Gong Tingxian's Health Cultivation And Maintenance Poem 龔廷賢 惜氣存精更養神 Poem by Frank Yue

Health Cultivation and Maintenance Poem
- by Gong Tingxian （1522～1619）(Ming Dynasty)
- Translated by Frank C Yue


Treasure your Qi and Essence, cultivate Positive Attitude,
Curb deep thoughts, burning desires, and burden your mind less still.
When eating you should only fill up your stomach half-way,
Over you, never let exotic flavours hold sway.
Seventy-percent sober you should remain -drink mindfully,
Never drink too much and only drink occasionally.

Ne'er too seriously take e'erything,
For jokes let hearty laughter take wing.
Go with Joy and Pleasure always,
Don't let Anger ruin your days.
Let Frown'd Brows, Cold Shoulders pass by,
For the Changes and Frauds, don't ask why.

I'll continue -to myself true -
O'er a hundred Springs, treading through.



《攝養詩》明。龔廷賢

惜氣存精更養神，

少思寡欲勿勞心。

食惟半飽無兼味，

酒止三分莫過頻。

每把戲言多取笑，

常含樂意莫生嗔。

炎涼變詐都休問，

任我逍遙過百春。