狐丘,亦称狐刚子,炼丹高手。其生卒年月及籍贯不详,但据今人陈国符考证,他应是晋代人,与葛洪齐名。狐刚子以撰《五金诀》闻名,被誉为“最大之外丹黄白师”。他在东汉末年的炼丹术领域具有杰出的地位,魏伯阳可能是他的师傅,而葛玄则可能是他的弟子。
尽管狐刚子的著作未能完整流传下来,但唐初的《黄帝九鼎神丹经诀》和唐代的《龙虎还丹诀》、《太古土兑经》等著作中仍保留了他的部分佚文。此外,《通志·艺文略》还记载了他撰写的《金石还丹术》,显示出他在化学领域的卓越成就。
fox den, also known as fox zhongzi, a master of alchemy. His birth and death dates are unknown, but according to the modern scholar Chen Guofu, he was likely a contemporary of Ge Hong in the Jin Dynasty. Fox Zhongzi is best known for his book "Five Gold Secrets," which earned him the title of "the greatest external elixir yellow-white teacher."
Despite the loss of most of his writings, some fragments have survived in Tang-era works such as "The Yellow Emperor's Nine Cauldrons Elixir Secret" and "The Dragon Tiger Still Elixir." Additionally, Fox Zhongzi's contributions to geology and metallurgy are recorded in various texts.
Fox Zhongzi's work reflects the advanced state of alchemical knowledge in China during the Han Dynasty. He made significant contributions to gold and silver mining and refining techniques. His methods were later adopted by other alchemists throughout Chinese history.
In terms of mercury processing, Fox Zhongzi was particularly innovative. He developed closed-vessel distillation methods that significantly improved mercury recovery rates compared to earlier open-flame methods.
Fox Zhongzi also experimented with different types of mercury based on their intended uses: male (雄汞), female (雌汞), or divine flying (神飞汞). This approach allowed him to create unique elixirs tailored to specific goals.
His research into lead chemistry is another notable achievement. In addition to developing new refining techniques for lead-based compounds like red lead (Pb3O4), he demonstrated an understanding of alloy formation between metals that was rare at his time.
Overall, Fox Zhongzi played a crucial role in advancing chemical knowledge during China's Han-Jin period. His work not only shed light on early Chinese metallurgical practices but also laid groundwork for future scientific discoveries.