The Ruyao jing (Mirror for Compounding the Medicine) is one of the best-known texts of Taoist Internal Alchemy, or Neidan. Written in the 10th century and attributed to Cui Xifan, it describes the foundations of Internal Alchemy in 20 short poems of four verses. Because of its symbolic and cryptic language, it has been subjected to different and sometimes conflicting interpretations.
This book contains the first complete translation into a Western language of the Ruyao jing and of the commentary by Wang Jie, who lived in the 14th century. Wang Jie — also known as Wang Daoyuan and Hunran zi (Master of the Inchoate) — was a second-generation disciple of the great Neidan master, Li Daochun. He explains each poem in light of his tradition, and his commentary is characterized by a strong connection between the doctrinal and the practical aspects of Neidan. The translator's notes provide details on the main technical terms found in this work, and on its relation to other important texts of Internal Alchemy, in particular the Cantong qi (Seal of the Unity of the Three) and the Wuzhen pian (Awakening to Reality).
This book is vol. 1 in the "Masters" series of Golden Elixir Press.
Original title: Ruyao jing zhujie 入藥鏡註解 (入藥鏡注解), or Cui gong Ruyao jing zhujie 崔公入藥鏡註解 (崔公入藥鏡注解), by Wang Jie 王玠 (also known as Wang Daoyuan 王道淵 and Hunran zi 渾然子)
