《上清高上龟山玄箓》

When the Mysterious Elder of Taiqing was expounding the True Text of the Nine Heavens Orthodox Qi Natural Cavern Void, the Jade Emperor Lord was preaching in a cavern chamber on Jade Capital Flower Mountain of mysterious rosy clouds and kingfisher feathers. At that time four thousand myriad billion Jade Boys and nine thousand myriad billion Jade Maidens were present, gold paving the ground and white jade serving as couches. After the Celestial Worthy descended, gold was laid as the mat, and the various immortals and spirit kings came together to inquire of the Mysterious Emperor of the Nine Heavens.

The assembly knelt for a long time and reported: “We have heard that the various saints of the Most High once chanted the mysterious jade stanzas, their radiance illuminating the cinnabar clouds amid dense and lush cloud vapors. The saints rode phoenixes and drove dragons, coming to welcome the God of Jinghua, and together they chanted the Numinous Stanzas of the Nine Shao Great Harmony. The Dongxuan Dao (the Way of Cavern Mystery) inscribed the True Text upon stone, in order to explain the Fulu (talismans and registers) of the Mid-Origin Heaven in the Upper Scripture of Turtle Mountain, as well as the numinous banners for commanding demons held by the various immortals and Jade Void True Kings of the Nine Heavens cavern chambers.

“Within the Thirty-two Heavens, on the bing day of the yin month, cloud qi circulates and rain descends to nourish all under heaven; the hundred grasses sprout forth together, and azure trees with jade branches put forth green leaves and red blossoms. These scenes resemble fragrant gardens and fruit groves, the Seven Treasures and Three Scenes, and likewise serve to explain the Fulu of the Mid-Origin Heaven in the Upper Scripture of Turtle Mountain, as well as the numinous banners for commanding demons held by the various immortals and Jade Void True Kings of the Nine Heavens cavern chambers.

“The Supreme Sage Celestial Worthy, the Shangqing Jade Boys, and the True Flower Jade Maidens instruct living beings in that forested jade chamber. Assembled ministers and rulers hold the Azure Scene Jade Registers; officials of the ten directions, immortal true great sages, and numerous Demon Kings soar through the air, their carriages like flying jade cloud chariots, together with one thousand two hundred mysterious dragon carriages. Thunder and lightning crash, light illuminating the ten directions; they descend to my dwelling, kneeling in homage and praise.

“The various heavens present fragrant flowers, a hundred kinds of sounds ringing out together; jades such as linlang and langan naturally emit harmonious chimes. The various heavens perform music, the Seven Treasures reflecting the Three Luminaries, the hundred harmonious tones delightful to the ear, from which the assembly takes delight.

“The demonic ghosts and evil essences of the Nine Heavens as well as the Heavenly Emperors are also summoned, standing in attendance beside the seat. Flying-cloud feather canopies, twelve silk banners, ceremonial flags, staffs and drums are arrayed before the mat, and the various heavens join in praise. The Twelve Celestial Worthies and the assembled immortal orthodox officials each intone and praise the Stanzas of the Cavern Numinous Jade Treasure Three Origins.”

A light and swift whirlwind lifts the floral canopy as ten holy Perfected Ones follow the Honored Deity on an outing. Marvelous chapter-writings appear in the clouds; spirits wave ceremonial insignia, and a purple jeweled carriage floats amid auspicious radiant Qi (vital energy). The Celestial Worthies of the Greatest Clarity heavens pause for a time in the vicinity of Jade Capital Mountain; hosts of immortals perform heavenly music, and all kinds of musical sounds naturally resound in the four directions. All rejoice and dance together amid the clouds and rosy vapors; the delight of the assembled Perfected Immortals defies description.

In the Jade Agate Forest of Seven Treasures, the immortal hosts sing songs of praise, praying that they may share one heart and walk together. The spirits of all heavens chant Brahma-sounds (the pure, solemn voices of recitation and praise), their tones distant and lingering, as though floating into the inner depths of Jade Capital Mountain. The scenes of assembled immortals making music, dancing together in the clouds and mists, and singing praises in the treasure forest recur again and again; the multitude of immortals roam and take pleasure together in boundless joy.

