Research On Ouyang Xiu’s Health Preserving Thoughts

As excellent politician, writer and historian, Ouyang Hsiu is very famous in Northern Song Dynasty. Compared with other elites, Ouyang Hsiu really has longevity. Because he cares about health preservation. I will study his thought of health preservation on five aspects.Firstly, Why did he want to focus on health preservation? There are two factors, era background and personal factors.In Song Dynasty, Confucianism,Taoism and Buddhism is merged with each other. At the same time,many scholars were into the health preservation, including Ouyang Hsiu. Personal factors:sickness and the influence of friends. Ouyang Hsiu suffered from sickness frequently when he got old. As a result, he began to realize the importance of health. Many of his friends knew a lot about Chinese medicine,which contribute to forming his thought of health.Secondly, the theoretical basis of his health thought.Ouyang Hsiu highlighted Qi and Nature. In his eyes,without enough Qi,we can’t live long. Besides,we must respect the Nature. Only in this way,can we have longevity.Thirdly,the means of health preservation. Ouyang Hsiu not only pay attention to the health of body,but also focus on the mind. To keep body healthy,he took many measures, such as develop good habits and customs and so on. In order to keep mind healthy,he made himself beyond the secular. Besides,he developed elegant habits,such as playing the piano and chess,reading books and drawing. All this measures are good for his health preservation.Fourthly, the characteristic of his thought. His thought is different from other scholars in Song Dynasty. Because he is a Nature lover. He think it stupid to obey the order of Nature. The second characteristic of his thought is the change of attitude towards health of Taoism. When he was young,he look down upon the means of Taoism. As time went by,he gradually changed his attitude. He also realized the value of Taoism.Fifthly,the value of his thought. As we students,the thought of Ouyang Hsiu is really meaningful. If we can learn from his thought,we can have good health, especially mind health. What’s more, we can own ideal personality.