---
title: "Huangting Waijing Jing 太上黃庭外景玉經 – English Interpretation | Daozang"
url: "https://daozang.app/en/text/KR5b0016/"
canonical: "https://daozang.app/en/text/KR5b0016/"
lang: "en"
edition:
  - "Source: Kanripo (Kyoto University)"
  - "Daozang section: 洞玄部"
  - "Kanripo ID: KR5b0016"
  - "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 · 1,615 characters"
source: "Kanripo 漢籍リポジトリ（京都大学）"
license: "CC BY-SA 4.0"
---

# 《太上黃庭外景玉經》

Dongxuan 洞玄部 · 1 volumes · 1,615 characters

## Introduction

### What this book is

《太上黄庭外景玉经》 (Taishang Huangting Waijing Yujing, “The Jade Scripture of the Outer Effulgence of the Supreme Yellow Court”) is a Daoist scripture, classified on this site under the Dongxuan division. Its main imagery consists of the body’s palaces, apertures, and deities, and it discusses visualizing the deities, regulating the breath, and nourishing life. The opening section centers on the Yellow Court, Cinnabar Fields, and Jade Pool, urging readers to guard their essence and qi and to keep body and mind tranquil.

The base text for the version presented here comes from Kyoto University’s Kanripo Chinese Classics Repository. This site includes the scripture text of 《太上黄庭外景玉经》; the specific details of the edition used are unknown.

### Authorship and date

The author is unknown, and the date of composition is also unsettled. This scripture is often situated within the development of early Daoist ideas about inner alchemy and the nurturing of life. Scholars still hold differing views on when it was composed, so the available information does not warrant assigning it to a particular dynasty or author.

### Structure

The work is one scroll, approximately 1,615 characters long. The scripture is divided into upper, middle, and other sections. It opens with seven-character lines describing parts of the body and their deities, then discusses the Five Phases, essence and qi, inner guarding, and longevity. The text shown on this site is excerpted through the beginning of the middle section; readers may consult the full text included on the page.

### Core ideas

The scripture depicts the body as a dwelling place for deities. It emphasizes visualizing the palaces and apertures within the body, regulating the breath, guarding essence and qi, and maintaining a calm and tranquil state in order to nourish the body and prolong life. The specific correspondences between the body’s parts and the deities should be understood in the context of the scripture; symbolic descriptions should not be equated simplistically with modern medical anatomy or physiology.

### How to read it on this site

The page presents the original text alongside a vernacular interpretation, paragraph by paragraph, to make the general meaning of the lines easier to follow. When encountering technical terms or symbolic expressions, readers should return to the original and interpret it carefully. The page can switch between traditional Chinese and foreign-language interpretations. Longer works are read by scroll.

本站编辑整理；原文据 Kanripo 漢籍リポジトリ KR5b0016

## About this edition

- **Source**: Kanripo (Kyoto University)
- **Daozang section**: 洞玄部
- **Kanripo ID**: [`KR5b0016`](https://github.com/kanripo/KR5b0016)
- **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 · 1,615 characters

## Vol. 1

太上黃庭外景玉經上太上閑居作七言解説身形及諸神上有黄庭下關元後有幽闕前命門呼吸廬間入丹田玉池清水灌靈根審能修之可長存黄庭中人衣朱衣關門壯籥合兩扉幽闕俠之高巍巍丹田之中精炁微玉池清水上生肥靈根堅固老不衰中池有士衣赤衣田下三寸神所居中外相距重閉之神廬之中當修理玄膺炁管受精符急固子精以自持宅中有士常衣絳子能見之可不病橫立長尺約其上子能守之可無恙呼翕廬間以自償保守完堅身受慶方寸之中謹蓋藏精神還歸老復壯侠以幽闕流下竟養子玉樹今可壯至道不煩無旁午靈臺通天臨中野方寸之中至關下玉房之中神門户皆是公子教我者明堂四達法海源真人子丹當吾前三闗之中精氣深子欲不死修崐崘絳宮重樓十二級宫室之中五炁集赤城之子中池立下有長城玄谷色長生要妙房中急棄捐淫慾專守精寸田尺宅可理主繫子長留心安寜觀志遊神三奇靈閑暇無事心太平常存玉房神明達時念太倉不飢渴役使六丁神女謁聞子精路可長活正室之中神所居洗身自理無敢汚歷觀五臓視節度六腑修治潔如素虛無自然道之故物有自然事不煩垂拱無爲身體安虛無之居在幃間寂寞曠然口