The Brahma-sounds of all the heavens drift far into the cloud-tips; hosts of sages sing numinous and marvelous tunes, while jade maidens raise mysterious songs of delight. The assembled immortals together tour the dwelling of the Queen Mother of the West, lingering among the palaces and halls of the Jade Hall. The immortals are as pure and lustrous as jade, their radiance dazzling, surpassing splendid herbs and orchids. Cinnabar-colored brilliance shines upon the solar Jing (essence), causing my heart to linger without end. The immortals recite the chapter-writings of the Celestial Emperor; this joy is without compare.

Limpid waters flow in the Clear Water Pond; the treasure forests of Kunlun Mountain glow with radiant splendor. Hosts of dragons drift and dance in flight; the Purple Cloud Altar is bright and pure white. In the evening they tour the region of Penglai Mountain; at dawn they face the bright and beautiful scenery. Divine immortals wander and enjoy themselves among cinnabar leaves, lodging the flowing radiance within literary phrases.

The foregoing is the True Writ, together with the text written in vermilion brush.

Northern talismanic writings number eleven in all; they are written upon a purple ground in azure script.

The Highest Clarity Nine Elders Cavern Lingbao True Merit Flying Cinnabar Flower Radiance is a sign of the numinous efficacy and responsive manifestation of the Nine Elders Upper Sage Lords. According to the statutes of the Jade Emperor of the Imperial Capital and the Jade Mountain of the Empty Capital, in the first year of Zhangren, the year of Upper Jia, on the seventh day of the first month, the Three Origins Jade Emperor, within the Seven Treasures Agate Forest Hall upon the Terrace of Chaos, commanded the Nine Heavens to transmit documents downward, conferring the canon of Cinnabar Elder Mountain and transmitting it to the Cinnabar Elder Nine Emperor True Lords. Mixed and disorderly persons must not be assembled, mixed together in one place for observation and cultivation, and then treated as Upper Perfected; all must be carried out in accordance with the rules of Keyi (liturgy).

Of the Sage-Treasure Perfected Ones who serve as Merit Officers of the Upper Section of Highest Clarity Empty Cavern Natural Cloud-Flight, there are ninety million each. Of the Sage-Treasure Perfected Ones who serve as Merit Officers of the Middle Section of Highest Clarity Empty Cavern Natural Cloud-Flight, there are ninety million each. Of the Sage-Treasure Perfected Ones who serve as Merit Officers of the Lower Section of Highest Clarity Empty Cavern Natural Cloud-Flight, there are ninety million each.

The Gongcao Shengbao Zhenren (Merit Officer Sacred Treasure Perfected Ones) of the front division of Shangqing Xudong Ziran Yunfei number ninety million; those of the rear, left, right, and capital divisions likewise number ninety million each.

The Shangyuan Ziran Dongzhen Yu also number ninety million.

The Gongcao Shengbao Zhenren of the right division and of the capital division of Shangqing Xudong Ziran Yunfei number ninety million each.

The Zhifu Li (Direct Talisman Officials, divine clerks charged with transmitting talismanic commands) of the upper, middle, lower, front, rear, left, right, and capital divisions of Shangyuan Ziran Dongzhen Yudi Xuling number ninety million billion each.

The Lingfei Shizhe (Spirit-Flying Envoys who carry out divine commands) of the upper division of Dongqing Huangxu Zhenjing number eight thousand nine billion myriads; the number of those of the middle division is missing from the original text and is not recorded.

The Zhifu Li of the capital division of Shangyuan Ziran Dongzhen Yudi Xuling number ninety million billion.

The Lingfei Shizhe of the upper, middle, and lower divisions of Dongqing Huangxu Zhenjing number eight thousand nine billion myriads each.

