The Elixir Cauldron Sect

The Elixir Cauldron Sect was also called the Golden Elixir tradition, which was the general calling for all Daoist sects based on securing immortality by practising Alchemy. Originally, it evolved from the ancient Immortalists and The Magic and Immortality tradition. The earliest theoretical book on Alchemy was the Three Ways Unified and Normalized of the Book of Changes which, enjoying the reputation of being 'the king of ancient books on alchemy', had great influence on later alchemists. During the Wei and Jin dynasties (AD 220-316), Ge Hong, a famous Daoist, summed up and developed the Immortalist doctrine of the Golden Elixir tradition.

During the Northern and Southern dynasties and Sui and Tang dynasties (AD 420 - 907), the Golden Elixir tradition was characterized by its practices of Outer (laboratory) Alchemy. During the Song and Yuan dynasties (AD 960-1368), there was a shift from Outer Alchemy to Inner (meditative) Alchemy. Both the Southern and Northern Schools of the Complete Perfection sect practiced Inner Alchemy. Through its pursuit of Immortality, the Elixir Cauldron Sect developed the ancient Chinese sciences of chemistry, Nourishing Life and Breathing Arts to a higher level. zh:丹鼎派