Daoist Health Preservation

周叙白Heilongjiang Northeast Digital Publishing & Media Co., Ltd. · ChinaAug 2026

3.0

Word count: 82K words
Chapters: 49

Summary

This book systematically traces the development of Daoist health-preserving culture, taking the core Daoist idea of "following nature" (dao fa ziran) as its guiding thread. From three dimensions—classical sources, philosophical core, and practical methods—it breaks down the underlying logic of Daoist health preservation. It clarifies the origin and evolution of the concept of "health preservation" (yangsheng) from Zhuangzi, and connects the Daoist worldview with the care of life, moving beyond superficial introductions to techniques. It helps readers understand the core Daoist idea of aligning with nature and nurturing body and mind, offering actionable traditional wisdom for contemporary people seeking to regulate the pace of life and settle body and mind.

Editor's review

Most health books on the market stay at the level of exercises and recipes; this one returns to the source and treats Daoist health preservation as a system of cultural ideas. Taking "following nature" as its guiding thread, the author begins with the emergence of the concept of yangsheng in Zhuangzi, traces its evolution, and then connects the Daoist worldview with the care of life, so readers understand why the ancients cultivated health as they did and on what basis. The book unfolds across three dimensions—classical sources, philosophical core, and practical methods—with emphasis on the first two; the practical part also stresses the principle of aligning with nature rather than listing techniques. This approach suits readers willing to read slowly and understand the reasoning behind health preservation, and offers reference value for contemporary people seeking to regulate life's pace and settle body and mind. A caveat: it is more cultural interpretation and conceptual clarification than a source of treatment plans for specific conditions, and readers should not use it as medical guidance.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Beginner readers interested in Daoist culture and traditional health-preserving ideas
Those who want to understand the philosophical basis behind health methods rather than lists of techniques
Urban readers seeking to regulate life's pace and settle body and mind through traditional wisdom
Practitioners engaged in popularizing traditional culture or related writing who need a clear overview

Not a good fit for

Practical readers looking for specific exercise steps or recipes to follow
Readers hoping to obtain treatment plans for their own illnesses
Readers who prefer fast-paced reading and lack patience for tracing philosophical context

Reading tips

Read in the order of classical sources, philosophical core, and practical methods—build the conceptual framework before moving to application.
When reaching chapters on Zhuangzi, read slowly alongside passages from the original text to deepen understanding of the concept's origin.
After each chapter, write down one nature-aligning practice you can integrate into daily life, so it doesn't stay at the conceptual level.
For specific physical discomfort, rely on a doctor's diagnosis; the book's ideas serve only as lifestyle reference.

About the publisher

Heilongjiang Northeast Digital Publishing & Media Co., Ltd. China · Founded in 2012

Heilongjiang Northeast Digital Publishing & Media Co., Ltd. has long worked in digital publishing and general-interest reading. Public information about the company is limited, but its 432 in-house titles indicate a diverse publishing profile. Health books emphasize practical use, such as Easy-to-Apply Traditional Chinese Medicine Remedies. History and urban culture are represented by titles including Reading Cities: Decoding the World's Historic and Cultural Cities and Coal Town Memories: The Golden Years of Northeast China. Biography and figures titles include Run Run Shaw: Meticulous in All Matters, Diligent and Dedicated and Cao Cao: A Biography. The list also covers Eastern philosophy, social fiction and fortune-telling, as seen in Mindset for Breaking Through and A Century of Hutongs. Authors such as Liu Zhidan, Xu Ran, Ni Baozhen and Xing Yuanchao form part of its author resources, giving the press a profile that stays close to general readers and balances knowledge with readability.