Note: The scripture contains repeated enumerations, and phrases such as “Shangyuan Ziran Dongzhen Yu” and those concerning Dongqing Huangxu Zhenjing appear to suffer from omissions or textual corruptions; the above is a direct rendering of the wording as it now stands.

The spirit-flying messengers stationed at the front, rear, left, right, and in overall command of each division of the Dongqing Huangxu True Scenery (the profound and mysterious true realm of Qingxu) number eight thousand nine hundred million persons in every division.

The spirit-flying jade implements and vehicles employed by the Nine Elders of the Upper True and the Shangqing Imperial True Jade Emperor (the honored deity of the Shangqing heavenly realm) consist of naturally formed jade carriages on the upper level, naturally formed feathered canopies on the middle level, and naturally formed cloud chariots on the lower level, each kind appearing in nine hundred million layers. At this point the scripture again lists the middle-level feathered canopies and lower-level cloud chariots, then continues with the naturally formed jade wheels in front, the naturally formed green shafts at the rear, the naturally formed phoenix-wing ornaments on the left, the naturally formed flying-serpent ornaments on the right, and the naturally formed flying pavilions that oversee the entire assembly, each likewise in nine hundred million layers. After the original phrasing “lower spirit-flying jade naturally formed cloud chariots,” the text once more states “each nine hundred million jade naturally formed jade carriages each nine hundred million layers,” a sequence that appears to contain omissions or disorder.

The upper generals of Turtle Mountain, commanded by the numinous elixir registers and red talismans (Fulu) of the Qingxu Jade Capital (the Jade Capital of the Pure Void heavenly realm), each lead nine thousand billion cavalry. The numinous elixir registers of the Qingxu Jade Capital themselves exist in ten thousand layers.

The naturally formed flying pavilions commanded by the Nine Elders of the Upper True and the Shangqing Imperial True Jade Emperor each appear in nine hundred million layers. The upper generals of Turtle Mountain under the numinous elixir registers and red talismans of the Qingxu Jade Capital each command nine thousand billion cavalry, and the middle-section generals likewise each command nine thousand billion cavalry.

In Qingxu Yujing (the Pure Void Jade Capital, the tranquil immortal realm of Daoism), the lower-section generals of Guishan (Turtle Mountain) under the jurisdiction of the Shangling Danjian Chifu (Upper Numinous Cinnabar-Inspection Crimson Talisman) each command nine thousand yiwan cavalry.

The front-section, rear-section, left-section, right-section, and central-section generals of Guishan likewise each command nine thousand yiwan cavalry.

The right-section generals of Guishan under the Yuqing Shangling Danjian Chifu similarly command nine thousand yiwan cavalry. The central-section generals of Guishan under the Qingxu Yujing Shangling Danjian Chifu also command nine thousand yiwan cavalry.

In the Shangyuan Feixing Hundun Zixu Huajing of Yuqing (Jade Purity), the Shangzhen Yutong (upper-truth jade youths, jade-youth deities of the immortal realm) together with the Guishan Dongzhenren (cavern Perfected dwelling in the cavern palaces of Turtle Mountain) each ride seventy million chariots.

The Zhongzhen, Xiazhen, Qianzhen, Houzhen, Zuozhen, Youzhen, and Duzhen Yutong, as well as the Guishan Dongzhenren, also each ride seventy million chariots.

This passage of the scripture employs a repetitive enumerative style to describe the numerous attendants or mounts of the generals of every quarter of Guishan as well as the immortal Perfected and jade youths. The numerical expressions “each with nine thousand yiwan cavalry” and “each with seventy million chariots” used in the scripture illustrate the immense scale of the divine hosts it describes.

