A Study On The Thought Of Chen Nan’s Inner Alchemy

Master Chen Nan was a Taoist priest in the Southern Song Dynasty.The teacher of his inner alchemy was Xue Daoguang.The teacher of his ray method was unknown,but it can be confirmed as Shenxiao sect.His writings were Cui Xu Pian,Yin Fu Sui,Wai San Yao,Nei San Yao,etc.Based on the theory of "Qi"（炁）,Chen Nan built the thought of "internal alchemy as the body and ray method as the use",developed the thought of "double cultivation of life and nature,life before nature",and carried out relevant religious practice.He promoted the development of Taoist internal alchemy.Therefore,he was respected as the fourth ancestor by Nanzong in later generations.Chen Nan’s inner alchemy works contain a large number of argots,and the corresponding interpretation is the premise and key to understand his inner alchemy thought.From a broad perspective,the inner alchemy can be divided into three categories:the inner alchemy which referso the spirit,the "Qi" and the medicine;tthe cauldron and the acupuncture points;thefire.The key to the interpretation of the alchemy is attributed to the two words,"Yin"（阴）and "Yang"（阳）.These are embodied in his work "Cui Xu chapter Danji’s theory of unification".Chen Nan’s inner alchemy theory was established around the theory of "Qi".He divided "Qi" into "Tai yi Zhen Qi" and "My Zhen Qi".The former operates in the universe and has objectivity and supremacy.The latter is produced by the former and participates in the constitution and operation of the human body.Only by recognizing the process of "True Qi" running in the human body and applying it through the method of "Yin-Yang Coexistence" can we achieve the state of innate yin-yang unity.In the process of cultivation,Chen Nan established the dominant position of "Inborn True Energy".In the theory of life,he insisted on "Double cultivation of life,life before nature",and put forward such propositions as "Taking the heart as the nature,energy as the life" and "The king of the life root heart",which made great progress in sexual skills compared with the previous masters.Chen Nan applied the theory of inner alchemy to practice.By grasping the commonality between the "Qi" in the inner alchemy and the "Qi" in the ray method,he creatively realized the integration of the inner alchemy and the ray method.At the same time,he developed the "Five Ray Method" by absorbing Confucianism and military thought.Chen Nan opposed the vague attitude of his predecessors towards the dual cultivation of Qing and Cultivation,and created the Nanzong Qing Cultivation.In terms of alchemy,he divided the inner alchemy practice into nine stages,proposed the "nine-turning alchemy method",and summed up the general laws of inner alchemy cultivation as the "three-grade alchemy method".He opposed cultivating one school alone,and advocated eclecticism;he opposed the stick to the rule,and advocated flexibility and change.These measures had a huge impact on famous internal alchemists of later generations,such as Bai Yuchan and Li Daochun.