Glossary

The Twelve Excesses (十二淫, Shi Er Yin) are listed by Sun Simiao as twelve emotional and behavioural factors that must be reduced in order to nurture life. They are:

1. Excessive Joy injures the Blood
2. Excessive Anger injures the Vessels
3. Excessive Laughter injures the Organs
4. Excessive Grief injures the Heart
5. Excessive Thought leads to absent-mindedness
6. Excessive Elation leads to dispersed Qi
7. Excessive Love leads to confusion
8. Excessive Loathing leads to vexation
9. Excessive Worry leads to confused thoughts
10. Excessive Pensiveness leads to inability to concentrate
11. Excessive Busyness leads to exhaustion of the body
12. Excessive Talk consumes the Qi