《上清化形隐景登升保仙上经》

The Central Huanglao Jun (the honored Daoist deity residing in the central direction) received from the Taiwei Heavenly Emperor Lord the Upper Scripture of Transforming Form, Concealing Scenery, and Ascending to Yuqing. According to the methods of the jing, the practitioner visualizes eight kinds of scenes to circulate the body, contemplates five-colored cloud Qi (vital energy) to cause the physical form to ascend, commands the purple Qi of world-transcendence to summon the spirits of the void, and uses blazing light to invite the deities; rotates the Qi of the Three Mornings so that it operates in the profound mystery; and draws in the primordial Jing (essence) of the seven stars of the Northern Dipper. In the bedchamber one establishes the lunar mechanism, and in the silent courtyard one accumulates marvelous spiritual responses. Without the golden books of Donghua and the mysterious methods that record the jade names, one cannot peruse the scriptures of the High Emperor.

Those who cultivate the way of “concealing scenery,” on the days of the eight seasonal nodes—that is, the four beginnings of the seasons, the two equinoxes, the two solstices, and similar solar terms—it is said to be the time when the Emperor Lords of the eight directions gather and roam. The practitioner should bathe with orchid fragrance, observe fasting and remain pure and quiet in a secluded room, then enter the chamber, sit in stillness with eyes slightly closed, and visualize the Subtle Infinitesimal Azure Emperor Lord (Xiwei Cangdi Jun, the divine name of the Azure Emperor), named Lufengzi. He wears a Golden Flower Great Mystery Solid Crown, is clothed in a Cloud Light Brocade Robe, wears the Nine Radiance Penetrating Light Yang Glow Talisman, and rides the Vehicle of One Scenery formed of eight-colored plain clouds. Then visualize that he bestows upon oneself the Nine Glow Great Dawn Hidden Talisman and that he places the Golden Flower Great Mystery Solid Crown upon one’s head, clothes one in the Cloud Light Brocade Robe, girds one with the Nine Radiance Penetrating Light Yang Glow Talisman, and has one mount the eight-plain purple-cloud Vehicle of One Scenery. Subsequently visualize cloud Qi covering the crown of the head and the entire body, feeling the body rise together with the scenery. Then knock the teeth twenty-four times and swallow Qi eight times, thus completing this segment of the ritual.

Then visualize the Middle Subtle Red Emperor Lord (Zhongwei Chidi Jun), named Ding Guangyan. He wears a Two-Plain Precious Unity Crown, is clothed in a Cloud Light Brocade Robe, wears the Primordial Dawn Four Bright Vermilion Jade Talisman, and rides the Vehicle of Two Scenery formed of seven-colored plain clouds. Visualize that he bestows upon oneself the Observing Clouds Primordial Dawn Hidden Talisman and covers oneself with cloud Qi, causing one to feel the body ascend with the scenery; then knock the teeth nine times and swallow Qi nine times.

Next visualize the Purple Subtlety White Emperor Lord (Ziwei Baidi Jun), named Liang Yuanshi. He wears a Lotus Crown, is clothed in a Mysterious Spirit Brocade Robe, wears the Assembled Dawn Bright Spirit Supporting Subtle Talisman, and rides the Vehicle of Three Scenery formed of six-colored plain clouds. Visualize that he bestows upon oneself the Assembled Dawn Nine Extremes Hidden Talisman and covers oneself with cloud Qi, causing one to feel the body ascend with the scenery; then knock the teeth eleven times and swallow Qi six times.

Next, visualize the Xuanwei Black Emperor Lord (a Daoist deity) whose personal name is Qi Yuanxuan. He wears a Nine Origins Guest Crown and a dark-cloud brocade robe, and carries the Tayao Lingzhen Xiaofeng Talisman. He rides a carriage formed of five-colored pure clouds and adorned with four scenes. He bestows upon me the Tayao Xuangen Hidden Talisman and covers the crown of my head and my body with cloud qi (vital energy). I feel myself rising together with the cloud scenery, then knock my teeth nine times, swallow qi five times, and stop.

Next, visualize the Shiwei Upper Emperor Lord, whose personal name is Jie Kongzi. He wears a Mysterious Light Guest Crown and carries the Tayao Xuangen Hidden Talisman, covering the crown of my head and my body with cloud qi. I feel myself rising with the cloud scenery, then knock my teeth nine times, swallow qi five times, and stop.

Next, visualize the Shiwei Upper Emperor Lord, whose personal name is Jie Kongzi. He wears a Mysterious Light Guest Crown and a cloud-light brocade robe, and carries the Xuanjing Zhongyuan Bawei Yumen Talisman. He rides a carriage formed of four kinds of pure clouds and adorned with five scenes. He bestows upon me the Xuanjing Chenping Hidden Talisman and covers the crown of my head and my body with cloud qi. I feel myself ascending with the cloud scenery, then knock my teeth twelve times, swallow qi four times, and stop.

