《大洞玉经》

Set the scripture straight in your hands and hold it before your chest. Gaze ahead and tap your teeth. Visualize the room filled with purple clouds. The purple Qi rises above you, while a golden boy and a jade maiden attend the scripture on either side. The three lights of the sun, moon, and stars shine into the room, and precious lingzhi mushrooms also appear, glowing with light. Then tap your teeth gently and pray in a low voice:

The sky is clear, the breath pure, and the sun, moon, and stars shine with brilliant clarity. In the golden chamber and jade hall, five kinds of lingzhi grow. Mysterious purple Qi descends like a canopy, illuminating my body. Immortal boys and jade maidens bring me auspicious power. The Nine Emperors appear together in radiant splendor, and the Three Officials of Heaven, Earth, and Water arrive together in their carriage. I ride the purple canopy up to the celestial emperor’s palace.

Mystic Invocation for Opening a Scripture

The subtle, hidden gate of mystery opens, and light shines through the realm of emptiness and stillness. The highest Dao comes from silence; therefore, one should behold the Three Su Gong, the palaces of the immortals. Through this, the Great Dao is cultivated: riding a cloud dragon and advancing upon the sunlight. Perfected beings who attend the scripture accompany me on either side, with jade maidens and jade boys attending them. My body crosses the ford to immortality, escapes the nets of the world, and travels upon the winds of the spirits. My ancestors of seven generations, too, can return to their origins and live again, becoming an immortal lineage for generation after generation.

Tap your teeth, close your eyes, gather your spirit, and bow your head in prayer:

I, a humble and lowly servant, respectfully submit this memorial today. I reverently address the Jade Clarity Lady of the Jade Dawn, the Most High Dao Lord of the High Sages and Ten Thousand Perfected Ones, the Central Yellow Old Lord, the Elemental Dao Lord, the Supreme Transcendent Marshal of the Upper Clarity, Master of the Longevity Method, the Perfected Lord Jun Baicheng, who governs the Three Heavens, and the Perfected Holy Mother of the High Sages, Lady Wang of Purple Tenuity, the scripture master who transmitted the True Scripture of the Great Cavern. I also address the Perfected Holy Mother of the High Sages, Lady Wang, the Central Marquis, who transmitted the method of Returning Wind and Great Conjoining; the Supreme Perfected One of the Nine Subtleties of the Upper Clarity; the Jade Protector King; the Assistant Minister of the Golden Gate; the High Morning Master of Great Destiny; the King of the Eastern Sea; the Youthful Lord of Green Radiance; the Supreme Dao Lord, Great Emperor of the Cinnabar Grove at the Fusang Tree of Eastern Dawn, of the Great Nonbeing of the Upper Clarity; the Patriarch of the Southern Pole, the Purple Perfected One; the Dao Lord of the Upper Clarity; the Holy Empress of Jade Dawn; the Dao Lord of Eastern Florescence, Protector of the Golden Gate; and the Transcendent Marquis of the Upper Clarity, Minister of the Golden Gate.

I now enter the meditation chamber to recite the Thirty-Nine Chapters of the True Scripture of the Great Cavern of the Upper Clarity. May the radiance of dawn shine upon my body, filling my five viscera and six bowels with glory, dispelling calamities, and restoring life and form to the ancestors of seven generations, so that we may all ride together in a cloud chariot.

Close your eyes and visualize the Venerable Lord Di Yi, the deity venerated in the scripture, in the form of an infant four inches tall. He dwells beneath the nose, within the skin at the philtrum, where he governs the gathering of all the spirits and sits upright amid clouds of five colors. Then visualize the Venerable Lord Di Yi in the realm of the Mysterious Void, his mouth facing yours as he listens to you recite the Jade Scripture.

Great Cavern Thunder Spirit Talisman

Use yellow silk as the base, write the talisman in cinnabar, and draw its outer border in black. Wear it while walking. When sitting, lying down, or performing prostrations, you may spread it beneath you as a mat. The scripture says this can subdue all demons and settle the mind and spirit, making the will single-minded.

Great Cavern Radiance-Repelling Talisman

Make a talisman plaque from precious material and engrave the talisman on both sides. Place it in a pouch and wear it. When sitting, lying down, or performing prostrations, you may also spread it beneath you as a mat. The scripture says this can subdue all demons and settle the mind and spirit, making the will single-minded.

Great Cavern Radiance-Repelling Talisman

Make a talisman plaque from precious material and engrave the talisman on both sides. Place it in a brocade pouch, then make an outer pouch from yellow gauze. Wear it when performing the rite, and the six demons of Heaven and the three lords who prohibit access to Heaven will not dare to obstruct you.

The practitioner sits upright on a talisman attuned to the numinous Qi of the Zhen direction. Wearing talismans for protection and warding off evil, the practitioner quiets the mind and visualizes being between the Three Terrace stars and the Northern Dipper. After completing the visualization, they click their teeth thirty-nine times, recite this hidden text, and then begin the formal practice.

The Hidden Writ of the Great Cavern’s Divine Wisdom

Mysterious radiance spreads across the edge of the sky. The clear River of Heaven lies close to the clouds, which turn and drift. Refined original Qi shines in the celestial region of the Three Mornings, while crimson clouds illuminate the Purple Tenuity enclosure. The numinous writings of the heavens gleam with wondrous light, and luminous vapors stream through the cloudy heights. A divine lamp lights the Morning Star, and the stars of the Li Luo constellation shine brightly.

High clouds coil around the mountains in all four directions; mysterious vital essence covers the eight quarters. The Three Su Heavens open onto vast, lofty emptiness, and the Orchid Towers throw open their many palace gates. Golden towers reflect the Jade Purity realm, while numinous splendor appears at the center of heaven. Winds rise in the Palace of the Eight Assemblies, and divine beasts gallop through the clouds. In the immortal mansions of the Three Caverns, perfected beings come and go in assembly, their forms appearing in varied ranks.

Above are the essences of a thousand scenes; hidden De is lofty and sublime. The divine Taiyi plans and gathers all things, holds the registers of destiny, and commands the spirits. The divine Zhengyi moves through a flourishing numinous realm, summoning the myriad spirits to return. The Young Lord assists the silent chariot, while the Cave Yang deity guards the mysterious essentials.

Mingchu first joins with the Dao, and body and mind are at peace; the dragon chariot moves slowly onward. The seven radiances join with the spirit king, and wheels swift as the wind race across ten thousand celestial steps. The body grows light, ascending to the mysterious ford and bounding over lofty peaks. Clad in radiance, one enters the dwelling of immortals, where feathered robes gleam. Hidden thought meets the clouds; flying radiance receives the divine, bringing one into accord with the Dao and into peace.

The dragon chariot moves slowly onward. The seven radiances join with the spirit king, and wheels swift as the wind race across ten thousand celestial steps. The body grows light, ascending to the mysterious ford and bounding over lofty peaks. Clad in radiance, one enters the dwelling of immortals, where feathered robes gleam. Hidden thought meets the clouds; flying radiance receives the divine power.

Among the blue peaks, not a trace is out of place. Splendid scenes weave together and appear in the lofty, empty distance. Golden radiance encircles the numinous carriage, and the immortal elder stands solemn and exalted. Countless reins spread out through the void, while dense clouds shroud the gates of the mysterious heavens. The Lord Zhongsheng Hejing, the Nine Emperors, and the August Sovereign Chang appear. Bright wheels illuminate the realm of Huangning, and feathered pearls shine upon Xuanyang.

Celestial essence and pure Qi gather; the fifth deity among them is called Nourishing Radiance. Clear Qi condenses, and from it the spirits are first born; the nine perfected beings unite as pairs. Wondrous radiance opens the destinies hidden in the underworld and, responding to what is sensed, reveals the traces of the spirits. Light from the Cave Origin appears in the Niwan Palace, turning the spirit pearl and setting the Crimson Palace in order. Original Yang Qi commands the Gate of Destiny, and three deities arrive with the Purple Youth. They seize and subdue evil Qi, summon the spirits to ascend, arrange themselves on either side of the palace towers, and stand before the bright windows.

Dense clouds part opposite the Morning Star, and a circle of radiance lights the three heavens. The Qi of heaven and earth fills the space, draws in life, and restores the aged to infancy. Radiance swift as the wind shines across the nine heavens, while a green immortal carriage circles the Cinnabar Chamber. Clouds rustle as they wind beyond the celestial realm; within the curved Crimson Palace, splendid halls lie at rest. The spirit wanders through the underworld, observing myriad transformations, and at last joins with the King of Divine Empyrean.

The immortal path makes people cherish life; the ghostly path leads them toward misfortune. We have heard of valuing life and cultivating the Great Dao, but never that the ghostly path can flourish. The immortal songs of the Jade Pool mingle with the primal Qi of heaven: this is a text about cherishing life and returning to the righteous way.

The destiny of Divine Wisdom winds beyond the clouds of heaven; within the curved Crimson Palace, splendid halls lie at rest. The spirit wanders through the underworld, observing myriad transformations, and at last joins with the King of Divine Empyrean. The immortal path makes people cherish life; the ghostly path leads them toward misfortune. We have heard of valuing life and cultivating the Great Dao, but never that the ghostly path can flourish. The immortal songs of the Jade Pool mingle with the primal Qi of heaven: this is a text about cherishing life and returning to the righteous way.

The destiny of Divine Wisdom commands the vermilion troops; talismans of the Five Emperors guard the frigid regions. Holding a banner, one summons and gathers the myriad demons, while jade writings inspect Beifeng, the land of the underworld. The practitioner’s body and spirit are released and naturally join with the Dao; demons and evil influences are destroyed without relying on personal strength. Riding the flowing radiance, one waves the great fan, and all beings endowed with spirit rejoice to have reached the peak of the Empyrean. Looking down and gazing afar, one sees the scenes of the four directions rushing past; yet the span of the celestial tribulation seems to have no end.

From the wondrous comes forth true radiance. The immortal carriage turns back, seeming to move very slowly. With mind and intention aligned, one holds in contemplation the responses of the underworld and carries aloft its wondrous, exalted numinous beings. Spreading the wings in flight, one awaits a wondrous meeting; who can compare with such insight into the hidden and subtle? In a shout or a call, one crosses the nine regions of heaven in an instant. Gathering the original Qi, one returns it to the primordial state of union, joins with the radiance, and comes to rest in the deep, mysterious realm.

“Sansu” refers to the Lord of the Three Su; “Wuyou Shou” is a name of Taiyi; “Lü Changling” is the courtesy name of the Jade Emperor; “Gongzi” refers to Lord Wuying; “Lord Dongyang” is a name of the Right Baiyuan spirit; “Li Mingchu” is a name of the Elder in Charge of Destiny in the center; “Hai Dao Kang” is a name of Ming Taokang; “Lord Hejing” is a name of the Eight Perfected Ones in the gallbladder; “Nine Emperors, Exalted Sovereign of Changshang” is a name of the Nine Perfected Ones in the Mud Pellet; “Minglun” is a name of the Four Perfected Ones in the liver; “Huangning” is a name of the spirit of the essence.

The names “Li Mingchu,” “Hai Dao Kang,” “Lord Hejing,” and “Nine Emperors, Exalted Sovereign of Changshang” refer respectively to the Elder in Charge of Destiny in the center, Ming Taokang, the Eight Perfected Ones in the gallbladder, and the Nine Perfected Ones in the Mud Pellet. “Minglun” is a name of the Four Perfected Ones in the liver; “Huangning” is a name of the Three Perfected Ones of essence and blood; “Yuzhu” is a name of the Two Perfected Ones in the stomach passage; “Xuanyang” is a name of the Seven Perfected Ones in the left kidney; “Tianjing” is a name of the One Perfected One in the heart; “Elemental One” is a name of Lord Wuying; “Master Yangguang” is a name of the spirit of the spleen; “Lord Dongyuan” is a name of the Lord of the Mud Pellet; “Yunzhu” is a name of the Lord Danyuan in the heart; “Yuanyang Chang” is a name of the Lord Yuanwang of the lower origin in the Gate of Destiny.

“Zitong” is a name of the Young Attendant of Taiwei; “Juzhi” is a name of the Nine-Origin True Man; “Shanggui” is a name of the Imperial One Soul Maiden; “Yiwei” is a name of the Left Original Lord of Purple Su; “Qiming” is a name of the Right Original Lord of White Su; “Yuanhua” is a name of the moon spirit; “Fangying” is a name of the Lord Tao in the moon; “Jiesheng” is a name of the Director of Destiny in the sun; “spiritual awareness” refers to the heart spirit; “the Five Emperors” refers to the kidney spirits.

Great Cavern Taiwei Jade Talisman

Brief Invocation for Wearing the Talisman

The Young Attendant Lord of Taiwei, the child deity of Taiwei, is named Gan Jingjing and has the courtesy name Huiyuanzi. He is also called Sanjinjiao and Duidizhen. He always guards beneath the root of the tongue, the place in charge of blood and bodily fluids.

Here, “Taiwei” refers to the level at which a practitioner first begins cultivation; “young attendant” means a child. “Duidizhen” means standing face to face with the True Emperor, and can also suggest cultivating together and serving as fellow practitioners.

The True King of Jade Clarity is also called Sanjinjiao and Duidizhen. He always guards beneath the root of the tongue, where blood and bodily fluids gather.

“Taiwei” refers to the practitioner’s body when they first practiced on earth. “Young lad” simply means a young boy. “Facing the True Emperor” means sitting opposite the True Emperor; it can also refer to fellow practitioners or a teacher from whom one learns.

The Incantation of the Jade Clarity True King:

The Heavenly Treasure is born, concealed deep within. The bright beams and pillars bear the mysterious Qi of Highest Clarity. May it seal the lower gate for me, so that I may be born in peace beyond life’s perilous passage. May it increase my Original Qi, allowing the numinous spirit, the Feathered Lad Lord in my nose, to appear and take its place in the green inner chamber. May the bonds of my ancestors seven generations past be released, and may they depart from their original roots on the wind, gaining a foundation for ascent worthy of Heaven and access to the deep, mysterious realms of the eight directions.

“Taiyin is born” refers to the human heart. “Bright beams” refers to the breath through the nose. “The Feathered Lad who augments the Original” is the numinous spirit in the nose. “Green chamber” refers to the philtrum.

Another incantation:

Original Qi is born from its source, appearing as it receives numinous Qi through five pathways. The two spirits, Female One and Male One, dwell within it and transform into the myriad things, making the deep world flourish in solemn abundance. Jade tones resound through the realm of Great Harmony, and myriad sounds emerge from Original Qi. The immortal court circles through nine transformations; the hundred mixed Qi…

“Hundred Mixtures” refers to the philtrum.

Another incantation:

Original Qi is born from its source, appearing as it receives numinous Qi through five pathways. The two spirits, Female One and Male One, dwell within it and transform into the myriad things, making the deep world flourish in solemn abundance. Jade tones resound through the realm of Great Harmony, and myriad sounds emerge from Original Qi. The immortal court circles through nine transformations, and the hundred mixed Qi return together to the One. Within what is, the Changes conceal nothingness; all enter together into the chamber of the Emperor’s Assembly.

“Female and Male” refers to the Lords Female One and Male One in the Great Cavern. “What is” is the name of the northwest gate of the Nine Heavens. “Emperor’s Assembly” is the name of a hall or chamber.

Visualization Diagram

The Jade Scripture of the Great Cavern, Upper Volume

The First Scripture on the Way of the Most High, Lord of the Empty Emperor

The Way of the Most High Cavern Mystery gives rise to the Nine Heavens from its source. The ancestors of Original Qi come from Great Nonbeing; the mysterious wind and Qi continue the hidden mystery. Mysterious Qi once dispersed and broke off, and so the four quarters of the clear, empty realm became settled and still. The Emperor One ascended to the realm of luminous scenes, joining the spirits and gathering clouds and mist. Long in accord with the movement of the Great Way, it allows those of seven generations to live at ease. Entrust yourself to the spirits, receive life, and return to radiance and nature. Dissolve the distant depths and flow into emptiness; the Six Luminaries drift and turn. Transcending the Brahma realm, they connect with radiance; the realm of Western Florescence appears in tranquility. In the registers of the Immortals and the Emperor Lords, all beings can find the source of liberation. The path of the Fetal Field is deep and hidden; in the world, jade orchids spring forth. Numinous light shines in the eight directions, and the myriad spirits mingle and arise. [San Lanluo, Bodai Tai.]

