《無上祕要》Vol. 52

On Ingesting the Five Qi (General Discussion)

The five unwritten writings of the Red Script of the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning came into being in the midst of the Great Void. Before Heaven and Earth had begun to shine, when creation had not yet divided clearly, they already lay hidden, gathering around the primordial root. The Three Luminaries formed the Mystery, and the Five Qi moved within it. Their five colors separated and shone across the five directions. The Five Emperors were set in place, and Yin-Yang guided them; they turned the pivot of the nine heavens and set the radiance of the five planets in motion. The Five Peaks were established to guard and stabilize the world, and the five inner palaces were nourished to sustain the spirit.

Thus, those who have attained the utmost truth always follow the first dawning of Yang’s light: above, they guide the Qi of Primordial Beginning; below, they draw in the fragrant flow of Jade Spring. They bring primordial essence to the Supreme Ultimate and summon the Five Emperors to the numinous youth. Those who irrigate themselves with this method do not decline; those who preserve and nourish it are inexhaustible. Through ten thousand kalpas they renew themselves, keeping the Five Teeth fresh in their countenance. This is truly a wondrous formula of the Numinous Treasure and the profound source from which the myriad sages flourish.

The Method of Cultivating the Green Teeth and Guiding the Nine Qi of the East and the Azure Heaven

To cultivate the Green Teeth and guide the Nine Qi of the East and the Azure Heaven, on the day of Beginning of Spring each year, enter a quiet room at cockcrow. Face east and bow nine times. Sit upright, then click the teeth together nine times.

Inwardly visualize the East: there is the Forest of Precious Blossoms, where Lord Green Numinosity, the Beginning Elder (Qingling Shilaojun), surnamed Yan, taboo name Kaiming and courtesy name Ling Weiyang, resides. He is nine inches tall, wears a crown of green essence jade, and is dressed in a flying robe of the green feathers of the Nine Qi. He rides in a chariot drawn by azure dragons and carries a banner. Attended by divine officers, including Jia and Yi, the Old Man of Hu, and ninety thousand others, he descends from the Azure Heaven of the Nine Qi into the room. In an instant, he transforms into green Qi, dense as clouds and billowing like smoke, which envelops your body, enters through your mouth, and flows straight down into the Liver Palace (the sea of Qi in the liver).

Then visualize Jupiter (the Year Star) shining brightly in the East, its light illuminating your body so that everything becomes clear. Open your eyes and look upward, then recite the incantation:

Azure Heaven of the Nine Qi, primordial essence on high;

August Elder, revered spirit, robed in blue-green feathers.

Command the officers of Heaven; brighten the Year Star,

Scatter its radiance and let its fragrance flow.

Transform and nourish my form; above, I feed on the morning clouds.

I take in and draw forth the essence of Wood,

Firmly nourishing the Green Teeth and guarding them against decay.

The Liver Palace fills and overflows; Jade Zhi grows of itself.

Through countless kalpas, the years turn back,

And my complexion returns to that of an infant.

The Five Qi blend together; Heaven and Earth endure as one.

When you have finished the incantation, draw in the green Qi and swallow it nine times. Then ingest the twelve characters of the Eastern Red Script in Jade.

These twelve characters are the name of the Azure Heaven of the Nine Qi. For guiding the Nine Qi of the Green Emperor and ingesting the Green Teeth, write them in vermilion on white paper. After completing the visualization, swallow the paper at once.

Note on the structure of the original

This chapter presents an ingestion method based on the Daoist Five Directions and Five Qi. It brings together Beginning of Spring, the East, the virtue of Wood, the Liver Palace, Jupiter, and the Green Teeth, which are commonly associated with teeth, the essence of Wood, and the preservation of youthful vitality. The ritual combines orientation, bows, tooth-clicking, visualization of a descending perfected being, Qi entering through the mouth and flowing into the liver, visualization of Jupiter, recitation of an incantation, and nine swallows of green Qi. Finally, the practitioner ingests the twelve written characters. The writing, visualization, and swallowing form a single practice, characteristic of early Shangqing and Lingbao methods of visualization and ingestion.

