《洞渊集》

Memorial Presenting the Charts of the Grotto Heavens and Sacred Mountains

I, Li Sicong, a Daoist priest of the Great Centrality Auspicious Talisman Palace in Qianzhou, respectfully submit this memorial.

I humbly believe that the jade caskets and green bamboo slips, the purple books on jade shelves—that is, the precious Daoist scriptures—are numerous, and the range of materials to be sought out and examined is vast. The profound, mysterious writings revered by the Three Pure Ones, as well as the radiant Chart of the True Forms of the Five Sacred Mountains, which depicts their shapes, include records kept secret since antiquity. There are also now books describing the immortal realms of the Ten Continents.

The Daoist way of purity and tranquility has been transmitted for a long time, yet official historians have rarely recorded it. Even among Confucian scholars of outstanding talent and virtue in successive generations, very few have written accounts of these matters. I often take the time after morning and evening cultivation, when the incense on the stove has burned out, to investigate hidden principles in private and arrange them in an orderly fashion. Though the Cinnabar Terrace, where immortals dwell, is distant, and the Purple Palace, home of the immortals, is deep and secluded, I have drawn the material I gathered into charts, making it as clear to the eye as if it were right before us.

In this way, those who revere Daoism may join in praising the nation’s civilizing influence, while those who contemplate the Great Dao may offer prayers for the sovereign’s good fortune and long life. I have been fortunate to encounter an age of peace throughout the land and so to help spread the way of purity and tranquility. I have also gathered charts and books of the immortal realms from far and wide and compiled them for presentation to Your Majesty.

I respectfully reflect that Your Majesty, the Emperor whose titles honor Heaven and follow the Dao, and praise literary and martial wisdom, sacred virtue, and filial devotion, has received auspicious signs and governs the realm, ruling the people with enlightened discernment. Your virtue surpasses that of the rulers of former ages, and Your beneficence will endure for thousands of years. The grace of Emperor Yao sheltered the earth and brought life back to all things; the radiance of Emperor Shun shone throughout the world, bringing harmony and warmth to the four quarters. Thus the peoples of the Eastern Yi and Southern Yue bowed their heads and turned toward benevolence, while the northern Hu and western tribes gave their hearts in submission and accepted instruction. All who have encountered this sage age have deeply received its blessings.

Since childhood, I have devoted myself to our tradition. Whenever I read the writings of worthy predecessors and accounts of extraordinary happenings within the Daoist community, I have often felt that their explanations were broad and general, with few works tracing matters back to their origins. I have applied myself day and night, consulting the scriptures and Daoist writings, gathering evidence, and shaping it into chapters. Over many years, I have amassed a substantial number of volumes.

I have now completed the Chart of the Supreme Expanse of Jade Purity, the Chart of the Grotto Heavens and Five Sacred Mountains, the Chart of the Inner Gardens of Penghu, the Chart of the Great Qi’s Sacred Traces, the Chart of Famous Mountains and Blessed Lands, and the Chart of the Golden Liquid and Returning Elixir. Fortunate to live in a sage age, I dare not leave these manuscripts hidden in a humble dwelling, and so I wish to present them to the court. If Your Majesty would grant them even a brief review, the labor of my life would not have been in vain. I presume to submit them with this memorial. Having offended the dignity of the throne, I am inwardly fearful and trembling, filled with apprehension. With utmost reverence and dread, I bow my head twice and respectfully present this memorial.

In the twelfth month of the first year of the Huangyou era, during the reign of Emperor Renzong of Song, Li Sicong, a Daoist priest at Xiangfu Palace in Qianzhou, submitted a memorial.

Li Sicong described himself as a man of humble rural origins and low status, born in a prosperous age and long devoted to the teaching of Wuwei (non-action). He was fortunate, he said, to live under a court that esteemed the Dao and its methods. By nature dull-witted, he had failed to plumb the depths of the immortal scriptures; his learning was shallow, and he could not fathom the vast and profound principles they contained.

Beginning in the first year of the Mingdao era, he had gradually studied the Daoist tradition’s secret canons and the commentaries of sages from earlier generations, probing their hidden depths and carefully examining their subtleties. He had compiled and illustrated several scrolls: Illustrations of the Jade Void’s Journey Through the Ultimate, which describes the wondrous workings and transformations within the void; Illustrations of the Five Sacred Peaks in the Grotto Heavens, depicting the numinous beauty of the immortal mountains of the Five Peaks; Illustrations of the Inner Gardens of Penglai, celebrating the splendid scenes of the immortal island of Penglai and the Ten Continents; Illustrations of the Great Qi’s Spirit Traces, recounting the profound mysteries of the Dragon Palace and its ocean realm; Illustrations of Blessed Lands Among Famous Mountains, portraying hidden immortal scenes such as the Purple Palace and Cinnabar Terrace; and Illustrations of the Golden Liquids and Returned Elixir, assembling the essential timing methods used by immortals to refine the Golden Liquids and Returned Elixir. Since these scrolls were extensive and difficult to consult, he had also compiled them separately into ten scrolls titled Illustrations for Reclining and Viewing. All were now complete.

He had gathered materials and compiled these illustrations through many years of painstaking effort, hoping only to praise the court’s achievements in governing the realm, and not daring to presume upon the emperor’s favor. With the Qianyuan Festival, the celebration of the emperor’s birthday, approaching, he intended to present six copies of each of the six works, together with the ten scrolls of Illustrations for Reclining and Viewing, and respectfully requested that the court submit them for imperial review.

The matters listed above are as stated. According to the memorial submitted by the Daoist Li Sicong, in addition to the points already mentioned, I, Liang Gong, and the officials of this prefecture have investigated and learned that Li Sicong devotes himself to cultivating the Dao, has studied the books of the immortals for many years, and has practiced for a long time with notable achievements. He has written works such as Cave Abode on Peng Mountain and A Journey to the Utmost Reaches of Jade Purity, accompanied by illustrations and prefaces. Their prose is accomplished and clear, and their style refined and fresh. They are suitable for presentation to Your Majesty and could also help spread the true meaning of Daoism.

Moreover, the annual celebration of Qianyuan is now at hand, and tribute from all regions is gathering at court. The excellence of these works comes from the high immortals; we hope it may also accord with Your Majesty’s plans. If they could be presented along with the tribute, allowing Your Majesty to view them, we would earnestly hope they might find an opportunity to reach the imperial ear. Each illustration in A Journey to the Utmost Reaches of Jade Purity and the other works is accompanied by a poem and a preface; their choice of words and conception are indeed worthy of acceptance. These works are currently held by this prefecture, and we have not yet dared to submit them.

We respectfully await the imperial decree.

Liu Zi of the Secretariat: deliver this to the Zhaoxin Army.

Qianzhou reported to the throne that Li Sicong, a Daoist priest at the Dazhongxiangfu Palace, had, from the first year of the Mingdao era onward, devoted himself to studying Daoist secret texts and the true teachings of sages and worthies through the ages. He sought out their most obscure and hidden meanings, probing deeply into the foundations of the mysterious and wondrous.

He compiled and illustrated The Diagram of Wandering Through the Jade Clarity and Reaching the Ultimate, which describes the marvelous transformations within the realm of the Void; The Diagram of the Grotto Heavens and the Five Sacred Peaks, depicting the numinous wonders of the Five Sacred Peaks and their immortal mountains; The Diagram of the Penglai Isles and the Garden of Inspection, praising the magnificent landscapes of Penglai and the Ten Continents; The Diagram of the Great Darkness and Numinous Readings, explaining the mysteries of the Dragon Palace and the sea; The Diagram of Famous Mountains and Blessed Lands, celebrating secret texts about immortal realms such as the Purple Mansion and Cinnabar Terrace; and The Diagram of the Golden Liquor and the Returning Elixir, collecting the essential timing and methods for the immortals’ alchemical practice. These works comprise six illustrated panels. He also produced ten scrolls of The Reclining and Viewing Diagrams, and requested that they be presented to the court.

After examining the works, the officials of Qianzhou considered them to have genuine merit. The diagrams are currently held in Qianzhou. The officials did not dare present them without authorization and await the imperial command.

By imperial decree: Qianzhou is ordered to submit them by official dispatch. This decree is delivered to Qianzhou for compliance. Twenty-seventh day of the third month, second year of the Huangyou era.

Collected Writings from the Grotto Abyss, juan one

Compiled by Li Sicong, Master of Transcendent Wonder

Preface to “Songs of the Three Realms”

The subject celebrated in the “Ode to the Three Realms” corresponds to the Three Powers: Heaven, Earth, and Humanity. The work is divided into eighty-one chapters, corresponding to the number nine times nine. The “Ode to Jade Clarity” praises the Three Pure Ones (Sanqing), the three highest deities revered in Daoism, for their transformations and manifestations of divine power. The “Ode to Grotto Heavens” depicts the magnificent scenery of the Five Sacred Mountains’ grotto heavens, immortal realms within famous mountains. The “Ode to Seas and Mountains” describes the scenery of the immortal realms of Penghu and their celestial gardens. In this way, the Three Powers are complete, and the number nine takes shape.

Long ago, Master Xiyi wrote the Treatise on Pointing to the Mysterious, explaining the subtle principles of cultivating the body and nourishing Qi (vital energy). Now I sing of the Three Realms, depicting the profound and wondrous places of emptiness, grotto heavens, and sea islands. Though ancient and modern times differ, each work’s aspirations can be found within it. Drawing on the Immortal Scriptures, the Precious Registers, the Phoenix-Inscribed Books of the Clouds, and other texts, I have done my utmost to seek out the roots of these subjects; I have not invented them out of thin air. My knowledge is shallow, and I have only tried to investigate profound principles. I have written this chiefly for those who cultivate the Way and seek the Dao, aspiring to transcendence and ascent to immortality. How could I dare flaunt my literary skill before the scholars of the literary world? May gentlemen who cherish the Dao join in promoting its pure and tranquil way. This preface was written on the Lantern Festival, the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, in the second year of the Huangyou era under Emperor Renzong of Song.

Preface to the “Ode to the Three Pure Ones”: An account of how the Three Pure Ones transmitted scriptures and registers

The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning embodies the vital energies of Heaven and Earth and is the founding patriarch of the Great Dao. He was born of Nature itself; when dispersed, he becomes Qi, and when at rest, he appears as spirit. He has neither beginning nor end and endures forever.

Dwelling in the upper realm, he is the source of the myriad heavens; dwelling in the middle realm, he is the root of the transformations of all things; dwelling in the lower realm, he is the supreme one revered by all emperors. There is no fixed title by which he may be honored, so he is called the “Celestial Worthy.” He established the order of the human world and the heavenly realm. His principles cannot be exhausted through thought or expressed in words. He brings forth the myriad things but does not rule them; he nurtures and transforms the myriad beings but does not direct them with words. He is supreme and supremely exalted, and is therefore called the “Celestial Worthy.” He dwells in the Palace of Subtle Tenuity in the sacred realm of Jade Clarity.

The Dao Lord of Jade Dawn, a revered Daoist deity regarded as an embodiment of the Great Dao, is the Great Dao made manifest. If he is said to exist, he cannot simply be summoned or followed at will; if he is said not to exist, he nevertheless abides in what is indistinct and hard to fathom. Thus he is not truly existent, yet appears as existent; he is not wholly absent, yet appears as absent. Look for him and there is no form; listen for him and there is no sound. Between wondrous existence and wondrous nonexistence, the Great Dao abides. The Dao Lord sees clearly the foundations of the Great Dao and understands its source; he is its deep and unfathomable aspect. He took the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning as his teacher and called himself a disciple who had received the Dao, just as the Lord Lao once received the Great Dao and took the Dao Lord as his teacher.

The Dao Lord of Jade Dawn dwells in Yu-yu Heaven, a sacred realm of Shangqing. He sent down golden statutes, precious registers, and the immortal scriptures of the Three Caverns (the classification of Daoist scriptures), entrusting them to the scripture master, Perfected Yu Luoqiao, who spread the teachings across many lands.

The Primordial Lord Lao, an honorific title for Laozi in Daoism, is the ancestor of primordial Qi and the foundation of Heaven and Earth. Through successive kalpas, he transformed and taught living beings as the ages changed, serving as a teacher in every generation. At times he dwelled in the Nine Heavens; at others, he traveled across the Four Seas. The world cannot be without teachers to guide it, nor without a ruler to govern it. So Lord Lao took the Dao Lord of Jade Dawn as his teacher and called himself a disciple who had received the Dao.

At times, Lord Lao descended among the six stars of the Taiwei Gouchen constellation, where he was called the Great Emperor of Heaven and the Radiant Soul Treasure. In the Zhou dynasty, he was born into the human world. Confucius once said, “Lao Dan is my teacher.” Confucius also sought his advice on ritual and revered him, finding him as difficult to fathom as the legendary dragon. Since Heaven and Earth were created, Lord Lao has appeared in the world more than fifty times. He once traveled west beyond the Flowing Sands, then came to China to teach its people. He was honored as a founding teacher of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism, and established models of law and conduct for rulers throughout the ages. He practiced the Dao across the millennia, and his supernatural powers and transformations were beyond measure. He dwells in Great Red Heaven, a sacred realm of Taiqing.

The Purple Tenuity North Pole Fivefold Spirit Emperor, a revered Daoist deity, dwells in the central celestial enclosure of Purple Tenuity. He is regarded as the teacher of all phenomena, with the stars circling around him. Tradition holds that in the first year of the Longhan era, the six groups of ghosts and spirits and the demons of Mount Luoshan in the Northern Yin went out among the people, bringing suffering and death…

The Purple Tenuity Northern Pole Five-Spirit Emperor resides in the Purple Tenuity Enclosure at the center of Heaven, the celestial region where the Heavenly Emperor dwells, surrounded by the stars. He is the ruler of all things, and all the stars gather around him in homage. Tradition says that in the first year of the Longhan era, the ghosts and spirits of the Six Caverns of Mount Luoshan in the Northern Yin, along with demons and monsters, roamed everywhere, killing people and causing especially grave harm. They were difficult to subdue. The Supreme God therefore summoned the Northern Emperor and ordered him to lead divine generals and heavenly troops in driving out evil forces and saving the people. After completing this mission, the Northern Emperor was elevated to the rank of Emperor and entered the center of Heaven, naturally taking charge of the Purple Tenuity throne. The Seven Perfected say: “Our founding master, the Northern Pole Emperor, endured many kalpas. He diligently tended incense and lamps and revered the Three Pure Ones (Sanqing), until his merit was complete and he ascended to the imperial throne in Purple Tenuity. Whenever he comes and goes, an ornate canopy accompanies him, and the seven treasures shine brightly at his side. His radiance reaches the heavens above and shines down upon the myriad lands. On the twenty-seventh day of every month, he descends to the human world to inspect people’s sins and blessings.”

The Scripture for Delivering Humanity is a classic preached by the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning in the Azure Heaven. It contains the primordial true texts of the four directions, the names of the Demon Kings of the Five Emperors, and the inner sounds of the heavens—the sacred utterances of the celestial realm. These true texts are subtle and profound, unlike ordinary worldly speech. They are secret writings treasured by the great sages of the heavens and kept in the Purple Tenuity Palace. The Supreme God, moved by compassion, was mindful that Heaven and Earth, Yin and Yang, would one day face the destruction of a kalpa, and concerned for the departed souls suffering the Five Pains and Eight Hardships in hell. The celestial gods and immortals asked that these sacred sounds of the scripture be proclaimed to save the people: above, they could dispel heavenly calamities; below, they could ward off poisons and harm, bringing peace to the state and ensuring its fortunes would endure. This revered and wondrous scripture is kept secret in the Purple Tenuity Palace and is the foundation of the myriad Dao.

The Yellow Court Scripture was composed by the Jade Morning Lord within the Medicine Pearl Tower of the Purple Tenuity Upper Palace, in the true realm of Highest Clarity. It describes the various spirit chambers—the places within the womb where the gods reside—and teaches the Dao of the Perfected, who attain long life and immortality.

It also has several other titles: The Text of the Taishang Qin Heart, The Golden Book of the Great Emperor, and The Jade Chapters of Donghua. The Immortal Lord of the Azure Lad of the Eastern Sea said that all the immortals used white jade tablets for their books and engraved the words in gold, paying homage to Heaven and Earth each morning and evening. Later, the scripture was passed from master to disciple to the Divine King of Yanggu, then to Lady Wei, the Primordial Sovereign of Purple Void, and eventually spread among the people.

The Daodejing was written by the Primordial Lord in the Great Clarity Heaven, one of the heavens in Daoist cosmology. In ancient times, Yu Shun governed the people through filial piety and respect for elders and younger siblings, thereby eliciting the descent of the Old Lord. Taking the assumed name Yin Shouzi, the Old Lord gave Shun the five-thousand-character text, enabling him to grasp the subtle principle of “Xiyi”—a term describing the Dao as formless, soundless, and difficult to perceive. Shun then abdicated in favor of a worthy successor and withdrew to live in the wilderness of Cangwu. At that time, the text was kept secret and not circulated.

