Internal Alchemy Terms

This page is dedicated to establishing a list of Internal Alchemy terms and definitions in order to help students better understand that nature of Daoist Meditation. The list is currently under development and thus partial, I will continue to add to it over time so it gradually becomes complete.

Internal Alchemy terms:

Categories:

Metaphysics:

道 Dao: the way, made up of Yin passive and Yang active components which describe the emergence of positive and negative poles of Qi in the Universe. Without form and without image, the Dao cannot be seen, heard or otherwise perceived, yet it is the core of the stillness focused meditation phase of Internal Alchemy and the ultimate goal of meditation in the Daoist tradition.
虚 Xu: Void, the empty nature of the Dao and things without form in the phenomenological world.
无 Wu: Non Being, anything which does not exist or has yet to exist including the mind in deep meditation.
空 Kong: Emptiness, the original nature of the sky and the space around us, also a facet of the meditative mind.
元 Yuan: Origin, the beginning point from which something emerges,
原始 Yuan Shi: the Original Beginning, a Daoist cosmological concept which refers to the moment the Dao generates time and space as well as the deepest point of meditation in which Pure Yin generates living Yang energy.
易 Yi: Change, the changes of nature elicited by the flow of Yin and Yang between poles,
变 Bian: Change, another word for the changing nature of Yin and Yang,
化 Hua: Transformation, the product of the changing of Yin and Yang in which both energies take up qualities of one another as they ebb and flow, absorb, and cut away each other.
变化 Bian Hua: Change and Transformation, the central principle of reality after being created by the Dao. All thing are always changing and transforming between the two poles of Yin and Yang.
造化 Zao Hua: Creation and Transformation, the state of generation of new things in the Universe such as an embryo,
天 Tian: Sky, the atmosphere surrounding us and a term to describe Yang in its pure state,
地 Di: Earth, the Earth supporting us and a general term describing a state of Pure Yin,
天地 Tian Di: Heaven and Earth, the polar relationship of Yin and Yang as expressed by the sky moving up and away, being empty and void in character, and the Earth acting as a still, supportive mass which absorbs objects through gravity and receptivity.
天下 Tian Xia: the State, a term used in Daoist texts to describe a country and also the physical body of human beings,
阴 Yin: the passive energy of the Universe,
阳 Yang: the active energy of the Universe,
太极 Tai Ji: the combination of Yin and Yang, in Internal Alchemy this is a specific state in which Yin contains Yang which is developing and fomenting within it. Considered to be the birth of Yang Energy,
无极 Wu Ji: Absolute Non Being, the utmost state of Yin in the Universe,
五行 Wu Xing: The Movements/Elements, Five Changes of Yin and Yang expressed as Earth, Metal, Water, Wood, and Fire,
无象 Wu Xiang: No Image, the nature of the Dao has no image, deep meditation is the realization of the No Image State,
万物 Wan Wu: The Myriad Phenomena, all things which exist in the phenomenological world,
