[Note: This translation is provided for historical, academic, and cultural study purposes ONLY. The text describes alchemical processes involving toxic substances such as lead, mercury, arsenic, and other minerals that are extremely dangerous and potentially fatal if handled, ingested, or attempted. DO NOT attempt to replicate any of the procedures, recipes, or practices described in this document. The information is presented solely to preserve and understand historical Chinese alchemical traditions and should not be interpreted as medical, scientific, or practical advice under any circumstances.]
Yellow Emperor’s Nine Elixirs | 黄帝九鼎神丹经诀
黄帝曰。欲合神丹。当于深山大泽。若穷里旷野。无人之处。若于人中作之。必于高墙厚壁。令中外不见。亦可也。结伴不过二三人耳。先斋七日。沐浴五香。置加精洁。勿经秽污丧死嫁女之家相往来。
The Yellow Emperor said, “Desiring to compound the Divine Elixir, one should be in deep mountains and large marshes, or in poor hamlets and wild plains, in places without people. If one does it among people, one must be within high walls and thick partitions, ensuring that neither inside nor outside can see; this is also acceptable. The companions should not exceed two or three people. First, fast for seven days, bathe in five fragrances, maintain purity and cleanliness, and do not frequent places of filth, impurity, mourning, death, or households of married women.”
黄帝曰。欲市其神药。必先斋七日。以子丑日沐浴。以执日市之。当于月德地坐。勿与人争贵贱。
The Yellow Emperor said, “Desiring to purchase the divine medicines, one must first fast for seven days, bathe on a Zi or Chou day, and purchase on a Zhi day. One should sit in a place of monthly virtue, and not argue with others about price.”
Explanation: Zi and Chou are two of the twelve Earthly Branches used in the Chinese calendar to designate days. A “Zhi day” refers to a specific type of day in the Chinese cyclical calendar, often associated with stability and holding fast, considered suitable for activities like purchasing. “Monthly virtue” refers to a direction or location considered auspicious according to the heavenly stems and earthly branches of the month.
玄女曰。作药以五月五日大良。次用七月七日。始以甲子丁巳开除之日为善。甲申乙巳乙卯次之。作药忌日。春戊辰已巳。夏丁巳戊申壬辰已未。秋戊戌辛亥庚子。冬戊寅已未癸卯癸酉。及月杀。及支天。季四孟仲。季月收壬午丙戌癸亥辛巳。月建。诸朔望。皆凶。不可用以起火。合神药慎不得与俗间愚人交通。勿令嫉妒多口舌人不信道者闻知也。神药不成。
Mysterious Woman said, “Making the medicine on the fifth day of the fifth month is most excellent. Next best is using the seventh day of the seventh month. Beginning on Jiazi, Dingsi, or days of elimination and opening is good. Jia Shen, Yi Si, Yi Mao are next. Taboo days for making medicine: Spring: Wuchen, Jisi; Summer: Dingsi, Wushen, Renchen, Jiwei; Autumn: Wuxu, Xinhai, Gengzi; Winter: Wuyin, Jiwei, Guimao, Guiyou; also month-killers, and Zhi Tian, the four seasons, Meng, Zhong, Ji months, collect on Renwu, Bingxu, Guihai, Xinsi. Month-establishing days, all new moons and full moons, are all inauspicious. They cannot be used to start the fire. When compounding divine medicine, be careful not to interact with foolish people of the mundane world. Do not let jealous, gossipy people who do not believe in the Way hear about it, or the divine medicine will not be completed.”
*Explanation: The dates listed are specific combinations of the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches (the 60-day cycle) considered inauspicious for alchemical work. “Month-killers,” “Zhi Tian,” and “Month-establishing days” are all terms from Chinese calendrical astrology referring to days with particularly strong or harmful energies. The fifth day of the fifth month (Dragon Boat Festival) and the seventh day of the seventh month (Double Seventh Festival) were considered days of powerful Yang energy, ideal for such work.*
神药成便为真人。上天入渊。变化恍惚。可以举家皆仙。何但一身。俗人惜财。不合丹药。及信草木之药。且草木药埋之即朽。煮之即烂。烧之即焦。不能自生。焉能生人。可以疗病益气。又不免死也。还丹至道之要非凡所闻。
If the divine medicine is completed, one immediately becomes a Perfected Person, ascending to heaven and entering the abyss, transforming in a state of trance-like flux. One can lift the whole family to immortality, why only oneself? Mundane people cherish wealth, do not compound the elixir medicine, and instead believe in herbal medicines. Moreover, herbal medicines, if buried, immediately rot; if boiled, immediately dissolve; if burned, immediately char. They cannot sustain themselves, how can they generate life? They can treat illness and boost Qi, but still one cannot escape death. The essential points of the supreme Way of the Reverted Elixir are not what ordinary people hear.
黄帝曰。起火时当于釜边施祭。以好白酒五升。牛羊脯各三斤。黄梁米饭二升。大枣三升。梨一斗。熟鸡子三十枚。鲤鱼三头各重三斤。凡用皆三案。案皆用二杯。烧香再拜。祝曰。小兆臣某共诚惟大道君老君太和君。哀。小兆臣某贪生药。道某令药不飞不亡。皆使伏火。药已好善。随手变化。黄白悉伏。服药飞仙。朝于紫宫。命长无极。得至真人。行酒。起。再拜。毕诸赤果木橘柚皆上之。讫然放火如法。
The Yellow Emperor said, “When starting the fire, one should set up a sacrifice beside the crucible. Use five sheng of good white liquor, three jin each of beef and mutton jerky, two sheng of yellow millet cooked rice, three sheng of jujubes, one dou of pears, thirty cooked chicken eggs, three carp each weighing three jin. All used items should be placed on three tables. Each table uses two cups. Burn incense and bow twice, praying, ‘Minor adept your servant so-and-so, with utmost sincerity, [addresses] the Great Dao Lord, Lord Lao, and Lord Taihe. Have pity on minor adept your servant so-and-so, who covets life-giving medicine. Dao, cause this medicine not to fly away, not to be lost. Cause all to subdue the fire. May the medicine be good and excellent, transforming according to hand, all [base metals] subdued. Taking the medicine, may one fly as an immortal, appear at the Purple Palace. May life be long without end, enabling attainment of Perfected Personhood.’ Serve the wine. Rise. Bow twice. After finishing, all red fruits, fruits like wood, oranges, and pomelos are also presented. After this is done, ignite the fire according to the method.”
