The Beginning of Human Life and the Formation of Ancestral Qi

Compared with modern developmental physiology, Chinese medical literature preserves at least two traditional accounts of the sequence of fetal development. One is attributed to Hua Tuo in the Qing Nang Mi Lu; another is attributed to the physician Xu Zhicai of the Southern and Northern Dynasties period.

Whether exposure to different Five-Movement and Six-Qi conditions at different stages of gestation influences a person’s local or constitutional tendencies remains a question for future research.

Qing Nang Mi Lu

• Month 1 — formation of the embryo: Essence and Blood meet; Yin and Yang first join, gathering into the early embryonic form.
• Month 4 — brain and core zang-fu begin to form: the outlines of central organs such as the Heart, Kidney, and brain, which govern spirit and Essence-Qi, become established.
• Months 5–6 — body and limbs: the four limbs and the five body tissues develop.
• Months 7–8 — channels, sinews, and bones fill out: sinews and bones become firmer, the channels circulate, and Qi and Blood progressively become more abundant.
• Months 9–10 — warming, nourishing, and awaiting birth: Qi and Blood become complete, awaiting the proper time for delivery.

Xu Zhicai’s Month-by-Month Method of Nurturing the Fetus

• Month 1: “In the first month of pregnancy, called the beginning embryo, it is nourished by the Foot Jueyin vessel.”
• Month 2: “In the second month, called the beginning paste, it is nourished by the Foot Shaoyang vessel.”
• Month 3: “In the third month, called the beginning fetus, it is nourished by the Hand Heart-Master vessel. During these three months it is pure Blood; form and image are only beginning to transform and are not yet fixed. What is seen may affect its transformation, so one wishes the child to be upright and dignified.”
• Month 4: “In the fourth month, it first receives the qi of food and drink to form the blood vessels, and is nourished by the Hand Shaoyang vessel.”
• Month 5: “In the fifth month, the child’s four limbs are formed, and it is nourished by the Foot Taiyin vessel.”
• Month 6: “In the sixth month, the child’s sinews and bones are formed, and it is nourished by the Foot Yangming vessel.”
• Month 7: “In the seventh month, it first receives Metal essence to form skin and hair, and is nourished by the Hand Taiyin vessel.”
• Month 8: “In the eighth month, the child’s nine orifices are all formed, and it is nourished by the Hand Yangming vessel.”
• Month 9: “In the ninth month, it receives Stone-Spring qi to form fine hair, and is nourished by the Foot Shaoyin vessel.”
• Month 10: “In the tenth month, the child’s Five Zang are complete and the Six Fu are regulated and connected. It is nourished by the Foot Taiyang vessel. Having received the qi of Heaven and Earth, the Five Zang are prepared; this is the proper time.”