In the history of China, both Qin Shihuang and Han Wudi were famous for sweeping the four foreign countries, serving the vassals, unifying the political power and advocating the immortal way.

Now some scholars simply and arbitrarily confuse Qin Huang and Hanwu with alchemy, seeking immortality, superstitious farce, and even shelved them.

This is because some scholars study Taoism, but they don't understand Chinese medicine (Chinese medicine and Taoism have the closest relationship, so they must study together); Some students of Chinese medicine don't know Taoism, and some students of Taoism and Chinese medicine don't know history; Some people study history, but don't know how to use science and objectivity. Instead, we make a narrow fuss about the so-called "theism and atheism", or make a subjective judgment by using the method of blind people touching images, and compare today's society with the society two thousand years ago to make the so-called "expert judgment."

It is true that if we can study them from a scientific, macroscopic and materialistic point of view, we will find that there are many things in them and behind them that deserve our pride and repositioning, including many scientific technologies and valuable ideas, experiences and spiritual wealth that many modern people are still pursuing.

Below, we will discuss from several aspects, what kind of background, what kind of influence and inspiration Qin Huang Hanwu's fairy-seeking activities have brought us.

First of all, we must understand the historical background at that time. Thousands of years before Qin Emperor Hanwu, China had always worshipped and believed in "God and ancestors" in history. There is no so-called class distinction in this belief, from emperors to generals to ordinary people. In the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, the legend, belief and worship of immortals became more intense, and even the idea that one can become immortal through practice or other external methods was put forward, which prompted many people to sprout various ways of seeking immortality or practicing. This kind of fairy-seeking activity and cultivation method was very attractive to people at that time, which led to the strong admiration and personal experiment and imitation of Qin Huang and Han Wu. Under the impetus of the emperor, the practice of seeking immortality in this period reached a white-hot level.

Second, Qin Huang Hanwu's psychology of seeking immortality. In fact, everyone in history, including now, is afraid of "disease and death". Looking forward to a long and healthy life, even immortality, is everyone's greatest expectation and "luxury" both in history and now.

Even if the Buddha said that people living in the world are struggling in the sea of suffering, only the western paradise is the best; God and Christ say that "heaven" is the warmest, but everyone will not go to the other side willingly.

From the very beginning, Taoism put forward the view of "immortality" and challenged "birth, aging, illness and death", which has positive practical significance. As Professor Joseph Needham, a British royal scholar and expert in the history of science and technology, said, "Taoist thought has the concept of immortality from the beginning, but there are no examples in other countries in the world." This immortal thought is of inestimable importance to science. "

Third, "immortals" have always influenced the human outlook on life and death.

There is an old saying in China that "people are rare until they are 70 years old". Taoism, on the other hand, puts forward that "people who live to 80 years old are short-lived, 120 years old is middle-aged, and 160 years old is long-lived", and even "immortality is bliss". This also includes the modern history, which has aroused some people's suspicion and slander, and they think it is "illusory and grotesque, strange words of witchcraft, etc."

Now, more than two thousand years later, people's desire for "life" is still so strong. The world medical community has been conducting various researches and experiments on various diseases that threaten human life extension and health.

With the passage of time and the progress of science and technology, more and more people in modern times realize that the limit of human life is not just seventy or eighty years old. On the contrary, 120 or 160 is not a limit. The emergence of human scientific research, transgenic technology and cloning technology (only from the perspective of science and technology) holds that people's "long life and great vision" was put forward and fought for more than 2,000 years ago, which is not an absurd idea, let alone a "nonsense".

Fourthly, the activities of seeking immortals in Qin, Han and Wu Dynasties not only inherited ancient culture and civilization, but also promoted the emergence and development of Taoism.

As we all know, Taoism inherited the ancient ancestors' belief in "God" from the beginning and believed in the existence of "God" and "immortal". Taoist priests of all ages have also been working hard to approach "God" and "Immortal" step by step with the help of ancient technology, super ability and wisdom, hoping to achieve "long life and long knowledge" with the greatest wish.

Taoism is based on this factor, and early alchemists went to the mountains to collect medicines, or explored the ocean, or set up alchemists. It can be said that the immortal seeking activities of Qin Shihuang and Han Wudi were the earliest awakening and practitioners of life existence. Their appearance has greatly promoted the Taoist theory of "long life" and a series of activities such as health-preserving alchemy, greatly promoted the development of paleochemistry and smelting in the world, and also promoted the progress and improvement of traditional Chinese medicine and pharmacology. These immortal theories and practices laid a solid foundation for the formal formation of Taoism in the late Han Dynasty, and provided rich nutrition, valuable knowledge, experience and wealth about health and longevity for people today after two thousand years.