The Qi (vital energy) of the Most High Jade Emperor—the primordial Qi of the highest celestial realm—manifests within the human body as the Qi of the Bright Ridge, corresponding below to the human nose. When a person is conceived and takes shape, the nose is the first part to form, so it is called the “Ancestor of the Nose.” “Ancestral Lineage” is another name for “Ancestral Qi.” Because Ancestral Qi gives rise to ceaseless transformation and is endlessly mysterious, it is also described by the name “Mysterious Descendant,” expressing its transmission and change. The human body is the form left behind when the intimate Qi of the ancestors disperses and transforms; it contains the potential for spontaneous resonance with nature. When Qi gathers, it forms a body; when it disperses, it transforms again, bringing great liberation.

“Emperor One, Supreme Radiance” refers to the method of the true One without a second—in other words, the wondrous Dao of the highest order. “Linking the multitudes and gathering the mist” means connecting the many Qi and drawing together the numinous vapors. The lungs are the canopy over the five viscera, so the Ancestral Qi of the Bright Ridge is connected to the nose. “Six Luminaries” refers to the Six Luminaries of the Southern Dipper. Their Qi appears in the bright, fiery region of the south, symbolizing that the body’s form is about to change. “Lingfan” is a title of the Jade Emperor Lord; “Zhang’an” is the name of Zhang’an Xing, the White Emperor and spirit of the lungs, whose courtesy name is Xihua. “Embryonic Field” refers to forming an immortal embryo in the Dantian (energy center); “Eight Luminaries” refers to the Eight Radiances.

Great Cavern Tayi Jade Talisman

When using this talisman, softly recite the incantation:

The venerable spirit Tayi is named Wuyoushou, with the courtesy name Guihuichang. He is also called Jiemeng and Jipin. He always resides beneath my Jade Pillow and behind the rear gate of the Muddy Pellet.

The occipital bone at the back of the head, about three inches inward from the point between the eyebrows, is the Dantian, also known as the Muddy Pellet Palace. The “rear gate” of the Muddy Pellet lies beneath the Jade Pillow and is where the Governing Vessel enters.

The Second Scripture of the Way of the Sovereign Jade Void Lord

The Heaven of Jade Emptiness follows the Dark Dao and returns to unity; the Celestial Dawn and Golden Firmament roam freely at ease. The radiant splendor of the sun and moon reveals the Imperial Abode. Suddenly, the wind arises, and they feast and wander in the Jade Isles. On the left, they command the Spirit of the Beginning Youth; on the right, they summon and direct Qichangfu. The Terrace of Luminous Truth shines across the Nine Heavens, and the light of the three suns illuminates the wondrous principles of the Dao. A thousand visions unite with the Three Collars; within them is the subtle, silent void. Now I have attained long life. After passing through a thousand kalpas, I begin a new cycle. The Yellow Register guards virtue; clad in brocade, I enter the Divine Mound. Taiyi governs the root of life, while the Young Lord commands the spirit banner. After ten turns, and passing beyond the first thought, one may enter the Great Faith Root. The Hall of Departure joins with it, setting the cycles of destiny in motion.

“Heaven of Jade Emptiness” here refers to the Qi of pure Yang. “Following” means that a person has received the pure, primordial Qi and is therefore born in accordance with the Dao, unlike plants that grow upside down and birds and beasts that grow crosswise. “Dark Returner” is the name of Taiyi’s essence-spirit; it also refers to the spiritual root in the Muddy Pellet, the divine abode within the head. “Celestial Dawn” is the title of the Lord of the Female One, and “Golden Firmament” is the title of the Lord of the Male One. “Roam” means to wander freely and at ease. “Radiant” refers to the splendor of the sun and moon; the “Imperial Abode” is the scene of the dwelling place of the Female One. “Suddenly Arising” is the name of the wind, and the “Jade Isles” are the scene of the dwelling place of the Male One. “Spirit of the Beginning Youth” is the title of the Primordial King of the Yellow Court; “Qichangfu” is the title of the Imperial Minister in the Muddy Pellet. “Luminous Truth” is the name of the Terrace of the Nine Heavens.

“A thousand visions united with the Three Collars” refers to the Young Lord of Great Subtlety, also called the Essence of a Thousand Visions and the Three Collars Joined Together. “Subtle, Silent Void” is the courtesy name of the Imperial Sovereign, Lord Taiyi. “Virtue’s Height” is the name of the Terrace of the Nine Heavens, and the “Divine Mound” is the sacred grotto of the Imperial One. “Young Lord” refers to the Young Lord Wuying.

The Great Cavern Emperor’s Jade Talisman

When reciting and ingesting the Jade Talisman, pray softly:

The Lord of the Jade Emperor Above is named Feng Lingfan and styled Lü Changling. He is also called Bi Ling and Divine Elder. He constantly guards the space between my eyebrows, beyond the Purple Gate.

The place one inch inward from between the eyebrows is called the “Bright Hall.” One inch to the left of it is called the “Azure Chamber,” and one inch to the right, the “Purple Gate.” These names refer to spirit chambers and sites of cultivation within the head.

The Third Scripture of the Dao of the Jade Emperor, the Supreme Sovereign

The Celestial Emperor has a “Mysterious Banner of the Supreme,” also called the “Banner of Reversed Splendor.” With it, he issues commands and mobilizes the spirits of the Nine Heavens. The seven powers of awakening ride the wondrous Great Dao; divine winds circle and bring joy. The northern immortal garden of “Halted Splendor” shines brightly, while from the eastern Heaven of Azure Splendor comes the immortal music of purple blossoms. Clear, harmonious Qi spreads beyond the Nine Heavens, and the numinous light of jade talismans faintly illuminates the Celestial Enclosure of Taiwei. The divine Qi of the Three Su Lao Jun arises from the Mudball Palace, a site of cultivation within the head, and radiates a light like that of the Golden Elixir. Lao Jun Lao Zhang Shang guards above, protecting the vital portal that governs life and death. By practicing the Ten Virtues, wondrous Qi arises within the body, freeing one from death and bringing peace and joy. The radiance of pearls flourishes and spreads throughout the numinous realm of Guangdu.

The commentary explains: The “Mysterious Banner of the Supreme” is the Jade Emperor’s command for summoning perfected beings and directing the spirits. “Halted Splendor” is another name for the northern immortal garden where spring lingers; “Eastern Edge” refers to the Azure Splendor Heaven at the farthest point in the east. The “Nine Heavens” comprise the Heavens of Divine Empyrean, Jade Empyrean, Purple Empyrean, Azure Empyrean, Green Empyrean, Crimson Empyrean, Radiant Empyrean, Great Empyrean, and Jade Empyrean. “Three Su” refers to the Three Su Lao Jun; “Golden Numinous Radiance” means the divine light of the Golden Elixir; “Lao Zhang Shang” is the name of one of the Three Su Lao Jun; and the “vital portal of death” refers to the death gate, a bodily aperture associated with death. “Seven Awakenings” alludes to the number of Fire.

The Talisman of the Great Cavern’s Master of Wuying

The incantation recited before using the talisman:

The Lord Wuying on the left is named Xuan Wushu, styled Hefuzi, and also known as Lord Yuan Su and the Divine Lord. He constantly guards the portal beneath my left armpit, behind the liver.

His position is on the back: three inches to the left of the spine, opposite the left breast, beneath the bone of the left arm.

The Fourth Scripture of the Dao of the Purple Palace Lord, the Supreme Sovereign

Original primordial Qi (vital energy) separates the nine layers of the dark realm; the scenes of the grotto heavens are enfolded in wondrous transformations. The Jade Emperor, a revered Daoist deity, rides the cloud vapors of the Heaven of Vermilion Mound, while green rosy light shines upon the Golden Rampart Lodge, a palace among the nine heavens. An upper pavilion stands in the Cloud-Pearl Court, another of the nine heavens, reaching upward toward peaks whose heights cannot be measured. The numinous pass lies beneath a vast and shadowy realm. Seen from above, the sights of the human world are like dew, flashes of lightning, and bubbles: illusory and insubstantial.

Dark Radiance, a title of the Seven Perfected Ones of the left kidney, joins with Hunli Zi, the deity of red Qi in the blood. Xuanshang Shu, a title of the Young Lord Wu Ying, corresponds with the Fire King. Weiji, the inner name of the Heart Lord, dwells in the heights with Gao Tongsheng, a title of the Lord Father of the Upper Mystery. Wuji, the deity of yellow Qi within the womb, keeps company with the Child of Preserved Grain, a title of the essence and soul of the Central Origin Lord. The path of cultivation opens without obstruction, and the nine tiers of terraces and pavilions align one above another. To the south, the root burdens of the seven generations of ancestors are cast away; to the west, disasters and ill fortune passed down through the generations are dispelled. The practitioner crosses beyond countless fords and waves, while the mind-spirit arises and gathers in the ten directions. The deity of the Flowing-Gold Fire Bell brings fire back to its proper place and turns around the cart of the fetal immortal. The three unite as one and ride the celestial dragon. The closing phrase, “No longer nourished, far-off, dispersing signs and bringing forth life,” means release from the bonds of ordinary birth, transcending and departing into the distance, dissolving old signs and bringing forth anew.

Here, terms such as “spirit” and “lord” are mostly names for the deities said in the scripture to dwell within the body, pointing to a system of inner cultivation. “Nine heavens” and “nine tiers of terraces” describe successive levels of ascent through the celestial realms. Through these images, the scripture expresses the practitioner’s process of harmonizing the deities within the body, dispelling the burdens of ancestral and personal misfortune, and transcending the worldly bonds of birth and death.

Great Grotto White Origin Jade Talisman

When reciting and ingesting the talisman, softly chant the spell:

The White Prime Venerable Spirit, who resides in the lungs, is named Dongyang Guan Wei Lingbiao. His courtesy name is Xuanyi Jue, and he is also called Vermilion Essence and Qicheng. He resides permanently beneath my right armpit, at the rear entrance to the lungs.

His position is in the back: three inches to the right of the spine, opposite the breast in front, beneath the shoulder blade of the right arm.

The Fifth Scripture of the Great Subtlety Heavenly Emperor

The Great Subtlety Heavenly Emperor, a revered spirit of the celestial realm, rides a wind called “Eight Floats” into his palace amid the clouds. The Divine Ancestor, a title of the Central Celestial Lord who governs fate, presides over the wondrous spiritual heart. Dragon Mountain, the central terrace in the Heaven of Jade Clarity, is lovely, and there stands the Jade Capital. Rosy light fills the Golden Chamber; the Nine Gates, entrances to the palaces of the Nine Heavens, shine brightly and illuminate the lofty chambers of precious jade.

The Yellow Court, the divine chamber within the human body, opens onto the Northern Origin, a hidden gate deep within the Yellow Court. The Primordial Father, the Father Lord of the Highest Mystery, turns left and manifests in radiance.

Vermilion Essence, the White Prime Venerable Spirit, and Qiming, the White Plain Right Prime Lord, serve as masters and ascend to the Upper Clarity realm where Youliao, a courtesy name of the Lord of Supreme Unity, resides. The Four Mysteries, the Four Images and Four Sages, also referring to the spirits of the body’s four limbs, uphold the prohibitions of the Primordial Beginning and guard the City of the Five Emperors—the five internal organs—for all time. They pass beyond obstructions and cross the beginning of the netherworld.

The commentary explains: “Eight Floats” is the name of a wind; “Divine Ancestor” is a title of the Central Celestial Lord who governs fate; “Dragon Mountain” is the name of the central terrace in the Heaven of Jade Clarity; “Bright Rosy Clouds” is the name of a palace in the Nine Heavens; and “Lofty Jade” is the name of a chamber in the Nine Heavens. The gates of the nine apertures shine brightly in the chamber of Lofty Jade. “Northern Origin” is a hidden gate deep within the Yellow Court; “Left-turning Radiance” is a courtesy name of the Father Lord of the Highest Mystery; “Vermilion Essence” is a title of the White Prime Venerable Spirit; “Qiming” is a title of the White Plain Right Prime Lord; “Youliao” is a courtesy name of the Lord of Supreme Unity; “Four Mysteries” refers to the Four Images and Four Sages, and also to the spirits of the body’s four limbs; and “City of the Five Emperors” refers to the five internal organs.

The Great Cavern Talisman of the Celestial Lord Who Governs Fate

When taking the Fulu, softly recite the incantation:

The Elder Lord of the Center who governs fate is named Liming Chu. His courtesy name is Xuandu Qing, and he is also called Divine Ancestor and Numinous Splendor. He resides permanently within the chamber of my heart in the Crimson Palace, the Daoist internal alchemy term for the region of the heart, as well as at the gates of the four apertures.

The human heart has seven apertures. The spirit within them is called “Pi.” The seven apertures are named Fayuan, Zhuxiao, Danhuang, Yunzhu, Shenhui, Dongyuan, and Dongming.

The Scripture of the Three Origins Purple Essence Lord, Chapter Six

Within the Purple Essence Great Origin, the Three Origins’ Upper Radiance gathers to form a thoroughfare. Bright and beautiful precious light appears within the Great Turmoil, subtly fanning the radiance of the Imperial Seat. The Elder Scribe opens the Three Simples, and the Imperial Spirit ascends to Jade Emptiness. Auspicious Qi gives rise to clouds of five colors, and the Divine Luminary of Fate begins its life there. The immortals of the Wondrous Practice of Ten Radiances ride the Feathered Light Car that subdues demons and evil forces. Qianbaoting, Xiany youyi.

Here, “Upper Radiance” refers to the Solar Officer; “Bright and Beautiful” is the name of the Nine-Heavens Terrace; “Imperial Display” refers to the Imperial Seat; and “Elder Scribe Yuan” is the name of the Primordial King of the Yellow Court. “Three Simples” refers to the Venerable Lords of the Three Simples, while “Imperial Spirit” is another name for the Imperial One. “First Divine Luminary” is the name of the Central Lord of Fate. “Ten Radiances” refers to the heavens of the Ten Extremities, and “Feathered Light” is the name of the carriage. Another note in the original says that the “Three Simples” are the Immortal of Wondrous Practice, referring to the immortal who rides the Feathered Light Car to subdue demons.

The Great Cavern Peach K’ang Jade Talisman

When using the Fulu (talismans and registers), pray softly: “Lord Peach K’ang of the Gate of Life, named Child of the Way and K’ang, styled Joined Essence and Long Endurance.”

Lord Peach K’ang of the Gate of Life is also called the Gate of Life or Root of the Womb. He constantly guards the aperture at my navel, that is, the place outside the Gate of Life.

The Gate of Life lies three inches below the navel and is roughly one inch across, both square and round in shape. Men store Jing (essence) here, while women carry the fetus here; this is also the Lower Dantian (energy center). In Daoist Neidan (internal alchemy), the Lower Dantian is an important part of the body for refining Jing and nourishing Qi.

The Scripture of the True Yang Primordial Elder, Lord Mysterious One, Chapter Seven

Once the immortal official Emperor Bin Lao, who resides in the “True Yang” Lodge in the Upper Clarity Heaven, has taken up his duties, he goes to meet the Jade Emperor. After purification with water that dispels demons and removes defilement—a ritual water symbolizing the cleansing of corpse pollution and other impurities—all the gods of the various offices arrive at the Crimson Palace, which here means the heart. True Qi (vital energy) dwells within the Elixir Mystery: the “Serene Residence” is the radiant Hall of Light formed by the True Qi within the body, while the Elixir Mystery is the Mudball Palace, the upper Dantian in the head. The five kinds of Qi condense and fill the ten directions.

