏皆衰,筋骨懈惰,天癸盡矣。故髮鬢白,身體重,行步不正,而無子耳。」
帝曰:「有其年已老而有子者,何也?」
岐伯曰:「此其天壽過度,氣脈常通,而腎氣有餘也。此雖有子,男不過盡八八,女不過盡七七,而天地之精氣皆竭矣。」
帝曰:「夫道者年皆百數,能有子乎?」
岐伯曰:「夫道者能卻老而全形,身年雖壽,能生子也。」
黃帝曰:「余聞上古有真人者,提挈天地,把握陰陽,呼吸精氣,獨立守神,肌肉若一,故能壽敝天地,無有終時,此其道生。
中古之時,有至人者,淳德全道,和於陰陽,調於四時,去世離俗,積精全神,遊行天地之間,視聽八達之外,此蓋益其壽命而強者也,亦歸於真人。
其次有聖人者,處天地之和,從八風之理,適嗜欲於世俗之間。無恚嗔之心,行不欲離於世,被服章,舉不欲觀於俗,外不勞形於事,內無思想之患,以恬愉為務,以自得為功,形體不敝,精神不散,亦可以百數。
其次有賢人者,法則天地,象似日月,辯列星辰,逆從陰陽,分別四時,將從上古合同於道,亦可使益壽而有極時。」