Origin: Unearthed from Han Tomb No.3 at Mawangdui, Changsha

The medical book is in the same volume as Occults and Folk Remedies (inscriptions on wooden slips), with the former in the inside and the latter on the outside. Because there was a sentence “the perfect healthy way” on the bamboo slips, the restoring group decided to take this as the title of this book. It mainly discusses the issue of sex health care, which simply refers to maintaining a healthy sexual life. 

The so-called “perfect healthy way”, meaning a profound way to remain healthy, is in fact is the way of maintaining a healthy sexual life in the bedchamber. Some of the contents of this book are similar to those found in the medical book Ten Questions (also inscriptions on bamboo slips) unearthed from the same tomb, with some repetitions but also quite a few new ideas. For example, it emphasizes regulated sexual intercourse, cautious and controlled love-making, and prevention of over ejaculation on the part of the man.

It also specifically points out the matters needing attention in a healthy sexual life, which is the fabled “seven damages and eight benefits”. It means in sexual intercourse there are eight practices beneficial to man’s health and seven practices harmful to man’s health. The book also discusses the issue of sexual dysfunction, one example being the analysis of male impotence. Seen from the point of modern science, the part about healthy sexual life in this book is tinged with both scientific elements and heresy and therefore should be treated dialectically. Almost all contents in the book centers round man and are presented from the point of man as well. Such over concern about males shows the social characteristics of male dominance in a patriarchal society. If we look at all the materials about sex unearthed from the Han tombs at Mawangdui, it is astounding that the ancients of over two thousand years ago should have observed and studied the issue of sex in such detail and deliberation and should have put forward quite a few ideas in conformity with modern scientific theories.