《丹方鑑源》

Interpretation

Origin of Elixir Formulas

Volume One (Middle and Lower Sections Combined)

Part Five

Author: Hermit Dugu Tao of Purple Pavilion Mountain

Chapter One: Gold and Silver

Flour Gold (Produced in the Han River, Chang River, and Five Streams regions, shaped like small beans. Gold from Silla has a bluish tint, is relatively soft, and is easily counterfeited. Some use silver processed to a white color as fake gold, or blackened yellow copper ore to imitate it. Naturally formed golden crystals are called "Yellow Teeth.")

Raw Silver (Found in Luoping, Lantian, and Lushi County, with a lustrous surface and silvery-white interior when broken. It forms within lead ore, resembling bamboo shoots, and possesses transformative properties. Also called "Natural Teeth," "Raw Lead," or "Natural Lead.")

Mature Mountain-Marsh Gold (Suitable for crafting objects, but its nature is already fixed. Though it can be used to refine cinnabar-mercury or make tools, it is not edible, as the intrinsic Qi of gold contains toxicity.)

White Silver (Similar in use to mature gold—can be fashioned into objects and also employed to solidify sand for medicinal purposes.)

Mercurial Silver (Capable of extracting gold and used in the "Gushing Spring Vessel" for alchemy, utilizing its solidified mercury properties.)

Cinnabar Silver (When refined with mother silver, the results are poor; when refined without, it can extract gold.)

Lead Silver (Refined from lead ore—this silver is of high purity and can be used to craft vessels for nurturing cinnabar.)

Tin Silver and Iron Silver (Lack transformative properties.)

Red Silver (Can extract gold and also be directly transmuted into the "Solitary Yang Elixir.")

Mother-Child Silver (Refined by combining mercury with white silver; when gently heated, it does not volatilize and can be reused.)

Wuchang Copper (From Ezhou, white and soft—can be transmuted into Dan Yang silver and yellow copper. Chizha copper from Dongchuan is suitable for refining Dan Yang copper, as it resists cracking when forged.)

Natural Copper (Can be ingested directly.)

Copper Powder (Refined copper powder treats bone fractures and can be combined with cinnabar in alchemy.)

Magnetite (Iron essence can be used medicinally.)

Lead Silver (Refers to refined lead that has not been separated from silver. The finest comes from Jiazhou Longtuo, prized for its transformative properties.)

White Lead (Also called "Purified True Lead.")

(Note: "Dan Yang" refers to a special category of elixirs or alloys; "vessel" denotes a sealed container used in ancient alchemy; "transmutation" refers to the alchemical process of catalyzing metal transformation with medicinal substances.)

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Interpretation

Interpretation of Danfang Jianyuan in Plain Language

[Types and Characteristics of Lead]

1. Diaojiao Lead: Found in the counties of Yazhou, this lead resembles soapberry seeds or tadpoles in shape and is black in color. Extracted from mountain streams and sandy creeks, it can be used to process mercury and silver. It is also known as Yu Lead.

2. Caojie Lead: Raw lead (unrefined) from Jiazhou, brittle in texture, burns like sulfur when heated.

3. Xinzhou Lead: Completely unusable due to copper impurities, especially unsuitable for crafting jade artifacts.

4. Lushi Lead: Less effective than Jiazhou lead and must be treated with borax (indicating poor quality).

5. Yinping Lead: Mined in Jianzhou, it is a byproduct of iron ore and cannot be used directly. It requires treatment with vinegar vapor, which produces a white sulfide.

[Processing and Applications of Lead]

• Lead Yellow Flower: When mercury is added to lead, it floats to the surface and can be stir-fried to produce huangdan (lead oxide).
• Tin Transformed into Silver: Adding sal ammoniac makes it hard, while adding lead eliminates its metallic sound.

[Properties of Mercury]

• The best mercury is extracted from cinnabar. When poured onto cloth, it leaves mouse-tail-like trails. It is particularly sensitive to contact with acidic ores.
• A secret method states: To deactivate mercury (making it "dead"), it must be processed using specific techniques. Just as different species cannot interbreed, the transformation of metals follows the principle of like generating like (gold begets gold, silver begets silver).

[Section on Realgar]

• High-Quality Realgar: After a thousand years, it can transform into gold. The finest comes from Wudu, with Xifan’s being second-best. Iron-colored realgar is superior to cockscomb-colored varieties. Test method: After scraping off iron residue, if a yellow surface quickly forms, it is top-grade.