Next, visualize the Lingwei Middle Emperor Lord, whose personal name is Kang Ewen. He wears a Far-Roaming Crown and a green patterned brocade robe, and carries the Hehui Xuanxia Talisman. He rides a carriage formed of three kinds of pure clouds and adorned with six scenes. He bestows upon me the Hehui Chenming Hidden Talisman and covers the crown of my head and my body with cloud qi. I feel myself rising with the cloud scenery, then knock my teeth twelve times, swallow qi three times, and stop.

Next, visualize the Xuanwei Lower Emperor Lord, whose personal name is Hong Fuzi. He wears a Three Treasures Divine Crown and a single-colored patterned brocade robe, and carries the Qihui Baoyao Ling Talisman. He rides a carriage formed of two kinds of pure clouds and adorned with seven scenes. He bestows upon me the Qihui Chenxuan Hidden Talisman and covers the crown of my head and my body with cloud qi. I feel myself rising with the cloud scenery, then knock my teeth nine times, swallow qi twice, and stop.

Here “cunsi” (visualization) refers to the Daoist cultivation practice of mentally contemplating deities and their images; “knocking the teeth” means lightly tapping the teeth together, and “swallowing qi” means ingesting the breath according to the prescribed method. The scripture describes a cultivation ritual of successively visualizing the Emperor Lords, receiving hidden talismans, and rising with the cloud scenery.

Next, visualize the True Emperor Lord of the Subtle Cavern (Dongwei Zhen Dijun), one of the Shangqing deities. His secret name is Si Dengshu. He wears a flying-cloud purple-glory crown and a mysterious-spirit brocade robe, and carries the Mysterious Radiance Talisman for Preserving Original Destiny and Form. He rides a carriage of plain white numinous clouds adorned with the Eight Scenes and confers upon me the Hidden Talisman of High Supreme Dragon Smoke. Clouds and Qi envelop my cap and entire body; I feel myself rising upward with the vision. Then knock the teeth thirty-six times, swallow Qi once, and stop.

Next, visualize the Inner Emperor Lord of the Nine Subtleties (Jiuwei Nei Dijun). His secret name is Shen Mingxian. He wears a purple-origin three-treasures crown and a mysterious-cloud brocade robe, and carries the Morning Empyrean Eight-Transformations Flying Palace Talisman. He arrives before me driving a jade carriage of great rosy clouds, purple smoke, and cavern scenes, confers upon me the Constant Hidden Talisman of High Clarity Great Origin Limitless Supreme Dao, and, riding the cavern-scene jade carriage, welcomes me so that I ascend to the Chamber of Jade Purity. When this is completed, knock the teeth thirty-six times and recite the invocation: The mysterious smoke of the Eight Scenes spreads the breath through the empty courtyard of stillness; the nine rosy clouds conceal my bodily form, causing my shadow to vanish into the hidden gloom. The precious talisman descends from the mysterious realm; I mount the verdant celestial carriage, circling through the Nine Dawns, stabilizing my form so that I ascend the Jade Chamber and pay homage at the Purple Court. After reciting, swallow Qi thirty-six times and stop. Knocking the teeth, swallowing Qi, and visualization are ritual actions in Daoist visualization (cunsi) cultivation that coordinate breathing with mental intention.

Next, visualize the Inner Consort of Hidden Peach Origin, transformed from the Emperor Lord of the first star of the Dipper. Her name is Taiyi Fatan, courtesy name Xingzhengfu. She wears a yellow brocade cape and a cinnabar-blue flying skirt, her hair arranged in a drooping cloud-like chignon.

The Inner Concubine of Protecting the Fetus and Transforming Form, transformed from the Emperor Lord of the second star, is named Taiyi Sanpen, courtesy name Luo Zhuying. She wears an azure brocade cape and a green feather-patterned flying skirt, likewise with a drooping cloud-like chignon.

The Emperor Lord of the third star, namely the Upper Origin Elixir Mother of the Six Hidden Seven Stars, is named Taiyi Yunyi, courtesy name Chong Shuangzhao. She wears an azure brocade cape and an ornate skirt embroidered with feather patterns, also with a drooping cloud-like chignon.

The Inner Consort of Concealing Scenes and Hiding Light of the Middle Origin, transformed from the Emperor Lord of the fourth star, is named Taiyi Qilie, courtesy name Qiu Hengying. She wears a purple brocade cape and a yellow feather-patterned skirt, likewise with a drooping cloud-like chignon.

