《上清金书玉字上经》

The Azure Lad of Fangzhu Palace transmits:

Imagine genuine stars above the crown of the head while simultaneously visualizing the Dongfang Shen (inner spirits). Direct the tip of the right foot toward the Di Star and the tip of the left foot toward the Zun Star. When commencing the visualization, slightly bend the left foot so that it orients toward the stars. Grasp the Beitai (the Jing (essence) of the Zhongyuan Star of the Big Dipper) with the left hand and hold the Xuangen (the Jing (essence) of the Niuxing of the Big Dipper) with the right hand. After silently reciting the invocation in the heart, it is as though one is reclining within the Big Dipper. Persist in this cultivation for nine years and one may escape death and ascend to the immortal realm, with one’s name inscribed in Fangzhu Mansion; after eighteen years of practice the Nine Jing (essences corresponding to the Big Dipper) will descend and a cloud chariot will come to welcome one.

The twenty-four characters “Lying at rest within the Nine Dippers, the heart aspires to fly as an immortal of the Upper Perfected, sheltered beneath the Floriate Canopy, riding the clouds in broad daylight to ascend to the dawn” were inscribed by the Most High on the eastern wall of the Jade Chamber of Emei. The original script belongs to ancient writing that cannot be recognized or explained; this passage is now being made public.

The Azure Lad says: Construct the Dongfang (the palatial chamber of the heart-spirit for inner visualization cultivation) so that the face is oriented toward the position of the Three Yang; arrange the two eyes in a vertical-horizontal opposing posture, imagine the nose as the Heavenly Mountain, gaze upward at the Mingtang (the dwelling place of the heart-spirit), and open the Shen (spirit) Pass and Purple Door (the portals leading to the palatial chambers of the spirits); then one will be able to perceive the Dongfang. The Dongfang stands square like a jade bi disc, one cun on each side. Quietly visualize the Jing of the Big Dipper stars arriving therein, settling and dwelling inside, and attending to the Chizi (the inner infant image). Wu Ying and the Three Kings (the spirits within the Dongfang) then enable one to become an immortal, riding the mysterious chariot and mounting a dragon, ascending to the Huachen (immortal realm), and commanding jade maidens and jade youths. At this point the essential secrets leading to the Dao (the Way) are complete. One should cautiously and secretly practice and cultivate this.

The Azure-Canopy Purple Youth of Fangzhu Palace cultivated the Dongfang method in his early years, reclining at ease within the Huachen, conducting all daily activities among the Nine Jing, and gathering the hun and po souls upon the Big Dipper; he was therefore called the Perfected One within the Dipper. The Shangqing methods transmitted by the former masters are already complete; they should be practiced and cultivated with caution and secrecy.

Qinggai Zitong of Fangzhu Palace began cultivating the Dao of Dongfang from an early age. He rested peacefully at Huachen, regulated his breathing and daily activities within the Nine Jing, and bound his hun and po souls upon the Northern Dipper, and thus was called the Perfected of the Dipper (Douzhong Zhenren).

The former teacher received the Dongfang Shang Jing from the Shangqing Purple Essence Lord and the Huangchu Purple Void Lord. Qingling Yang’an Jun then transmitted this Jing to the Central Yellow Elder Lord. The Three Heavens Taiyi Primordial Lord subsequently established the Taixuan Principal Immortal Mansion, collated the golden books and inscribed the jade characters, and therefore this classic is called the Dongfang Shang Jing.

The Jade Emperor entrusted the Jing to the Later Sages, the two lords Li and Peng, commanding them to transmit it to those whose allotted destiny and root bones are suitable and who ought to become immortals. Recipients who cultivate according to the Jing can be entered into the Primordial Charts, have their death registers removed, attain long life as flying immortals, and be appointed as officials of the Later Lords, assisting the two lords Li and Peng who later become immortals.

Thereupon the two lords Li and Peng gave a golden-book Dongfang Jing to the perfected ones who had attained the Dao in the Grotto Terrace of Xixuan Palace, so they might transmit it to those able to become immortals in the future; they also gave a jade-character Dongfang Jing to Fangzhu Palace and the Xuanzhou Immortal Capital Mansion, so they might instruct those whose destined fate matches their immortal bones and who ought to attain the Dao.

