《天皇太一神律避秽经》

The immortal capital of the upper realm (the city where the immortals of the heavenly realm dwell) must avoid the impure Qi (vital energy) detested by the spirits and deities. In nurturing life and administering education and transformation, one must avoid the impure Qi of the human world. When using precious talismans and practicing fire methods, one must avoid the impure Qi of heavenly timings. When compounding medicines and refining elixirs, one must avoid the impure Qi of rivers and streams. When issuing Fulu (talismans and registers) and commanding ghosts and spirits, one must avoid the impure Qi brought by childbirth. When performing the Guiji prohibition methods (spells used for guarding and restriction), one must avoid the impure Qi of the sun and moon. The various categories of major impurities are briefly described below.

The methods of seeking immortality through seclusion and of subduing and refining the Golden Elixir (Jindan) number three thousand seven hundred and twenty in all; all must follow these taboos in practice in order to proceed without the slightest error. The twelve kinds of impure Qi are all taboos of Daoist methods; if one acts during these hours, the refining of the elixir will never succeed.

The elixir impurities encountered by the Yellow Emperor during his tour of Zhonghua: upon encountering Chen years, Chen months, and Chen days, that is, Zi years, Zi months, and Zi days, as well as the years, months, and days corresponding to the remaining twelve earthly branches, one must not take action. The twelve kinds of impure Qi are all taboos of Daoist methods; if one acts during these hours, the refining of the elixir will never succeed.

The elixir impurities encountered by the Yellow Emperor during his tour of Zhonghua: upon encountering Chen years, Chen months, and Chen days, that is, Zi years, Zi months, and Zi days, as well as the years, months, and days corresponding to the remaining twelve earthly branches, one must not take action, otherwise the refining of the elixir will not succeed.

The first appearance of purple clouds is the impure Qi of the Dragon-Tiger conjunction; on days when sudden thunder erupts, one must avoid them and cannot refine the elixir. The impure Qi brought by the movements of the sun and moon: on the days of solar and lunar eclipses, one cannot suspend the elixir furnace or perform the Guiji methods, and must avoid them.

The impure Qi of the Heavenly Dragon conjunction: Chen days in the first ten-day period of the third month, as well as Chen days in the last ten-day period, one cannot refine the elixir and must avoid them.

The impure Qi brought by the movement of the Northern Dipper: in the early morning of the first month, the handle of the Northern Dipper points toward the Yin direction; the remaining months follow analogously. Another view holds that when the Northern Dipper cannot be seen, one cannot refine the elixir and must avoid it.

The impure Qi of the conjunction of the divine dragon of the azure heaven: when red clouds appear in the sky, or when dragon-shaped cloud Qi appears, one cannot refine medicines or seal the furnace; if the taboo is violated, the cloud Qi will appear as if splitting open. When Taisui is in a Mao year, if its spirit manifests in the Shen direction, one also cannot refine the elixir and must avoid it.

One cannot refine the elixir and must avoid it.

The foul Qi (vital energy) produced when the azure heaven meets the divine dragon: if red clouds appear in the sky or a dragon form manifests, one must not compound medicines or seal the furnace. Should this be violated, the elixir will spoil as though the cloud layers have ruptured. When Tai Sui occupies a Mao year and its Shen (spirit) appears on a Shen day, one must not refine the elixir and ought to avoid that day.

Places containing stored treasures in official treasuries, ancient graves, land parcels lacking water sources, dwellings once occupied by licentious women, delivery rooms, sites where dragons have resided, ancient pools, former city camps, ruins of old temples, old market sites, old spirit shrines, former prisons, and old cellars—all these must not be used for elixir refinement and should be shunned.

The foul Qi carried by shooting stars traversing heaven and earth: locations formerly inhabited by ancient immortals or sages must not serve for alchemy and ought to be avoided.

The foul Qi arising from the conjunction of Yin-Yang: Dingmao days in spring, Jiawu days in summer, Gengshen days in autumn, and Ren or Gui days in winter are unsuitable for refining elixirs.

The foul Qi brought by the roaming of the Jade Maidens: elixir work is forbidden on every sixth Ding day, in order to avoid the Six Ding Maidens (the goddesses linked to the six Ding days in Daoist calendrics and belief).

Colored foul Qi: when morning glow appears at sunrise, one must not refine elixirs and should refrain.

The blood taint generated by heavenly demons in battle: if a stone drum resounds like subterranean thunder, alchemy is prohibited that day. Should the earth spirits take fright, dash about, and remain unsettled, wait until they grow quiet before attending to the sound; medicines must not be prepared during the seven days following the stone drum’s peal, or else they will drain into the Yellow Springs, turn to flying dust, and vanish entirely.

All the foregoing prohibitions are to be observed with care, whether one is compounding great or small elixirs or employing any medicinal substances. In addition, the Danhua Seal (the imprint employed in Daoist elixir work) should be stamped upon the various medicinal clays and daubed over the chamber and its utensils. The Five Pungents (strongly odorous vegetables such as scallions and garlic), women who have recently given birth, and chickens or dogs must on no account be allowed indoors; the greatest caution is essential.