During the reign of King Zhao of Zhou, the Old Lord traveled west across the Flowing Sands. Yin Xi, the Keeper of the Pass, saw purple-black clouds suspended in the sky, shaped like dragons and serpents. Knowing that a sage was about to pass through, he swept the road, purified himself, and waited in silence for the True Immortal. Yin Xi did indeed meet the Old Lord. He bowed earnestly and asked the Old Lord to save his failing body and grant him secret teachings. Moved by his sincerity, the Old Lord halted his carriage, recited the five thousand characters again, and personally annotated them under the title Section-by-Section Explanation. Later, the Lord of the River’s Edge divided the text into the Dao Jing and the De Jing for Emperor Wen of Han, arranged it in eighty-one chapters, and brought it into circulation.

The Qingjing Jing contains the Old Lord’s secret teachings. Ge Xuan, the Left Immortal Lord of the Supreme Ultimate, said: “This scripture is a treasured book cherished by Heaven; it is not passed on to those whose cultivation is shallow. I received it long ago from the Lord of Donghua. The Lord of Donghua had received it from the Lord of the Golden Tower, who in turn passed it to the Queen Mother of the West. These are all secret transmissions of writings on long life. Those of the highest capacity who understand it rise to become heavenly officials; those of middling capacity who receive it enter the ranks of the immortals of the Southern Palace; and those of lesser capacity who uphold it can still enjoy long life in the human world, travel through the Three Realms, and ascend to the Golden Gate.”

The Yinfu Jing is said to have been bestowed upon the Yellow Emperor by the Dark Lady of the Nine Heavens. It consists of three hundred characters. The first section, of one hundred characters, explains how immortals can hold fast to the Great Dao. The middle section, also one hundred characters, explains how to govern the state and bring peace to the people. The final section, of one hundred characters, sets out strategies for strengthening the army and defeating the enemy. After receiving this scripture, the Yellow Emperor ascended to Heaven on a cloud. “Yin” means hidden or secret, and “fu” means correspondence. Because the workings of Heaven secretly correspond with the principles of human affairs, the text is called the Yinfu Jing.

The Shangqing Baolu is a precious scripture kept in the Nine Heavens and Three Radiant Realms, the three luminous domains of the celestial world. It contains the profound Great Dao. Its mysterious Qi comes from the Great Luo Heaven and is treasured in the Upper Hall of the Jade Capital. Secretly kept by the Jade Emperor and revered by the assembled sages, it is sealed away on the Jade Terrace. Only high-ranking immortals whose names are inscribed in jade at the Golden Gate may carry this book and pay audience in Shangqing, the celestial realm revered in Daoism. This scripture came into being before the appearance of the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning. Formed from Flying Mystery Qi, it shines in jade script across the vast heavens, and all spirits revere it. The Exalted Jade Emperor passed it to the Great Subtlety Heavenly Emperor, who passed it on to Shangqing. The enlightened sage Yin Xiaoyou, King of Heaven, then received it, and the Perfected Lord Wang passed it to the Primordial Lady of Purple Emptiness, Wei Huacun. Wei Huacun in turn passed it to Yang Siming of Maoshan and the Senior Historian Xu. Only afterward did the scripture descend into the human world.

The Lingbao Xianchou Jing took written form through the gathering of the Nine Qi, the subtle energies that constitute Heaven and Earth. It shines brightly, its power reaching upward through the Nine Heavens and destroying the evil forces of the Six Heavens below. The Supreme Emperor regarded it as an intensely secret scripture. Anyone whose name was not inscribed in the Golden Tablets and Jade Books was forbidden to look upon it casually. The Dao Lord passed it to the Great Subtlety Heavenly Emperor, who passed it to the Later Sage Emperor of the Golden Gate. The Later Sage Emperor passed it to the Azure Youth Lord, who in turn passed it to the perfected adept Xu Laile, the Perfected Lord of Taiji. From there it was passed to Lord Ge, the Immortal, and eventually remained in the human world.

According to tradition, during the Later Han period, the Dao Lord of Jade Dawn rode a five-colored auspicious cloud down to Heming Mountain with an orderly retinue. He said to Celestial Master Zhang Daoling: “I have seen demons and spirits mingling chaotically in the lower world and human society thrown into disorder. The people are suffering harm and dying before their time. Therefore, I bestow upon you the Zhengyi method.”

The Record of the Zhengyi Covenant’s Authority states that during the Eastern Han, the Jade Dawn Lord of the Dao (a revered Daoist deity) descended upon Heming Mountain in a procession of great order, riding auspicious clouds of five colors. He said to Celestial Master Zhang Daoling, “I have seen demons and ghosts mingling in the world below, human society thrown into disorder, and the people often dying young or suffering injury. I now grant you a scroll of the Zhengyi Register of Ritual Methods and two divine swords, so that you may help me cut down demons, monsters, and baleful forces, restore what is evil to what is upright, harmonize Heaven and Earth, defend the state, and bring peace to households. When your work is complete, I will guide you to ascend to the Land of No-Where.”

The Lord ordered Zhang Daoling to travel to western Sichuan and spread and teach the Dao. Zhang subdued the two ghost masters Wang Chang and Zhao Sheng, enlisting their help to transform the twenty-four ghost prisons into twenty-four blessed sanctuaries. He assigned them to keep watch by day and night, and strictly ordered the spirits and ghosts to observe the precepts, so that Heaven and Earth might be clear and tranquil and the people might enjoy long lives in peace.

Later, during the reign of Emperor Huan of the Eastern Han, Zhang Daoling ascended to Heaven in broad daylight and was honored as the Perfected One of Zhengyi (Orthodox Unity). From that time onward, the Zhengyi Register of Ritual Methods began to circulate.

The Golden Statutes and Jade Laws of the Dao records that at midnight on the fifteenth day of the first month of the second year of the Han’an era, the Daoist deity Lord of Jade Dawn arrived in a jade carriage drawn by nine dragons. His solemn, orderly procession filled the sky. Accompanied by clear, lilting songs, it passed high above the earth, ten thousand ren away, without descending.

The Celestial Master (Zhang the Celestial Master) looked up at the Lord and laid bare his heart in a confession. The Lord said to the Perfected One, “Long ago, I ordered you to go to western Shu and subdue ghosts and demons. But without waiting for a Celestial Talisman, you took it upon yourself to raise thunder and rain and command officials and troops, exceeding the proper bounds. You also drove the stars and disrupted the sun and moon, alarming the Celestial Court above and disturbing the underworld below. Killing force spread across the sky, and baleful light reached in every direction. Now the Supreme Emperor has called you to account for your transgressions and entered your crimes in the register. I can no longer draw near to you.”

Grief-stricken, the Celestial Master pleaded with the Lord, offering to accept death before his carriage and begging for help. Taking pity on him, the Lord sent a Merit Officer messenger, a divine official who conveys commands from Heaven, to open the Purple Yang Jade Case and take out three scrolls of plain silk. They bore the title Ritual of the Jade Statutes and Golden Laws: Atoning for Sin, Erasing the Register of Darkness, and Delivering the Nine Ancestors. After receiving the command, the Celestial Master withdrew to Heming Mountain and performed a Zhaijiao purification ritual, using offerings, scripture recitation, and prayers to appeal to the gods. He confessed his sins and prayed for the forgiveness of the myriad spirits. When the rite was complete, his merit reached the heavens. He ascended to Heaven in broad daylight, took his place among the Three Heavens, and became the Great Dharma Master Who Supports the Teaching. The Jade Statutes and Golden Laws used in the purification rite have been passed down ever since.

Mount Jade Capital of the Mysterious Metropolis, a celestial mountain in Daoist tradition, extends for ninety thousand li around. It is formed from the essence of Yang Qi, stands without roots, and hangs suspended in the air within the Great Luo Heaven of the Infinite. On the mountain stand gates and towers built of the Seven Treasures, their radiance shining across the heavens. The mountain is broad at the top and narrow at the base, like Mount Kunlun. Beside it lie the Twelve Heavens, vast and far-reaching, formed naturally from Yang Qi. Below the mountain stands the Seven-Treasure Qian Forest, its luxuriant branches and leaves spreading over the surrounding land.

Eight roads are laid out in the eight directions, paths by which the immortals of those regions come to receive their commands. The flowers and leaves along the roads are formed from Mysterious Qi. They display phoenix seals and dragon scripts, as well as the inner-toned writings of the heavens and subtle sayings on the Dao and Virtue. The assembled sages chant these words, whose meaning is profound and difficult to grasp fully. When the numinous wind stirs, the music of Jun Heaven resounds through the sky. This is the abode of the Supreme Emperor of Emptiness, where the myriad sages pay homage; it is also the city of the highest Dao and the Mysterious Metropolis where exalted immortals dwell.

Mount Denduluo lies in the northern quarter of Gui, the water-bearing direction. It is where the Gate of Ghosts stands, and the source of death and darkness. The mountain rises 2,600 li and extends 30,000 li around. Within it is a cavern palace, where ghosts and spirits gather. There are twelve palaces inside the mountain and twelve outside, making twenty-four Yin palaces in all. They are places where guilty souls are examined and punished.

The mountain contains three offices, nine bureaus, and twenty-four prisons. Underworld officials, ghosts, and spirits oversee the Black Register, recording the sins of the dead. The mountain is said to have coalesced from turbid black Qi, and it rules over the dark Yin realm. It is also the hub of the Nine Earths, the underworld. The mountain’s forests and plants all take on this baleful Qi, giving rise to blade-like forms, while black smoke fills the air without ceasing, day or night. The mountain has divine soldiers who administer punishments and regularly try guilty souls.

On each of the Three Primordial Days and Eight Festivals, important dates for Daoist purification rituals and offerings, the Northern Emperor’s underworld officials bring forth the dead who have endured tribulations and fallen into hardship. They question them about the causes of their sins, their native places, the locations of their graves, and the times and places where they lived before death. If their crimes are grave and they have not yet received pardon from the Celestial Court, calamities may reach their descendants in the world of the living, bringing disaster upon the family.

The Lord of the Northern Emperor commands the ghost officials and guards this mountain. The mountain’s palaces are formed from the Qi of yellow essence, and their officials are ancient emperors. After death, meritorious people such as loyal ministers and filial children may serve as underworld officials, dressed in yellow robes adorned with vermilion embroidery. On the seventh day of the seventh month, these officials regularly assess the good and evil deeds of people in the world and submit the charges recorded in the Black Register to the Celestial Treasury. If worldly concerns cloud people’s minds and they cannot awaken to understanding, they cannot remember their ancestors or guide them. The ranks and duties of the Earthly Officials, too, are arranged in a hierarchy.

End of volume one of the Dongyuan Collection.

Dongyuan Collection, Volume Two

Compiled by Master Chongmiao, Li Sicong

The Ten Great Grotto-Heavens

The first Grotto-Heaven is at the summit of the Celestial Altar Peak on Mount Wangwu. The peak rises 120 li, and the Grotto-Heaven extends 10,000 li around it. It is called “Heaven of Lesser Abundance and Pure Emptiness,” also known as “Lesser Abundance Heaven.” It is governed by the two perfected beings Du Chong and Wang Bao, respectively the King of Lesser Abundance Heaven and the Perfected One of Pure Emptiness. It is located in Wangwu County, Luojing.

The second Grotto-Heaven is on Mount Weiyu. It extends 10,000 li around and is called “Heaven of Great Abundance and Luminous Emptiness.” It is governed by Sima Jizhu, the Perfected One of Great Abundance, and belongs to Taizhou. The Erya records that it should lie in the sea.

The third Grotto-Heaven is on Mount Xicheng. The mountain rises 2,000 zhang, and the Grotto-Heaven extends 3,000 li around. It is called “Heaven of the Great Mystery and Supreme Reality” and is governed by the Perfected One Wang Fangping. The mountain lies 1,000 li west of Chengdu Prefecture in Liangzhou, within the western frontier.

The fourth Grotto-Heaven is on Mount Xixuan. The mountain rises 2,700 zhang, and the Grotto-Heaven extends 1,000 li around. It is called “Heaven of the Three Mysteries and Supreme Reality” and is governed by the Perfected One Pei. The mountain belongs to Huazhou, but ordinary people cannot reach it; it lies within the western frontier.

The fifth Grotto-Heaven is on Mount Damianshan in Qingcheng. The records offer two accounts. One says the mountain rises 700 zhang, the Grotto-Heaven extends 1,000 li around, and it is called “Heaven of the Three Mysteries and Supreme Reality,” governed by the Perfected One Pei. The other says the mountain rises 3,680 zhang and 9 chi, the Grotto-Heaven extends 2,000 li around, and it is called “Heaven of the Nine Chambers of the Precious Immortal,” governed by the Perfected One Yu. Tradition says that the Yellow Emperor once sought the Dao here, and that the Perfected Lord Xiyi also taught the Yellow Emperor the Dragon and Jiao Scripture here. The mountain is in Qingcheng County, Shuzhou.

The sixth Grotto-Heaven is on Mount Chicheng in Tiantai. The mountain rises 18,000 zhang, and the Grotto-Heaven extends 500 li around. It is called “Heaven of the Jade Plain in the Upper Clarity” and is governed by the Perfected One Wang of Tongqiao. Tradition says that the immortal lord Ge Xuan once refined an elixir here and attained the Dao. Because the mountain corresponds to the Tai constellation in the heavens, it is called “Tiantai.” It lies in Tiantai County, Taizhou.

Seventh, Mount Luofu rises 3,600 zhang. Its grotto-palace extends for 500 li and is called the “Heaven of Vermilion Brightness and Radiant Truth.” It is the immortal island of Penglai, located in Tiantai County, Taizhou. Another account says that Mount Luofu corresponds to the Celestial Terrace constellation above, and is therefore also called Mount Tiantai. Legend has it that in the time of Emperor Yao, floods surged in from the sea, joining Mount Luo and Mount Fu into one; hence the name “Luofu.” This is also where Ge Hong, the Master Who Embraces Simplicity, refined elixirs and attained the Dao. The mountain is in Boluo County, Huizhou.

Eighth, Mount Mao rises 170 zhang. Its grotto-palace extends for 150 li and is called the “Heaven of the Golden Altar and Splendid Yang.” In ancient times it was known as Mount Gouqu. Since the Mao Lords refined elixirs and attained the Dao here, it came to be called Mount Mao. Records say that within the Grotto-Heaven of Splendid Yang stands a hundred-zhang-high golden altar and a palace of purple jade, where perfected beings of the Highest Clarity travel and rest. Mount Mao is in Jurong County, Shengzhou.

Ninth, the grotto-palace of Mount Linwu extends for 400 li. It is called the “Heaven of the You Shen Hidden Ruins,” and is also known as Mount Baoshan. It lies in Lake Tai. After Yu the Great had successfully controlled the floods, he concealed the Five Lingbao Talismans in this grotto-palace. The mountain is in Suzhou.

Tenth, the grotto-palace of Mount Kuocang extends for 300 li. It is called the “Heaven of Realms of Virtue and Hidden Truth,” and is where the perfected being Xu Laile cultivated and purified himself. It is in Chuzhou.

The Thirty-Six Grotto-Heavens

First, Mount Huotong rises 3,400 zhang. Its grotto-palace extends for 3,000 li and is called the “Heaven of the Huolin Grove.” It is governed by the perfected beings Zheng Siyuan, Han Zhong, and Xu Ying, together with Lord Siming. The mountain is in Changxi County, Fuzhou.

The second of the Five Sacred Peaks, the Eastern Peak, is Mount Tai. It rises 4,002 zhang, and the grotto-heaven encircling the mountain has a circumference of 1,000 li. It is called “Heaven of the Pengxuan Empty Grotto.” Taihao, the legendary ancient ruler, is honored as the Azure Emperor and governs the Eastern Peak. He presides over the growth of all things and also examines the souls of the dead, along with spirits and ghosts. Mount Tai is the mountain where emperors of successive dynasties performed the great Feng and Shan ceremonies to repay Heaven and Earth for their merits. In Heaven, it corresponds to the essences of the Kui and Lou lunar mansions; on Earth, it guards the land of Lu. It is located in Fengfu County, Yanzhou.

