Scribd
Upload
88 views

Neidan (Nei Tan) : " Resembling Metal, But Not Ordinary Metal, Resembling Water But No Ordinary Water."

This document discusses the Chinese practice of Neidan, or internal alchemy. It begins by describing the three primal vitalities - essence, qi, and shen - and how they can degenerate. It then contrasts external alchemy (Waidan) which uses chemicals, with internal alchemy (Neidan) which is psycho-physiological. Neidan involves techniques like respiration exercises, circulation of qi, and meditation. It discusses the five agents framework and the trigrams as corresponding to the body. It maps the anterior and posterior realms according to trigrams and the flow of qi.

Uploaded by

Do Centro ao Movimento
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
88 views

Neidan (Nei Tan) : " Resembling Metal, But Not Ordinary Metal, Resembling Water But No Ordinary Water."

This document discusses the Chinese practice of Neidan, or internal alchemy. It begins by describing the three primal vitalities - essence, qi, and shen - and how they can degenerate. It then contrasts external alchemy (Waidan) which uses chemicals, with internal alchemy (Neidan) which is psycho-physiological. Neidan involves techniques like respiration exercises, circulation of qi, and meditation. It discusses the five agents framework and the trigrams as corresponding to the body. It maps the anterior and posterior realms according to trigrams and the flow of qi.

Uploaded by

Do Centro ao Movimento
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 15

Neidan

(Nei Tan)
“…resembling Metal, but not ordinary metal,
resembling Water but no ordinary water.”
Jintan Dayao c. 1331
The Problem:
The Three Primal Vitalities and their Degeneration

• Essence 精 → seminal fluids


• Qi (Chhi) → respiratory pneuma
• Shen 神 → mental activity anxiety,
distraction
• Treatment with macrobiogens:
– Cf., Ritalin, steroids, hallucinogens, etc.
Waidan and Neidan
• Waidan 外丹 (“external cinnabar”)
– chemical-metellurgical, elixir
• Neidan 內丹 (“internal cinnabar”)
– psycho-physiological
• Cf. psychological, mystical
– Enchymoma: infusion of juices
– Anablastemic: restoration of youth
– Reversion
– heart and reins (cardiac and renal)
Ethical Work: Techniques
• hygiene: passions, cleanliness
• respiration exercises
• circulation of body qi
• gymnastics
• conservation of fluids saliva
• conservation of sexual fluids
• meditation
Body Language
• Five Agents
• Trigrams
• Pre-natal (Anterior) Realm--Post-natal
(Posterior) Realm
• Chemical-metallurgical components of
Elixir Alchemy (Waidan)
5 Agents 五 行
• Phases (Agents, not elements)
• Regular succession in all things
– nature, bodies and society
• Cyclic
– Mutual Production
– Mutual Conquest
– Etc.
5 Agents 五 行
Correspondences and Cycle of Mutual
Production
South
FIRE ↓
Summer

East Center West


WOOD ↑ EARTH→ ↓METAL
Spring Mid-summer Autumn
Dragon Tiger
North
←WATER
Winter
5 Agents
Cycle of Mutual conquest
• Wood conquers Earth
• Earth conquers Water
• Water conquers Fire
• Fire conquers Metal
• Metal conquers Wood
8 Trigrams
• Yin and yang lines (2) arranged in groups of
3; 23= 8 trigrams
• Cyclic arrangements:
– Anterior (Pre-natal) Realm
– Posterior (Post-natal) Realm
8 Trigrams
Posterior Heaven Arrangement
Chen Sun Li K’un Tui Ch’ien K’an Ken

Thunder, Wind, Fire, Earth, Lake, Heaven, Water Mountain,


The The The The The The The Keeping
Arousing Gentle Clinging Receptive Joyous Creative Abysmal Still
Posterior Heaven Anterior Heaven
The Two Realms
• Anterior Realm • Posterior Realm
– congenital – acquired
– inherited from parents, – natural elements (food)
ancestors taken into the body,
– e.g., qi in kidneys – e.g., Grain qi in spleen
Anterior Realm
Qian
(constant)

Li (resonance) Kan

Kun
8 Trigrams and Yin-Yang
Anterior Heaven Arrangement
Ch’ien

Tui Sun

Li K’an

Chen Ken

K’un
The Posterior Realm
The world out of joint:
Li
Kun

Qian

Kan

You might also like