When a thought stirs, the seven apertures open in response, and the god who governs one’s life arrives; summon the immortal elder three times. The Lord of Mount Tai, who governs ghosts, must swiftly check and record the registers among the Three Officials of Heaven, Earth, and Water. Once the foundations of the ten virtues have been laid, all may ascend together, filling the realm of the seven awakenings. The Mysterious One holds the Jade Emperor … Water that dispels demons and removes defilement; the gods of the various offices go to the Crimson Palace. True Qi dwells within the Elixir Mystery; the five Qi condense in the ten directions. The god who governs one’s life arrives; summon the immortal elder three times. The Lord of Mount Tai, who governs ghosts, swiftly checks the registers among the Three Officials. When the ten virtues are first established, all ascend together, and the seven awakenings are filled. The Mysterious One holds sand and proclaims the blessing of the gods.

Jade Talisman of the Great Cavern’s Heavenly Gate

Brief Invocation for Wearing the Talisman:

The Heavenly Emperor Lord within the Mudball Palace, the upper Dantian in the head, is named Red Child, Mysterious Congealing Heaven; his courtesy name is Three-Origin Radiance. He is also called Elder Without Supreme and Elder Historian Yuan. He has guarded the ninefold gate of the Mudball Palace for ages.

Within the upper Dantian are nine chambers, four feminine and five masculine, each about one inch square. They are rounded within and hollow at the center, their color a bright, lustrous red; this is where the spirits dwell. At the rear are two channels that run down to the end of the spine.

The Eighth Scripture of the Way of the Three Primordial Lords of Supreme Origin

The qi of the Three Flowers of Supreme Origin illuminates the Hall of Vast Numinous Presence at dawn. The Jade Guest presents the mysterious registers of talismans, guarding nature and life and keeping the childlike Way of purity peaceful and healthy. Whirling winds scatter the myriad demons, while the golden talisman summons the gods of Vast Township. The gods guard within the Earth Gate and protect this lord of long life. Enter the gate of the ten immortals, and the eight visions gather together in Cavern Yang. Bright Pillar, unite and maintain the visualization.

The “Three Blossoms” are three numinous flowers gathered at the crown of the head. The “divine lamp” is the light of spiritual awareness. “Jade Guesthouse” is the name of the residence where the Lords of the Three Origins dwell. “Child Dao Kang” is the name of Lord Tao Kang in the Gate of Life. “Summoning the Vast Land” means inviting the deities to descend into the boundless wilderness. The “Earth Gate” is the portal through which Yin demons come and go. “Protection and Guarding” refers to such practices as sealing the body, repaying debts, and bearing dust while ascending through the air. “Cavernous Yang” is the name of the exalted deity Bai Yuan.

Great Cavern Elixir Emperor Jade Talisman

When using the talisman, silently recite the invocation:

In the Crimson Palace, the divine residence within the heart, dwells the Lord of Cinnabar Origin. His name is Emperor Spirit Who Turns the Pearl; his courtesy name is Son of Southern Cinnabar. He is also called Supreme Earl of Life and Historian Yunju. He constantly guards the center of my crown, just below the junction of the great vertebra and the head.

The human spine has twenty-four vertebrae. The one referred to here is the first, at the very top.

Scripture of the Three Lords of the Three Purities of Purple Essence, Shangqing, no. 9

Purple Essence, the numinous tree of the celestial realm, grows in the Forest of Splendor, shining for ages beyond the Great Nonbeing. Precious clouds arise in the Jade Chamber, which lies within the ninefold womb. The Imperial Guest bears the Five Talismans, while the retinue of the Lords of the Three Origins circles the purple canopy. Cangyu Bin is born, guarding the gathering in this deep, dark night. The Five Spirits enable talismans and registers to circulate, and the Nine Rulerships join with the Nine Origins. The Three Mysteries appear from Great Clarity, and Purple Yang opens the myriad mysteries. Mysterious Essence gives birth to the Nine Spirits; the Primordial Father crystallizes the embryo immortal. Le Bo gives the command, and the worthy Feiming responds.

Purple Essence is a tree of the celestial realm. Its leaves resemble bamboo leaves and are red; its flowers shine like bright mirrors, and its fruit likewise possesses corresponding numinous qualities.

“Purple Essence” is a tree in the heavenly realm. Its leaves resemble bamboo leaves and are red; its flowers shine like mirrors; its fruit resembles a plum but has no pit. Eating its leaves wards off hunger, eating its flowers grants immortality, and eating its fruit enables one to ascend and become an immortal. This grove is called the “Forest of Nurturing Splendor.” “Nine Gates” refers to the nine tiers of heavenly gates, where the Venerable Embryo of the One Emperor resides. “Imperial Guest” is the name of the Left Immortal, Zhong Chengzi. “Three Origins” refers to the Upper Origin, Niwan; the Middle Origin, the Crimson Palace; and the Lower Origin, the Gate of Life. “Purple Canopy” is the name of the Yellow Court Gate. “Cang Yubin Laisheng” is the name of the Lord of Black Qi in the section: his given name is Bin Laisheng and his courtesy name is Cang Yu. “Long Night” is the name of the place where Black Qi gathers in the section. “Five Spirits” refers to the Five Old Lords. “Three Profound Ones” refers to the Dao’s three true spirits. “Purple Yang” is an official title. “Profound Essence” is the name of the Eight Perfected Ones in the gallbladder. “Nine Spirits” refers to the nine souls of Heaven.

Great Cavern Yellow Court Jade Talisman

When taking the talisman, silently recite the invocation:

Below the Gate of Life (the part of the human body between the waist and abdomen associated with the root of life) is the Primordial King of the Yellow Court, named Beginning Bright Essence, courtesy name Primordial Yang Flourishing. He is also called Beginning Child Spirit, Hidden Brightness Beginning, and Infant Talisman.

When taking the talisman, silently recite the invocation:

Below the Gate of Life is the Primordial King of the Yellow Court, named Beginning Bright Essence, courtesy name Primordial Yang Flourishing. He is also called Beginning Child Spirit, Hidden Brightness Beginning, Embryonic Child, and Shi Boyuan. He constantly guards the space between my two “wan,” beneath the lower gate of the axle.

Here, “axle” is a metaphor for the part that supports the body. It refers to the twenty-fourth vertebra below the spine, that is, the coccyx, which connects with the leg and arm bones. It is located at the center of the waist and hips.

Jing of the Azure Spirit, Peaceful Yang Primordial Lady, Part Ten

The Azure Spirit fans the Eight Qi (the eight kinds of primordial energy) and sets the Three Flower Cities turning. She parts the knot of the womb, bringing blessings and life to the seven ancestors (seven generations of forebears). The karmic debts of former lives are dispelled; one escapes the Five Paths (five kinds of suffering) and guards the camp of the One Emperor for long ages. One looks up to pay respects at the realm of flourishing prosperity, following the myriad currents of mist.

“Part” means to shed one’s physical form. The “Five Paths” are the five kinds of suffering. The phrase in the Chapter on Generating Spirit, “the five afflictions are removed as their causes are understood,” refers precisely to the dispelling of these five kinds of suffering.

Great Cavern Nine Perfected Jade Talisman

When taking the talisman, silently recite the invocation:

The Nine Perfected Ones in the Niwan (the divine abode at the center of the head) are named the Supreme Sovereign of the Imperial Perfected Ones, courtesy name Spirit of the Emperor’s Predecessor, and are also called Primordial Ancestor. They constantly guard the area around my mouth.

Visualize beginning at the crown of the head. The spirit in the mouth is named Qingjing He.

The Dao Jing of the Sovereign Purity Cavern of Truth and the Great Dao, Chapter Eleven

The Lordling Wuying holds five true talismans, while the spirit Taiyi resides in the Purple Chamber. The Primordial Lady of Sovereign Purity and the Perfected One of the Cavern of Truth dwell beneath the Earth Gate and unite with Taiyi to form a triad. They rescue and elevate the living, enabling people to ascend to the palace of the Jade Emperor. The Maiden Yumozi guards the window of the seven Qi. The Ninefold Primordial True Men restrain and harmonize the abundant blood, filling the Five Viscera. The Ten Perfected Ones ascend to the Yellow Chamber, and the Imperial Son transforms into a Golden Immortal. A white jade flying talisman arrives to welcome and guide the adept upward to the Dragon Terrace in the Heavenly Palace. Return to simplicity and fill the inner self; pray for good fortune and purity.

The Lordling Wuying is a spirit within the body. The five talismans are five true talismans. The “triad” refers to the two exalted immortals—the Primordial Lady of Sovereign Purity and the Perfected One of the Cavern of Truth—together with Taiyi. The two Perfected Ones are respectively called the Female One and the Male One. They unite and transform with Taiyi in the boundless realm, hence the term “triad.” The Earth Gate is the Kun Palace. Yumozi is the inner name of the Soul Maiden of the Sovereign One. There are two interpretations of the seven Qi: one takes them to mean the seven emotions, the other the seven apertures. The old commentaries do not determine which is correct. “Restraint and regulation” is the name of the Ninefold Primordial True Man. The Ten Perfected Ones are the ten perfected beings who, upon completing their cultivation, ascend to the Yellow Chamber of the Most High. The Dragon Terrace is the name of a Heavenly Palace.

The Eight True Jade Talismans of the Great Cavern

When taking the jade talisman, pray softly:

The eight true spirits in the gallbladder are named Lord Heging, styled Beitai, and also called Xuanjing. May you always guard the repository of the joints in my back.

One of them is named Weiming. The uppermost first vertebra is guarded by Lord Danhuang, and the lowermost first vertebra by King Huangting. The seven upper sections are guarded by the Seven True Ones of Xuan-Yang, the seven middle sections by the Seven True Ones of Xuan-Yin, and the seven lower sections by the eight spirits in the gallbladder.

The Dao Jing of the Most High Lord of Great Simplicity, Chapter Twelve

The exalted gods held a banquet in the Purple Firmament Palace, where the Five Old Gods assisted the Jade Root (a mountain in the heavens, though some say it refers to the human nose). Great Simplicity (the original Qi of pure stillness) stirred the faint sunlight, and joined with Emperor One (the Daoist deity revered as the primordial, utterly true One) before them. The White Emperor (the ruler of the West) commanded the official Wei Jiang to set the Qi of Metal in motion, opening the way to the land of Great Rosy Clouds. May divine power deliver me from beneath the gate of death and rescue me from the perils of the Three Paths (the realms of hell, hungry ghosts, and animals). From this arise the Ten Penetrations (ten states of spiritual attainment), and wondrous practice is thereby brought to completion. Amid the radiance of penetrating clarity, Emperor One reveals a mysterious and profound true nature. Harmonious Qi gathers and disperses, then coalesces and unfolds, continuing without end.

The Jade Root is a mountain in the heavens, though some believe it refers to the human nose. “Faint radiance” means the sun. “The White Emperor and vast Wei Jiang” means that the White Emperor sets the Qi of the sun’s vast radiance in motion through the official Wei Jiang. The Ten Penetrations refer to the completion of ten true achievements, after which the wondrous realm becomes clear and fully accessible. The numbers from one to ten are the numbers of Heaven and Earth. This Dao reaches beyond Heaven and Earth; it is bound neither by Yin-Yang nor by the workings of karmic reward and punishment. It transcends the fixed measures of Heaven and Earth, and is therefore called the “Ten Penetrations.”

The Seven Left True Ones’ Jade Talisman of the Great Cavern

When using the talisman, recite this invocation in a low voice:

Between my left kidney and right kidney are the Seven True Ones. They are named Lord Dark Yang, styled Dim Light, and are also called Primordial Life, Dark Mystery, and the Five Emperors. They constantly guard the end of my spine, beneath the Earth Gate (the portal in the lower part of the body).

The Scripture of the Dao of the August Sovereign’s Four Elders and the Central Lord, Chapter Thirteen.

The highest heavenly realm transcends the formless. The Dharma Wheel turns along the Dao, and from it the Nine Luminaries—the sun, moon, and stars in Daoist teaching—come into being. Whirling wind and Qi enter the heart and spirit of the Sovereign Lord. The Qi of the eight directions, the breath that forms all things between Heaven and Earth, flows and keeps everything in lasting peace. Vast Rosy Clouds, another name for Jade-Clear Mountain, join with the divine heavens, while the Five Emperors disperse the sun’s essence. Jing fills the mysterious and remote depths; blood and Qi gather, bringing harmony to the five viscera, the body’s five internal organs. Within the body, a round radiance like a precious pearl appears; its flowing light illuminates the living form. This state is called “Abundant Ease of Longevity,” and is also known as “Clear, Deep Stillness.”

All beings cross together beyond the Three Evil Passes, the gates of the realm of ghosts, open their registers of immortals, and ascend to the realm of Great Darkness. May I preserve my body of immortal truth, and may my ancestors through seven generations all be clothed in blue immortal robes. May calamities be dispelled along the road through the netherworld, and may I receive the blessings bestowed by the high spirits at dawn. May I transcend the mortal world and attain the rank of Upper Minister of the Jade Palace, a high-ranking celestial official, and may my ancestors of every generation be reborn as infants. Only by deeply contemplating the unobstructed realm of emptiness can one reach the state in which vitality is complete and luminous. The Pearl of Li, a legendary luminous jewel, shines through square pupils, making both the inner and outer worlds clear and bright. “Three joys deep, five gates of attainment” is a prayer spoken in the Nine Heavens, and also the inner name of the August Sovereign. Another interpretation says that the phrase means the Dharma Wheel turns along the Dao and generates upward.

The Great Cavern’s Seventh Right True One: Jade Talisman

When taking the talisman, silently recite the invocation:

Between the right kidney and the other lies one of the Seven True Ones, named Lord Mysterious Yin, styled Supreme Truth, also called Upper Birth. He always guards the lower joints of my spine; this is the inner name of the Jade August Sovereign. Another interpretation says that the Dharma Wheel turns along the Dao and generates upward.

The Seven True Ones between the right kidney and the other include Lord Mysterious Yin, styled Supreme Truth, also called Upper Birth. He always guards the lower joints of my spine and is also called the Gate of the Jade Pass.

The divine sovereign who governs the Nine Heavens of Jade Dawn is the Lord of the Great Dao, Supreme On High. He is often engaged in inner refinement, nurturing the Dao’s transformation through the Three Luminaries, symbolized by the sun, moon, and stars. This causes the Golden Elixir to turn through nine cycles and reflect its radiance back to Shangqing. He loosens his sash, and jade-colored radiance illuminates the inner chamber. Riding a plain carriage, he enters Siming, the name of the Jade Emperor’s southern gate. He carries the King Within the Sun and travels alongside the spirit of Jade Dawn. Taiyi summons the heavenly demons, and the Emperor Lord gathers the myriad spirits. He uproots accumulated deathly Qi, enabling people to transcend the world of dust and enter the court of the Immortal Sovereign. The Emperor Lord stands above the Three Passes, while divine troops fly through the winds of the eight directions. With his left hand he ladles the liquid of blessed wine; with his right, he lifts the carriage that symbolizes auspicious blessings. He sees into the hidden and subtle without obstruction; wondrously penetrating the Great Brahma, he gives rise to numinous clarity. The numinous sound passes through the forehead and resounds throughout the ten directions, so that all sounds are suddenly heard. Profound, vast, and far-reaching, he transforms beings in accordance with the prescribed commands.

“Luminary transformation” refers to the Dao’s transformation through the Three Luminaries; “nine cycles” refers to the Golden Elixir turning through nine cycles. “Mirroring Shangqing” means that the Young Lad of Great Subtlety rides the Bright-Feathered Carriage to pay court to Yuanshi, appearing as if reflected in a mirror. “Ladling with the left and lifting with the right” means drawing water from the right kidney with the left ear and drawing water from the left kidney with the right ear. “Brahma penetration and numinous clarity” means wondrously penetrating the Great Brahma and being intelligent, perceptive, and attuned to the numinous. “Passing through the forehead and hearing the ten directions” means that numinous sound passes through the forehead and spreads among the cloud-borne celestial domains.

