Chinese Medicine Series 04:
景岳全书
The Complete Compendium of [Zhang] Jingyue [pt3]
The following is the complete chapter 34, ‘Safeguarding the Heavens’ from The Complete Compendium of [Zhang] Jingyue Vol.1-3, ‘Eight Principles, Ten Questions and Mingmen Theory’ translated by Allen Tsaur. This first instalment of this monumental work will be published by Purple Cloud Press in the next week. It will be the first of a three-book series on Zhang Jingyue’s masterpiece. If it is well received it will hopefully entice Allen to tackle the entire work.Allen is also the editor of Explanations of Channels and Points translated by Michael Brown.
Chapter 34: Song of Safeguarding the Heavens
保天吟三十四
一炁先天名太極，太極生生是為易，易中造化分隂陽，分出隂陽運不息。剛柔相盪立乾坤，剝復夬姤羣生植，禀得先天成後天，氣血原來是真的。隂陽炁固可長生，龍虎飛騰失家宅，造化鍾人果幾多？誰道些須亦當惜？顧惜天真有兩端，人已機關宜辨格，自治但存毋勉强，莊生最樂無心得。為人須慎保天和，岐伯深明無伐剋，伐剋從來性命讐，勉强分明元炁賊。膚切根源未療然，養氣修真亦何益？漫將斯語等浮雲，道在路傍人不識。余今著此保天吟，願效癡東奉佳客。
The one qì of the earlier heaven is named the supreme polarity. As the supreme polarity engenders life after life, the changes manifest. For the nature’s creation within the changes, the yīn and yáng are separated. Once the yīn and yáng are separated, the movement becomes ceaseless. As what is unyielding and what is soft reverberate each other, qián and kūn are established; [subsequently], the multitude of bō, fù, guài, and gòu arise and grow. Being endowed with the earlier heaven, the later heaven is manifested; as they commence from the origin, the qì and blood become existent.
When the qì of yīn and yáng are secured, there can be longevity. When the dragon and tiger are soaring, their homes and residences are abandoned. From the nature’s creation, how much [endowment] is really received and held by the humans? For what little there is, does anyone mention anything about treasuring it? To treasure and care for the heavenly true [qì], there are two practices [that one must undertake]. One should observe and distinguish the crucial interactions and associations between oneself and others. One should cultivate oneself diligently; yet, the effort must not be forced, as Zhuāng Zǐ was most delighted at having no intention for gain.
In one’s conduct, one must cautiously safeguard the heavenly harmony. Qí Bó understood clearly that one must neither annihilate nor restrain. Since the beginning of time, annihilation and restraint have always been the enemy of life. For the far-fetched conjecture that regards [the yīn fire as] a bandit of the original qì, it is shallow and without a clear understanding of the root and source. As such, how will one benefit from nourishing qì and cultivating the truth? By regarding my words casually as though they are floating clouds, the passers-by will fail to recognize that the Dao is present at the roadside.
Now, having composed this “Song of Safeguarding the Heavens,” I wish to act as an infatuated host and present it to my welcome guests.
Post-Scriptum: The final work contains many more extensive and informative footnotes from scholarly and academic research meticulously conducted by the translator. Two more excerpts can be found on our webpage here.
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