Introduction: A Guide to Reading the Dragon-Tiger Classic 1

PART ONE
1. The Chamber of the Spirit Is the Pivot of the Elixir 33
2. Yang Exits and Yin Enters 36
3. Control Comes from the Ruler 41
4. The Numerics of K'an and Li Are One and Two 44
5. Hardness and Softness Embrace 48
6. The Transformation of the Spirit Is Patterned after the Hexagrams Chi and Wei 51
7. Water and Fire Have Their Own Territory 55
8. Set Up Positions in the Chamber of the Spirit 58
9. Substance and Nonsubstance Control Each Other 62
10. Instructions Are Not Given Superfluously 65
11. The Fire of Metal Is the True Lead 70
12. It Becomes Subtle and Moist, Bright and Shiny 76
13. The Mysterious Woman Unfolds the Process 79

PART TWO
14. In Revealing the Nature of the Elixir 83
15. Initially K'un Is Transformed into Chen 89
16. In Sixteen Days They Diminish 92
17. Ch'ien and K'un Are at the Beginning and the End 96
18. Regulate the Fire for Sixty Days 100
19. The First Fires Are Small and Warm 103

PART THREE
20. Begin the Work in the Chamber of the Spirit 109
21. The Vapor of Yang Activates K'un 111
22. The Glorious Dome Covers the Top 115
23. Earth in the Central Palace Is Tempered by Fire 116
24. Earth Guards the Central Palace 119
25. When Water Is Coupled with Earth 123
26. The Best Metal Is Initially White 125
27. Substance and Nonsubstance Subdue Each Other 127
28. Refine the Silver in the Lead 129
29. Silver Is the Mother of Lead 133
30. Grain Is the Essence of Metal 136
31. Something Rises from the Sphere 138
32. Lodestone and Metal Are Attracted to Each Other 141
33. The Emphasis on the Firing Process Is Not Empty Talk 143