Title

The Gold Liquid Dan: Yang-Tonifying Therapy in the Northern Song Dynasty and the Death of Emperor Zhezong

Author

Genre

Pages

39-78

DOI

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PDF

Language

Chinese

Key words

danyao 丹藥, gold liquid, sulfur, yang-tonifying 補陽, Emperor Zhezong of Song 宋哲宗

Abstract

This article first examines the Immortal Daoist origins of the gold liquid dan 金液丹 and its transformation in medical use during the Tang and Song Dynasties. The gold liquid dan was developed from the premise that ingesting imperishable gold could confer immortality. Its formula began as a compound centered around gold and evolved with the development of alchemical theories. It was not until its inclusion in Hejiju fang 和劑局方 in the middle and late Northern Song Dynasty that it was finalized as a single formula based on sulfur. This process exemplifies the integration of Daoist knowledge into Song medicine, resulting in a danyao 丹藥 that is oriented towards healing and that integrates alchemical techniques. The second part of this article centers on Emperor Zhezong 哲宗 (r. 1085-1100) and discusses the use of gold liquid dan by people during the Song Dynasty to treat illnesses, exploring how it became part of the yang-tonifying 補陽 trend. In the Song Dynasty, people used gold liquid dan to replenish yangqi 陽氣, to treat cold and deficiency diseases, and also to maintain general health. When faced with critical or emerging illnesses, and when traditional prescriptions were ineffective, physicians could rely on the potent golden liquid dan to restore yang and reverse counterflow.