Li Daochun (李道纯):The notable Taoist of the late Song and early Yuan dynasties

Li Daochun, whose birth and death dates are unknown, had the courtesy name Yuansu and the sobriquet Qing'an, also known as Yingchanzi. He was a notable Taoist of the late Song and early Yuan dynasties, hailing from Duliang (now Wugang, Hunan).

Li Daochun was a prolific author, with works including Commentary on the Supreme Ascension and Mystical Protection Sutra, Commentary on the Supreme Great Unity Sutra, Commentary on the Supreme Red Text of the Ancient True Sutra, Commentary on the Sutra of Constant Clarity and Stillness by Laozi, Essentials of the Complete Truth Collection, Dao De Hui Yuan, Zhonghe Collection, and Three Heavens of the Essence among others. His disciples compiled the Record of Qing'an Yingchanzi in six volumes.

The preface of the Grand Cases of the Xuanjiao states: "Mr. Li of Qing'an received teachings from Wang Jinchang, a disciple of the White Immortal Yu Chan, becoming a master of the Xuanmen School, inheriting the true teachings and traditions, and greatly contributing to their propagation in the world." Additionally, in volume five of his Zhonghe Collection, there is a line that reads "Secret Intent in Harmony with the White Jade Toad," indicating that Li Daochun was a direct successor of the Jindan Ziyang School.

Li Daochun also inherited and developed the ideas of the Northern School of Quanzhen, as evidenced by his works Essentials of the Complete Truth Collection and Zhonghe Collection: The Living Method of Complete Truth, where he positioned himself as a practitioner of the complete truth path, teaching his disciples. Chen Jiaoyou, in The Sources and Developments of Changchun Taoism, noted: "From what he said, it is evident that he grasped the essence of the Northern School's approach to health preservation, thus also rectifying the failures of the Southern School and returning to the Northern School."

Due to Li Daochun's status as a disciple of the Southern School who also practiced the Northern School's alchemy, merging the alchemical practices of both schools, he is referred to as the ancestor of the Central School of Alchemy.

 

The Golden Elixir: What We Really Cultivate

Western minds often struggle with our alchemical language, imagining we seek to manufacture literal gold or magical pills. Let me clarify what we actually pursue:

The Golden Elixir represents the perfected unity of:

• Jing (精) - our essential life force
• Qi (氣) - our vital energy
• Shen (神) - our conscious spirit

When these three treasures merge through proper cultivation, they form what we call the "immortal embryo" - not physical immortality, but a state of consciousness that transcends the usual boundaries of life and death.

Master Li's Revolutionary Approach

Before Li Daochun, internal alchemy was often wrapped in obscure symbolism that confused more than it illuminated. Master Li changed this by teaching through clear stages:

The Four Foundations (四基)

Foundation	Chinese	Meaning	Practice Focus
Essence	精 (Jing)	Sexual energy/vitality	Conserving and refining life force
Energy	氣 (Qi)	Breath and circulation	Regulating breathing and energy flow
Spirit	神 (Shen)	Consciousness/awareness	Calming mind and developing clarity
Emptiness	虛 (Xu)	Original nature	Returning to primordial simplicity

In my own practice following Master Li's method, these four become stepping stones rather than separate techniques.

The Five Phases of Cultivation

Master Li mapped the alchemical process in stages any sincere practitioner could understand:

Phase One: Gathering Medicine (採藥)

• Learning to recognize and gather the "true lead" (真鉛) and "true mercury" (真汞) within your own body
• These aren't metals, but subtle energies that most people waste through unconscious living

Phase Two: Setting the Furnace (立鼎)

• Establishing the "elixir field" (丹田) as your internal laboratory
• Creating the proper conditions for transformation through posture, breathing, and mental stillness

Phase Three: Firing Process (火候)

• The delicate art of "cooking" your medicine with the right intensity
• Like a master chef, knowing when to use strong fire and when to use gentle warmth

Phase Four: Crystallization (結丹)

• The moment when scattered energies unite into the golden elixir
• Experienced as profound peace and unshakeable centeredness

Phase Five: Spiritual Embryo (聖胎)

• Nurturing your immortal nature until it becomes independent
• The birth of what Daoists call the "pure yang body"

Daily Practice in the Li Daochun Tradition

Those who follow Master Li's path don't retreat from the world but transform ordinary life into cultivation opportunity:

Morning Practice (卯時功課)

5:00-7:00 AM - Hour of the Rabbit

• Sitting meditation: 30-45 minutes focusing on lower dantian
• Energy circulation: Moving qi through the microcosmic orbit
• Intention setting: Aligning personal will with natural flow

Midday Harmony (午時調和)

11:00 AM-1:00 PM - Hour of the Horse

• Walking meditation: Coordinating breath with natural pace
• Dietary awareness: Eating in harmony with Five Element principles
• Social cultivation: Practicing virtue in daily interactions

Evening Refinement (酉時煉養)

5:00-7:00 PM - Hour of the Rooster

• Inner observation: Reviewing the day's cultivation progress
• Breathing refinement: Deeper work with subtle energies
• Preparation for rest: Settling the spirit for restorative sleep

As Li Daochun taught, "The sage's work is never interrupted - whether walking, standing, sitting, or lying down, the elixir continues to cook."