Thus, Qi descends naturally without deliberate summoning, and the Azure Emperor, the deity of the East, appears in response. The Five Teeth—the Eastern Azure Qi among the true Qi of the five directions—become firmly gathered in the liver palace of the Eastern Peak, and Jade Fungus grows of its own accord. The numinous child brings the true script to the side of the sleeping chamber, while Qingyao, the spirit who assists the Azure Emperor, lends support and obeys commands. After nine years of accumulated resonance, the practitioner can achieve transformation, become an immortal, and transcend the world, remaining undestroyed through countless kalpas.

Usually, at cockcrow, just as dawn breaks, face east and click the teeth nine times. Then rub the palms together until warm and use them to stroke the face and eyes nine times. Tilt the head back and recite:

“Ninefold Radiance of the East, I consume the Azure Teeth. Lengthen my life; let me drink the rosy dawn.”

When finished, touch the tongue three times to the inside of the upper teeth and the lips, filling the mouth with Jade Spring—the Daoist term for saliva. Then swallow it in three portions. Next draw in Azure Qi and swallow it in nine portions, settling it securely within the liver palace. After completing this, practice nourishing the cinnabar teeth and guiding the three Qi of the Southern Cinnabar Heaven.

Usually, at cockcrow on the day of the Beginning of Summer, enter a room, face south, and bow three times. Sit upright and click the teeth three times. Visualize the Southern Brahma Treasure, Prosperous Yang, Cinnabar Numinous True Old Lord: his surname is Dongfu, his name Jiyan, and his courtesy name Chibiaonu. He is three inches tall, wears a red-jade crown of pure essence, and is clad in flying robes woven from the three Qi of cinnabar feathers. He rides in a jade carriage drawn by a cinnabar dragon and carries a raised red banner. Three hundred thousand officials of the Bing-Ding Yue Lao descend with him from the Three Qi Cinnabar Heaven into the room.

After a short while, visualize them transforming into bright, flame-like red Qi that pours through and envelops your body, then enters through your mouth and reaches the heart palace. Also visualize the Fire Star shining brilliantly, its southern radiance illuminating your whole body so that everything is clear. Then open your eyes, tilt your head back, and recite:

“Numinous child of the Vermilion Officials of the Three Qi Cinnabar Heaven, the Primordial Beginning’s High Elder rides the Red Dragon, clad in flying robes of cinnabar feathers, draped in a brocade mantle and shining with bright light. He commands the Heavenly Officials and sets Yin-Yang in motion. The Three Qi pour forth their radiance and infuse my final palace—here, the heart palace. May you protect and secure me, refine and nourish my cinnabar teeth, and adorn my appearance. At dawn, may I consume the Vermilion Radiance, so that Jade Fungus fills my body. May the cycles of calamity cease, my decaying body regain its youth, and my life endure as long as Heaven and Earth. My body transforms in myriad ways amid water and fire.”

When finished, draw in Red Qi and swallow it in three portions, then consume the twelve characters of the Southern Vermilion Script in jade.

These twelve characters are the name of the Three Qi Cinnabar Heaven, used to guide the three Qi of the Red Emperor and consume the cinnabar teeth. Write them in red on white paper, visualize them, then swallow them all at once. This will guide the Red Qi to flow through and fill the body, allowing fragrant numinous mushroom Qi to pour from the mysterious opening into the Crimson Palace, the Daoist term for the heart region, and setting the Red Emperor’s Qi coursing through the channels.

Explanation in Plain Language

On Visualization and Consuming the Red Script

With sincere devotion, practice visualization (quietly contemplating deities and scriptures entering the body). Receive the Red Script (secret characters written in red) from the numinous youth, and preserve the Cinnabar Buds (saliva in the mouth, the jade-like fluid between the teeth) so they remain forever firm. Consume the Three Qi at Zhurong (the fire deity of the south); use a red jade tablet to communicate with the spirits, and set the Five Scrolls in motion to summon the gods. Through prolonged fasting, inspire the spirits in the Great Stillness; Heaven inscribes your name in the Southern Palace. This may be called attaining the Way while seated, without difficulty, and enjoying it forever without end.