In the Jade Capital of the Purple Sovereign (Zihuang Yujing, the heavenly Jade Capital realm where the Purple Sovereign resides), among the upper immortal ranks belonging to Void and Naturalness with nine kinds of luminous colors, there are seventy million Danjing Jiuhua Jade Maidens (female immortals of the immortal realm) each. In the same immortal realm, the Danjing Jiuhua Jade Maidens of the middle immortal ranks number seventy million each; those of the lower immortal ranks number seventy million each; those occupying the immortal positions in the front, rear, left, and right directions also number seventy million each; and those of the commanding immortal ranks that oversee all directions likewise number seventy million. Within the Jade Void Cavern Spirit Upper Prime Purple Chapter Nine Perfected (Yuxu Dongling Shangyuan Zizhang Jiuzhen, a title of Daoist perfected beings), the Danjing Jiuhua Jade Maidens belonging to the nine-color right immortal ranks number seventy million each; those of the commanding immortal ranks also number seventy million each. Within the Jade Void Cavern Spirit Upper Prime Purple Chapter Nine Perfected, the Golden Flower Jade Youths (immortal youths of the immortal realm) of the upper sage ranks number ninety million each; those of the middle sage, lower sage, and the sage positions in the front, rear, left, and right directions also number ninety million each; and those of the commanding sage ranks that oversee all directions likewise number ninety million. The Upper Danqingyao Jade Maidens (female immortals of the immortal realm) belonging to the Nine Mystery Upper Perfected Flying Flower Seven Scenery Turtle Mountain Leading Perfected (Jiuxuan Shangzhen Feihua Qijing Guishan Lingzhen, a title of Daoist perfected beings) number thirty million each.

The Nine Mysterious Upper Perfected (the superior Perfected Immortals of the Ninefold Mysterious Realms) and the Feihua Seven Scenes Turtle Mountain Leading Perfected (the honored deities who command the Perfected Immortals in such immortal realms as Feihua, Qijing, and Guishan) govern the middle-position Danqing Yao Jade Maidens, of whom there are thirty million in each group. They likewise govern the upper-position Danqing Yao Jade Maidens, numbering thirty million each; the middle-position Danqing Yao Jade Maidens, numbering thirty million each; the lower-position Danqing Yao Jade Maidens, numbering thirty million each; the front-position Danqing Yao Jade Maidens, numbering thirty million each; the rear-position Danqing Yao Jade Maidens, numbering thirty million each; the left-position Danqing Yao Jade Maidens, numbering thirty million each; the right-position Danqing Yao Jade Maidens, numbering thirty million each; and the capital-position Danqing Yao Jade Maidens, numbering thirty million each.

The Upper Origin Cloud Jade Great Void Flying Empyrean Natural Ones (the honored deities of the natural immortal realms of Yunqiong, Taikong, Feixiao and the like within the Upper Origin immortal scenery) govern the upper-way Divine Elixir True Jade Immortals, of whom there are ninety million in each group. They also govern the humane-middle Divine Elixir True Jade Immortals, numbering ninety million each; the guiding-below Divine Elixir True Jade Immortals, numbering ninety million each; the mysterious-front Divine Elixir True Jade Immortals, numbering ninety million each; the guiding-below Divine Elixir True Jade Immortals, numbering ninety million each; the mysterious-front Divine Elixir True Jade Immortals, numbering ninety million each; the numinous-rear Divine Elixir True Jade Immortals, numbering ninety million each; the true-left Divine Elixir True Jade Immortals, numbering ninety million each; and the spirit-right Divine Elixir True Jade Immortals, numbering ninety million each.

The Upper Origin Cloud-Jade Great Void Flying Empyrean Naturally Leading Sacred Capital Divine Elixir True Jade Immortals number ninety million in each category.

The Seven Luminaries Shangqing Dongzhen (Cavern of Perfection) Mysterious Scenery Jade Emperor Azure Floriate Upper Elixir Jade-Radiance Crimson Immortals number ninety million in each category. The Jade-Radiance Crimson Immortals of the Middle Elixir, Lower Elixir, Front Elixir, Rear Elixir, and Left Elixir likewise number ninety million each. As for the number of Right Elixir Jade-Radiance Crimson Immortals, the original text here merely writes “each person” without specifying a figure. Thereafter it again lists Left Elixir and Right Elixir Jade-Radiance Crimson Immortals, each numbering ninety million, and further lists the Capital Elixir Jade-Radiance Crimson Immortals, who also number ninety million.

