A Daoist diagram of the workings of the human body superimposed on an outline of the human form. Essentially, it diagrams the flow of qi. There are three major regions, all connected with each other: the upper, middle, and lower "cinnabar fields."A Daoist diagram of the workings of the human body superimposed on an outline of the human form. Essentially, it diagrams the flow of qi. There are three major regions, all connected with each other: the upper, middle, and lower "cinnabar fields."
Look at the space between the middle and upper fields, approximately where the human heart would be. Here we see the pole star (center of the universe) in a circular region that comes from the upper field but which is closer to the middle field. In Chinese the term for heart, xin 心 can also mean "the mind." Indeed, it is most accurately translated as "heart-mind." In humans, the heart-mind unifies the material and non-material (thoughts, feelings, etc.) forms of qi. As the center of the human body, it corresponds to the pole star as center of the cosmos.
The cinnabar fields are the storage locations of the body's original qi (the qi that, when exhausted, results in death--recall this notion form Daoist breathing practices). The are also the locus of combustion activities that produce the heat and energy needed to fuel the body. In a very general way of speaking, the way to attain immortality is the make sure that this apparatus runs so efficiently that no qi is dissipated or lost. One result of this increased efficiency is that the body becomes ever lighter. It would be as if spirit and flesh gradually merge. The bodies of Daoist immortals are so light and efficient that they can easily fly through the air on the backs of birds or dragons, and a mere handful of rice is sufficient to keep them going for days or even weeks.
Here is a translation of the caption for this image that Nakano Miyoko 中野美代子 provides in her book on Chinese sexual art: "Within the body there exists a universe in which qi circulates. In the head area, immortals loftily stand while the sun, moon, and stars move around. The circulation of qi within this bodily microcosm of the universe is the result of the master pulse bringing qi from the upper regions to the lower regions and the subordinate pulse bringing it from the lower regions to the upper regions." (Rōma zufu: Chūgoku shungaron josetsu 肉麻図説：中国春画論序説 [Sakuhinsha, 2001], front matter plate 11.)
Enlarge the image in your browser and take a look at its elements to see whether you can find anything familiar. Look for example, at the lower of the two immortals. What does he seem to be doing? With which parts of anatomy as we know it today do the elements in the image correspond?
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