---
title: "Yinfu Jing 黃帝陰符經 – English Interpretation | Daozang"
url: "https://daozang.app/en/text/KR5a0031/"
canonical: "https://daozang.app/en/text/KR5a0031/"
lang: "en"
edition:
  - "Source: Kanripo (Kyoto University)"
  - "Daozang section: 洞真部"
  - "Kanripo ID: KR5a0031"
  - "Base edition (Kanripo): 正統道藏・涵芬樓版 (HFL)"
  - "Witness (Kanripo): 正統道藏・涵芬樓版 (HFL)"
  - "Size: 1 volume · 583 characters"
source: "Kanripo 漢籍リポジトリ（京都大学）"
license: "CC BY-SA 4.0"
---

# 《黃帝陰符經》

Dongzhen 洞真部 · 1 volumes · 583 characters

## Introduction

### What this book is

《黄帝阴符经》 (Huangdi Yinfu Jing, “The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of the Hidden Tally”) is a Daoist classic included in the Dongzhen section of the Daoist Canon. The text is about 583 characters long. Its wording is concise, while much of its meaning is obscure; it addresses the workings of the Way of Heaven, changes in yin and yang, and human self-cultivation and action. The precise meaning of expressions such as “hidden tally” (阴符) has long been interpreted in different ways.

### Authorship and date

This classic is attributed to the Yellow Emperor in its title, but its actual author is unknown. Its date of composition remains disputed; scholars generally believe it took shape around the Tang period. Its title alone does not warrant treating it as a work personally written by the Yellow Emperor. Later Daoist traditions of cultivation, military strategy, and divination and numerology have all offered interpretations of it.

### Structure

The version presented on this site is a single-volume text of about 583 characters, divided into three chapters: “The Immortal Embraces the One and Expounds the Way for the Youth” (神仙抱一演道童), “Enriching the State and Settling the People: Expounding the Method” (富国安民演法章), and “Strengthening the Army and Winning in War: Expounding the Art” (强兵战胜演术章). The base text is taken from Kyoto University’s Kanripo Chinese Classics Repository. Though brief, the classic is densely worded, and its passages often link Heaven, Earth, and humanity through changes in yin and yang.

### Core ideas

The classic takes the Way of Heaven and changes in nature as the basis for its discussion, addressing the interactions among Heaven, Earth, and humanity, and using expressions such as the “Five Thieves” (五贼) and the “Three Robberies” (三盗) to explain the relationship between the workings of the myriad things and their generation and nourishment. It also discusses grasping the right moment, cultivating body and mind, and following nature. The meanings of some related terms and phrases are not entirely clear; they are best read in context, without treating any single interpretation as definitive.

### How to read it on this site

This site presents the original text alongside a vernacular interpretation, passage by passage, to make checking the text easier. When a phrase is unclear, return to the original and keep the different interpretations in mind. The page lets you switch between traditional characters and foreign-language interpretations; longer classics are read volume by volume.

本站编辑整理；原文据 Kanripo 漢籍リポジトリ KR5a0031

## About this edition

- **Source**: Kanripo (Kyoto University)
- **Daozang section**: 洞真部
- **Kanripo ID**: [`KR5a0031`](https://github.com/kanripo/KR5a0031)
- **Base edition (Kanripo)**: 正統道藏・涵芬樓版 (`HFL`)
- **Witness (Kanripo)**: 正統道藏・涵芬樓版 (`HFL`)
- **Size**: 1 volume · 583 characters

## Vol. 1

黃帝隂符經

神仙抱一演道童上觀天之道執天之行盡矣天有五賊見之者昌五賊在心施行於天宇宙在乎手萬化生乎身天性人也人心機也立天之道以定人也天發殺機移星易宿地發殺機龍蛇起陸人發殺機天地反覆天人合發萬變定基性有巧拙可以伏藏九竅之邪在乎三要可以動靜火生於木禍發必尅姦生於國時動必潰知之修鍊謂之聖人天生天殺道之理也

富國安民演法章中天地萬物之盜萬物人之盜人萬物之盜三盗既宜三才旣安故曰食其時百骸理動其機萬化安人知其神而神不知不神而所以神也日月有數大小有定聖功生焉神明岀焉其盜機也天下莫能見莫能知君子得之固躬小人得之輕命

强兵戰勝演術章下瞽者善聽聾者善視絶利一源用師十倍三反畫夜用師萬倍心生於物死於物機在目天之無恩而大恩生迅雷烈風莫不蠢然至樂性餘至靜性亷天之至私用之至公禽之制在炁生者死之根死者生之根恩生於害害生於恩愚人以天地文理聖我以時物文理哲人以虞愚我以不愚聖人以期其聖我以不期其聖故以沉水入火自取滅亡自然之道靜故天地萬物生天地之道寖故隂陽勝隂陽相推而變化順矣是故聖人知自然之道不可違因而制之至靜之道律暦所不

**Interpretation**

**Interpretation of the Yellow Emperor's Yin Talisman Scripture in Vernacular Chinese**

**[The Youth Who Embraces the Dao and Embodies the Divine (Upper Chapter)]**

By observing the patterns of the celestial Dao and grasping its natural laws, one can comprehend all things. Within nature, there exist five forces of mutual generation and restraint (the "Five Thieves"). Those who understand this principle will flourish. By internalizing these five forces, one gains mastery over cosmic transformations, manifesting the creative power of all things within oneself.