[Section on Orpiment]

• High-Quality Orpiment: That from Zizhou is black and lightweight, resembling charred tin lumps. Test method: If it adheres when rubbed on a fingernail, it is excellent. Alternatively, if it leaves a reddish-yellow streak when tested on the bottom of a hot iron, it is ideal. This is a crucial material for making gold.
• Another Type of Orpiment: Grows in shaded areas and can soften metals or process mercury. Imported varieties with a blood-spattered appearance are the best, followed by those from southern Hunan. Green varieties (leaf-shaped) are particularly fine.

(Note: The term huangbai shu refers to the alchemical techniques for refining gold and silver, while wujin broadly denotes various metals.)

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Interpretation

This scripture primarily introduces various mineral materials used in alchemical practices and their properties, categorized into three main groups: sulfur compounds, cinnabar compounds, and vitriols. Here is the simplified explanation:

[Sulfur Compounds]

1. Arsenic Sulfur (from Xinzhou): Can be refined into white crystals, dissolves copper, and is edible while also useful for processing mercury.

2. Serpentine Sulfur: Serves as a container (kui) for cinnabar, becoming more suitable after fire refinement.

3. Stone Yellow Sulfur: Can stabilize mercury and give it a golden hue.

4. Native Sulfur: Used to subdue mercury. The mnemonic states that sulfur turns black when encountering metal and red when encountering mercury. Also called "Yellow Teeth," it is a fundamental material in alchemy.

[Cinnabar Compounds]

1. High-quality cinnabar (from Chenzhou, Jinzhou, etc.): Includes varieties like Lotus Cinnabar and Arrowhead Cinnabar, which are edible or used in elixir refinement.

2. Shangzhou Cinnabar and Qianzhong Cinnabar: Contain excessive mercury vapor and are unusable.

3. Sal Ammoniac (from Beiting): Harmonizes medicinal properties and subdues realgar and orpiment.

4. Great Peng Cinnabar (from Guozhou): Subdues mercury and silences copper vessels.

5. Needle Cinnabar: Transforms sulfur into purple powder for sealing alchemical vessels.

6. Barbarian Maiden Cinnabar (found in silver ores): Softens iron and subdues cinnabar.

7. Luan Cinnabar (from Lantian): Black, pea-sized grains ideal for containers.

8. Sea White Cinnabar: Used as an outer container to conduct fire energy.

[Vitriols]

1. Yellow Vitriol (imported is best): Turns mercury golden and dissolves iron.

2. Purple Vitriol (from Persia): Purple ore that transforms silver into gold and stabilizes mercury.

3. White Vitriol: Processes mercury, tempers tin, and subdues all sulfur types.

4. Persian White Vitriol: Needle-like crystals that stabilize mercury.

(Note: The term "kui" refers to sealed containers used in alchemy, "fire subduing" (fuhuo) denotes refinement through fire, and "dry mercury" (qian gong) describes methods to solidify liquid mercury.)

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Interpretation

This passage primarily discusses the applications of various alum stones (minerals) in alchemical practices. Here's a modern interpretation:

Green Vitriol (qingfan): Used for preserving cinnabar (mercury sulfide used in alchemy) and for smelting copper.

Greenish Vitriol (lüfan): Processes mercury to give metals a golden appearance.

Blackish Vitriol (zaofan): Transforms mercury into a frost-like powder compound.

Chicken-Dung Vitriol (jishifan): Also capable of giving mercury a golden hue.

Kunlun Vitriol (kunlunfan): Processes mercury while preserving cinnabar.

Iron Vitriol (tiefan): Mined in Taiyuan's Wenshui County, resembles red litharge with golden star-like spots, used for processing sulfur.

Willow-Catkin Vitriol (liuxufan): Preserves cinnabar and causes mercury to coagulate into solid form.

Crimson Vitriol (jiangfan): Causes sand particles to coagulate.

Mica Vitriol (yunmufan): Induces mercury coagulation.

Gall Vitriol (danfan): From Puzhou, reportedly transforms silver into gold and gives mercury golden coloration.

Snow Vitriol (xuefan): Dries mercury to produce frost-like powder.

Heavenly-Leak Vitriol (tianloufan): From Tianlou Mountain in Pengzhou, white-colored, softens iron sheets.

Porridge Vitriol (zhoufan): Used in steel refining.

Duck-Dung Vitriol (yashifan): Mined in Lantian silver mines, causes mercury coagulation.

Chicken-Feather Vitriol (jimaofan): Induces sand coagulation.

Jurong Vitriol (jurongfan): Gives metals golden appearance while coagulating mercury.

Xuanzhou Period Vitriol (xuanzhouqifan): Extracted from green vitriol, deep translucent specimens used to make alchemical "containers" (kui).

