The Pill of Immortality or Immortality Pill is a life-giving substance in Chinese alchemy.
Also called xiandan (仙丹), jindan (金丹), or dan (丹) in general. The desired elixir or pill by sought by Chinese alchemists grants physical or spiritual immortality.
The Pill of Immortality
It's commonly pictured as a round, dark-colored pill with a consistent texture, crafted from refined medicinal ingredients. Informally and in the realm of Chinese medicine, this term can also denote a highly effective remedy, a potion or elixir.
The quest for the Pill of Immortality began many centuries ago and persists to c. 500 AD. The formula often revolves around metals like mercury and gold. This pursuit receives backing from Chinese emperors and nobles, who have a deep Taoist heritage and desire to live forever.
In the Qin dynasty, Emperor Qin Shi Huang sought advice from wise men and alchemists in his quest for this elusive pill or elixir promising eternal life. The ancient Chinese alchemical tradition was split into two schools in the pursuit of the elixir of immortality.
Taoist groups in the 2nd century AD, particularly during the Eastern Han dynasty, promote achieving immortality through ingesting substances. These are collectively known as the "external pill" or Waidan.
In contrast, "internal alchemy" or Neidan is the practice of cultivating an immortal body within the physical body. This is done through various methods like diet, breathing and sexual hygiene, as well as mental practices such as meditation.
Texts c. 4th century AD show the Yellow Emperor finding the elixir in Huangshan mountain range, near the end of his reign. He establishes the 72 mountain peaks as the abode for immortals. Notable residents include the Yellow Emperor, Dragon King and Eight Immortals.
The earlier Liexian Zhuan writings recount the story of Wei Boyang, who is said to create such a pill or elixir of immortality.
The Legend of Wei Boyang
According to the Shenxian zhuan (Chinese: 神仙传; Biographies of the Divine Immortals), a work attributed to Ge Hong (283–343), he and two disciples retire to a mountain. There, they succeed in making an elixir of immortality.
His disciples are excited and frightened. Wei Boyang then leaves and returns with a white dog. The white dog is fed the pill and promptly dies.
Despite this, Wei Boyang claims: "Fear has no place in practicing alchemy. The dog died because it did not have a clear mind. If one takes the pill while afraid like the dog, wouldn't that produce the same result?"
The disciples then ask whether their master would take it or not, after which Wei Boyang says: "We went against society's customs and left our homes to practice in the mountains. Without the way to immortality, we vow never to return." He swallows the pill and promptly dies.
The disciples contemplate practice of alchemy for longevity if one dies after taking the elixir, as one would live decades more without it. One disciple refuses to take the pill. The second asserts Wei Boyang is no ordinary man. Taking the elixir and dying must be intentional.
The second disciple then takes the pill and dies. The remaining disciple leaves the mountain to purchase coffin wood. Afterwards, Wei Boyang leaps ups and returns to life again. He gives the elixir into the mouths of the dead disciple and dog, and they also revive.
Thus Wei Boyang and his faithful disciple attain immortality. Upon realizing this, the other disciple is full of regret.
Wei Boyang considers cultivating elixirs and creation of heaven and earth to be based on the same principles. Historic sites of Wei Boyang's alchemy work are in the Fengming Mountains (凤鸣山) 4 km (2.48 mi) SE of Fenghui (丰惠), and 17 km (10.5 mi) from Shangyu City.
One of the most prevalent symbols of immortality in Chinese lore is the peach. The Eight Immortals gain their remarkable longevity by feasting on peaches of immortality in the garden of Xiwangmu, Queen Mother of the Gods. The peaches ripen every 3,000 years.
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