《無上祕要》Vol. 55

Wushang Biyao (Essential Secrets of the Highest Dao), Scroll 84, Section 7

Attaining the Ranks and Titles of the Taiqing (Great Clarity) Adept

What follows lists the spirit names and offices that an adept who has cultivated Taiqing (Great Clarity), one of the Three Pure Ones (Sanqing) in the Shangqing (Highest Clarity) realm, may know and be connected with.

Feitian Zhangren, Taiyi Zhonghuang, Xuanshang Yutong, and Mengshou Xiansheng. These four are responsible for the mountains, rivers, spirits, ghosts, and birds and beasts of the world. They are natural spirits that arise through response and transformation, and they cannot be obtained through human cultivation.

Xiyue Zhangren, Santian Yutong, and Luoshui Shennü (Luoshui Shennü should refer to Fu Fei). These three also belong to the category of spirits that can be obtained through human cultivation and can fill an office.

The Five Marchmount Lords. This office changes hands once every five hundred years.

The Hou of the River, the Hebo, and the Hebo's Young Maidens. The last are not necessarily born from a womb; most are formed through transformation and attachment. These three are positions established for adepts who have attained the Dao.

The Five Emperors (the Five Emperors of Taiqing, who are also natural spirits and are not commanded by the Taichang spirits). In the East is Linweiyang; in the West, Yaopobao; in the South, Chipiaonu; in the North, Yinhouju; and in the Center, Hanshuniu. Each direction has its own Five Directional Heavenly Officials, Grand Officers, Jade Maidens, and other numinous officials. The Five Emperors of Taiqing and the Five Directional Celestial Sovereigns together make up twenty-four lords, officials, generals, and clerks. With the Five Emperors and the Five Directional Celestial Sovereigns, there are twenty-five offices, corresponding to the twenty-five spirits in the human body and the thousand two hundred lords, officials, generals, and clerks. All of these are formed by condensation from qi through transformation and cannot be learned through worldly study.

Envoys. The following eleven envoys are named, and most belong to the natural spirits rather than to anything learned in the mortal world: the Envoy Who Repels Flight, the Envoy of the Nine Dragons, the Envoy of the Nine Heavenly True Kings, the Envoy Who Opens the Heavens of the High Immortals, the Envoy Who Roams the Heavens, the Envoy of Taiqing, the Envoy of the Six Yi, the Envoy of the Six Bing, the Envoy of the Six Ding, the Envoy of the Six Ren, and the Envoy of the Six Gui.

The Four Generals of the Heavenly Troops. The Four Supreme Generals, four in number, command a host of one hundred thousand troops of the Heavenly Emperor. The Envoy of Chongshan likewise commands one hundred thousand troops of the Heavenly Emperor. The Heavenly Strongmen and the Heavenly Ding Strongmen complete the group. These are the names of the heavenly troops commanded by the generals and envoys above.

The Jade Maidens and Their Officials. Four Jade Maidens who ascend to receive the heavenly registers, four Jade Maidens of the Highest Heaven, one hundred Jade Maidens of the Three Heavens, the Jade Maidens of the various grades, the Jade Maidens of the Northern Palace, the Jade Maidens of the Five Emperors, the Jade Maidens of Taisu, ten officials of the Jade Maidens of the Green Waist, the Jade Maidens of the Green Heaven who increase life, the Jade Maidens who come from heaven, and the Jade Maidens of the Level Heaven.

Explanation. This section sets out the spirit names and offices recorded in the Taiqing realm and distinguishes three kinds: natural spirits that arise through response and transformation, spirits that adepts may obtain and use to fill offices, and spirits formed by condensed qi that correspond to the officials within the body. The envoys, generals, and Jade Maidens are provided so that practitioners can recognize the registers of the heavenly realm and refer to them when performing liturgies. They cannot all be recorded in an ordinary book of techniques.

Selections from the Wushang Biyao (Ranks and Titles of the Spirits)

Names of the Jade Maidens and Ladies

The ten Jade Maidens of White Essence, the Six Wu Jade Maidens, the Divine Elixir Jade Maiden, and the Five Flow Jade Maidens with their attendants together make fifteen titles of Jade Maidens and Goddesses. The Five Immortal Ladies and the Guo Inner Consort make up two further titles of Ladies.