Alum Stone (fanshi): Reportedly transforms copper and iron into silver.

The following are "various azurites" (zhong qing):

Azurite (kongqing): Said to transform copper into silver while coagulating mercury and sand.

Layered Azurite (zengqing): Coagulates mercury and processes cinnabar due to its metallic energy properties.

White Azurite (baiqing): Suitable for sword casting.

Great Azurite (daqing): Used for crafting green jade.

Stone Azurite (shiqing): Reportedly transforms copper (possibly referring to smelting or color alteration).

These records represent ancient alchemists' experimental observations of mineral properties, reflecting their practical knowledge of mineral characteristics and alchemical experience.

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Interpretation

The Danfang Jianyuan (Sources of Alchemical Formulas), Middle Scroll, records various minerals and their applications in alchemy:

Chapter Six: Varieties of Mineral Stones

Magnetite (the best quality attracts iron from all sides; used to process cinnabar, refine mercury, and remove tarnish from silverware)

Milk Stone (used to craft outer containers for elixirs)

Lead-Toothed Stone (found in lead mines, yellowish-white; used to process cinnabar)

Snow-Grasping Arsenolite (from Qutan Station; exudes liquid in extreme cold; one portion yields ten taels of mercury)

Golden-Star Arsenolite (used to dry mercury and process cinnabar and sal ammoniac)

Silver-Star Arsenolite (same uses as above)

Special-Growth Arsenolite (used to process sal ammoniac)

Red-Skinned Arsenolite (used to process cinnabar and refine mercury)

Peach-Blossom Arsenolite (used to dry mercury)

Purple Arsenolite (used to process mercury)

Actinolite (suitable for outer containers)

Long-Veined Stone (edible)

Hemusite (resembles silver ore; used to nurture cinnabar)

Talc (used to process realgar and orpiment, and as outer containers)

Gypsum Stone (used in containers to process cinnabar and mysterious essence)

Autumn Stone (used to make white jade sulfur)

Floating-Water Stone (removes impurities from medicines)

Warding Stone (black; used to process arsenic and calomel)

Honeycomb Stone (suitable for outer containers)

Water-Condensing Stone (used to make waterproof garments; also edible)

Solitary Stone (used as outer containers)

Niter (used to process metals, produce arsenic and sulfur, and craft jade objects)

Chapter Seven: Medicinal Mineral Stones

Gypsum (from Guizhou, used to coagulate mercury)

Mineral Fat (used to seal outer containers)

Chalcanthite (turns silver into gold and iron into copper; removes metal tarnish)

Stone Kirin Tablet (imparts a golden hue to metals)

Coal (used to process sulfur, remove tarnish from tinware; small amounts for realgar, orpiment, and sal ammoniac)

Stone Milk (used for outer containers)

Stone Flower (coagulates sand)

Stone Sweet Spike (veined like tin; coagulates sand and gives metals a golden sheen)

Malachite (coagulates sand)

Stone Frost (coagulates sand)

Stone Silkworm (used to process cinnabar)

Stone Marrow (coagulates sand)

Amethyst Quartz (reddish-white varieties are edible; also used for containers)

Note: In ancient alchemy, fu (伏) refers to processing or refining; zhi (制) means transformation or preparation; wai kui (外匮) denotes the outer container encapsulating elixirs; jie gong (结汞) indicates the solidification of mercury. These minerals were primarily employed in metal transmutation, medicinal purification, and other alchemical techniques.

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Interpretation

The Danfang Jianyuan documents preparation methods and applications of various mineral, salt, and earthen materials commonly used in ancient alchemical practices:

Section Eight covers "frost" substances:

• Powder Frost (used for copper processing)
• Arsenic Frost (capable of treating copper and desiccating mercury)
• Nightsoil Frost (employed in cinnabar refinement and wind-syndrome treatment)
• Mulberry Frost (utilized for processing cinnabar and sulfur)

Section Nine details salt varieties:

• Salt Essence (crystalline deposits from salt lakes, used in mercury and cinnabar processing)
• Rong Salt (red or black variants from western ethnic regions, applied in cinnabar refinement and mercury desiccation)
• Man Salt (treats realgar and orpiment, with red salt being premium grade)
• Green Salt (from Fuzhou, desiccates mercury and processes cinnabar)
• Silla Yellow Salt (transmutes mercury into gold, also cultivates cinnabar and refines mercury)
• Bittern Salt (used in refining four yellow minerals)
• Cliff Salt (from Lingzhou, called "raw salt," functions like alum in cinnabar cultivation and mercury drying)
• Salt Green (condenses sandy substances)
• Salt Gall (refines four yellow minerals and serves as solder)

