The Longevity Secrets 0f Soong May-ling, Once the First Lady of the Republic of China

Soong May-ling, once the First Lady of the Republic of China, also also known as the most beautiful lady in Asia. She died at the age of 106, and even in her late years, she was in good shape, and remained clear minded and beautiful. People are eager to know her longevity secrets.

According to her private doctor, Soong May-ling liked playing the piano and painting at her young age. She started learning Chinese painting at 60 from famous artists like Huang Junbi and Chang Dai-chien. She also loved reading and retained the habit of reading books and newspapers for many years. From painting and reading, she found inner peace and was free from worries and desires. Such a mind and self-cultivation are her secrets for longevity.

If preserving health is a characteristic of TCM, nourishing the mind is the core of preserving health. According to TCM, "Most people try to keep healthy by nourishing their body; a smart guy would try to keep healthy by nourishing his qi; a truly wise man would try to keep healthy by nourishing his mind." At the beginning of Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon, it says that "if you can preserve your essence, you'll be immune from diseases. If you can keep calm, you can live longer; otherwise, if you are anxious, your body will be collapsed". Mencius also said, "To nourish the mind there is nothing better than to make the desires few." There is a Hall of Mental Cultivation in the Forbidden City, a hall for emperors to cultivate their minds. Thus, nourishing essence, qi and mind plays an important role in traditional Chinese health preserving culture.

According to TCM, all diseases come from our mind. Our emotions would affect our organs and body. Thus, we should keep tranquil and innourish different with few desires and never lose temper in daily life. In your spare time, you could read a book with a cup of tea and listen to some light music. Psychological problems caused by imbalanced minds are the most serious threat to modern people. To have a strong body, you should protect your mind first. TCM values preventive treatment. The best doctor should make all efforts to prevent diseases. It's unwise to receive treatment after getting illnesses. Thus, we recommend preserving health through massage and healthy diet, sports, scheduled work and rest and psychological cultivation. Prevention is not only the highest pursuit of TCM, but also the highest realm of preserving health.