Explanation: The “Purple Palace” refers to the abode of the Supreme Deity or the celestial realm of the immortals.
黄帝曰。欲作神丹皆先作玄黄。
The Yellow Emperor said, “Desiring to make the Divine Elixir, one must first make Mysterious Yellow.”
玄黄法
玄黄法。取水银十斤。铅二十斤。纳铁器中。猛其下火。铅与水银吐其精华。华紫色。或如黄金色。以铁匙接取。名曰玄黄。一名黄精。一名黄芽。一名黄轻。当纳药于竹筒中。百蒸之。当以雄黄丹砂水和飞之。雄黄丹砂水在三十六水中。
Mysterious Yellow Method
The Mysterious Yellow Method: Take ten jin of mercury and twenty jin of lead. Place them in an iron vessel. Intensify the fire beneath them. The lead and mercury will emit their essence and flower. The flower is purple in color, or sometimes like the color of gold. Use an iron spoon to scrape and collect it. This is called Mysterious Yellow. One name is Yellow Essence. One name is Yellow Sprout. One name is Yellow Lightness. It should be placed in a bamboo tube and steamed one hundred times. It should be flown with Realgar Water and Cinnabar Water. Realgar Water and Cinnabar Water are among the Thirty-Six Waters.
Explanation: The “Thirty-Six Waters” likely refers to a now-lost alchemical text or a known collection of recipes for aqueous solutions used in processing minerals.
黄帝曰。又当作六一泥。
The Yellow Emperor said, “Also, one should make the Six-One Mud.”
六一泥法 | Six-One Mud Method
泥法。用矾石戎盐卤咸礜石。四物先烧。烧之二十日。东海左顾牡蛎赤石脂滑石。凡七物分等。多少自在。合捣万杵。令如粉。于铁器中。合裹火之。九日九夜。猛其下火。药正赤如火色。可复捣万杵。下绢筛。和百日华池。以为泥。当开以泥赤土釜。土釜令可受八九升。大者一斗。涂之。令内外各厚三分。暴之于日中十日。令干燥。乃取胡粉烧之。令如金色。复取前玄黄各等分。和以百日华池。令土釜内外各三分。暴之十日。令大干燥。乃可用飞丹华矣。又法。作药釜及六一泥。讫之时着瓮内。盖口阴干。瓮去地三四尺。勿令湿。
The mud method: Use alum stone, Rong salt, lake salt, and arsenolite. These four substances are first burned, burned for twenty days. [Also use] East-facing, left-turning oyster, red halloysite, and talc. In total, seven substances, equal parts. The quantity can be according to convenience. Combine and pound together ten thousand times, until it becomes like powder. In an iron vessel, combine and wrap, then heat. Heat for nine days and nine nights, with intense fire beneath. When the medicine is exactly red like the color of fire, pound again ten thousand times. Sieve through a silk sieve. Mix with Hundred-Day Flower Pool to make a mud. This mud is used to line the red clay crucibles. The clay crucibles should be able to hold about eight or nine sheng. Large ones hold one dou. Coat them, inside and out, each to a thickness of three fen. Dry them in the sun for ten days, until thoroughly dry. Then take powdered lead and burn it until it becomes the color of gold. Again take the previous Mysterious Yellow, each equal parts, and mix with Hundred-Day Flower Pool. Coat the inside and outside of the clay crucibles each to a thickness of three fen. Dry in the sun for ten days. Make thoroughly dry, then it can be used for flying the Elixir Flower. Another method: After making the medicine crucibles and the Six-One Mud, place them inside an earthen jar, cover the mouth, and let dry in the shade. The jar should be three or four chi above the ground. Do not let it get damp.
Explanation: “Hundred-Day Flower Pool” is likely another name for a specially prepared vinegar or acidic solution used in alchemy, perhaps aged or processed for a hundred days. “Rong salt” may refer to a specific type of salt from the Rong region. “Left-turning” oyster refers to the specific shell orientation considered potent.