The third of the Five Sacred Peaks, the Southern Peak, is Mount Heng. It rises 4,010 zhang, and its grotto-heaven has a circumference of 2,000 li. It is called “Heaven of the Vermilion Mound and Great Void.” Shennong is honored as the Red Emperor and governs the Southern Peak. According to legend, long ago the Lord Above sent down a jade register and a precious seal, granting them to the Perfected Lord Shengzhen so that he might guard this sacred mountain forever. It is also the mountain where people pray for the ruler’s long life. In Heaven, Mount Heng corresponds to the essences of the Yi, Han, Ji, and Heng lunar mansions, among others; this is the origin of its name, “Heng.” On Earth, it guards the land of Chu. Its location is first given as Mount Heng in Hengzhou, and later as Heng County in Hengzhou.

The fourth of the Five Sacred Peaks, the Western Peak, is Mount Hua. It rises 7,000 zhang, and its grotto-heaven has a circumference of 2,000 li. It is called “Heaven of the Supreme Ultimate and the Assembly of Immortals.” Shaohao is honored as the White Emperor and governs the Western Peak. According to legend, the Giant Spirit deity once split open the upper part of the mountain with his hands and stamped open its lower part with his feet, clearing the flow of the waters and saving the people from flood disaster. Mount Hua’s Immortal Palm Peak stands out in a striking form. In Heaven, Mount Hua corresponds to the essences of the Jing and Gui lunar mansions; on Earth, it guards the land of Tai. It is located in Huayin County, Huazhou.

The fifth of the Five Sacred Peaks, the Northern Peak, is Mount Chang. It rises 2,900 zhang, and its grotto-heaven has a circumference of 2,000 li. It is called “Heaven of the Great One and the Assembly of the Mysterious.” Zhuanxu is honored as the Black Emperor and governs the Northern Peak. The mountain contains five named sites: the Lantai Palace, the Palace of Virtuous Women, the Huayang Terrace, the Ziwei Terrace, and the Palace of the Great One. In Heaven, Mount Chang corresponds to the essence of the Bi lunar mansion and other constellations; on Earth, it guards the land of Yan. It oversees abundant harvests of the world’s five grains. It is located in Chang County, Dingzhou.

Sixth, Mount Song in the Central Peak rises seven thousand zhang. Its cavern extends a thousand li in every direction and is called “Heaven of the Supreme Lord’s Charge over the True.” It is the celestial realm where the Supreme Lord governs the true immortals. According to legend, when the Yellow Emperor ruled the Central Plain, the essence of Qi belonging to the Earth phase of the Five Phases gathered here. The Yellow Emperor and Laozi are said to have stayed here to cultivate the Way. The mountain holds the lofty dwelling of the immortal Beiduo, the terraces and pavilions where the Jade Maiden wove brocade, and such rare treasures as stone marrow, jade rings, jade figures, and golden statues. In the heavens, the mountain corresponds to the stellar essences of the Liu, Xing, and Zhang lunar lodges; on earth, it guards the Zhou region. It lies in Dengfeng County, Luojing.

Seventh, Mount Emei has a cavern extending three hundred li in every direction, called the “Heaven of Empty Numinous Marvel.” It is governed by the Celestial Perfected Sovereign, a legendary immortal. The Yellow Emperor is said to have once sought the Dao from him here. The Celestial Perfected Sovereign passed on to the Yellow Emperor the Scripture on Guarding the Three Ones, which describes the method of maintaining the “Three Ones”; it later circulated among the people. Yan Junping, a Han dynasty scholar and practitioner of divination, assisted in governing this mountain. It lies in Emei County, Jiazhou.

Eighth, Mount Lu rises three thousand nine hundred zhang. Its cavern extends one thousand seven hundred li in every direction and is called the “Heaven of Immortal Spirits Chanting the True.” In ancient times it was also known as the Mountain of the Three Celestial Son Peaks. According to legend, during the reign of King Wu of Zhou, a master named Fang Fu, courtesy name Junji, rode a white donkey into the mountain and lived in a thatched hut. He refined elixirs there and attained the Dao, giving the mountain its name, Mount Lu. It is governed by the Perfected Ones Wang Chang and Zhao Sheng, and lies in Deyang County, Jiangzhou.

Ninth, Mount Siming has two hundred and eighty peaks. Its cavern extends one hundred and eighty li in every direction and is called the “Heaven of Cinnabar Mountain and Red Waters.” The mountain has four gates through which the light of the sun, moon, and stars can be seen, hence the name “Siming,” meaning “Four Brightnesses.” Legend says that Qin Shi Huang once ordered mountains to be driven into the sea to fill it, compelling spirits and gods to labor. They fled into the cavern of Mount Siming and never came out, so the mountain is also called “Ghost-Hiding Mountain.” It lies in Mingzhou.

Tenth, Mount Yangping lies within Fan County, Shu Commandery, one hundred and eighty li from Chengdu. Its cavern extends three hundred and fifty li in every direction and is called the “Heaven of the Utmost Mystery and Great Primordial.” It is said to be where Yu the Great stored books.

The eleventh Grotto-Heaven is Mount Taibai. The area around its grotto dwelling extends for five hundred li, and it is called “Heaven of True Virtue.” Tradition holds that this was where Guiguzi taught Su Qin the ways of advising the feudal lords. The shrine temple still stands in Chang’an County.

The twelfth Grotto-Heaven is Mount Xishan. The area around its grotto dwelling extends for six hundred li, and it is called “Heaven of the Heavenly Treasure and Supreme Truth.” Tradition holds that Master Hongya dug an alchemical well here and cultivated the Dao. It is also said to be where the twelve Perfected Lords Hao and Xu relocated and ascended. It is located in Nanchang County, Hongzhou.

The thirteenth Grotto-Heaven is Mount Dawei. It extends for three hundred li and is called “Heaven of Mysterious Life-Giving Heights.” It is located in Liling County, Tanzhou.

The fourteenth Grotto-Heaven is Mount Qianshan. The area around its grotto dwelling extends for eight hundred li, and the mountain rises one thousand zhang. It is called “Heaven of the Heavenly Pillar and the Mysterious Bureau.” Tradition holds that the Perfected Zuo Ci refined elixirs and attained the Dao here. It was also the seat of the dynasty’s sacred ancestor, the Great Emperor of the Nine Heavens Who Directs the Mandate of Life. It is located in Huaining County, Shuzhou.

The fifteenth Grotto-Heaven is Mount Guigu. The area around its grotto dwelling extends for seven thousand li, and it is called “Heaven of the Great Origin and Contemplation of Truth.” Tradition holds that the Perfected Zhang, the Celestial Master of Zhengyi, refined elixirs and cultivated the Dao here. It is located in Guixi County, Xinzhou.

The sixteenth Grotto-Heaven is Mount Wuyi. The area around its grotto dwelling extends for one hundred and twenty li, and it is called “Heaven of Ascension and Transformation into Mysterious Truth.” It is governed by Lord Wuyi. The mountain rises three hundred ren, and it is located in Jianyang County, Jianzhou.

The seventeenth Grotto-Heaven is Mount Yusun. It rises thirty li and extends for four hundred li. It is called “Heaven of the Great Simplicity and Dharma Joy” and was known in ancient times as “Peaks of the Clustered Jades.” Tradition holds that Emperor Wu of Han once established an altar here and transmitted the Shangqing registers. Jade shoots descended from heaven, giving the mountain its name. The site is governed by the King of Great Excellence. It is also where Du Tanyong and Xiao Ziyun, two of the Nine Perfected Ones of the Han dynasty, refined elixirs and ascended. It is located in Xingan County, Linjiang Army.

The eighteenth Grotto-Heaven is Mount Huagai. The area around its grotto dwelling extends for four hundred li, and it is called “Heaven of Rongcheng’s Great Jade.” It is located in Yongjia County, Wenzhou.

Nineteenth, Gaizhu Mountain. Its cavern dwelling extends for 180 li and is called the Heaven of Radiant Treasures and Primordial Origins. Tradition holds that Yu the Great once guarded this mountain, that the Perfected Ge Xiaoxian once governed it, and that Master Bu attained the Dao here. The mountain lies in Huangyan County, Taizhou.

Twentieth, Duqiao Mountain. Its cavern dwelling extends for 180 li and is called the Heaven of Profound Treasures. It lies in Rongzhou.

Twenty-first, Baishi Mountain. Its cavern dwelling extends for 700 li and is called the Heaven of Jade Splendor and Everlasting Truth. It lies in Rongzhou.

Twenty-second, Julou Mountain. Its cavern dwelling extends for 300 li and is called the Heaven of Jade Towers and Precious Gui Tablets. This is where the Perfected Ge Hong practiced alchemy. The mountain lies in Beiliu County, Rongzhou.

Twenty-third, Jiuyi Mountain. Its cavern dwelling extends for 3,000 li and is called the Heaven of the Primordial Void of Ascent to the True. It is governed by the High Perfected Lord of the Supreme Ultimate. Tradition holds that the Perfected Lord He once lived here, met Yu the Great, and imparted the Golden Elixir in separate transmissions before ascending to Heaven. The mountain lies in Yankang County, Daozhou.

Twenty-fourth, Dongyang Mountain. Its cavern dwelling extends for 150 li and is called the Heaven of Hidden Vision in Dongyang. It lies in Tanzhou.

Twenty-fifth, Mufu Mountain. Its cavern dwelling extends for 100 li and is called the Heaven of Profound Mystery in the Cavern of Truth. It lies in Pingjiang County, Yuezhou.

Twenty-sixth, Dayou Mountain. Its cavern dwelling extends for 100 li and is called the Heaven of Magnificent Wonders of Dayou. Tradition holds that Master Shanjuan lived here in the time of Emperor Yao, and that Master Zhang Guo practiced the Dao here during the Tang dynasty. The mountain lies in Chenzhou.

Twenty-seventh, Jinting Mountain. Its cavern dwelling extends for 300 li and is called the Heaven of Sublime Wonders of the Golden Court. It lies in Ke County, Yuezhou.

The twenty-eighth is Mount Magu. Its cavern realm extends for 150 li and is called the “Heaven of Cinnabar Cliffs.” Tradition holds that this is where the perfected person King Wang Fangping of the Southern Pole met Magu at the home of Cai Jing, and where they later ascended to immortality. The mountain is in Nancheng County, Jianchang Army.

The twenty-ninth is Mount Xiandu. Its domain extends for 300 li and is called the “Heaven of the Mysterious Capital for Praying for Immortality,” also known as the “Yellow Heaven.” Tradition holds that the Yellow Emperor once rode a fiery dragon from here and ascended to Heaven. The mountain is in Jinyun County, Chuzhou.

The thirtieth is Mount Qingtian. Its domain extends for 500 li and is called the “Heaven of the Great Crane of Qingtian.” Tradition holds that this is where the Daoist Qingniu attained the Dao. The mountain is in Qingtian County, Chuzhou.

The thirty-first is Mount Zhong. Its domain extends for 100 li and is called the “Heaven of Zhubu, the Great Birth.” Tradition holds that it was governed by Ma Mingsheng. The mountain is in Shangyuan County, Shengzhou.

The thirty-second is Mount Liangchang. Its domain extends for 30 li and is called the “Heaven of Liangchang’s Auspicious Assembly.” Tradition holds that it was governed by Mao Zhong, honored as the Perfected Lord Who Preserves Life. Xu Changshi and the family of the perfected Yang Lang also attained the Dao here. The mountain lies north of Mount Mao in Runzhou.

The thirty-third is Mount Zigai. Its cavern realm extends for 80 li and is called the “Heaven of the Purple Mystery’s Illumination.” It is in Yuhang County, Hangzhou.

The thirty-fourth is Mount Tianmu. It is called “Two Eyes” because it has two peaks: the left peak is 3,000 zhang high, and the right peak is 2,500 zhang high. Its cavern realm extends for 100 li and is called the “Heaven of the Great Tenuity’s Mysterious Canopy.” The mountain is in Hangzhou.

The thirty-fifth is Mount Taoyuan. Its cavern realm extends for 70 li and is called the “Heaven of the White Horse’s Mysterious Perfection.” During the Qin dynasty, more than 3,000 people entered its cavern to escape danger; according to legend, they later attained the Dao and became immortals. This is also where the perfected person Huang Qu cultivated the elixir and attained the Dao. The mountain is in Wuling County, Dingzhou.

The thirty-sixth mountain is Mount Jinhua. It rises a thousand zhang, and its cave extends for five hundred li around. It is called “Heaven of the Grotto Yuan of Jinhua.” This is where the perfected Huang Chuping met Red Pine Master, scolded the stones until they turned into sheep, and thereby attained the Dao. It lies in Jinhua County, Weizhou. Mount Jinhua corresponds to the Maiden Star in the heavens, which is why it bears this name.

This concludes Volume Two of the Dongyuan Collection.

Volume Three of the Dongyuan Collection

Compiled by Li Sicong, the Master of Profound Wonder

The Nine Immortal Mountains

Mount Guang sang is the Eastern Sacred Mountain of Heaven, situated in the East Sea. Of the Five Sacred Mountains, it is the first to bring forth the myriad things. On the mountain stand palaces and towers of blue-green clouds, tall forests of jade trees, and such rare wonders as purple sparrows, emerald luan birds, blue-green lotus roots, and white mandarins—so many that they defy description. The Celestial Lord of the Green Emperor, Ling Weiyang, commands many immortal officials who guard the mountain. He governs the essence of the Year Star and dwells within the Ninth Black Heaven of the East.

Mount Changli is the Southern Sacred Mountain of Heaven, situated in the South Sea. On the mountain are vermilion palaces, halls, and alchemical chambers, as well as rare immortal treasures such as vermilion herbs, rainbow fungi, rosy-cloud unguents, and golden sweet wine—so many that they defy description. All the spirits in the world who first attain the Dao must go to the palaces here to purify and cleanse their bodies, wash and refine themselves, dispel Yin Qi, and refine and nourish Yang Qi, cultivating the way of long life and lasting vision. The Celestial Lord of the Red Emperor, Chi Biaonu, commands many immortal officials who guard the mountain. He governs the essence of the Fire Star and dwells within the Third Black Heaven of the South.

Mount Linong is the Western Sacred Mountain of Heaven, situated in the West Sea. On the mountain are palaces and towers of white blossoms, a city of the Three Whites, and the palace of the King’s Spring, along with rare wonders such as jade trees, qilin, and phoenixes—so many that they defy description. The Celestial Lord of the White Emperor, Bai Zhaoju, commands many immortal officials who guard the mountain. He governs the essence of the Great White Star and dwells within the Seventh Black Heaven of the West.

Guangye Mountain is the Northern Peak of the celestial realm, situated amid the Weak Waters of the Northern Sea. It resembles Mount Kunlun and, together with Dengdu Luo Mountain, governs the shadowy underworld. Many halls and pavilions of jade, golden sweet dew, and numinous lingzhi grow on the mountain; its splendor is beyond description. The Black Emperor, Lord of Heaven, Xu Guangji, who rules the north, commands numerous immortal officials in guarding the mountain. He governs the vital essence of the Chen Star (Mercury) and dwells within the Five Black Heavens of Mystery.

Mount Kunlun is the Central Peak of the celestial realm, situated amid the Eight Seas and directly facing the heart of heaven. It resembles an inverted canopy, broad at the top and narrow below, and is divided into three tiers. Its summit aligns with the center of the ten thousand degrees in the celestial sphere. The ecliptic and equator along which the sun and moon travel meet on the mountain, and the three luminaries—the sun, moon, and stars—move from there. The mountain’s eastern side is called Kunlun, its western side Xuanpu, and its northern side Ban Feng; to the south it connects with Jishi and Dayan. Four mountains—Shuiquan, Beihu, and two others—stand in the four directions, each ten thousand li from the next.

On the mountain are the jade blossoms of Que, the Hall of Luminous Jade, and groves of jade trees beside emerald waters. The Queen Mother of the West, the foremost of the female immortals, leads the assembled perfected beings who dwell there. The four sacred peaks in the seas are like branches of Kunlun, while the Ten Continents, Three Islands, Eight Seas, and great rivers surround it. At the summit stand five golden terraces and twelve jade towers, with a golden city stretching for a thousand li. The ground bears forests of golden-rooted trees and jade-branched trees, as well as rare wonders such as purple magpies, emerald luan birds, green peaches, and purple nai plums. Treasures adorn the mountain in countless forms, too many to record one by one.

The Yellow Emperor, Lord of Heaven, Han Shuniu, who dwells at the center and commands the immortal realm, leads numerous immortal officials in guarding Kunlun. He oversees its grotto realms and connects it with the famous mountains of the Central Land, the Five Peaks. Immortals travel back and forth there, examining and verifying the registers of life and death. The Yellow Emperor, Lord of Heaven, governs the vital essence of the Zhen Star (Saturn) and dwells within the central Black Heaven. The five mountains beyond the seas are the five directional peaks that anchor heaven and earth, the Five Peaks formed by the workings of creation, and the ancestral mountains of the Five Black Heavens.

