Ching Chin., lit. “semen, spermatozoa”; one of three life forces, the intermingling of which according to Taoist teachings is essential for the preservation of life. The other two are the breath, or vital energy (ch’i), and the mind, or consciousness (shen). Ching literally designates the semen of a man or the menstrual flow of a woman. In Taoist texts, however, it is not used in such a concrete sense but rather describes a subtle substance or essence, capable of combining with ch’i.
Ching is produced in the abode of ching (ching-she) near the lower cinnabar field (tan-t’ien). If ching is present only in small quantities within the body, the person concerned will become ill; when the ching is exhausted, death ensues. For that reason, Taoist adepts strive to restrict the loss of ching by means of various sexual practices and techniques essentially based on avoiding ejaculation and to strengthen the ching (fang-chung shu, huan-ching pu-nao) with the help of the female yin essence (yin-yang).
According to the most ancient Chinese dictionary, ching designates cleaned rice; it is additionally defined as “seed,” and “source of life.” The Huang-ti nei-ching defines ching not only as “seed essence” but also as “essence of the [bodily] organs” and “germ of life.” It is said that after conception the first to form is the ching, and only after that the brain and spinal cord.
Taoist practice knows several methods to strengthen and increase ching. The simplest of these states that a man should, as often as possible, have successive sexual intercourse with different and preferably young and beautiful female partners but not allow himself to ejaculate until the end of the final copulation. By this practice his essence is strengthened under the influence of the female yin, any illnesses are healed and the life force increases. The practice of allowing the semen to return to nourish the brain (huan-ching pu-nao) is considered to be more effective.
Source: The Encyclopedia of Eastern Philosophy and Religion: Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Zen. Shambhala Publications, Inc.
Ching documents
Books on Ching
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