By Jun Heo(許浚, 1539~1615), Translated by Namil Kim, Wung Seok Cha et al., Published by Ministry of Health & Welfare (Korea)
- The Start of Conception 胎孕之始 잉태의 시작
① It is said in the Great Peace and Sagely Benevolence Formulas (聖惠方), “The essence-qi of the universe forms the shape of all living things, in which the paternal essence-qi composes the ethereal soul and maternal essence-qi composes the corporeal soul. The fetus is like milk in its first month as it becomes a seed and looks like a plum in its second month, and forms the shape of a human in its third month. Its gender can be specified in its fourth month; the sinew and bones are formed in its fifth month; hair is grown in its sixth month. The right hand can be moved by controlling the ethereal soul in its seventh month, and the left hand can be moved by controlling the corporeal soul in its eighth month. The fetus turns its body three times in its ninth month, completes itself in the tenth month, and comes out from the mother’s womb. Among the babies, those who fulfilled the ten months, live rich and long; those who have not fulfilled the ten months, live poor and die young.”
② Shangyangzi (上陽子) said, “When a human takes qi inside the womb, yin-yang is determined on the ninth day, forms a shape of a fetus after ninety-four days, and changes every seven days. Therefore, a baby who completed itself in 296 to 306 days is of the highest level, a baby who completed in 286 to 266 days is of the middle level, and a baby who completed in 256 to 246 days is of the lowest level. Generally, Gap must be united with Gi in the heavenly stems to be fertile, and Chuk must be united with Ja in the earthly branches to nurture. This implies how the virtue of heaven and earth must be united together to bear a child; hence the saying, ‘The spirit is spread out and qi becomes abundant on the ninth month to complete the growth of a fetus.’ and ‘The womb bears the fully grown fetus by the tenth month.'”
- The Four Greats – Earth, Water, Fire, and Wind – Form Shape 四大成形 사대가 형을 이루다
① Buddha commented, “For a man to be born, earth, water, fire, and wind must be combined. Sinew and bone both belong to earth, the essence-blood, fluid, and humor all belong to water, breath and warmth belong to fire, mental and physical movements belong to wind. Therefore, when the wind dies down, the qi dies; when the fire goes out, the body becomes cold; when the water is dried out, the blood goes dry; when the earth scatters, the body is chapped.”
② Shang Yang zi (上陽子) said, “Hair, teeth, bone, nails are from earth; nasal discharge, essence, blood, fluid and humor are from water; warmth, dryness, and heat are from fire; mental and physical movements are from wind. These four kinds are combined temporarily to give birth to a human being. The bones are as strong as metal if the earth is powerful; the essence is solid when the water is powerful; the qi rises up thickly when the fire is exuberant, and wisdom is as mighty as the spirit when the wind is powerful.”