Daily Morning Practice (at Cockcrow)

At cockcrow, when daylight first breaks, face south and click your teeth three times. Rub your palms together until warm, then wipe your face and eyes three times. Tilt your head back and recite:

Red Cinnabar of the South, take it and your complexion will be enhanced. Drink from the Cinnabar Pool, and you will be forever protected and at peace.

When finished, use your tongue to touch the outer surfaces of your lower teeth and lick your lips. Rinse until the Jade Fungus fills your mouth, then swallow it three times. Next, draw in Red Qi and swallow it three times, letting it settle in the heart chamber. This completes the practice.

The Method for Cultivating Yellow Teeth, Guiding the Twelve Qi of Wu and Ji, and Reaching the Central Yellow Heaven

On the four days of the year—the spring equinox, summer solstice, autumn equinox, and winter solstice—enter a room at cockcrow, face the sovereign direction, and bow twelve times. Sit upright and click your teeth twelve times. Visualize the Venerable Lord of Mystery and Age, Primordial Numen of Jade Treasure in the Center: his surname is Tongban, his taboo name is Yuanshi, and his courtesy name is Hanshu. He is one chi and two cun tall, wears a crown of yellow essence and jade, and is clad in a five-colored feather robe. He rides in a jade carriage drawn by a yellow dragon and carries a yellow banner. Attending him are 120,000 officials of the Wu and Ji elders, who descend from the Yellow Heaven of the Twelve Qi and arrive in the room.

After a short while, imagine yellow Qi coming into being, surging like a radiant auspicious cloud. It fills and envelops your body, enters through your mouth, and descends straight into the Spleen Palace. Then visualize the Earth Star shining brightly in the center, its light illuminating your body, so that everything is clear.

Open your eyes, look upward, and recite:

Central Yellow Taishan, primordial Qi moves and circles. Above dwells the Primordial Elder, who governs the four quarters. He rides with the yellow dragon, clad in a five-colored feather robe. He guides and conducts the Nine Heavens, turning the celestial pivot. The Earth Star shines brightly, its light flowing and scattering in radiance. Jade blossoms and fragrant fungi fill the air and spread in all directions. They nourish and irrigate my body, making the Spleen Palace clear and open. They cultivate my teeth and feed on essence; all the spirits return together. They marshal my hun and constrain my po, refining the Eight Powers of the immortals. Within and without, all is brightly illuminated; life endures without decline. I communicate with the Real and reach the numinous, ascending into the Great Tenuity.

When finished, draw in the Yellow Qi and swallow it twelve times. Then consume the sixteen-character jade text of the Central Red Script.

The Sixteen Characters and the Central Yellow Method of Consumption

The sixteen characters above are the name of the Central Yellow Heaven. To guide the Yellow Emperor’s Twelve Qi and consume the Yellow Teeth, write them in red on white paper. After completing the visualization, swallow the text at once, and then… (the following passage continues in the original source with the method of consumption and its promised effects).

Note: The final phrase in the source appears to be missing text after “then.” Similar writings commonly describe effects such as “the myriad spirits attend and protect you, and the Spleen Palace opens and becomes clear.”

A Plain-Language Interpretation of the Wushang Miyao

Draw in the primordial Qi of the nine heavens above, and send it down to Xuanying (an important point at the chest) and Miaomen (the Mysterious Pass). Though the Great Granary has no grain, it fills of itself; though the Spleen Palace is not moistened, it warms of itself. The Yellow Emperor and Laozi respond in harmony to the call, while the numinous child opens his robe and delivers the text. The yellow writing turns, and the course of life moves from east to west. How wondrous this jade formula is: it is the beginning of the myriad immortals.

Daily Practice: Drawing in Yellow Qi

At dawn, when the cock crows and the first light appears, face due west. Tap the teeth twelve times, rub the palms together until warm, then use them to rub the face and eyes twelve times. Raise your head and recite:

Wu and Ji of the Center, lofty as Mount Tai;
I consume essence and Qi, and drink sweet spring water.