第一丹 | First Elixir
第一神丹名曰丹华。作之法。用真砂一斤。亦可二斤。亦可十斤。多少自在。随人富贫。纳釜中。云以卤咸覆捣之。以六一泥涂釜口际会。无令泄也。谨候视之。勿令有拆如发。则药皆飞。失其精华。但服其糟滓。无益也。涂讫干之十余日。乃可用。不干燥不可火之也。先以马通糠火去釜五寸温之九日九夜。推火附之又九日九夜。以火壅釜半腹又九日九夜。凡三十六日。可止火一日。寒之。药皆飞着上釜。如五彩琅玕。或如奔星。或如霜雪。或正赤如丹。或青或紫。以羽扫取。一斤减四两耳。若药不伏火者。当复飞之。和以玄水液龙膏泽。拌令浥浥。复置玄黄赤土釜中。封其际如始法。猛火飞之三十六日。药成。凡七十二日毕矣。欲服药。斋戒沐浴五七日。焚香。乃以平旦东向。礼拜长跪。服之如大黍粟。亦可如小豆。上士服之七日乃升天。中士服之七十日得仙。愚人服之以一年得仙。成以其丹华釜飞第二之丹及九丹一切神丹大善也。玄女曰。作丹华成当试以作金。金成者药成也。金不成者药不成。药未伏火而不可服也。或涂釜不密。或是犯禁所致。云。更准前飞之试之。龙膏丸之如小豆者。致猛火上。鼓囊吹之。食顷即成黄金。又以二十四铢丹华。点粉汞一斤。亦成黄金。黄金成以作筒盛药。又以一铢丹华投汞一斤。若铅一斤。用武火渐令猛吹之。皆成黄金也。斤与铢慎勿多。多则金刚。少则金柔。皆不中搥也。又云。金若成世可度。金不成命难固。徒自损费。何所收护也。
The first divine elixir is named Elixir Flower. The method of making it: Use one jin of real fine cinnabar. It can also be two jin, or ten jin. The amount is according to convenience, following one’s wealth or poverty. Place it in the crucible. It is said to cover it with pounded lake salt. Coat the rim and joint of the crucible with Six-One Mud, ensuring no leakage. Watch it carefully. Do not let there be a crack as small as a hair, or else the medicine will all fly away, losing its essence and flower. Only taking the dregs is of no benefit. After coating, let it dry for ten-plus days. Then it can be used. If not dry, it cannot be heated. First, use horse dung or chaff fire, placed five cun from the crucible, warming it for nine days and nine nights. Push the fire closer and heat for another nine days and nine nights. With fire surrounding the crucible up to half its belly, heat for another nine days and nine nights. In total, thirty-six days. Stop the fire for one day. Let it cool. The medicine will all have flown and adhered to the upper crucible, like five-colored langgan, or like shooting stars, or like frost and snow, or exactly red like cinnabar, or blue, or purple. Use a feather to sweep and collect it. From one jin, only four liang are lost. If the medicine has not subdued the fire, it should be flown again. Mix it with Mysterious Water Liquid and Dragon Cream, stirring until it is slightly damp. Again place it in a Mysterious Yellow red clay crucible. Seal its joints as in the initial method. Fly it with intense fire for thirty-six days. The medicine is completed. In total, seventy-two days finish. Desiring to take the medicine, fast and bathe for five or seven days. Burn incense. Then, at dawn, facing east, bow in reverence and kneel upright. Take an amount as large as a millet grain, or it can be as large as a red bean. Superior officers who take it will ascend to heaven in seven days. Middle officers who take it will become immortals in seventy days. Foolish people who take it will become immortals in one year. Using the Elixir Flower crucible to fly the Second Elixir and all nine elixirs, all divine elixirs, is excellent. Mysterious Woman said, “When the Elixir Flower is completed, one should test it by making gold. If gold is formed, the medicine is successful. If gold is not formed, the medicine is not successful. The medicine has not subdued the fire and cannot be taken. Perhaps the crucible coating was not tight, or it was caused by violating a prohibition. It is said to fly it again according to the previous method and test it. Roll Dragon Cream into pills the size of red beans. Place on a fierce fire, work the bellows and blow. In the time of a meal, it becomes gold. Also, using twenty-four zhu of Elixir Flower, dot one jin of powdered lead or mercury. It also becomes gold. When gold is formed, make a tube to hold the medicine. Also, throw one zhu of Elixir Flower into one jin of mercury, or one jin of lead. Use a fierce fire, gradually making it intense and blowing. All become gold. Be careful with the jin and zhu amounts, do not overdo it. If too much, the gold becomes hard; if too little, the gold becomes soft. Neither can be hammered. It is also said, ‘If gold is achieved, the world can be crossed; if gold is not achieved, fate is hard to secure. Vainly destroying oneself and wasting resources, what protection is gained?'”
Explanation: Langgan is a mythical precious gemstone, often described as a type of pearl or jade, used here to describe the beautiful and precious appearance of the sublimated elixir. The different heating stages represent a careful, controlled process to ensure the ingredients react properly without being lost.
第二丹 | Second Elixir
第二神丹名曰神符也。取无毒水银。多少自纳。在六一泥釜中。封之干讫。一如调治丹华法也。飞之九上下。寒。发。扫取。和以鲤鱼胆。复封涂如初。复飞之九上下。寒。发。扫取。和以龙膏。名曰神符。取铅黄华十斤。置器中。以炭火之。即又取水银七斤。投铅中。猛火之。须臾精华俱上出。状如黄金。又似流星紫赤流珠。五色玄黄。即以铁匙接取之。得十斤。即化九转。名曰丹华之黄。一名玄黄之液。一名天地之符。即捣治汞化为丹。名曰还丹。圣人秘之。非凡俗道士之所知见也。非殊达者。不能知也。火名子明。汞亦名子明。一者铅精也。一名太阴。一名金公。一名河车。一名奼女。一名立制石。下愚治调直用山中立制石。实非也。真人曰。石胆皆出铅中。凡人愚昧治调神药。反用羌里石胆。非也。去道万里。为药故不成也。真人曰。以丹砂精化为流珠霜雪。铅精化为还丹黄白。乃成服之神仙矣。不用此二物调治药。虽得丹服之犹候死矣。太阴者铅也。太阳者丹也。取汞九斤。铅一斤。合置赤土釜中。猛火上。从平旦至日午上晡。一云日下时。水银与铅精俱出。如黄金色。名曰黄精。一名黄芽。一名黄轻。一名黄华。以井华水火之。名曰黄华池。一名黄龙。一名黄服。一名立制石。取玄黄。和以玄水液。合如封泥。丸之。纳赤土釜中。以六一泥内伏之。令各厚三分。令干十日。无令泄。以马通若糠火火之八十日。当成金药。取玄黄一刀圭。纳猛火。以鼓囊吹之。食顷皆消。成黄金。黄金若不成药仍生。未可用也。当更纳赤土釜中。如前封泥。火之八十日药。乃可用服矣。玄黄一名伏丹。一名紫粉。欲服之。当以甲子日平旦向东。再拜。服如小豆。吞一丸日一。百日神仙。万病皆愈。大癫大癞并愈。无所不瘥。即服以百日华池和玄黄。令如泥。以置苴两赤土釜中。内外各厚三分。纳水银一斤。亦可十斤。作药多少任意。三斤可以仙一人耳。可得玄黄精十两。取汞三斤。纳土釜中。复以玄黄覆其上。厚二寸许。以一土釜合之。封以六一泥外内。固济无令泄。置日中暴。令大干乃火之。湿者不可得火即坼破。如调丹华法。以马通若糠火火之九日夜。寒一日。发之。药皆飞着上釜。状如霜雪。紫红朱绿。五色光华。厚二分寸。余以羽扫取之。和以黄狗大胆。亦可以河伯余鱼者。诀云是鲤鱼胆和之。一云以此玄黄令如封泥。注云其所丸之物。诀云是水泉也。复丸纳土釜中。已下同。丸纳土釜中。复以玄黄覆之。令厚一寸。一云釜合盖之。以六一泥封之。如初法暴十日。令大燥乃火之。湿者不可也。得热釜即拆也。复火九日夜。可止一日。寒之。发开。以羽扫取着上釜精飞。若但紫名曰神符还丹。和以龙膏。丸如小豆。常以甲子平旦东向。再拜长跪。服之百日。与仙人相见。玉女来至。于是从诸神方而飞行矣。欲渡大水。和神符以龙膏。若河伯余。以涂足下。行水上足不没溺也。欲入火服一丸。即不热也。服药百日。三尸九虫皆自败坏。长生不死也。