版权信息
第一章道法自然：道家养生的世界观
第一节养生一词的起源：从《庄子》说起
第二节道法自然：养生的最高原则
第三节天人合一：人与天地同呼吸
第四节清静无为：少就是多
第五节贵生：生命是第一位的
第二章精、气、神：生命的三大支柱
第一节精：生命的物质基础
第二节气：生命的能量
第三节神：生命的主宰
第四节精、气、神的转化关系
第五节现代人如何“养三宝”
第三章吐纳导引：呼吸之间的养生智慧
第一节吐故纳新：呼吸的奥秘
第二节六字诀：五脏排气的千年秘法
第三节导引术：模仿动物的养生智慧
第四节八段锦与太极拳：动静结合
第五节日常吐纳：随时随地可以练的功法
第四章饮食有节：吃什么和怎么吃
第一节五谷为养：主食的地位不可动摇
第二节五味调和：酸苦甘辛咸的平衡
第三节食饮有节：七分饱的智慧
第四节顺时而食：吃当季的食物
第五节道家饮食的特殊实践：辟谷与素食
第五章起居有常：睡觉是最好的养生
第一节子时大睡：为什么晚上十一点前必须睡
第二节午时小憩：中午打个盹的妙处
第三节睡姿与方向：古人睡觉的讲究
第四节晨起养生：一日之计在于晨
第五节四季睡眠：春生夏长秋收冬藏
第六章静坐养神：在喧嚣中找到内心的宁静
第一节为什么要静坐：从老子的“致虚极”说起
第二节静坐的基本方法：调身、调息、调心
第三节静坐中的“杂念”：如何应对走神
第四节静坐的进阶：从守静到观照
第五节把静坐带入生活：行住坐卧皆是禅
第七章顺应四时：跟着节气过日子
第一节春季养生：疏肝理气，助阳气生发
第二节夏季养生：清心泻火，防暑祛湿
第三节秋季养生：润肺防燥，收敛神气
第四节冬季养生：补肾藏精，休养生息
第五节二十四节气养生：跟着节气调身体
第八章道家养生的现代应用：在快时代慢下来
第一节信息过载时代如何“守静”
第二节久坐一族的导引方案
第三节压力时代的“吐纳急救”
第四节失眠的道家解决方案
第五节道家养生的终极目标：不是长寿，是活得清醒

FAQ

Does this book teach specific health-preserving exercises?

The book includes a practical methods dimension, but its emphasis is on clarifying ideas and logic, stressing the principle of aligning with nature rather than teaching exercise steps one by one. If you expect moves or recipes you can follow directly, it may feel insufficiently concrete; if you want to first understand why one cultivates health this way, it is well suited.

Did the concept of yangsheng really begin with Zhuangzi?

The book traces the emergence of the concept of yangsheng to Zhuangzi and discusses its origin and evolution on that basis. This is the cultural-context perspective the book offers; readers may treat it as one thread for understanding traditional health ideas while remaining open to the concept's evolution.

Can I read it without a foundation in classical Chinese?

Yes. This is a cultural overview for beginner readers; its treatment of classics centers on explaining context and does not require classical Chinese reading ability. Where original passages are quoted, the surrounding explanation makes them understandable, and slow reading works better.

Can the book's content replace medical advice?

No. This book is a survey of traditional culture and health-preserving ideas and does not provide diagnoses or treatment plans for specific illnesses. If you have physical discomfort or chronic problems, rely on the diagnosis and treatment of professional medical institutions; the book's content serves only as lifestyle-level reference.

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About the author

周叙白 Author · China

Zhou Xubai is a Chinese author about whom little public information is available; existing records confirm only that his work is connected with the field of health-related books. One title by him is held in the collection, Daoist Health Cultivation. Classified under health, the book centers on Daoist ideas of well-being and introduces related concepts and practices to general readers. Judging from the available information, Zhou's writing emphasizes making traditional health culture accessible, drawing on Daoist thought to discuss everyday health topics in a practical and popular rather than scholarly manner. Because his biography, education, and writing career are not clearly documented, and the full extent of his output cannot be examined, readers can currently know him mainly through this single text. Further material would be needed to sketch a fuller picture of his writing and his place in health publishing.