The Six True Jade Talismans of the Great Cavern

When using this talisman, softly recite:

The six true spirits within my lungs are named the Lord of Upper Primordial Jade, with the courtesy name Youth of Liangnan. May you always guard the outside of my neck, within the twelve ridges.

The twelve ridges refer to the sides of the lung passages. On either side of the neck are six major tendons. During visualization practice, imagine a spirit guarding the tendons on each side.

The Fifteenth Scripture of the Lord of the Great Dao of Great Clarity

Great Clarity floats within the empty void; the Three Heavens reveal precious divine talismans. In the sun, five-colored radiance unfurls, and the Azure Emperor is complete and ever-present. Holding the register of names, one ascends to Great Brightness and proceeds to the Tower of Golden Splendor to receive a register. Jade roots are cultivated in the Five Viscera, causing the hun and po souls to gather and unite. Penetrating emptiness and stillness, purity and hidden mystery, primordial Qi flows through and brings forth clarity. Settled and harmonious, one reaches subtle awareness; with the mysterious breath extending without end, one naturally attains long life. One examines and tests Li, and uproots Jie’e.

“Floating, severing, and emptiness” refers to a realm that is lofty, vast, and open. “Great Clarity” is the name of a mountain; “Nose Correspondence” corresponds to the body’s Central Peak. Great Brightness is empty, clear, pure, and mysterious. Original Qi—the fundamental breath that constitutes all things—flows through it and gives rise to clear, bright energy. In stillness and harmony, it becomes wondrously luminous and awakens. The Mysterious Breath—a breathing method modeled on turtles, drawing in Qi through the ears—naturally grows long and continuous, helping to extend life. “Bright examination, pear; dispel the calamity, A” are secret words in the scripture.

“Great Brightness” is the name of the Sun Palace, “Golden Flower Tower” is the name of the Great Clarity Tower, and “Jade Root” is the name of the nose spirit. The “Mysterious Breath” means drawing in Qi like a turtle, breathing through the ears rather than the nose.

The Five True Jade Talisman of the Great Cavern

When taking the talisman, pray:

The five true spirits within the spleen are called Lord Nourishing Radiance, styled Son of the Great Granary, and also known as Son of the Feathered Terrace. Please remain constantly on guard within my throat, at the Gate of the Ultimate Root.

The talisman bears a horizontal line, the proper seal of Central Yellow. The Ultimate Root refers to the twelve “storied towers,” a Daoist term for the throat. They are arranged around it, with a gate on either side, and are closely joined to the left and right sides of the Qi Forehead, another Daoist term for a part of the head. The Qi Forehead is also called the Terrace of Three Thoughts.

Scripture of the Daoist Lord of the Great Way of Taiji, No. 16

The King of Primordial Radiance of Taiji governs the immortals of the Three Heavens. Layers of purple cloud conceal and shade one another; may the immortals arrive peacefully at the Upper Splendor Capital. May I leave the realm of the Five Sufferings and return to the Court of the Seven Origins; may the Nine Mysteries—the lineage of the ancestors—be freed from their many bonds, and may the ancestors of every generation escape the karma of wrongs.

May I wander beneath Floral Splendor and, in each upward and downward glance, welcome the Five Spirits. May I ascend into the Jade Hall, and may the five spirits return to the purity of an infant. May all beings cross together beyond the Great Desert, nourish the breath of simplicity, and turn toward perfect clarity. May the realm of Vacuous Cavern be pure and harmonious, its radiant splendor flowing through, drawing in the energy of Mysterious Darkness. May I taste and refine the flavor of the Five Buds, nurture benevolent energy, and inhale and exhale the breath of long life. Returning to perfect clarity, the spirits first appear, arrayed before me.

Yiyu Ren is the name of Ziyuan Zuoyuanjun, a Daoist goddess. Huajing is where the goddess resides. Xiuhua is the name of a mountain in heaven. Yuanming is another name for the sun. Qingjinghe is the official of Great Harmony associated with the mouth. Xuanming is the name of the kidney spirit. Beneath the tongue is the Flower Pond, which has two openings that descend to the water of the kidneys. It is therefore called the Flower Tongue, and it can connect with Jade Flower (the body’s vital essence).

“Circling Yuanming, the spirit net begins” is a blessing for the Nine Heavens and the secret name of Lord Yuanjing. Another interpretation takes the phrase to mean “radiant light shines upon us, bringing the body to rest.” A related account appears in the Maoshan Scripture of the Great Cavern: heavenly sounds are called “inner sounds,” and earthly sounds are called “outer sounds.”

The Jade Talisman of the Four Perfected of the Great Cavern

Blessing:

The Four Perfected within the liver are named Lord Qingming, with the courtesy name Youth of the Bright Wheel. He keeps watch at the gate of my stomach passage, beneath the fatty membrane.

Of the five organs, only the heart and lungs lie above the diaphragm. The visualization of spirits described here means envisioning the deities outside the entrance to the stomach. The gate of the stomach passage is the throat, through which food passes; the fatty membrane refers to the membrane between the regions of the heart and diaphragm.

Scripture of the Dao of the Lord of the Numina of Purple Origin in the Primordial Beginning, Chapter Seventeen

Within the Purple Origin of the Primordial Beginning, radiance shines forth in profusion, illuminating the clear, bright heavens. The Three Heavens reveal nine layers of light; through separation and reunion, their transformations bring forth and nurture countless lives. The perfected immortals wear red headscarves and green cloud robes as they journey upward through Cold Child Spirit Mountain. They remove the poisons of the Five Sufferings, allowing the body to transcend the realm of Primordial Blue. White Essence rises from Xiao Ren, while vermilion guards stand at the Golden Gate. The accumulated corpse Qi of the Seven Ancestors is untied, then dispersed and dispelled. Thus blessings are received, and one dwells in the Chamber of Eastern Clouds before returning to the Court of Vermilion Fire. The Dao of the Cavern Spirit is pure and mysterious; its power arises within and reaches into the light. The pure, perfected spirit grasps the Dipper of the North and treads upon the stars of the Nine Origins. Wielding the keys that govern Heaven and Earth, it presides over the roots of spirit and life. Through this, transformation and union proceed, allowing the light to shine on without end.

The Nine Radiances refer to nine suns appearing together. Cold Child Spirit is the name of a mountain in heaven. Qiming Xiao Ren is the name of Bai Su, the Right Primordial Lord. The stars of the Nine Origins are the stars of the Celestial Dipper of the Nine Spirits. “The Gate of Heaven and Earth” means that the hands are the Gate of Heaven and the feet are the Gate of Earth. “Set transformation in motion, unite with light, and carry its course onward” is a blessing for the Nine Heavens.

The Jade Talisman of the Three Perfected of the Great Cavern

Blessing:

The three true spirits within the vital energies of Jing and blood are named Lord Yuansheng, with the courtesy name Huangning Zixuan. They constantly guard the source beneath my nose, between the two nostrils.

Inside the tip of the nose is the “Gateway of Mysterious Access,” commonly called the nose tip.

Jade Talisman of the Three True Ones of the Great Cavern

Invocation:

The three true spirits within the vital energies of Jing and blood are named Lord Yuansheng, with the courtesy name Huangning Zixuan. They constantly guard the source beneath my nose, between the two nostrils.

Inside the tip of the nose is the “Gateway of Mysterious Access,” commonly called the nose tip.

The Scripture of the Supreme Elder of the Central True One, Yuan Ying, Chapter Eighteen

The dark mystery of the Supreme True One Wuying (the true spirit Wuying dwells in a realm of mystery) takes shape as primordial Qi, condensed into three colors: blue-green, yellow, and white. The Great One (a revered Daoist deity) resides within it and turns the precious pearl; Lord Nivana (the spirit who dwells in the brain) governs transformation; and Primordial Lady Baisu (a spirit’s name) opens the light. The Immortal True Ones on the left and right of the Zhengyi position are always accompanied by the Gate of Linxu. When a practitioner receives the register of the Five Talismans, they can unite with the Immortal True Ones and obtain proof of the true Dao.

The hun-soul arises from the Great Nonbeing, and the po-soul also meets the five officials of the Way in Heaven. From generation to generation, the bonds of death are undone, so that seven generations of ancestors are freed from obstruction. The divine wind stirs the womb tree, severing its roots and leaves; the Five Talismans also open the knots of the earth and dispel the many ghostly harms within the womb. The practitioner can thus endure as a sovereign among the divine and true, carrying on the immortal Way through ten thousand ages.

Having cultivated a pure body of the Three Caverns, one can join oneself to the Great Dao and possess a natural nature. The true Dao responds and manifests in form, dwelling in stillness within the Yellow Chamber (the Yellow Court, the chamber of spirits within the body). Its responsive manifestations have no fixed location, and the bones and flesh become firm as gold and jade. Quietly guard the true Dao and understand the correct Way, remaining unchanged into old age. The Maitreya chariot; great life is made manifest.

Commentary: “The luxuriance of plain Qi” refers to Qi in the three colors blue-green, yellow, and white. “Jipin” is a title of the Great One; “transformation” is an inner name of Lord Nivana; and “opening the light” is a title of Primordial Lady Baisu. The Immortal on the left is named Zhongchengzi, and the one on the right, Quwenzi. Linxu refers to the Elder Laozi of Central Mysterious Unity; that is, the Immortal True Ones always carry Jing and Qi and guard the Mysterious Pass at Linxu. “The Five Ways” are officials in Heaven. “The Five Talismans open the knots of the earth” means that the talismans dispel Yin demons and undo the knots of the earth. The Yellow Chamber is the Yellow Court.

The two True Spirits of the stomach are named Lord Firm Jade, with the courtesy name Condensed Feather Pearl. They constantly guard my Great Granary Palace—that is, the stomach—and the gateway leading to the five organs.

The stomach is like a storehouse that holds and conveys food and drink, from which nourishment is sent to the five organs. The “mouth of the five intestines” mentioned here refers to the stomach’s lower outlet, where the stomach connects to the intestines. The scripture also calls it the “head of the five accumulations,” the place where the stomach receives food.

Scripture of the Central Yellow Elder Lord, No. 19

The Central Yellow Elder Lord, numinous spirit of the round blossom and jade longevity. Great Expansive One, above the Jade Gate, borne by clouds, shining three ren high. The red radiance veils the distant void; it carries and raises the True One of Great Unity. The Imperial Maiden embraces the settled—

That is, the place where the stomach receives food.

Scripture of the Central Yellow Elder Lord, No. 19

The Central Yellow Elder Lord, numinous spirit of the round blossom and jade longevity. Great Expansive One, above the Jade Gate, borne by clouds, shining three ren high. The red radiance shimmers in the distant reaches, carrying and raising the True One of Great Unity. The Imperial Maiden embraces the settled mound and chants the scriptures of Jade Clarity. Five sets of talismans and registers are arranged in the purple palace, while jade books are inscribed in the round courtyard. The ancestors of seven generations return to the realm of fetal immortals, freed from the cycle of the Three Paths. Circulating wind and Qi dissolve obstructions in the blood vessels, bringing peace to remote descendants. The primal Qi of pure and mysterious Dongxuan makes one’s allotted life numinously whole. The roots of nature and life grow firm; filial devotion is fulfilled, and one becomes a Bright King. The root of life receives the Qi of Great Harmony; through the Dao of Wuwei, one ascends to the realm of Highest Clarity. One is born in complete radiance, in communion with the comet.

The Yellow-Plain Central Origin Lord is named Round Blossom Yellow Ren and has the courtesy name Great Expansive One Above. “Mountain at the Center of Heaven” is where he dwells; it is called Numinous Jade Longevity. “True One of Great Unity” refers to the Fetal Venerable of Great Unity. “Embraces the settled mound” is the inner name of the Soul Maiden of the Imperial One. “Mysterious Descendant” means a great-grandchild. The three True Ones of Jing, blood, and Shen are named Yellow Tranquility, Son of the Mysterious. “Filial devotion fulfilled, becoming a Bright King” means that filial conduct moves Heaven: in the sun one becomes the Bright King of Filial Devotion, in the moon the Immortal King of Filial Devotion, and among the Northern Dipper stars the King of Filial Piety and Fraternal Duty. “Root of life” refers to the foundation of nature and life.

Great Cavern One True Jade Talisman

Prayer:

The one True Spirit in the heart is named Lord Heavenly Essence Fluid, with the courtesy name Flying Life, Exalted Hero. He constantly guards the mouth of the four poles within my chest.

The center of the chest, between the two breasts, is where the root of life begins to grow.

Great Cavern One True Jade Talisman

Prayer:

The one True Spirit in the heart is named Lord Heavenly Essence Fluid, with the courtesy name Flying Life, Exalted Hero. He constantly guards the mouth of the four poles within my chest.

At the exact center of the chest, between the breasts, four inches above the xiphoid bone below the pit of the stomach, is the place where the spirit resides.

The Scripture of the Way of the Inner Landscape of the True Lord of the Green Essence, Part Twenty

The Qi of the Green Essence and Upper Splendor is the clear and luminous manifestation of the Mysterious-Scene Child of Great Subtlety (the Child Lord within Great Subtlety). The spirit transforms within the Jade Chamber, clad in feathered robes, and ascends into the purple sky. Sunlight becomes three intersecting sashes. Bearing a talismanic credential, the spirit climbs the tower of the Celestial Emperor’s city. It opens the gates, holding a golden tally; it closes them, striking the jade bell. It destroys the demons and evils of the Three Feng wilderness and summons the spirits of the Upper Clarity Palace. Its radiance appears in the depths of darkness and enters the subtle chamber of the Six Directions (the Hall of Light, where practitioners visualize the spirits gathering). It restores the young to the aged, brings color back to pallid bodies, and can even reverse aging. The pure radiance of the Cavernous Origin shines everywhere; within the Sea of Fluids, spiritual powers are complete. Swallowing the fluids gives birth to the myriad spirits. The divine water gathers in the Flower Pond, surges throughout the body, and nourishes it.

Thus it circulates back and forth without end. It connects life with the source of the Dao, keeping the root of Heaven perpetually flourishing. Planting the breath and bringing it together gives rise to Lanmeng.

In the Heaven of the Green Essence and the Chamber of Upper Splendor, there is fragrant smoke that turns back upon itself. This Qi drifts on the wind for three thousand li, yet its scent remains clear. Mysterious-Scene Child is the title of the young Child Lord. “Three Sashes Intertwined” is the name of the Child Lord of Great Subtlety. “Imperial Rampart” refers to the Golden Rampart Pavilion of the Jade Emperor. “Opening the Pass” corresponds to the human nose: it means regulating the breath through the nose to control the Qi of the lungs. “Jade Bell” means tapping the teeth to gather the spirit, as though striking a great treasure bell. “Six Directions” means the Hall of Light.

The Jade Talisman of the Nine Origins of the Great Cavern

The invocation says:

The true man of the Nine Origins is named Juzhi and styled Sanyang. He always guards the Gate of Fuchen (a bodily gate referred to in cultivation practice) beneath my left ear.

Its position is about two finger-widths below the left earlobe, shifted slightly backward.

In The Jade Scripture of the Great Cavern, upper volume, the character “spleen” in the original text is written as “shoulder blade” in old editions.

The Jade Scripture of the Great Cavern, Lower Volume

The Jade Worthy Primordial Lord of the Nine Qi of the Sun, titled Sanyang, always guards the Gate of Fuchen beneath my left ear. Its position is about two finger-widths below the left earlobe, shifted slightly backward.

In The Jade Scripture of the Great Cavern, upper volume, the character “spleen” in the original text is written as “shoulder blade” in old editions.