The fifth Star Emperor Lord can transform her physical form and change appearances. She is the eldest daughter in the Kui of the Northern Dipper, named Taiyi Yushu, courtesy name Chouqiulan. She wears a vermilion brocade cape and a purple-cyan flying skirt, with her hair arranged in a hanging cloud chignon. The sixth Star Emperor Lord can conceal her traces and disperse her form. She is the middle daughter of the Dipper, named Taiyi Qijing, courtesy name Baodingling. She wears a vermilion brocade cape and a cyan embroidered-pattern flying skirt, with her hair arranged in a hanging cloud chignon. The seventh Star Emperor Lord differentiates forth Yushu, courtesy name Chouqiulan. She wears a vermilion brocade cape and a purple-cyan flying skirt, with her hair arranged in a hanging cloud chignon. The sixth Star Emperor Lord can conceal her traces and disperse her form. She is the middle daughter of the Dipper, named Taiyi Qijing, courtesy name Baodingling. She wears a vermilion brocade cape and a cyan embroidered-pattern flying skirt, with her hair arranged in a hanging cloud chignon. The seventh Star Emperor Lord can differentiate scenes and manifest a myriad of physical forms. She is the youngest daughter of the Dipper, named Taiyi Duyi, courtesy name Tianfanshu. She wears a cinnabar-red brocade cape and a cyan magnificent feather skirt, with her hair arranged in a hanging cloud chignon. The eighth Star Emperor Lord can generate the sun and moon, water and fire. She is the Left Consort of the High Sovereign in the Dipper, named Taiyi Shiqizhu, courtesy name Luomaohua. She wears a purple brocade cape and an embroidered-feather flying skirt, with her hair arranged in a hanging cloud chignon. The ninth Star Emperor Lord can generate metal and stone, mountains and rivers. She is the Right Consort of the High Sovereign in the Dipper, named Taiyi Aitiao, courtesy name Yunyuxuan. She wears a green brocade cape and a kingfisher-green magnificent flying skirt, with her hair arranged in a hanging cloud chignon.

Visualize the nine yin inner names of the hidden consorts of the nine Star Emperor Lords, together with their appearances, colors, and attire, all clearly manifesting. They descend from the Northern Dipper, with light-flames flowing and glittering, brilliant and splendid, filling the realm of emptiness. The Shen (spirit) light revolves and illuminates, entering my body and dwelling in the Hall of Light and the Purple Chamber within the body; the Hall of Light (Mingtang) and Purple Chamber (Zifang) are designations in Daoist inner cultivation for palatial chambers inside the body. They array themselves on either side of the two symbols of the sun and moon, the radiance of the Nine Chens arranged in sequence, after which they all transform into infants, namely the true forms of the nine Emperor Lords, called the “Wuchang Tongzi.” Let them dwell in your body, making the interior and exterior of the body thoroughly luminous and transparent, with the Shen-light shining and hot Qi (vital energy) spreading throughout the entire body. Then click the teeth nine times and recite the invocation:

The Nine Chens revolve at the crown of the head, hiding and transforming in the direction of the Primordial Beginning; O Nine Origins within the grotto-heavens, true children of the Dipper! The Shen-light shines, filling the Purple Chamber; a thousand transformations and myriad changes, altering appearances, penetrating thoroughly. The Shen-light shines, hot Qi spreading throughout the entire body. Then click the teeth nine times and recite the invocation:

The Qi (vital energy) of the Nine Dawn Stars swirls upward to the crown of the head, causing the bodily form to vanish and transform, returning into the realm of Primordial Beginning. Within the grotto-heavens there is the Qi of the Nine Origins, and in the Northern Dipper a true youth appears; mysterious radiance shines throughout the four directions, filling the purple palaces. The practitioner is able to undergo a thousand transformations and myriad changes, altering form and scenery so that the bodily form becomes faint and hard to discern, traveling at will to any place and passing in and out between being and non-being. Thereby one may ride the auspicious Qi of the eight directions and ascend to have an audience with the Heavenly Emperor. After this is done, swallow the Qi nine times and then stop.

This is the Upper Scripture of Nine Yin Transforming Form and Concealing Scenery, transmitted by the Imperial Lord. The Yellow Elder Lord of the Center, the Red Essence Lord of the South, the Azure Youth Lord of the East, the Supreme Lord of the North, and the Lord of Great Simplicity of the West can all circulate the Qi of Nine Yin so that the bodily form disperses and dissolves; operate the Qi of the Nine Dawn Stars so that the body conceals itself; cast forth flying wheels and ascend into the high heavens; and ride mysterious clouds of Qi to wander freely. They transform bodily form and scenery at will, rising and sinking with the changes of worldly affairs. Those who cultivate in accordance with this method will endure together with the Three Luminaries of the sun, moon, and stars.