The second divine elixir is named Divine Talisman. Take non-toxic mercury. The amount is according to convenience. Place it in a Six-One Mud crucible. After sealing and drying, it is entirely like the method for preparing Elixir Flower. Fly it for nine cycles (up and down). Let cool. Open. Sweep and collect. Mix with carp gallbladder. Reseal and coat as at the beginning. Fly it for another nine cycles. Let cool. Open. Sweep and collect. Mix with Dragon Cream. This is called Divine Talisman. Take ten jin of Yellow Flower of Lead and place it in a vessel. Heat with a charcoal fire. Then take seven jin of mercury and throw it into the lead. Use a fierce fire. In a moment, the essence and flower both emerge upward, shaped like gold, also like shooting stars, or purple-red flowing pearls, five-colored Mysterious Yellow. Immediately use an iron spoon to scrape and collect it. Obtain ten jin. This is then transformed into the Nine Cycles, named the Yellow of Elixir Flower. One name is Liquid of Mysterious Yellow. One name is Talisman of Heaven and Earth. Then pound and treat the transformed mercury into an elixir, named Reverted Elixir. The sage keeps it secret; it is not what ordinary Daoist practitioners know or see. Unless one is exceptionally accomplished, one cannot know it. Fire is also named Zi Ming, mercury is also named Zi Ming. One is lead essence. One name is Great Yin. One name is Lord Metal. One name is River Chariot. One name is Maiden. One name is Establishment-Control Stone. Inferior practitioners prepare and use mountain-acquired Establishment-Control Stone directly, but this is truly incorrect. The Perfected Person said, “Stone gallbladder all comes from within lead. Ordinary people, ignorant, when preparing divine medicine, instead use Qiangli stone gallbladder. This is incorrect. It is ten thousand li from the Way. Because of this, the medicine is not completed.” The Perfected Person said, “By refining the essence of cinnabar, it transforms into flowing pearls, frost, and snow. By refining the essence of lead, it transforms into the yellows and whites of the Reverted Elixir. Only then, taking it, one becomes an immortal. If one does not use these two substances in preparing the medicine, even if one obtains an elixir and takes it, one still awaits death.” Great Yin is lead. Great Yang is cinnabar. Take nine jin of mercury and one jin of lead. Combine and place in a red clay crucible. Use a fierce fire from dawn until noon, or until late afternoon. One text says until sunset. The mercury and lead essence both emerge, like the color of gold. This is called Yellow Essence. One name is Yellow Sprout. One name is Yellow Lightness. One name is Yellow Flower. Use well-water at dawn to quench it. This is called Yellow Flower Pool. One name is Yellow Dragon. One name is Yellow Garment. One name is Establishment-Control Stone. Take Mysterious Yellow and mix with Mysterious Water Liquid. Combine until it resembles sealing mud. Form into pills. Place in a red clay crucible. Subdue it inside with Six-One Mud, each layer three fen thick. Let dry for ten days. Do not allow leakage. Use a horse dung or chaff fire to heat it for eighty days. It should become the Golden Medicine. Take one knife-spoon-point of Mysterious Yellow and place it in a fierce fire. Use bellows to blow. In the time of a meal, it all melts and forms gold. If gold is not formed, the medicine is still raw and cannot be used. It should again be placed in a red clay crucible, sealed with mud as before. Heat for eighty days. Then the medicine can be used and taken. Mysterious Yellow has one name, Subdued Elixir. One name is Purple Powder. Desiring to take it, one should, on a Jiazi day at dawn, facing east, bow twice. Take an amount the size of a red bean. Swallow one pill per day. In one hundred days, one becomes an immortal. All ten thousand diseases are cured. Major leprosy and epilepsy are both cured. Nothing is not healed. Then take Hundred-Day Flower Pool and mix with Mysterious Yellow, making it like mud. Use this to line the two red clay crucibles, inside and out, each three fen thick. Place one jin of mercury inside. It can also be ten jin. The amount of medicine made is according to convenience. Three jin can make one person an immortal. One can obtain ten liang of Mysterious Yellow Essence. Take three jin of mercury and place it in the clay crucible. Cover it again with Mysterious Yellow to a depth of about two cun. Combine it with one clay crucible as a lid. Seal inside and out with Six-One Mud. Firmly seal, do not allow leakage. Place in the sun to dry. Make thoroughly dry before heating. If damp, upon receiving heat it will crack and break. Follow the method for preparing Elixir Flower. Use a horse dung or chaff fire to heat it for nine days and nights. Let cool for one day. Open it. The medicine will all have flown and adhered to the upper crucible, shaped like frost and snow, purple, red, cinnabar, green, with five-colored brilliance. It will be two fen to one cun thick. The remainder is swept and collected with a feather. Mix with the gallbladder of a yellow dog. It can also be mixed with River Earl’s Surplus Fish. The formula says it is mixed with carp gallbladder. One text says to use this Mysterious Yellow, making it like sealing mud. A note says regarding the substance to be pill-making: the formula says it is mercury. Again form pills and place in the clay crucible. Cover again with Mysterious Yellow to a depth of one cun. One text says to cover the crucible with a lid. Seal with Six-One Mud as in the initial method. Dry in the sun for ten days. Make thoroughly dry before heating. If damp, it is not acceptable. When the crucible gets hot, it will crack. Heat again for nine days and nights. Stop after one day. Let cool. Open. Use a feather to sweep and collect the essence that has flown and adhered to the upper crucible. If it is simply purple, it is called Divine Talisman Reverted Elixir. Mix with Dragon Cream. Form pills the size of red beans. Regularly, on a Jiazi day at dawn, facing east, bow twice and kneel upright. Take it. In one hundred days, one meets with immortals. Jade Maidens arrive. Then, following all the gods, one can fly. Desiring to cross great waters, mix Divine Talisman with Dragon Cream, or River Earl’s Surplus, and apply it to the soles of the feet. Walking on water, the feet do not sink or get wet. Desiring to enter fire, take one pill, and one does not feel heat. Taking the medicine for one hundred days, the Three Corpses and Nine Worms all self-destruct and decay. One lives long without death.