The scripture of the Nine Qi of the Sun, Jade Worthy Primordial Lady, says: The Sun gives rise to three currents of dawn Qi, and the Subtle Mystery Sun Spirit descends from Heaven in a purple carriage. The Primordial Lady protects the Youth Who Preserves Grain, helping him guard the stomach and seal the Earthly Gate, the portal in the lower part of the body. The golden talisman shines in the Northern Splendor Pavilion, an abode of immortals, and the jade covenant is extended to seven generations of ancestors. The True Divinity of the Heavens pours in the Qi of ascent and life, freeing me from the sufferings of the three evil paths. Within my heart, a radiant clarity and stillness appear, deeply joined to the heart of the True Divinity. Thus I gain the wisdom to discern fate and the past, and understand my own origins and nature. I can also know the future and the thoughts of others; all things flow together without obstruction. “Cavern-source” and “Cavern-clarity” refer to the numinous source and divine intelligence of the Great Cavern, the profound and wondrous realm described in Daoism. From it, the myriad methods of the Dao arise and converge. In the end, one reunites with life’s beginning and returns to harmony amid the depths.

Jade Dawn is the name of a palace; Subtle Mystery is the name of the Sun Spirit. The Youth Who Preserves Grain is the name of the Primordial Lady’s refined soul. Northern Splendor is the name of a pavilion.

Great Cavern Imperial One Jade Talisman

Invocation:

Imperial One Soul Maiden, named Upper Northern Splendor.

Great Cavern Imperial One Jade Talisman

Invocation:

The Imperial One Soul Maiden is named Upper Return, courtesy name Son of the Emperor; she is also called Dark Ink Maiden and Embracer of the Settled Mound. She often keeps watch beneath my right ear, lying in wait at the Gate of Dawn. Her position is about two finger-widths below the earlobe, slightly toward the back.

The scripture of the Ninefold Purity Golden Flower Effulgent Primordial Lady says: The Qi of the Ninefold Purity of the Great Beginning issues from the Palace of Effulgent Splendor. The Dharma Master waves an immortal banner, as five old men walk slowly by. The Lady, named Pearl Awakening, holds the register of names and returns to the Purple Chamber, an abode of immortals. Father Ning dwells amid Revolving Radiance, blending and merging with the Youth of Great Tenuity. The Cavern is clear and profound, its wisdom luminous; its capacity is vast and in accord with the mysterious realm. All roots and dust—the mind within and things without—vanish; being and nonbeing alike return to emptiness. Wondrous practice and True Unity, the Daoist way of original truth, are complete and whole. This is called the Great Mind’s spiritual powers. When the Dao is fully realized, one ascends to Jade Clarity, the exalted heavenly realm, and takes one’s place among the Sage Immortal Lords. At last one returns to the obscure, harmonious realm and reaches the City of Faith and Illumination.

Effulgent Splendor is the name of a palace.

“Radiant Splendor” is the name of a palace. “Pearl Initiation” is the name of the water spirit of the Liumie Pool. “Father Ningzai” is the name of Diyi. “Left Returning Light” is the courtesy name of the Lord Father of the Upper Mystery Origin. The phrase “the root and dust are extinguished” means possessing the Dao eye, the sage’s ear, the mysterious nose, the radiant tongue, the true body, and the imperial heart.

Great Cavern Purple Plain Jade Talisman

Invocation

The Lord Lady of the Left Origin of the Purple Plain is named Yiyu Wuren and has the courtesy name Anlai Shang. She constantly guards the realm of my head and face.

The eight upper luminous realms are the spirits of the teeth, hair, skin, eyes, crown marrow, ears, nose, and tongue.

Dao Scripture of the Lord of Fate, the Supreme True Ones of the Nine Sovereigns, No. 23

The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning transmitted this to Taixuan, and Cang Hujie (the name of a precious pearl) offered up the pearl. The sound of Tanzhijun (here referring to a wondrous music of Primordial Beginning) is profound and subtle; even its faintest notes can resound throughout the Great Void. The Primordial Qi of the Supreme True Ones of the Nine Sovereigns appeared together with the Great Immortal Kings of the Four Offices. Flying rosy clouds spread between the sun and the heavens, their radiance gathering and shining upon the chambers of the Six Directions (the rooms within the Hall of Light). The Upper Clarity faced the Jade Void and rode the radiance through the dawn. The three spirits, named Faniu (the spirit within the blood), held the register of names and presented it to the Emptiness Emperor. Yilu ascended into Purple Clarity, and a golden talisman was engraved in the Feather Palace (the dwelling place of the water spirit). Cang Hujie dwelt atop the Mysterious Summit, bestowing aid widely so that all beings could ascend to Universal Light (the Great Cavern Hall); he carried out transformation and deliverance, illuminating the chambers of the Six Directions.

The Upper Clarity faced the Jade Void and rode the radiance through the dawn. The three spirits, named Faniu, held the register of names and presented it to the Emptiness Emperor. Yilu ascended into Purple Clarity, and a golden talisman was engraved in the Feather Palace; Cang Hujie dwelt atop the Mysterious Summit, bestowing aid widely so that all beings could ascend to Universal Light and delivering those within the Mystery. By swallowing the savor, the Qi of the Five Directions arises; gathering and combining, it forms the embryo immortal (the immortal embryo produced through cultivation). The Mother of the Elixir joins with Golden True Yang (the Father of Qian); principal and attendant unite in accord with the primordial pattern (Tanzhijun), and from the Great Change it is born in the Mysterious Realm. The one who governs the Hall Court is Yuanmiao Ling.

Cang Hujie is the name of a precious pearl. Great Immortal King is the title of the Lord of Fate, who commands the Four Offices. The chambers of the Six Directions are rooms within the Hall of Light; Dawn Radiance is the name of a palace; the Feather Palace is the dwelling place of the water spirit; and Universal Light is the name of the Great Cavern Hall. Golden True Yang refers to the Father of Qian; this passage describes the Father of Qian joining with the Mother of Kun to form the embryo immortal. The primordial pattern refers to Tanzhijun. Yuanmiao Ling, who governs the Hall Court, is a deity in the invocation of the Nine Heavens.

Great Cavern Yellow Plain Jade Talisman

Invocation

The Yellow Essence Central Origin Lord is named Perfected Radiance, Yellow Edge; his courtesy name is Great Expansive Life. He constantly guards the space between my chest and abdomen.

The Scripture of the Three Origin Lords of Jade Radiance, the Heavenly Emperor’s Supreme Perfected Ones, Twenty-Four

The Qi of the Heavenly Emperor’s Supreme Perfected Ones—the primordial Qi they received—and the prayers of the Nine Heavens.

The Great Cavern’s Yellow Essence Jade Talisman

The prayer says:

The Yellow Essence Central Origin Lord is named Perfected Radiance, Yellow Edge; his courtesy name is Great Expansive Life. He constantly guards the space between my chest and abdomen.

The Scripture of the Three Origin Lords of Jade Radiance, the Heavenly Emperor’s Supreme Perfected Ones, Twenty-Four

Within the primordial Qi of the Heavenly Emperor’s Supreme Perfected Ones, the Three Origin spirits travel to and fro in a divine carriage. Fatan, the name of the spirit of the heart, rises in Vermilion Skies, the palace where the heart spirit dwells. Dichang, an honorific title among the Nine Perfected Ones within the Supreme Emperor’s Mudball Palace, opens the jade gate of the treasure pavilion. The spirit’s intention rises from within the Gate of Destiny, loosens what is knotted, and ascends the steps of Peach Peace. Gather the spirit of the heart and preserve the Five Blessings; pass through successive transformations and enter Taiwei, the palace of the heavens. Enter alone, then cultivate in harmony with Yin-Yang, following the winding great path of water and sky. The sun over the sea naturally rises in the east, and the primordial mandate is born from the Great Beginning. Protect and release what is bound, allowing gathered Qi to flow freely through the Six Courts, the body’s palaces of spirit and Qi.

Here, “Heavenly Emperor’s Supreme Perfected One” refers to the mother of the Jade Radiance Immortal Maiden, and “divine returning” is the name of a carriage. “Entering alone and cultivating in pairs” means that after Heaven One gives birth to water, it is joined with Earth Two, which gives birth to fire; this signifies the dual cultivation of nature and life. The Heavenly Route is the path leading to the northwest Gate of Heaven.

The Great Cavern’s White Essence Jade Talisman

The prayer says:

The White Essence Right Origin Lord is named Dawn Illumination, Xiao Edge; his courtesy name is Above the Golden Gate. He constantly guards the realm of my lower pass, the area from the lower abdomen to the soles of the feet.

The Lower Dantian is located three inches below the navel. It is square and round, measuring one inch across. It is where men store Jing, and where women store the fetus. The “Earthly Pass” refers to the feet.

The Scripture of the Supreme One’s Upper Origin Prohibiting Lord, Twenty-Five

The Supreme Upper Origin Lord is a divine youth who, in the sun, oversees the registers of destiny. Radiant and bright, with divine light shining forth, he rises through the clouds to the Imperial City. Men store Jing; women store the fetus. The Earthly Pass is another name for the feet.

Beside the Most High Lord of the Upper Origin, a revered Daoist deity, stands the Child Officer of Destiny at the Sun’s Center, a solar deity who governs life. Radiant with divine light and robed in rosy clouds, he ascends to the Jade Emperor’s Golden Citadel Pavilion and takes his place among the inscribed seats of Zhenling, where one may bow, sit, or recline. There he joins with the spirits of the Five-Day Chamber.

White Qi (vital energy) gives rise to life, while the Azure Lord sustains the power of Yanchang, the deity of the green Qi within the joints. In his left hand he carries Jing Shangmen, the deity of black Qi within the joints; in his right, he embraces Hehe Ying. I generate radiance like that of the sun and moon, and become a friend to the King of Red Qi, another name for the Child Officer of Destiny. The Eight Radiances within the body illuminate the Nivan Palace, the upper Dantian in the head, and bright light shines through the Cavern Chamber, the palace within the brain. The infant transforms into the red child and joins with Hunli, the deity of red Qi in the blood, bringing forth a jade-like countenance. The Five Paths, the name of a palace, reveal the Golden Radiance of Mount Jinhua, and one is thereby ranked among the Lords of Shangqing. The seven generations of ancestors are released from darkness and stagnation; the practitioner, too, rides the divine wind, roaming above the Three Pure Ones and joyfully returning to the state of an infant child.

The Three Qi of the Great Beginning, the primordial energies of the universe, circulate everywhere, and the True Writings, sacred talismans, begin to shine forth. The Vermilion Elixir flourishes; the Left Emperor’s Root [term as given in the original].

The Child Officer of Destiny is titled the King of Red Qi, and his inner name is General Liang. He is the High Deity at the Sun’s Center. The scripture also calls him Jiesheng, with the courtesy name Tongling, and gives him other titles: Shangjing, Yuanguang, Miaojing, Jiuyue, Weixuan, and Yaoluo. When reciting and ingesting the Jade Talisman of the Sun’s Center, one offers this quiet invocation: “Lord of Destiny at the Sun’s Center, always guard the Gate of Communion with the True on my left hand.” The “Gate of Communion with the True on my left hand” refers to an acupoint in the center of the left palm; “wan” means the hollow of the palm.

The Yellow Chamber, the yellow palace within the body, is inhabited by the Child Huangning. To its left is Lord Jianshu, and to its right is Emperor Changhuang. The Qi of Floating Clarity and Veiled Dawn flows within it, giving rise to an atmosphere both abundant and numinous. The Azure Liver’s Luminous Wheel Child lets light reach in all directions. Holding Fulu, Taiyi Chou Qiulan enters the Jade Palace, pardons sins accumulated over seven generations, and leads one back to the original source and into a state of great openness.

The Qi of the One Emperor gathers in a single chamber, and the Five Old Ones transform into children. The practice of Great Simplicity and Brahmic Purity begins here; a single good act brings together the Qi of the four directions. The Qi of the world changes in response, and the Three Paths also shift.

The Yellow Chamber is the dwelling of the True Lord of Dawn, the true deity in Daoism. Huangning Zixuan is the inner name of the two true deities of Jing and blood. Lord Jianshu is the inner name of the two true deities of the stomach. Supreme Emperor Chang is the inner name of the nine true deities in the Nivan Palace. “Numinous Emptiness” is another name for the Grain Spirit. The Luminous Wheel Child is the inner name of the four true deities in the liver. “Eight Perceptions” means the Eight Radiances. Chou Qiulan is the inner name of the Exalted Emperor Taiyi.

The Great Cavern’s Lunar Jade Talisman

A whispered invocation for taking the talisman

The Peach Lord in the moon is named Yingzi and styled Yunjing. The Azure Emperor Mother is titled Fragrant and Radiant Babe. The light of the sun and moon is called Bright and Clear, and is also called Perfect Brightness. May this radiance ever guard my right hand, making it a gateway through which I may enter the true realm.

The divine beings dwell within the palm of the right hand.

Jing of the Dao Lord of the Four Perfected Ones and Primordial Lords of Taiji, Part Twenty-Seven

The four perfected ones who govern Taiji ascend by flight to the Upper Clarity realm. Seven times they petition the Director of Destinies; Taiyi displays his majestic radiance. The Registrar of Destinies protects the lifespan and makes three recommendations, enabling one to ascend to the realm of Zhenling. The Demon King comes to receive commands, while immortal officials restrain ghosts and spirits.

The Azure Emperor Mother in the moon is titled Fragrant and Radiant Babe. The Five Talismans of the Great Zhang are spread above, settling securely upon the Jade Names. Within the Six Directions, all things mingle and transform; in the Grotto Chamber, fire troops stand arrayed. The Qi of the Five Spirits of Taiji surges in harmony, and the Horizontal-Patterned Emperor Child comes as a guest. Ascend to Lai Zhang and ride upon the Dharma Plan.

“Majestic Brightness” is the title of the spirit of the gallbladder, and “Quaking Spirit” is the name of a talisman. “Mother of the Azure Emperor” refers to the divine spirit in the moon. “Grand Supreme Zhang” is the name of the Central Origin Lord of Yellow Silk, and “Supreme Anlai” is the name of the Left Origin Lord of Purple Silk. “Fire troops” refers to the Yang spirits. The horizontal inscription is the true seal of the Central Yellow. The Yellow Emperor possessed this seal inscription and thus became lord of the myriad spirits, joining the sons of the emperors of the heavens among the honored immortals.

Great Cavern Talisman of Yang Light and Jade

Prayer:

The boy of my left eye is named Numinous Flight, with the courtesy name Yang Light. He always guards the pupil of my left eye.

Scripture of the Way of the Lord Who Scatters Blossoms at the Seven Mornings, the True One in the Four Dipper Stars, Chapter 28

The four perfected ones in the Northern Dipper scatter blossoms upon the Jade Clarity Terrace. The Imperial Minister, Central Mystery’s Life, appears, and all the perfected ones arrive together. Fragrant winds waft over the Three Treasures; the five organs shine with clear and peaceful light. Cang Hu Jie’s radiance gleams, and Tan Chi Jun brings auspiciousness. The six Qi of the Great Center are pure and harmonious; the winding waters join the Celestial River. Great Measure’s merit and virtue are complete, and all the perfected ones arrive together. Fragrant winds waft over the Three Treasures; the five organs shine with clear and peaceful light. Cang Hu Jie’s radiance gleams, and Tan Chi Jun brings auspiciousness. The six Qi of the Great Center are pure and harmonious; the winding waters join the Celestial River. Great Measure’s merit and virtue are fulfilled; the Five Demons wage war against the Six Yin. The King of Primordial Beginning dwells at the center, presiding high over the court of the Six Directions. Xianqu Xuan, Mirror, Double Chariot.

The Four Perfected Ones are the four divine spirits in the Northern Dipper. “Central Mystery’s Life” is the name of the Imperial Minister in the Niwan Palace. “The Three Treasures” is the name of a mountain, and “Clear Tranquility” is the name of a palace. “Xiang” means “to ascend.” The waters of Spring Bend flow down into Northern Feng, then rise and transform into the Celestial River, which reaches upward through the Southern Dipper. Once this principle is understood, all who have sunk into the depths can ascend to heaven. The great demons of the Five Emperors attack the Six Yin, causing Yang Qi to rise again and fill the six organs.

