Ode to Giant Sesame 巨胜歌

Composed by Liu Chongyong, a Taoist priest during the late Five Dynasties and early Northern Song Dynasty.

It is recorded in both Tong zhi·Yi wen lüe (General Records·Bibliographic Outline) and History of the Song Dynasty·Treatise on Arts and Literature.

Consisting of one scroll, it is included in the Alchemical Arts Category of the Dongshen Section within the Daoist Canon (The Daozang).

Ode to Giant Sesame

The author claims to have encountered an enlightened master and obtained the profound essentials of cultivation, stating: "I have composed ten poems titled Ode to Giant Sesame, which sing of the marvels of lead, mercury, and the Five Elements." The verses primarily expound the principles of Internal Alchemy. In the preface, the author denounces those who smelt cinnabar and mercury in pursuit of longevity as "people who do not understand the Dao."

He argues that the essence of the Returning Elixir lies in the generation and restriction of the Five Elements, as well as the coordination of dragon and tiger. Alchemical terms such as Kan and Li trigrams, dragon and tiger, lead and mercury, sun and moon, heaven and earth are all alternative names for yin and yang, which originate from a single Qi (Vital Energy). The verses sing: "Where do the Nine Cauldrons come from? All arise from a single breath of Qi"; "Thus we know that between heaven and earth, yin and yang govern the pivotal mechanism." They also state: "The Yellow Sprout is not lead; it grows naturally in the Dantian. If you seek the method of Giant Sesame, lead and mercury must follow nature." "To cultivate truth and refine the body, one must uphold the One"; "The wonderful Dharma is profound, yet more profound still."