本文從道教信仰觀念出發，理解外丹的信仰基礎，說明向死而生的獨特信仰理路可以成為理解外丹信仰的新視角。從而在科學史的視野之外為道教外丹實踐及其信仰提供分析的空間。本文依循以下三個層次展開：其一，從不死之藥的觀念出發，梳理黃白之術與金丹煉製之間在觀念上的承繼關係；其二，外丹作為道教實踐的一部分，有強烈的儀式感。外丹實踐是道教信仰的整全體現；其三，從道教信仰實踐的歷史看，外丹與內丹之間是否存在歷史性的取代關係仍有待進一步的分梳。本文試圖以外丹為例，說明道教信仰中死的觀念如何在實踐中轉化為長生。金丹帶來的死亡有充分的詮釋空間。通過獨特的詮釋方式讓服丹以後的死亡突破了日常的死亡意義，長生就是通過死亡實現的。死亡只是達致不死的過程，不死才是死亡的真正主題和目標。

This paper starts from the point of Daoist beliefs and concepts in order to understand the foundation of beliefs regarding external alchemy (waidan 外丹) and to explain that this unique logic of belief that is held towards life and death can become a new perspective to understand beliefs on external alchemy. Thus, outside the purview of history of science, for Daoism, external alchemy practice and its beliefs offers space for analysis. The paper unfolds according to the following three points: first, starting from ideas on immortality drugs, the author sorts out the relationship of inheritance between ideas regarding Huangbai黃白techniques and the refinement of a golden elixir (jindan金丹); second, external alchemy became a part of Daoist practice and possesses a strong sense of ritual. External alchemy practice is a complete reflection of Daoist beliefs; third, regarding the history of Daoist beliefs and practices, the question of whether there exists a historical relationship of supersession between external and internal alchemy (neidan內丹）still awaits further steps in analysis. This paper attempts to take external alchemy as an example to illustrate how, within Daoist beliefs, the concept of death is transformed into longevity within these practices. The concept of death brought by a golden elixir has abundant space to be interpreted. Adopting this distinct interpretative method allows us to see how death, brought by ingesting an elixir, breaks through the significance of ordinary death; longevity is realized through death. Death is simply a process of bringing about longevity, which is the true theme and objective of death.