
— 555 — 
pihe works I possess on the golden elixir. When vegetable matter is burnt, it is 
„destroyed, but when the fax ska (sulphuret of mercury) is subjected to heat, it 
„produces mercury. After passing through other changes, it returns to its original 
„form. It differs widely therefore from vegetable substances, and hence it has the 
wpower of making men live for ever, and raising them to the rank of the geni. 
„He who knows this doctrine —is he not far above common men? In the world 
„there are few that know it, and many that cavil at it. Many do not even know 
„that mercury comes out of cinnabar (tax ska). When told, they still refuse to be- 
„lieve it, saying that cinnabar is red, and how can it produce a white substance? 
„They also say that cinnabar is a stone — that stones when heated turn to ashes; and 
_zphow then can anything else be expected of tun sa? They cannot even reach this 
„simple truth — much less can it be said of them that they have been instructed 
vin the doctrine of the geni. For the sake of those in these later times who should 
„be willing to be taught, the sages of antiquity transmitted a method by which they 
„might be freed from death and misery. Is it too much to make a trial of this 
„method? If you should gain thereby only two or three centuries of life, would 
„mot this slight addition to your existence be far better than the fate of the mass 
„of mankind? Many fear to attempt seeking after immortality, lest they should fail 
wand expose themselves to ridicule, as the victims of folly and deception. But if 
„they should resolve at all risks to obtain vnly this doctrine of immortality for the 
„benefit of mankind, and succeed in it in one instance, would not those who had 
„laughed be themselves deservedly laughed at? 
„The medicine should be prepared on a mountain, in a lonely spot, only two 
„or three being present. There should be fasting for 100 days previously, and per- 
pfect purification of the body. The parties should be all believers in the doctrine; 
„and persons who would ridicule the undertaking, should be kept in ignorance of it, 
_wotherwise the preparation of the elixir would fail. When it is made, the successful 
„manipulator will, with all his family, become immortal. Common men refuse to 
wadopt this method, preferring to use medieines which are vegetable substances , for- 
„getting that, being subject themselves to decay and destruction when placed in the 
wearth or near the fire, they cannot give life to man. The nine preparations that 
pean eonfer immortality on man, are not what persons of the common stamp should 
wever see or hear of. Stupidly they scek after riches and honours, and these alone. 
„lake walking corpses, they pass through the world” 
Ziedaar de wijze blootgelegd, waarop het Taoisme den Chineeschen Olympus 
bevolkte met een legio van half-goddelijke wezens, die zich door beoefening van wijs- 
heid en deugd of door het vinden van den steen der wijzen hadden weten op te wer- 
ken tot den toestand van onvergankelijkheid (??). Velen van hen ontvingen voor of 
(*7) In den loop van dit werk {raden als zoodanig op Tsjang Tao Ling (zie bladz, 59 en 
62) en Lu Jen (bladz. 135). 