The stone slips within the Golden Chamber of the Purple Hall of Primordial Void of Turtle Mountain of Highest Clarity of the Right Cavern Spirit are engraved with ornate true writings of jade, and also record the sacred registers of officials and troops. The proper ranks of the upper officials, the envoys of the Middle Origin, the immortal youths and jade maidens, the heavenly kings and true spirits, the Three Division Generals of the Eight Sceneries of the Superior Saints, the Direct Talisman clerks and officers, the flying dragons and mounted riders, the true officials of the Three Origins, the Primordial Sovereign Jade Immortals, and others all conduct themselves in accordance with the precepts of the mysterious statutes. You must be diligent and cautious—be exceedingly cautious.

The Most High Cavern Text Turtle Mountain True Talisman

After ingesting this talisman, nine years later, if one closes the eyes and visualizes for one full day and night, one will behold the immortal retinues of the Nine Heavens riding dragons and driving phoenixes, soaring through the Purple Void and ascending to the Jade Capital, until at last one unites with the Dao (the Way). One must strictly observe the precepts and act with caution.

There are twenty-five of these talismans in total, written in azure on a pink background.

The so-called “Huangyuan Shangjia Zhengyi (Orthodox Unity) Dao (the Way)” is an ancient Jing (scripture) that manifested naturally from the Great Dao Emperor Lord of the Nine Heavens, originally inscribed on the stones of Mount Taihua. The grotto-palace of Turtle Mountain contains twenty-four immortal officials, and the Upper Prime Lord is titled “Envoy of Turtle Mountain”; there are also jade maidens, immortal youths, and twenty-four divine persons. The true immortals of the Great Mysterious Capital and the Jade Capital, within the empty space of the grotto-heaven of Langfeng, transmitted the Purple Phoenix Red Book of Cinnabar Radiance Jade Text bestowed by the Supreme Sage. The Lord obtained this book in the grotto-palace of Turtle Mountain and stored it among the “Five Weapons” guarded by the true immortals of the Central Yellow Capital Jade Capital, as well as on the Empty Qiong Terrace where the Jade Flower of the Yellow Emperor resides.

On the seventh day of the seventh month in the Tai Sui year Jiaxu, this Jing was taken from the Golden Towers and Jade Doors of Kun Terrace Phoenix Mountain and transmitted to the Upper Emperor Lady of Purple Tenuity, who then passed it on to later generations of those with the potential to become immortals. Those who obtain and uphold this book will surely ascend to heaven in broad daylight, join the company of the immortals, behold the Supreme Sage, and become Zhenren (Perfected Ones) and Upper Immortals. When receiving and holding it, one must observe the rules stipulated by the Mysterious Statutes and Orthodox Laws.

“Huangxu Yuguang Heran Yunche Zijing Shangsheng Lingzhen Gongcao,” together with the titles of Middle Sages, Lower Sages, Former Sages, Later Sages, Left Sages, Right Sages, Capital Sages and others listed below, each command ninety million persons. “Gongcao” in Daoist ritual are divine clerks who transmit orders and handle affairs. The later text repeatedly lists these divine offices and numbers in order to set forth the scale of the celestial divine perfected ones and their retinues. The latter half of the original text contains several repeated sentences, and some individual words may also have variant readings from transmission and copying; therefore the titles and sequence are retained here according to the original, without further conjecture.

The Direct Talisman Clerks (zhifu li) of the various flying and pacing-the-void (feixing buxu) divisions, commanded by the Jade Immortal of the Upper Scenery (Shangjing Yuxian, the honored jade immortal of the upper realm), who transmit talismanic commands, guard the perfected immortals, and lead the immortal hosts, number twenty-four billion myriad layers in each division. This is true of the Upper Division, Middle Division, Lower Division, Front Division, Rear Division, Left Division, Right Division, and the Capital Division that oversees them all.

