This is a treatise on Qi Gong that dates from the early Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods (770 B.C. - 221 B.C.). It has been said to describe the micro-cosmic orbit practice, but I think that it can be more broadly applicable:
"In conducting Qi, depth leads to storage, storage leads to extending outwards, extending leads to settling downward, settling leads to stability, stability leads to solidity, solidity leads to germination, germination leads to growth, growth leads to withdrawal, withdrawal leads to heaven.
Celestial Qi comes from above, Earthly Qi comes from below. Following this leads to life, countering this leads to death."
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The nine statements that are the core of the Jade Pendant Inscription describe a process:
'Depth leads to storage, storage leads to extension.'
I think depth refers to both the depth of Qigong practice and depth in terms of internal focus. Concentrating on both allows qi to accumulate in the body. Once it has begun to accumulate it is then possible to extend the qi outwards.
The statements that follow describe the developements that follow if the qi is allowed to flow freely. The qi settles, gathers, concentrates itself and then transforms.
The last two statements: 'Growth leads to withdrawal and withdrawal leads to heaven' I think are refering to Taoist ideals of withdrawing from social constraints that shape our perspectives and being able to perceive the Tao more clearly.
The last two statements are a reminder that the process flows naturally and should not be forced: "to follow promotes life, to counter leads to death".
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