After leaving Cao Cao’s camp, he crossed five passes, slew six opposing generals, and escorted the imperial sisters‑in‑law to rejoin his sworn elder brother. This displays his single‑minded loyalty to the Han house.
Liuxia Hui remained unperturbed even with a woman sitting in his lap. What noble purity! Lu Zhonglian barred his gate and would not give shelter. What lofty integrity!
Liuxia Hui was a sage of the Warring‑States era. Once a woman sought refuge and sat in his embrace, yet his heart stayed free of improper desire; his purity was peerless. Lu Zhonglian was a worthy man of the same age. When a woman sought shelter from night rain and a leaking roof, he shut his door and would not admit her; his moral fortitude was beyond compare.
I exhort all gifted young men to guard their dantian well.
Gifted young men mean talented, promising youths. Many such young men shorten their lives through lust. Hence the Divine Sovereign urges them to preserve their elixir‑field to nourish vital spirit. The elixir‑field is the vital‑energy reservoir roughly one cun below the navel.
May they remain unharmed by carnal desire, thus attaining the ages of mao-die; may they not be misled by skirt and hairpin adornments, their virtues descending upon their sons and grandsons.
Carnal desire refers to lustful cravings. The ancients held that many things harm one’s vitality, yet indulgence in lust necessarily harms the body. If one keeps free from injuries wrought by carnal desire, he may well live to eighty, ninety or even a full century, enjoying a ripe old age. Eighty years of age is defined as mao, and ninety as die; both denote advanced longevity. Skirt and hairpin adornments symbolize beautiful women. To be misled means men fall prey to sensual temptation and commit grave misdeeds, leading to the decline of their descendants. If a man resists the allure of women, he accumulates profound hidden virtue, which will surely benefit his posterity and bring prosperity to generations to come.
Upon entering, one hears no widows’ grief; lives are long-lasting like heaven and earth. Upon going forth, one sees no widowers’ misery; people are white-haired yet youthful-faced.
If people do not harm themselves through lust, both men and women shall enjoy great longevity, enduring as heaven and earth. Naturally, when one enters their households, no sorrow‑stricken widows are to be heard. Likewise, when the men go out, no wretched widowers are to be seen. Those who attain great old age have hair as white as a crane’s feathers — hence “crane‑white hair”. Yet their complexions remain ruddy, like a child’s countenance — hence “youthful looks”.
Within the household prevails perfect harmony; one knows not the approach of old age.