The Four Stages

Wang Mu

Foundations of Internal Alchemy

Reproduced from:

Wang Mu, Foundations of Internal Alchemy: The Taoist Practice of Neidan

Golden Elixir Press

In the Zhong-Lü tradition, the description of the alchemical practice is generally divided into four stages: (1) Laying the foundations; (2) Refining the Essence to transmute it into Breath; (3) Refining the Breath to transmute it into Spirit; (4) Refining the Spirit to return to Emptiness.

The main features of the four stages are the following:

Foundations of Internal Alchemy

Foundations of Internal Alchemy: The Taoist Practice of Neidan

A clear description of the Taoist practice of Internal Alchemy

  1. "Laying the foundations" (zhuji) is the practice performed to replenish the Three Origins (sanyuan, i.e., Original Essence, Original Breath, and Original Spirit) within the body.
  2. "Refining the Essence to transmute it into Breath" (lianjing huaqi) is the "initial barrier" (chuguan) of inner cultivation. At this stage, Original Essence, Original Breath, and Original Spirit coagulate with one another and form a Breath made of the union of Essence and BreathIn Chinese, this "breath" (qi) is usually written with a different character, 炁 instead of 氣, to distinguish it from ordinary breath. The same character is also used for the Original Breath of the Dao.. This stage is also called Compounding the Great Medicine (zuo dayao).
  3. "Refining the Breath to transmute it into Spirit" (lianqi huashen) is the "intermediate barrier" (zhongguan) of inner cultivation. The Great Medicine coagulates with Original Spirit, and they form a Spirit made of the union of the Three Origins. This stage is also called Compounding the Elixir (zuodan).
  4. "Refining the Spirit to return to Emptiness" (lianshen huanxu) is the ""higher barrier" (shangguan) of inner cultivation. By refining Spirit one attains Emptiness and Non-Being (xuwu). This is the highest state.

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