The Taoist Internal Alchemy School and the Chakra System

Chakra 1

Chakra 2

Chakra 3

Chakra 4

Chakra 5

Chakra 6

Chakra 7

The Chakras and the Taoist Three Treasures:

There are several schools or lineages of Taoism including the Action and Karma School, Devotional School, Magical School, and Internal Alchemy School. It is the later school, with its focus on health and longevity, who's teaching and understanding of the body's energy channels will be discussed here.

The Taoist School of Internal Alchemy teaches that there are three types of energy known as the three treasures: Generative Energy, Vital Energy, and Spirit Energy.

Generative Energy or Ching also spelled Jing is stored in the lower "burning space" known as a tan-t'ien (elixir field) and when the individual is actively cultivating this area or transforming sexual desires to become empty, it is referred to as "lead flower emerging". This area relates to the sacral or second chakra center.

Vital Energy or Ch'i also spelled qi is stored in the middle "burning space" or tan-t'ien and when the individual is actively cultivating this area or taming the emotions, it is referred to as "silver flower emerging". This area relates to the solar plexus or third chakra center, the heart or fourth chakra center and the throat or fifth chakra center.

Spirit Energy or Shen is stored in the upper "burning space" or tan-t'ien and when the individual is actively cultivating this area or taming thoughts and becoming still, it is referred to as "golden flower emerging". This area relates to the third eye or sixth chakra center and the crown chakra.

The Three Treasures

	Ching	Ch'i or Qi	Shen
Energy	sexual	life	spirit
Organ-Source	kidneys, lungs	spleen	liver,heart
Element	water	air	fire
Character	yin	tai chi	yang
Movement	down	down,up	up
Chinese System	bones	meridians	extra meridians
Western System	reproductive	respiratory	nervous
Gate Location	genitals	nose, mouth	eyes
Practice	sexual	Tai Chi, Qi Gong	meditation

According to the Taoist School of Internal Alchemy, two of these three treasures, Ch'i and Shen, travel by way of the meridians while Ching moves through the bones. The practice of Tai Chi or Qi Gong is used to develop vital energy or Ch'i because the Taoist understand that body practice is the root of spiritual practice. Tai Chi, Qi Gong, Lok Hup Ba Fa, and other internal martial arts are used by the Taoist much as Yoga, in its many forms, is used by the Hindu. These practices transform the body into an energy pump.

Spirit Energy or Shen moves through channels known as the "Eight Extra Meridians". Three of these "Eight Extra Meridians" include du mai, which runs along the spine; ren mai, which runs down the front mid line of the body; and chong mai, which runs through the center of the body from the perineum to the crown. The seven major chakras are located along the chong mai.

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