This short chapter begins the central part of Xu Congshi’s writings. The three chapters at the centre of his work communicate directly the message of the book: resonance and transformation through close intimacy, happening beyond thought. Here the burning mirror (‘Yang Mirror’) and dew vessel (‘Watery Toad’) of Han times are used as examples of how two separated energies, similar to Yin and Yang, are each lovingly transformed and so succeed in the process of creation.
The Yang Mirror is used to make fire But if not for the sun it would have no light;
If the Watery Toad did not view the moon and stars How could she collect her fluid?
If two separated energies distant and afar
Yet lovingly transform and reflect each another – How much more so, close by, in your own body, Intimately within your own breast,
Do Yin and Yang match the sun and moon, And fire and water effect an equal case.
This chapter takes water and fire, and the sun and moon, which both influence and work on each other, to serve as examples of how the meeting of similars results in the formation of the Elixir. The burning mirror (‘Yang Mirror’) kindles fire through reflecting the sun; and the dew vessel (‘Watery Toad’) captures dew at nighttime.
The same ideas are discussed in Chapter 34 – ‘Things of the same kind make the work easier, the wrong materials make it difficult to achieve skill’; and in Chapter 27 – ‘It is best to use things of the same kind.’ The implication is that only an inner Elixir will perpetuate your life, and that dealing in similars is the obvious way to succeed.
Master Shangyang says: The Yang Mirror is a Yang object which contains an inner energy, so that when it is struck by the sun it can kindle a flame. The Watery Toad is a Yin object which contains an inner vitality, so that when struck by the moon it can produce water.
The sun and moon lie in the sky far away; the Yang Mirror and Watery Toad are very small. These two separated energies of Yin and Yang lovingly transform each other. How much more so then do the true Yin and true Yang within the human body, as they lie intimately within our own breast. One can relate to them, one can be familiar with them, they are close by and easy to seek, so how could they reflect each other and be lovingly transformed? It is simply because posterity has not yet discovered the Elixial method.
The Yin and Yang within the human body may be compared to the sun and moon in the sky. The
water and flame of the Watery Toad and Yang Mirror may be taken to illustrate the vitality and inner energy within the human body. If things which have no feelings still reflect one another when there is feeling and spirit, then things will naturally and lovingly mix.
Moreover the most spiritual object between heaven and earth is man. Even the very poor and very stupid know the truth of the transformations of Yin and Yang. But they do not wait to be taught and carry them out. They are all misled and only know how to ‘go along with things [shun]’ to produce men and things. As for the use of ‘turning back [ni]’, if they have no teacher, they try to understand it in vain. Very generally the method of turning back Yin and Yang is to ‘smelt the vitality and subdue the energy [lianjing fuqi]’ in order to form them into an Elixir.
This chapter illustrates how the two separated energies of Yin and Yang lovingly reflect each other and so succeed in the process of creation.
Yuyan comments: How much more so, close by, in your own body, intimately within your own breast, do fire and water effect an equal case! Within your own heart lies something of medicinal quality. If you cannot ‘reflect back your light to illuminate within [huanguang fanzhao]’ then how do you seek out the mystery of loving transformation?
He continues: Generally if Yin and Yang agree together then they are naturally and lovingly transformed. Now Wei Boyang [Xu Congshi] takes the fire made in the Yang Mirror and the water made in the Watery Toad as illustrations. He wants to enable us scholars to delve deep into our hearts and awaken our innermost feelings that we might see how ‘being’ is born out of ‘nothingness’. This also happens as a ‘loving transformation’.
He concludes: If someone can empty his heart, focus his mind, and be calm and settled without a single atom of random thought, then his very own sun and moon gather together their light within, and do not scatter it. And as they endure so their energies settle, the time becomes right and a rare effect occurs.
The essentials of this ultimate method do not lie far away, but are constantly before your eyes. It is just like a lodestone attracting iron; it reaches past any obstruction and ultimately acts as if it were close by.
But the common crowd go astray and forget to turn back – and this is precisely because they cannot seek within themselves. One old song goes: Be careful to share fully your teachers’ attitude, it does not lie anywhere but before your eyes! It goes on: When you pick up a phrase at your teacher’s side, very quietly close your eyes and turn in on it. Now you can see exactly what is meant by acting ‘close by’.