Image: Chinese woodcut; Daoist internal alchemy (4) Wellcome L0038974

Description: Woodcut illustration of the practice calledXixin tuicang(wash the heart and retire to a hidden place)fromXingming guizhi(Pointers on Spiritual Nature and Bodily Life) by Yi Zhenren, a Daoist text on internal alchemy published in 1615 (3rd year of the Wanli reign period of Ming dynasty). Xixin tuicang(wash the heart and retire to a hidden place), orXixin dilü(wash the heart and cleanse the thoughts), belongs to the terminology of internal alchemy. Beginning alchemists, inexperienced in the regulation and timing of spiritual fire, are subject to illnesses of distress and agitation, fire and inflammation. This can be rectified by practisingXixin tuicang.Xingming guizhi, 'Retirement and Cleansing Practices' states: 'Novice practitioners abase their heart and bind it up too tightly, which inevitably leads to illnesses of distress and agitation, fire and inflammation. The heart-fire of the south is temporarily concealed in the back-water of the north; water and fire nurture each other, and naturally no thoughts and worries arise'. Wellcome Images Keywords: Daoism; Medicine, Chinese Traditional; Internal alchemy; Qigong
Title: Chinese woodcut: Daoist internal alchemy (4)
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