內經圖 Nei Jing Tu

The ‘Neijing Tu’ (內經圖), also known as the ‘Chart of the Inner Landscape’ (內景圖) or ‘Cultivation Diagram’ (修真圖), is a vital illustration in ancient Chinese health preservation and spiritual practice. Traditionally associated with the philosophical concepts of the ‘Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon’ (‘Huangdi Neijing’, 黃帝內經), it employs symbolic imagery to metaphorically represent the body’s energy channels (‘qi’ pathways), internal organs, and esoteric cultivation methods. Through intricate visual allegories—such as mountains symbolizing the spine and rivers depicting meridians—it encodes Daoist inner alchemy (‘neidan’) techniques, offering a guided map for meditation and physiological refinement.

This diagram, often inscribed with classical Chinese annotations and poetic口诀 (‘koujue’, mnemonic verses), serves as a bridge between traditional Chinese medicine and spiritual ascension, embodying the principle of "harmony between heaven and humanity" (天人合一).