**Interpretation**

The *Jade Scripture of the Yellow Court's Outer Radiance* primarily expounds on the system of inner deities within the human body and methods for nurturing life and cultivation. The text employs metaphorical language to describe key bodily regions and their functions:

1. Vital body regions: The head houses the "Yellow Court" (upper Dantian, the area between the eyebrows), while below lies the Guanyuan point (lower Dantian, three inches below the navel). The "Dark Gate" (Mingmen point) is located at the back, and the "Life Gate" (front Dantian) at the front. The breath enters the Dantian through the "Hut Space" (middle Dantian).

2. Key cultivation principles:

- "Jade Pond's clear water" (saliva) nourishes the "Spiritual Root" (tongue); persistent practice extends longevity
- The Dantian circulates vital Jing (essence) and Qi (vital energy), requiring constant replenishment
- The middle Dantian is guarded by a deity clad in crimson robes
- The lower Dantian spans three square inches—a sacred dwelling place for deities

3. Cultivation methods:

- Consolidate Jing and Qi to sustain the presence of the "Crimson-Robed Youth" (inner deities)
- Regulate breathing for self-nourishment
- Maintain inward-focused Shen (spirit) to revitalize aging flesh
- Nourish downward through the "Dark Gate" (Mingmen) like cultivating a jade tree

4. Foundational precepts:

- The Dao (Way) embodies simplicity—eschew unnecessary complexity
- The "Spiritual Terrace" (heart-mind) must remain unobstructed; guard carefully the "Square Inch" (heart)
- Abstain from lustful desires; concentrate on preserving Jing and Qi
- Cultivate mental serenity to "observe intentions and wander with spirit" (inner contemplation)

5. Longevity essentials:

- Regularly visualize the "Jade Chamber" (upper Dantian) to maintain divine clarity
- Harmonize the five zang and six fu organs, preserving their purity
- Align with nature's Dao (Way), practicing Wuwei (non-action)
- Sustain emptiness and stillness—health follows naturally

This scripture emphasizes nurturing the body's inner deity system through introspection, breath regulation, and Jing consolidation to achieve health and longevity. The core of cultivation lies in purifying the heart, reducing desires, harmonizing with nature, and maintaining balanced circulation of Jing, Qi, and Shen.

不言恬淡無欲遊徳園清淨香潔玉女存修德明逹道之門太上黄庭外景玉經上太上黃庭外景玉經中作道優游深獨居扶養性命守虛無恬淡無為向思慮羽翼已成正扶踈長生久視乃飛去五行參差同根節三五合炁要本一誰與共之斗日月抱玉懷珠和子室子能知之萬事臯子自有之持勿失即得不死入金室出日入月是吾道天七地二廻相守昇降進退命乃久玉石珞珞是吾寳子自有之何不守心暁根基養華采服天順地含藏精九原之山何亭亭中住真人可使今内陽三神可長生七日之五廻相合崐崘之山不迷誤蔽以紫宫丹城樓俠以日月如連珠萬歳昭昭非有期外本三陽神自來內養三隂可長生魂欲上天魄入泉還魂返魄道自然太上黄庭外景玉經中太上黄庭外景玉經下璇璣懸珠環無端迟牝金籥常完堅載地懸天周乾坤象以四時赤如丹前仰後卑各異門送以還丹與玄泉衆龜引炁至靈根中有真人巾金巾負甲持符開七門此非枝葉實是根畫夜思之可長存僊人道士非有神積精所致爲專年人皆食榖與五味獨食太和隂陽炁故能不死天相既試説五臓各有方心爲國主五臓主意中動靜炁得行道自持我神明光盡日昭昭夜自守渴自飲漿飢得飽經歷六腑藏卯酉轉陽之隂藏於九常能

**Interpretation**

The *Jade Scripture of the Yellow Court's Outer Radiance* primarily expounds cultivation methods for attaining longevity and spiritual vision through serenity, non-action (Wuwei), and the dual cultivation of nature and life (xingming shuangxiu).

