The Provisional and Substantive Genbei: On the Similarities and Differences Between the Nine Stages of Heart–Mind Cultivation and the Confucian System of Heart–Mind Cultivation in the San-yi Teaching

Lin Chao-en founded the San-yi Teaching (三一教) during the late Ming Dynasty, passing down the unique Inner Alchemy practice known as “the Nine Stages of Heart–Mind Cultivation” (九序心法), also referred to as “the Confucian System of Heart–Mind Cultivation” (孔門心法). Analysis shows that the Nine Stages of Heart–Mind Cultivation and the Confucian System of Heart–Mind Cultivation both overlap and differ, with the latter covering a broader scope. Centered on the genbei (艮背, stilling the back), the Nine Stages of Heart–Mind Cultivation and the Confucian System of Heart–Mind Cultivation present a relationship of convergence and dispersion. The cultivation method of the San-yi Teaching takes the Confucian System of Heart–Mind Cultivation as its framework and the Nine Stages of Heart–Mind Cultivation as its specific operational approach, which is a creative interpretation of the classic Confucian maxim “(the superior man) does not allow his thoughts to go beyond his position.” 思不出其位. The Nine Stages of Heart–Mind Cultivation distinctly resonates with the characteristics of Inner Alchemy in the Ming Dynasty, providing an important sample for understanding the diversity of Inner Alchemy forms during this period and a valuable reference for academic research on Ming Dynasty Inner Alchemy.