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Men of Talismans and Spells (Content omitted)

Men of Talismans and Spells (Content omitted)

Men of Talismans and Spells (Content omitted)
(The content of the above three volumes consists entirely of talismans and spells, with approximately seventy thousand characters deleted in total, comprising over three hundred talismans.)

It is stated that Ji Kang, in his discussion on health preservation, said: Some people believe that immortals can be attained through learning, and that a life without death can be achieved by effort. He also said: The maximum lifespan is one hundred and twenty years, which is consistent throughout ancient and modern times. Anything beyond this is not within human power; these views are all mistaken. Ji Kang's main point was that immortals are specially endowed with unique Qi (vital energy), derived from nature, and cannot be achieved merely by accumulating knowledge. However, if one follows proper guidance and nourishment according to principles, thereby exhausting the potential of life and nature, living up to a thousand years or at least several hundred years is possible. While Ji Kang's discussion on health preservation was sound, his exclusive assertion that immortals cannot be learned is questionable. Huangdi's (Yellow Emperor) discussions on innate truth and Hunyuan's discourse on morality both take emptiness and non-being as their core, and tranquility as their foundation. Works such as the *Huangting Jing* (Yellow Court Classic), *Neijing* (Inner Landscape), and *Jinbi Cantong Qi* all share the same Daoist principles for health preservation and longevity. To claim that immortals cannot be learned contradicts these teachings. In the past, Huangdi sought the Dao from Guangchengzi, who said: "Do not look, do not listen; hold your spirit in stillness, and your form will naturally rectify. Be quiet and clear, do not exhaust your form, do not agitate your essence, and you may achieve longevity." This is what is meant by the Dao. Practices such as refining cinnabar, smelting stones, Daoyin (guiding and pulling) exercises, Anqiao (pressing and kneading), Fuqi (swallowing Qi), and Bigu (avoiding grains) are all methods not abandoned by the path of immortality. These are listed below.

For immortals consuming herbs and trees, one must select those with sturdy branches and leaves, and unchanging forms and qualities, such as Pine (Song), Cypress (Bai), and Poria (Fuling). The intention is fundamentally to extend life and promote longevity. As for others, if they do not possess the elegance of the Five Elements, they must at least embody the harmony of the Four Seasons' Qi. The implication is profound. The *Qianjin Fang* (Thousand Gold Formulas) states that the general rule for ingestion is to first eliminate the Three Worms (San Chong, parasites believed to reside in the body). Once the Three Worms are removed, one should consume herbal medicines; once herbal efficacy is established, then woody medicines; once woody efficacy is established, then mineral medicines. One progresses from coarse to refined, and this order must not be disrupted.

Method for Collecting Pine Resin (Songzhi)
Usually, on the day of Start of Summer (Lixia), select lateral branches of pine trees lying east-west, with a circumference of two to three chi and a length of about ten chi. Lay them on the ground, place a container underneath one end facing downward, and expose them to the sun. The resin will flow out naturally. Collect it three or four times to mix with other medicines. This resin is particularly suitable for use with Realgar (Xionghuang). If the resin is hard, melt it with wine over fire; when the juice flows out, dissolve it in cold wine. Usually, during the three months of spring, enter the shady side of Mount Heng, collect pine resin unseen by sunlight, refine it, and consume it. (Refine until it is non-sticky.) After taking it for one hundred days, one can withstand cold and heat; after two hundred days, internal organs are strengthened; long-term consumption leads to immortality.

Another Formula
Usually, at sunset, split the shaded side to extract its ointment (Gao); split the sunny side to extract its resin (Zhi). Consume equal parts of resin and ointment to communicate with spiritual deities and open the Yin and Yang. Dig a hole one cun square and five cun deep, cover it with bark to prevent wind entry; if wind enters, it cannot be used. Collect in spring and summer, seal tightly afterward, and coat with mud to prevent gas leakage.