Later the two lords rode the chariot of Great Void, touring the gates of the Ten Heavens and Nine Caverns. When the time and appointed term arrived, they governed the immortal realm, managed the true officials at the Spirit Terrace, and taught those with affinity to cultivate the Dao, bringing Great Peace. The two lords could foresee the good and evil in the destined fates of all living beings, traveling to and fro in the mysterious void, and could also discern whether practitioners of immortality could succeed in attaining the Dao.

If a person has sincere mind and concentrated will, constantly admires the divine immortals, perseveres long without wearying and never changes their resolve, and judging from root bones and spiritual nature is already listed in the jade records of immortal names, then the two lords will determine that this person has affinity, and they will obtain this Jing. Those who obtain the Jing and cultivate accordingly show that their destiny and root bones already have a predetermined allotment, and their birth name has been recorded in the immortal registers.

The Later Sage two lords always conceal their traces and never personally transmit the Jing, only allowing causes and conditions to bring about meetings so that those with affinity encounter this divine Jing. Sometimes the Jing falls into the hands of ordinary or worldly people, but although they possess it they do not cultivate, and thus they remain subject to the commands of the underworld. Those who have immortal affinity in their fate and obtain the Jing mostly do so after experiencing past causes and conditions.

Sometimes a cultivator meets a true immortal. The true immortal, having received the mandate to transmit the Jing, when the proper year for transmission arrives, first inspects the person’s form, appearance, and root bones, confirming suitability before granting the Jing. You should diligently contemplate the Dao of flying immortality, holding recitations and prayers in your heart at all times of activity and rest; through prolonged cultivation you will naturally comprehend this Jing.

Do not look down upon the scripture or treat the transmission lightly because it comes from a person of humble status. This too is a heavenly mandate secretly arranged by the Later Sages; only when the attainment of the Dao is already settled will they give the Jing to you. Now honoring this Jing is to receive and continue the intent of the two lords Li and Peng, therefore even if the transmitter is of low status, one ought to revere them. It is like the world’s respect for lineage masters: the masters themselves need not all come from noble origins; what people honor is the source of the transmission.

One should first observe a quiet purification fast for seven days before receiving this Jing. In cultivation, carefully keep the precepts and practice according to the Jing; do not associate with the filthy or the mixed, nor let others become aware of one’s practice. Outwardly remain like ordinary worldly people, while inwardly maintain clarity. Only then may one discuss the Dao of Dongfang.

This is the essential instruction transmitted by the True Mother of Turtle Mountain (Guishan Zhenmu, an honored Daoist deity) to Lord Wang of the Western City. The Twenty-Eight Mansions (celestial lodges) look up to receive the arrangements of the Flourishing Chronograms and govern the movements of the spirits of the four directions. In accordance with the ritual codes of the Four Extremes and the Four Perfected, the credentials of golden books and jade characters belonging to the Inner Chamber of Highest Clarity (Shangqing) must all be accompanied by an oath of tearing silk, pledging never to leak them indiscriminately.

After receiving this scripture, one should take thirty-two chi of azure brocade silk and present it to the person transmitting the scripture. Calculated at eight chi for each of the four directions, the total comes to thirty-two chi. The recipient then divides and uses this silk according to the oral instructions. If the scripture is received directly from a perfected immortal and the traces of transmission cannot be investigated, the silk should be prepared according to the circumstances of that transmission; once obtained, the recipient should distribute it as offerings for the needs of cultivation and must not put it to other miscellaneous uses.

When the Supreme Sovereign proclaims the covenant, one must solemnly employ the gold-and-azure tablets, that is, the azure silk used to establish the alliance. The Scripture of the Nine Su (Jiusu Jing) states: “You have received the gold-and-azure silk, upon which your name has already been inscribed; keep it carefully, do not casually transfer it, and still less use it to pursue wealth and glory.” This is precisely the meaning. When acquiring such gold silk, one should always select the finest quality each time and not casually make do with inferior material as a perfunctory gesture; the Mysterious Center will also examine the circumstances of the recipient.