Penglai Mountain lies in the Eastern Sea. It is a thousand li high and three thousand li across. On the mountain stand golden terraces and jade halls: the capital where immortals reside, and a place where the Great Thearch travels and rests. The sea around Penglai is deep black and is called “Qibo.” Even when there is no wind, waves a hundred zhang high surge across it, making passage impossible. Only flying immortals can reach the mountain.

Fusang Mountain lies in the Eastern Sea, stretches ten thousand li across, and is nine hundred thousand li from China. It is governed by Qing Tong Jun, the Elder of Supreme Truth. The mountain is covered in dense woodland, all of it mulberry trees. The tallest rise several thousand zhang, and the thickest trunks measure two thousand armspans around. The trees lean against one another, their roots joined together, which is why the mountain is called “Fusang.” The mulberries are sweet and fragrant, with a deep red color, and bear fruit only once every thousand years. After immortals gather and eat them, their bodies shine with golden light and they can fly through the sky. Nine-colored golden phoenixes and crows live in the trees. When a crow calls, the roosters across the land crow in reply, and day breaks.

Fangzhang Mountain lies in the middle of the sea and rises forty-seven thousand zhang. On it stands the Palace of Great Origin, where the perfected beings who administer the life destinies of the Three Heavens reside. There are jade nectar and golden wine there; drinking them grants longevity. The mountain is also home to many auspicious birds and strange trees, too numerous to describe one by one. Elsewhere on the mountain stands the Palace and Estate of the Elder of the Nine Sources, who governs the water deities throughout the world, along with aquatic beings such as merfolk, dragons, and giant whales.

Canglang Mountain lies in the middle of the sea. It is five hundred li high and three thousand five hundred li across. The sea around it is blue-green on every side, so immortals call it “Canglang.” The mountain is rich in stone osmanthus and stone lingzhi. Within it is a chamber of purple jade, the seat of the Immortal Capital of the Nine Elders. The Lord of the Immortal Capital of the Nine Elders commands tens of thousands of immortal officials and military officers, who govern the mountain together.

The Eight Divine Isles

Yingzhou lies in the Eastern Sea. It is four thousand li across and seven hundred thousand li from the shore, directly opposite Kuaiji. Two mountains, Qingqiu and Cuishui, stand on the island, where ten thousand palaces of the immortals and houses of jade have been built. Jade wine grows from the ground; drinking it grants eternal life. The island also produces Kunwu iron, which can be forged into blades so sharp they cut jade as easily as mud. Marvelous fungi and elixirs grow across its hills and rocks, beyond counting. The High Perfected Immortals dwell here.

Zuzhou lies in the Eastern Sea. It is ten thousand li across and seventy thousand li from the shore. On the island grows the wondrous fungus of the jade fields, also called the spirit-nourishing fungus, which can make people immortal. It looks like a melon vine and can grow several feet tall. If placed over a dead person’s face, it can bring them back to life. Qin Shi Huang once obtained this fungus.

Zuzhou lies in the Eastern Sea. It is ten thousand li across and seventy thousand li from the shore. On the island grows the wondrous fungus of the jade fields, also called the spirit-nourishing fungus, which can make people immortal. It looks like a melon vine and can grow several feet tall. If placed over a dead person’s face, it can bring them back to life. Qin Shi Huang once obtained this fungus, sent someone to consult Master Guigu of Beiguo, a legendary Daoist adept, and tested it; it proved effective. Qin Shi Huang then sent Xu Fu, courtesy name Junfang, with five hundred boys and five hundred girls, carrying money and silk, to sail across the sea in search of Zuzhou and its immortal herb. Xu Fu never returned, leaving Qin Shi Huang deeply disappointed. Thousands upon thousands of immortals live on the island, and the High Perfected dwell there in countless numbers.

Juku Zhou lies in the Western Sea. It is three thousand li across and two hundred and forty thousand li from the shore. A great mountain stands on the island, shaped like a person and a crow, and is therefore called Renwu Mountain. Within the mountain is the Palace of the Mysterious Cavern. On its slopes grows the soul-restoring incense tree, shaped like a paulownia; its blossoms’ fragrance carries for hundreds of li. When refined into incense, it yields six varieties: the first is called Essence-Awakening Incense, the second Spirit-Thunder Incense, the third Life-Restoring Incense, the fourth Sandalwood Thunder Incense, the fifth Phoenix-Essence Incense, and the sixth Death-Repelling Incense. All six are wondrous substances used by the immortals. The fragrance can bring the dead back to life. The High Perfected dwell here in the immortal palaces and cavern mansions. By the Han dynasty, this place had established contact with the Central Plains.

Yan Continent lies in the South Sea. It is two thousand li across and ninety thousand li from the shore. Its boundaries stretch for several thousand li in every direction. The heat rises in billowing waves, reaching straight into the clouds. Even birds that fly high in the sky dare not cross the sea; the waters all around the continent therefore boil. On the continent lives a kind of volcanic mouse, with fur several feet long. Immortals gather its fur and weave it into cloth called “fire-washed cloth.” Garments made from this cloth do not become clean and bright when washed with water; when placed in a fire, they instead turn white as snow. The continent also produces the wind-born beast, which is blue and shaped like a civet. If placed on a pile of firewood and burned, its fur remains intact as before. After it dies, it can come back to life as soon as it touches the wind. On the continent stands the Palace of Mount Tai’s Flowing Fire, a place where immortals gather to cultivate and govern. Many of the highest perfected immortals reside there. By the Han dynasty, the continent had once been connected with the Central Plains.

Phoenix and Qilin Continent lies in the Western Sea. It is fifteen hundred li across and surrounded on all sides by Weak Water, a legendary body of water in which even feathers cannot float. Phoenixes and qilin are plentiful on the continent, which gives it its name. It produces soul-returning incense and sinew-renewing glue. The immortals boil a phoenix’s beak together with a qilin’s horn to make a blue-green glue like jade, called “Metal-Joining Paste.” It is a wondrous substance. The continent is home to the Palace of Azure Splendor and the Estate of the Plain Cinnabar Grove, both dwellings of the immortals and the highest perfected beings, beyond the reach of ordinary people.

Mysterious Continent lies in the North Sea. It is two thousand two hundred li across and thirty-six thousand li from the shore. The continent has many hills, including Wind Mountain, whose sounds are like thunder. Facing the Gate of Heaven, the mountain is home to the Office of the Mysterious Capital, where immortal lords and perfected beings govern. The continent produces gold, jade, and purple fungi. Even when there is no wind, waves a hundred zhang high surge across the sea. Only flying immortals can travel to and from the continent; ordinary people cannot reach it.

Flowing Continent lies in the Western Sea. It is three thousand li across and nine hundred thousand li from the shore. The continent is home to Flying Rosy Clouds Mountain, a place where immortals travel to and fro. All manner of rare flowers, unusual fruits, auspicious herbs, and numinous fungi grow there, so strange in variety that they are hard to describe one by one. The immortal palace is inhabited by the highest perfected beings and numinous officials.

Changzhou lies in the South Sea, extending five thousand li in every direction and two hundred thousand li from the shore. On the island stands Mount Zhendu, also called Qingqiu. Sweet spring water flows there, and palaces adorned with jade blossoms and purple jade have been built. Celestial maidens of the True Realm dwell there, beyond the reach of ordinary people.

Yuanzhou lies in the North Sea, extending three thousand li in every direction and one hundred thousand li from the shore. On the island stands the Purple Void Jade Hall, where immortals dwell; numinous medicines and divine mushrooms also grow there. The water in its deep ravines is as sweet as honey, and drinking it grants long life. The High Perfected’s numinous officials oversee affairs there.

Shengzhou lies in the East Sea, extending two thousand five hundred li in every direction and two hundred thirty thousand li from the shore. It is connected to Penglai. Many divine herbs and numinous mushrooms grow on its mountains; taking them enables one to ascend and become an immortal. Many immortals dwell on the island, under the leadership of eminent and reclusive divine immortals.

End of Volume Three of the Dongyuan ji.

Compiled by Li Sicong, Master of Sublime Clarity.

The seventy-two blessed lands among the famous mountains of the world:

The First Blessed Land is Mount Feifu, at the heart of Mount Zhongnan near Chang’an. It is where the Four Eminent Sages cultivated the Dao.

The Second Blessed Land is Mount Gaizhu, in Huangyan County, Taizhou. The Third Blessed Land is Mount Qingyuan, in Nanyang.

The Fourth Blessed Land is Mount An, in Jiaozhou.

The Fifth Blessed Land is Mount Shike, in Tiantai County, Taizhou.

The Sixth Blessed Land is Dongxianyuan, in Taizhou.

The Seventh Blessed Land is Mount Qingyu, in the East Sea, adjoining Fusang Island.

The Eighth Blessed Land is Yumukeng, at the heart of Mount Yusun, in Xingan County, Linjiang Army.

The Ninth Blessed Land is Mount Chishui, in Xiliang Prefecture, Western Fan.

The Tenth Blessed Land is Mount Magu, whose summit lies within Jianchang Army.

The Eleventh Blessed Land is Mount Jun, at the heart of Lake Dongting in Yuezhou.

The eleventh blessed grotto-heaven is Junshan, located in the middle of Lake Dongting, in Yuezhou.

The twelfth blessed grotto-heaven is Guiyuan, where the Perfected Yin attained the Dao. It is located in Jianyang County, Jianzhou.

The thirteenth blessed grotto-heaven is Lingxu, located at the summit of Mount Tiantai, in Tiantai County, Taizhou.

The fourteenth blessed grotto-heaven is Xianzhou, in Yuezhou.

The fifteenth blessed grotto-heaven is Tianmu Cen, where Master Li cultivated the Dao. It is located in Ke County, Yuezhou.

The sixteenth blessed grotto-heaven is Ruoye Creek, in Yuezhou.

The seventeenth blessed grotto-heaven is Mount Jinting, in Mingzhou.

The eighteenth blessed grotto-heaven is Mount Maling, in Bangzhou.

The nineteenth blessed grotto-heaven is Mount Eyang, in Tanzhou.

The twentieth blessed grotto-heaven is Zhenxu, in Changsha.

The twenty-first blessed grotto-heaven is Qingyutan, at the summit of Mount Heng.

The twenty-second blessed grotto-heaven is Guangtiantan, in Hengzhou, where Mount Heng is located.

The twenty-third blessed grotto-heaven is Donggong, where Master Lou Jing cultivated the Dao. It is located in Chang’an.

The twenty-fourth blessed grotto-heaven is Mount Tao, in Qiongzhou.

The twenty-fifth blessed grotto-heaven is Donglingyuan, in Hengzhou.

The twenty-sixth blessed grotto-heaven is the Three Sovereigns’ Well, in Yongjia County, Wenzhou.

The twenty-seventh blessed grotto-heaven is Mount Lanke, in Quzhou.

The twenty-eighth blessed grotto-heaven is Lexi, in Jianzhou.

The twenty-ninth blessed grotto-heaven is Mount Longhu, in Xinzhou, where the Celestial Master Zhang resided.

The thirtieth blessed grotto-heaven is Mount Lingshan, in Xinzhou.

The thirty-first blessed grotto-heaven is Baishuiyuan, at the summit of Mount Luofu. It was where the Perfected Zheng Siyuan refined elixirs, and is in Boluo County, Huizhou.

The thirty-second blessed grotto-heaven is Xiaoyaoshan, in the heart of the Western Mountains. It was where the Perfected Xu lived and tempered his treasured sword, and is in Hongzhou.

The thirty-third Blessed Land is Mount Hezao, in Xingan County, Linjiang Commandery. Celestial Master Zhang once came here to investigate Baohu Foutian. While excavating a cave, he found a jade image of a Heavenly Worthy and then established the cave.

The thirty-fourth Blessed Land is also Mount Hezao, with the same location and account as above: Celestial Master Zhang investigated Baohu Foutian, found a jade image of a Heavenly Worthy in a cave, and then established the cave. It is in Xingan County, Linjiang Commandery.

The thirty-fourth Blessed Land is Mount Shifeng, in Fengcheng County, Hongzhou.

The thirty-fifth Blessed Land is Mount Jinjing, in Qianhua County, Qianzhou.

The thirty-sixth Blessed Land is Shubaibyuan, in Hongzhou.

The thirty-seventh Blessed Land is Mount Bachi, where Perfected Qiao cultivated the Dao. It is in Chuzhou.

The thirty-eighth Blessed Land is Mount Lun, in Danyang County, Runzhou.

The thirty-ninth Blessed Land is Maogong Altar, where Master Liu Gen cultivated the Dao. It is in Anhao County.

The fortieth Blessed Land is Mount Yinglong, in Liyang County, Hezhou.

The forty-first Blessed Land is Mount Tongwu, in Tangzhou.

The forty-second Blessed Land is the northern slope of Mount Pingdu, where Changsheng cultivated the Dao. It is in Zhongzhou.

The forty-third Blessed Land is Mount Lüluo, in Wuling County, Dingzhou.

The forty-fourth Blessed Land is Mount Zhangguan, in Fengling County, Zouzhou.

The forty-fifth Blessed Land is Mount Baofu, in Jiaozhou, Nanhai.

The forty-sixth Blessed Land is Mount Damian, at the summit of Mount Qingcheng, in Qingcheng County, Shuzhou.

The forty-seventh Blessed Land is Tiger Creek, at the center of Mount Lu, the residence of Master Wuliu. It is in Dean County, Jiangzhou.

The forty-eighth Blessed Land is Mount Yuanchen, where Perfected Su ascended to heaven. It is in Duchang County.

The forty-ninth blessed land is Mount Maji. The Old Lord once descended to this place and bestowed the Classic on Reading Bones upon Lord Qingtong. The imprint of his horse’s hoof was left on the stone altar, and a shrine palace was built there. The mountain is in Dantu County, Runzhou.

The fiftieth blessed land is Mount De, where Master Shanjuan practiced the Dao during the reign of Emperor Yao. It is in Wuling County, Dingzhou.

The fifty-first blessed land is Lán Water, in Lantian County, Chang’an.

The fifty-second blessed land is Mount Yufeng, in Hezhong Prefecture.

The fifty-third blessed land is Mount Tianmu, in Liyang County, Hezhou.

The entries for the fifty-first through fifty-third blessed lands are repeated in the original: Lán Water is again placed in Lantian County, Chang’an; Mount Yufeng in Hezhong Prefecture; and Mount Tianmu in Liyang County, Hezhou.

The fifty-fourth blessed land is Mount Shanggu, where, according to legend, the Four Sages once practiced the Dao. It is in Shangzhou.

The fifty-fifth blessed land is Zhanggong Cave, in Yixing County, Changzhou.

The fifty-sixth blessed land is Yuhu Cave, where, according to legend, the First Emperor of Qin once came to seek the Dao. It is in the Siming Mountains.

The fifty-seventh blessed land is Mount Zhongtiao, in Hezhong Prefecture.

The fifty-eighth blessed land is Lingxu, in Tiantai County, north of Mount Tiantai.

The fifty-ninth blessed land is Mount Mianzhu, in Mianjiang County, Mianzhou.

The sixtieth blessed land is Mount Gan, in Qianzhou.

The sixty-first blessed land is Mount Gui, in Hanzhou.

The sixty-second blessed land is Mount Jincheng, in Yunzhong Commandery.

The sixty-third blessed land is Mount Ling, in Wuxie County.

The sixty-fourth blessed land is Mount Beilang, in Luo County.

The sixty-fifth blessed land is Mount Wudang, in Wudang County, Junzhou.

The sixty-sixth blessed land is Mount Nüji, at the mouth of the Three Gorges.

The sixty-seventh blessed land is Mount Shaoshi, in Nanyang County, Dengzhou.

The sixty-eighth blessed land is Mount Lu, in De’an County, Jiangzhou.

At the end, the text again lists “the sixty-fifteenth blessed land, Mount Wudang,” placing it in Wudang County, Junzhou.

The sixty-sixth blessed land, Mount Nüji, lies at the entrance to the Three Gorges.

The sixty-seventh blessed land, Mount Shaoshi, lies in Nanyang County, Dengzhou.

The sixty-eighth blessed land, Mount Lu, lies in De’an County, Jiangzhou.

The sixty-ninth blessed land, Mount Xiyuan, lies in Huangyan County, Taizhou.

The seventieth blessed land, Mount Nantian, lies in Shengzhou in the Eastern Sea.

The seventy-first blessed land, Mount Yuliu, lies in the Eastern Sea and is connected to Fusang Island.

The seventy-second blessed land, Mount Baodu, lies in Xuzhou.

This concludes Volume Four of the Dongyuan Ji.

Volume Five of the Dongyuan Ji was compiled by Master Chongmiao, Li Sicong.

Water Palaces

The immortal officials of the Eastern Sea’s Water Palace dwell in Qinghua Palace. The Vast Virtue King oversees them, and their temple stands in Laizhou.