Another Method
Chop old, dry, fat pine roots and nodes into pieces about one chi long, place them in a steamer (Zeng). When full, the resin will naturally flow into the water in the cauldron below. Take it out repeatedly, place it in cold water, wait for it to solidify, and refine it according to method.

Another Method
Accumulated resin in pine bark is the best. There is also resin at the base of roots where branches have broken, or in places unseen by sun and moon, called Yin Zhi (Shade Resin), which is even better. Only five hundred li east of Mount Heng are there large pines with a circumference of thirty to forty chi, producing abundant resin.

Another Method
Method for collecting pine resin on the Summer Solstice: On Mount Shaoshi in Henan, there are large pines. Cut them in the shade so that resin flows out, collect it in a vessel, and refine it according to method. Remove the bitter taste, then refine white honey (Baimi) to remove foam, mix equally with resin, and take one sheng daily. Do not eat other foods; drinking water is sufficient. It prevents hunger. Long-term use allows one to live without eating. Initially take one sheng; after three days, reduce to the size of a pellet, soften and swallow. Drink water when thirsty. It prevents aging.

Method for Refining Pine Resin
Take pine resin, regardless of quantity, put it in a cauldron, add water, and boil for the time it takes to cook a meal. Then take it out, filter it through new cotton cloth into cold water, and repeat this process thirty times. It is then ready.

Another Formula
Pine Resin (one jin) Mulch Ash Juice (Sanghui Zhi, one shi)
Take the two ingredients. Put one dou of ash juice in a cauldron, boil the pine resin three to five times, take it out, place it in cold water, wait for it to solidify, and boil again. Repeat this ten times, changing the ash juice and cold water each time. The resin becomes white. Take the refined white resin, grind and sieve it into powder. Take one spoonful each time, mixed with wine or rice drink. Take on an empty stomach around noon and near evening. If taken up to ten liang, hunger ceases. After one year, night vision improves. Long-term use prevents aging.

Another Formula
Pine Resin (one jin)
Boil this single ingredient in five sheng of water. Wait for it to melt, remove turbid dregs, and take the clear portion. Throw it into cold water. Repeat this one hundred and twenty times; do not stop arbitrarily. Change the water every forty times. Complete three changes of water. The standard is no bitterness. The resin becomes soft and white like mud. Take one piece of White Poria (Baifuling), grind and sieve it into powder, mix it into the refined resin, stir well, and place in a cool place until it can be formed into pills. Make pills the size of apricot kernels. Swallow thirty pills daily. Stop after ten days; appetite will naturally decrease. Long-term use leads to Bigu (grain avoidance).

Another Formula
Pine Resin (twenty jin)
This constitutes one dose. Add water to a large cauldron, place a steamer on top. Line the steamer evenly with white cogon grass (Baimao), then add raw yellow soil about one cun thick. Place the pine resin on top. Cover tightly to prevent gas leakage. Burn mulberry wood under the stove. If the water in the cauldron decreases, add warm water. Steam for the time it takes to cook a meal. Take the resin out and put it in cold water. Wait for it to solidify and steam again as before. Stop after three steamings. The resin looks like jade. Use it to mix with medicines. Take equal parts of Sweet Chrysanthemum (Ganjuhua) and White Poria, grind into fine powder, mix, and make pills the size of paulownia seeds. Take ten pills with wine. Take on an empty stomach around noon and near evening. During each steaming, sprinkle wine as before.

Another Formula
Pine Resin (ten jin, refined) Pine Nuts (Songshi, peeled, three jin) Cypress Seeds (Baishi, three jin) Sweet Chrysanthemum (Ganjuhua, five sheng)
Grind and study the four ingredients into powder. Mix with refined honey and make pills the size of paulownia seeds. Take ten pills each time with porridge drink. Take three times daily. After more than one hundred days, hunger ceases.

Another Formula
White Pine Resin (twelve liang, refined thirteen times) White Honey (one jin four liang) White Beeswax (Baila, one jin four liang) White Poria (Baifuling, remove black skin, twelve liang, ground to powder)
Place the four ingredients in a large vessel, set inside a steamer, ensuring no gas leaks. Steam for the duration of cooking one dan of rice. Take out and make pills the size of paulownia seeds. Take ten pills each time with warm wine. If hungry, take another ten pills. Do not eat any other food. Wine intake should not exceed one ge.