自然 Zi Ran: Nature, the self according original principle by which the Dao and Change and Transformation automatically function. Also a way to describe effortless action of energy generated in meditation.
道体 Dao Ti: the Body of the Dao, a term describing the use of the Dao in the human body to generate energy and spiritual awareness,
太和 Tai He: Great Harmony, the nourishing air around the body which we breathe,
氤氲 Yin Yun: evaporation and condensation, the interplay of Yin and Yang as condensing and evaporating water, also a way to describe the generation and collection of energy in the abdomen and head during meditation practice,
周天 Zhou Tian: Circulation of the Heavens, the track of the Sun and Moon around the Earth, also describes the movement of the circuit of Qi around the front and back of the body,
宇宙 Yu Zhou: Time and Space, the platform on which Qi ebbs and flows in creation, in modern Chinese this term means Universe,
有象 You Xiang: Has an Image, any phenomenological occurrence which can be seen or perceived,
气 Qi: Gas: In Internal Alchemy this term refers to the breath,
道炁 Dao Qi: in Daoism this is the original three part energy of matter, emptiness and energy. In Internal Alchemy it is a combination of the Original Essence, Spirit and Qi of the body in the deep meditation state.
本体 Ben Ti: The Root Body, the original body of human beings made up of Pre Heaven Jing, Qi and Shen.
根本 Gen Ben: Stem and Root, this concept has several meanings but the key point is that the root is the Dao and the stem is the Hun Yuan Energy of the body.
生 Sheng: Birth, Life, this concept is used to describe the creation of Qi in Neidan, but can also be used in a negative context to describe the karmic process of rebirth.
死 Si: Death, the death of an organism or the death of a cycle of nature or Qi,
生死 Sheng Si: Birth and Death, the Karmic cycle of death and rebirth which is ended after attaining immortality.
不生不死 Bu Sheng Bu Si: not born and not dying, the ultimate goal of achieving the Internal Elixir and becoming Immortal.
永恒 Yong Heng: Eternity,
灭 Mie: Snuffing, to be extinguished, can refer to thought, can also refer in a negative context to death,
生灭 Sheng Mie: birth and death,
长生 Chang Sheng: Long Life/Long Birth, the goal of Neidan, can also refer to constant generation of Qi and Spirit,
形而上 Xing Er Shang: Metaphysics (lit: that which is above physical form), a modern philosophical term often applied to Daoism in the Immortality Study School as well as modern Daoist research,
性 Xing: Nature, the active original nature of the universe,
命 Ming: Life/destiny, the basic Life Energy of the Body and all the activities of Life leading to formation of destiny,
性命 Xing Ming: Nature and Life, the purpose of Daoist Meditation is to realize nature (enlightened mind state) and attain life (increase of internal Qi energy in channels),
混元 Hun Yuan: Original Mixing, the state of Pre Heaven Jing, Qi and Shen held together to create a life during gestation, also the original joining of Nature, Life and Qi Energy at the formation of the Universe, and the connection of Pre Heaven Jing, Qi and Shen in deep meditation in Neidan studies.
先天: Xian Tian: Pre Heaven, the state of the universe before cognitive activities have noticed it,
后天 Hou Tian: Post Heaven, the state of the universe after cognitive activities begin interacting with it,