Explanation: The text equates lead and mercury with cosmic forces (Great Yin and Great Yang) and gives them numerous allegorical names (Lord Metal, River Chariot, Maiden). This is typical of alchemical codification. The warning against using “mountain-acquired” or “Qiangli” stone gallbladder emphasizes that the true ingredient is a refined essence derived from lead, not a naturally occurring mineral. The Three Corpses are malevolent spirits believed to live in the human body, causing disease and death, and recording one’s sins. The Nine Worms are parasitic entities also associated with decay and mortality.
第三丹 | Third Elixir
第三神丹名曰神丹也。先以六一泥泥两赤土釜内外。令厚各三分。又取牡蛎赤石脂磁石。法无磁石。存本不改。凡三物分等。调治之万杵。令如粉。和以百日华池令浥。一云以苴釜中涂釜内服。又以玄黄华着此苴上。令厚一寸许。乃取帝男二斤。雄黄也。帝女一斤。雌黄也。先以百日华池小沽之濡之。乃即上不敢飞。乃铁臼中调捣之万杵。令如粉。上釜中复盖以黄粉。令厚一寸许。以一釜合之。封以六一泥。勿令泄气。干之十日。乃以马通糠火火之九日夜。火去釜边五寸也。以推火拥之九日夜也。推火至釜一日猛火九日夜。以大壅至釜半腹火之九日夜。止。凡三十六日。一日寒之。以羽扫飞精上著者。和以龙膏通。纳釜中也。复泥封之。干之。复火之三十六日。一云二十七日。止一日。寒。发之。以羽扫取之。名曰飞精。治之者曰神丹。上士服之一刀圭日一。五十日神仙。中士服之百日。愚人服之一年乃神仙矣。凡夫男女小儿奴婢六畜以与服之。皆仙而不死矣。辟五兵。带系之。夫神多所卫护辟兵。服丹百日诸神仙来迎之。即玉男即玉女即玉童山卿泽尉皆来侍从。见形如人。度代无种事在人耳。
The third divine elixir is named Divine Elixir. First, use Six-One Mud to coat both the inside and outside of two red clay crucibles, each to a thickness of three fen. Also take oyster, red halloysite, and magnetite. According to the method, if there is no magnetite, the original text does not change. These three substances, in equal parts, are prepared and pounded ten thousand times until they become like powder. Mix with Hundred-Day Flower Pool until slightly damp. One text says to use this to line the crucible, coating the inside of the crucible. Also, place Mysterious Yellow Flower on top of this lining to a thickness of about one cun. Then take two jin of Emperor Male (that is, realgar) and one jin of Emperor Female (that is, orpiment). First, slightly moisten them with Hundred-Day Flower Pool. This ensures they do not fly away when placed on top. Then, in an iron mortar, mix and pound them ten thousand times until they become like powder. Place them in the crucible. Cover again with yellow powder to a thickness of about one cun. Combine with one crucible as a lid. Seal with Six-One Mud, not allowing the vapor to leak. Let dry for ten days. Then use a horse dung or chaff fire to heat it for nine days and nights, with the fire five cun away from the crucible. Then push the fire closer and heat for another nine days and nights. Then, with the fire surrounding the crucible up to half its belly, heat for nine days and nights. Stop. In total, thirty-six days. Let cool for one day. Use a feather to sweep and collect the flown essence that has adhered to the upper part. Mix with Dragon Cream. It penetrates inside the crucible. Again seal with mud. Let dry. Heat again for thirty-six days. One text says twenty-seven days. Stop for one day. Let cool. Open. Use a feather to sweep and collect it. This is called Flown Essence. The one who prepares it is called Divine Elixir. Superior officers take one knife-spoon-point per day. In fifty days, they become immortals. Middle officers take it and become immortals in one hundred days. Foolish people take it and become immortals after one year. Ordinary men, women, children, servants, and the six types of domestic animals, if given it to take, all become immortal and do not die. It repels the five weapons. Wear it tied on. The spirits greatly guard and protect, repelling weapons. Taking the elixir for one hundred days, all the immortals come to welcome one. That is, Jade Males, Jade Females, Jade Youths, Mountain Ministers, and Marsh Guardians all come to attend and serve. They appear in human form. Transcending generations and leaving no seed—this matter lies with the person.
Explanation: The “six types of domestic animals” typically refers to horse, cow, sheep, chicken, dog, and pig. The claim that even animals can become immortal by taking the elixir highlights its supreme power.