The immortal officials of the Southern Sea’s Water Palace dwell in Danling Palace. The Vast Benefit King oversees them, and their temple stands in Guangzhou.

The immortal officials of the Western Sea’s Water Palace dwell in Suling Palace. The Vast Benevolence King oversees them, and their temple stands in Hezhong Prefecture.

The immortal officials of the Northern Sea’s Water Palace dwell in Xuanming Palace. The Vast Blessing King oversees them, and their temple stands in Mengzhou.

The temple of the Water Emperor of the Song River stands in Suzhou.

The temple of the Water Emperor of the Chu River stands in Jiangzhou.

The temple of the Water Emperor of the Xiang River stands in Tanzhou.

The temple of the Water Emperor of the Jing River stands in Panzhou.

The temple of the Water Emperor of the Han River stands in Lizhou.

The temple of the Water Emperor of the Southern River stands in Hongzhou.

The temple of the Water Emperor of the Yangtze River stands in Runzhou.

The temple of the Water Emperor of the Hao River stands in Suzhou.

The River Deity of the Yangtze water system rises from the Min Mountains in the Mian region. The Vast Source Duke oversees it, and its temple stands in Jianning County, Yizhou.

The River Deity of the Yellow River rises from the Kunlun Mountains. It is known as the Manifest Sage, Spirit Source Duke, and its temple stands in Hezhong Prefecture.

The River Deity of the Huai River rises from Mount Tongwu in Nanyang. The Long Source Duke oversees it, and its temple stands in Tangzhou.

The Ji Ji River rises on Mount Wangwu and is called the Shen River. It is governed by Lord Qingyuan, the water deity in charge of this river. His temple is in Jiyuan County, Heyang.

The temple of the Earl of the Yellow River, the deity of the Yellow River, is on the northern frontier; the temple of the Earl of the Luo River is in Luojing; and the temple of the Earl of the Huai River is in Sizhou.

The temple of the water deity of Lake Tai is in Suzhou; that of Lake Qingcao is in Yuezhou; that of Lake Pengli is in Nankang Jun; that of Lake Xieyang is in Chuzhou; and that of Lake Danyang is in Taipingzhou.

The temple of the Supreme Perfected One of Xiaxia Creek, the water deity of the stream, is in Wushan County, Kuizhou; that of the Supreme Perfected One of Wuyun Creek is in Yuezhou; that of Min Mountain Creek is in Jiazhou; that of Qingyuan Creek is in Guangzhou; that of Tongwu Creek is in Tiantai County, Taizhou; that of Panzhong Creek is in Jiazhou; that of Kunlun Creek is in the northern region; that of Wuling Creek is in Dingzhou; that of Zhuluo Creek is in Yuezhou; that of Di Creek is in Lizhou; that of Yuansha Creek is in Yuezhou; and that of Mianchi Creek is in Luojing.

The first is the King Who Brings Blessings and Safeguards the River, of the Upper Water Prefecture at Mount Ma Dang; his temple is in Jiangzhou. The second is the King Who Follows the Sacred Way and Pacifies the River, of the Middle Water Prefecture at Mount Caishi; his temple is in Taipingzhou. The third is the King of the Great River Who Shines with Faithfulness, of the Lower Water Prefecture at Mount Jin; his temple is in Runzhou.

This is the end of volume five of the Dongyuan Collection.

Dongyuan Collection, Volume Six

The temple of the King Who Brings Blessings and Safeguards the River, of the Upper Water Prefecture at Mount Ma Dang, is in Jiangzhou. The second, the King Who Follows the Sacred Way and Pacifies the River, of the Middle Water Prefecture at Mount Caishi, has his temple in Taipingzhou. The third, the King of the Great River Who Shines with Faithfulness, of the Lower Water Prefecture at Mount Jin, has his temple in Runzhou.

This is the end of volume five of the Dongyuan Collection.

Collected Writings from the Grotto Abyss (Dongyuan Ji), juan 6

Compiled by Master of Profound Subtlety Li Sicong

The Twenty-Eight Famous Mountain Administrative Centers of the World (the twenty-eight administrative sites in Daoism)

First: Yangping Administrative Center.

Above, Yangping corresponds to the Horn Lodge, one of the seven lodges of the Azure Dragon in the east. Below, it governs the salaries, lifespans, fortune, and misfortune of people born under the Metal phase.

Yangping is in the territory of Fan County, Shu, 180 li from the county seat. Follow the Luo River waterway to the entrance of the Liangqi Mountains, then enter; the water route is 40 li long. To the east of the administrative center is Dragon Gate, where divine waters hold their ground. Two parasol trees grow above the gate. To the southwest is a great spring, whose waters converge and then flow east. The Celestial Master’s descendant, a Perfected Lord whose personal name was Ziling, ascended to immortality on this mountain on the fifteenth day of the first month in the second year of the Guanghe era. He erected a pair of stone steles, which still stand beside the entrance to the administrative center.

Second: Lutang Administrative Center.

Above, Lutang corresponds to the Neck Lodge, one of the seven lodges of the Azure Dragon in the east. Below, it governs the salaries, lifespans, fortune, and misfortune of people born under the Metal phase.

The Lutang Mountain administrative center is in the northern district of Fan County, Shu, 300 li from the county seat. On the mountain are an Immortal’s Chamber and an Immortal’s Terrace, where people in ancient times cultivated the Dao and became immortals.

Third: Heming Administrative Center.

Above, Heming corresponds to the Root Lodge, one of the seven lodges of the Azure Dragon in the east. Below, it governs the salaries, lifespans, fortune, and misfortune of people born under the Wood phase.

The summit of Heming Mountain is linked to Mount Qingcheng and Mount Tianxiang. It lies 200 li from Chengdu, in Na County of Shu Commandery. The mountain paths extend for 300 li. This is the old place, unknown to most people, where Ma Dihe attained the Dao. In front of the administrative center, three streams join into one; it is said that a divine dragon lives there. In ancient times, the mountain had four objects shaped like animal heads, two gold pins embedded in a pair of stones, and two hu of golden and silver silkworms. Some accounts say these were under the care of Master Yin Xi. The Traditions of the Immortals records that in the past, when the world was in turmoil and wars were frequent across the Central Plain, Zhang the Celestial Master went to Heming Mountain to study the Dao and ascended to immortality there.

Fourth: Liyuan Administrative Center.

Above, Liyuan corresponds to the Room Lodge, one of the seven lodges of the Azure Dragon in the east. Below, it governs the salaries, lifespans, fortune, and misfortune of people born under the Earth phase.

The Zhili of Mount Liyuan, a Daoist administrative center, lies within Fan County of Shu Commandery and connects with the Zhilu Tang. Its mountain ravines stretch for eighty li, and it is 250 li from Chengdu. The mountain grows many kinds of fruit trees, numinous pines, and sacred herbs; taking them can bring longevity. It is also the gateway through which the four dragon spirits travel and ride. Tradition says that Fan Li attained the Dao and ascended to Heaven here.

Fifth, the Zhige Suo.

In Heaven, it corresponds to the Heart Lodge, the name of a star lodge. In the human realm, it governs the blessings, rank, longevity, and fortunes of people whose destiny belongs to Fire.

The Zhige Suo on Mount Ge lies within Fan County of the Shu capital and is joined to Mount Liyuan. It is 230 li from Chengdu County and forty-eight li from the water entrance of the Zhiyangping. Tradition says that Yang Xian and the worthy woman Lu attained the Dao here. The mountain grows golden millet and Jade Fungus; taking them can bring longevity. The mountain is six hundred zhang high.

Sixth, the Zhigeng Chu.

In Heaven, it corresponds to the Tail Lodge, the name of a star lodge. In the human realm, it governs the blessings, rank, longevity, and fortunes of people whose destiny belongs to Earth.

The Zhigeng Chu on the mountain rises 390 zhang above the surrounding plain. It is at the place where the worthy woman Lu attained the Dao. The mountain grows golden millet and Jade Fungus; taking them can bring longevity. The mountain is six hundred zhang high.

Sixth, the Zhigeng Chu.

In Heaven, it corresponds to the Tail Lodge. In the human realm, it governs the blessings, rank, longevity, and fortunes of people whose destiny belongs to Earth.

The Zhigeng Chu on Mount Geng lies within Yangquan County of Guanghan Commandery, five li west of the county seat and 380 li from Chengdu. Immortals come and go on the mountain; it is a place for withdrawing from the world, living in seclusion, and nourishing body and mind. Tradition says that Zhang Lishi and the Perfected Zhao Sheng attained the Dao and ascended to Heaven here. The mountain has two stone chambers and three Dragon’s Mouths, while the Huai River flows from afar.

Seventh, the Zhiqin Zhong.

In Heaven, it corresponds to the Winnowing Basket Lodge, the name of a star lodge. In the human realm, it governs the blessings, rank, longevity, and fortunes of people whose destiny belongs to Water.

The Zhiqin Zhong on Mount Qin lies nine li east of Mianzhu County in Guanghan Commandery and 200 li from Chengdu. Tradition says that the Perfected Han Zhong attained the Dao here and set up an iron talisman in front of the mountain. Great waters lie beside the mountain, and Daoist scriptures are concealed in the Han Valley to the east. In ancient times there was also a large bronze stone engraved with an inscription, which is said still to be there.

Eighth, the Zhizhen Duo.

In Heaven, it corresponds to the Dipper Lodge, the name of a star lodge. In the human realm, it governs the blessings, rank, longevity, and fortunes of people whose destiny belongs to Metal.

Eighth, Zhenduo Mountain Headquarters (one of the Daoist administrative centers, meaning an area in the mountains devoted to cultivation).

Zhenduo Mountain Headquarters corresponds to the Dipper Lodge in the heavens, one of the seven lodges of the Black Tortoise in the north. It governs the blessings, emoluments, longevity, and good or ill fortune of people with Earth in their destiny. Zhenduo Mountain lies in Xindu County, Guanghan Commandery, 150 li from Chengdu. The mountain has lingzhi mushrooms and divine medicines; those who take them can attain long life, extending their years for a thousand years. The mountain rises 280 zhang. In front is a pond, and five divine fish dwell at its outlet. In the past, the Perfected of the South Pole, Wang Fangping, cultivated the Dao here and encountered the Lord Lao of the Golden Tower, receiving the essential instructions of the Daoist teachings.

Ninth, Changli Mountain Headquarters.

Changli Mountain Headquarters corresponds to the Ox Lodge in the heavens, one of the seven lodges of the Black Tortoise in the north. It governs the blessings, emoluments, longevity, and good or ill fortune of people with Earth in their destiny. Changli Mountain lies in Guanghan Commandery, 40 li east of Zhui County and 150 li from Chengdu. In the past, Li Babai and Han Qianqiu of Chengdu studied the Dao here. Li Babai was a native of Changli Headquarters in Tang times and the teacher of Tang Fangqing. He traveled among the famous mountains of Shu, often wandering and playing in the cities by day, then lodging on Mount Qingcheng at night; for this reason, people called him “Babai.” On the southern slope is a stone chamber large enough for a hundred people. In front of it are three Dragon Gates, and stone carvings remain on the right.

Tenth, Lishang Mountain Headquarters.

Lishang Mountain Headquarters corresponds to the Maiden Lodge in the heavens, one of the seven lodges of the Black Tortoise in the north. It governs the blessings, emoluments, longevity, and good or ill fortune of people with Fire in their destiny. Lishang Mountain lies within Deyang County, Guanghan Commandery, 120 li to the northeast. On the mountain are two stone chambers and a divine well. White deer, white cranes, and white doves appear and come and go as if they understood human speech. Lishang Headquarters is connected to Mianwu; three pine trees beside the stone stream to the west serve as a marker. The mountain rises steeply; the source text records its height as 2,900 zhang. In the past, Master Jizi, Wei Shuqing, attained the Dao here and ascended to heaven.

Eleventh, Yongquan Headquarters.

Above, it corresponds to the Xu lunar mansion, a name for a star grouping; below, it governs the rank, lifespan, and fortune of people born under the Wood phase.

The Youquanshan administrative seat, a Daoist center and the territory of its deity, was once in Guanghan. Ma Mingsheng studied the Dao here, met the Supreme Lord Lao, one of the highest deities revered in Daoism, when he came to this place, and received the method of transforming his body. The administrative seat lay within Xiaohan County of Suining Commandery. On the mountain was a spring said to cure every kind of illness; those who drank from it recovered quickly. An ancient book also says that the Zhushui administrative seat lay two li from Chengdu. There, a cliff rose a hundred zhang, with monkeys and many birds leaping and flying among its crags. The mountain was not large, but it was very high, with paths winding through the surrounding hills.

The twelfth is the Chougeng administrative seat.

Above, it corresponds to the Wei lunar mansion, a name for a star grouping; below, it governs the rank, lifespan, and fortune of people born under the Fire phase.

The Chougengshan administrative seat lies in Nan’an County of Jianwei Commandery, 110 li from Chengdu, between Wenkou Mountain and the Jiang River, nine li from the river. The mountain rises 1,700 zhang. According to tradition, the Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan once cultivated the Dao here and met the Nine-Heavens Holy Mother, who had descended into the human world. From her he received a scripture on the Elixir and the art of war. Near the administrative seat is Huangxiangxu, and to the northwest lies the Weijiang River. The mountain abounds in lingzhi mushrooms and spiritual herbs, which are said to prolong life when taken.

The thirteenth is the Beiping administrative seat.

Above, it corresponds to the Shi lunar mansion, a name for a star grouping; below, it governs the rank, lifespan, and fortune of people born under the Metal phase.

The Beipingshan administrative seat lies in Nan’an County of Jianwei Commandery, 140 li from Chengdu. On the mountain is a pond, 200 paces across, whose waters contain divine lingzhi mushrooms and medicinal herbs, said to grant long life when eaten. According to tradition, the Yue native Wang Ziqiao and the True Lord Yuzhen of Qingcheng once lived here and cultivated the Dao. The Beiping administrative seat is also called the Keshan administrative seat.

The fourteenth is the Benzhu administrative seat.

Above, it corresponds to the Bi lunar mansion, a name for a star grouping; below, it governs the rank, lifespan, and fortune of people born under the Wood phase.

The Zhushan Mountain Center is located in Nan’an County, Jianwei Commandery, 125 li from Chengdu. The mountain rises 1,300 zhang. A spring flows on the mountain, and fragrant woods lie north of the center. A dragon’s lair lies within the mountain, with a passage extending to Mount Emei. Cassia and parasol trees grow there; this is where Guo Zisheng attained the Dao in former times. Behind the center is a bamboo grove. Fifteen li to the west, a passage has been cut through the mountain, leading to Heming Mountain. Dragons are often seen playing in the water by the mountain’s front slope.

The fifteenth, Mengqin Center.

The Mengqin Center corresponds above to the Kui lunar lodge (the Kui star) and governs below the blessings, emoluments, lifespan, and fortunes of people with Fire as their destiny element.

The Mengqin Mountain Center is located west of Nadu County in Jun Commandery, twenty li from the commandery seat and 1,400 li from Chengdu. The center faces Yuejun Commandery across a river. A small mountain stands in front and a large one behind; the mountain rises 1,000 zhang. Tradition says that Yi Yin once studied the Dao here and ascended to Heaven. The mountain produces Golden Liquid Grass, which, when consumed, is said to grant long life.

The sixteenth, Pinggai Center.

The Pinggai Center corresponds above to the Lou lunar lodge (the Lou star) and governs below the blessings, emoluments, lifespan, and fortunes of people with Earth as their destiny element.

The Pinggai Mountain Center is located in Wuyang County, Jianwei Commandery, eighty li from Chengdu. Beneath the mountain is a cave containing a jade figure thirteen chi tall and three golden chests. Tradition says that Cui Xiaotong of Wu Commandery once studied the Dao here and ascended to Heaven. A great river runs beside the mountain. To the south is the Spring of Long Life; to the north are a broad plain and Dragon Gate.

The seventeenth, Yuntai Center.

The Yuntai Center corresponds above to the Wei lunar lodge (the Wei star) and governs below the blessings, emoluments, lifespan, and fortunes of people with Fire as their destiny element.

The Yuntai Mountain Center is located in Baxi Commandery.

The Yun­tai Mountain Register lies sixty li west of Wen­zhong County in Ba Commandery, and the distance from the foot of the mountain to Chengdu is 1,370 li. Four hundred of Celestial Master Zhang’s disciples once practiced at the register’s seat. In the second year of the Han’an era, Celestial Master Zhang ascended to heaven in broad daylight. Later, the Celestial Master’s followers Wang Chang and Zhao Sheng also refined elixirs here; after taking them, they ascended to heaven and became immortals.

