Detailed Explanation of Three Hun and Seven Po: The Mysteries of Daoist Medicine and Practice of Tai Guang, Shuang Ling, You Jing, and the Seven Po
Explore the Three Hun and Seven Po system in Daoism and Daoist medicine. Deeply dissect the physiological functions of the Heavenly Soul (Tai Guang), Earthly Soul (Shuang Ling), Life Soul (You Jing), and the body's Seven Po (Shi Gou, Fu Shi, etc.), the causes of soul loss, and methods for soul retrieval and calming.
Three Hun (Yang) - Spirit and Awareness
Heavenly Soul · Fetal Light
First of Three Souls · Innate Yang SpiritThe master switch of life. Represents innate divinity, the first spark of vitality, higher self wisdom, and life limit.
Earth Soul · Shuang Ling
Intellect & Memory · Yin-Yang BondGoverns logical thinking, reaction speed, memory, wit and adaptability, and ancestral genetic karma.
Life Soul · Youjing
Emotions and Obsessions · Master of the Physical BodyGoverns the seven emotions and six desires, obsessions, love, sexual impulses, aesthetic preferences, and physical desires.
Seven Po (Yin) - Body and Instincts
One Po · Corpse Dog
Vigilance and Security · Sleep GuardianGoverns subconscious perception and crisis alertness during sleep. Like a loyal watch dog within the body.
Second Po · Fushi
Digestion and Transformation · Source of Qi and BloodGoverns deep digestion of nighttime food, nutrient absorption, and extraction of subtle Qi and Blood substances.
Three Po · Que Yin
Reproduction & Repair · Hormone BalanceGoverns nighttime self-repair of reproductive organs, hormone secretion balance, and sexual function maintenance.
Four Po · Tunzei
Immunity and Defense · Body GuardThe body's immune system. Responsible for engulfing invading viruses, bacteria, and harmful external evil qi.
Five Po · Non-Toxin
Detoxification and Metabolism · Toxin CleanseGoverns the accumulation, detoxification, heat toxin dissipation, and metabolic waste conversion in the body.
Six Po · Expelling Filth
Expelling Filth and Cleaning · Channel SweepingGoverns the excretion of body waste (urine, feces, sweat, phlegm-dampness) and internal environment cleaning.
Seven Po · Stinky Lung
Respiration & Oxygenation · Life SupportGoverns the rhythm of breathing. Maintains autonomous respiration and gas exchange in the lungs during sleep. The last po to leave the physical body.
What is 'Soul Loss' and 'Soul Retrieval'?
In traditional Daoist medicine and folk beliefs, when a person suffers a sudden severe fright, experiences long-term extreme anxiety, or visits places with dark and chaotic magnetic fields, the body's 'Three Hun and Seven Po' will temporarily vibrate and separate.
This is commonly known as "lost soul and bewildered". It manifests as frequent dreams and easy waking at night, mental daze, loss of appetite, or inexplicable high fever. The "soul calling" ritual at Taiwan’s Xingtian Temple essentially uses the calming frequency of incense and the positive suggestions of service songs to "reclaim" the wandering emotional electromagnetic waves (life soul/seven souls) back into the body.