When you have finished reciting, lift the tongue to the upper Mysterious Throat, gather the Jade Spring (saliva), moisten the lips three times, and swallow. Then draw in Yellow Qi with twelve swallows, settling it firmly in the Liver Palace. This completes the practice.

A Method for Cultivating the Plain Teeth and Guiding the Seven White Qis of the Western Heaven

At dawn on the day Beginning of Autumn, enter a room and face west. Bow seven times. Then sit upright and tap the teeth seven times. Visualize the Lord Lao of the Radiant Numinous Sovereign of the Seven Treasures’ Golden Gate in the West: his surname is Shangjin, his taboo name is Changkai, and his courtesy name is Bobao. He is seven inches tall, wears a white-essence jade crown on his head and a robe of white feathers formed from the seven Qis. He rides a white dragon and carries a plain-colored banner. Seventy thousand attendant spirits, officials of Geng and Xin and of the Dilaos, descend with him from the White Heaven of the Seven Qis and arrive inside the room. After a short while, they transform into white Qi, vast and spreading like autumn clouds across the sky. It streams through and envelops your body, entering through your mouth and descending directly into the Lung Palace. Then visualize the Metal Star shining brightly, its light from the West illuminating your body, so that everything is clear and distinct. Open your eyes and raise your head to recite:

Seven gates of the Metal Numinous, bright with the radiance of Western Splendor;
Within them dwells the Plain Sovereign, home of the Primordial Beginning.
He rides with the white dragon, amid the lofty seven Qis;
He wanders at the Jade Gate, scattering essence like vermilion clouds.
The Metal Star casts its light; fragrant mushrooms spread beside it.
The Mysterious Marsh nourishes my body and cultivates my plain teeth.
The luminous stone shines with fresh brilliance, never perishing through ten thousand kalpas.
I consume it with flowing spring water and partake of Great Harmony.
The Emperor Above the Nine Heavens provides me with jade radiance;
He preserves my years and youthful appearance, spreading the Three Luminaries in a vast array.
May I endure as long as Heaven and Earth, sharing the radiance of the Three Lights.

When you have finished reciting, draw in the white Qi with seven swallows, then stop. Next, consume the twelve characters of the Western Red Script in Jade Writing.

These twelve characters are the name of the White Heaven of the Seven Qis in the West. For guiding the White Emperor’s seven Qis and consuming the plain teeth, write the red script on white paper. Once you have completed the visualization, swallow it all at once. The celestial spirits of the seven Qis pour down plain radiance in a mysterious infusion, irrigating the luminous stone, which then forms spontaneously… (the following text may be missing)

Brief Notes on Specialized Terms

Xuanying and Miaomen are bodily points or the Mysterious Pass in Daoist practice, where Qi enters and leaves.

The Great Granary, Spleen Palace, Liver Palace, and Lung Palace use the names of the organs to refer to the body’s inner sea of Qi and the places where Qi is stored.

The Lord Lao of the Radiant Numinous Sovereign is a form of Lord Lao revered in the Western Metal Heaven and the lineage of the White Emperor.

The White Heaven of the Seven Qis is the celestial realm of Metal Qi in the West, corresponding to the Beginning of Autumn and the Metal Star.

The plain teeth and luminous stone are objects used in practice for consumption and visualization, symbolizing the transformation of Metal essence.

The Red Script in Jade Writing consists of secret characters written in red. To “consume” it after visualization means to imagine swallowing it.

Plain-Language Commentary on the Wushang Biyao (Supreme Secret Essentials)

The Effects of Jade Fungus

Taking jade fungus opens the lung palace—the “palace” where the lungs reside—so it can receive true Qi. The Great Granary, or stomach, can nourish itself without deliberate feeding. With the Plain Cloud responding to the summons and serving as a mount, one may ride to the gates of the Nine Heavens. Eat it regularly without stopping, and your lifespan may match that of the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning.

The Western Daoyin Method

At dawn, when the rooster crows and sunlight first begins to spread, face west and click your teeth seven times. Rub your palms together until warm, then rub your face and eyes with them seven times. Tilt your head back and recite:

“Bright stone of the West, take it and lengthen life. Drink the numinous liquid, and you may hope to become an immortal.”