Beside the great Ba River in front of the register’s seat, a peach tree grows on a cliff. It flowers once every three years and bears fruit once every five. It grows in a bottomless ravine beneath a sheer cliff seven hundred zhang high. Only Zhao Sheng ever dared to leap down and pick peaches to offer to the Celestial Master; no one else could reach them. Jade Maidens often came to the register riding white cranes and white deer, suddenly appearing to escort the Celestial Master’s ascent to heaven in broad daylight. The people all witnessed this with their own eyes. This mountain is Tianzhu Mountain. Two stone steles stand in front of the Yuntai register and are still there today.

Eighteenth: Jinkou Register.

Above, the Jinkou Register corresponds to the celestial mansion of Mao (a named star mansion); below, it governs the official rank, lifespan, fortune, and misfortune of those whose destiny belongs to Wood.

The Jinkou Mountain Register lies in Jiangyang County, Hanzhong Commandery, 2,920 li from Chengdu. The Hanzhong River flows past this mountain. The mountain is also called Pingyuan Mountain. Chang Mountain lies to its west, and Liuhai to its east. This is where the Water Emperor, the deity who governs water, carries out his rule; it is known as the “Azure Dragon Gate.” Chen Anshi studied the Dao here and later ascended to heaven to become an immortal. Chen Anshi was from Jingzhao.

Nineteenth: Houcheng Register.

Above, the Houcheng Register corresponds to the celestial mansion of Bi (a named star mansion); below, it governs the official rank, lifespan, fortune, and misfortune of those whose destiny belongs to Earth.

The Houcheng Mountain Register lies in Nanzheng County, Hanzhong Commandery, with a great river in front and ranges of mountains behind. Divine fungi grow on the mountain; legend says that those who take them can live a thousand years without dying. The mountain is also called Huangling Mountain. Chang Mountain lies to its south, and Qinglong Mountain to its north. Pine and paulownia trees mark its eastern side. It is said that Xia Ziran studied the Dao here and ascended to heaven to become an immortal.

Twentieth: Gongmu Register.

In the heavens, it corresponds to the lunar lodge Zui, an ancient star lodge. On earth, it governs the salaries, lifespans, and fortunes of people with Metal destiny.

Gongmu Administration is located in Nanzheng County, Hanzhong Commandery, one hundred li from the administrative center. It is also called Beifengxian. South of the mountain is a stone ledge, and on the north side is a hanging waterfall. Legend says that Suzi studied the Dao here.

The twenty-first is Pingwai Administration.

In the heavens, it corresponds to the lunar lodge Shen, an ancient star lodge. On earth, it governs the salaries, lifespans, and fortunes of people with Water destiny.

Pingcheng Mountain Administration is located in Nan’an County, Jianwei Commandery, one hundred li from Chengdu, with Caoxi to the north. Its geography is described in the Records of Southern Jianwei, Third Compilation. Legend says that Li A, a native of Shu, attained the Dao and ascended to heaven here.

The twenty-first is Pingcheng Mountain Administration.

In the heavens, it corresponds to the lunar lodge Shen, an ancient star lodge. On earth, it governs the salaries, lifespans, and fortunes of people with Water destiny.

Pingcheng Mountain Administration is located in Nan’an County, Jianwei Commandery, one hundred li from Chengdu, with Caoxi to the north. Its geography is described in the Records of Southern Jianwei, Third Compilation. Legend says that Li A, a native of Shu, attained the Dao and ascended to heaven here.

The twenty-second is Registrar Administration.

In the heavens, it corresponds to the lunar lodge Jing, an ancient star lodge. On earth, it governs the salaries, lifespans, and fortunes of people with Metal destiny.

Registrar Mountain Administration is within the boundaries of Jianwei County, one hundred and fifty li from Chengdu. It is also called Qiuchang Mountain. To the south are a stone chamber and a Jade Hall, with pines and paulownias growing in front. Legend says that Wang Xing, a native of Shu, practiced the Dao here.

The twenty-third is Jade Bureau Administration.

In the heavens, it corresponds to the lunar lodge Gui, an ancient star lodge. On earth, it governs the salaries, lifespans, and fortunes of people with Water destiny.

Jade Bureau Mountain Administration is two li to the left of Chengdu’s south gate. On the seventh day of the first month of the first year of the Yongshou era, the Most High Lord Lao arrived here riding a white deer, while Celestial Master Zhang rode a white crane. A sacred spring gushed forth, and a Jade Bureau appeared. Seated on a cloud throne, the Most High Lord Lao descended and taught Celestial Master Zhang the essential methods of the Dao. The four legs of the Jade Bureau couch were supported by four stones, which still stand in front of Jade Bureau Administration.

The twenty-fourth is Northern Yu Administration.

In the heavens, it corresponds to the lunar lodge Liu, an ancient star lodge. On earth, it governs the salaries, lifespans, and fortunes of people with Earth destiny.

Northern Yu Mountain Administration is located in Luoyang County, Henan Prefecture. There are beams of timber on either side of the administrative center; rhubarb grows in a cave to the east, and a spring flows south. Legend says that Wuchengzi attained the Dao here.

The locations and directions of all twenty-four Administrations are recorded above, along with the prefectures and counties where they are situated. According to another account in Celestial Master Zhang’s map, four famous mountain Administrations lie in the area northeast of the capital, but it is not known which prefectures and counties they belong to.

According to the text, the ridgepole mountain of the Twenty-Fourth Seat, Liangmu Mountain, lies to the left and right of the seat. There is a Great Yellow Spring here, which wells up from a cave on the eastern side and flows south. This is where Wuchengzi attained the Dao long ago. Each of the twenty-four seats mentioned above corresponds to a prefecture or county. However, according to the map of Celestial Master Zhang, four of the seats are located on famous mountains northeast of the capital, and the prefectures or counties to which they belong are not known.

The Twenty-Fifth Seat is called Zhenghu Seat and is located on Lanwu Mountain. In heaven, it corresponds to a constellation and governs the salary, lifespan, calamities, and blessings of people whose destiny belongs to Water.

The Twenty-Sixth Seat is called White Stone Mountain Seat and is located on Zuji Mountain. In heaven, it corresponds to the Zhang Lodge, the name of a constellation, and governs the salary, lifespan, calamities, and blessings of people whose destiny belongs to Metal.

The Twenty-Seventh Seat is called Zhongmao Seat and is located on Fanyang Mountain. In heaven, it corresponds to the Yi Lodge, the name of a constellation, and governs the salary, lifespan, calamities, and blessings of people whose destiny belongs to Water.

The Twenty-Eighth Seat is called Jushan Seat and is located on Yuanshu Mountain. In heaven, it corresponds to the Zhen Lodge, the name of a constellation, and governs the salary, lifespan, calamities, and blessings of people whose destiny belongs to Earth.

End of Volume Six of the Dongyuan Collection.

Volume Seven of the Dongyuan Collection, compiled by Master Chongmiao, Li Sicong.

The Sun is the essence of the solar orb and symbolizes the ruler. Within it are the Lord Sovereign, immortal officials, divine functionaries, and many practitioners, all of whom cultivate the Way of Yuyi’s Flight to the Sun, a practice associated with the Sun. The Sun is the Palace of Dongyang, where azure-green qi and forests like emerald jade come naturally into being. Celestial officials gather and eat the flowers and fruit of these trees, and golden light then arises from their bodies. The Sun’s vital essence transforms into the Golden Crow, a divine golden bird, which rests in the forest. In the morning it rises from Yang Valley; in the evening it sets at Qici. Over the course of a year, it completes one circuit of the heavens.

The Solar Sovereign within the Sun Palace rules over the star lords of the twenty-eight constellations throughout the heavens, as well as the offices in the Celestial Bureau that govern salary and lifespan. The Celestial Officials of the Three Origins and Ten Thousand Spirits often visit the Sun Palace to examine people’s sins and blessings, then report them to the Supreme Emperor. This record is called the “Register of Births in the Solar Palace.” The Sun’s soul exhales nine rays of light, whose radiance shines across the myriad nations. The Sun is named Yuyi.

The moon is the essence of Great Yin (the refined essence of Yin Qi), and symbolizes the empress and her ministers. Within the moon dwell the Lord Emperor, immortal officials, and divine functionaries. All the gods cultivate the Way of Jie Lin’s Flight to the Moon, a method of cultivation associated with the moon. The moon is the seat of the officials of the Grotto of Great Cold and Yin. This immortal realm naturally gives rise to a forest of Azure Blossoms and Purple Cassia, also called the Crimson Forest. Among its branches and leaves grow red orchids. The immortals gather and eat the flowers and fruit, thereby living as long as the sun and moon and ascending to Jade Clarity, the Daoist heaven known as the Subtle Clarity realm.

The dark Qi within the moon’s Yin soul transforms into a jade rabbit. The moon completes one circuit of the heavens each month. The Lord Emperor of Great Yin in the lunar palace governs the Five Sacred Peaks, the Four Great Rivers, the Five Lakes, the Four Seas, the water realms of the twelve streams, and Mount Dengduluo. On each Three Primes day, the birthday of the Three Officials, underworld officials and their subordinates go to the lunar palace to determine the living’s lifespan, sins, and blessings, then submit their findings to the Supreme Emperor. These records are called the “Register of the Dead in the Yin Palace.” The moon’s soul often radiates ten kinds of splendor, whose light shines across the myriad realms. The moon is also called Jie Lin.

The Star Lord of Wood Virtue in the East is the vital essence of Wood and the son of the Azure Emperor, the Green Emperor of the East. His radiance shines for three hundred thousand li, and his star is one hundred li in diameter. Once every twelve years, he completes a circuit of the heavens. The Perfected Lord wears a star crown and red shoes, and a robe of azure clouds patterned with cranes, symbols of longevity. He holds a jade tablet and wears a Seven-Treasure sword and white jade pendants.

The Star Lord of Wood Virtue governs the mountains and forests, plants and trees, dragons and snakes, aquatic creatures such as fish and turtles, and matters of wind and thunder in the human realm. The movement of Wood Qi embodies benevolence and harmony; he governs and protects those who possess virtue.

The Star Lord of Fire Virtue in the south is named the Star Lord Yingyu. He is the spirit of fire and the son of the Red Emperor, and oversees the administration of law. His vital essence descends to the human world and becomes the spirit of the Wind Master. Each year, in the tenth month, he goes to Taiwei, the celestial region of star officials, to receive his duties. His radiance reaches eight hundred thousand li, his celestial body is about one hundred li in diameter, and he completes one circuit of the heavens every two years. The Star Lord wears a star crown and red shoes, and is dressed in vermilion robes patterned with cranes and symbols of longevity. He holds a jade tablet and wears a seven-star golden sword and a white jade pendant at his waist. He oversees divinations concerning flames, insects of all kinds, and birds such as phoenixes, chickens, pheasants, crows, magpies, and the common drongo. By the power of Fire Virtue, he displays his majesty as he patrols the world.

The Star Lord of Metal Virtue in the west is the spirit of metal and the son of the White Emperor. He oversees weapons and bears the stern, fearsome authority of a general. His vital essence descends to the human world and becomes the spirit of the Rain Master. His radiance reaches seven hundred thousand li, his celestial body is about one hundred li in diameter, and he completes one circuit of the heavens each year. The Star Lord wears a star crown and red shoes, and is dressed in robes patterned with white cranes and white clouds. He holds a jade tablet and wears a seven-star precious sword and a white jade pendant. He oversees divinations concerning gold and silver, bronze and iron, jade and stone, rabbits, oxen, horses, livestock, pigs, mice, insects, stone figures, stone horses, frost, and snow.

The Star Lord of Water Virtue in the north was formed from the vital essence of water and was the son of the Black Emperor. He is the star of the Heavenly Heart and Purple Dipper, positioned directly opposite the summit of Mount Kunlun. The Purple Tenuity Palace, where the Celestial Emperor resides, governs primordial Qi. When the Star Lord’s vital essence descends, it transforms into the god of the First Farmer, who oversees the growth of all things. His light shines across five hundred thousand li; the star itself is one hundred li in diameter and completes one circuit of the heavens each year. The Star Lord wears a star crown and red shoes, and a black crane-longevity robe patterned with clouds. He holds a jade tablet and wears a seven-star treasured sword and a white jade pendant. He governs water affairs among humankind, as well as aquatic beings such as mermaids, dragons, and schools of fish, and matters such as snow, hail, and severe cold. He also directs the distribution of water among seas, lakes, rivers, and streams. He ranks first among the Five Phases and is the foundation of the growth of all things.

The Star Lord of Earth Virtue in the center was the son of the Yellow Emperor. When his vital essence descends, it transforms into the god of the numinous star. His light shines across one hundred and twenty thousand li; the star itself is fifty li in diameter and completes one circuit of the heavens every twenty-nine years. The Star Lord wears a star crown and red shoes, and a yellow crane-longevity robe patterned with clouds. He holds a jade tablet and wears a seven-star treasured sword and a white jade pendant. He governs the common people and various kinds of insects, such as ants, and also presides over natural phenomena such as mist, dew, rainbows, and secondary rainbows. The Earth Lodge, the constellation associated with the Earth Phase, governs honesty, sincerity, and the growth of all things.

Luo Qiao Jia Zai Jing governs all evil deeds beneath the nine heavens. The Star Lord wears a star crown and red shoes, and a robe of pure black cloud-patterned silk. He holds a jade tablet and wears a seven-star golden sword and a white jade pendant. He moves against the course of Heaven: those who follow him prosper, while those who oppose him invite calamity.

The Lord of the Ketu Star, the Tail Star, governs all sin and fortune beneath the Nine Heavens, and often has charge of calamities such as illness and hardship. He wears a star crown and vermilion shoes, and is clad in a robe of auspicious clouds, pure black in color. He holds a jade tablet and wears a seven-star golden sword and a white jade pendant. He moves against the course of Heaven and does not reveal his divine radiance. To follow him brings good fortune; to oppose him brings danger.

The Lord of the Tianyi Zihei Star wears a star crown and vermilion shoes, and is clad in a purple robe of auspicious clouds. He holds a jade tablet and wears a seven-star precious sword and a white jade pendant. He is often in attendance before the gate of the Purple Tenuity Enclosure, the celestial region where the Emperor of Heaven resides. When he descends to the human world, he can bring people a hundred blessings and has charge of increasing their good fortune, emoluments, and years of life.

The Lord of the Taiyi Yuebo Star has charge of all kinds of violent killings and calamities beneath the Nine Heavens. He wears a star crown and vermilion shoes, and is clad in a robe of black clouds. He holds a jade tablet and wears a seven-star precious sword and a white jade pendant. He, too, is often in attendance before the gate of the Purple Tenuity Enclosure. When he descends to the human world, he can bring people a hundred blessings and has charge of increasing their good fortune, emoluments, and years of life.

The Lord of the Taiyi Yuebo Star is also said to have charge of all kinds of violent killings and calamities beneath the Nine Heavens. He wears a star crown and vermilion shoes, and is clad in a dark robe of clouds and auspicious mists, embroidered with cranes symbolizing longevity. He holds five tablets and wears a seven-star sword and a white jade pendant. He travels along the Black Path. To follow him brings good fortune; to oppose him brings danger.

The foregoing are the Lords of the Eleven Luminaries of the celestial circuit.

The Lords of the Seven Stars of the Northern Dipper

The first star of the Northern Dipper is Tianshu, also known as the Lord of Tanlang Tianying. Above, it corresponds to the lunar mansions Shi, Di, Fang, Xin, Ji, and Niu; below, it corresponds to the celestial regions of Yangzhou, Zhengzhou, Yichong, and Xuzhou. It governs the destiny and emoluments of those born in the Year of the Rat throughout the realm. It also plans on behalf of the people of the world in matters of official appointment and rank, and governs the Northern Dipper’s Yangming life-prolonging True Qi—the vital energy that extends life. The Lord of Tanlang belongs to the Palace of the Most High and governs the Sun. He is clad in a vermilion robe of celestial clouds and wears a star crown adorned with seven jewels. The Tanlang Star is the Grand Commandant in Heaven; its sphere extends nine hundred li, and its radiance shines upon all nations.

The second star of the Northern Dipper is called Heavenly Roaming. It is governed by the Star Lord of Great Gate and Heavenly Duty. Above, it corresponds to the lunar mansions Kang, Xu, Jing, Gui, Zhang, and Yi; below, it corresponds to the star regions of Lin, Jing, Chu, and Zhou. It governs the destinies and fortunes of people throughout the world born in the years of the Ox and the Pig, records people’s efforts to seek immortality and study the Dao, and holds the Northern Dipper’s dark essence that measures and averts calamity. In the Palace of the Central Origin, the Star Lord of Great Gate governs the moon. He wears robes woven from black celestial radiance and clouds, and a crown adorned with the Seven Treasures and stars. Great Gate is also the Celestial Chief Minister Star. Its body extends five hundred li in every direction and shines over the myriad lands. It is the place where people seek guidance on awakening to the Dao and cultivating the Real.