第四丹 | Fourth Elixir
第四神丹名曰还丹。取矾石礜石代赭戎盐牡蛎赤石脂土龙矢云毋滑石。凡九物皆烧之一日一夜。猛其火。皆合治捣。令如粉。和以左味。令如泥。以苴一釜中。纳汞一斤。次以帝男。次以曾青。次以矾石亭脂。次以卤咸。次以太一禹余粮。次以矾石。礜石在上而水银独在下也。凡七物各异器调捣之。令如粉。以水银一斤独在下。余先乃以次纳之。以一釜合上。以左味和六一泥泥之。封令密。暴之十日。置铁弋三柱上。令高九寸。以马通糠火火之。去釜底五寸。候其火九日夜。没增火至釜半腹九日夜。常以湿布加釜上。令药不飞。视布干取复濡湿之。凡八十一日止。寒之一日。发之。药皆飞着上釜。釜出五色。飞法一同药之要也。以鸡羽扫取之。合以百草花。以井华水一服之。一百日朱雀凤凰翔覆其上。神人玉女至。二百日登天入地。仙人来侍。一年太一以云车龙马迎之矣。服此丹令人不饥不渴。百岁辄饮石泉。食枣栗二十枚牛羊脯五寸。又以还丹涂钱用市物。钱即日皆自还至。以还丹书人目匡郭上百鬼皆走避去。又以药一刀圭粉水银一斤。火之立成黄金。一法以龙膏和药火之九日夜。乃成真金也。
The fourth divine elixir is named Reverted Elixir. Take alum stone, arsenolite, ochre, Rong salt, oyster, red halloysite, Earth Dragon’s Feces, mica, and talc. In total, nine substances, all burned for one day and one night with intense fire. All are combined, prepared, and pounded until they become like powder. Mix with left-flavor until it becomes like mud. Use this to line one crucible. Place one jin of mercury inside. Next, place Emperor Male. Next, place layered azurite. Next, place alum stone and conglomerate sulfur. Next, place lake salt. Next, place Tai Yi Yu Liang Grain. Next, place alum stone. Arsenolite is on top, while the mercury is alone at the bottom. In total, seven substances, each prepared and pounded separately in different vessels until they become like powder. With one jin of mercury alone at the bottom, the rest are placed in order, one after another. Combine with one crucible as a lid. Mix Six-One Mud with left-flavor and apply it, sealing until tight. Dry in the sun for ten days. Place on three iron supports, making the height nine cun. Use a horse dung or chaff fire to heat it, placed five cun from the crucible bottom. Maintain this fire for nine days and nights. Then increase the fire to reach the crucible’s belly for nine days and nights. Constantly apply a damp cloth on top of the crucible to prevent the medicine from flying away. Check the cloth; when dry, re-wet it. In total, eighty-one days, then stop. Let cool for one day. Open. The medicine will all have flown and adhered to the upper crucible. The crucible will show five colors. The flying method is entirely the same as the essentials of the medicine. Use a chicken feather to sweep and collect it. Combine with hundred-flower herb. Take one dose with well-water at dawn. In one hundred days, the vermilion bird and phoenix will soar and hover above one. Spirit beings and Jade Maidens arrive. In two hundred days, one can ascend to heaven and enter the earth. Immortals come to attend. In one year, Tai Yi comes with cloud chariots and dragon horses to welcome one. Taking this elixir makes one not hungry, not thirsty. After one hundred years, one should occasionally drink from stone springs and eat twenty dates or chestnuts and five cun of beef or mutton jerky. Also, using Reverted Elixir to coat money for purchasing goods, the money will all return by itself on the same day. Using Reverted Elixir to draw on the eye sockets of a person, all ghosts will flee and avoid it. Also, with one knife-spoon-point of the medicine, powder one jin of mercury, heat it, and it immediately becomes gold. One method: mix the medicine with Dragon Cream and heat it for nine days and nights, then it becomes true gold.
Explanation: “Left-flavor” likely refers to a type of vinegar. “Earth Dragon’s Feces” is a common alchemical name for a specific mineral, possibly a type of clay or fossil. “Tai Yi Yu Liang Grain” is a mineral, a type of limonite or ochre, named after the Great One (Tai Yi) and the mythical Yu the Great. The vermilion bird is one of the Four Symbols of Chinese constellations, representing the south. Tai Yi is the Supreme One, a high deity.
第五丹 | Fifth Elixir
第五神丹名曰饵丹。取汞一斤。置六一釜中。又取帝男一斤。捣之如粉。加汞上。禹余粮一斤。捣之如粉。加帝男上。以六一釜合之。封其际。以六一泥泥之。令干。加马通糠火火之九日夜。止。更以炭火烧之九日夜。乃止火。寒之一日。发之。药皆飞着上釜。如霜雪。以羽扫取之。和以龙膏少室天雄分等。乃鸡子服。一云鸡子血。一刀圭三十日。羽飞仙矣。万神来侍卫。玉女皆可役。神仙迎之。上升天矣。百鬼社稷神风伯雨师皆来迎之。可使役。
The fifth divine elixir is named Elixir for Taking. Take one jin of mercury and place it in a Six-One crucible. Also take one jin of Emperor Male and pound it into powder. Place it on top of the mercury. Take one jin of Yu Liang Grain and pound it into powder. Place it on top of Emperor Male. Combine it with a Six-One crucible as a lid. Seal the joint. Coat it with Six-One Mud. Let dry. Use a horse dung or chaff fire to heat it for nine days and nights. Stop. Then use a charcoal fire to heat it for another nine days and nights. Then stop the fire. Let cool for one day. Open. The medicine will all have flown and adhered to the upper crucible, like frost and snow. Use a feather to sweep and collect it. Mix it with Dragon Cream and Shaoshi Tianxiong in equal parts. Then take it with chicken egg. One text says with chicken blood. One knife-spoon-point, in thirty days, one grows feathers and becomes an immortal. Ten thousand spirits come to guard and attend. Jade Maidens can all be commanded. Immortals come to welcome one. One ascends to heaven. All ghosts, gods of the land and grain, the Earl of Wind, and the Master of Rain all come to welcome one. They can be commanded.
Explanation: “Shaoshi Tianxiong” refers to a specific type of potent aconite root, named after the Shaoshi mountain. “Yu Liang Grain” is the same as “Tai Yi Yu Liang Grain” from the previous elixir, but here simply called Yu Liang Grain. “Growing feathers” is a common metaphor for becoming an immortal, as immortals were often depicted as winged beings.
