View source for Daogui 刀圭 (Knife-point)

{{Neidan Dictionary}}

== Translation ==

Knife-point (an approximate translation, as this term is virtually impossible to translate when it is used in the context of Neidan; see the entry ''[[Gui 圭|gui]]'' 圭).

'''''Note''''': A term derived from Waidan (External Alchemy), where ''daogui''—more precisely meaning “tip of a spatula”—denotes a small quantity of the Elixir or of its ingredients.

== Definition(s) ==

▣ In Neidan, ''dao'' 刀 (“blade, spatula, knife”) alludes to Metal (''[[Jin 金|jin]]'', also a name of Gold and the Elixir), and ''gui'' 圭 stands for the “two Soils” 土土 placed one on top of the other to represent ''wu'' 戊 and ''ji'' 己, the Yin and Yang aspects of Unity incorporated into the Elixir as True Mercury and True Lead, respectively. The symbolic “knife-point” evokes therefore both the Elixir and its components.

<blockquote>⦿ [[Cantong qi]] 40: Then its color changes to purple: the Reverted Elixir (''[[Huandan 還丹 ①|huandan]]'' ①), radiant and glowing, is attained. Minutely powder it and make it into a pellet — even one knife-point is supremely divine. 色轉更為紫，赫然成還丹，粉提以一丸，刀圭最為神。

⦿ [[Ruyao jing]] 16: Swallow a knife-point, peep into the skill of Heaven. 飲刀圭，窺天巧。''Comm. [[Wang Jie 王玠|Wang Jie]]'': “To swallow” means “to have one’s fill”; “knife” means the Metal within Water (''[[Shuizhong jin 水中金|shuizhong jin]]''); “point” means the True Soil (''[[Zhentu 真土|zhentu]]'') of ''wu'' and ''ji''. This means that when you collect the ingredients (''[[Caiyao 採藥|caiyao]]'') to compound the Elixir, you must collect the Metal within the Water. If the Metal cannot ascend of its own, you must avail yourself of the transforming Fire of the ''wu'' (Yang) Soil, and force the Metal into movement so that it advances up to the Muddy Pellet (''[[Niwan 泥丸|niwan]]''). When it arrives there, Metal transmutes itself into True Liquor (''[[Zhenye 真液|zhenye]]''), which is similar to the Jasper Wine and the Sweet Dew (''[[Ganlu 甘露|ganlu]]'').<ref>The name Jasper Wine (''qiongjiang'' 瓊漿) derives from the “Zhaohun” 招魂 (“Summoning the Hun”) poem in the ''Chuci'' 楚辭 (Songs of Chu), where this drink is offered to the soul of the deceased in order to entice it to return to life.</ref> As one drop of it falls into the Yellow Court (''[[Huangting 黃庭|huangting]]''), have your fill of it and taste it: its fluid is sweet and delightful. 飲者，宴也。刀者，水中金也。圭者，戊己真土也。言作丹採藥之時，必採水中之金，金不得自昇，必假戊土化火，逼逐金行，度上泥丸。金至此化為真液，如瓊漿甘露，一滴落于黃庭，宴之味之，津液甘美。

⦿ [[Dadan zhizhi]] 2: The sinciput (''[[Ding 頂|ding]]'') is the ''wu''-Soil (''[[Wutu 戊土|wutu]]''), the navel (''[[Qi 臍|qi]]'') is the ''ji''-Soil (''[[Jitu 己土|jitu]]''). The two Soils (''[[Ertu 二土|ertu]]'', i.e., 土 and 土) form the character ''gui'' 圭. Therefore the Immortal Gentleman [[Lü Dongbin 呂洞賓|Lü]] [Dongbin] called it the “knife-point.” It is only the two things (''[[Erwu 二物|erwu]]''), Nature and Existence (''[[Xing 性 & Ming 命|xingming]]''): one thousand books and ten thousand treatises only deal with this. 頂為戊土，臍為己土，二土為圭字，所以呂仙翁號刀圭也。只是性命二物，千經萬論，只此是也。</blockquote>

▣ An image of the conjunction of Spirit (''[[Shen 神|shen]]'') and Breath (''[[Qi 氣|qi]]'').

<blockquote>⦿ [[Tianxian zhengli zhilun zengzhu]] 4: ''[[Li ☲|li]]'' ☲ is the Spirit within the heart (''[[Xin 心|xin]]''), called ''ji''-Soil. ''[[Kan ☵|kan]]'' ☵ is the Breath within the kidneys (''[[Shen 腎|shen]]''), called ''wu''-Soil. The upper and lower Soils 土 form the character ''gui'' 圭. [Therefore] the conjunction of ''wu'' and ''ji'' is called “knife-point”: it is called “knife-point” because it represents the conjunction of Spirit and Breath. 離，心中之神，曰己土。坎，腎中之炁，曰戊土。上下二土成圭字。戊己合一者，稱刀圭，以喻神炁合一者，亦稱刀圭。</blockquote>

▣ An image of True Yang within Yin. ''Ant.'' ''[[Yuzhi 玉芝|yuzhi]]'' 玉芝 jade mushroom.

<blockquote>⦿ [[Wuzhen pian]] JJ 53: Drum on bamboo to call the turtle (''[[Qiaozhu huangui 敲竹喚龜|qiaozhu huangui]]'') and swallow the jade mushroom, strum the zither to summon the phoenix (''[[Guqin zhaofeng 鼓琴招鳳|guqin zhaofeng]]'') and ingest the knife-point [of Elixir]. 敲竹喚龜吞玉芝，鼓琴招鳳飲刀圭。

⦿ [[Jindan faxiang]]: The jade mushroom is Yin within Yang. The knife-point is Yang within Yin. 陽中陰：玉芝。陰中陽：刀圭。</blockquote>

== Notes ==

<references />

== Related Terms ==

☞ ''[[Gui 圭|gui]]'' 圭

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