Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine: How to Live to 100 Years Old? The Secrets of Longevity
The secret to living to 100 years old?
Qin Shi Huang once gathered all the scholars and alchemists who sought to conquer the world for him, cultivating elixirs for long life; he also commissioned Xu Fu to find the mythical Penglai Island described in the *Shan Hai Jing* in order to achieve immortality.
Even powerful emperors and rulers, when facing old age and death, desperately sought the secrets of longevity.
The secret to living to 100 years old?
Yellow Emperor asked Qi Bo
As a representative of ancient sage emperors, the Yellow Emperor was also curious about the secrets of longevity.
In the *Huang Di Nei Jing's* Utopian Theory, the Yellow Emperor once asked Qi Bo for guidance.
Huang Di Nei Jing original text: 'I have heard that in ancient times, people's lifespans exceeded one hundred years, but their movements remained un-aging. Now, at fifty years old, people's movements have become sluggish. Is this due to a change in the times, or have people deviated from the path of health?'
Translation: The Yellow Emperor asked Qi Bo, 'I have heard that in ancient times, people's lives often exceeded one hundred years, but their movements remained un-aging. Now, at fifty years old, people's movements have become sluggish. Is this due to a change in the times, or have people deviated from the path of health?'
From this passage, we can see that the Yellow Emperor had heard that people in ancient times lived to be over 100 years old.
People in ancient times lived over 100 years
What secrets did people in ancient times have to live over 100 years?
Huang Di Nei Jing original text: Qi Bo replied: 'In ancient times, those who knew the way all took advantage of the changes in yin and yang, harmonized them through art and numbers, had disciplined diets, regular habits, and didn't overexert themselves, so their bodies and spirits were in harmony, enjoying the natural lifespan, and only departed at one hundred years.'
Translation: Qi Bo replied, 'In ancient times, those who knew the way all took advantage of the changes in yin and yang, harmonized them through art and numbers, had disciplined diets, regular habits, and didn't overexert themselves, so their bodies and spirits were in harmony, enjoying the natural lifespan, and only departed at one hundred years.'
The reason why people now become sluggish at fifty is because...
Why do people now not live to be over 100 years?
During the Yellow Emperor's time, people began to age around fifty, and did not live to be 100 years old, so Qi Bo explained the reason to the Yellow Emperor.
Huang Di Nei Jing original text: 'Nowadays, people regard drinking as a kind of sweet juice, and arbitrary actions as the norm, they stagger into the bedroom after getting drunk, indulge in pleasure, consume their essence, dissipate their true energy, not knowing how to fill it, not understanding how to restrain their spirit, they only pursue sensory pleasure, violate the true joy of life, and have no regular habits, so they become sluggish at fifty.'
The reason why people now become sluggish at fifty is because...
How to practice health?
We should learn from the people in ancient times, properly arrange our diet, habits, and adjust our mindset, then we can live a long life.
We should learn from the people who become sluggish at fifty, violate the laws of life, recklessly dissipate our essence, and fail to take care of ourselves, then we will age at fifty.
Life is formed by different choices, just like walking at a crossroads, if you go left, or right, the choice is in everyone's hands.
Different directions lead to different results. Wish everyone a healthy and long life.
Health Practice
