The Essentials of Golden Elixir 金丹大要

The Essentials of Golden Elixir (Jindan Dayao) was written by Chen Zhixu, a Taoist priest of the Yuan Dynasty. Chen Zhixu, styled Guanwu and known by the Taoist name Shangyangzi, thus the book is also called Shangyangzi's Essentials of Golden Elixir (Shangyangzi Jindan Dayao).

The original work consists of ten volumes, each containing one chapter: Void (Xuwu), Supreme Medicine (Shangyao), Wondrous Application (Miaoyong), Points to Know (Xuzhi), Accumulating Merits (Jigong), Cultivating Conduct (Leixing), Unfolding Truth (Fazhen), Illustrations (Tuxiang), Transcending Norms (Yuege), and Surpassing Sects (Chaozong). Appended to the book are two additional volumes: Records of Immortals (Liexian Zhi) and Lineages of Immortals (Xianpai).

This book focuses on expounding the theories and methods of internal elixir (neidan) cultivation. The author argues that the essence (jing), vitality (qi), and spirit (shen) within the human body are the three supreme "medicines" for refining the internal elixir. These three substances interact: following the natural order leads to the formation of a human being, while reversing it leads to the creation of the elixir.

The so-called "natural order" refers to the process: "The void transforms into spirit, spirit transforms into vitality, vitality transforms into essence, essence transforms into form, and form becomes a human being." The so-called "reversal" refers to: "Calming the spirit to preserve the form, nurturing the form to refine essence, accumulating essence to transform into vitality, refining vitality to unite with spirit, refining spirit to return to the void—thus the golden elixir is completed."

All humans are born endowed with the innate genuine yang energy; when this yang energy is depleted, death ensues. Therefore, those who practice the Tao must gather the innate genuine essence and vitality to replenish their own increasingly depleted yang energy.

The internal elixir theories in this book were also influenced by the Quanzhen Taoist ideology of the unity of the three teachings (Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism). It claims that the way of the golden elixir is identical to Confucius' "way of consistency" and Buddhism's "one-vehicle path." Confucianism speaks of benevolence and righteousness, Buddhism of the Dharma, and Taoism of the golden elixir—though their names differ, their underlying principles are the same. Thus, cultivating the way of the golden elixir enables one to become an immortal, a Buddha, or a sage.