Professor Emeritus at the National Institute of Oriental Languages and Civilizations (Inalco), Catherine Depseux is a specialist in representations of the body, health and longevity techniques in Chinese medicine and Taoism. She conducts research on internal alchemy in Taoism, and more specifically internal alchemy techniques for women, and has published several studies on women in Taoism. She is notably the author of Immortelles de la Chine ancienne. Taoïsme et alchimie féminine (1990), Lao-tseu. Le guide de l’insondable (2010), and (with Livia Kohn) Women in Taoism (2003).