Great Cavern Talisman of Yin Essence and Jade

Prayer:

The boy of my right eye is named Dawn Infant, with the courtesy name Yin Essence. He always guards the pupil of my right eye.

Scripture of the Way of the Lord of Yellow Radiance in the Celestial Stem, Chapter 29

The Qi of Yellow Radiance in the Celestial Stem rises; the Three Blossoms ascend to the court among the clouds. The flying-feather wheel of Azure Terrace turns, welcoming and reaching afar; through this, the Way is accomplished. The Master of Fate carries out the decree of the Celestial Emperor and is titled Lord of Mysterious Passage. Preserve the pupil of Great Life.

Scripture of the Way of the Lord of Yellow Radiance in the Celestial Stem, Chapter 29

At the hour of the Dragon, the yellow radiance of dawn rises into the clouds and the celestial court. The immortals of Three Blossoms Mountain ascend to the celestial court. On the Cangming Terrace, the high platform in the immortal realm, feathered wheels take flight, while the Welcoming and Inviting Talismans greet the assembly. By this point, the Way has been accomplished. At the command of the Emperor Lord, the Elder of Destiny, the deity who governs lifespan, confers on me the title of Lord of Mysterious Measure. He bids me dwell in peace at the Palace of Great Rosy Clouds and take my place among the guests of the Shangqing Immortal Realm. In the Gate of Destiny, essence and Qi unite and help me prolong my life; they guard Huang Ningzi Xuan, the inner deity of life embodied in my essence and blood. In my left hand I carry Lord Elemental, the Young Lord Without Brilliance; in my right, I hold the Spirit of Vermilion Splendor, the revered deity Baiyuan of the right. The Qi of Great Harmony brings the seven perceptions to completion. It kindles a flame and reveals the True Writ. Purple radiance gathers at the crown of my head, where the embryonic immortal formed through inner refinement takes shape. Within the Original Mandate, the Yang spirit born from the true center emerges. I govern the root of life and ascend to the immortal realm of Dragon Ford.

“Seven perceptions” refers to the complete number of the Fire cycle. The Li trigram belongs to Fire and symbolizes the manifestation of civilization; it is also connected to the secret of the Red Writ of the Great Cavern. The “embryonic immortal at the crown” refers to becoming immortal when the Three Radiances gather at the crown and form an immortal embryo. The “spirit from the true center” is the Yang spirit born from inner true Qi.

Jade Talisman of the Great Cavern Embryonic Immortal

This is a jade talisman used to pronounce a blessing over the secret of the Red Writ. The “embryonic immortal at the crown” refers to becoming immortal when the Three Radiances gather at the crown and form an immortal embryo; the “spirit from the true center” is the Yang spirit born from true Qi.

The blessing says:

The youth within the lungs is named Su Ming, with the courtesy name Xucheng. He constantly guards the area beneath my lungs.

The Dao Scripture of Lord Shangjing, the Rear Sage of the Great Peace, the True Emperor Li of the Golden Palace, No. 30

The Qi of Shangjing within the Golden Palace transforms into purple clouds that shine in all directions. The Three-Mandate Great One summons the deities of Great Peace from the Five Directions. By means of the Sevenfold Turning Invocation, he summons the True Spirits of the Mountains and instructs the Three Officials, who govern the affairs of Heaven, Earth, and Water, through a jade talisman. He removes me from the registers of the Three Spirits, allowing me to be reborn in the lofty, pure dawn. The Eight Spirit Kings of Great Spirit transform into auspicious clouds, while Lord Peach guards the six directions of the cosmos and gathers essence and Qi, directing them to the Muddy Pellet Palace, the inner-refinement center in the head. Contemplate the Eight Visions of Great Purity and proclaim the True Writ of the Ten Virtues. Protect the spirits within your body, so that the Original Mandate may naturally unfold. Let the radiance continue without end. Through successful cultivation, one may become a worthy True One who has attained the Way.

“Golden Gate” refers to the lungs. The Venerable Taiyi Fetus (the honored deity who governs primordial Qi in the womb) appears in response to different influences. Lord Peach guards the Six Directions (the name of the Hall of Light) and restrains Jing and protects the Nivana Palace (names of deities associated with the Nivana Palace). The Taiqing Eightfold Vista Shrine (the palace where the Eight Vista deities dwell) proclaims the true writings of the Ten Virtues. It protects the deity among the deities within you, allowing your primordial life to arise naturally. Huiyanle: attain the worthy of the sun.

The Venerable Taiyi Fetus appears in response to influences and can also communicate with the spirits naturally. The True Ones of the Peaks refers to the deities of the Five Sacred Mountains. A Daoist practitioner issues a jade talisman (a Daoist ritual talisman) and informs the Great Emperors of the Three Offices (deities who govern Heaven, Earth, and Water), asking them to erase the deceased’s name from the registers of the dead in the spirit realm of the Three Divine Regions, so that the deceased may be reborn in the High Morning Office. The Eight Lords are a title for the essence and soul of the Great Emperor; the Six Directions is the name of the Hall of Light; Restraining Jing and Nivana are titles of the Imperial Lords; and the Eight Vistas are the names of eight deities.

The Great Cavern Fetal Spirit Jade Talisman

When taking the talisman, pray in a low voice:

Within the womb is a Lord of Primordial White Qi, named Wuxuanzi and styled Yushangsheng. The essence and soul of Taiyi is named Xuanguizi, styled Shengchang, and titled the King of the Eight Spirits. These two deities constantly guard above my five organs and at the root of my throat.

The throat is also called the Golden Tower, the Double Tower, and the Terrace of Three Thoughts. Twelve deities dwell there, among them the Perfected Pavilion Chief, who governs the passage of breath up and down.

Daoist Scripture of the Perfected Lord Pengshi, Primordial Radiance, Later Sage of the Great Void, Thirty-First

The Great Void is empty and still, without form or image; within the clouds and rosy mists lies Pengshi. Nine layers of cloud Qi join to form successive gates, and the Emperor Lord dwells quietly in the depths. The eight True Deities join with the Lord of Radiance, then travel together with the Female Taiyi. Yin and Yang Qi mingle in the Jade Chamber, undergo nine transformations, and return to seven. Spirit and Qi spread through the Six Directions, while the deities in the Nivana Palace each have their distinct roles.

The Great Perfected moves through nine rings of light; the text “Shi zhu pie yin ye” is formed in a knot. (Here, “pie yin ye” marks the pronunciation of a sound in the scripture.) It protects the movement of primordial Qi within the body and harmonizes the Five Qi within. When the myriad Qi blend and return to the Imperial Gate, one may enjoy endless longevity. After transformation, one ascends to Highest Clarity, surpasses the three thousand realms, rides the wheel of primordial Qi, and enters the deep and wondrous ancestral realm.

“Kongwu Jing” is the name of a mountain. “Pengshi” refers to the room where Lord Peng lived; the Yansheng talisman was enshrined inside. “Chongfei” means a door. “Hejing Jun” is the name of the eight true spirits in the gallbladder. “Shi zhu” means the Ten Stages: the first stroke extends slightly to the right, signifying Yang; add another stroke, and it becomes Yin. This expresses the principle by which Yin and Yang are paired and give rise to life. The character “pie” mentioned here is used to convey the reversal of Yin into Yang. “Lizhong jie” means regulating the Five Qi within the body—the five kinds of vital energy—so that the hundred spirits unite and return to oneness. “Jie” means to rise.

The Jade Talisman of the Great Cavern, Bound at the Center

The prayer says:

The Lord of the Green Qi Bound at the Center is named Anyanchang, with the courtesy name Heheying. The Primordial Lord’s Jing and Hun is named Baogu Tongzi, with the courtesy name Mingguang. These two spirits keep watch constantly below my five viscera and above my stomach.

The “mouth” mentioned here refers to the area of the stomach opening. In visualization, one should imagine the spirits inside the stomach opening. The earlier passage says that two true spirits govern the stomach tube; in that visualization, they are imagined outside the stomach opening.

Scripture of the Dao of the Venerable Master of the Nine Qi of the Great Mysterious Capital, Immortal Lord, Third Second of the Thirty-Second Chapter

The Nine Qi of the Most High rise and surge; their smoky vapor swirls amid the bright light of heaven. Divine light appears on the mountain peaks in the sky, and five colors shine across the Three Heavens. Ride upon the play of light and ascend to the highest reaches of the clouds; travel on the wind, sweeping away whatever obstructs the spirit’s Qi.

The One within is called the Revolving Pearl. Use it to regulate the inner heart, bringing the heart into a state of serene ease. Let the Qi in the Three-Five Palaces mingle through countless transformations and endure for billions of years. Eradicate the source of conception and birth, and sever forever the root of blood and corpse. Let the accumulated stagnation of seven generations of ancestors disperse; return them to their essence and lead them back to the hidden and mysterious. The myriad kinds of Qi generate myriad kinds of fluid, which transform together into immortals. The Great Mystery opens the Ten Luminances; through subtle cultivation, ascend to the realm of the Ten True Ones.

The passage then repeats: “The Wuzhu regulates the inner heart, bringing the heart into a state of serene ease. Let the Qi in the Three-Five Palaces mingle through countless transformations and endure for billions of years. Eradicate the source of conception and birth, and sever forever the root of blood and corpse. Let the accumulated stagnation of seven generations of ancestors disperse; return them to their essence and lead them back to the hidden and mysterious. The myriad kinds of Qi generate myriad kinds of fluid, which transform together into immortals. The Great Mystery opens the Ten Luminances; through subtle cultivation, ascend to the realm of the Ten True Ones.” It ends: “Wua Jing, receive and serve the spirit of Chong.”

The Supreme Mysterious Capital lies above the Nine Qi (the nine kinds of original vital energy); the Nine Qi are also known as the incense that summons the soul. Great Radiance is the name of a palace, Hollow Peak the name of a mountain, Five Ways the name of a palace, and “Spirit that Clears Stagnation” the name of a mountain. Moving Pearl is the name of the One True Being within the heart (the inner true spirit). When the four Qi of Metal, Wood, Water, and Fire combine with Earth, they are called the “Three and Five Officials.”

Jade Talisman from the Section on the Great Cavern

The prayer says:

The Lord of Black Qi in the section is named Binlaisheng, with the courtesy name Essence Above the Gate. The essence-soul of the Imperial True One is named King of the Hidden Terrace, with the courtesy name Infused Above Life. These two deities constantly guard the opening of my Nine Intestines and the space beneath the Hidden Beam.

“Opening of the Nine Intestines” here refers to the outlet for urination. “Lower Gate beneath the Hidden Beam” refers to the area between the ends of the small and large intestines, where they lie close together. The secret formula says that the lower gate beneath the Hidden Beam is behind the scrotum and in front of the anus—that is, between the front and rear yin openings.

The Way Scripture of the Eight Emperors and the Ancient Lord of the Upper Clarity, No. 33

Beyond the Upper Clarity’s radiant clouds, the Eight Emperors move above the Nine Heavens. The Imperial Sons arise in the realm of hidden vastness, bearing wondrous transformations as they enter the visible world. At dawn they ascend to the dwelling of the Great Ancient One; at night they feast together in the palace of Golden Radiance. With feathered staffs they command the Great One; with brocade banners they summon the myriad spirits. They strengthen my Mysterious Embryo Immortal (the inner immortal embryo), cut away and diminish the roots of the Placental Tree, untie its knots, and enable the Seven Ancestors (seven generations of forebears) to be reborn in a higher realm. They disperse calamities and bring peace to the Nine Generations of the Mysterious (ancestors and their descendants).

The Red Emperor, Cinnabar Spirit, stands high and supports you as you enter the Golden Gate. The Moon Mother, Numinous Plain Orchid, guards and seals the pass of death Qi. From this day onward, death Qi is cut off, and life-giving fluid flows on. The myriad spirits and all Qi become immortals, freeing people from the mortal world and raising them to the rank of True Kings. The wondrous practice of the Ten True Ones is brought to completion, and the realm of the Supreme Mystery converges at Bright Yang. The Unsurpassed Lord of the Great Cavern joins the One Qi with dragon radiance. Its light shines forth, enduring through successive kalpas and reconnecting what has been severed.

The Great One is named Youliaoyuan. “At dawn they ascend to the dwelling of the Great Ancient One” is a metaphor for regulating the original essence of Spleen Earth. “At night they feast together in the palace of Golden Radiance” is another metaphor, this time for swallowing the fluid of Lung Metal. Cinnabar Spirit is the name of a terrace; Numinous Plain Orchid is a title of the Moon Mother; Bright Yang is the name of the Jade Hall; and Dragon Radiance is the name of a carriage.

Jade Talisman from Within the Great Cavern Placenta

The Lord of Yellow Radiance within the womb, the spirit who governs Qi and blood there, is named Zumingche, with the courtesy name Shenyuanji. The essence and soul of the Celestial Emperor, the Emperor’s vital essence, Qi, and spirit, is named Liweicang, with the courtesy name Fayunzhu. These two spirits often guard within my small intestine, protecting the foundations of the two orifices.

At the end of the small intestine is the spirit of the womb, Yuanji. The essence and soul of the Celestial Emperor is named Liweicang, with the courtesy name Fayunzhu. These two spirits often guard within my small intestine, protecting the foundations of the two orifices.

The end of the small intestine connects to the womb sac. A belt vessel runs from the sac and connects within the lower abdomen. The vessel on the right governs the discharge of urine, while the one on the left governs the release of essence; together they are called the “two desire orifices.”

The Scripture of Lord Qing Tong, Jade Protector of the High Morning Master, at the Fangzhu Palace of Donghua, No. 34

At the Fangzhu Palace of Donghua, the rising sunlight spreads its radiance; the High Morning Master shines upon the realm of Shangqing. The light of the sun, round as a pearl, spreads everywhere, and purple radiance gleams brightly. The Seven Spirits return to the imperial seat, while the Five Elders arrive in jade chariots. The King at the Center of the Taiyi Realm dwells in the middle, and the Director of Fate governs the myriad spirits. The divine mind wanders at ease among waves of clouds, quietly gazing upon the city of the Muddy Pellet, the chamber of spirits in the head. With seven turns, he summons the Three Officials; the Lord of the North bows and presents a document. The Five Sacred Peaks answer the summons and arrive, removing names from the register of the dead and recording names among the deathless. The sacred talisman is raised three times, shaking Heaven and Earth, unlocking the mysteries and driving away the great demon spirits. The Seven Ancestors enter the Hall of Blessings, while wondrous, radiant light protects Huangning, the three true spirits within the essence and blood. Looking toward the chambers of rest, luminous guests appear in profusion.

“First Radiance” refers to the place where the sun rises; “High Morning” is the title of a divine official. “Round Pearl” and “Purple Radiance” are both names for the sun. “Huangning” is the name of the three true spirits within the essence and blood.

Jade Talisman of the Great Cavern in the Blood

Incantation:

The Lord of Red Qi within the blood, the spirit who governs the blood’s red primordial Qi, is named Hunliyu, with the courtesy name Shubaojian. The essence and soul of the Director of Fate, the vital essence, Qi, and spirit that govern life, is named Funiuzi, with the courtesy name Qingxuan. These two spirits often guard the blood throughout the hundred vessels of my body, beneath the Juegu bones.

Through the passage of kalpas, all who are born and formed owe their life to Hunliyu, courtesy name Shubaojian, and the essence and soul of the Director of Fate, named Funiuzi and courtesy name Qingxuan. These two spirits often guard the blood throughout the hundred vessels of my body, beneath the Juegu bones.

Through the passage of kalpas, all who are born and formed take shape through essence and blood. Therefore, if the blockages at the joints cannot be released, the Immortal Way is difficult to attain. The scripture says, “the portals of the Juegu bones in both feet.” This refers to the joints below the leg bones: beneath the outer ankle bone there is a hollow, and this hollow is called the “portal of the Juegu bones.”