第六丹 | Sixth Elixir
第六丹名曰炼丹。取八石而成之。八石者取巴越丹砂帝男帝女飞之。曾青矾石礜石石胆磁石。凡八物等分。多少在意。异捣令如粉。和以土龙膏。乃取土龙矢二升。以黄犬肝胆合为釜。牡蛎赤石脂各三斤捣令如粉。以左味和为泥。涂釜内外。各厚三分。干之。一法八味多少自在。以土龙膏土龙矢一升。以和黄狗胆。合土龙矢二升。牡蛎赤石脂末之如粉。和以为泥。涂釜内外。各厚三分。干之。八石各异末之如粉者。乃纳。丹砂在下。次以帝男。次以帝女。次以曾青。次以矾石。次以礜石。次以石胆。次以磁石。磁石独在上。以六一釜合之。以六一泥封其会际。干之。如上法乃以马通糠火火之三十六日。止。寒之一日。发之。药皆飞上着如霜雪。羽扫取之。和以龙膏。丸如小豆。食后服一丸日一。十日仙矣。鬼神来侍。卫之役使。亦可以作服黄金。非但男子。女人亦得飞仙。若欲辟谷。常绝房事。但饮水勿交接也。此丹下滓可疗百病。一法铅合之成黄金。以炼丹刀圭合水银一斤火之成黄金也。一云柔丹与炼饵丹相似。滑泽易食之。
The sixth elixir is named Elixir of Refining. It is made by taking the eight minerals. The eight minerals are: taking Ba and Yue cinnabar, Emperor Male, Emperor Female, and flying them; layered azurite, alum stone, arsenolite, stone gallbladder, magnetite. In total, eight substances, equal parts. The amount is according to preference. Pound them separately until they become like powder. Mix with Earth Dragon Cream. Then take two sheng of Earth Dragon’s Feces. Use the liver and gallbladder of a yellow dog to form a crucible. Take three jin each of oyster and red halloysite, pound them until they become like powder. Mix with left-flavor to make a mud. Coat the inside and outside of the crucible, each to a thickness of three fen. Let dry. One method: the amount of the eight ingredients is according to preference. Use one sheng of Earth Dragon Cream and Earth Dragon’s Feces to mix with yellow dog bile. Combine with two sheng of Earth Dragon’s Feces. Powder oyster and red halloysite until like powder. Mix to make a mud. Coat the inside and outside of the crucible, each to a thickness of three fen. Let dry. The eight minerals, each separately powdered until like powder, are then placed inside. Cinnabar is at the bottom. Next, place Emperor Male. Next, place Emperor Female. Next, place layered azurite. Next, place alum stone. Next, place arsenolite. Next, place stone gallbladder. Next, place magnetite. Magnetite is alone on top. Combine with a Six-One crucible as a lid. Seal the joint with Six-One Mud. Let dry. According to the above method, then use a horse dung or chaff fire to heat it for thirty-six days. Stop. Let cool for one day. Open. The medicine will all have flown up and adhered, like frost and snow. Sweep and collect with a feather. Mix with Dragon Cream. Form pills the size of red beans. After eating, take one pill per day. In ten days, one becomes an immortal. Ghosts and spirits come to attend. Guard and command them. It can also be used to make ingestible gold. Not only men, but women can also attain flying immortality. If desiring to avoid grains, constantly abstain from sexual intercourse. Only drink water, do not have intercourse. The dregs of this elixir can cure one hundred diseases. One method: combine with lead to make gold. Using one knife-spoon-point of the Refining Elixir, combine with one jin of mercury, heat it, and it becomes gold. One text says the Gentle Elixir is similar to the Refining and Taking Elixirs; it is smooth, glossy, and easy to ingest.
Explanation: “Ba and Yue cinnabar” refers to cinnabar from the regions of Ba (modern Sichuan) and Yue (modern Guangdong/Guangxi), considered to be of high quality. “Earth Dragon Cream” is another name for an alchemical solution, possibly related to “Earth Dragon’s Feces.” The instruction to “form a crucible” with dog liver and gallbladder is likely metaphorical, meaning to use them as a binding agent or lining material.
第七丹 | Seventh Elixir
第七丹名曰柔丹。用汞三斤。以左味和玄黄。合如泥。以涂土釜内外。各厚三分。乃纳汞。合以一釜。用六一泥涂其际会。干之十日。乃火之如太丹华法三十六日。止。寒之一日。发之。以羽扫取上着釜者。和以龙膏。服如小豆日三。令人神仙不死。以缺瓮汁和之。九十岁老翁服之更二十日白头黑。益阳精阴气。虽交则生子无数。以柔丹书梧桐为人也。以柔丹书字奴婢终不逃走。八十妇人服之皆有子。长吏服之得迁。与铅合火成金银。一名黄金。
The seventh elixir is named Gentle Elixir. Use three jin of mercury. Mix left-flavor with Mysterious Yellow, combining until it becomes like mud. Use this to coat the inside and outside of the clay crucible, each to a thickness of three fen. Then place the mercury inside. Combine with one crucible as a lid. Use Six-One Mud to coat the joint. Let dry for ten days. Then heat it according to the method for the Great Elixir Flower for thirty-six days. Stop. Let cool for one day. Open. Use a feather to sweep and collect what has adhered to the upper crucible. Mix with Dragon Cream. Take an amount the size of a red bean, three times a day. It makes one an immortal, not dying. Mix it with the liquid from a broken jar. A ninety-year-old man taking it, after another twenty days, his white hair turns black. It increases yang essence and yin energy. Even if he has intercourse, he will produce countless children. Using the Gentle Elixir to write on a wutong tree makes it become a person. Using the Gentle Elixir to write a character, slaves and servants will never run away. An eighty-year-old woman taking it will bear children. Officials taking it will get promoted. Combining it with lead and heating it forms gold and silver. One name is Yellow Gold.
Explanation: The fantastical claims in this section, such as turning a tree into a person or preventing slaves from fleeing, illustrate the belief in the elixir’s power to not only transform the body but also to influence the world and even rewrite reality. The wutong tree is a mythical tree, often associated with the phoenix.
