Divine Elixir of the Nine Cauldrons 黄帝九鼎神丹经诀

The author is unknown.

Judging from its content and language, it should have been written during the Tang Dynasty.

It was recorded as ten volumes in Comprehensive Catalogue of the Chongwen Imperial Library of the Northern Song Dynasty.

Bibliography of Arts and Literature in Comprehensive Records listed it as twenty volumes.

The existing version in The Daozang has twenty volumes, which is included in the Methods category of the Dongshen Section.

The first volume of the book is the scripture text, namely The Yellow Emperor's Nine Cauldrons Divine Elixir Scripture quoted in Baopuzi: Chapter on Golden Elixirs, which originated in the late Han Dynasty. The scripture falsely claims that the Yellow Emperor received the elixir Tao from the Mysterious Goddess, stating that breathing exercises and ingestion of herbal medicines can only cure diseases and prolong life, while only taking divine elixirs can "enable one to become an immortal, transcend the mortal world, and coexist eternally with heaven and earth". There are nine elixir-refining methods recorded: 1. Elixir Flower; 2. Divine Talisman; 3. Divine Elixir; 4. Reversible Elixir; 5. Ingestible Elixir; 6. Refined Elixir; 7. Soft Elixir; 8. Subdued Elixir; 9. Cold Elixir. It also includes methods of making earthen cauldrons, preparing black-yellow mixtures, and producing Liuyi clay. All sections list the dosage of medicinal ingredients, the heat control during elixir refining, as well as the administration methods and efficacies of the elixirs. Generally, the process starts with making an earthen cauldron, putting the ingredients to be refined into the cauldron, sealing it with Liuyi clay, and then heating it—first with slow fire, then with intense fire. After refining for a specified period of time, the cauldron is cooled and opened. At this point, the medicinal substances will all adhere to the inner wall of the cauldron; they are scraped off with a feather and formed into pills, which are called the Nine-Cycle Golden Elixir. Taking this elixir is said to turn one into an immortal.

Volumes 2 to 20 are the commentaries and instructions, compiled by scholars of the Tang Dynasty to annotate and elaborate on the original scripture. Their content includes discussions on the origin and transmission of elixir scriptures, selection of time and location for elixir refining, warding off evil spirits, taboos in elixir refining, explanations of the functions of the nine elixirs, manufacturing and selection of clay cauldrons, furnaces, tripods and alchemy rooms, methods of dissolving various mineral medicines into liquids, etc. They also record techniques for refining and ingesting metal and stone medicines, such as methods of processing and taking the Five Metals, and refining and consuming lead and mercury. Additionally, they expound on the properties, producing areas, refining methods, administration ways and efficacies of medicinal materials including cinnabar, the Three Yellows, the Two Greens, the Three Nitrates, and the Three Stones. The book further discusses the principles of longevity through elixir compounding, methods of detoxifying metal and stone medicines, as well as formulas for avoiding taboos and failures in elixir making, and the key instructions of the Upper Cavern Heart Elixir Scripture. As an important work of Taoism alchemy, the compatibility and application of its mineral and herbal ingredients conform to the theoretical system of the five elements in traditional Chinese philosophy. With its extensive citations and rich content, this book is indeed an extremely important historical document for researching the elixir alchemy, chemistry, and pharmacology of the Han and Tang dynasties.