These are all scriptures of the Most High (Taishang), each governed by its own regulations. Originally it was stipulated that transmission occur only once every hundred years; within seven hundred years it may be transmitted at most three times, and exceeding this limit it may not be transmitted further. Transmitting to an unsuitable person, or transmitting on one’s own initiative beyond the prescribed number of times, both constitute leaking the forbidden methods. Those who leak the forbidden methods will have their relatives from grandparents downward examined and punished by the Three Officials (Sanguan, the Daoist deities in charge of Heaven, Earth, and Water); after death the person themselves will suffer heavenly punishment and fall to become a lower ghost. Lord Wang said: “If within a hundred years there are two people suitable for receiving the transmission, it may still be transmitted, but one must continue to observe the oath of transmitting at most three times within seven hundred years.”

The seven stars of the Northern Dipper are regarded as the purple floral canopy of Taiji (Supreme Ultimate), the numinous grove where the Qi (vital energy) of mysterious truth gathers, the seats of the Nine Sovereign deities, and also the dwelling where the Heavenly Worthies feast and rest. If a practitioner cultivates this method, they can become a patriarch of the immortal realm, riding the dragons of the Eight Sceneries to ascend to Taiwei (the celestial palaces), entering and exiting the Purple Court, and resting in the Northern Dipper. They can also fly and whirl among the portals of the grotto-heavens, gazing up and down beneath the mysterious heavenly canopy, absorbing the essences of the stars, riding the flowing luminous scenes toward the Three Mysteries (the mysterious celestial realms spoken of in Daoism), entering and exiting the Purple Chamber, roaming the Great Primordial, having their name listed in the Golden Pavilion, and becoming a True Person.

When lying down at night, first visualize yourself resting within the Northern Dipper, flying and whirling among the portals of the grotto-heavens, gazing up and down at the mysterious heavenly canopy, absorbing the essences of the stars, riding the flowing luminous scenes toward the Three Mysteries, entering and exiting the Purple Chamber, roaming the Great Primordial, and finally having your name listed in the Golden Pavilion, becoming a True Person.

When lying down at night, first visualize the seven stars of the Northern Dipper located above your sleeping mat, and present its image in your mind according to the method described previously. Visualize the crown of your head connecting with the Nine Extremes, allowing true Qi to enter the Niwan (the upper Dantian (energy center) in the head). Both feet tread upon the two stars of Zun and Di, while in your heart you constantly contemplate that you are flying upward to become an immortal. Visualize the gods of the High Above restraining your seven po (the seven corporeal souls that constitute the human body), and the gods of Taiwei governing your three hun (the three ethereal souls that constitute the human body); the left hand holds the Beitai star, the right hand grasps the Xuangen star.

Practicing in this manner for eighteen years, one’s appearance will certainly return from old age to youth. One day, the essences of the nine stars will transform into nine venerable Sovereign Lords Laojun, who will descend together to welcome you. They take the flying dragons of mysterious scenery as credentials, holding true bells in their hands; you ride in eight carriages of jade wheels, with a purple-feathered floral canopy above your head, guided by immortal officials. Ahead there are cries like the calling of phoenixes, behind celestial music is played; you wear emerald garments and a green sash, ascending into the heavenly realm in broad daylight, accompanied by jade boys and jade girls who attend you and hold towels.

When lying down at night, often secretly click the teeth twenty-one times and swallow the saliva in the mouth twenty-one times, while silently reciting the incantation:

“Utmost essence of the nine stars, True Lords of the North Pole, please increase my Jing (essence) and embryonic breathing, strengthen my three hun. On the left draw in the essence of sunlight, on the right take in the lunar fluids; within the Chen star there is yellow luminous scenery, Primordial Void Yellow Truth, please cause me to fly up and become an immortal, ascending to the realm of purple mists. Divine Tiger Jade Talisman, please constantly guard my Gate of Life, causing the myriad evils to submit and retreat according to law, and let me receive the refinement of the Dipper Lords.”

Here “twenty-one times” means “three sevens”; “clicking the teeth” and “swallowing saliva” are common methods of body and inner visualization in Daoist visualization cultivation. The original text has a repetition of clicking the teeth, swallowing saliva, and the incantation in the final section; the above is combined according to its complete meaning.

