The term "jung-sheng" (Chinese art of health preservation) may be somewhat unfamiliar to many foreign friends. It's not as intuitive as acupuncture, nor as commonly seen as tai chi. However, in China, jung-sheng is a way of life that permeates every aspect – it's not something you do only when you get sick, but a conscious choice made daily, with every meal, and every breath.

The core of jung-sheng is prevention, not treatment. Chinese people believe that the body is like a well – it doesn't make sense to clean the water only after it becomes cloudy; it's better to keep the spring clean from the very beginning. That's why you see Chinese people practicing slowly in parks in the morning, carrying thermoses of warm water at the office, and cooking soups with silver ear mushrooms during the transition from autumn to winter – they are not treating illness, they are "caring" for their health.

The seasons change, and diet should be adjusted accordingly. Jung-sheng requires adapting to nature. In spring, eat sprouts to promote growth; in summer, drink mung bean soup to cool down; in autumn, eat pears to moisten the lungs; in winter, stew mutton to strengthen yang energy. This is not superstition, but wisdom accumulated over millennia of human interaction with the climate. No matter which country you live in with distinct seasons, this logic is not difficult to understand.

Movement and stillness complement each other, and both body and mind are cultivated together. Chinese people believe that health is not just about muscle strength, but also about the flow of energy (qi). Walking, pa-tuan-jin (a form of exercise), standing like a stake, meditating in silence – all these are practices where movement blends with stillness. Modern research confirms that regular low-intensity exercise combined with stable emotional management is more effective than any dietary supplements.

What's most wonderful about jung-sheng is that it doesn't require expensive equipment or complex knowledge. A glass of lukewarm water, early bedtime, a light dinner – these are the best remedies. In this fast-paced era, perhaps we can all learn from the Chinese art of health preservation and rediscover some gentleness towards our own bodies.

Marie Liu