1.3.3.1 Movement of yang and motionlessness of yin

Viscera belong to yin, characterized by motionlessness. Functional activities pertain to yang, marked by movement. The coordination of movement with motionlessness of visceral functions of organism completes all the absorption, transportation and transformation of food, the circulation and metabolism of water, the flow of qi and blood, the transportation and excretion of digested stuff, mutual transformation of material and function, etc. Therefore, maintaining proper harmony between movement and motionlessness can make every organ function vigorously. As a result, the ageing and changes of each organ are delayed.

1.3.3.2 Coordination between movement and motionlessness

Of Chinese experts on life cultivation in successive dynasties, some relatively attached importance to movement, some to tranquility. However, most of them advocated the combination of movement and motionlessness. According to different people and situations, relative emphasis is placed on one aspect to gain the effect of simultaneous nourishment of physique and spirit. Life cultivation with concurrent movement and motionlessness, proper adjustment of movement and motionlessness and equal stress on both are the important principles of traditional Chinese life cultivation and rehabilitation.

4 Coordination and balance

Coordination of physiological functional states of the human body and the relationships with the external environment, balance of the normal functions of each system and tissues and organs of the organism as well as exchanges of material between functions of organism and nature are the important academic content of traditional Chinese life cultivation and rehabilitation.

1.3.4.1 Balance of elements

The interpromotion and restraint of the five elements maintain ecological balance in nature and the physiological coordination and balance of the human body. Besides, the human body should have the balance and coordination of chemical elements in nature. For instance, iodine deficiency gives rise to thyroid enlargement and zinc deficiency to infertility. According to the concept of balance of elements in TCM, imbalance of elements inside the human body should be remedied to keep the coordination and balance of various elements inside the body.

1.3.4.2 Coordinative balance

Dysfunctions, loss of symmetry and unstable states of the human body are the important causes giving rise to physiological hypofunction, premature ageing and diseases of the human body. There exist the theory and methods of coordinative balance in the medical techniques of life cultivation and rehabilitation in TCM. For example, there are such methods as "treating diseases in the upper part by managing the lower", "treating diseases in the lower by managing the upper", "treating diseases in the left by managing the right" and "treating diseases in the right by managing the left in acumoxi and massage as well as "alternation of physical labor and mental one" and "alternation of movement and motionlessness in life cultivation.

5 Healthy qi as the base

"The congenital base lies in the kidney and the postnatal base in the spleen."

The nutritional essence coming from the two zang organs of the spleen and kidney is the motive power of the visceral functions of the whole human body.

Thus, the concept of healthy qi as the base should first aim at the two zang organs of the spleen and kidney.

Reinforcing essence and qi is the key to the tonification of the kidney, and strengthening transportation and transformation is the key to enhancement of the spleen, both of which promote and supplement mutually. Of all activities of life cultivation and rehabilitation, the conservation and promotion of functions of the spleen and kidney are the important content which cannot be ignored.