The envoys commanded by the Jade Officials of the Numinous Immortals of Clear Emptiness Upper Perfection (Qingxu Shangzhen Lingxian Yuguan) number ninety million cavalry in each division. The same holds for the Upper Numinous Envoys Who Lead the Sages, the Middle Numinous Envoys Who Lead the Immortals, the Lower Numinous Envoys Who Lead the Sages, the Front Numinous Envoys Who Lead the Spirits, the Rear Numinous Envoys Who Bind the Immortals, the Left Numinous Envoys Who Gather the Scenery, the Right Numinous Envoys Who Lead the Perfected, and the Capital Numinous Envoys of Spontaneity.

The Purple Dawn Jade Youths (Zichen Yutong, immortal youths of the Purple Dawn Palace) commanded by the Kingfisher-Feathered Upper Perfected of Empty Mystery Upper Clarity (Xuxuan Shangqing Cuiyu Shangzhen) number ninety million in each of the Upper, Middle, and Lower Divisions. Those also called the Purple Dawn Jade Youths of the Upper Division of the Upper Perfected likewise number ninety million.

This passage of the scripture enumerates the titles and numbers of the divine clerks, envoys, and jade youths of the immortal realm according to the directional and administrative divisions of upper, middle, lower, front, rear, left, right, and capital, thereby showing the immense scale and clearly stratified hierarchy of the immortal hosts under their command.

The Purple Dawn Jade Youths of the Void Mystery Shangqing (Highest Clarity) Kingfisher Feather Upper Perfected, belonging to the central, lower, front, rear, left, right, and overall divisions, number ninety million in each division.

The Jade Maidens of the Purple Mystery Middle Clarity Three Primes (Sanyuan) Upper Void Great Cinnabar, of the upper, middle, lower, front, rear, left, right, and overall scenes, number ninety million in each category. The Numinous Light Upper Prime Maidens likewise number ninety million.

The Right Scene Jade Maidens and Overall Scene Jade Maidens of the Purple Mystery Middle Clarity Three Primes Upper Void Great Cinnabar each number ninety million. Among the official retinue of the Numinous Light Upper Prime Void Spirits, the three classes of Upper Perfected, Middle Perfected, and Lower Perfected of the Three Lights Penetrating Numina Eight Cavalry Commanders Turtle Mountain Perfected Ones (Zhenren) number thirty million in each class.

This passage enumerates divine perfected beings, jade youths, jade maidens, and their attendant retinues of various categories, directions, and hierarchical levels, using these quantities to convey their immense numbers.

In the Lingguang Shangyuan (the divine system of the upper realm), the official subordinates of the ethereal spirits are respectively commanded by the various Zhenren of the front, rear, left, and right. They are known as the Sima Guishan Zhenren of the Eight Cavalry who Communicate Spiritually with the Three Lights, and each category numbers thirty million followers.

Among these official subordinates of the ethereal spirits in the Lingguang Shangyuan there are also the Capital Zhenren Sima Guishan Zhenren, each likewise possessing thirty million followers. The Jing (scripture) proceeds to list once again the Right Zhenren and the Capital Zhenren, whose subordinate hosts also number thirty million.

Among the Capital Officials and Attendant Immortals of the Ethereal-Scenery True Immortals, divisions are made into upper, middle, lower, front, rear, left, right, and capital spirits. The Spirit-Communicating Generals of each type number thirty million persons.

The Upper-Sage Zhenren of Turtle Mountain associated with the Seven Luminaries and Five Stars, who belong to the Jade Emperor of the Three Caverns (Dongzhen/Dongxuan/Dongshen) of the Eight Sceneries of Imperial Silk in Shangqing (that is, the Jade Emperor of the Shangqing realm), also each command thirty million persons.

The Capital-Spirit Spirit-Communicating Generals among the Capital Officials and Attendant Immortals of the Ethereal-Scenery True Immortals are listed once more, each with thirty million persons.

