The Secret of the Golden Flower is Richard Wilhelm's translation of a Chinese neidan, internal alchemy, text, published together with a psychological commentary by Carl Jung, in Cary Baynes's English translation, and it is the actual work that introduced this specific text to a wide Western readership. It is distinct from Wilhelm's separate and better known I Ching translation. Its authority for the Chinese text itself rests on Wilhelm's own recognized standing as a China scholar and translator of his era. Its limit is significant, Jung's commentary reads the text through his own psychological theory of individuation rather than through the internal Daoist tradition's own terms, so it is an important primary document in the history of Western reception of Daoist internal alchemy, not itself a reliable guide to how Daoist practitioners understand the text.
Facts
Assessment
Reliability Tier1
The Secret of the Golden Flower, Richard Wilhelm's translation published by Harcourt, Brace and Company, is the primary work that introduced this Daoist text to a wide Western readership, treated at the top tier for the translation itself. NotesThe translation and psychological commentary that introduced this neidan text to Western readers; distinct from Wilhelm's separate I Ching translation.
Open Questions
Restricted TraditionThis is a Taoist text of internal alchemy with meditation instruction. Some lineages that teach material of this kind pass the instructions only from a teacher to a prepared student, and it is not settled whether this published edition carries that same limitation.
This would be settled by someone familiar with this translation and its source lineage confirming whether the meditation instruction it contains is still treated as limited to guided students or is offered here as published material. Citation
AuthorTrans. Richard Wilhelm; commentary by Carl Jung; English trans. Cary F. Baynes
PublisherHarcourt, Brace and Company
Publication Year1931
Source Typeprimary-text
Cross-Tradition Connections
Associated With
This source names China directly: "Wilhelm's own recognized standing as a China scholar and translator of his era."
Claims Backed By This Source (28 claims)
This source backs 28 claims across the atlas. As facts: 23 well-attested, 1 open question. As cited relationships: 1 holds, 1 connected. Plus 2 entities citing it as a general reference with no single fact or relationship attached.
Disposition By Topic
- Esoteric Texts, 11 claims: 10 well-attested, 1 general references.
- Sources, 9 claims: 7 well-attested, 1 open question, 1 holds.
- Open Questions, 6 claims: 4 well-attested, 1 connected, 1 general references.
- Articles, 2 claims: 2 well-attested.
Open Questions (1 open question)
Is this edition of the Secret of the Golden Flower open published material or still tied to guided meditation instruction?
This is a Taoist text of internal alchemy with meditation instruction, and some lineages that teach material of this kind pass it only from a teacher to a prepared student; this edition's own pages do not say which applies here.
What would resolve this Someone familiar with this translation and its source lineage confirming whether the meditation instruction it contains is still treated as limited to guided students or is offered here as published material.
Trans. Richard Wilhelm; commentary by Carl Jung; English trans. Cary F. Baynes, The Secret of the Golden Flower: A Chinese Book of Life
Reader Challenges (0 open reader challenges)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.
View At A Past Year
The atlas records no dated fact of its own for this entry, so there is no other year to choose.