The Taoist search for immortality

Alchemy seeks to change an element's characteristics through a combination of chemistry, physics, metallurgy, mysticism and medicine. In China, alchemy was practised as early as 200 BCE, but it blossomed during the Jin dynasty (265-420).

The Taoist philosopher and alchemist Ge Hong (284-264) made thorough research and experimentation to try and find the secret of immortality. The search for this "elixir of life" was a vocation for the Taoists, which would explain why alchemy developed so quickly so early.

Ge Hong is considered to be a proponent of the southern school of alchemy, which believed that immortality can be reached through training and through the use of some material. Ge Hong was already well-known during his time, not only as a Taoist master but also as a philosopher and an expert in medicine and medicinal plants.

Modern scientific thinking might find alchemy's methods and goals suspect, but Ge Hong considered what he was doing scientific, critical and exact. He drew a line between his work and the popular superstition of the people living at that time. He saw his search for the elixir of life as demanding scientific research, as valid as, for example, researching the properties of medicinal plants.

His life's work was compiled in the book Baopuzi. In this work, he explains that immortality can be achieved both through chemistry and from spiritual and mental training that helps one develop this "power element."

Of course, Ge Hong was not the only one doing research. He and his followers used advanced instruments, special dishes and ovens and double boilers. The results were measured through weighing, timing and observing, for example, the effects that temperature had, even though the first thermometer was not brought into China until Galileo invented one in the 16th century.

On the other hand, the Chinese might have known about distillation as early as the 4th century. In the Baopuzi, Ge Hong explains how he distilled mercury. It didn't quite succeed, because instead of producing the elixir of life, they produced alcohol instead. Oh, well!

The physical and mental exercises that the ancient Taoist monks used to prolong their life, are luckily still with us. There are still rumors afloat of monks who can fly or turn invisible. And if these skills should evade you, take heart in the fact that the exercises bring even the staunchest realist peace of mind and good health.

The development of Chinese medicine has sometimes gone hand in hand with alchemy's growth. The effects of medicinal plants have been researched and written down thousands of years ago. So, even if the alchemists failed to find that one flower which could bring immortality, it has helped bring relief to many other pains and helped add years to people's lives.