Section Ten describes powdered substances:

• Stabilizing Powder (processes realgar and cultivates cinnabar)
• Barbarian Powder (treats sulfur for vessel-making)
• Clam Powder (handles sulfur)
• Lard Powder (dissolves copper after special processing)
• Mica Powder (processes mercury and refines cinnabar; also edible)

Section Eleven catalogs niter types:

• Horse Tooth Niter (cultivates cinnabar and processes sal ammoniac)
• Crude Niter (refines sulfur and transforms realgar/orpiment)
• Desiccating Niter (dries mercury and nourishes cinnabar)
• Glauber's Salt (treats realgar)
• Pit Niter (processes cinnabar)

Section Twelve lists specialized waters:

• Water Essence (cultivates cinnabar)
• Thatched Roof Rainwater (refines mica)
• Honey Water (decocts cinnabar)

Section Thirteen documents earthen materials:

• Earth Matrix (red clay from Sanxue Mountain, processes sal ammoniac)
• Yellow Earth (treats realgar)
• Subdued Dragon's Liver (purple clay blocks excavated one foot below decade-old hearths, contracts cinnabar)
• Gold-Wrapping Earth (condenses sandy substances)
• Hematite Earth (imparts golden hue to metals)
• Lead Mine Red Earth (produces cinnabar silver)
• Earth Marrow (from Junzhou and Fangzhou, processes cinnabar)
• Red Crow's Foot (used for outer containers)

(Note: These records reflect ancient alchemical material processing methods. Some involve heavy metals and toxic substances—modern experimentation is strongly discouraged.)

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Interpretation

"Canon of Alchemical Origins" Volume II:

Chapter 14: Miscellaneous Medicinals

Minium (used to subdue arsenic, produce sal ammoniac, and process sulfur)

Selenite (for preserving cinnabar and processing sulfur)

Chiyou's Bone (used as containers for external alchemy furnaces)

Muscovite (can preserve cinnabar)

Mica (used to process sulfur and dry mercury)

Five-Colored Yu's Surplus (dries mercury)

Lunar Selenite (used to process cinnabar and subdue sulfur)

Jade Powdered Cinnabar (preserves cinnabar)

Copper Oxide (for sealing alchemical furnaces)

Ink Stick (strengthens seals)

Honeyed Chestnut (dries mercury)

Elm Seed (softens the five metals)

Frankincense (dulls copperware)

Chapter 15: Medicinal Liquids

Clarified Butter (for blending medicines)

Breast Milk (removes all fire toxins)

Bitter Wine, Chalcanthite, Left-Fermented Rice Vinegar, Right-Fermentation (used for boiling the four sulfides and dissolving various medicines)

Urine (for boiling alum and subduing sulfur)

Chapter 16: Various Oils

Hemp Seed Oil (boils lead to spontaneously precipitate mercury)

Sesame Oil, Purple Clarified Butter (softens five metals, lubricates eight minerals)

Gourd Vine Seed (boils and refines mercury)

Castor Oil (boils tin)

Arsenic Oil (coagulates mercury)

Naphtha (dissolves copper, processes arsenic)

Chapter 17: Fats and Marrows

Ox Fat (softens copper)

Sheep Fat (softens silver)

Copper Bone (can subdue arsenic)

Antelope Horn (contracts tin)

Pork Fat (boils copper and tin)

Hedgehog Fat (subdues realgar)

Camel Fat (softens gold)

Donkey/Horse Fat (softens five metals)

Cuttlefish Bone (dilutes saltiness)

Chapter 18: Animal Droppings

Sparrow Droppings (subdue arsenic)

Horse Dung (enhances all medicinal effects)

White Dog Droppings (boil copper)

Cow Dung (extracts copper halo)

Earthworm Castings (reinforce seals)

Winter-Crying Bird Droppings (contract tin)

Pigeon Droppings (contract tin)

Chapter 19: Various Ashes

Red-Hearted Chenopodium Ash (produces alum)

Buckwheat Ash (boils and refines calomel)

Fairy Maiden Grass Ash (produces sulfur)

Asbestos Ash (boils and refines mercury)

(Note: These records reflect ancient alchemists' experimental knowledge of various substances, where "subdue" means to tame volatile properties, "process" indicates extraction, "preserve" denotes maintenance, "soften" refers to making malleable, "contract" means to condense, and "seal" represents furnace insulation techniques. Some methods may pose dangers by modern standards and should not be attempted casually.)