The Southern School Differences

Master Li's Southern School differs significantly from the Northern Complete Reality tradition:

Aspect	Southern School (Li Daochun)	Northern School (Wang Chongyang)
Approach	Gradual, systematic cultivation	Sudden enlightenment emphasis
Lifestyle	Integration with family/society	Often monastic withdrawal
Practice	Internal alchemy focus	Moral cultivation priority
Goal	Golden elixir formation	Return to original nature
Teaching	Clear, methodical instruction	Paradoxical, poetic guidance

Both paths lead to the same summit, but Master Li's route offers more detailed maps for the journey.

Texts and Teachings: Our Written Heritage

The Li Daochun lineage preserved essential works that remain vital for serious practitioners:

Core Texts by Master Li:

• Zhonghe Ji (中和集) - Collection of Central Harmony: His complete system
• Sanshan Lun (三山論) - Treatise on Three Mountains: Advanced energy work
• Xuanmen Biyao (玄門秘要) - Secret Essentials of the Mysterious Gate: Inner alchemy methods

Complementary Study Materials:

• Cantong Qi (參同契) - The Kinship of the Three: Ancient alchemical classic
• Wuzhen Pian (悟真篇) - Understanding Reality: Poetry of transformation
• Jindan Sibai Zi (金丹四百字) - Four Hundred Words on the Golden Elixir: Condensed wisdom

In my own study, I return to Master Li's Zhonghe Ji as musicians return to fundamental scales - always discovering new depths in familiar passages.

Common Misunderstandings About Our Practice

Western seekers often approach internal alchemy with misconceptions that hinder genuine practice:

"It's about physical health and longevity"
While we certainly become healthier, the goal transcends mere bodily improvement. We seek the transformation of consciousness itself.

"It requires exotic techniques and secret methods"
Master Li emphasized that the most profound practices are often the simplest - proper breathing, sincere meditation, and ethical living.

"It's escape from ordinary life"
Actually, we transform ordinary experience into extraordinary cultivation. A businessman practicing our way conducts meetings as meditation, parents raise children as spiritual service.

"It takes decades of monastery life"
While deep achievement requires dedication, Master Li's students included farmers, merchants, and government officials who practiced within their normal lives.

The Medicine of Virtue: Ethics in Alchemy

Master Li taught that without virtue (de 德), internal alchemy becomes mere self-centered energy manipulation. True practitioners cultivate:

• Compassion (慈悲): Genuine care for all beings
• Humility (謙遜): Recognition of our small place in the cosmic order
• Integrity (誠實): Alignment between inner cultivation and outer action
• Service (服務): Using our development to benefit others
• Simplicity (簡樸): Freedom from unnecessary desires and complications

Without these qualities, what we call "golden elixir" becomes fool's gold - bright on the surface but worthless within.

Modern Applications of Ancient Wisdom

Today's world presents unique challenges that Master Li's teachings address with surprising relevance:

Stress and Anxiety Management

Our breathing techniques and meditation methods provide immediate relief from modern pressures while building long-term resilience.

Environmental Harmony

Li Daochun's emphasis on natural cycles helps practitioners live more sustainably and mindfully within Earth's systems.

Relationship Cultivation

The principle of "central harmony" teaches us to balance opposing forces within families, workplaces, and communities.

Creative Enhancement

By removing mental blockages and accessing deeper levels of consciousness, practitioners often discover enhanced creativity and problem-solving abilities.

Beginning the Path: Practical Steps

For sincere Western seekers interested in Master Li's approach, I recommend this progression:

Foundation Building (First Year)

1. Establish daily meditation: Start with 15-20 minutes of quiet sitting
2. Study core texts: Begin with accessible translations of Zhonghe Ji
3. Practice basic qigong: Learn simple energy circulation exercises
4. Cultivate virtue: Make ethics a conscious part of daily life
5. Find community: Seek others walking similar paths

Deepening Practice (Years 2-5)

1. Extend meditation periods: Build toward 45-60 minutes daily
2. Learn advanced techniques: Study the five phases of cultivation
3. Integrate with life: Transform work and relationships into practice
4. Seek guidance: Find qualified teachers in the lineage
5. Serve others: Share benefits of practice through compassionate action

Mature Cultivation (Ongoing)

The path of the golden elixir extends throughout life and beyond. As Master Li taught, "Even the sage continues learning until the final breath."

The Eternal Student's Heart

After decades walking Master Li's path, I remain his student rather than his successor. The Dao teaches us endlessly, and each day brings new opportunities to refine our understanding.

The greatest gift of Li Daochun's teaching lies not in promising extraordinary powers or mystical experiences, but in showing how ordinary human life can become a sacred laboratory for consciousness transformation.

Whether you're a busy professional in New York, a parent in London, or a student in Sydney, Master Li's way offers practical methods for discovering the golden treasure that already exists within your own heart-mind.

May your cultivation bear golden fruit, and may that fruit nourish all beings.

Master Li Daochun's Disciple
Keeper of the Southern School
Servant of the Golden Way