The Classic of Su Nii Su Nii ching The Yellow Emperor! addressed a ques- tion to Su Nu? saying, “My ch’? is weak and out of harmony. There is no joy in my heart and I live in constant fear.‘ What is to be done?” Su Nii answered: All debility in man is due to violation of the 4ao* of intercourse between yén and pang. ‘Women are superior to men in the same way that water is superior to fire.? This Knowledge is like the ability to blend the “five flavors"! in a pot to make de soup. Those who know the ‘ao of yin and yang can fully realize the “five pleasures” ;* those who do not will die before their time without ever knowing this joy.! Can you afford not to view this with the utmost seriousness? Su Nii continue: “There is one called Ts'ai Ni!? who has a wondrous knowledge of the arts of the sao. The King" sent Ts'ai Na to inquire of Peng into the methods of attaining lon- gevity and P'eng Tsu replied;!3 By treasuring his ching.! cult his spirit, and consuming herbs"? a man may indeed attain long life. However. if be is ignorant of the tao of intercourse, the tak- ing of herbs will be of no benefit. The mutual fulfillment of man and woman is like the mutual dependence of heaven and carth."" Because heaven and earth have attained the tag of union,' they are eter nal; because mankind has lost the sao of intercourse, he suffers the onset of early death, If we could but avoid those things that gradually injure our bodics and learn the art of yin and yang. this would truly be the 1a of immortality. Ts’ai Nii bowed twice?" and said: “Will you instruct me in the essential teach- ings?” P’eng ‘Tsu answered: This tao is easily understood; it is just that men fail to practice it faithfully. Today the Emperor controls the complex machinery of rulership and cannot be a master of all the arts.) However, his responsibilities in the seraglio are many and it is important that he know the proper method of intercourse. Its essence lics in frequently The Sui-Tang Classics Reconsiructed mounting young girls but only rarely ejaculating This makes a man’s body light and eliminates the hundred ailments. Su Nai said: In engaging che enemy* a man should re- gard her as so much tiles or stone and him- self as gold or jade. When his ching is aroused, he should immediately withdraw from her territory. One should mount a woman as if riding a galloping horse with rotten reins or as if fearful of Falling into a deep pit lined with knife blades. If you tre- asure your ching, your life will have no Tiemit 2% The Yellow Emperor addressed a question to Su Nii saying: “If I were to refrain for along time*” from intercourse, what would be the result?” Su Ni answered: That would be a grave mistake. Heaven and earth have their opening and closing, and yin and yang their activities and trans- formations. Man must conform to yit and yang and follow the four seasons. If you were to abstain from intercourse, your 28 would have no opportunity for ex- pansivencss, and yirt and yang would be blocked and cut off from one another, How. could you thus strengthen yourself? You must Cultivate your chi theough frequent practice?’ and “eliminate the old while absorbing the new" to improve yourself, If the “jade stalk” does not stir, it dies in its lair! So you must engage frequently in intercourse as a way of exercising the body. To be aroused" but not ejaculate ‘is what is called “returning the ching.” ‘When the ching is retumed to benedit the body, then the 120 of life has been realized. ‘The Yellow Emperor said: “How then should man and woman regulate their sexual relations?” Su Nii answered: The ‘of intercourse has definite char- acteristics that enable man to preserve his health and woman to be free of all ill- ness. They will be happy in their hearts and the power of their ch’ will be strong ‘Those who are ignorant of its practice gradually grow weaker. If you wish to know this tao, it consists in settling the ch’i, calming the mind, and harmonizing the 8Antof the Bedchamber emotions.” When the “three and move back and forth. With your mouth opposite hers, inhale her ch’, practicing the method of nine times nine. This then is the concha- sion. The SuicT-ang Classics Reconstructed The Yellow Emperor asked: “What is meant by the five constancies?” Su Ni answered: The “jade stalk” does indeed possess the tao of the “five constancies."" Dwell- ing in deep seclusion, restrained and sclf- controlled, cherishing the highest virtue and carrying out its work unstintingly.”” the “jade stalk” desires to give of itself. This is ‘benevolence.’ empty is “righteousness.”” The joint at the y is “propriety.” To rise when de- sirous and to rest when not, this is “good faith." Approaching the act, it fluctuates between high and low, This is “intelli gence." Therefore the man of true wisdom” relies on the “five constaneies" and exercises restraint. Although in bis “benevolence” he desires to pive of him- self, his ching will suffer if it is not mai tained intact." In “righteousness” he pre- serves its emptiness, for clearly one must not permit if to be overly full.