Tan Chin., lit. “cinnabar”; the most impor tant substance used in Taoist alchemy. The followers of the Outer Alchemy (wai-tan) strive to produce purified cinnabar, the ingestion of which is said to have a life-prolonging effect. The most powerful type of cinnabar has been recycled nine times (chiu-huan-tan), because its life-prolonging power increases in proportion to the number of transformations it undergoes.
In his Pao-p’u-tzu the great Taoist alchemist Ko Hung describes the properties of cinnabar as follows:
“If a person ingests cinnabar that has been trans formed once, it will take him three years to become an immortal (hsien). The same goal can be reached in two years by ingesting cinnabar that has been transformed twice and in one year ifit has been transformed three times. Cinnabar of the fourth transformation allows the practitioner to become immortal within six months; and fifth-generation cinnabar, within a hundred days. Anyone who ingests cinnabar of the sixth transformation will become immortal after only forty days. In the case of cinnabar that has been transformed seven times, this process takes only thirty days, and a mere ten days if the practitioner ingests eight-fold purified cinnabar. The most powerful type of cinnabar, however, is one that has been transformed nine times: it renders a person immortal within three days. During these ‘transformations’ various other substances are added, which are difficult to obtain, especially in restless times such as these. In addition, it is necessary to tend the fire or furnace with extreme care in order to adjust its strength during the various phases of the operation.”
In the symbolic language of the Inner Alchemy (nei-tan), cinnabar represents the energy of combined yin and yang (yin-yang) which is set alight in the lower cinnabar field (tan-t’ien) by means of various meditative breathing techniques. This practice ultimately results in the spiritual immortality of the Inner Alchemy practitioner.
Source: The Encyclopedia of Eastern Philosophy and Religion: Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Zen. Shambhala Publications, Inc.
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