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Interpretation

This scripture primarily documents the various applications of plant ashes, botanical extracts, and materials in ancient alchemical practices, along with different firing techniques. Here's a simplified explanation:

[Plant Ashes Section]

• Golden Sheath Grass Ash: Used to fixate mercury (binding mercury)
• Purslane Ash: Employed in cinnabar refining to stabilize mercury
• Motherwort Ash: Processes sulfur
• Mulberry Tree Ash: Used for treating both sulfur and sal ammoniac (a mineral compound)
• Winter Melon Vine Ash: (Repeated symbols indicate similar applications)
• Paper Ash: Capable of preserving fire embers for extended periods

[Botanical Extracts Section]

• Five-Branch Grass Juice: Fixates mineral sands
• Cocklebur Juice: Extracts the essence of tin
• Gardenia Juice: Treats metals (quenching metal)
• Verbena Juice: Concentrates tin sands
• Gallnut: Deactivates lead (rendering lead inert)

[Special Materials Section]

• Black Soybeans: Soften the nature of elixirs
• Aconite: Boils and refines yang-type elixirs
• Croton Seeds: Soften copper and remove impurities

[Firing Techniques Section]

• Ox Dung Fire: Strong medicinal potency (equivalent to eastern hardwood charcoal)
• Horse Dung Fire: Similar effects as above
• Rice Chaff Fire: Provides even and sustained heat

Note: Frequently mentioned terms like "binding sands" (结砂子) and "boiling mercury" (煑汞) refer to alchemical processes for stabilizing metals and refining essences, while "subduing" (伏) and "quenching" (淬) denote specialized treatment methods. These records reflect the empirical knowledge of material reactions accumulated by ancient alchemists through extensive experimentation.

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Interpretation

Plain Language Interpretation of Danfang Jianyuan (Source Mirror of Elixir Formulas):

On Bamboo Fire (used for slowly cultivating mercury's properties)

Qinggang (referring to substances as powerfully effective as a sheep's shinbone)

Chapter 24: Methods for Producing Copper, Silver, and Lead Sands:

• Copper sand: Melt copper into liquid form, then add magnetite powder while stirring until it becomes granular.
• Silver sand: After melting silver, pour it into thick paper rolls soaked in alum solution while stirring to produce the sand.
• Lead sand: Melt lead and pour it into a sand-filled basin, then grind with a wooden pestle—it will readily form into granular sand.

Chapter 25: Miscellaneous Discussions:

• Cinnabar oil: A heating medicinal substance refined from saltpeter and niter. Long-term ingestion shows limited efficacy.
• Sulfur paste: Prepared by steaming with honey, but contains toxic sulfur compounds and must not be ingested.
• Magnetite: An extremely hard substance difficult to transform. Its magnetic properties may assist cultivation practices, but excessive use is harmful.
• Sal ammoniac (mineral medicine): Highly toxic. Only suitable for short-term use by patients with cold syndromes. Overuse causes stagnation of Qi and blood.
• Dragon-Tiger Head (mercury-sulfur reaction): When mercury encounters sulfur, it turns red and appears medicinal, but actually contains toxic sulfur compounds and must not be ingested.

Method for Making Five-Yellow Pills:

Take one liang each of realgar, orpiment, arsenic yellow, sulfur, and yellow alum. Grind with rice vinegar until moist, then roast to remove yin energies. First stir-fry one jin of salt until it forms "salt blossoms" to line the pot's bottom. Place the medicine in a small earthen bowl inverted over the salt, sealing with salt-clay. Apply gentle heat to sublime the medicine onto the bowl's underside, then collect and regrind. After repeating the sublimation process, mix with lard to form pill-sized beads (like white peas). Each pill can control one jin of firing intensity.

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Interpretation

This passage describes the ancient alchemical method for processing mercury (quicksilver):

Prepare a new small cauldron (diaozhi) and first create a small depression in its base using yellow earth. Place one tael of mercury inside and apply heat. When the mercury begins to flow, drop in a single alchemical pellet. At this moment a sound will be heard—wait until this sound completely ceases, indicating the mercury has transformed into its gaseous state (Qi). Special note: This method differs from the third operation of the "Mountain-Marsh Technique" (likely referring to a specific alchemical process) and requires the specialized "Sealed Vessel Method" (a heating technique using hermetic sealing).

(Note: Ancient alchemy believed specific methods could transform metals into "Qi"—a characteristic operation in Daoist alchemy pursuing material transmutation. In actual practice, heating mercury produces toxic mercury vapors—modern readers must not attempt this.)

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