久jiǔ視shì傷shāng血xuè,，久jiǔ臥wò傷shāng氣qì,，久jiǔ坐zuò傷shāng肉ròu,，久jiǔ立lì傷shāng骨gǔ,，久jiǔ行xíng傷shāng筋jīn

What does 久視傷血，久臥傷氣，久坐傷肉，久立傷骨，久行傷筋 (jiǔ shì shāng xuè, jiǔ wò shāng qì, jiǔ zuò shāng ròu, jiǔ lì shāng gǔ, jiǔ xíng shāng jīn) mean?

久視傷血，久臥傷氣，久坐傷肉，久立傷骨，久行傷筋 (jiǔ shì shāng xuè, jiǔ wò shāng qì, jiǔ zuò shāng ròu, jiǔ lì shāng gǔ, jiǔ xíng shāng jīn) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "Prolonged looking injures blood, prolonged lying injures qi, prolonged sitting injures flesh, prolonged standing injures bones, prolonged walking injures sinews." In use it means: Each of the five basic physical activities, when taken to excess, harms the corresponding bodily tissue. Balance and moderation across all postures and activities is essential for maintaining health. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Earth note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Tiger.

Literally: "Prolonged looking injures blood, prolonged lying injures qi, prolonged sitting injures flesh, prolonged standing injures bones, prolonged walking injures sinews."

The reading

Every posture and activity, when held too long, turns from natural to harmful. The lesson is not to avoid looking, lying, sitting, standing, or walking, but to rotate among them. The body was designed for variety, not endurance of a single mode. Modern life, with its long hours before screens, violates this ancient warning daily. Balance across the five activities keeps all five tissues sound.

What kind of proverb it is

• Typeyànyǔ 諺語
• FocusPresent-minded
• Element土 Earth
• Zodiac tie虎 Year of the Tiger

Source Huangdi Neijing Suwen, Chapter 23 (Xuanming Wuqi), the Five Taxations (wu lao)

Sits beside

Keep reading

Return to the Proverb Pond to draw another of the eighty-seven, or hear one read aloud. Read the rest of its chapter in Harmony, Virtue & Balance, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Tiger, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.