Ballads of the Reverted Elixir 还丹歌诀
Paul PengBallads of the Reverted Elixir
Originally attributed to "a compilation by Yuanyangzi", who is believed to have been a Taoist priest of the late Tang Dynasty.
The Comprehensive Records of Literature·Bibliographic Survey catalogs "Two Scrolls of the Reverted Elixir Secrets by Yuanyangzi", which presumably refers to this very work. The existing version in The Daozang is included in the Methods category of the Dongzhen Section.
Ballads of the Reverted Elixir
This text is a compiled anthology of revered alchemical ballads and secrets of the Reverted Elixir from various schools. The first scroll collects ten such pieces including Ballad of the Deeds of Ancient Immortals, Ballad of True Lord Wu, Secrets of True Lord Zhenxiao, and Ballad of True Lord Wei. The second scroll features Ballad of the Golden Fluid Reverted Elixir, a work composed by Yuanyangzi himself.
Most of these ballads and secrets share the same essential tenets, all eulogizing the art of External Alchemy. Their core lies in the refinement of the elixir through the combination and mutual interaction of true lead and true mercury, the Flower Pond and Divine Water, as well as Yin and Yang.
