《上清诸真人授经时颂金真章》

The various Shangqing Zhenren (the immortal perfected ones venerated by the Shangqing school) hold a banquet in the Tai Xia Palace. The Jinque (golden palatial structures of the immortal palaces) illuminates the Purple Clarity Heaven. The fasting chambers reflect the light of Taisu, and the verandas on all sides shine with the brilliance of vermilion precious jade.

They abandon their wheels, crossing the empty fords of the void; grasping the reins, they dance gracefully on azure carriages. Jade flowers fly up, turning into cloud canopies; the Queen Mother of the West (Xiwangmu, a Daoist deity) waves brocade banners.

They suddenly leave the mundane world and arrive at the fair one's dwelling. The original text contains the phrase “tiao xu jia ren ting,” suspected of having erroneous or missing characters, meaning approximately that they suddenly reach the courtyard of the fair one. Due to affinities accumulated over previous lives, they at last wait for this instant; the immortal affinity obtained was long destined in the mysterious unknown.

Riding the wind they envision flying to the Nine Heavens, gladly immersing themselves in the Danhua Ying (the marvelous spiritual essence of the immortals). Gazing back to take leave of worldly folk, how could those people realize that a wondrous spiritual realm exists in the formless?

Ascending north to the Xuanming Que (the deeply mysterious immortal palaces), they hold hands as companions and enter the distant heavens. Incense smoke spreads across the eight directions of the immortal realms, mysterious winds agitating the crimson waves.

Looking upward they soar over the Langlang Ford (immortal ferry); looking down they behold the meandering mountains. Jade flutes sound above the clouds, phoenix calls echoing through nine layers of rosy glow.

Riding primordial Qi (vital energy) they wander the vast emptiness—why perch like birds in the hills? Golden tallies (symbols of spiritual authority) order the feathered spirits (celestial deities), sending divine troops to vanquish all demons.

They breathe in and absorb the full morning light, building their practice to mature into immortal perfected ones. Ordinary people rush about in competition, unaware of the underlying principle, which leaves one truly at a loss.

The northern ridges brim with dense cloud Qi, crimson trees (divine trees of the immortal lands) produce purple blossoms. Azure numinous herbs drop in phoenix groves, emerald plants thrive among the crags. Spiritual palaces rise high into the void, jade halls joining with Tai Xia. Cloud Qi lifts in the curved chambers, eight winds swirling the sands of the nether regions.

A nine-stringed qin plays by the window of the imperial seat, dragon songs answering the tunes. Wielding the wind they shake the Five Sacred Peaks; grasping tallies they command divine soldiers against the myriad demons.

A backward glance lasts but a moment, yet suddenly long ages have elapsed. How pitiful are those as short-lived as dawn-to-dusk creatures, who cannot know the remoteness of the years! (Several sentences are repeated in the original here.)

Sunlight shines on the Xilin Palace (an immortal palace); they circulate their mind-spirit and enter the deep silence. The ultimate vista reflects the six voids, all things great and small free to roam at will.

Dragon winds circle five-colored cloud Qi, tiger roars tremble countless twigs. The Three Su (three types of pure wondrous Qi of the immortals) compose a lofty tableau, cinnabar mists unfolding gorgeously in the dawn sky.

Feather banners traverse the spiritual fords, purple vehicles race, ornate fittings lifted high. They drive beyond the Nine Heavens, eyes scanning up and down the boundless space between heaven and earth.

When the dust and filth of the mortal world accumulate, a person's spirit declines and Qi (vital energy) withers along with it. Why not travel far to seek the Dao (the Way)? Even a distance of eight thousand li can be reached within a single morning.

At dawn one crosses the waves of the azure sea, riding a flying wheel to leave the Green Chamber (a palatial hall in the immortal realm). Loudly calling companions in the nether darkness, one drives the floral canopy across the vast ocean.

Thrice making appointments, one becomes a guest in the Jade Empyrean (Yuxiao, an immortal realm); five times keeping the appointed meetings, one pays a visit to the Eastern Floriate Lad (Donghua Tong, the immortal youth of the Eastern Floriate immortal realm). Riding a swift wind like feathered wings one ascends to the Imperial Dawn, and holds a banquet in the Palace of Vast Cold.