The Flying-Spirit Generals of the Upper-Sage Zhenren of Turtle Mountain of the Seven Luminaries and Five Stars belonging to that same Jade Emperor of the Three Caverns of the Eight Sceneries of Imperial Silk in Shangqing amount to seventy million layers; the Flying-Spirit Generals of the Middle-Sage Zhenren of Turtle Mountain likewise amount to seventy million layers.

These passages are cataloguing the titles of the Shangqing immortal Zhenren, the spirit officials, and the generals, together with their enormous retinues. The designations “front, rear, left, right, and capital” follow either directional orientation or type of jurisdiction. Expressions such as “thirty million followers,” “thirty million persons,” and “seventy million layers” simply convey the vast numbers of spirits attached to each.

The holy Perfected Ones occupying the lower position among the Seven Luminaries and Five Stars belonging to the Huangzeng Eight Sceneries Three Caverns Shangqing Jade Emperor (the Jade Emperor of the Shangqing heavenly realm), together with the Flying Spirit Generals of Turtle Mountain, are stacked in overlapping layers amounting to seventy million. Among the Seven Luminaries and Five Stars belonging to the same Jade Emperor, the holy Perfected Ones occupying the forward position, together with the Flying Spirit Generals of Turtle Mountain, are likewise stacked in overlapping layers amounting to seventy million. The holy Perfected Ones occupying the rear position, together with the Flying Spirit Generals of Turtle Mountain, are stacked in overlapping layers amounting to seventy million. The holy Perfected Ones occupying the left position, together with the Flying Spirit Generals of Turtle Mountain, are stacked in overlapping layers amounting to seventy million. The holy Perfected Ones occupying the right position, together with the Flying Spirit Generals of Turtle Mountain, are stacked in overlapping layers amounting to seventy million.

The holy Perfected Ones who overall command the various directions among the Seven Luminaries and Five Stars are located on Turtle Mountain. The holy Perfected Ones occupying the right position among the Seven Luminaries and Five Stars, together with the Flying Spirit Generals of Turtle Mountain, are stacked in overlapping layers amounting to seventy million. The holy Perfected Ones who overall command the various directions among the Seven Luminaries and Five Stars, together with the Flying Spirit Generals of Turtle Mountain, are stacked in overlapping layers amounting to seventy million.

The Jade Lads of the Five Zhi belonging to the upper section of the Golden Elixir (Jindan) of the Void-True Emperor of Purple Heaven (the Void-True Emperor in the Purple Heaven) number thirty million each. The Jade Lads of the Five Zhi belonging to the middle, lower, front, rear, left, and right sections of the Golden Elixir also number thirty million each. The Jade Lads of the Five Zhi belonging to the overall department of the Golden Elixir also number thirty million each. The Jade Lads of the Five Zhi belonging to the left, right, and overall departments of the Golden Elixir also number thirty million each.

In these passages, “department” or “section” refers to the positions or categories of upper, middle, lower, front, rear, left, right, and the overall commanding department that leads all directions; “Jade Lads” are attendant spirit-deities in the Daoist pantheon. The scripture uses repetitive listing of titles and vast numerical quantities to portray the great numbers of these deities and the elaborate, multi-layered nature of their hierarchy.

In the Immortal Capital of the Jade King of Lower Clarity, groups of immortal maidens are commanded by the Huangzhen (the honored immortal true deity). These comprise the Mysterious Zhi Jade Maidens of the Upper Scene, the Mysterious Zhi Jade Maidens of the Middle Scene, the Cinnabar Zhi Jade Maidens of the Lower Scene, the Cloud Zhi Jade Maidens of the Front Scene, the Immortal Zhi Jade Maidens of the Rear Scene, the Register Zhi Jade Maidens of the Left Scene, the True Zhi Jade Maidens of the Right Scene, and the Sacred Zhi Jade Maidens of the Capital Scene, each numbering thirty million.

In the Natural Turtle Mountain of Vacuous Clarity Returning Light Eight Radiances Jade Flower Cinnabar Spirit Sun and Moon Eight Arts, the various immortal ceremonial retinues and processions also number seventy million each. They include jade carriages (jade-ornamented vehicles), green-shafted carriages (vehicles with green shafts), cloud palanquins (cloud vehicles), feathered canopies (feather-ornamented carriage covers), dragon carriages, phoenix wings, and flying serpents.