The third star of the Northern Dipper is called Heavenly Pivot. It is governed by the Star Lord of Storehouse of Wealth and Heavenly Pillar.

The third star of the Northern Dipper is called Heavenly Pivot. It is governed by the Star Lord of Storehouse of Wealth and Heavenly Pillar. Above, it corresponds to the lunar mansions Lou, Wei, Shen, and Liu; below, it corresponds to the star regions of Song and Yu. It governs the destinies and fortunes of people throughout the world born in the years of the Tiger and the Dog, records people’s efforts to acquire wealth and establish homes and estates, and holds the Northern Dipper True Lord’s dark essence that preserves life. In the Palace of the True Origin, Storehouse of Wealth is the Celestial Minister of Works Star and governs Fire. He wears robes woven from vermilion celestial radiance and auspicious clouds, and a crown adorned with the Seven Treasures and stars. Its body extends seven hundred and twenty li in every direction and shines over the myriad lands.

The fourth star of the Northern Dipper is called Heavenly Balance. It is governed by the Star Lord of Literary Song and Heavenly Heart. Above, it corresponds to the lunar mansions Niu and Wei; below, it corresponds to the star regions of Hao and Yue. It governs the destinies and fortunes of people throughout the world born in the years of the Rabbit and the Rooster, records people’s lifespans, blessings, and physical appearance, and holds the Northern Dipper’s dark essence of civil virtue and benefit. In the Palace of the Hidden Pivot, Literary Song governs Wood. He wears robes woven from blue-green celestial radiance and auspicious clouds, and a crown adorned with the Seven Treasures and stars. Literary Song is the Celestial Mobile Star. Its body extends eight hundred li in every direction and shines over the myriad lands.

The fifth star of the Northern Dipper is called Heavenly Surge. It is governed by the Star Lord of Chastity and Heavenly Bird. Above, it corresponds to the lunar mansions Xuan, Wei, and Nü; below, it corresponds to the star regions of Zhao, Ji, Wei, and Jin. It shines over the myriad lands.

The fifth star of the Northern Dipper, “Celestial Surge,” corresponds to the Star Lords Lian Zhen and Tian Qin. Above, it governs the lunar mansions Xu, Wei, and Nü, among others; below, it shines over the terrestrial regions assigned to Zhao, Ji, Wei, and Jin—areas that the ancients linked to constellations in the sky. It governs the offices, stipends, blessings, and destinies of people born in the years of the Dragon and Monkey throughout the realm. It also records matters of people’s marriages, wives, and concubines, and holds the Northern Dipper office of “Cinnabar Origin, Dispelling Calamities.” Star Lord Lian Zhen resides in the Palace of the Guiding Spirit. He belongs to Earth, wears a robe of yellow clouds, and dons a jeweled crown of seven stars. He is called the Dipper Lord of Heaven. His star domain extends seven hundred and twenty li in every direction, and his radiance shines across the myriad lands.

The sixth star of the Northern Dipper, “Heavenly Sun,” corresponds to the Star Lords Wu Qu and Tian Fu. Above, it governs the lunar mansions Fang, Dou, and Niu, among others; below, it shines over the terrestrial region assigned to the Yan state. It governs the official rank and destiny of people born in the years of the Snake and Goat throughout the realm. It records matters of people’s livelihoods, careers, and wealth, and holds the Northern Dipper office of “North Pole, Dispersing Misfortune.” Star Lord Wu Qu resides in the Palace of Bright Order. He belongs to Wood, wears a robe of blue clouds, and dons a star crown adorned with seven treasures. He is called the Grand Usher of Heaven. His star domain extends seven hundred li in every direction, and his radiance shines across the myriad lands.

The seventh star of the Northern Dipper, “Wavering Brilliance,” corresponds to the Star Lords Po Jun and Tian Guan. Above, it governs the lunar mansions Xu, Han, Jiao, Kui, and Zi, among others; below, it shines over the terrestrial regions assigned to Qing, Qi, Wei, and Bingzhou. It governs the official rank and destiny of people born in the year of the Horse throughout the realm. It records matters of people’s blessings and virtue, appearance, wives and concubines, and servants, and holds the Northern Dipper office of “Heavenly Gate, Supporting the Failing.” Star Lord Po Jun resides in the Palace of the Converging Gate. He belongs to Metal, wears a robe of white clouds, and dons a star crown adorned with seven treasures. He is called the Chief Minister of Heaven. His star domain extends nine hundred li in every direction, and his radiance shines across the myriad lands.

This concludes Book Seven of the Dongyuan Ji (Collected Writings from the Cavernous Abyss).

Book Eight of the Dongyuan Ji

Compiled by Li Sicong, Master of Subtle Transcendence.

The Star Lords of the Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions Descend and Manifest Their Power.

The seven eastern mansions are the essence of the Azure Dragon.

The Celestial Lord of the Horn Lodge, the star deity who governs the Horn Lodge, corresponds above to the Heaven of Great Radiance and Jade Brilliance. He illuminates and protects the celestial field associated with the state of Zheng, and governs the overseas kingdoms of Gami, Night Market, and Jialing, along with nine smaller kingdoms. In the human realm, he presides over generals, weapons and armor, rainfall, longevity, and the cultivation of farmland.

The Celestial Lord of the Neck Lodge, the star deity who governs the Neck Lodge, corresponds above to the Heaven of Dark Clarity and Reverent Celebration. He illuminates and protects the celestial field associated with the state of Zheng, and governs the fields and cultivation of the overseas kingdoms of Western India, Qiantuo, and Luoxieju, along with nine smaller kingdoms.

The Celestial Lord of the Neck Lodge corresponds above to the Heaven of Dark Clarity and Reverent Celebration. He illuminates and protects the celestial field associated with the state of Zheng, and governs the overseas kingdoms of Western India, Qiantuo, and Luoxieju, along with nine smaller kingdoms. In the human realm, he presides over epidemics and calamities, violent winds that send stones flying, medicines, and the salaries and ranks of the Imperial Preceptor, the Three Dukes, the Five Elders, and the officials.

The Celestial Lord of the Root Lodge, the star deity who governs the Root Lodge, corresponds above to the Heaven of Clear Contemplation and Tranquil Uprightness. He illuminates and protects the celestial field associated with the state of Zheng, and governs the overseas kingdoms of Jiaye, Milo, Xintou, and Pimo, along with nine smaller kingdoms. In the human realm, he presides over empresses and consorts, the palace treasury, mountains, forests, and vegetation, as well as torrential rains and floods.

The Celestial Lord of the Chamber Lodge, the star deity who governs the Chamber Lodge, corresponds above to the Heaven of Empty Clarity and Hall Radiance. He illuminates and protects the celestial field associated with the state of Song, and governs the overseas kingdoms of Huoxun, Boli, and Black Garment, along with nine smaller kingdoms. In the human realm, he presides over the inner palace of the empresses and consorts, precious objects and utensils, gold, jade, and keys. He also governs sudden wind and rain, carrying heavy loads, and riding camels.

The Celestial Lord of the Heart Lodge, the star deity who governs the Heart Lodge, corresponds above to the Heaven of Twenty-One Falling Royal Cliffs. He illuminates and protects the celestial field associated with the state of Song, and governs the overseas kingdoms of Dashi and One Foot, along with nine smaller kingdoms. In the human realm, he presides over the emperor, the Bright Hall, rainfall, construction labor, crafts, and all kinds of skilled work.

The Celestial Lord of the Tail Lodge, the star deity who governs the Tail Lodge, corresponds above to the Heaven of Shining Clarity and Ancestral Fluttering. He illuminates and protects the celestial field associated with the state of Yan, and governs the overseas kingdom of Lipin. In the human realm, he presides over the emperor, the Bright Hall, rainfall, construction labor, crafts, and all kinds of skilled work.

“Celestial field” here refers to the ancient idea of mapping constellations in the sky onto states and regions on earth. The passage as a whole lists the heavens, territories, and human affairs associated with the lords of each lodge.

The Celestial Lord of the Tail Lodge, the Parrot Star, corresponds above to the Heaven of Radiant Clarity and Floating Firmament and shines over the celestial territory of the State of Yan. He governs the overseas countries of Lipin, Jiluo, and Duowu, as well as nine small states. In the human realm, he presides over auspicious clouds and mist, and discord among women.

The Celestial Lord of the Winnowing Basket Lodge, the Star of Heavenly Law, corresponds above to the Heaven of Mysterious Clarity and Reverent Splendor and shines over the celestial territory of the State of Yan. He governs the overseas countries of Kang and Jiesu, as well as nine small states. In the human realm, he presides over slanting winds and fine rain, treacherous and flattering people, and matters concerning the Man and Yi peoples, the Huge, the Pidi, bridges and ferries, and aquatic creatures.

The seven northern lodges are formed from the vital essence of the Black Tortoise. The Black Tortoise is one of the Daoist gods of the four directions and symbolizes the north.

The Celestial Lord of the Dipper Lodge, the Star of the Heavenly Treasury, corresponds above to the Heaven of the Supreme Ultimate, Veiled in Mists and shines over the celestial territory of the State of Hao. He governs the overseas countries of Tuhuo, Chuanzhi, and the Queen Mother of the West, as well as nine small states. In the human realm, he presides over successful candidates passing the civil service examinations, official rank and stipends, gentle winds and fine rain, and matters involving measures of capacity such as the dou, hu, sheng, and ge, as well as weights and measures such as scales and rulers.

The Celestial Lord of the Ox Lodge, the Star of the Heavenly Pivot, corresponds above to the Heaven of Emptiness and Transcendent Balance and shines over the celestial territory of the State of Hao. He governs the three great tribal states and nine small states of the Northern Barbarians’ Black Mountains overseas. In the human realm, he presides over clouds and mist, frost and snow, domestic livestock such as cattle and sheep, and animals used in sacrifice. He also governs reptiles, wild beasts, and the various peoples of Nanyue.

The Celestial Lord of the Maiden Lodge, the Star of the Heavenly Maiden, corresponds above to the Heaven of Supreme Clarity and the Seven Luminaries, Moyitian, and shines over the celestial territory of the State of Hao. She governs the overseas countries of Jianfa, Nü, and Gou, as well as nine small states. In the human realm, she presides over cutting and sewing clothes, marriage and the matching of spouses, and the gathering of dark clouds and powerful winds.

The Celestial Lord of the Emptiness Lodge, the Star of the Heavenly Treasury, corresponds above to the Heaven of Primordial Clarity and Literary Elevation and shines over the celestial territory of the State of Qi. He governs the overseas countries of Fulin, Wuying, and Muzhi, as well as nine small states. In the human realm, he presides over the construction of palaces, halls, and temples; offerings to parents and ancestors; and the Five Emptinesses and Six Wastes, along with grief and weeping.

The Celestial Money Star Lord of the Xu Mansion corresponds above to the Heaven of Mysterious Embryo and Universal Nourishment, and oversees the celestial region associated with the state of Qi. He governs the overseas lands of the Tufan, Tong, and Eastern India, as well as nine minor states. He also presides over hills, graves, grief and weeping, whirlwinds, sand and stone, and dangers and obstacles in the human world.

The Celestial Granary Star Lord of the Shi Mansion corresponds above to the Heaven of Clear Brightness and He Tong, and oversees the celestial region associated with the state of Wei. He governs the overseas lands of the Ten Clans of the Golden Mountains, the Nine Clans, the Three Great Tribal States, and nine minor states. He also presides over palaces and chambers, golden doors, jade halls, writing, charts and records, military supply stores, and matters of darkness and stagnation in the human world.

The Celestial Market Star Lord of the Bi Mansion corresponds above to the Heaven of Great Brightness and Jade Perfection, and oversees the celestial region associated with the state of Wei. He governs the overseas lands of Kucha, Khotan, and Shule, as well as nine minor states. He also presides over writing, books, secret archives, cold, gloomy weather and rain, thunderbolts, and the five grains and hundred fruits in the human world.

The Essence of the White Tiger of the Seven Western Mansions: This is the White Tiger star spirit corresponding to the Seven Western Mansions.

The Celestial General Star Lord of the Kui Mansion corresponds above to the Heaven of the Supreme Ultimate and Universal Nourishment, Jia Yi, and oversees the celestial region associated with the state of Lu. He governs the overseas lands of the Chanyu, Di Kang, and Fire Hu, as well as nine minor states. He also presides over armories, weapons and armor, spears and halberds, ditches and canals, ponds and pavilions, and wind, rain, thunder, and lightning in the human world.

The Celestial Prison Star Lord of the Lou Mansion corresponds above to the Heaven of Dragon Transformation and Brahma’s Reach, and oversees the celestial region associated with the state of Lu. He governs the overseas lands of the Three Mountains and Immortal Officials, as well as nine minor states. He also presides over palace temples and monasteries, enclosed imperial gardens and inner courts, livestock provided for sacrifice, suburban sacrifices, prayers for protection, and Zhaijiao (purification rituals).

The Lord of the Heavenly Granary Star, the deity of the Mao Lodge, corresponds above to the Heaven of Great Release and Jade Radiance. He shines over the celestial region assigned to the State of Zhao and governs overseas the kingdoms of Goguryeo, Buyeo, Southern India, and nine small kingdoms. Among humankind, he oversees storehouses and the accumulation of gold, silver, precious treasures, and textiles, as well as matters concerning the Thunder Duke and the Five Grains.

The Lord of the Heavenly Eye Star, the deity of the Mao Lodge, corresponds above to the Heaven of Great Void, Supreme and Everlasting. He shines over the celestial region assigned to the State of Zhao and governs overseas the kingdoms of Śrāvastī, Huilu, Northern India, and nine small kingdoms. Among humankind, he oversees clear skies and bright weather, the dispelling of decline and calamity, and matters of prisons, judicial officials, punishments, confinement, and interrogation.

The Lord of the Heavenly Ear Star, the deity of the Bi Lodge, corresponds above to the Heaven of Great Simplicity, Beautiful Joy, and Supreme Prohibition. He shines over the celestial region assigned to the State of Zhao and governs overseas the kingdoms of Zhendan (an ancient name for China), Snow Mountain, and Longzhong Tianzhu, along with nine small kingdoms. Among humankind, he oversees peace throughout the world, imperial processions and carriages, frontier defenses, and the stability of territorial boundaries.

The Lord of the Heavenly Screen Star, the deity of the Zui Lodge, corresponds above to the Heaven of Literary Elegance, Favor, and Wondrous Completion. He shines over the celestial region assigned to the State of Jin and governs overseas the kingdoms of Brahman, Shuibupiye, and Zhaiji, along with nine small kingdoms. Among humankind, he oversees the harvest of all things, wind, thunder, rain, and dew, mountain and river shrines, and ghosts, spirits, and demons.

The Lord of the Heavenly Water Star, the deity of the Shen Lodge, corresponds above to the Heaven of Deep Penetration and Primordial Cavern. He shines over the celestial region assigned to the State of Jin and governs overseas the kingdoms of Bihan, Fuzhao, and Diaoti, along with nine small kingdoms. Among humankind, he oversees the authority of generals, the division of territories, campaigns and executions, wrongful grievances and lawsuits, plunder, and matters of anger and joy.

The seven southern lodges are the essence of the Vermilion Bird, the divine bird that represents the south.

The Lord of the Heavenly Well Star, the deity of the Jing Lodge, corresponds above to the Heaven of Boundless Oath. He shines over the celestial region assigned to the State of Qin and governs overseas the kingdoms of Zhenlie, Linyi, and Shenxing, along with nine small kingdoms. Among humankind, he oversees celestial phenomena and the weather.

The seven southern lodges are the essence of the Vermilion Bird.

The Star Lord of the Celestial Well in the Well Lodge corresponds above to the Limitless Vow Heaven. His influence extends over the celestial region of Qin, and he governs the distant lands of Zhenlie, Linyi, and Shixing, together with nine small states. In the human realm, he governs dim skies, ponds and embankments, wells, bridges, floods, rivers and lakes, and matters concerning fish, dragons, crustaceans, and other aquatic creatures.

The Star Lord of the Celestial Treasury in the Ghost Lodge corresponds above to the Upper Butterfly Ruanle Heaven. His influence extends over the celestial region of Qin, and he governs the distant lands of Meiwai Jiaozhi, Wenshen, and Suiluo, together with nine small states. In the human realm, he governs stored goods and wealth, gold and jade, cloth and silk, as well as funerals, disasters, calamities, curses, and poisons. He also keeps watch over treachery and evil deeds.

The Star Lord of the Celestial Kitchen in the Willow Lodge corresponds above to the Thoughtless Jiangyou Heaven. His influence extends over the celestial region of Zhou, and he governs the distant lands of Kunming, Manwei, and Ganlu, together with nine small states. In the human realm, he governs kitchens, food and flavor, yellowing skies, thunder and rain, weapons and warfare, and bandits.

