Thirty-Six Methods of Hydromancy 三十六水法

The compiler is unknown.

Judging from its content and writing style, it was probably compiled during the Wei, Jin, and Northern and Southern Dynasties.

It was recorded in Bibliography of Arts and Literature in Comprehensive Records under the title "Methods of Refining Thirty-Six Water-Stone Elixirs".

The existing version in The Daozang consists of one volume, included in the Methods category of the Dongshen Section.

This book elaborates on water-method alchemy. Its origins can be traced back to ancient times, as Scriptures of Thirty-Six Waters was already recorded in Baopuzi·Xialan Pian (Baopuzi: Essays on Looking Far). The book first details the production methods of thirty-six types of "stone water", including Fan Shi Shui (Alum Stone Water), Xionghuang Shui (Realgar Water), Cihuang Shui (Orpiment Water), Dansha Shui (Cinnabar Water), Zengqing Shui (Azurite Water), Baiqing Shui (White Azurite Water), Cishi Shui (Magnetite Water), Liuhuang Shui (Sulfur Water), Xiaoshi Shui (Nitre Water), Baishiying Shui (White Quartz Water), Zishiying Shui (Amethyst Water), Chishizhi Shui (Red Halloysite Water), Xuanshizhi Shui (Black Halloysite Water), etc. It is claimed that these thirty-six methods are derived from ancient texts, and later fifteen more types were added (eight are missing from the original book), including Shidan Shui (Chalcanthite Water), Tongqing Shui (Verdigris Water), Rongyan Shui (Rong Salt Water), Luxian Shui (Brine Water), Tiehua Shui (Iron Flake Water), Qiangang Shui (Lead Vessel Water), etc. The general production method of stone water is as follows: mix a certain metallic or mineral medicine with auxiliary medicines, put them into a bamboo tube, add nitre, seal it tightly, then place it in a Huachi (a dissolution tank containing concentrated vinegar) or bury the sealed bottle underground; after several days, it will transform into metallic-mineral medicinal water.