成象
Formation of Images
谷神不死，(谷，養也。人能養神則不死也。神，謂五臟之神也。肝藏魂，肺藏魄，心藏神，腎藏精，脾藏志，五臟盡傷，則五神去矣。)是謂玄牝。(言不死之有，在於玄牝。玄，天也，於人為鼻。牝，地也，於人為口。天食人以五氣，從鼻入藏於心。五氣輕微，為精、神、聰、明、音聲五性。其鬼曰魂，魂者雄也，主出入於人鼻，與天通，故鼻為玄也。地食人以五味，從口入藏於胃。五味濁辱，為形、骸、骨、肉、血、脈六情。其鬼曰魄，魄者雌也，主出入於人口，與地通，故口為牝也。)玄牝之門，是謂天地根。(根，元也。言鼻口之門，是乃通天地之元氣所從往來也。)綿綿若存，(鼻口呼噏喘息，當綿綿微妙，若可存，復若無有。)用之不勤。(用氣當寬舒，不當急疾懃勞也。)
The valley spirit never dies. (Valley means to nurture. If a person can nurture their spirit, they will not die. Spirit refers to the spirits of the five organs. The liver stores the hun-soul, the lungs store the po-soul, the heart stores the spirit, the kidneys store the essence, and the spleen stores the will. If all five organs are damaged, then the five spirits depart.) This is called the mysterious female. (It says that the existence of immortality lies in the mysterious female. Xuan (mysterious) is heaven; in humans, it is the nose. Pin (female) is earth; in humans, it is the mouth. Heaven nourishes humans with the five qi, which enter through the nose and are stored in the heart. The five qi are subtle and light, forming the five natures: essence, spirit, hearing, sight, and sound. Its ghost is called the hun-soul; the hun-soul is masculine, governing entry and exit through the human nose, connecting with heaven. Therefore, the nose is xuan (mysterious). Earth nourishes humans with the five flavors, which enter through the mouth and are stored in the stomach. The five flavors are turbid and heavy, forming the six conditions: form, body, bones, flesh, blood, and vessels. Its ghost is called the po-soul; the po-soul is feminine, governing entry and exit through the human mouth, connecting with earth. Therefore, the mouth is pin (female).) The gate of the mysterious female is called the root of heaven and earth. (Root means origin. It says that the gate of the nose and mouth is the passage through which the primordial qi of heaven and earth flows back and forth.) Subtle and continuous, it seems to exist. (The inhalation and exhalation of the nose and mouth should be subtle and continuous, as if it exists, yet also as if it does not.) Using it is never exhausting. (Using the breath should be relaxed and gentle, not rushed, hurried, or forced.)