Huangdi Jiuding Shendan Jingjue (also known as The Secret Instructions on the Divine Elixirs of the Nine Cauldrons by the Yellow Emperor), whose author is unknown, consists of twenty volumes and is abbreviated as Jiuding Shendan Jingjue. The book holds that: One cannot achieve longevity without obtaining the divine elixirs and golden liquids. Practices such as breath guidance, exhaling the old and inhaling the new, and taking herbal medicines can prolong life but cannot avoid death; only taking divine elixirs can make people become immortals and transcend the mortal world.
Thus, the book enumerates various alchemy methods, such as the Xuanhuang Method, Danhua Method, Divine Talisman Method, Divine Elixir Method, Huandan Method, Erying Method, Liandan Method, Roudan Method, Fudan Method, and Handan Method. It emphasizes that those who practice alchemy must seek a wise master to receive instructions, and cites the words of Hugangzi as evidence.
The content in Volume Four, titled "Understanding Prevention and Avoidance of Evil Spirits, Protecting the Spirit and Safeguarding the Body," and Volume Five, "Understanding that the Formation of Vermilion Divine Elixirs Must Depend on the Karma of Cultivating the
Dao," is similar to that in
Baopuzi Neipian·Dengshe (
Inner Chapters of Baopuzi: Ascent and Sojourn), discussing various taboos and avoidance methods when entering mountains to refine medicines.
The book also describes the specific production methods of many kinds of medicines, such as mercury, cinnabar, and realgar. This scripture is a valuable material for studying ancient Chinese science and technology as well as Taoist outer alchemy, and is included in the
Zhengtong Daozang (Orthodox Taoist Canon) under the category of "Zhongshu" (various techniques) in the "Dongshenbu" (Section of the Divine Grotto).
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