Within the Eight Palaces, sounds of playing arise in the emptiness; purple phoenixes sing wondrous songs of the wind. Crimson clouds and rosy mists veil the brilliance, and the Eight Sceneries (Bajing, the immortal landscapes spoken of in Daoism) fly up into the great void.

Tasting springs like jade nectar, the vast and refined Qi returns one to the simple and unadorned state of an infant. Supreme joy nourishes the Five Spirits (Wushen, the spirits of the five viscera within the human body); as years accumulate, longevity stretches as remote and high as kalpas.

To cast off the entanglements of the mortal world is not originally difficult; laborious bustle only causes one to lose the innate primordial Qi.

At dawn driving the carriage to meet the morning light; loosening the reins, one sets forth from Purple Clarity (Ziqing, an immortal realm). The flying wheel skims over gorgeous clouds and mists, the floral canopy rises, heading toward the courtyard of the Palace of Vast Cold.

The High Perfected (Gaozhen, the high-ranking immortal perfected venerated in Daoism) stand densely in the imperial palaces; within the palace walls are arrayed the immortal perfected of the Western numinous realm. Immortal gentlemen dance at Kongtong (name of an immortal realm), flying mists wreathing embroidered banners.

Tiger banners stir the divine wind, auspicious clouds encircle the dragon carriage. In a glance one looks toward the eight directions; with only a single backward look, the chun tree has already toppled—as if the long years have passed in an instant.

Mysterious Mirror Master (Xuanjingzi, title of an immortal perfected), why do you not manifest your numinous power? Immortal gentlemen dance at Kongtong, flying mists wreathing embroidered banners. Tiger banners stir the divine wind, auspicious clouds encircle the dragon carriage. In a glance one looks toward the eight directions; with only a single backward look, the chun tree has already toppled. Mysterious Mirror Master, why do you not go seek out Taisheng?

In the gardens of the divine immortals, lingzhi mushrooms flourish in seclusion; the waters of Kunlun Pool irrigate jade-like fields. Raising the eyes to gaze afar at the palaces of Jade Clarity (Yuqing), they tower lofty and precipitous, near the crimson ferry crossing.

Purple mists illuminate the imperial seats, five-colored clouds shine upon the Nine Heavens. The winds of the eight directions pass over the mortal world, swirling among the deep and verdant windows and verandas.

The spirits of the Three Origins (Sanyuan, the Three Origins of Heaven, Earth, and Water spoken of in Daoism) dwell in the Western Palace; in Eastern Floriate there are beautiful immortals. From the Northern Darkness come the sounds of seven long cries, and Bright Consort sings the melody of the Southern Perfected (Nanzhen).

Caressing the jade ao (a Daoist musical instrument), playing the Vermilion Pitch (Zhulü, a name of musical temperament); the sounds of the jade clapper flow unimpeded through the eight directions. Mutual harmony—is this not arranged by Heaven's mandate? All voices sound together, gathering into a vast and harmonious musical movement.

Together awaiting the command of the myriad demons, dwelling at ease in this place where numerous entanglements gather. To transcend and leave the mortal world is not difficult, and thus one can open up inexhaustible years of longevity.

Harnessing the primordial Qi, gazing afar toward Kongtong; riding the radiance of sun and moon, resting in the Nine Heavens. Dragon banners bloom with brilliance, feathered canopies raise the clouds and mists of the eight directions.

Wheels advancing like a swift wind, with no tracks to hinder them; my carriages and horses are not limited by ferry crossings. Holding the tally-tablet one enters Eastern Floriate, and in the evening holds a banquet at the summit of Mysterious Lang (Xuanlang, a high place in the immortal realm).

Girding the sash and taking along the Five Numina (Wuling, the numinous spirits or numinous objects of the five directions); loosening the lapels, one welcomes worthy and excellent companions. Resonances in the nether darkness have their own principles of operation; remaining silent without speaking, there is also affinity.