When you have finished the incantation, press your tongue against the roof of your mouth, lick your lips, and rinse your mouth until it is filled with jade fungus. Swallow it three times. Then draw in and swallow white Qi seven times, settling it within the lung palace. This completes the practice.

The Method for Cultivating the Mysterious Teeth and Guiding the Five Qi of the Northern Mysterious Heaven

On the day Winter Begins, enter a room at dawn when the rooster crows, face north, and bow five times. Then sit upright and click your teeth five times. Visualize the Five-Spirit Mysterious Elder Lord of the Northern Cavern Yin, Shuo Dan and Yu Jue—surname Hei, personal name Jie, taboo name Linghui, courtesy name Yinhou. His form is five inches tall. He wears a crown of mysterious essence and jade, and a flying robe of the five Qi of the Mysterious Heavens. He rides a black-dragon jade carriage and carries a black banner. Accompanied by fifty thousand spirit officials of Ren and Gui, the Qiang Elder, and others, he descends from the Five Qi Mysterious Heaven and enters the room.

After a short while, visualize black Qi taking shape, its layers shining one upon another, its radiance gleaming like a shooting star. It streams over and fills your body, entering through your mouth and descending directly into the Kidney Palace. Then visualize the Water Star shining brightly, its northern light illuminating your body. Make all of this clear in your mind. Open your eyes, raise your head, and recite:

“Northern Mysterious Heaven, five Qi scattering numinous power; above is the Great God, the Beginning Elder without essence. Riding a dragon and raising a banner, he roams and feasts in the Upper Capital. This day is supremely auspicious, and clouds of blessing spread in glory. Flying fungi stream down and scatter; the Jade Pool overflows on every side. The Mysterious Damsel of the Jade Pool pours upon my form. May the Kidney Palace be filled and secured, may decayed teeth grow firm again. May the palace receive and hold the settled Qi, communicating upward with the spirits. May the Five Elders descend and receive me, and the immortal Way be accomplished soon. May I transform water and fire, and wear blue-feathered robes. May I fly through the Great Void and roam to the Purple Court. May my lifespan match the Three Luminaries, enduring through ten thousand kalpas.”

When you have finished the incantation, draw in and swallow black Qi five times. Then take the twelve characters of red-scripted jade writing from the North.

These twelve characters are the name of the Five Qi Mysterious Heaven of the North. To guide the five Qi of the Black Emperor, one consumes the mysterious teeth. Write them in red on white paper. When the visualization is complete, swallow them in one gulp. Then the Mysterious Elder will carry the registers to Zhu Ling, and the numinous child will inscribe the slips in red script.

Wushang Miyao (Supreme Secret Essentials): A Vernacular Interpretation

Five Qi (vital energy) transform into an essence like the lingzhi fungus, flowing down into the withered dwelling. The Jade Spring rises at its side, at the Upright Gate. Spirits guard the Numinous Gate, and fragrant vapors arise within the Kidney Palace (shenfu). The Mysterious Jade Maidens await commands and move freely to the east and west. They endure for ten thousand kalpas without decay and remain together with the Venerable of Mystery (Xuanlao).

One should, at the crowing of the cock and the first dawning of light, face north, knock the teeth together five times, rub the palms until warm, and pass them over the face five times. Then, looking upward, one recites the incantation:

"Northern Mystery Essence: take and consume it to remove the corpse, drink it with jade syrup, and the body will rise into the Great Void."

When the incantation is finished, press the tongue against the inside of the lower teeth and moisten the lips with it. Rinse the mouth so that the jade fungus fills it, then swallow three times. Next, draw in black Qi and swallow it five times to settle it within the Kidney Palace. The practice is then complete.

(This passage is drawn from the Dongxuan Yuanshi Chishu Jing (Red Book Scripture of the Primordial Beginning of the Cavern of Mystery).)

