Tài shàng yǎng shēng tāi xí qì jīng 太上養生胎息氣經
Scripture of Most High Life-Nourishing Embryonic-Breathing Pneumatic Cultivation
Anonymous; Six Dynasties / Táng
A classical embryonic-breathing (tāi xí 胎息) manual — one of the foundational Daoist respiratory meditation techniques, based on the idea that the adept learns to breathe “like an embryo in the womb” (without external breath, circulating inner qì alone). Preserved as DZ 819 / CT 819 (Dòngshén bù, Jiè lǜ lèi 洞神部戒律類).
About the work
Tāi xí tradition
Tāi xí 胎息 (“embryonic breathing”) is one of the most distinctive Daoist respiratory-meditative techniques — supposedly reproducing the infant-in-womb breathing pattern through sustained practice. Mastery of tāi xí is traditionally associated with longevity and with advanced interior cultivation.
Contents
The text provides technical instructions for the progressive cultivation of embryonic breathing — regulation, retention, circulation of qì within the body.
Dating. Six Dynasties / Táng. Dynasty: 六朝-唐.
Translations and research
- Despeux, Catherine. Taoïsme et corps humain: Le Xiuzhen tu. Paris: Trédaniel, 1994. On Daoist body-cultivation including embryonic breathing.