When rising at dawn, one ordinarily knocks the teeth fourteen times in secret and then swallows the saliva in the mouth fourteen times. Afterward one silently recites the invocation: “The honored deity of the Celestial Origin above, the seven immortal youths of the Northern Dipper, and the purple Jing (essence) Qi (vital energy) of Highest Clarity are all within your body. May the numinous Qi of the Latter Sage from the Purple Canopy of Huachen and the Mysterious Palace of Great Simplicity descend into your Dongfang (the inner palatial chamber of the body as described in Daoist visualization), so that you become a flying immortal and may enter the Golden Hall of Taiji (the Supreme Ultimate).”

When beginning to visualize the stars in the evening, one should first silently recite the star names in the heart and then visualize the stars. The invocations are as follows. The first is the Jing of the Tai Star, named Xuanshu. May so-and-so become a flying immortal and travel through the empty void. The second is the Jing of the Yuan Star, named Beitai. May so-and-so become a flying immortal and roam back and forth through the Cavern Terrace. The third is the Jing of the Zhen Star, named Jiuji Shangzhen. May so-and-so become a flying immortal and be able to govern the Three Mysteries. The fourth is the Jing of the Niu Star, named Xuangen. May so-and-so become a flying immortal and roam back and forth through the Cavern Terrace. The third is the Jing of the Zhen Star, named Jiuji Shangzhen. May so-and-so become a flying immortal and be able to govern the Three Mysteries. The fourth is the Jing of the Niu Star, named Xuangen. May so-and-so be enrolled among the flying immortals by jade name. The fifth is the Jing of the Gang Star, named Tianping. May so-and-so become a flying immortal and ascend into Highest Clarity. The sixth is the Jing of the Ji Star, named Mingji. May so-and-so’s name be recorded in the Grand Tenuity. The seventh is the Jing of the Guan Star, named Xuanyang. May so-and-so become a flying immortal and be able to command jade youths. The eighth is the Jing of the Di Star, named Gaoshang Yuhuang. May so-and-so become a flying immortal and enter the hall of the Latter Sage. The ninth is the Jing of the Zun Star, named Taiwei Dijun. May so-and-so become a flying immortal and enter the Cinnabar Jade Chamber.

After silently reciting the above nine invocations in sequence, one then visualizes the stars and thereafter lies down at ease within the Dipper. Next one again secretly knocks the teeth, swallows saliva, and recites the invocations concerning the Great Jing of the Nine Stars and the True Lord of the Northern Pole.

When both the visualization and the prayers have been completed, after a short while one further visualizes the Jing-Qi of the Dipper stars suddenly entering the Dongfang, their radiance illuminating the entire body. This too belongs to the teachings concerning the Great Jing of the Nine Stars and the True Lord of the Northern Pole.

After completing the preceding visualizations and invocations, wait quietly for a moment, then visualize the Jing (essence) and Qi (vital energy) of the Northern Dipper suddenly entering the Dongfang (the divine chamber within the head). Its radiance illuminates the entire body, penetrating the five viscera and six bowels, the Three Passes and the hundred joints, so that the whole body manifests a vivid red light. Then invoke, saying: “Primordial Jing of the Dongfang, Chizi Taizun (the Great Venerable Infant, the honored deity of the Dongfang), the radiance of the Northern Dipper descends like a floral canopy, illuminating the Niwan (the Mud Pellet in the head). May it protect and refine my bones and blood, restrain the Po and govern the Hun, that I may fly up as an immortal, ride the clouds to heaven, and at dawn pay court to the Jade Emperor and Taiyi Yuanjun.” These rites are then entirely complete.

The visualized image of the Northern Dipper outside remains as it was; one merely separates a portion of the stars’ Jing-Qi and sends it into the Niwan. This does not mean causing it to leave this place and move elsewhere. Therefore both the physical person seated here and the divine chamber within the head each have their corresponding visualizations.

