"Zhou Yi Shen Tong Qi", written by Wei Boyang of the Eastern Han Dynasty, referred to as "Shen Tong Qi", is an early Taoist classic. The whole book discusses alchemy based on Yi Xiang, and combines it with the principles of "Dayi", "Huang Lao" and "Luhuo". It uses Qiankun as the cauldron, Yin and Yang as the embankment, water and fire as the mechanism of transformation, the Five Elements as the auxiliary, Xuanjing as the alchemy base, etc., Thereby clarifying the principles and methods of alchemy, and it is the earliest Taoist scripture that systematically discusses alchemy. There have always been many annotators, the famous ones include Peng Xiao of the Later Shu Dynasty, "Zhou Yi Shen Tong Qi Divided into Chapters to Tong Zhen Yi", Song Zhu Xi "Zhou Yi Shen Tong Qi Kao Di" (pseudonym Kong Tong Taoist Zou Xin), Song Chen Xianwei "Zhou Yi Shen Tong Qi Interpretation", Yu Yan of the Yuan Dynasty "Zhou Yi Shen Tong Qi Explanation", etc., All of which are included in the Taixuan Department of the "Orthodox Taoist Canon".
Reader comments
This book "Zhou Yi Shen Tong Qi" is very interesting! It compares the universe to a cauldron, yin and yang to a dike, water and fire to a chemical machine, and explains the principles of alchemy in a simple and easy-to-understand way. I like its combination of Yixiang and alchemy, it feels wonderful. However, some content is still a bit difficult to understand and needs to be pondered slowly. There are no particularly annoying characters in the book because it is mainly about making sense. Overall, this is a book worth reading, which can give people a deeper understanding of Taoist alchemy.
This book "Zhou Yi Shen Tong Qi" is very interesting! It compares the universe to a cauldron, yin and yang to a dike, water and fire to a chemical machine, and explains the principles of alchemy in a simple and easy-to-understand way. I like its combination of Yixiang and alchemy, it feels wonderful. However, some content is still a bit difficult to understand and needs to be pondered slowly. There are no particularly annoying characters in the book because it is mainly about making sense. Overall, this is a book worth reading, which can give people a deeper understanding of Taoist alchemy.