Another Formula
Pine Resin (two jin, refined) Polygala Root (Yuanzhi, remove heart, stir-fry until slightly red, seven liang)
Grind the two ingredients into fine powder. Mix with refined white honey and make pills the size of paulownia seeds. Take thirty pills each time with rice drink or warm wine. Take once in the morning, once at noon, and once near evening. After fifteen days, desire for food diminishes.

Formula for Bigu, Ascending to Immortality, and Not Eating
Pine Nuts (Songshi, peeled) Chrysanthemum (Ju Hua, equal parts)
Grind the two ingredients into powder. Mix with refined pine resin to make pills the size of paulownia seeds, or mix with refined honey. Take ten pills each time with wine, three times daily. Dosage can increase to twenty pills. Can also be made into powder; take two qian bi. Take on an empty stomach around noon and near evening.

Another Formula
Pine Nuts (Songshi, peeled)
Harvest in the seventh lunar month those that have not opened. Wash and select those that sink in water, drain, pound to remove skins, and grind into powder. Take two qian bi with wine, three to four times daily. Can also be mixed with pine resin to make pills the size of paulownia seeds. Take ten pills each time with wine. After three hundred days of consumption, one can walk five hundred li per day, benefiting essence and brain. Long-term use leads to immortality.

Formula for Consuming Pine Roots
Pine Roots (Songgen)
Select those growing towards the east. Peel off the white bark, cut finely, dry in the sun, and grind into powder. Eat until full. It enables Bigu. Drink water when thirsty.

Formula for Consuming Pine Needles
Pine Needles (Songye)
Harvest needles from highlands in mountain streams, cut finely, and eat. Take three he daily to prevent hunger. Dry, grind into powder, and take five qian bi daily with wine. It treats hundred diseases, lightens the body, boosts Qi, and extends life.

Another Formula
Pine Needles (Songye, harvest according to the season's ruling direction from branches one zhang high, cut like millet grains, dry five dou)
Grind into powder. Mix with good wine to make cakes, dry, grind again into powder. Take five qian bi each time with wine, three times daily. It lightens the body, extends life, makes the body fragrant, enables Bigu, and prevents hunger. Avoid fish, vegetables, salt, and soy sauce.

Formula for Consuming Cypress Seeds
Cypress Seeds (Baishi)
Harvest in the eighth lunar month when the Fang constellation is prominent. Sun-dry until they crack and seeds fall out. Wash with clear water, select sinking seeds, drain, gently pound to extract kernels, and grind into fine powder. Take two qian bi each time with wine. In winter, use warm wine. Take once in the morning, once at noon, and once near evening. Gradually increase to four or five qian bi. For Bigu, eat until full. Drink water when thirsty. It promotes complexion. Another formula uses refined pine resin and white honey, making pills the size of paulownia seeds. Take ten or twenty pills, three times daily. Another formula mixes equal parts with pine nuts and pine resin, taken with wine. Another formula adds equal parts of chrysanthemum powder, mixes with honey into pills the size of paulownia seeds. Take ten or twenty pills, three times daily, with wine.

Another Formula
Cypress Kernels (Baizi) Polyporus Umbellatus (Leiyuan) Saposhnikovia Root (Fangfeng, equal parts)
Grind into powder. Take one qian bi each time with wine, three times daily. It strengthens the body and enables Bigu.

Formula for Consuming Cypress Leaves
Cypress Leaves (Baiye, harvest anytime, any amount)
Cut the leaves, fill a steamer, cover, and steam for the time it takes to cook three dan of rice. Take out, place in a clean vessel, rinse with water over one hundred times, dry in shade, and grind into powder. Take one he each time before meals with wine, twice daily. Gradually increase to one sheng. It boosts Qi, enables Bigu, and prevents hunger. This is a good formula from the immortal Gaozi.