(The assembled immortals) ride together in a feathered-canopy carriage, as clouds and mists rise from all eight directions.

Driven by a violent wind, the carriage needs no track to hold it back; my divine steed gallops on and needs no ferry crossing. Holding my tally, I enter Donghua (the dwelling of the immortals and perfected), and at dusk I feast atop Xuanlang (the Xuanpu garden and Langyuan park, an immortal realm). I straighten my sash and bring the Five Spirits (of the five directions) along with me, then open my robe to welcome worthy companions on the Way. The unseen resonance in the darkness accords with the movement of Heaven, and even in silence there is a bond of affinity.

We ride together in a divine chariot of beating wings, and a single flap carries us past hundreds of millions of miles. Crimson rosy light floats over the dark morning sky, and the purple immortal carriage travels far on the clouds. Upward we can surpass the Golden Gate, and downward we can look down on the city of Xihua.

In the east the rosy glow unfolds in five colors, and the primordial Qi (vital energy) of Shen (spirit) shines upon the Seven Spirits. The three lights of sun, moon, and stars reflect one another; I drift with the current and follow its movement, and the ten thousand things are made one. The wind stirs the vast heavens, and the incense smoke drifts through the Jade Court. I take the Weaver Maiden by the hand and dance, my two lapels wound with green brocade ribbons. On the left, feathered banners cross one another, and the flowery canopy tilts along with the clouds. I rest in peace beyond the Nine Heavens, and the disputes of the world are no concern of mine.

I keep emptiness and stillness within the Niwan (the Dantian in the brain), and my innate endowment grows fuller with each passing day. How could I be like those sunk in guilt and defilement, passing their days in dreary and listless misery?

On Fusang Mountain the green peaks tower, and red clouds burst forth with a faint glow. The Wave Terrace rises high into the void, and the scenery on every side is reflected in the lofty sky. I ride the flying radiance and drive a purple-wheeled chariot, with the clouds of the Three Plains as reins, harnessing a vermilion immortal carriage. I lie at ease in the palace of the Supreme Emperor, and laugh and chatter noisily in the courtyard of the Queen Mother (Xiwangmu). I wash my feet in the green waves, carrying a vessel brimming with jade nectar. The music of Qu Chen rises on the wind and drifts, now and then, downward.

For a while I linger among the clouds and mists, and then turn my carriage back to the waterside, the place of goodness and constancy. The mysterious gathering keeps its appointed time, and I am free to wander in the dim obscurity. Only then do I understand the bitterness of glory and disgrace, and realize that worry shortens life.

A quiet inner chamber allows for purity and stillness, and nourishing one's true nature depends on sincerity day after day. Why, then, still chase the road of rank and power? A hundred illnesses are born from just this.

Within the heavenly court a golden blossom grows, and inwardly it can ward off malevolent Yin influences. In the Jade Valley a subtle echo responds, and jade-like Qi winds around in turn. The Shen of Heavenly Truth stands upon the sun, and flying elixirs breathe forth spiritual cinnabar. At the morning banquet of the Perfected, heavenly horses are feasted, and the carriage returns to the home of divine mystery. When the immortals arrive in the chamber, their celestial writings can destroy the hundred demons.

The twelve Golden Perfected Chapters (Jinzhen zhang) above are the secret names of the myriad spirits and also the hidden designations of the immortal palaces and offices. Reciting these chapters can make all the passes and orifices of the body unobstructed and luminous, causing illnesses to dissipate. Whenever the ritual of transmitting the scriptures (Jing) is performed, these chapters should be chanted.

Here end the chapters of the Shangqing (Highest Clarity) Zhu Zhenren Shoujing Shi Song Jinzhen Zhang (Golden Perfected Hymns Recited by the Various Perfected Ones at the Time of Transmitting the Scriptures).

Collation notes: In the original text the character “佳” was mistakenly written as “往”; this has been corrected according to the Shangqing Jinzhang Shi’er Pian (Twelve Golden Chapters of Highest Clarity). Originally the character “岭” appeared as “领,” which has likewise been emended on the basis of that work.