The ''Chifeng sui'' (), known in English as the ''Marrow of the Red Phoenix'', is a Chinese medical compendium composed during the

Ming dynasty The Ming dynasty, officially the Great Ming, was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol Empire, Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The Ming was the last imperial dynasty of ...

by Zhou Lüjing (). Born to an upper-class family, Zhou was groomed for politics; after being diagnosed with

tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB), also known colloquially as the "white death", or historically as consumption, is a contagious disease usually caused by ''Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can al ...

, however, he embarked on a quest for self-healing and eventually became a

Daoist Taoism or Daoism (, ) is a diverse philosophical and religious tradition indigenous to China, emphasizing harmony with the Tao ( zh, p=dào, w=tao4). With a range of meaning in Chinese philosophy, translations of Tao include 'way', 'road', ' ...

ascetic. Dated to 1578, the ''Chifeng sui'' contains numerous "longevity methods" collected by Zhou over the years.

Drawing upon sources on ''

qigong Qigong ()) is a system of coordinated body-posture and movement, breathing, and meditation said to be useful for the purposes of health, spirituality, and martial arts training. With roots in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chinese medicine, Chin ...

'' from the

Song A song is a musical composition performed by the human voice. The voice often carries the melody (a series of distinct and fixed pitches) using patterns of sound and silence. Songs have a structure, such as the common ABA form, and are usu ...

and Yuan dynasties, the ''Chifeng sui'' is concerned with "longevity methods" including breathing techniques, gymnastics, and sleep exercises. The manual also includes twelve "incubation practices of stillness" attributed to the "master of cosmic energy"

Chen Tuan Chen Tuan 陳摶 (died August 25, 989) was a Chinese Taoist credited with creation of the kung fu system Liuhebafa ("Six Harmonies and Eight Methods"). Along with this internal art, he is also said to be associated with a method of qi (energy ...

Authorship and publication history

Although Zhou Lüjing () was an educated and married aristocrat, he was also prone to sickness. After contracting

, Zhou left his family in search of ways to improve his health. Over the years, Zhou became well-versed in

Daoism Taoism or Daoism (, ) is a diverse philosophical and religious tradition indigenous to China, emphasizing harmony with the Tao ( zh, p=dào, w=tao4). With a range of meaning in Chinese philosophy, translations of Tao include 'way', 'road', ...

and had amassed a vast collection of Daoist spells and medicine. Zhou, who was also known as "Meidian daoren" () or the "Daoist Confounded by Plum Blossoms", subsequently composed the ''Chifeng sui'', which is dated to 1578 and first appears in his anthology of medical writings titled ''Yimen guangdu'' () or ''Wide Tablets of the Gate of Silence''. A complete French translation by , titled ''La moelle du phénix rouge'', was published in 1988, whereas a partial English translation by Teri Takehiro was published in 1990.

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* * * * * * {{History of medicine in China Chinese medical texts Taoist texts History of ancient medicine Medical manuals

Contents

Authorship and publication history

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