This passage in the scripture enumerates the names of the immortal maidens, carriages, and ceremonial retinues within the Immortal Capital, employing vast numbers to convey their grandeur. The original text contains several repeated sentences, and at the end there appear phrases such as “xuqing,” which may represent variants arising from copying or printing; the rendering above follows the sense of the passage so as to remain smooth and coherent.

The eight arts of empty emotion returning the light, eight radiances, jade flower, elixir spirit, sun and moon are the eight kinds of methods within the natural jade wheel of Turtle Mountain, each possessing seventy million people.

The Upper Radiance Jade Flower Perfected, Middle Radiance Jade Flower Perfected, Lower Radiance Jade Flower Perfected, Front Radiance Jade Flower Perfected, Rear Radiance Jade Flower Perfected, Left Radiance Jade Flower Perfected and Right Radiance Jade Flower Perfected of the Nine Mystery Green Radiance Elixir Shine Cavern Spirit Natural Turtle Mountain, together with the Directing Radiance Jade Flower Perfected who oversees all directions, each have nine hundred million layers.

This is the chapter of the Primordial Sovereign Elixir Spirit Elixir Radiance Crushing, inscribed in azure true script and transmitted to the sage Perfected of later generations and the Lady of Purple Tenuity.

The Lady of Purple Tenuity ingested this talisman for ten years and naturally rose into the clouds, sitting upon a golden terrace facing the Queen Mother of the West and keeping company with the host of immortals. This writing is executed in azure on white material. Naturally formed true writings are stored in the cavern chamber of Turtle Mountain.

The True King of Clear Vacuity ingested this talisman for nine years and naturally ascended to the terrace of soaring into emptiness, accompanying the sages and Superior Perfected. This writing is executed in vermilion on purple material. In the great cavern of Turtle Mountain there exists natural heavenly writing composed in golden characters that emit yellow light.

The Jade Youth of Yellow Flower ingested this talisman for thirty years before being able to ascend to heaven. This writing is executed in yellow on azure material. In the right cavern of Turtle Mountain there is natural true writing with azure characters carved upon green stone, transmitted to later immortals. This must be treated with caution and treasured.

When ingesting this talisman, it may be written in azure on yellow material during the daytime.

The four talismans above are to be written in cyan ink upon white silk and hung in the four directions. They can thereby subdue the demon lords and malevolent ghosts, causing them all to submit in obedience. The assembled immortals and supreme sages may then freely come and go within the Shangqing (Highest Clarity) realm, ascend into the void, and together with the high gods, emperors, and divine immortals climb the immortal mountain of the Purple Terrace and Jade Capital, jointly expounding the wondrous scriptures with the host of immortal Perfected Ones.

This passage of scripture states that the Original Cavern of Turtle Mountain obtained this authentic text, which was transmitted and recounted by sages including the Most High Elder (Taishang Zhangren) and Lord Lao the Most High (Taishang Laojun).

Now the tokens of faith are offered up as one proceeds to the Dharma Master of the Three Caverns to request reception of the covenant text, so that it may be cultivated and nourished and thereby become forever a precious treasure for protecting the person. All is carried out in accordance with the covenant Keyi (liturgy) and precepts of the Most High.

Guarantor:

Supervisor of Transmission:

Transmission Master:

The complete text of the Shangqing Gaoshang Guishan Xuanlu (Highest Clarity Supreme Turtle Mountain Mysterious Register) ends here.

Collation note: The content of this piece is largely identical to the lower volume of the Shangqing Yuanshi Shizhen Shangjing Jiuling Taimiao Guishan Xuanlu (Highest Clarity Primordial Beginning True Scripture of the Nine Numina Great Wonder Turtle Mountain Mysterious Register), yet there are many textual corruptions here that may be read with reference to that version. Variant readings are not noted item by item in this place.