The Chapter on Swallowing the Cloud Teeth

The "Upper Method of the Divine Immortal of the Four Poles' Cloud Teeth" was transmitted by the Perfected of the Supreme Ultimate (Taiji Zhenren), and the Lady of the Southern Peak obtained it from the Perfected Qingxu (Qingxu Zhenren).

This practice should be performed between the crowing of the cock and dawn, either reclining or seated as one wishes. One knocks the teeth nine times and then recites the incantation silently.

East. The incantation reads: "Eastern Azure Teeth, purple clouds flowing with rosy mist, three whitenesses wandering, mysterious frost and jade gauze. Take and consume the morning radiance, drink it with the flowers of dawn." When the incantation is finished, touch the tongue to the outside of the upper lip, gather the saliva, and swallow it thirty times. Practice this for ten years, and the Old Man of the Eastern Pole will arrive and bestow the Azure Writ of Cinnabar (Danqing Zhenwen).

South. The incantation reads: "Southern Vermilion Cinnabar, radiance shining upon the Supreme Tenuity (Taiwei), nine paths of crimson vapor scattered in brilliant light. Take and consume the numinous dawn, drink from the Cinnabar Pool." When the incantation is finished, touch the tongue to the outside of the lower lip, gather the saliva, and swallow it thirty times. Practice this for ten years, and the Old Man of the Southern Pole will arrive and bestow the Cinnabar Radiance (Danjing).

West. The incantation reads: "Western Bright Stone, flying mists and golden fluid. Take and consume the Great Brightness, the essence of the white numinous spirit. Drink it with jade wine, and the spirit radiance will open the numinous, lifting me into the void and ascending to the High Clarity (Gaoqing)." When the incantation is finished, touch the tongue to the inside of the upper lip, gather the saliva, and swallow it thirty times. Practice this for ten years, and the Old Man of the Western Pole will arrive and bestow the Plain Talisman of Awesome Power (Sufu Weishen).

North. The incantation reads: "Northern Mystery Essence, auspicious clouds open the womb, green dawn mist spreads, purple canopies and azure banners. Take and consume the moon's radiance, drink it with the jade syrup." When the incantation is finished, touch the tongue to the inside of the lower lip, gather the saliva, and swallow it thirty times. Practice this for ten years, and the Old Man of the Northern Pole will arrive and bestow the Mysterious Register of Precious Brightness (Xuanlu Baoming).

Explanatory Notes. Five Qi, jade fungus, and Mysterious Essence are symbols in Daoist internal alchemy (neidan) for the five viscera, the essential Qi, and the saliva. Knocking the teeth and swallowing fluids belong to the category of visualization and guided breathing (cunsi daoyin), in which one knocks the teeth or swallows saliva while seated in quiet meditation. The Old Men of the Eastern, Southern, Western, and Northern Poles are protective or transmitting divine figures, often associated with the four directions and the Four Images (Sixiang). The Azure Writ of Cinnabar, the Cinnabar Radiance, and the Plain Talisman are the names of the talismans (fulu) and secret writs conferred, each differing by direction.

Wushang Biyao (Supreme Secret Essentials): A Plain-Language Reading

Wuji's earth-virtue at the center, the Huangsu (Yellow Essence) qi, the Five Clouds, Four Rosy Mists, Ziguan (Purple Observatory), Eight Luminaries, and Nine Dawns. These refer to the heavenly scenes and names associated with the central Wuji earth-virtue, the Huangsu qi, and the Five Clouds, Four Rosy Mists, the Purple Mansion's Eight Luminaries, and the Nine Dawns.

Two Hours of Radiance and the Numinous Honored One of the Seven Brilliances (Qiming Lingzun). At certain hours, the Seven Brilliances Honored One appears in light.

Harmonizing jing and pouring qi, and ingesting the Zhongyuan Linhua Longtai (Dragon Embryo of the Central Origin). One harmonizes jing essence and pours in zhen qi, taking as the object of ingestion the inner-landscape images of the central palace's primal essence and the Linhua Dragon Embryo. This is an image from internal practice, not literal eating.

"Yu li quan" (as one drinks from the Sweet Spring). One should cultivate as if drinking from the Liquan (Sweet Spring), a sweet, numinous fluid.

