Why were alchemists so popular during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period?

Author: Minister Li Xinjun On this issue, first of all, we should understand and treat it from a historical standpoint. We can't judge what is in line with the times in history with narrow eyes, let alone subjective assumptions. 1. The Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period were inherited and developed on the basis of Xia, Shang, Zhou and even earlier history and culture. They still follow the worship of the gods, ancestors and totems of ancient ancestors, and further believe that there are not only immortals in the sky, but also immortals through practice (or taking drugs). Especially emperors and princes dream of becoming immortal emperors from generation to generation, in order to enjoy the prosperity of the world forever. Therefore, they urgently need a force to help them realize this dream, so the alchemist has become the maintainer of their hopes and ideals. During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, our ancestors had not been exposed to many things, let alone research and related theories. For example, they are surprised and puzzled by some cloud illusions between mountains, on the ocean, strange caves in the abyss and mirage, as well as the roar of strong winds, the echo of mountains, behemoths in the water and the roar and anger of the sea. All these make them feel confused and puzzled, and even think that there is another world. In this context, alchemists have played an irreplaceable role for ordinary people. Or collecting herbs in the deep mountains, or brewing, or smelting, or exploring the ocean, or pursuing the sacred mountains; Those who hold the yuan and guard the one with static work and guide the shape with dynamic work. All these are the avenues to pursue immortality. Therefore, it won the favor and trust of emperors and generals, and therefore, history made alchemists flourish in the world. Third, the emergence and development of alchemists is a mysterious and sacred culture endowed by history. It had a far-reaching influence on the history, politics, culture, science and technology, traditional Chinese medicine, paleochemistry, metallurgy, astronomy, health care, theology and art at that time (the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period) and later generations (the Qin Dynasty to the Tang Dynasty). (This will be discussed separately in other chapters). Although the alchemists collected herbs or smelted minerals in the mountains, they did not refine the elixir that made the emperor "live forever" after eating it, but their move promoted the emergence of ancient science and technology and the development of medicine in China. It should be said that their spirit is very positive, realistic and scientific. This is just as Mr Joseph Needham, a British royal scholar and author of the History of Science and Technology in China, said, "Taoist thought has the concept of immortality from the beginning, but there are no examples in other countries in the world. This immortal thought is of inestimable importance to science. " "Taoism has a complex and subtle concept, which is the basis of all China's scientific and technological thoughts." As Professor Hu of China Academy of Social Sciences said, "Taoist culture is a culture that saves the world, changes the course of the earth's ships, is an endless culture, is eclectic, abandons the old and innovates, is a pioneering and innovative culture, is a positive and enterprising culture, is an invincible culture, and is a culture that moves towards a world of great harmony in the future. During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, belief in gods and ancestor worship were very popular. During this period, on the basis of ancient witchcraft, some new religious figures appeared, namely "alchemists", also known as "immortals". They are more standardized than witchcraft, and at the same time, they have produced a more systematic theory of immortals, which provided a rich theoretical basis for the Taoist thought of "Huang Lao" at that time and later Qin and Han Dynasties. In the history of Taoism, the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period is a very important transitional period from belief to theory and practice. That is to say, in ancient times, the "witch wish" was entirely based on belief and aimed at service, but in the Warring States period, alchemists turned this belief and theory into practical content. The alchemists believe that they (generally speaking, ordinary people) can also become immortals by practicing, taking medicine, or accumulating virtue. This is the origin of the so-called "cultivation of immortals" and "cultivation of virtue". The alchemists who were very active in this period and had a far-reaching influence on later generations mainly included Changhong, Zou Yan and Xu Fu. 1, Changhong, an alchemist in Zhou Lingwang period (about 57 BC1-545 BC), is one of the earliest alchemists recorded in historical records. According to Records of the Historian: "At that time, Changhong thought it was the square (that is, the alchemist's skill), took the warlord Mo Chaozhou (that is, the week was weak and the warlord was strong, but he refused to accept it), thought it was less (that is, the country was weak and the monarch was weak), and took Changhong as a ghost (that is, warned the warlords, punished them with God, and made sense), and set up a raccoon head (that is, shooting foxes). According to this historical data, Changhong is not only familiar with magic, but also an important minister and counselor around Zhou Lingwang. When he saw that his ministers were disobedient and rebellious, he used the theory of "retribution for good and evil" and the method of "killing raccoons to see the prince" to deter them. This is the origin of the high standard of "loyalty to the monarch and filial piety" in Taoism. It is also the earliest allusion commonly known as "killing chickens to show monkeys". 2. Zou Yan, at the end of the Warring States Period, was a famous alchemist and yin and yang master when he was king (356-30 BC1). The theory of Yin-Yang and Five Elements first appeared in The Book of Songs and Hong Fan Pian. Its purpose is to discuss that the universe is composed of five basic elements: gold, wood, water, fire and earth. Zou Yan, a Yin-Yang scholar, made a historic transformation of the five elements theory, and then put forward the theories of "correspondence between man and nature" and "circulation of heaven", and thus established the theory of "five virtues begin at the end". He believes that the five elements are mutually generated and restricted. Such as: wood fire, fire produces soil, native gold, gold produces water, aquatic wood; On the contrary, water can kill fire, fire can kill gold, Jin Kemu can kill soil, and soil can kill water. According to this theory, human history includes the change of dynasties and the rise and fall of everything. According to the law of mutual resistance of these five elements, it is infinite circulation. The theory of "five virtues begin with the end" has great influence on alchemy, traditional Chinese medicine, health preservation, numerology, geographical feng shui, architectural layout and so on. 3. Xu Fu, also known as Xu, was a famous alchemist at the end of the Warring States Period in 255 BC. When he was young, he studied Confucian books, then worshipped Guiguzi, the "ancestor of Wang Chan", and studied the techniques of Yin-Yang and Five Elements. Later, he studied alchemy and preached in medicine. According to "Historical Records", "After Qin Shihuang unified the world, he sent Xu Fu to lead 3,000 boys and girls into the sea to seek the holy mountain, never to return". Then, Xu Fu led 3,000 boys and girls to the sea to find the holy mountain, which is gone forever. Where did he go? It turned out that Xu Fu went to the sea to seek the magic mountain, but he didn't get the fairy medicine. Afraid of Qin Shihuang's anger, he wandered around the sea for a few days, crossed the Bohai Sea to Liaodong Peninsula via miaodao islands, then went to Korean Peninsula along the southeast coast of the peninsula, then turned south, crossed the Korean Strait, and arrived in Wakayama, Honshu, Japan. After Xu Fu and his fleet arrived in Kitakyushu Island, they entered the Seto Inland Sea as far as Mu Yi Peninsula. From then on, they began the first spread of China culture. After Xu Fu arrived in Japan, he applied and spread the highly developed shipbuilding technology and political system, culture and art, lifestyle, smelting, farming, medicine, writing, currency, religion, medical care, architecture, clothing, porcelain and the most advanced science and technology in the world at that time. Great changes have taken place in Japan in the era of "rope pattern" Throughout the ages, the Japanese people have worshipped and sacrificed Xu Fuzun as the "God of Harvest", "God of Textile" and "God of Medicine". Now, the Chuifu Monument, Chuifu Tomb and Chuifu Temple on Kyushu Island in Japan have always been sacred places for local people and tourists to pay homage. Xu Fu was the first person who advocated the friendship and cultural exchange between the Chinese and Japanese peoples in history. He is an outstanding explorer, navigator, religionist and scientist, and a pioneer in spreading Chinese culture.