The Great Emperor of Fusang, the Nine Elders and Immortal Sovereign, resides on Mount Yujing, where he registers the immortals and ascends to the land of Bosang. He turns the ritual formula seven times and summons the Celestial Emperor. The spirit who governs destiny receives the sacred ordinances. The Five Sacred Peaks open their numinous gates and transmit the commands that subdue the great demons. The river and sea spirits all come to obey, establishing and revealing the method for bringing responsive forces together.

The talisman that protects the body is kept in the Muddy Pellet Palace (the upper Dantian in the head). The spirit who guards the original spirit is called Taokang. It can transform darkness, release the dead from the registers of the dead, and enter the immortal Zhen Shuhuo Wang into the registers of immortals. It draws illness out of the Three Paths (the realms of suffering, such as hell, hungry ghosts, and animals), dispels calamities, and brings forth Shangying, the True Person within the heart. The mysterious spirits of seven generations of ancestors ascend to the Vermilion Palace (the Court of Flowing Fire), while the practitioner meets Mingyang (the Jade Hall).

The practitioner befriends Fang Yingzi (the Peach Lord of the Moon) above and carries Li Weicang (the Celestial Emperor’s spirit essence) below. On the left, the practitioner holds Mingche Jun; on the right, assists Guishengchang (the spirit essence of Taiyi, Xuanguizi). The Qi of Yujing is blended and unified, transforming the practitioner into one who is fortunate and vigorous. Returning to the infant’s original state, the practitioner brings forth Yuanming Tong (the spirit of the original life), while auspicious Qi blazes and harmonizes. The immortal of Tianyi’s primordial root moves freely within the wheel of light. After passing through a full cycle of tribulations, the practitioner ascends to the Jade Realm.

The commentary explains: “Jing” refers to Mount Yujing; “numinous gate” is the name of a talisman; “Shuhuo Wang” is a title of the Lower Mysterious Primordial Mother; “Shangying” is a True Person within the heart; “Vermilion Palace” is the Court of Flowing Fire; and “Mingyang” refers to the Jade Hall. “Fang Yingzi” is the Peach Lord of the Moon; “Li Weicang” is the Celestial Emperor’s spirit essence; “Mingche Jun” is the deity of yellow Qi within the womb; and “Guishengchang” is the courtesy name of Xuanguizi, the spirit essence of Taiyi. The passage ends by introducing the “Seven Spirits of the Great Cavern Jade Talisman” and indicating that what follows is the subtle invocation (a brief blessing) recited while taking the talisman.

The Lord of Mysterious Origins in the Upper Realm, the wondrous father-lord of the Upper Origin, is named Gao Tongsheng, with the courtesy name Zuo Huiming. The Mother-Lord of Primordial Origin in the Lower Depths is named Shu Huwang, with the courtesy name You Huiguang. The Lord Taiyi, Emperor of Emperors, is named Zhong Mingkong, with the courtesy name You Liaowu. The Venerable Lord of the Nine Emperors is named Ri Mingzhen, with the courtesy name Fei Zhongdisheng. The Essence-Soul of the Great Emperor is named Yang Tangwang, with the courtesy name Baling Jun; he is also named Shu Huwang, with the courtesy name You Huiguang. The Lord Taiyi, Emperor of Emperors, is named Zhong Mingkong, with the courtesy name You Liaowu. The Venerable Lord of the Nine Emperors is named Ri Mingzhen, with the courtesy name Fei Zhongdisheng. The Essence-Soul of the Great Emperor is named Yang Tangwang, with the courtesy name Baling. The Lord who opens the Nine Gates of the Celestial Emperor and summons souls is named Hui Ludao, with the courtesy name Jue Ming. The Great Demon King, Soul of the Celestial Chronology Emperor, is named Zhao Wua, with the courtesy name Guang Shen. These seven deities constantly guard the root of my original life, where the source of life is sustained, and the foundational knot of the womb, where the embryo gathers and takes shape.

The root of original life is the navel center, the foundation where the mother’s and child’s Qi divide and unite. The great knot of the womb lies within the navel and connects to the kidneys; it is the gateway through which the embryo forms. The inner and outer palaces of the Gate of Life refer to a passage one inch inside the navel that leads to the central gate of the Dantian (energy center), the place where the embryo forms. The outer palace refers to the area outside the kidneys, and the inner palace to the area inside the navel; both names refer to the same place.

Illustrated Daoist Scripture of Lord Yu, the True Jade Master of the Lesser-Being Jade-Truth Palace of Myriad Radiances, Thirty-Sixth

The Palace of the True Jade Master of Myriad Radiances holds the imperial scriptures of the High Immortals. It oversees the drawing of charts of the Nine Heavens and perceives the myriad beings that arise from within the formless. Through seven cycles of transmission, it summons the myriad spirits, and the gods of the Five Sacred Peaks come together to pay court. The Three Officials—the Officials of Heaven, Earth, and Water—summon the demons, while the Registrar, who oversees registers of names, verifies the submitted documents. It removes the records of the dead from the Deep Springs, the underworld, and enters their immortal names in the Great Clarity. The bonds and entanglements of seven generations of ancestors are released, and defiled blood ceases to sink into ruin. It returns a person to the primal womb, where they receive anew the numinous Qi of the Cavern Spirit in the chamber of Red Fire. The Earl of Bo protects the divine body, preserving me in Yellow Tranquility, a state of peace and calm. In union with the Imperial Earl, one ultimately ascends beyond and coalesces into an immortal.

“Chief Registers” refers to the registers of the Nine Heavens, overseen by the Jade Lord, the deity in charge of registers. The “Vermilion Fire Chamber” is the Vermilion Mound Fire Chamber. “Bo Shiyuan” is the name of an infant. “Huangning” is the name of Jing, blood, and the Three True Ones—the divine beings associated with Jing and blood.

The Jade Talisman of the Nine Great Caverns

A Short Invocation for Taking the Talisman

The Elder Lord of the Three Pure Ones is named Laozhang Shang and styled Shensheng Dao. The deity at the philtrum—the area between the base of the nose and the upper lip—is called the Green Chamber. This is also the place Laozi called the “Mysterious Female,” the hidden gateway through which life is conceived and brought forth. Physicians call this the meeting place of the Ren and Du channels; Daoists call it the philtrum. Ordinary people, however, do not know the key to the movement of Qi there.

The Left Immortal of Zhengyi is named Zhongchengzi, styled Sihuazun, and also known as Dibin. The Right Immortal of Zhengyi is named Quwenzi, styled Linghe, and also known as Guangxian. These three deities constantly guard the philtrum beneath my nose.

The deities within the nose are called Yutong, Mingliang, Bifei, Yugen, Linghu, and Kaiguan. The Central Mysterious One, Laozi, is named Lin Xufu and styled Lingshi Dao; he constantly guards the aperture through which Jing passes. The Nine Bends and the Lower Gate refer to a person’s genitals: for men, they are called the Nine Bends; for women, the Lower Gate.

The Black Emperor of the North is named Bao Chengchang and styled Beifa; he constantly guards the bladder. The bladder lies in front of the small intestine and the Bao, a region associated with reproduction and excretion, and is connected to them on both sides. The scripture says that once fluids in the small intestine become abundant, they are transformed by the steaming action of Shaoyang Qi and then enter the Bao along with Yang Qi, where they become water.

The White Emperor of the West is named Zhang Anxing, styled Xihua, and also known as Lingfan Qiling; he constantly guards men’s external kidneys, meaning the external genitalia, and women’s breasts. The Red Emperor of the South is named Chang Laijue and styled Nanhe; he constantly guards the area beneath the tongue, where the Water of the Flowery Pool—a Daoist term often used for saliva—is found. The Azure Emperor of the East is named Diao Liangji and styled Qingping; he constantly guards the fatty and diaphragmatic membranes outside the Five Viscera. Of the Five Viscera, only the heart and lungs lie above the diaphragm.

The Yellow Emperor of the Center is named Han Guanglu and styled Hunming; he constantly guards the spleen and stomach. The Jing of the Yellow Court says, “The spleen is one foot long and covers the Great Granary.” The Jing of the Central Yellow also says, “The stomach is the Great Granary.” The entrance to the Great Granary—that is, the inside of the stomach’s upper opening—is the gateway that distinguishes the clear from the turbid and conveys food.

The thirty-seventh chapter of the Great Cavern Jade Scripture opens with visions of the realms of the immortals and explains the role of the stomach in the human body. “Mystic Isle, cut off from the three fords” refers to three crossings over the Weak Waters beneath the isolated island of Mystic Isle. “Feathered Radiance” is the name of a hall, and “Layered Desert” is the name of a mountain. The “Great Granary” refers to the stomach; its opening and upper region are the gates that distinguish the clear from the turbid and convey food.

The scripture depicts a scene in the Court of Great Nonbeing: clouds and rosy mists rise, and in the shadowed stillness appear the Lord of Great Unity, whose courtesy name is Master of Hidden Vastness, along with his numinous essences Fan Chang and Huang Ning. The Five Elders, immortal spirits, dance through the air, sending forth fragrance and carrying jade youths. The deities cleanse golden substance in the Pool of the Imperial River, while green mist veils flowing jade. Their divine power dispels the accumulated defilement of the Three Paths, allowing the immortal embryo to gather and take shape. The Jade Emperor’s Master of Highest Clarity, the Lord of the Great Way of Jade Dais, and other exalted deities ascend together with the spirit of the crimson palace within the heart to the limpid realm of Great Mystery, opening divine radiance and a new era. Here, “Perfect Radiance” refers to the sun, “Jade Spirit” means a jade youth of Highest Clarity, and “Jade Dais” refers to Highest Clarity.

The text then gives the invocation for the “Jade Talisman of the Three Spirits of the Great Cavern.” When taking the talisman, one silently recites the names, courtesy names, and alternate names of the three divine ministers, asking them to remain for a long time in the body’s Three Origin Palaces, protect one’s allotted life, and guard the Imperial Chamber. The Three Origin Palaces correspond to the Muddy Pellet (Upper Origin), the Crimson Palace (Middle Origin), and the Yellow Court (Lower Origin). The three divine ministers are the Upper Origin Imperial Minister Zhaole, the Middle Origin Assistant Minister Zhongguang Jian, and the Lower Origin Aide Minister Guishang Ming.

The Three Zhen arise from the Great Nonbeing, and the Jade Portal reflects the morning clouds. The realm of Great Simplicity opens onto the Primal Spirit, and crimson branches grow in the Cinnabar Grove. Spirit and Qi circulate through the ninefold palaces and offices; in the Inner Flourishing Palace, radiance like precious jade blooms. When every bodily aperture takes in Jing and Qi, one can extend one’s years and lengthen one’s life. This is the thirty-eighth chapter of the Lordly Way Scripture.

The Three Zhen arise from the Great Nonbeing, and the Jade Portal reflects the morning clouds. The realm of Great Simplicity opens onto the Primal Spirit, and crimson branches grow in the Cinnabar Grove. Spirit and Qi circulate through the ninefold palaces and offices; in the Inner Flourishing Palace, radiance like precious jade blooms. When every bodily aperture takes in Jing and Qi, one can dwell forever on Threefold-Vitality Mountain. The practitioner’s body ascends to the realm of Jade Clarity, and seven generations of ancestors escape the road through the underworld. Life is preserved for the long term, beyond the ending brought by calamity, and the immortal lineage continues from generation to generation. One takes a place of honor among the lineage of sages and dwells in the Divine Capital of the Great Cavern of Jade Clarity. Lingchang Yu, Lord of the Hundred Paths.

“Primal Spirit of the Great Simplicity Cavern” refers to the luminous and radiant Hall of the Primal Spirit in the Heaven of Great Simplicity. “Inner Flourishing” is the name of a terrace. “Threefold Vitality” is the name of a mountain. “Great Cavern Capital” means the Divine Capital.

The Jade Talisman of the Great Cavern’s Emperor One

Brief Invocation for Swallowing the Talisman:

The Venerable Lord Emperor One of the Great Cavern is named Father Ningzai and styled He-Mother-Essence. He turns the wind and Qi, harmonizes Yin-Yang, guards and protects the pass where death Qi gathers, and commands the spirits of the thirty-nine households. He often dwells within the human body, sometimes inside the upper lip, with his light reflected in the pupils.

The Jade Talisman of the Great Cavern’s Emperor One

Brief Invocation for Swallowing the Talisman:

The Venerable Lord Emperor One of the Great Cavern is named Father Ningzai and styled He-Mother-Essence. He turns the wind and Qi, harmonizes Yin-Yang, guards and protects the pass where death Qi gathers, and commands the spirits of the thirty-nine households. He often dwells within the human body, sometimes inside the upper lip, with his light reflected in the pupils. He comes into being from nonbeing, then returns from being to nonbeing; within being there is being, yet it is not grasped as being, and within nonbeing there is nonbeing, yet it is not grasped as nonbeing. This is where the “True One” resides, and it is the principle by which the myriad things transform and return to oneness.

The inside of the upper lip, the area outside the upper teeth, and the philtrum beneath the nose are all dwelling places of spirits and sites where the Qi of the hundred spirits is harmonized. The Conception Vessel and Governing Vessel are where the body’s Yin and Yang Qi gather, and where the true source of the Five Qi converges. The Immortal Scripture says: “One thing contains five kinds of radiance, forever serving as a ladder leading to the immortals.”

The Scripture of the Way of the Western Primordial Tortoise Mountain, Ninefold-Spirit True Immortal Mother, and Azure-Gold Cinnabar Emperor Lord, Year Thirty-Nine of the Great Cavern.

“Xi Yuan” refers to Mount Tongbai, though some traditions identify it as Mount Kunlun. “Ninefold Numinous” is a lodge within the mountain. Its Qi leads to the cloud palace where the Golden Elixir circulates, reaching the farthest bounds of the celestial star-glow of Xuan Yao. Its radiance shines across the vast rosy sky. In motion, it turns the celestial wheels of the Nine Heavens; at rest, it settles into the earth’s axial network, formed by the mountains of the eight directions.

Within the practitioner’s chamber dwells the Mother of the Embryonic Immortal—the Kun Mother, also called the Yellow Matron, Lady of the Unlit Night, or Great Medicine King—who symbolizes the lunar way of refining the body. She guides the Great Sovereign Emperor. When the Numinous One of the Mysterious Unity descends to be born—an epithet of Laozi, the Mysterious Unity of the Center—the three Su Lao Lords appear in solemn stillness. The practitioner holds the registers of the Five Talismans in the left hand and carries the Divine-Regulating Patriarch, an epithet of the Elder in Charge of Destiny at the Center, in the right. Together they ascend the Dragon Vermilion Gate and bow toward the Jade Clarity Chamber. They uproot the source of death and extinction, and nurture the body according to the numbers three and five, freeing seven generations of ancestors from the bonds of the corpse so they may receive blessings in the Bright Vermilion Quarter. Above, the clear and luminous Supreme Sage among the holy ones transforms Fulu into the King of Mysterious Qi, enabling people to attain the highest state of Qi, long life, and the inheritance of radiance.

In the scripture, “the wheel of the Nine Heavens” means the celestial gates. “The net of the eight currents” refers to the network formed by the mountains in the eight directions—that is, the earth’s axial system. “The root of death and extinction” means the thirty-nine death-gates that bring about death. “The center of three and five” refers to the numbers three and five, which intersect vertically and horizontally in the Yellow River Diagram.

The Great Cavern Compendium of True Jade Talismans: This talisman governs the name of the Elder and gathers the numinous Qi of the thirty-nine Fulu, returning it to the place of the Emperor One. The thirty-nine talismans are written together in vermilion ink; yellow paper is used when wearing the talisman. When carried on one’s person, it is placed on a piece of blue silk five feet five inches long. The talisman may also be used on its own and can likewise bring one’s merit to completion.