"After the incantation is complete, use the tongue to sweep the whole mouth, covering the inner and outer Xuanying (the throat point), and the spaces between teeth and tongue, above and below, inside and outside. Gather the jinye (fluid essence) and swallow it thirty times." When the incantation ends, the tongue moves the saliva through the whole mouth, reaching the Xuanying throat point, the inside and outside of the teeth and tongue, and all surfaces above and below. The saliva is then gathered and swallowed thirty times.

"Practice this for ten years, and the Central Primordial Lady and the Supreme Sovereign Xuanhuang Lord Lao will descend, bestowing Huangqi yangjing (yang essence of yellow qi). You may conceal the Heaven and hide the Moon, evade the scene and the Green Register, and possess the Green-Waist Tiger Script. You will be united with the Four Elders and ascend." After ten years of this practice, the Central Primordial Lady and the Supreme Sovereign Xuanhuang Lord Lao will come down and transmit the yellow qi and yang essence. The practitioner gains the ability to hide the heavenly bodies, conceal the scene, and hold the Green Register and Green-Waist Tiger Script. Joined with the Four Elders, the practitioner ascends to the heavens.

"This is the supreme oral formula of the Jade Scripture. It leads to the Way of the Five Elders: one abstains from grain and sheds the corpse, the face becomes youthful, one is unaffected by cold or heat, and calamity and suffering cannot harm. Spirit becomes clear, the years are extended, and life reaches the limit of ten thousand times ten thousand. One obtains the Nine Lin Jade Fluid and the Eight Qiong Flying Essence, and unites with the two luminaries of sun and moon in their beginning and ending. One is then in accord with Heaven and Earth." This is the highest oral formula in the Jade Scripture. It leads to the Way of the Five Elders. Its results include abstaining from grains, shedding the corpse, a youthful complexion, resistance to cold, heat, calamity, and illness, clear spirit, extended years, and a lifespan of ten thousand times ten thousand. The practitioner receives the Nine Lin Jade Fluid and the Eight Qiong Flying Essence, aligns with the sun and moon's cycles of beginning and end, and accords with Heaven and Earth.

"For all Five Yin incantations, knock the teeth nine times. One may practice constantly, and need not wait for cockcrow or dawn. When the night is still and the body is clear and the spirit at ease, then one may practice accordingly." In all Five Yin incantations, the teeth are knocked nine times. The practice may be done regularly and is not restricted to cockcrow or dawn. One begins when the midnight stillness settles, the body is clear, and the spirit is calm.

"In this practice one may eat dates. If one feels hungry, one may eat flour foods, gradually reducing grain, and must not abandon it all in a single day." During this practice, dates may be eaten. If hungry, one may eat wheat-based foods, but grain should be reduced gradually and never abandoned completely in one day.

"This is what is meant by decreasing and again decreasing, until one reaches Wuwei (non-action)." This means continually reducing desires and food until one arrives at Wuwei (non-action).

"This is the Way of empty reflection and the method of spontaneity. It is what is meant by drawing the essence of Heaven and Earth from afar, and taking from one's own body near at hand." This is the Way of empty reflection and the method of spontaneity. Its principle is to draw the essence of Heaven and Earth from afar and to draw on one's own bodily jing and qi nearby.

"Yunya (cloud fangs) are the jing qi of the Five Elders and the mists and vapors of the Taiji." Yunya are formed from the jing qi of the Five Elders and from the mists of the Taiji.

"Therefore one gathers the sharp edge of the huijing (radiant light) to fill the harmony of the Six Fluids." One therefore gathers the sharp light of the radiant essence to replenish the fluids of the six viscera.

"Penetrate the subtle and sense the obscure, and ten thousand spirits will descend. Faint reflections seek one another, and one is answered without calling aloud." Penetrating into subtle and dark depths, one senses and draws down the myriad spirits. Faint reflections respond to one another, and one is answered without raising the voice.

