Introduction

This is the first of a two-part series that will explore the history of Chinese alchemy. We'll look at the most important names of alchemists and the works they produced. The emphasis of this series will be on "Waigong" 外丹 External Alchemy. Hard to believe people ingested toxic heavy metals as long as they did to achieve immortality. In this Part 1 episode, we'll look at alchemy's most ancient origins and take things up to the end of the Han Dynasty. Next time in Part 2 we'll look at alchemy's most renowned practitioner in China, Ge Hong, and how alchemy evolved all the way to the end of the Tang.

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