Human nature originates from the celestial Dao, while the human heart serves as the pivot of change. Establishing the laws of Heaven to govern human affairs, when the Dao manifests its stern, destructive aspect, the stars shift their positions; when Earth reveals its killing intent, dragons and serpents rise; and when humanity unleashes its destructive force, the order of Heaven and Earth is overturned. Only when the three powers—Heaven, Earth, and humanity—act in harmony do the myriad transformations find their foundation.

People differ in innate talent—some are skillful, others dull—but the key lies in knowing how to conceal one's abilities. The nine orifices (eyes, ears, nose, mouth, etc.) are vulnerable to disruptive influences of evil Qi, with the most critical being the "Three Essentials": the eyes, ears, and mouth. Within movement and stillness lies hidden profundity—just as wood, when ignited, eventually consumes itself, and unchecked corruption leads to the collapse of a nation. Those who comprehend these truths and cultivate them are the sages. The celestial processes of creation and destruction are, in essence, the natural rhythms of the great Dao.

**[Enriching the Nation and Securing the People (Middle Chapter)]**

Heaven and Earth "steal" the essence of all things; all things "steal" nourishment from humanity; and humanity, in turn, "steals" resources from all things. When these three forms of "theft" are balanced, the three powers—Heaven, Earth, and humanity—achieve stability. Thus it is said: Eat in accordance with the seasons, and the body remains healthy; grasp the right timing, and all transformations proceed peacefully.

People marvel at the obvious wonders but fail to perceive the divine mystery hidden within the ordinary. The movements of the sun and moon follow fixed cycles; growth and decline obey immutable laws. It is from these that the achievements of sages arise and the workings of the divine become manifest. The profound mechanism of this "theft" remains unseen and unfathomable to the world. Noble individuals who master it preserve themselves, while petty men who obtain it bring calamity upon themselves.

**[Strengthening the Military and Achieving Victory (Lower Chapter)]**

The blind possess acute hearing; the deaf possess sharp vision. By cutting off distractions and focusing on a single faculty, one's abilities increase tenfold. If one cultivates diligently day and night, the effect multiplies ten thousand times.

Thoughts arise from external stimuli and perish by them—the gateway lies in the eyes. Heaven appears ruthless yet harbors great benevolence; violent thunder and fierce winds seem destructive yet conceal life-giving energy. Excessive joy leads to indulgence; extreme stillness fosters purity. The Dao of Heaven seems utterly self-interested, yet in its application, it is perfectly impartial.

The key to control lies in Qi (vital energy). Life and death depend on each other; kindness arises from harm, and harm stems from kindness. Fools observe only the surface of Heaven and Earth, while I discern the patterns of time and the transformations of all things. Ordinary people rely on cleverness to appear wise, whereas I maintain simplicity to preserve my true nature. Sages strive deliberately for sageliness, but I follow spontaneity without forced pursuit. Thus, those who throw themselves into fire or water to seek destruction violate the natural Dao.

The Dao of nature is rooted in stillness, and thus it gives birth to all things. The laws of Heaven and Earth operate gradually, allowing Yin and Yang to alternate. When Yin and Yang interact, transformations arise spontaneously. Therefore, sages recognize that the laws of nature cannot be defied—they align with them and harness their power. The ultimate stillness of the Dao is so profound that even the celestial calendar cannot fully measure it.

能契愛有竒器是生萬象八卦甲子神機鬼藏隂陽相勝之術昭昭乎進乎象矣黃帝隂

**Interpretation**

This passage from the *Yellow Emperor's Classic of the Hidden Talisman* reveals the mysteries of cosmic operation and the patterns of Yin-Yang transformation:

Between heaven and earth exists a marvelous creative vessel (referring to the primordial power of the Dao) that gives birth to all things in existence. Symbolic systems like the Bagua (Eight Trigrams representing natural laws) and the sexagenary calendar cycle (ancient timekeeping method) conceal divine mysteries and the subtle patterns of waxing and waning between Yin and Yang. The profound interplay of these complementary opposites becomes clearly manifested through these symbolic systems, with these phenomena visibly apparent to all who observe.

In essence, it discloses a fundamental creative force in the cosmos that governs the birth and dissolution of all things through Yin-Yang transformations and the patterns of trigram symbolism. Though these principles appear profound, they can be comprehended through careful observation of natural phenomena.

符經

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原文底本：Kanripo 漢籍リポジトリ（京都大学），CC BY-SA 4.0。  
Source text: Kanripo Chinese Classics Repository (Kyoto University), CC BY-SA 4.0.  
HTML version: https://daozang.app/en/text/KR5a0031/