Another Formula
Cypress Leaves (Baiye)
Take a large basin with holes, plug the holes, put cypress leaves in the basin, soak in water, change water once daily. After seven days, up to fourteen days, invert the basin so the leaves are in the steamer. Steam until the aroma penetrates, then stop. Dry, grind into powder, mix with date paste. Prepare like dry rice, dry again, grind again. Take one qian bi each time with water, three times daily. Long-term use prevents hunger. Drink water when thirsty.

Another Formula by an Immortal for Reducing Grain Intake with Cypress Leaves
Cypress Leaves (Baiye, thirty jin, no branches)
Place in a non-damp vessel, soak in flowing water from the east until the water level is three cun above the leaves. Cover with a new basin, seal with mud for twenty-one days. Strain out, dry in shade, keep dust-free. When dry, grind into powder. Take three sheng of wheat, clean, soak in cypress leaf juice for five to six days, take out, dry in shade, soak again. Seal for five to six days, take out, dry in shade. Grind into powder. Take three sheng of soybeans, roast until cooked, peel, grind into powder. Mix the three ingredients thoroughly, store in a bag. Take three he each time with wine, on an empty stomach around noon and near evening. Food and drink are permissible. Treats myriad diseases. One does not feel cold in deep winter; intestines are full without eating.

Another Formula
Cypress Leaves (Baiye, twenty jin, soak in urn with eastern flowing water for twenty-one days, take out, dry, lightly roast, add a little salt) Wheat (Maidou, one dou, soak in cypress leaf juice for three days, take out, dry, soak again until exhausted, take out, dry, roast until fragrant)
Grind into powder. Take two jin of pig belly fat, cut finely, mix with the powder. Take one qian bi before meals with wine, in the morning, at noon, and near evening. Hunger ceases after twenty days.

Another Formula
Cypress Leaves (Baiye, three hu)
Steam thoroughly, dry, grind into powder. Take three dou of barley, roast until color changes, grind into flour, mix evenly. Take as desired with wine.

Another Formula
Cypress Leaf Powder (Baiye mo, one jin four liang, select fine branches and upward-growing side branches, harvest in the first month of each season according to the direction of vital Qi, hang upside down in shade to dry)
White Poria (Baifuling, remove black skin, twelve liang) Pine Needle Powder (Songye mo, one jin four liang, select fresh needles three fen long, cut, grind, boil in three dou of clear water to obtain two dou, strain cleanly)
First, take two dou of pine needle juice, boil Poria until reduced to three or four sheng. Remove from fire, let cool, strain out Poria, grind into powder, dry in shade to make powder. Use the remaining juice to mix with cypress leaf powder. Spread in shade under trees or eaves to dry. Mix with Poria powder, grind into powder. Mix with four liang of butter. Refined white honey, cooled, is added to the mixture. Pound for half a day. Divide into four or five balls. Store in sealed vessels. Roll into pills the size of paulownia seeds. Take one hundred pills each time, increasing to two hundred. After one year, white hair turns black, fallen teeth regrow. Treats hundred diseases, reduces wrinkles, smooths facial lines. Strengthens bones and tendons. Avoid pork, fish, meat of six domestic animals, raw scallions, garlic, aged spoilt fishy odors, sticky slippery rice, vinegar, etc.

Method for Collecting Poria
When pine resin flows into the ground, it transforms into Poria. Looking from afar for several li, if the pine tree appears reddish, and its texture resembles broken chessboard patterns, Poria is present. Look up at the direction pointed to by pine branches; Cuscuta (Tusizi) often grows there. Or after new rain, when there is no wind or clouds, extinguish a candle flame held above the spot at night; Poria may be there. Circle the area with four zhang of new cloth. Dig and collect the next day. Divine substances change forms; those shaped like flying birds, running beasts, turtles, or tortoises are excellent. Sun-dry and cut. They resemble white teeth. If it is just a single block without animal shapes, it is newly transformed pine resin and is unsuitable for use.

