noun
elixir of life; alchemical cinnabar elixir
Historical term from ancient Chinese alchemy; refers to a potion made from cinnabar believed to grant immortality. Rare in modern Japanese outside of historical or fantasy contexts.
古代中国の道士は煉丹を求めて水銀や硫黄を調合した。
Ancient Chinese Taoists compounded mercury and sulfur in search of the elixir of life.
物語の中で、賢者は煉丹を飲んで不老不死になった。
In the story, the sage drank the elixir of life and became immortal.
From Chinese 煉丹/炼丹 (liàndān), literally 'refined cinnabar'. The term entered Japanese through classical Chinese alchemical texts.