The world is vast and the universe immense; yet what I have seen and heard does not amount even to a single grain among the sands of the Ganges. How, then, could I be arrogant? The older I grow, the more I feel the inadequacy of my learning and the insufficiency of my strength. I am now nearing seventy. Although I have the wish to benefit others, I regret that I lack effective methods for helping the world. As one grows old, one’s vigor declines. If unable to rise and act, perhaps one may sit and set things down in writing. Whether matters are great or small, if I have gained something from them, I wish to make it known to those of like mind. I shall therefore record, section by section, what I have seen and heard in my old age, not daring to neglect even a small good deed.

Arranging flowers in a vase may seem a small matter, yet the flowers soon wither. I have heard florists say that the water in a vase should be only about an inch deep and should never be too abundant. Do not let water touch the flowers themselves, nor should they lean against other objects, lest they absorb moisture. Change the water every two days. I tried this, and it worked exceedingly well: the flowers did not wilt for many days. Before placing peonies and Chinese peonies in a vase, scorch the cut ends over a flame, then put them in water; they will then open more readily. Some say that adding a piece of charcoal to the water is especially effective.

To keep the walls around a courtyard from collapsing over time, clear away the grass at their bases once a year; it is best to remove the roots. Trees should be planted well away from the walls and deeply rooted.

If the hands or feet are scalded by water or fire, immediately dissolve alkali in water and apply it as a dressing. Do not use too much water; the pain will stop at once.

Of the hundred ailments of the human body, internal wheezing and external ringworm are the most difficult to treat. Asthma is especially distressing. I recently obtained a prescription: remove the seeds from six jin of winter squash, add four jin of malt sugar and the juice of half a jin of old ginger, and boil the three ingredients together into a paste. Beginning on the Start of Winter, take one tablespoon daily, mixed with boiling water. Mild cases may be cured in a single winter; severe cases show results after three winters.

Black wood ear fungus is several times more potent than white wood ear fungus. After an illness, eat two qian daily, stewed until soft; consuming one jin produces remarkable results. An elderly lay practitioner named Zheng took it for more than ten years and is still healthy at the age of eighty-six. Young people suffering from seminal emission, however, should not eat too much of it.

Whenever anger becomes uncontrollable, immediately direct your attention to the soles of your feet, causing the fire to descend. Then there will be no danger of a stroke, because the blood will not rush into the brain.