狐丘，亦称狐刚子，道教炼丹高手。其生平不详，为晋代人，与葛洪同时期。据今人考证，其著述《五金诀》中，被誉为“最大之外丹黄白师”。他是东汉末年黄白术的杰出代表之一，与魏伯阳有师承关系，葛玄则可能是他的弟子。狐刚子的著作深刻反映了当时我国炼丹术的水平，他在化学发明领域具有卓越地位。
尽管他的作品未能完整流传下来，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》等书籍中保留了他的部分佚文，其中包括《五金粉图诀》（又名《粉图经》、《粉图》、《五金诀》，或称《狐刚子万金诀》）、《出金矿图录》、《河车经》、《玄珠经》，以及记载他撰写的《金石还丹术》的文献。
foxglove, also known as fox Zongzi. Alchemist. No records in history. Not clear about his birth and death years or place of origin. According to Mr. Chen Guofu's research, he was a person from the Jin Dynasty, approximately contemporary with Ge Hong, author of "Wujing jue". He is praised as the "Greatest Outer Dan Yellow White Master" in this book.
Again, according to Mr. Zhao Kuanghua's research: Fox Zongzi is another name for Hu Gangzi or Fox Gangzi. A prominent figure in the art of alchemy during the late Eastern Han period (25-220 AD). His master might have been Wei Boyang; his disciple could have been Ge Xuan.
Fox Zongzi's works reflect the high level of alchemy techniques reached during that time and showcase him as an outstanding chemist inventor.
Unfortunately, not much of his writings remain intact; however, some scattered texts are preserved in early Tang Dynasty books such as "Huangdi jiu ding shen dan jing jue" and various yellow-white technique manuals like "Longhu huandan jue", "Taigu tusui jing", etc., which include some important fragments attributed to him.
Besides these scattered texts, there are references to Fox Zongzi's writings such as:
Five Gold Powder Secret Classic (also known as Powder Classic or Five Gold Secret), alternatively titled Fox Zongzi Wanjin Secret
Outlining Mining Mines Records
River Carriage Classic
Spirit Pearl Classic
In addition to these literary remnants,
The Historical Gazetteer lists one volume titled Golden Stone Still Dan Technique written by Fox Zongzi
This article details how China had developed advanced gold-silver geological studies and metallurgy long before Europe had even conceived them.
The text provides examples where ancient Chinese made significant contributions:
1)
Made possible using simple oxidation roasting method
First proposed closed vacuum distillation method for silver production
He divided water mercury into three categories - male mercury female mercury spirit flying mercury - depending on its use within alchemical processes.
He invented new methods for producing metals including:
1)
Nine Transformations Lead-Dan Method - related to lead chemistry
Nine Transformations Copper-Dan Method - related to copper chemistry
The Art Of Making Mercury Into A Pillar Of Light In The Furnace
It has been suggested that FoxZonng Zi may have discovered ways of extracting metal from ore at least 500 years earlier than European counterparts.
As a result he became well-known among scholars who studied ancient Chinese science especially those interested in the study of metallurgy.
His work represents a major turning point in our understanding of ancient Chinese science specifically their knowledge about materials processing technologies .