第八丹 | Eighth Elixir
第八丹名曰伏丹。其色颇黑紫。如有五色之彩。取汞一斤。亦可多之。以玄黄华苴其土釜。令内外各厚三分。复捣曾青磁石。令如粉。以着玄黄华及曾青磁石末。覆汞上。以一釜合。以六一泥涂其会际。干之十日。乃以马通糠火火之九日夜。转以上釜为下釜。复火之九日夜。又复以下釜为上釜。火之九日夜。如是九上九下。乃止。寒之一日。发之。以羽扫之。取其飞着上者。和以龙膏。后还纳釜中。更火之一旬。乃止。寒一日。发之。以羽扫取飞上著者。捣之如粉。盛以金银筒若生竹筒中。常平旦面东向日。再拜长跪。以井华水服一刀圭。便为神仙也。以如枣核大。着手中而行百鬼销灭。以此柔丹书门户。百邪众精魑魅魍魉不敢前。又辟盗贼。乃至虎狼皆避之。若妇人独守。赉持如大豆者。百鬼盗贼远避。不敢来。
The eighth elixir is named Subdued Elixir. Its color is quite blackish-purple, as if having five-colored brilliance. Take one jin of mercury. It can also be more. Use Mysterious Yellow Flower to line the clay crucible, inside and out, each to a thickness of three fen. Again pound layered azurite and magnetite until they become like powder. Place these, along with Mysterious Yellow Flower, and the layered azurite and magnetite powder, covering the mercury. Combine with one crucible as a lid. Use Six-One Mud to coat the joint. Let dry for ten days. Then use a horse dung or chaff fire to heat it for nine days and nights. Turn it so the upper crucible becomes the lower crucible. Heat again for nine days and nights. Again turn it so the lower crucible becomes the upper crucible. Heat for nine days and nights. In this way, nine times up and nine times down, then stop. Let cool for one day. Open. Use a feather to sweep and collect what has flown and adhered to the upper part. Mix with Dragon Cream. Afterwards, place it back into the crucible. Heat again for one ten-day period, then stop. Let cool for one day. Open. Use a feather to sweep and collect what has flown and adhered to the upper part. Pound it until it becomes like powder. Store it in a gold or silver tube, or a raw bamboo tube. Regularly, at dawn, facing east towards the sun, bow twice and kneel upright. Take one knife-spoon-point with well-water at dawn. One immediately becomes an immortal. Take a piece the size of a jujube kernel and hold it in the hand while walking; all ghosts are annihilated. Using this Gentle Elixir to write on doors and gates, all hundred evils, numerous essences, chimei, and wangliang[^55] dare not approach. It also repels thieves and robbers, and even tigers and wolves all avoid it. If a woman is guarding alone, carrying a piece the size of a soybean, all ghosts, thieves, and robbers will keep far away, not daring to come.
Explanation: The process of repeatedly reversing the crucible (nine times up and down) symbolizes the continuous refinement and transformation of the elixir, mirroring cosmic cycles. Chimei and wangliang are types of malevolent spirits or demons from Chinese folklore.
第九丹 | Ninth Elixir
第九丹名曰寒丹。法用赤土釜。以六一泥泥其内外。令各厚三分。干之如治丹华法。取帝男帝女曾青礜石磁石各一斤。异捣之如粉。先以玄黄苴以六一釜。如丹华法。乃内流珠一斤于釜中。次以帝男加流珠上。次以帝女。次以曾青。次以礜石。次以磁石。磁石最上。以一釜合之。以六一泥涂其会际。令厚三分。复以土龙矢黄土各半斤。令为泥。一云以牡蛎赤石脂涂其上厚三分。又以土龙矢涂厚三分。暴之十日。令干。乃微火先文后武九日夜。寒一日。发之。以羽扫取着上者。和以龙膏黄犬胆。丸如小豆许。平旦以井华水向日。再拜。吞一丸。令人身轻。百日百病除愈。玉女来侍。司命消除死籍名著仙箓。飞行上下。出入无间。不可拘制。坐在立亡。轻举乘云。升于天矣。
The ninth elixir is named Cold Elixir. The method uses a red clay crucible. Use Six-One Mud to coat its inside and outside, each to a thickness of three fen. Let dry as in the method for preparing Elixir Flower. Take one jin each of Emperor Male, Emperor Female, layered azurite, arsenolite, and magnetite. Pound them separately until they become like powder. First, use Mysterious Yellow to line the Six-One crucible, as in the Elixir Flower method. Then place one jin of Flowing Pearl[^56] into the crucible. Next, place Emperor Male on top of the Flowing Pearl. Next, place Emperor Female. Next, place layered azurite. Next, place arsenolite. Next, place magnetite. Magnetite is at the very top. Combine with one crucible as a lid. Use Six-One Mud to coat the joint to a thickness of three fen. Again, take half a jin each of Earth Dragon’s Feces and yellow earth, and make them into a mud. One text says to use oyster and red halloysite to coat on top to a thickness of three fen. Also, coat with Earth Dragon’s Feces to a thickness of three fen. Dry in the sun for ten days, until dry. Then use a mild fire, first gentle, then fierce, for nine days and nights. Let cool for one day. Open. Use a feather to sweep and collect what has adhered to the upper part. Mix with Dragon Cream and yellow dog bile. Form pills about the size of red beans. At dawn, using well-water, face the sun, bow twice. Swallow one pill. It makes one’s body light. In one hundred days, all one hundred diseases are cured and removed. Jade Maidens come to attend. The Director of Destinies[^57] eliminates one’s name from the registers of the dead and inscribes it in the registers of immortals. One flies and soars, ascending and descending, entering and exiting without obstruction, unable to be restrained or controlled. One can sit still and instantly disappear. Lightly rising, riding the clouds, one ascends to heaven.
Explanation: The “Director of Destinies” is a celestial official in Daoism who maintains the records of human lifespans. Having one’s name moved from the death register to the immortal register signifies the ultimate achievement of escaping mortality. “Flowing Pearl” is another name for mercury.
