The Tripods in Daoist Alchemy: Uncovering a Material Source of Immortality

The tripod (ding 鼎) and the nine tripods (jiuding 九鼎) are significant in ancient China, appearing often Daoist alchemy. However, they have been largely ignored by scholarship on Daoism. Early alchemy saw as critical elements production of immortality, but outer (waidan 外丹) gave up refining elixir due to technical reasons. was merely mentioned elaboration Later, Southern Song dynasty, inner (neidan 內丹) rebuilt significance refining, inventing new theories, such body-tripod metaphor, orbits, lunar phases. This paper outlines history (nine) a concept implement