Body/Mind:

身 Shen: Body, Self,
体 Ti: Body,
形 Xing: Shape, Shape of Body,
精 Jing” Essence. Physical materials of the body including skin, blood, sexual material, fluids, saliva, etc…
气 Qi: Nutritive Gas in the body including Oxygen, CO2, Food Nourishment in Blood etc… Also refers to the feeling of energy in the meridians.
神 Shen: Spirit, the perceptual and cognitive aspect of consciousness which is used to perform executive functions in the phenomenological world,
元精 Yuan Jing: Original Essence, the basic constructive material derived from merging of Sperm and Egg at conception, a small quantity is left over after birth in the Lower Dantian “Life Gate” located between the umbilicus and kidneys,
元气 Yuan Qi: Original Qi, the constructive Qi which builds the body from Yuan Jing during gestation, also located in the “Life Gate” together with Yuan Jing and moves in the Eight Extraordinary Meridians,
元神 Yuan Shen: Original Spirit, base consciousness which underlies all other cognitive tasks, a major feature of Internal Alchemy Meditaiton,
炁 Qi: Pre Heaven Union of Original Jing, Qi and Shen, also known as Hun Yuan Qi,
混元炁 Huan Yuan Qi: see above,
胎儿 Tai Er: The Fetus, the collection of Hun Yuan Qi in the Pre Heaven State of Meditation,
圣胎 Sheng Tai: Sage Fetus, the maturation of the energetic fetus,
八脉 Ba Mai: Eight Extraordinary Meridians, deep meridian channels of the body which run the entire inner surface of the body and include Du, Ren, Yin Qiao, Yang Qiao, Yin Wei, Yang Wei, Dai, and Chong Meridians.
十二经 Shi Er Jing: Twelve Standard Meridians, the meridians of the organs and viscera which lead to the ends of the limbs and face,
丹田 Dan Tian: Elixir Field, three major collection points of inner energy in the head, chest and abdomen. Some Neidan schools hold them to be located in the head, upper abdomen and lower abdomen,
丹 Dan: Elixir, the collection of Jing, Qi and Shen in the body in the Pre and Post Heaven States which fill the Dan Tian completely,
上丹田 Shang Dan Tian: Upper Elixir Field in the brain,
下丹田 Xia Dan Tian: Lower Elixir Field in the Abdomen,
中丹田 Zhong Dan Tian: Middle Elixir Field in the Chest,
坎宫 Kan Gong: Water Palace, the lower abdomen beneath the umbilicus and above the genitals, may also include the kidneys. The Water Palace is the location of the Jing and Yuan Jing Essences.
离宫 Li Gong: Fire Palace, the chest center associated with the heart, Shen and Yuan Shen spirits.
督脉 Du Mai: Meridian running the length of the spine to the peak of the head and area behind the nose,,
任脉 Ren Meridian, the Meridian running from the inner mouth to the base of the abdomen,
阴跷 Yin Qiao, Yin Heal Meridian, a whole body meridian running down the front of the body from the head to the heal,
阳跷 Yang Qiao: Yang Heal Meridian running up the back of the leg to peak of the head,
阴维 Yin Wei: Yin Connection Meridian, Meridian running the entire body covering the four limbs and head,
阳维 Yang Wei: Yang Connection Meridian, Meridian running the entire body covering the four limbs and head,
冲脉 Chong Mai: Chong Meridian, running up the center of the body,
小周天 Xiao Zhou Tian: Small Heavenly Orbit, the outer circulation of the body mainly connected to the Ren and Du Meridians but ultimately circulating around the entire periphery of the body,
大周天 Da Zhou Tian: Large Heavenly Orbit, running directly up and down the center of the body and complying with the changing energy of time and season,
卯酉周天 Mao You Zhou Tian: the Wood and Metal Heavenly Orbit, running diagonally around the torso, a period of energetic connection that occurs at the end of the Small Heavenly Orbit,
河车 He Che: River Wheel, the pathway established as energy moves up the back of the body via the Du Meridian and down the Ren Meridian,
小河车 Xiao He Che: the Small River Wheel, another word for the Small Heavenly Orbit,
大河车 Da He Che: Large River Wheel, another word for the Large Heavenly Orbit,
紫河车 Zi He Che: Purple River Wheel, the connection of energy outside the body after the completion of the Large Orbit,
炼精化气 Lian Jing Hua Qi: Refining Essence and Transforming Qi, the first stage of Neidan practice in which Qi is developed in the body,
炼气化神 Lian Qi Hua Shen: Refining the Qi and Transforming Spirit, the second stage of Neidan in which Qi becomes a sense organ of the body capable of interacting with other aspects of sensation,
炼神化虚 Lian Shen Hua Xu: Refining the Spirit and Transforming the Void, the third stage of Neidan practice in which Spiritual Sensation of Qi becomes clear and the phenomenological mind becomes subservient to the energetic and spiritual experience of meditation.
炼虚合道， Lian Xu He Dao: Refining Void and Joining the Dao, the highest level of Neidan practice in which practitioners achieve the Daoist equivalent of enlightenment,
百会 Bai Hui: Hundred Meetings, the vertex of the head at which all Yang channels meet,
会阴 Hui Yin: Meeting of Yin, the space between the genitals and anus in which all Yin Channels meet,
五脏 Wu Zang: The Five Organs, Heart, Spleen, Liver, Kidneys and Lung,
五藏 Wu Cang: another name for Wu Zang,
玄武宫 Xuan Wu Gong: Xuan Wu Palace, another way to describe the lower abdomen Water Palace. Xuan Wu is a Daoist deity represented by a black tortoise and thus represents the darkness which contains the original Yang Essence of the body located in the lower abdomen.
黄芽 Huang Ya: Yellow Sprout, an energetic phenomena that occurs during the small heavenly orbit when the pre-heaven essence transforms and causes true Qi to rise up the spine to the brain.
金晶 Jin Chang: Golden Crystal, an early word to describe the Qi that moves from the lower dantian to the brain.