Category Archives: Stories
Ginseng the Star Root
Ginseng 人參 ranks at the top of a group of longevity herbs that have anti-aging and anti-cancer properties. Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing 神農本草經, The Divine Husbandman’s Classic of the Materia Medica, honors it as a superior herb with profound … Continue reading →
The Quest for Immortality
Few things are as certain in life as death. The Elixir of Immortality, or Elixir of Life, is a substance that confers eternal life or eternal youth. All ancient cultures have some myths about it; the search for lasting youth, … Continue reading →
Heaven Above, Earth Below
How is the story of Pangu 盤古 separating the yang from the yin to create heaven and earth important? Humans, unlike most animals, are blessed with a vertically oriented spine, rooted in earth, but reaching up to heaven. In establishing order, … Continue reading →
Pangu 盤古 Created the World
Pangu 盤古 was the first being born out of formless chaos. For 18,000 years Pangu grew in a cosmic egg, working ceaselessly to create order by separating the clear yang from the turbid yin. The clear became the egg white, the … Continue reading →