Names of the Elders and Grand Officers

The Elder of the Hundred Spirit-Breaths, the Grand Lord of a Hundred Thousand Spirit-Breaths, the Grand Lord of Eternal Peace, the Elder of the Nine Ways, the Elder of Flying Perfection, the Elder of Increasing Life, the Elder of Great Breath, the Elder of the Southern Ascent, the Elder of the Northern Ascent, the Elder of Supreme Mystery, the Elder of the Northern Mound, the Elder of the Nine Breaths, the Elder of the Heavenly Emperor, and the Supreme Elder make up fourteen titles of Elders (zhangren). The Night-Light Grand Officer and the Harmonious Comfort Grand Officer make up two titles of Grand Officers (dafu).

Names of the Perfected

The Yuanjun of Fate Administration (Siming Yuanjun), the Perfected of the Purple Terrace Who Fixes the Registers, the Perfected Overseer of Mountains, the Perfected Who Fixes the Breath, and the Perfected of Jingyun make up four titles of Perfected (zhenren). Each also bears a personal name, which the original text records elsewhere.

Miscellaneous Titles of True Spirits

The Northern Dipper Talismans, the Envoy-Officials of the Nine Heavens, the Great Essence Generating Spirits, the Eight Majesties, Siming, Si'e, and Siwei make up seven miscellaneous categories of True Spirits.

Titles of Lords

The Lord of Emolument (Silu Jun), the Lord of Ten Thousand Blessings of the Three Heavens, the Lord Yaoguang of the Seven Stars, the Upper Primordial Lord Who Conquers Illness, the Lord of Supreme Void, and the Yuanjun of Taiyi make up six titles of Lords (jun).

Titles of Kings

The King Yin of the Four Seas, the King Who Departs from Death of the Nine Capitals, the King of Flying Perfection's Void, the King Zuoming Who Assists Fate, the Sovereign Kings of the Four Heavens, the Heavenly King Changming, and the King Zuodong Wushang make up seven titles of Kings (wang).

Notes on the Offices of the Taiqing System

The Elder of the Nine Breaths is an Elder of the Heaven of Great Clarity (Taiqing). He ascends to the Eastern Palace of the Three Heavens, where memorials pass through his hands, and he governs the duties of all spirits and ghosts.

The Lord of the Nine Elder Immortal Capital is a Lord of the Immortal Capital of Taiqing. He is not the Nine Elder Immortal Capital of Xuanzhou.

The Heavenly Emperor Lord is one of the emperors in the Eastern Palace of Taiqing.

The Supreme Elder is the most venerable among the Elders of Taiqing.

The Supreme Old Lord is the most venerable among the Old Lords of Taiqing.

The Lord of the Great Dao of the Southern Palace is a Lord of the Dao in the Southern Palace of Taiqing.

The Supreme Emperor, the Great Dao Lord of the Northern Ascent, is the Supreme Dao of the Northern Palace of Taiqing.

These seven are all exalted perfected beings of Taiqing, who govern the common people of the world.

Conclusion

All of these are obtained through the study of the Dao. Such titles and ranks can only be attained through cultivation, diligent practice, and the accumulation of merit that leads to realization. They are not empty inventions.

Essential Secrets of the Highest (Wushang Biyao): A Plain-Language Reading

I. The Honored Positions of Taiqing

Huangren (Imperial Persons): Dispatched by the Supreme Emperor and stationed on Mount Emei. The Yellow Emperor once went to them to receive the method of the "True One" (Zhenyi).

Wuya (Five Sprouts): One of the honorific titles of Taiqing.

Xuancheng Qingtian Shanghuang (Sovereign of the Dark Accomplishment, Clear Heaven): The honored lord of the Clear Heaven of Taiqing.

Yuanshi Tianwang (Heavenly King of Primordial Beginning): The king of the Primordial Beginning Heaven of Taiqing. Xi Wangmu (Queen Mother of the West): the teacher of those who are beginning the Way.

These three are the highest titles within Taiqing and do not directly govern the common people.

II. Notes on the Taiqing Titles

In total there are ninety-nine entries above, all belonging to the Taiqing system of titles. Some have honorific titles but no personal names. Some attained the Way through learning in the mortal world, and some are natural spirits.

III. Figures Who Took Elixirs and Cultivated the Way

IV. Female Daoist Practitioners Who Practiced the Lingfei Liujia Way

• Wang Lu: Daughter of Fan Wangbo Gang, Commandant of the City Gate under Emperor Ming of Wei.
• Zhao Aier: Elder sister of Zhao Gai of Yuqiu, Assistant Administrator to Liu Yu.
• Guo Shaoyao: Daughter of Guo Qian, General Who Crossed the Liao of the Han, a native of Donping.