The scripture begins by emphasizing the importance of maintaining a tranquil mind free from desires, practicing in an environment of pure stillness. The phrase "the Jade Maiden preserves cultivation" refers to visualizing divine feminine energies within the body during practice. True cultivation requires understanding Virtue (De) and comprehending the gateway to the Dao (the Way).

Practitioners should dwell in solitude, nurturing their vital nature and preserving the realm of emptiness. Maintain a mindset of serene non-action, allowing thoughts to unfold as lightly as a bird's feathers. Only through this approach can one attain the state of enduring vision and ultimately ascend as an immortal.

The line "the Five Phases (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water) vary yet share common roots" reveals that while these elemental forces differ, they originate from the same foundation. "The three and five harmonizing Qi" refers to balancing the energies of the three Dantian (upper, middle, and lower energy centers) with the five organ systems. Understanding these principles allows mastery of longevity techniques.

The text details specific methods: harmonize the body's Yin-Yang energies as if cradling the sun and moon or precious pearls. Through this understanding and persistent practice, one enters the "Golden Chamber" (the ideal internal cultivation state). The "sunrise and moon-set" technique (referring to breath regulation) balances Yin-Yang to prolong life.

Fundamental practice requires comprehending the root and nourishing essence (Jing). References to "Mount Jiuyuan" and "Mount Kunlun" metaphorically represent key internal energy points, while the "Purple Palace" and "Cinnabar City" denote vital internal regions. Practitioners should visualize these areas circulating continuously like interlinked sun and moon pearls.

The final sections discuss cultivating the "Three Yang Spirits" (Yang Shen) and "Three Yin" (Yin Shen), allowing the soul's natural circulation. Like suspended pearls in endless motion, one preserves the body's essential Qi intact. The text explains how each organ occupies its proper position, with the heart as sovereign ruler. Through breath regulation and Qi nourishment, spiritual clarity manifests, achieving the "all-day luminosity" of awakened consciousness.

Throughout, the scripture emphasizes attaining longevity through serene non-action, Yin-Yang harmonization, and internal visualization. Only through sustained practice and deep understanding can practitioners achieve these transformative results.

行之不知老肝之爲炁修而長羅列五臓生三光上合三焦道飲漿精候天地長生道我神魂魄在中央精液流泉去鼻香立於玄膺含明堂通我華精調隂陽伏於玄門候天道近在我身還自守清浄無爲神留止精氣上下關分理七孔已通不知老還坐天門候隂陽下於喉嚨通神明過華盆下清且涼入清虛囦見吾邢期成還丹可長生還過華池動腎精望於明堂臨丹田將使諸神開命門通利天道藏靈根隂陽列布如流星肝氣似環終無端肺之爲炁三焦起伏於天門候故道淸液醴泉通六府随鼻上下開二耳窺視天地存童子調和精華理髮西顔色光澤老不白下于喉嚨何落落諸神皆㑹相求索下入絳宫紫華色隠藏華蓋通神廬專守心神傳相呼觀我諸神辟除邪脾神還歸依大家藏養靈根不復枯至於胃管通虛無閉塞命門似玊都壽傳萬嵗將有餘脾中之神遊中宫朝㑹五神和三光上合天炁及明堂通利六府調五行金木水火土爲王通利血脉汗爲漿二神相得下玉英上稟元氣年益長循護七竅去不祥日月列布張隂陽伏於太隂成其邢五臓之主腎爲精出入二炁入黃庭呼吸虛無見吾形强我筋骨血脉成恍惚不見過清靈坐於廬下觀小童旦夕存在神明光出於無門入無户恬淡無欲養華根服食玄

**Interpretation**

This passage describes a method for nourishing life and extending longevity through the cultivation of the Yellow Court, an important energy center within the body.