"Thus when the dragon sings over a deep abyss, auspicious clouds fall from the sky. When the tiger roars on a numinous hill, rushing winds spread in all four directions." This describes how intense such resonance can be. When a dragon sings over the deep, auspicious clouds descend from the heavens. When a tiger roars on a sacred hill, strong winds shake the four directions.

"When the yangsui (burning mirror) gathers light, a vermilion fire smolders and rises. When the fangzhu (moon mirror, a vessel that draws yin water) is employed, a dark stream overflows. All of this happens naturally, beyond what one can measure." When the burning mirror collects sunlight, a red fire smolders and rises. When the moon mirror, which draws yin water, is used, a dark stream overflows. These happen spontaneously and cannot be fully measured.

"Moreover, when the student settles the mind and concentrates on the mysterious, and investigates the root of the Dao with care, the defilements in the chest are cleared away, and true qi dwells in the Three Palaces (the upper, middle, and lower dantian)." Moreover, when a student dwells in the heart, focuses on the mysterious, and studies the root of the Dao carefully, the defilements in the chest are cleared, and true qi abides in the Three Palaces, that is, the upper, middle, and lower dantian.

"Gather the scattered radiance of the Five Dawns, take the Six Sweet Liquids and the rosy elixir, chant the marvelous treasures of the Nine Heavens, and utter the secret words of the subtle numinous." Gather the scattered radiance of the Five Dawns, consume the Six Sweet Liquids and rosy elixir, recite the wondrous treasure incantations of the Nine Heavens, and speak the secret words of the subtle numinous.

"The dragon leaps and emits brilliance, and seven lights blaze forth. One tastes the Three Flowers between the white teeth, and draws drink from the edge of the lips." The dragon leaps and its brilliance shines forth, the seven lights blaze. One savors the Three Flowers between the white teeth and draws the fluid from the edge of the lips.

"Inwardly refine the Six Viscera, open the hearing and clarify the vision. Breathe in and out with the Celestial Origin (tianyuan), and harmonize the hun and po souls." Inwardly refine the six viscera, open the hearing and clear the sight. Breathe with the Celestial Origin qi, and harmonize the hun and po souls.

(Further text following "hun po" may be needed from the original book. The passage appears to be broken at this point, so the sequence cannot be completed here.)

This passage explains the Daoist practice of cultivating "the Qi (vital energy) of Mysterious Roots." The "Mysterious Roots" refer to the most fundamental Jing (essence) within the human body. Refining this essence can make the body feel refreshed, the spirit bright, the complexion jade-like, the eyes radiant, the teeth glowing with purple Qi, ultimately leading to the state of immortality.

The key to cultivation lies in following the natural Dao (the Way). The heavenly Dao values spontaneity, while De (Virtue/Power) emphasizes serene joy. If one can comprehend natural principles to nurture true nature and maintain a detached mind to dispel harmful energies, all misfortunes will naturally vanish. This is the essence of the "Three-Five-Seven-Nine" cultivation method.

The specific practice is as follows: Upon waking in the morning, visualize a white Qi mass the size of an egg in the mouth, surrounded by five-colored light. This Qi is called the "Three-Five-Seven-Nine Qi," representing the essence of Mysterious Roots. Simultaneously, imagine a naked young girl in the stomach with her mouth open toward the stomach's entrance, known as the "Mysterious Maiden of the Nine Heavens." Stir the five-colored saliva in the mouth with the tongue, swallow it, and visualize it flowing into the maiden's mouth. Repeat this five times, then lightly tap the teeth three times while silently reciting an incantation.

Finally, massage the eyes fourteen times with the hands, then rub the palms together to warm them and massage the face and the area between the eyebrows. This is the method of ingesting the Qi of Mysterious Roots as transmitted by Lord Lao (the deified Laozi). The entire process emphasizes natural harmony, using visualization and guided movements to regulate the body's Jing and Qi.

Note: "Three-Five-Seven-Nine" is a Daoist term referring to different stages or levels of cultivation; the "Mysterious Maiden of the Nine Heavens" is a Daoist goddess presiding over cultivation practices and esoteric arts; "Jade Clarity and Supreme Heights" refers to the highest celestial realm in Daoism.