Elixir(仙丹):

In Chinese, it is pronounced as: xiān dān，Written as:

An Elixir is a mixture made by using a variety of chemicals as ingredients, which are placed into a crucible or similar container, then subjected to high temperatures, and finally refined. It is said that Daoist practitioners used this method to create divine medicines, claiming that those who consumed them could transform into Immortals. Hence, this substance is named Elixir.

Historically, the earliest Elixirs were actually made by consuming magical fruits and herbs to achieve immortality. Many Taoist philosophies contain numerous theories about health preservation and spiritual practice, focusing more on achieving eternal life compared to Western alchemy. After Emperor Qin Shi Huang unified the six states, he sent people to the seas to seek the Immortals’ medicine for immortality. Emperor Wu of the Han dynasty was also keen on finding Immortals and the medicine for eternal life.

However, most of what were called “Elixirs” were concocted from heavy metals like lead and mercury, and consumption could lead not only to a failure in achieving immortality but also potential poisoning.

Like elsewhere, Chinese alchemy was guided by two main beliefs: first, that other metals could be transmuted into gold; and second, that consuming a golden Elixir could result in becoming an Immortal.

Modern science has proven alchemy to be impractical, but it served as a precursor to modern chemistry and played a positive role in the history of chemical development. Through alchemy, people accumulated experience with chemical experiments, invented various experimental apparatuses, and discovered many natural minerals. In Europe, alchemy laid the foundation for the emergence and development of modern chemistry.