The Star Lord of the Celestial Storehouse in the Star Lodge corresponds above to the Great Emperor Wengchong Fuyong Heaven. His influence extends over the celestial region of Zhou, and he governs the twenty-one distant states of Shutian, as well as Nipo and Goutou, together with nine small states. In the human realm, he governs tailoring, clothing, and embroidery, as well as clear weather, knives and swords, and bloodshed.

The Star Lord of the Celestial Balance in the Zhang Lodge corresponds above to the Primordial Emperor Xiaomang Heaven. His influence extends over the celestial region of Zhou, and he governs the distant lands of Hongshi, Heling, and Bali, together with nine small states. In the human realm, he governs ancestral temples, precious treasures, clothing, banquets bestowed by rulers, and guests. He also governs changes between cold and heat, unsettled weather, severe cold and scorching heat, and discord between fathers and sons or between brothers.

The Star Lord of the Celestial Capital in the Wing Lodge corresponds above to the Manifest and Established Supreme Wind Heaven. His influence extends over the celestial region of Chu, and he governs the distant lands of Lengjia, Bazhong, and Moluo, together with nine small states. In the human realm, he governs the Music Bureau and musical modes, fish and dragons in the watery realm, birds, beasts, and all creatures covered with fur.

The Celestial Lord of the Celestial Steps of the Zhen Lodge (a named constellation) corresponds above to Tai’an Huangya Heaven. He shines upon the celestial region associated with the state of Chu and oversees the Kingdom of Bozhong, the Kingdom of Meiluo, and nine small kingdoms. Among humans, he governs the Music Bureau, the harmonizing of the Five Tones and Six Pitch Pipes (an ancient musical system), the fish and dragons in the water realms, and the affairs of all creatures, including birds and beasts.

The Celestial Lord of the Celestial Steps of the Zhen Lodge corresponds above to Tai’an Huangya Heaven and shines upon the celestial region associated with the state of Chu. He governs the overseas kingdoms of South Tianzhu, Danshen, and Shizi, as well as nine small kingdoms. Among humans, he governs clear skies and bright earth, weeping and parting, and disputes, danger, and calamity in government offices.

End of Dongyuan ji, Volume Eight

Dongyuan ji, Volume Nine

Dongyuan ji, Volume Nine

Compiled by Li Sicong, Master of Sublime Mystery

Divine Lords and Palace Gods of the Thirty-Two Heavens of Shangqing (the sovereigns and palace gods of the thirty-two heavenly levels in the Shangqing realm)

Taihuang Huangceng Heaven belongs to the Qingwei Heavenly Emperor, who presides over the first heavenly level in the east and receives the Qi of Primordial Yang. The Qi of this heaven is yellow. It belongs to the Brahma Heaven of the east and governs the registers of those throughout the world who are destined for longevity. It belongs to the Realm of Desire, where desires remain.

Daming Yuwan Heaven belongs to the Yuyu Heavenly Emperor, who presides over the second heavenly level in the east and receives the Qi of Supreme Yang. The Qi of this heaven is green, and it gives rise to the Bi Lodge. It governs the registers of those throughout the world who rescue and deliver the souls of the dead from the long darkness of the Ninefold Underworld, enabling them to be reborn. It belongs to the Realm of Desire.

Qingming Hetong Heaven belongs to the Taichi Heavenly Emperor, who presides over the third heavenly level in the east and receives the Qi of the Sun. The Qi of this heaven is blue, and it gives rise to the Shi Lodge. It governs the registers of those throughout the world who proclaim and expound the teachings, thereby transforming people. It belongs to the Realm of Desire.

Xuantai Pingyu Heaven belongs to the Wuliang Heavenly Emperor, who presides over the fourth heavenly level in the east. It is of the Qi of Qingyang Heaven, the first of the Nine Heavens. The Qi of this heaven is red, and it gives rise to the Wei Lodge. It governs the registers of those throughout the world who summon souls and usher them into immortality. It belongs to the Realm of Desire.

Yuanming Wenju Heaven belongs to the Wuliangshou Heavenly Emperor, who presides over the fifth heavenly level in the east. It is of the Qi of Dongyang, the second of the Nine Heavens. The Qi of this heaven is azure, and it gives rise to the Xu Lodge. It governs the registers of those throughout the world who circulate Primordial Qi, the vital energy that is the source of Heaven and Earth. It belongs to the Realm of Desire.

Shangming Qiyao Moyitian is the sixth heaven in the east, ruled by the Heavenly Emperor Fanwo. It lies within the Qi of Open Yang. The Qi of this heaven gives rise to the Ox Mansion, and it oversees the registers concerning matters throughout the world that open a way through darkness and difficulty. It belongs to the Desire Realm, the heaven of beings with desires.

Wuxu Yueheng Tian is the seventh heaven in the east, ruled by the Heavenly Emperor Doushu. It lies within the Qi of Established Yang. The Qi of this heaven is jade green and gives rise to the Ox Mansion. It oversees the registers of the palaces of the stars in the central heavens and of the immortals. It belongs to the Form Realm, the heaven where form and color remain.

Taiji Mengyi Tian is the eighth heaven in the east, ruled by the Heavenly Emperor Bujiao Le. It lies within the Qi of Eastern Polar Yang. The Qi of this heaven is purple and gives rise to the Dipper Mansion. It oversees the registers concerning deliverance throughout the world and the refinement of decayed corpses. It belongs to the Form Realm.

Chiming Heyang Tian is the first heaven in the south, ruled by the Heavenly Emperor Huaying Sheng. It lies within the Qi of Primordial Yang. The Qi of this heaven is white and connects with the Brahma Qi of the south. It oversees the registers concerning the refinement of immortals and the attainment of perfected beings throughout the world. It belongs to the Form Realm.

Xuanming Gonghua Tian is the second heaven in the south, ruled by the Heavenly Emperor Fanfu. It lies within the Qi of Intestinal Radiance. The Qi of this heaven is yellow and gives rise to the Winnowing Basket Mansion. It oversees the registers concerning the transformations of all things throughout the world. It belongs to the Form Realm.

Yaoming Zongpiao Tian is the third heaven in the south, ruled by the Heavenly Emperor Wu Ai. It lies within the Qi of Yang Radiance. The Qi of this heaven is green and gives rise to the Tail Mansion. It oversees records of those who perform meritorious deeds in their practice and study the path to becoming immortals. It belongs to the Form Realm.

Zhuluo Huangjia Tian is the fourth heaven in the south, ruled by the Heavenly Emperor Dachou Huangzeng. It lies within the Qi of Yang Illumination. The Qi of this heaven is blue-green and gives rise to the Heart Mansion. It oversees registers of the demon kings throughout the world and of those who study the path to becoming immortals. It belongs to the Form Realm.

Xuming Tangyao Tian is the fifth heaven in the south, ruled by the Heavenly Emperor Fanming. It lies within the Qi of Yang Expansion. The Qi of this heaven is red and gives rise to the Chamber Mansion. It oversees the registers of successful cultivators who have become heavenly or earthly immortals. It belongs to the Form Realm.

Guanming Duanjing Tian is the sixth heaven in the south, ruled by the Heavenly Emperor Mozaxiang. It lies within the Qi of Yang Illumination and oversees the registers of successful cultivators who have become heavenly or earthly immortals throughout the world. It belongs to the Form Realm.

The names and directions of these heavens, their Heavenly Emperors and celestial Qi, and the registers under their jurisdiction form a hierarchical account of the Daoist celestial realm. The original text repeats “Taiji Mengyi Tian”; the translation presents it once.

The Heaven of Luminous Clarity and Upright Tranquility is the sixth heaven of the south. It is governed by the Heavenly Emperor Mozaxiang and lies within the Qi of Yang Illumination. Its celestial atmosphere is blue-green in color and gives rise to the mansion of the Ox; it oversees the registers recording the origins and identities of immortals throughout the world. It belongs to the Realm of Form, the heaven of visible shapes and colors.

The Heaven of Mysterious Illumination and Reverent Celebration is the seventh heaven of the south. It is governed by the Heavenly Emperor Yiluo and lies within the Qi of Yang Abundance. Its celestial atmosphere is yellow and gives rise to the mansion of the Horn; it oversees the registers of those throughout the world who cultivate the Dao and attain it. It belongs to the Realm of Form.

The Heaven of Great Radiance and Ultimate Jade is the eighth heaven of the south. It is governed by the Heavenly Emperor Nayou and lies within the Qi of Utmost Yang. Its celestial atmosphere is green and gives rise to the mansion of the Horn; it oversees the registers of immortals who transmit the Dao’s teachings throughout the world. It belongs to the Realm of Form.

The Heaven of Primordial Support and Vast Ascension is the first heaven of the west. It is governed by the Heavenly Emperor Liangli Gongshou and lies within the Qi of Lesser Yang. Its celestial atmosphere is purple and connects with the Brahma Qi of the west, the pure, numinous Qi of that direction. It oversees the registers of departed souls throughout the world who have been delivered and reborn. It belongs to the Realm of Form.

The Heaven of Great Peace and Imperial Cliffs is the second heaven of the west. It is governed by the Heavenly Emperor Shoulai and lies within the Qi of the Sun. Its celestial atmosphere is white and gives rise to the mansion of the Wings; it oversees the registers of good people throughout the world who have received deliverance and ascended to immortality. It belongs to the Realm of Form.

The Heaven of Manifest Stability and Utmost Wind is the third heaven of the west. The scripture then lists the Heavenly Emperor Shoulai, saying that he lies within the Qi of the Sun. The celestial atmosphere is white and gives rise to the mansion of the Wings; he oversees the registers of good people throughout the world who have received deliverance and ascended to immortality. This heaven belongs to the Realm of Form.

The Heaven of Manifest Stability and Utmost Wind is also the third heaven of the west. It is governed by the Heavenly Emperor Jina and lies within the Qi of Abundant Yang. Its celestial atmosphere is yellow and gives rise to the mansion of the Wings; it oversees the registers of suffering souls and virtuous spirits throughout the world. It belongs to the Realm of Form.

The Heaven of the First Emperor and Filial Dawn is the fourth heaven of the west. It is governed by the Heavenly Emperor Anajia Boluo and lies within the Qi of Cavernous Yin. Its celestial atmosphere is green and gives rise to the mansion of the Bow; it oversees the registers of ghosts and spirits dwelling in the long night of the Nine Depths, the remote and shadowy underworld. It belongs to the Realm of Form.

The Heaven of the Great Emperor, Deeply Visited and Floating Abode, is the fifth heaven of the west. It is governed by the Heavenly Emperor Bōlán Chánluó Líhé and lies within the Qi that Penetrates Yin. The heaven is blue-green in color and gives rise to the mansion of the Star; it oversees the registers for summoning souls and gathering perfected beings throughout the world. It belongs to the Realm of Form.

Wusi Jiangyou Heaven: The sixth heaven in the West, presided over by the Heavenly Emperor Fanming Yuanhuang. It lies amid dark Yin Qi, and the Qi within it is red; it gives rise to the Su Mansion. Here are recorded the registers of those throughout the world who have opened the gate of salvation for departed souls, freeing them from the long night. This heaven belongs to the Realm of Form.

Shangdie Ruanle Heaven: The seventh heaven in the West, presided over by the Heavenly Emperor Caishi Yuan. It lies amid vast Yin Qi, and the Qi within it is azure; it gives rise to the Gui Mansion. Here are recorded and assessed the registers of the merits and practices of heavenly beings and cultivators throughout the world. This heaven belongs to the Realm of Form.

The Boundless Realm.

Shangdie Ruanle Heaven: The seventh heaven in the West, presided over by the Heavenly Emperor Caishi Yuan. It lies amid vast Yin Qi, and the Qi within it is azure; it gives rise to the Gui Mansion. Here are recorded and assessed the registers of the merits and practices of heavenly beings and cultivators throughout the world. This heaven belongs to the Realm of Form.

Wuji Tanshi Heaven: The eighth heaven in the West, presided over by the Heavenly Emperor Ali Xiang. It lies amid utmost Yin Qi, from which the Jing Mansion arises. Here are recorded the registers of the ranks of the immortals throughout the world. This heaven belongs to the Realm of Form.

Haoting Xiaodu Heaven: The first heaven in the North, presided over by the Heavenly Emperor Daxiang. It lies amid Qi in which Yin is emerging and belongs to the Brahma Qi of the North; its Qi is purple. Here are recorded the registers of those who have achieved success in cultivation and are rescued and guided across, ascending to immortality. This heaven belongs to the Realm of Form.

Yuantong Yuandong Heaven: The second heaven in the North, presided over by the Heavenly Emperor Shanming Min. It lies amid Qi in which Yin is transforming; its Qi is purple, and it gives rise to the Shen Mansion. Here are recorded the registers of the ranks attained by people who, after being guided across, become heavenly beings. This heaven belongs to the Realm of Form.

Taiwen Hanchong Miaocheng Heaven: The third heaven in the North, presided over by the Heavenly Emperor Lina. It lies amid Qi in which Yin is bright, and the Qi within it is white; it gives rise to the Zi Mansion. Here are recorded the registers of the immortals and ghosts governed by the Spirit Kings. This heaven belongs to the Formless Realm.

Taisu Xiule Jinsang Heaven: The fourth heaven in the North, presided over by the Heavenly Emperor Fankuo Taizhao. It lies amid deep Yin Qi, and the Qi within it is yellow; it gives rise to the Bi Mansion. Here are recorded the names and ranks of the Demon Kings. This heaven belongs to the Formless Realm.

Taixu Wushang Changrong Heaven: The fifth heaven in the North, presided over by the Heavenly Emperor Ani Gou. It lies amid numinous Yin Qi; the Qi within it is purple and gives rise to Xun Qi. Here are recorded the names and ranks of the Demon Kings. This heaven belongs to the Formless Realm.

The Heaven of Supreme, Everlasting Fusion of the Great Void is the fifth heaven in the Northern division, governed by the Heavenly Emperor Ani Gou. It lies amid the Qi of Yin spirits; its celestial Qi is purple, and it brings forth the Xun lunar mansion. It governs the registers of names that record people’s merits throughout the world, guide them toward liberation, and enable them to ascend to immortality. It belongs to the Heaven of Seed-Bearing People.

The Heaven of Great Release, Jade Glory, and Soaring Triumph is the sixth heaven in the Northern division, governed by the Heavenly Emperor Qing Da. It lies amid the Qi of Yin souls; its celestial Qi is blue-green, and it brings forth the Wei lunar mansion. It governs the registers of names that set out the ranks of immortals, perfected beings, and great sages throughout the world. It belongs to the Heaven of Seed-Bearing People.

The Heaven of Dragon Transformation and Brahma’s Crossing is the seventh heaven in the Northern division, governed by the Heavenly Emperor Yuan Fan Qing Dai Da Hun. It lies amid the Qi of Yin congealment; its celestial Qi is red, and it brings forth the Lou lunar mansion. It governs the registers of names that record those who cultivate immortality and advance in rank, as well as those who cultivate themselves into sages. It belongs to the Heaven of Seed-Bearing People.

The Heaven of Taiji’s Balanced Nurturing, Jia Yi is the eighth heaven in the Northern division, governed by the Heavenly Emperor Shi Hui Zi Ran. It lies within the Qi of Yin at its limit; its celestial Qi is blue-gray, and it brings forth the Kui lunar mansion. It governs the registers of names and merits of those throughout the world who study the Way of immortality. It belongs to the Heaven of Seed-Bearing People.

This concludes the account of the thirty-two heavens above.

What has been listed records the affairs of the Three Realms.

The “Three Realms” are the Realm of Desire, the Realm of Form, and the Formless Realm. The six lowest heavens belong to the Realm of Desire, and the nineteen heavens above them belong to the Realm of Form. Both realms are governed by cycles of cosmic catastrophe and take shape from Yin-Yang Qi, which can eventually be exhausted. Higher still are three heavens that belong to the Formless Realm.

Human beings have lifespans of varying lengths, and beyond the heavenly realms there are four realms of celestial people. From these heavens all the way to the highest, the Unbounded Great Luo Heaven, everything is formed from the pure Qi of emptiness. Primordial True Qi gives rise to the myriad things and is their foundation. The light of heavenly Yang shines upon these realms, which are untouched by the changes brought by the movements of the sun and moon.

Below the Unbounded Great Luo Heaven, light and darkness still alternate. The realm of the Three Pure Ones and Great Luo is beyond birth and death, untouched by cosmic cycles and immune to the calamities of the Yang Nine and Hundred Six. It is the utmost realm of the Great Dao, where the myriad sages pay audience to the Heavenly Worthy.