Method for Refining Poria
Select Poria from Shangdang. Remove black skin. Cut into pieces the size of chicken eggs. Place any amount in an urn. Drill a hole near the bottom of the urn, plug it with wood. Add water to submerge the medicine. Change water every two days. After seven days, frequently use a reed to drain the water. Steam the Poria until cooked. Take out while hot. Place on a plate, knead, remove fibrous membranes, drain, and place in a basin. Pound with a wooden pestle until extremely fine. Add cooked water and mix. Sew raw silk into a bag. Pour the medicinal juice into the bag. Catch the filtrate in a basin. Drain residual dregs, pound again. Re-mix the previous filtrate, pour into the bag as before. Wait until dregs are cleared. Discard the clear liquid. Take the thick juice, put it in a silk bag, and hang to drip. When water is gone, sun-dry the Poria. This is Poria powder, which can be added to various medicines. If not done thus, the fibrous membranes harm the person, causing premature death or emaciation.

Formula for Returning Essence to Brain, Longevity, Preserving Youth, Immortal Anti-Aging, and Extending Life – Poria Powder
Red Poria (Chifuling, boil in water for thirty boils, sun-dry, four liang) Chrysanthemum (Juhua, two liang) Stalactite (Zhongru, select transparent ones like goose tubes or cicada wings. First put in silver vessel, place in a cauldron holding five or six dou, add water to nine-tenths full. Ignite fire at bottom until boiling like fish eyes. Repeat three times. Each time, wash and scrub with clean water, add water, simmer slowly until boiling like fish eyes. When time is up, take out, grind in mortar until very fine. Add a little water, grind again like thin paste. Let settle, sun-dry, grind again like powder, one liang) Mica (Yunmu, select bright yellow-white ones. Cluster on large bricks. Roast with seven jin of charcoal until red from dawn to dusk. Take out, grind into powder, put in silk bag, place in large basin, rub in water to clarify, take out, sun-dry, grind again, add one liang of powder) Acorus (Changpu, nine-joint type, soak in rice washing water for three cycles, change water daily. When time is up, cut, sun-dry) Trichosanthes Root (Gualou Gen) Red Halloysite (Chishizhi, grind like powder, washed with water, sun-dry, grind again) Cornus Fruit (Shanzhuyu, lightly stir-fry) Saposhnikovia Root (Fangfeng, remove forked tips) Achyranthes Root (Niuxi) Cuscuta Seeds (Tusizi, soak in wine for three days, drain, grind to powder) Prepared Rehmannia Root (Shugan Dihuang, baked) Dipsacus Root (Xuduan) Eucommia Bark (Duzhong, remove rough bark, stir-fry) Dioscorea Tuber (Shanyu) Cnidium Fruit (Shechuangzi, lightly stir-fry) Cypress Kernels (Baiziren) Aconite Lateral Root (Tianxiong, roasted until cracked, remove skin and root end) Cinnamon Twig (Gui, remove rough bark) Cistanche Stem (Roucongrou, soak in wine, remove wrinkled skin, cut, bake) Specific Peony Root (Tedanpi - likely referring to specific quality of Danpi) Ginseng (Renshen) Ophiopogon Tuber (Tianmendong, remove heart, bake) Quercus variabilis Bark (Shihu, remove root joints) Atractylodes Rhizome (Baizhu) Lithospermum Root (Shichangsheng, remove root joints, lightly roast) Montia chinensis (Mumeng) Aconite Lateral Root (Fuzi, roasted until cracked, remove skin and root end) Sophora Root (Kushen) Scrophularia Root (Xuanshen, wash water, stir-fry with bran until scorched) Angelica Pubescens Root (Duhuo, remove crown) Vitex Fruit (Mujingzi) Cibotium Rhizome (Gouji, remove hairs) Aster Root (Ziwan, wash water, remove dirt, sun-dry) Dried Ginger (Ganjiang, roasted until cracked) Astragalus Root (Huangqi, stir-fry and cut) Alisma Rhizome (Zexie) Licorice Root (Gancao, dip in water, stir-fry) Peony Root (Shaoyao) Morinda Root (Bajitian, remove heart) Codonopsis Root (Shashen) Polygala Root (Yuanzhi, remove heart, bake) Pyracantha Leaf (Shinan Ye, control dry with warm flowing water, roast) Oyster Shell (Muli, grind to powder, mix with water to form balls, rotate to fly [refining], sun-dry, half liang each)
Grind and sieve the forty-four ingredients into powder. Take one qian bi each time, mixed with warm wine. Take three times daily. Take on an empty stomach around noon and near evening. Effects seen in twenty days. All diseases healed in forty-five days. Youth restored in one year.

