A quiet place for teachings, context, and practical reflections — Neidan (內丹), Taoist cultivation, and the internal arts.

Around 21 May, the Chinese seasonal calendar enters Xiaoman 小滿 — “Small Fullness.” Grain begins to fill, rivers rise, and the landscape slowly approaches maturity, yet nothing has fully ripened. In this article, we explore the agricultural, cultural, and Taoist meaning of Xiaoman, from waterwheels and Jiangnan landscapes to the symbolic language of the Nei Jing Tu and Neidan. Small fullness is not lack — it is fullness held in balance.

In this second part of Walk the Line, Prof. Dr. Dan K.J. Vercammen explores the first twelve principles of Yang Style taijiquan. Rather than empty choreography, the classical teachings emphasize structure, rootedness, alignment, relaxation, and continuity throughout the whole body. From suspending the crown to distinguishing empty and full, taijiquan emerges as a practice guided by principles rather than mere movement.

“Most people speak about taijiquan principles. Far fewer actually practice according to them. In this new Wen–Wu Field Notes essay, Prof. Dr. Dan K.J. Vercammen explores the forgotten principles hidden within the classical Yang Style Taijiquan texts — and the gap between written theory and embodied practice.”

Zhuangzi (莊子); Shengjun Xianchen Quanshen Xiang Ce, Album of Sage Rulers and Worthy Ministers (Unknown artist)

Discover the meaning of Guyu (Grain Rain), a key Chinese solar term. Explore seasonal wisdom, Taoist insight, tea culture, and late spring nourishment.

Du Fu (712–770) is often regarded as one of the greatest poets of the Tang dynasty. In this article, Prof. Dr. Dan K.J. Vercammen examines one of his poems, exploring its structure, imagery, and deeper meaning. What begins as a description of spring rain becomes a subtle reflection on the tension between nature and human life.

What do you truly need to begin the path of Taoist internal alchemy? In this new issue of Golden Cinnabar Letters, Prof. Dr. Dan K.J. Vercammen reflects on the “bear necessities” of Neidan practice—drawing from both classical tradition and personal experience. From finding the right teacher to creating the right conditions, this article explores what is essential for a meaningful and successful journey.

“Understanding both life and death is key to getting rid of fear. Once you understand what death really is, there’s no need to be frightened. And so, you need to die to ‘understand’ it. You may think now that it is impossible to understand anything once you’re dead. You’re right. Understanding death does mean that death is the end of your life, of you, of your thoughts and feelings. Yet it’s the beginning of something else. And there are different ways to experience death. So

Searching for and Meeting Jia Dao Chinese ink painting in the style of the Southern literati tradition (12th - 13th century), depicting a solitary scholar in the mountains. Notes from the Tower of Songs Issue 2 By Dan KJ Vercammen Let’s travel back in time to the Tang dynasty to meet an interesting poet: Jia Dao 賈島 (779–843) . A Buddhist who, in his poems, seems also fascinated by a Taoist lifestyle . He was also known as Langxian 浪仙—the wandering immortal. As the theme of th

Qingming 2026 (April 5): meaning, traditions, and Taoist practice. A rare convergence of seasonal clarity, ancestors, and Fire Horse energy.

What do jing, qi, and shen really mean in practice? Beyond simplified translations, this article explores the complexity of Taoist internal alchemy and the challenges of interpreting its language, offering a practical perspective on theory, experience, and transformation.

Chinese painting and calligraphy are traditional arts rooted in discipline, technique, and philosophical insight. In this article, Prof. Dr. Dan K.J. Vercammen explores how practice, Qi, and artistic freedom shape these forms, revealing a way of seeing that goes beyond form and representation.

Chinese poetry reveals layers of meaning through sound, imagery, and suggestion. In this first issue of Notes from the Tower of Songs, Prof. Dr. Dan K.J. Vercammen introduces a famous poem by Li Bo and reflects on its melancholic beauty.

An introduction to the Cinnabar Library and the role of texts as “threads” (jing 經) — sustaining and transmitting Taoist alchemical tradition across generations.

On our curriculum you’ll find courses on two internal martial arts: baguazhang (the palm techniques of the eight trigrams) and shidaxing (the ten great forms), better known as xinyiliuhequan (the mind-focus fist of the six co-ordinations). The latter is also known as the xingyiquan (form and focus fist) of Henan Province.

Lantern Festival marks the illuminated closing gate of the Chinese New Year period—when family, community, and returning light come together. It is not simply a night of decoration, but a completion: a final seal that finishes the transition into the new year with brightness, movement, and shared joy.

Internal Alchemy cannot be learned from books alone, nor reduced to techniques or sensations. Drawing on personal experience and classical context, Prof. Dr. Dan K.J. Vercammen explores why Neidan is so often misunderstood—and what is required for practice to unfold safely and authentically.

In this first issue of Zhuangzi for Cultivators, Prof. Dr. Dan K.J. Vercammen reflects on the famous story of Zhuangzi and the tortoise. Set against the political realities of ancient China, the passage reveals Zhuangzi’s uncompromising view on freedom, power, and the conditions for a long and meaningful life. From a Taoist alchemical perspective, the choice to “drag one’s tail through the mud” remains a powerful metaphor for living freely, beyond status and authority.

What defines a Chinese lineage? Not reputation or claims, but transmission: a living continuity that binds people together, protects a body of knowledge, and safeguards its essential characteristics. Within a tradition, the distinction between those “inside the gate” and those outside it is not a matter of status, but of responsibility, depth of training, and the preservation of what cannot be obtained through texts alone. This essay offers a closer look at lineage as it func

Many people practice taijiquan today for health, relaxation, and gentle movement. But there is another side: a traditional martial curriculum based on endurance, skill development, and “chi ku” — the ability to withstand hardship. This is the difference we teach.

Do you practice qigong? Do you think your qigong practice is neidan?¹ It is important to understand the difference between qigong and neidan. Neidan is internal alchemy, a very intense practice transmitted by traditional teachers in traditional ways. It is embedded in culture, e.g. Taoist culture, and is a multifaceted practice, connected with almost all facets of Chinese culture (medicine and health practices, martial arts, meditation, ethics, philosophy and religion, etc.).

On February 17, 2026, Chinese New Year opens a powerful threshold: the Year of the Fire Horse. In Taoist seasonal living, this moment reflects a real energetic transition from winter’s Water stillness into spring’s rising Wood. A Fire Horse year amplifies movement, visibility, and transformation—but without balance, it can lead to overextension. This article offers a grounded, practice-based reading of 2026 and how to “move with a bridle.”

I’ll let you in on a secret: if it’s Chinese and it’s ancient, it’s never simple. Chinese culture is a hug e and complicated thing, in which everything is interconnected. And so, the answer to the question “What is Neidan (Internal Alchemy)?” needs more than a few words.

Navigating the Three Paths of Taijiquan: Traditional, Competitive, and Modern - What's the Difference?