Brief Introduction to the Alchemy Thoughts of Famous External Alchemy Masters

Brief Introduction to the Alchemy Thoughts of Famous External Alchemy Masters

1. Ge Hong
   Ge Hong wrote such influential works as Emergency Prescriptions to Keep at Hand and Baopuzi. In Baopuzi, the chapters related to alchemy include "The Fourth Chapter: Golden Elixir", "The Eleventh Chapter: Immortal Medicines" and "The Sixteenth Chapter: Yellow and White". Ge Hong believed that all substances can change, and with appropriate conditions and a persistent spirit, some substances can be refined into precious immortal elixirs and gold through calcination. Therefore, he held an unshakable belief in alchemy and devoted himself to alchemical practices. During specific alchemy processes, he made many new discoveries. For example, he found that heating red mercury sulfide (commonly known as "cinnabar") could separate out mercury, and mercury could combine with sulfur to form mercury sulfide again.
2. Tao Hongjing
   Tao Hongjing developed alchemy during his years of practicing furnace and tripod alchemy, and wrote a specialized alchemical book Methods of Compound Elixirs. Compared with Ge Hong's era, he made significant progress in drug identification and alchemical methods. Through long-term practical experience, Tao Hongjing accumulated a lot of knowledge in inorganic chemistry. He realized that "mercury has raw and cooked forms": the raw form refers to naturally occurring mercury, while the cooked form is obtained by smelting cinnabar. He summarized that mercury can form alloys with metals such as gold and silver, which can be used for gilding and silvering objects. The important alchemical raw materials, yellow lead oxide and white lead carbonate, can be artificially produced: yellow lead oxide is obtained by "calcining lead", and white lead carbonate by "transforming lead". This opened up sources of medicines and promoted the further development of alchemy.
3. Sun Simiao
   Sun Simiao was a renowned "King of Medicine" in the history of Chinese medicine, with rich clinical experience in various disciplines. He never sought official positions in his life, believed in Taoist and Buddhist ethics, opposed the ingestion of mineral stones, advocated alchemy, often went to mountains to collect herbs, and personally engaged in the preparation and refining of medicines. In the process of alchemy, he summarized previous alchemical prescriptions and conventional methods. To reduce the toxicity of gold and stone medicines, Sun Simiao summarized the "fire subduing" method. Among numerous "fire subduing methods", through several combinations and pairings, repeated experiments, and countless failures, he found that a mixture of nitre, sulfur, and charcoal was highly flammable and explosive, capable of collapsing alchemy rooms and injuring people. After several improvements and refinements, black gunpowder was born. Sun Simiao recorded this formula in his work Dan Jing: Method of Subduing Sulfur Internally.

External Alchemy Masters

Philosophical Approaches and Alchemical Methods

外丹术名家炼丹思想 translates to "Introduction to the Alchemical Philosophies of Renowned External Alchemy Masters"

Overview

External alchemy (外丹术) represents the laboratory-based branch of Daoist alchemy, where masters sought immortality through the creation of physical elixirs. These pioneering alchemists developed sophisticated theories combining natural philosophy, proto-chemistry, and mystical beliefs that influenced Chinese science and spirituality for over a millennium.

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External Alchemy Masters: Philosophical Framework

Wei Boyang (魏伯阳) - The Founding Theorist

Era: 2nd century CE, Eastern Han Dynasty

Key Work: Zhouyi Cantongqi (周易参同契) - "The Kinship of the Three"

Core Philosophy:

Wei Boyang established the theoretical foundation of external alchemy by integrating three major systems:

• I Ching - Hexagram symbolism for alchemical processes
• Five Elements - Material transformation principles
• Yin-Yang - Complementary opposites in chemical reactions

His revolutionary concept treated the alchemical furnace as a microcosm of universal processes, where temporal cycles, elemental interactions, and cosmic rhythms governed successful elixir creation.

Ge Hong (葛洪) - The Practical Systematizer

Era: 283-343 CE, Eastern Jin Dynasty

Key Work: Baopuzi (抱朴子) - "Master Embracing Simplicity"

Methodological Innovations:

Ge Hong transformed alchemy from abstract theory into systematic practice through:

Method	Materials	Purpose
Nine-Turn Elixir	Cinnabar, Lead, Mercury	Progressive refinement cycles
Golden Liquid Method	Gold, Mercury, Sulfur	Incorruptible essence extraction
Fire Control Systems	Specific furnace designs	Precise temperature regulation

His approach emphasized empirical observation and reproducible procedures, making him arguably the first systematic chemist in Chinese history.

Tao Hongjing (陶弘景) - The Medical Integrator

Era: 456-536 CE, Southern Dynasties

Key Contributions: Medical-alchemical synthesis

Holistic Approach:

Tao Hongjing bridged external alchemy with traditional medicine by:

• Pharmaceutical Alchemy: Creating medicinal compounds rather than pure immortality elixirs
• Safety Protocols: Developing methods to neutralize toxic alchemical substances
• Diagnostic Integration: Using alchemical principles to understand bodily processes
• Herbal-Mineral Combinations: Balancing plant and mineral medicines

His work represented a crucial shift toward practical longevity rather than absolute immortality.

Sun Simiao (孙思邈) - The Medical Sage

Era: 581-682 CE, Tang Dynasty

Key Works: Qianjin Yaofang (千金要方) - "Precious Prescriptions"

Ethical Alchemy:

Sun Simiao revolutionized alchemical practice through ethical medicine:

• Medical Ethics: "Great physicians must first develop compassion"
• Accessible Treatments: Simplified alchemical preparations for common use
• Preventive Medicine: Using alchemical theory for health maintenance
• Longevity Focus: Practical life extension over mystical immortality

His legacy transformed external alchemy from esoteric pursuit into medical science, influencing Traditional Chinese Medicine for centuries.

Evolution of External Alchemical Thought

Period	Focus	Key Development	Impact
2nd Century CE	Theoretical Foundation	Wei Boyang's systematic cosmology	Unified alchemical theory
3rd-4th Century	Practical Methods	Ge Hong's empirical approach	Reproducible procedures
5th-6th Century	Medical Integration	Tao Hongjing's pharmaceutical synthesis	Safer, practical applications
7th Century	Ethical Practice	Sun Simiao's medical ethics	Foundation of TCM

Legacy and Modern Understanding

These external alchemy masters created a sophisticated proto-scientific tradition that:

• Advanced Chemistry: Developed distillation, sublimation, and metallurgical techniques
• Influenced Medicine: Provided theoretical foundations for Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Shaped Philosophy: Integrated natural science with spiritual practice
• Established Ethics: Created frameworks for responsible scientific practice

While the quest for physical immortality proved elusive, their methodological innovations and philosophical insights continue to influence Chinese medicine, chemistry, and holistic health approaches worldwide.