Neidan
/ˈneɪ.dɑːn/noun
A Daoist tradition of internal alchemy involving meditation, breathwork, visualization, and moral cultivation to refine the body and spirit.
Did you know?Neidan texts describe the human body as a miniature cosmos, using symbolic “inner” versions of alchemical furnaces, elixirs, and celestial forces rather than ordinary laboratory chemistry.
Etymological Timeline
Old Chinese
Old Chinese
內 (*nˤəj)
“Inside, within, or internal”
Old Chinese
Old Chinese
丹 (*tˤan)
“Cinnabar, a red mineral associated with elixirs and alchemical practice”
Classical Chinese
Chinese
內丹
“Inner cinnabar; an internal form of alchemical cultivation”
8th–10th Century
Medieval Chinese
內丹
“A developing Daoist method of refining vital essence, energy, and spirit through disciplined practice”
12th–13th Century
Chinese
內丹
“A major organized tradition of Daoist internal alchemy, especially associated with the Quanzhen movement”
20th–21st Century
English
neidan
“A transliteration used in English-language scholarship and discussions of Daoist internal alchemy”