Portrait of Ge Hong
Ge Hong was a very famous doctor in the Eastern Jin Dynasty in ancient China and a pioneer and disseminator of preventive medicine. He wrote a famous book, The Elbow, which is the first medical book to record the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of some infectious diseases, such as smallpox and scrub typhus. Ge Hong is not only skilled in medicine, but also experienced in alchemy. Andrew, his master, knew that there was going to be chaos in the world, so he took books and disciples to Huoshan to live in seclusion, and only Ge Hong stayed in Danyang.
Later, Ge Hong joined the army as a general, and was named General Fu Bo because of his achievements in the battle between Shi Bing and the peasant rebels. After several wars, Han Ji asked him to join the army. Ge Hong agreed with Han Ji because he thought it was an opportunity to avoid chaos. He didn't want Han Ji to be killed by his enemy Li Guo, so he was forced to stay in Guangzhou for several years. He feels that things are impermanent and prosperity is fleeting. So he treated teacher Bao Jing with courtesy and continued to learn Tao. Because she was highly valued by Bao Jing, she married her daughter Bao Gu.
In the second year of Jianxing, Ge Hong returned to his hometown to live in seclusion in the mountains and wrote Bao Puzi. Two years later, the Eastern Jin Dynasty was established. Because he remembered Ge Hong's contribution, he specially named Ge Hong as Shanhaiguan Hou. Many people wanted Ge Hong to be an official, but Ge Hong refused. Later, forced by life, he came out to join the army. Ge Hong heard that cinnabar is produced in Jiao Jiao. With the approval of the emperor, he went south to his post and was recommended by Deng Yue. Live in seclusion in Luofu Mountain, practice alchemy, write books and give lectures.
Gehong alchemy
China alchemy rose in Qin and Han Dynasties, and the combination of ancient alchemists and popular ideas of Yin-Yang and Five Elements became the ideological source of alchemy development. Ge Hong was a famous doctor in Jin Dynasty. He spoke highly of alchemy. He believes that taking plants can only make people live longer, but not make people live forever. Only by taking "then" and gold can people be immortal.
Gehong alchemy
Ge Hong should be regarded as an early chemist. They put some minerals in sealed cans and burned them with fire, which is called alchemy. When minerals are loved at high temperature and high pressure, chemical reactions will occur and new substances will be produced. Of course, the elixir of life is only the fantasy of ancient nobles. Ge Hong has raw materials for refining Lithuania (lead oxide), Sanxiandan (mercury oxide) and other external drugs. When he refined mercury, he found that the chemical reaction was reversible. When cinnabar (mercury sulfide) is heated, mercury can be refined, but the combination of mercury and sulfur can become cinnabar.
Ge Hong's book also records that orpiment and realgar will become crystals after heating and sublimation. In addition, Gehong alchemy also produced many simple drugs and prescriptions for treating diseases, some of which have now been proved to be specific drugs. For example, turpentine can treat arthritis, bronze (copper carbonate) can be used to treat skin diseases, realgar and mugwort leaves can be disinfected, and Lithuania (lead oxide) can be preserved. Because azurite can keep the growth and reproduction of bacteria, it can treat skin diseases. Arsenic in realgar has a strong bactericidal effect and can be used for disinfection. Lithuanian monks have the function of disinfection and sterilization and can be used as preservatives. As an alchemist, Ge Hong discovered the efficacy of these drugs and made great contributions to Chinese medicine.
Gehongbao puzi
Ge Hong's name is Bao Puzi, and he is also the author of Bao Puzi. His exposition of article and aesthetics is embody in Bao Puzi. Although scattered, its value can not be ignored. Embracing simplicity is a Taoist term, which comes from Laozi's "simple and loving simplicity, selfish and wanting nothing". Simplicity refers to keeping the truth in the pursuit of Taoism, embracing simplicity, and not being influenced by social and natural interference and material desires.
Ge hong
Bao Puzi is divided into inner and outer chapters. The inner chapter talks about the immortal art of breathing out the verve of immortals, as well as the change of ghosts and how to preserve health and prolong life, all of which are about the scope of Taoist health preservation; The external part is about the literary criticism at that time, the evaluation of the world, the implication and knowledge are relatively extensive, and the words inside are very reasonable, but the content is centered on Huangdi and Laozi. At that time, people regarded "Bao Puzi" as one of Taoism.
Ge Hong believes that cultivating immortals should accumulate goodness. In Bao Puzi, we emphasize that people should not just practice, but should have lofty aspirations in life and be able to hone themselves in the practice of joining the WTO, which can not only save the world, but also make themselves free from worldly life and become saints. He believes that cultivation can not only increase merit and make people live forever, but also govern the country and ensure world peace. It is the greatest filial piety to cultivate immortality without harming the body. This view may come from "physically influenced parents". The greatest achievement of Bao Puzi is to summarize all the immortal theories since Wei and Jin Dynasties, and then establish the Taoist immortal theory system. He also inherited Wei Boyang's alchemy theory, and was regarded as an immortal by Taoism in later generations, becoming an alchemist at that time.