Refining the Vital Breath (qi)
The Origin of Refining the Vital Breath:
Refining the Vital Breath is one of the primary routine practices of Taoists. It refers to constantly practicing Taoist Gymnastics and adjusting one's breath in some special way so as to permeate the Essence and the Vital Breath in the universe within the human body. Then the man who practices in this way can be rid of diseases and become an Immortal.
Such skills have long existed in ancient China. In the Song dynasty of the Southern and Northern Dynasties, Bao Zhao claimed in the Collection of Staff Officer Bao: "The King of Huainan dreams of longevity. So he often reads books on Immortality, Refines his Vital Breath, and goes on a special diet." The King of Huainan was Liu An (A.D.179-122) of the Western Han Dynasty.
The Taoist skill of Nourishing Life inherited the methods of Refining the Vital Breath of ancient times. Sun Simiao, an eminent Taoist and famous physician of the Tang Dynasty, wrote in his book the Maxim on Visualization and Refinement of the Vital Breath that one must relax one's spirit to achieve longevity. And if one expects peace of mind, one must refine one's Vital Breath first. The Vital Breath lies within; once the Spirit calms down, the Sea of Vital Breath becomes abundant within. Thus the Spirit is not distracted and longevity is promised.
The skills of Inner Alchemy have been popular since the Song and Yuan Dynasty. Cultivating the inner self is a key activity in Daoists' daily practice. Refining the Vital Breath is practised in the first stage of Inner Alchemy, i.e., as a fundamental method to construct a base for further cultivation.