Neidan

Neidan
Seal script for nèidān 内丹
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese內丹
Simplified Chinese内丹
Literal meaninginside cinnabar
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyinnèidān
Bopomofoㄋㄟˋㄉㄢ
Gwoyeu Romatzyhneydan
Wade–Gilesnei-tan
IPAneitan
Yue: Cantonese
Jyutpingnoi6daan6
Southern Min
Hokkien POJlǎitan
Middle Chinese
Middle ChinesenuʌiHtɑn
Old Chinese
Baxter–Sagart (2014)nˤ[u]p-s/tˤan
Korean name
Hangul내단
Hanja内丹
Transcriptions
Revised Romanizationnaedan
McCune–Reischauernaedan
Japanese name
Kanji内丹
Hiraganaないたん
Transcriptions
Revised Hepburnnaitan
Development of the immortal embryo in the lower dantian of the Daoist cultivator

Neidan, or internal alchemy (traditional Chinese: 內丹術; simplified Chinese: 內丹术; pinyin: nèidān shù), is an array of esoteric doctrines and physical, mental, and spiritual practices that Taoist initiates use to prolong life and create an immortal spiritual body that would survive after death.[1] Also known as Jindan (金丹 "golden elixir"), inner alchemy combines theories derived from external alchemy (waidan 外丹), correlative cosmology (including the Five Phases), the emblems of the Yijing, and medical theory, with techniques of Taoist meditation, daoyin gymnastics, and sexual hygiene.[2]

In neidan, the human body becomes a cauldron (or "ding") in which the Three Treasures of Jing ("Essence"), Qi ("Breath") and Shen ("Spirit") are cultivated for the purpose of improving physical, emotional and mental health, and ultimately returning to the primordial unity of the Tao, i.e., attaining Taoist Immortality. It is believed the Xiuzhen Tu is such a cultivation map. In China, it is an important form of practice for most schools of Taoism.

  1. ^ Skar, Lowell; Pregadio, Fabrizio (2000). Daoism Handbook. Brill. pp. 464–497. ISBN 9004112081.
  2. ^ (Baldrian-Hussein 2008, 762)