Another Formula
White Poria (Baifuling, remove black skin) Stalactite (Zhongru, refined) Mica (Yunmu, refined) Alisma Rhizome (Zexie) Chrysanthemum (Juhua) Eucommia Bark (Duzhong, remove rough bark, stir-fry) Cypress Kernels (Baiziren) Quercus variabilis Bark (Shihu, remove root joints) Dioscorea Tuber (Shanyu) Prepared Rehmannia Root (Shugan Dihuang, baked) Ophiopogon Tuber (Tianmendong, remove heart, bake) Pyracantha Leaf (Shinan Ye, wash with warm water, slow-fire roast) Dipsacus Root (Xuduan) Cistanche Stem (Roucongrou, soak in wine, remove wrinkled skin, cut, bake, one liang each) Acorus (Changpu, nine-joint type, soak in rice washing water overnight, change water daily, wash clean, cut, bake dry) Aconite Lateral Root (Tianxiong, roasted until cracked, remove skin and root end) Cuscuta Seeds (Tusizi, soak in wine for three days, drain, grind to powder) Achyranthes Root (Niuxi) Cornus Fruit (Shanzhuyu, stir-fry) Schisandra Fruit (Wuweizi) Cnidium Fruit (Shechuangzi, winnow to remove chaff, one and a half liang each)
Grind and sieve the twenty ingredients into powder. Take one qian bi each time, mixed with wine. Take in the morning, at noon, and near evening. Or mix with refined honey to make pills the size of paulownia seeds. Take thirty pills each time with warm wine. Take twice daily. Effects seen in twenty days. Ten thousand diseases eliminated in forty days. Avoid dog meat, beef, raw scallions, garlic, radishes, sheep blood, vinegar, etc.

Another Formula
White Poria (Baifuling, remove black skin, three jin) Prepared Dried Rehmannia Root (Shenggan Dihuang, baked) Ophiopogon Tuber (Tianmendong, remove heart, baked) Sesame Seeds (Huma, stir-fried, one jin each)
Grind the four ingredients into powder separately. Mix well with refined honey. Take one spoonful each time with wine or sour water. Take five or six times daily. Or make pills the size of paulownia seeds. Take ten pills each time. Knowledge gained in thirty days. Efficacy doubled in one hundred days.

Another Formula
White Poria (Baifuling, remove black skin, twenty liang) Sesame Seeds (Huma, one dou two sheng, stir-fried) Alisma Rhizome (Zexie, eight liang)
Grind the three ingredients into powder separately. Pound together thirty thousand times. Take three qian bi each time on an empty stomach around noon and near evening, with wine or water.

Another Formula
White Poria (Baifuling, remove black skin) Hemp Seeds (Huomazi, stir-fried, half jin each)
First, take hemp seeds, grind and squeeze with five sheng of water to extract juice. Boil Poria for the time it takes to cook a meal until cooked. Take out, sun-dry, grind into powder. Take three qian bi each time, mixed with warm wine. Take twice daily on an empty stomach near evening. If no wine, mix with fresh drawn water. Avoid vinegar.

Another Formula
White Poria (Baifuling, remove black skin, three jin, cut) Licorice Root (Gancao, lightly roast and cut, two liang)
Add six dou of water. First add licorice root, decoct to obtain three dou. Strain out dregs and clarify. Add three sheng of white honey and nine sheng of cow milk, mix well,