Ode to the Golden Elixir Daoist Classic 金丹赋

Originally attributed to "Annotated by Ma Lizhao, a disciple of the Great Dao".

This figure is believed to have been a Taoist adherent active during the late Tang Dynasty and the Five Dynasties period.

Comprising one scroll, it is included in the Methods category of the Dongzhen Section of The Daozang.

The scroll opens with a preface by Ma Lizhao, in which he claims to have chanced upon the Ode to the Golden Elixir, unaware of its author, and compiled this work by annotating the text. The Ode to the Golden Elixir annotated herein is largely consistent in content with the Ode to Internal Alchemy by True Lord Tao, yet its verses are nearly twice as many and the wording differs considerably—presumably these are different versions of the same text.

Ma’s annotations are relatively lucid, primarily citing alchemical classics such as the Golden Splendor Scripture, the Zhouyi Cantong Qi, the Records of the Supreme Change, and the Scripture of the Primordial Fusion of the Sun and Moon, interpreting the ode through the principles of External Alchemy. His alchemical method takes cinnabar and mercury as the primary medicinal ingredients, with refining requiring adherence to the patterns of the Two Principles and drawing symbolism from the Bagua. It regards the Qi of true Yin and true Yang embodied in the Kan and Li trigrams as the foundation of the elixir, seizing the mechanism of creation and transformation in the operation of Yin and Yang between heaven and earth to attain the natural way of forging the divine elixir.

It further states that the cauldron and vessel for elixir refining must emulate the form of the human brain palace, with the mind serving as the pivot of the elixir. One should unify the three into the one, single-mindedly without distraction, embody the profound mystery with emptiness—and thus the profound merit shall be born. This doctrine, however, bears the characteristics of Internal Alchemy.