When the liver is cultivated well, it can generate abundant primordial Qi. The five viscera work in harmony, like the sun, moon, and stars shining together. Jing and Qi circulate within the body, moving from the nasal passages to the throat (Xuanying), then passing through the Bright Hall (Mingtang, the area between the eyebrows) to harmonize Yin and Yang. Guard the Mysterious Gate, an important acupoint, and await a response from the Dao of Heaven. Maintain a clear and quiet state of Wuwei (non-action), allowing Jing and Qi to circulate naturally.

Jing and Qi move up and down through the seven orifices, keeping a person from feeling the effects of aging. When the energy reaches the Gate of Heaven at the crown of the head, it descends through the throat and passes through the Flowery Basin, possibly the chest center, where it becomes cool, entering a state of purity and emptiness. This practice can form the Reverting Elixir, or Neidan (internal alchemy). Through the Flower Pool beneath the tongue, it stimulates Kidney Jing. Visualize the Bright Hall and the Dantian, the energy center in the lower abdomen, as the various spirits open the Gate of Life, an important acupoint.

The Qi of the five viscera moves like shooting stars: Liver Qi circulates without cease, while Lung Qi and the Qi of the Triple Burner flow up and down. Saliva in the mouth is like sweet spring water, nourishing the six bowels. Regulate the breath to harmonize Jing and Qi, and the face will glow without showing signs of age. The various spirits meet in the Crimson Palace, the heart region; when the mind is settled, evil influences can be driven away.

The spirits of the Spleen and Stomach dwell peacefully in the Central Palace, the middle burner, in harmony with the spirits of the five viscera. Follow the patterns of the Five Phases—Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth—and the blood vessels will flow freely, like moving liquid. When the Yin and Yang spirits unite, they produce Jade Fluid, or saliva. Absorbing primordial Qi can extend life. Guard the seven orifices and regulate Yin and Yang according to the movements of the sun and moon. The Kidneys, root of the five viscera, govern the coming and going of Jing and Qi.

Through breathing practices, enter a state of emptiness and turn inward to observe your body and spirit, strengthening the bones, sinews, and blood vessels. A calm, desireless state of mind nourishes the root. Consume Mysterious Qi, the essence of Heaven and Earth, and become as pure as an infant, keeping the light of Shen (spirit) present at all times. Practice in accord with nature, allowing energy to enter and leave without obstruction, and ultimately attain longevity and far-reaching vision.

(Note: The Bright Hall, Dantian, and Gate of Life mentioned here are important acupoints and energy centers in Daoist Neidan practice.)

炁可遂生還返七門飮太淵通我喉嚨過清靈問於仙道與竒功服食靈芝與玊英頭戴白素足丹田沐浴華池灌靈根三府相得開命門五味皆至善炁還大道蕩蕩心勿煩被髮行之可長存吾言畢矣勿妄傳太上黄庭外景玉

**Interpretation**

This scripture elucidates the methods and key points of Daoist Neidan (internal alchemy) cultivation:

During practice, one must circulate Qi (vital energy) in continuous cycles, passing through the body's seven vital gateways (qimen), ultimately returning it to the Dantian (energy center). Swallow the saliva (Taiyuan) to moisten the throat, allowing pure Qi to flow through. To attain the miraculous effects of immortal cultivation, one should ingest celestial medicines like lingzhi mushrooms and jade essence.

The practitioner should wear a white silk headband (baisu) while focusing the mind on the lower Dantian. Bathe and nourish the spiritual root (linggen) with the nectar from the mouth's "Flower Pool" (Huachi), harmonizing the three energy centers (sanfu) - upper, middle, and lower Dantian - while opening the Gate of Life (mingmen) acupoint. Balance the five energies (wuwe) of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire and Earth (Five Phases) to guide the true Qi back to the Dao. Maintain a broad and tranquil mental state, free from agitation.

The practice may be performed with loosened hair, as this aids longevity. The text emphasizes these oral instructions are precious and should not be casually transmitted to unworthy recipients.

This passage primarily describes Neidan techniques including breath regulation, visualization of acupoints, and medicinal ingestion, highlighting the importance of harmonizing body and mind. Terms like "seven gateways," "three energy centers," and "Gate of Life" are specialized Neidan terminology referring to different cultivation areas and energy centers within the body.

經下

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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/KR5b0016/