®! This is the path of prohibition, but when it is Appropriate to give of oneself, then doing so with “propriety” shows restraint, Carry- ing this out with sincerity demonstrates ‘one’s “good faith.” Thus one must under- stand the tao of intercourse. Tf one suc- ceeds in following the “five constancies,” ‘one will achieve longevity. The Yellow Emperor asked: “How can I tell if the woman is experiencing plea- sure?” Su Nit answered: There are “five signs," “five desires,” and also “ten movements” by which you may observe her transformations and understand their causes. These are the stages of arousal represented by the “five signs.” First, when her face is {lushed, slowly press her to you. Second, when her are hard and perspiration appears on her nose, slowly enter her, Third, when her throat is dry and she swallows saliva, slowly begin to move inside her. Fourth, when her private parts are well lubricated, slowly penetrate her more deeply. Fifth when her secretions spread out over het buttocks, then slowly withdraw. Su Na continued: These are the “five desires” by whieh you may know her responses. First, if there is desire in her mind for union, she will bold her breath. Second, when her private 87Art of the Bedchamber parts desire contaet,8* her nostrils and mouth will widen. Third, when her ching desires 10 be excited|S* she will quake, quiver, and enibrace the ian. Fourth, when her heart desires complete sati faction, perspiration will soak ber gar- ments. Fifth, when her desire for osgasm reaches the greatcst intensity, her body will go straight and her eyes close. ‘Su Nii said: ‘The effects represented by the “ten move- ments” are, first, when she embraces the man with both arms, she desires their ‘bodies to be close and their private parts to come together. Second, when she stretches ‘out her legs, rub the upper portion [of her vulva]. Third, when she distends her belly, it means that she desires shallow penetration.*® Fourth, when she moves her ‘buttocks, it means that she is experiencing great pleasure. Fifth, when she raises her legs to encircle him, it means that she de- sires him to penetrate mare deeply. Sixth, when she presses her thighs together, it means that her internal sensations are be- coming overwhelming. Seventh, when she moves from side to side, it means that she desires deep thrusts to the left and right. Eighth, when she arches her body against the man's, it means that her sexual plea- sure has reached its peak. Ninth, when she stretches aut and relaxes, it_means that pleasure fills her entire body. Tenth, when her secretions are copious, it means that her ching has been released. By observing these effects you may know the degrees of her pleasure. The Yellow Emperor said: “| am de- sirous of intercourse, but my ‘jade stalk’ will not rise, Should I force myself to perform or not?” Hsdian Ni answered: “Absolutely not! According to the tao of desiring intercourse, the man mianifests™ four levels" that in turn bring about the woman's ‘nine ch’ The Yellow Emperor asked: “What are the ‘four levels?” Hsiian Ni answered: If the “jade stalk" is not aroused, it means that the “eh'l of harmony"® has aot yet arrived. If it is aroused but not large, it means that the “flesh ch'i"% has not yetar- rived. If it is large but not stiff, it means that the “bone oh’! has not yet arrived. If it is stiff but not hot, it means that the “spirit oh 7” has not yet arrived. Therefore. arousal is the dawn of the ching; largeness is the threshold af the chiag: stiffness is the portal of the ching: and hotness is the door of the ching. When the four ch’ have ar- rived, and they are regulated by means of the tao. then one will not foolishly release the mechanism nor shed the chiag.#* The Yellow Emperar said: “How wonderful! But how can one come ta ree- ognize the woman's ‘nine ch’f?"" Hsiian Nil answered: You may recognize the “nine ch" by observing” them. When a woman breathes heavily and swallows her saliva, the “lung ch'’” bas srrived. When she makes sounds®’ and kisses the man, it means that her “heart ch'?” has arrived, When she embraces and halds the man, it means that her “spleen ci’i* has atrived. When her “yin gate” becomes slippery and wet, it means that her “kidney ch’i”™ has arrived. ‘When in the throes of passion she bites the man, it means that her “bone ci'#” has ar- rived. When she entwines her feet around the man, it means that hee “sinew eh'#? has arrived. When she strokes the “jade stalk," it means that her “blood ch’r" has arrived, When she fonclles the man’s nip- ples, it means that her “flesh oA’? has arrived."® Having intercourse for a long time}! you may play with her “seed’*!!210 stimulate her desire, and all of the “nine ch'?? will acrive. If they fail to arrive, then one may suffer harm. One should then carry out the appropriate number! to remedy it The Yellow Emperor said: “I have never heard an explanation of the so- called ‘nine methods.’ Could you set them forth and analyze their signif- icance® so that I might treasure them as ina vault of stone and practice them?” Hsiian Ni replied: ‘The first of the “'nine methods” is. called “flying dragon." Have the woman lie flat on her back facing up, while the man lies face down on top of her with his thighs buried in the bed. The woman should raise her private parts to receive the “jade stalk.” The man should stab her “grain seed’ and attack the upper part [of her vul- val. Now undulate slowly according to the method of “eight shallow and two deep” and “thrust dead and withdraw live." In this way your power’ will be robust and