The Incantation of the Great Mysterious Perfected One: The Great Mysterious Perfected One’s surname is Zhao and personal name is Shouzhen. He governs the Palace of Great Mysterious Clarity.

Beyond the heavenly realm lie still higher heavens, where there are immortal mountains and celestial capitals, towers and halls, palaces and gates, inner chambers and courtyards, halls of blessing and golden cities, as well as wondrous carriages and imperial seats. These are all important parts of the upper levels of the inner landscape. The body’s passages open and flow freely; its orifices open and close like doors and latticed windows. The light of the sun, moon, and stars shines in the eyes, while breaths like wind, clouds, mist, and rosy haze mingle and gather. The currents of rivers, streams, ponds, and seas resemble the blood, bodily fluids, and vital essence within the body. The five viscera and six bowels, the face and form, the womb, and bodily knots each have their own spirits who govern them.

These spirits cannot be seen, yet they answer when called. Though they are countless, they are governed by a single spirit of pure serenity. The myriad tributaries all flow from one source; the turbid and the clear mingle, and in the end all streams return to one, and the four seas join together. The vast, hollow expanse has no bounds: it contains the heavens and earth in all directions and is also present in the Yellow Court (an important region within the body in Daoist internal cultivation). The Dao of True Unity is pure and undivided; the gate of cultivation has no bolt.

Within the body are thirty “gates of death” (places regarded in Daoist internal cultivation as blocked and declining), where the breath of death often congeals like ice. The cultivator calls upon the spirits within, keeping the mind and spirit ever alert and awake, as if waking from sleep or sobering from intoxication. The numinous Valley Spirit (the wondrous function that Daoism describes as empty, still, and inexhaustible) joins with the Qi of the Five Phases, manifesting ninety-seven forms and radiating immense light. The breath within the gates of death naturally transforms into new life; primordial Qi flows back to nourish them, and the branches and leaves of future generations flourish in turn.

Thus disputes in the tombs are brought to an end, and debts of grievance are no longer pursued. All beings, celestial and earthly, are saved, and wondrous practice reaches its full accomplishment. Within the Great Cavern, abundance is inexhaustible and the myriad treasures are plentiful. The Great Cavern’s exalted majesty enables one to ascend to a high rank among the immortals. The carriage turns back, its journey complete, and at last ascends to Taiwei Shangqing, the highest celestial realm described in Daoism.

Jade Chapters on Internal Refinement in the Great Cavern

The Lord of the Great Dao, the Azure Youth, came from the east, treading on clouds, and arrived above Fusang, the legendary divine tree in the eastern lands. He transmitted the purpose of the Great Cavern Scripture (Dadong Jing) through the heart. Its numinous chapters and talismanic characters shone brilliantly. As it was recited, its voice rang clear and melodious as jade, resounding through the gates of Heaven. Taking pity on all living beings in the human world, he wished to dispel demonic obstacles and cut off the breath of evil spirits. He bestowed on people the pure light of clarity, letting boundless compassion shine everywhere.

This light, like Cang Hujie, a sacred emblem in the scripture, guides those dwelling in the realm of mystery. The Five Palaces, spirit abodes corresponding to the body’s five organs, brim with vitality, while the Nine Origins, spirits or sources associated with the primal energy of body and mind, constantly protect the body. A tiger-shaped spirit subdues every evil force; dragon banners summon the hundred spirits. Lilu, a spirit or divine radiance in the scripture, exhales white Qi (vital energy), opening the heavens and earth into clear vastness, with light reaching without limit. Like Cang Hujie, it guides those within the mysterious realm: the Five Palaces shine with splendor, the Nine Origins guard the body, the tiger subdues evil, and dragon banners summon the spirits. Lilu exhales white Qi, clearing heaven and earth until the far heights of the morning sky.

Taiyi, a revered Daoist deity, joins the female and male aspects of Yin-Yang; the Seven Perfected Ones, revered Daoist deities, each govern Yin or Yang. The spirits briefly go to the Palace of the Six Abysses, then return to the Wheel of Nine Lights. Through this, practitioners gain limitless longevity and remain forever in the company of the Great Beginning, the primal state before heaven and earth took shape.

The Primordial Lady, an honorific for a goddess, is named Zixu. Riding a phoenix, she journeys to Xuandu, the Daoist paradise. She carries the Great Cavern Scripture, and the jade ornaments she wears strike together with a clear, ringing sound. She divides the scripture into thirty-nine chapters, then exhales primordial Qi to write numinous talismans. She summons and protects the spirits that inhabit the body, guarding their dwelling in stillness and care. The Nine Perfected Ones stand in solemn protection, while the Three Primordials, spiritual powers associated with heaven, earth, and humanity or with three kinds of primordial Qi, guard the inner court. In her left hand she carries the essence of a thousand scenes; in her right, the embrace of constancy. The spirits gather shoulder to shoulder in the Yellow Chamber, the symbolic abode of the mind in cultivation, where they clear the heart and preserve the cloud pearl, a symbol of spiritual essence. She wanders through the Hall of True Yang and at dawn mounts her feathered carriage. Green peaks rise straight into the clouds, and mysterious visions draw near the road to Heaven. She perceives what is subtle and comprehends the highest principle, opening a realm of mystery from the Great Nonbeing, empty and without form.

In an instant, wind and thunder break out together, and divine might appears in a flash. She holds the rank of Immortal Earl for ages, with the myriad spirits always ready to answer her summons.

The Three Mao brothers—Mao Ying, Mao Gu, and Mao Zhong—dwell on Mount Gouqu, in the area of present-day Maoshan in Jiangsu, and share the ranks of the immortals. They summon their divine might to welcome Wei Yuanjun, a Daoist female immortal. Golden slips and jade registers, documents signifying a heavenly mandate, shine in brilliant colors. The immortals wear red cloud capes and tall Jade Dawn crowns. In the purple palace, brocade curtains hang in splendor; in the crimson courtyard, blue-green jades are laid out. With one mind, they make for the Orchid Gate, then ascend the celestial altar one after another. The immortals stride freely across the River of Clouds, letting out exultant long cries as their pendant rings chime. The Three Dawns, the sun, moon, and stars or three kinds of celestial light, radiate numinous brilliance, and the seas’ waves grow still. The immortals ride divine tigers at a gallop and sweep their robes as they mount azure phoenixes. They take their places of honor in the sacred lineage, overcoming the hardships accumulated through ages of tribulation. They breathe the Qi of the Nine Spirits and refine the Sevenfold Return Elixir, an elixir method in Neidan (internal alchemy) or Waidan (external alchemy) that symbolizes refining essence into Qi and returning to the source. They cultivate and refine the body until it accords with the imperial realm, circulate the Qi, and open the gate of Heaven. When the Great Dao flows freely through one’s natural nature, the power of the spirits descends into the human world.

The Lord of the Blue Plum and Green Youth rides a dragon to the Purple Tenuity Court to pay homage to the Emperor. The Nine Luminaries shine in every direction, and the Lords of the Five Dipper constellations guard the Gate of Life. The Lords of the Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions blaze with light, illuminating Heaven’s Gate. The Emperors of the Five Directions arrive in jade chariots, and the Great Emperors of the Three Offices send down wondrous blessings. Auspicious radiance illumines Heaven and Earth; propitious Qi brings the vitality of spring. Officials in Heaven record people in the registers of immortals, while the divine generals of Ding and Jia drive away demonic influences. The golden casket is opened, and the Lord of the Jade Dipper descends to the Gate of Life. The Lords of the Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions blaze with light, illuminating Heaven’s Gate; the Emperors of the Five Directions arrive in jade chariots, and the Great Emperors of the Three Offices send down blessings. Auspicious radiance illumines Heaven and Earth, while propitious Qi returns like spring. Officials in Heaven record people in the registers of immortals, and the divine generals of Ding and Jia clear away demonic mists. The golden casket opens, revealing a jade seal; the sun and moon seem to halt their crimson courses. The myriad spirits gather in my inner chamber, so that my life may endure as long as Heaven and Earth.

Within the supreme Great Luo Heaven, three kinds of radiance converge with the bright lights of the four directions. From the purple portal arises Brahma Qi—the pure, wondrous primordial energy—and golden light shines across the Nine Pure Heavens. The myriad spirits gather in full array, and the Great Sages agree to meet at Jade Capital. The Cavern Chapter resounds with jade-toned chants, while the Central Yellow—the body’s central palace, or middle Dantian—unfurls precious scriptures. The Five Emperors proclaim jade talismans, and the Three Offices open the way for the myriad spirits. After many kalpas, the world will at last attain peace. The cultivator returns to the root and regains the innocence of an infant. The pure and still Daoist breeze grows ever more abundant; the Dao’s Qi flows cool and clear without cease. Jade Maidens scatter flowers like precious jade, while Golden Youths quietly guard the Jade Gate. The Lord of Red Primordial Wuwei rises and descends, transforming together with the Great Dao.

Mount Nine Radiances rises into the clouds, and the Jade Tower is home to the High Immortals. The sun and moon circulate golden Qi, while the dragon and tiger course through the Mysterious Pass—the inner aperture where Qi enters, leaves, and converges. Numinous Qi irrigates the chamber of emerald fungus, and from it spirit sprouts emerge, trailing green mist. Purple clouds gleam brilliantly as the assembled sages descend in cloud chariots. The Cavern Chapter’s clear song rises straight to Heaven. Whoever guards the inner chamber of cultivation may become a Celestial Immortal, even after enduring ten thousand kalpas. The treasures within are not sought outside; this is the highest and most mysterious Dao. Refine the precious vessel, and you may ascend freely to the heavenly court where the Emperor resides.

The Dujian Talisman, used by the Dujian.

Recite the incantation when taking the talisman.

The sun rises, its radiance shining everywhere. Zhenwu, a revered Daoist deity, travels through the four quarters, wielding Fulu (talismans and registers) and issuing commands to consecrate water, then sits at ease and surveys all directions. Those who seek the Dao can attain the Dao; those who seek immortality can become immortal. They live long and see far, dwell in the realm of the perfected, and receive auspicious blessings. At the sight of this talisman, all evil spirits are struck with terror and confusion. Act at once in accordance with the law! This talisman should also be used in conjunction with the medicine when taking it, and should likewise be used when bathing.

This talisman is also called the “True Talisman of the Great Cavern Jade Clarity Register.” It is the first talisman among the talismanic patterns inscribed in jade by the Lord Lao, and ranks first among the three sacred writings.

The incantation of the Perfected One of Great Mystery says:

The thirty-nine gates of the human body—its portals, where spirits and Qi enter and leave—each have their own spirit from the beginning. If one has not read the Jade Scripture, one cannot know their names; without understanding the thirty-nine talismans, one cannot comprehend how they move along with the Qi. I have a destined connection with the Dao, and so I devote myself to carrying and upholding the Jade Scripture. I recite it with reverence and with sincerity. Through talismans, I summon Qi of the same kind; through spirit, I respond to sounds of the same resonance. In the numinous valley, the void resounds, and the myriad sounds ring out of themselves. The blue sky is cloudless, and the True Writings appear of themselves.

The principle of resonance lies in gathering spirit and vital essence. The womb’s knot loosens of itself, and the corpse-blood clears of itself; Yang Qi returns to its source, and mysterious radiance remains ever verdant. The father’s Qi is at peace, the mother’s Qi is refined; the Huifeng staff congeals, the precious pearl shines, the embryo returns and the infant takes form. The movement of Qi unfolds like the great transformations of Heaven and Earth, with the firing times properly regulated. Preserve Yin’s softness and embrace Yang’s strength; draw in the gaze, turn hearing inward, and nourish the infant within, filling the Yellow Court—the vital place within the body in Daoist inner cultivation—with abundance.

The Huifeng staff congeals, the precious pearl shines, the embryo returns and the infant takes form. The movement of Qi unfolds like the great transformations of Heaven and Earth, with the firing times properly regulated. Preserve Yin’s softness and embrace Yang’s strength; draw in the gaze, turn hearing inward, and nourish the infant within, filling the Yellow Court with abundance. As ascent and descent proceed naturally, turn the inner light back toward Jade Clarity, the pure celestial realm in Daoist teaching. Once embryonic breathing has been restored, one may ascend to the jade seat. After reciting and upholding the text ten thousand times, one’s Dao practice is complete, and dragons and immortal cranes come to welcome one. With one’s deeds accomplished and reputation complete, one receives glory in the realm beyond the ordinary, where one enters the ranks of the sages.

The Great Cavern Jade Scripture, Lower Volume.

The Great Cavern Jade Scripture had circulated among the altars of the Han for a long time. In my youth, I recited it again and again, yet did not understand its meaning. My elders told me that most of the scripture’s contents were the names of the gods within the human body, and that its meaning could not be inferred from the written text alone.

Later, I obtained copies of the scripture from the Maoshan ancestral altar and from Zitong Wenchang. Comparing them, I found slight differences in content. Some may have come from copying errors, while others may have arisen from changes in pronunciation as the text was transmitted. The versions are broadly similar but differ in detail, each with its own strengths and shortcomings. Yet these are scriptures of sages and worthies, and I dare not lightly delete or alter passages, or choose one version over another.

In the ninth lunar month of the Yisi year, Taigu Xiong Linchu, a native of Yuzhang and assistant instructor at the Directorate of Education, left his post to study the Dao and investigate the purpose of the Great Cavern Scripture. He came to the mountains from Magu in Xujiang, bringing a copy of the Great Cavern Scripture that he had transcribed himself. This edition included annotations on the text by the early Taixuan Zhao Perfected One. They explain in great detail the names of the gods within the human body, the affairs each oversees, and the palaces, mountain retreats, towers, terraces, ponds, and lodgings where they dwell.

Broadly speaking, the scripture’s essential practice is to grasp the Gate of Life and the Portal of Death, remain with the yielding feminine and embrace the firm masculine, and bring Yin and Yang into harmony. At the same time, one harmonizes the gods within the body so that each settles in its proper place and carries out its appointed duty. “Gate of Life” and “Portal of Death” are terms for bodily gateways associated with vitality and decline. “Guarding the feminine and embracing the masculine” describes a practice of using softness to maintain firmness and bringing Yin and Yang into harmony.

The Mountain Adept Zhou Lanxue and I share the same interests. Though he is over eighty, his hearing and sight remain keen and his hand strong. He copied two editions of the scripture and brought them to show me. After reading one through, I understood its meaning. It truly was a rare encounter in my later years. Sadly, I am old and incapable of practice, yet I could not bear to leave the scripture neglected. So I copied it in full into a single fascicle, to reflect on it closely in my daily life and to let later students read it in turn. After finishing the copy, I returned the original, hoping that Master Zhou would devote himself to recitation and practice, make ever greater progress, regain the vigor of youth, and live up to this fortunate encounter. I then offered this eulogy:

The Great Cavern Jade Scripture is a classic that leads to the essence of the Great Dao. With a true and focused heart, contemplate “Di Yi” (the divine being who represents the highest reality). Preserve the yielding quality of Yin and embrace the strength of Yang, bringing the Three Parts (related sites of cultivation within the body) and the Eight Visions (the manifestations of divine energy within the body) into harmony, while allowing the breath to circulate like a whirlwind. Auspicious mists and clouds fill the space within; the gateways can both close and open.

Taiyi (the highest deity) commands the gods to dispel demonic obstacles and drive back ill omens and malign forces. As the practitioner holds talismans and keeps registers, every joint in the body becomes numinous and empty. The Three Passes (bodily barriers in cultivation) open, and the Nine Qi (nine kinds of primordial energy) flourish and flow. Auspicious signs like magnolias spring forth in the human realm, and the Heavenly Root (the source of creation in Heaven and Earth) grows abundant. In this way, one enters the sole right path and takes one’s place among the immortal elders, preserving beautiful transformations for the long term and roaming freely in the Jade Palace (the abode of immortals). In time, meeting again in Penglang (a legendary realm of immortals), they will recognize one another with a smile.

Respectfully inscribed by Gong Detong of Qiushui, in his eighty-ninth year.