The Qingtong Jun (Azure Lad Lord) said: “Visualizing the Yin Jing of the Northern Dipper while lying down can summon immortal spirits; visualizing the Yang Jing of the Northern Dipper in the Dongfang allows each of the five viscera to generate of itself, and ultimately one rides the sunlight and cloudy vapors to roam in the Shangqing (Highest Clarity) realm.” According to the words of Qingtong Jun, the Northern Dipper possesses two kinds of Jing-Qi, Yin and Yang. Perhaps this also serves as a metaphor for the two kinds of Jing-Qi in the human being, the Hun and the Po.

The Northern Dipper covers Huachen (the celestial region of the stars); its Jing-light illuminates the Nine Paths, and its radiance shelters the Ten Directions of the heavenly realms. Yang Qi circulates to nine, and thus it is honored. Ordinary people can see only seven stars and cannot see the other two. The eighth and ninth stars are both the Shen (spirit) of Dihuang Taizun (the Imperial Great Venerable); mysterious and hidden, they inwardly illuminate the subtle and obscure, protect the heavenly Hun, their numinous light brilliant, standing guard for the preceding seven stars. They simply do not shine upon those in the world who chase after fame and profit.

Only accomplished high immortals and noble perfected ones, together with the immortal officials of Shangqing and Taiqing (Great Clarity), are able to see these two stars; after seeing them, one must not speak of it casually. Once one has seen them, Gaoshang Yuhuang (the Highest Jade Emperor) and Taiwei Dijun (the Great Tenuity Emperor Lord) will personally appear before you and confer the true office of an immortal official. Ordinary worldly people may also occasionally see these two stars; if one sees them, one must be cautious and not say that one has seen them.

The Taishang Shenlu (Supreme Divine Record) states that anyone who sees one lofty star above the Big Dipper in the Taiwei Enclosure (an ancient asterism) can increase their lifespan by three hundred years; those who see two such stars can increase their lifespan by six hundred years. It is only that worldly people have much impurity in body and mind, and so they cannot yet cause the two venerable deities to descend.

This star is larger than the seven stars of the Big Dipper, purple in the color of its light and unlike ordinary stars, its radiance bright and awe-inspiring. Those who see it should all perform rites and kowtow, praying for their wishes. On the nights of the third and twenty-seventh of each month one may secretly observe the Big Dipper without letting others know. As long as one sincerely persists for a long time, there is no one who will fail to see it.

Stars possess three kinds of Jing (essence) Qi (vital energy), and so the twenty-seventh day is taken here for observation. The precepts transmitted by Taishang (the Most High) say that anyone who rashly proclaims the names of the stellar essences, or who after seeing the stars leaks the matter, will suffer blades and fire; after death they will still be held to account, falling into hell, implicating the parents of both this life and the next, and offending the Three Officials (the deities in Daoism who govern Heaven, Earth, and Water).

Xu Fu of the Qin dynasty was originally an ordinary mortal; he too attained the ability to see the two stars, yet dared not speak of the matter, and thus was able to extend his life. Thereupon he began to believe that there truly are immortals in the world, and from this knew that one ought to cultivate and study the methods of the Dao. Han Zhong, Sima Jizhu, as well as Meng Zizhuo the Perfected of the Central Peak, Zhang Jujun, and Yin Gui and others had all also seen these stars.

In the household of Chancellor Huo Guang of the Han dynasty there was a servant in charge of clothing named Huance. He had a slight knowledge of writing and once saw a short scroll among the books collected by Huo Guang, which read: “On the third and twenty-seventh of each month one should secretly observe the Big Dipper; by repeatedly doing so one will come to see something. After seeing it one should kowtow and pray for one’s wishes; after the rites do not spread it about. In this way all can increase their lifespan by three hundred years.”

Huance secretly memorized this passage and repeatedly followed it. Once he suddenly saw two stars above the Big Dipper, their radiance exceptionally bright, so he kowtowed and performed rites, then returned. Huance thus increased his lifespan by six hundred years. Although this servant had some insight, he lacked lofty aspirations and in the end did not cultivate and study the methods of the Dao, merely extending his life until his allotted span was exhausted and he died.

These words come from Lord Wang, who in turn transmitted them to the Greater Mao Lord.