The Supreme Scripture of the Divine Truth on Langgan Flower Elixir from the Purple Texts of the Supreme Mystery Spiritual Book
As one of the early classic texts of the Shangqing School (Supreme Clarity School), it was likely composed during the Eastern Jin Dynasty and Southern Dynasties (317–589 CE).
Originally, it was a chapter within The Supreme Scripture of Purple Texts from the Supreme Mystery Spiritual Book; later, it was separated and circulated as an independent text. In Volume Five of The True Declarations (Zhengao), it is stated: “The Immortal Dao includes the Langgan Flower Elixir; those who take it will transform into flying dragons.” Tao Hongjing annotated: “This is recorded in The Purple Texts of the Spiritual Book.”
The present version in the Daozang (Taoist Canon) consists of one scroll and is included in the “Methods Category” (Fangfa Lei) of the Dongzhen Bu (True Grotto Section). The scripture is falsely attributed to be “compiled by Ge Xuan, the Left Immortal Lord of the Taiji (Great Ultimate), after presenting a memorial to the Golden Palace Lord (Jinque Dijun), and then transmitted to the Azure Youth Lord of Fangzhu (Fangzhu Qingtong Jun).”
The text expounds on the methods of refining and ingesting waidan (external elixir, i.e., alchemical elixirs made from mineral and herbal ingredients):
- The method involves combining and pounding fourteen medicinal substances, including cinnabar (dānshā), realgar (xiónghuáng), white quartz (bái shíyīng), hollow blue (kōngqīng, a blue mineral), purple quartz (zǐ shíyīng), nitre (xiāoshí), sulfur (liúhuáng), mica (yúnmǔ), white lead powder (húfěn), rong salt (róngyán, a type of salt), and orpiment (cíhuáng). These ingredients are placed into a “divine clay cauldron” (shén ní fǔ) and refined by firing for a hundred days. After that, the thirty-seven colors of “flying radiance” (fēihuá) on the surface of the cauldron are collected, and this becomes the “Langgan Flower Elixir” (Lánggān Huādān).
Those who take this elixir will have seven-colored qi (vital energy) emanating from their heads, their faces glowing with the radiance of gold and jade, and their saliva transforming into flying dragons upon touching the ground—enabling them to “ride on a thousand chariots and ten thousand horses, and fly to the Shangqing (Supreme Clarity) realm.” If this elixir is further refined for another hundred days after its completion, it becomes the “Yellow Water Moonlight Elixir” (Huángshuǐ Yuèhuá Dān). Ingesting this elixir allows one to transform into multiple forms and wander in the vast cosmos.
When the Yellow Water Moonlight Elixir is refined for another hundred days, it turns into a white water jade paste-like substance, containing three luminous pearls inside, named the “Circling Water Jade Essence Elixir” (Huíshuǐ Yùjīng Dān). Ingesting one of these pearls will make fire and water emanate from the body, one’s breath transform into jade upon exhalation, and one’s form change into the sun—leading to “the Heavenly Emperor coming down to welcome [them], and [them] ascending to the Shangqing realm on celestial radiance.”
Additionally, if the Yellow Water Elixir and Circling Water Elixir are taken and boiled seven times, they become the “Water Yang Green Radiance Elixir” (Shuǐyáng Qīngyìng Yè). Drinking this will make green light emanate from the body, purple smoke come out of the mouth, and enable one to ascend to the Shangqing realm.
Furthermore, if one pearl of the Langgan Flower Elixir is thrown into this liquid and lead and mercury are added, it can be refined into silver; throwing three pearls into it will refine it into purple gold (zǐjīn, an alloy often associated with immortality in Taoist alchemy).
This text records the early Taoist techniques of refining and ingesting “golden elixirs” (jīndān, immortality elixirs) and “yellow and white” (huángbái, alchemical methods of transmuting base metals into gold or silver).
✨ Recommended Taoist Talismans
Discover powerful talismans for your spiritual journey