All three practiced the Lingfei Liujia Way.

V. Those Who Took Elixirs and Achieved Corpse Liberation

• Qiu Jizi: After swallowing the Golden Liquor, his body's fragrance could be smelled for a hundred li.
• Lu Pigong: After swallowing the Jade Flower, he achieved shijie (corpse liberation), meaning his physical form was released after death and he departed as an immortal.

Both took elixirs and achieved corpse liberation.

VI. Other Figures Who Attained the Way

Brief Summary

This passage is a register of figures from the Wushang Biyao. It mainly records:

1. The honored positions of Taiqing: the honorific titles and ranks within the Taiqing Heaven.

2. Attaining immortality through elixirs: the cases of Ge Hong, Le Ba, Qiu Jizi, and Lu Pigong, who took Golden Liquor or achieved corpse liberation.

3. Transmitters of teachings: those who received the Lingfei Liujia, the Three Sovereigns' Celestial Patterns, the Lord Lao's Plain Book, and other methods.

4. Female Daoist practitioners: Wang Lu, Zhao Aier, and Guo Shaoyao, who practiced the Lingfei Liujia Way.

The entire text is arranged as itemized entries, which makes it easier to look up Taiqing scriptures and their associated figures.

Catalogue of Those Who Attained the Way and Became Immortals (from the Wushang Biyao, Essential Secrets of the Supreme)

This passage lists figures across history who became immortals or attained realization through taking elixirs, liberation by fire, receiving scriptures, and similar means. It also briefly records their teachers and deeds.

King Zhao of Yan, Ning Zhongjun, Zhang Zifang, Zang Yanfu, Liu Zixian, and Zhao Boxuan were all immortalized after taking elixirs and undergoing "liberation through transformation" (jiehua), in which the physical body dissolved and they ascended to immortality.

Chi Jiangzi lived in the age of the Yellow Emperor. The Lord of the Western Peak transmitted to him the "Talisman for Sealing the Mountains," and he also practiced fire methods.

Qingniao Gong and Huang Shanju were both disciples of Peng Zu.

Dongfang Shuo took the "Pills of Primordial Spirit" (Chushen Wan) and served as an official during the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han.

Fang Ming, Li Mu, and Chang Yu were all ministers of the Yellow Emperor.

Ning Feng took shinao (a mineral substance) and then entered fire, attaining immortality through fire-liberation (huojie).

The Eight Elders of Huainan were the eight old masters, the eight fangshi (masters of arts and techniques) in the service of Liu An, King of Huainan.

Dongyuan Gong, Qili Ji, Xia Huanggong, and Lu Li Xiansheng are known collectively as the "Four Hoary Sages of Shangshan."

Yue Zichang was a man of Qi. During the Wu and Qiang period, he received the "Five Talismans of the Numinous Treasure" (Lingbao Wufu) from Master Han, copied out the celestial writings, and hid them on Mount Laosheng in the Eastern Sea. They were later obtained by the King of Wu.

Han Zhong was a man of the Qin dynasty who later became the Immortal of Huolin.

Feng Gang was skilled in preparing medicines and could restore the dead to life.

Peng Jian (Peng Zu) was a man of the Yin dynasty. He excelled in the arts of nourishing life through the bedchamber (fangzhong) and transmitted the Way to Perfected Peng.

Yin Changsheng was a man of Nanyang. He studied under Master Ma and received the "Taiqing Elixir Methods" (Taiqing Danfa).

Ma Mingsheng was a man of Linzi. He met Lady Taizhen, who gave him a numinous pill. He later studied under Anqi Sheng and took the Taiqing elixir. He lived in the world for about five hundred years before departing to become an immortal.

Mo Di (Mozi) was a man of Song, skilled in mechanical arts. He swallowed a "Rainbow Elixir" and then threw himself into the water, departing in a manner resembling liberation by water (shuijie).

Qin Shuyin was a man of Pingyi. He and the next figure were both Immortal Lords of Mount Hua.

Liu Qianshou was a man of Pei. He was an Immortal Lord of Shaoshan and an Attendant of the Northern Terrace.

Zhao Zuyang was a man of Zhuojun and a True Lord of Mount Qian.

Zhang Shanggui was a man of Chu and a Immortal Marquis of Mount Jiuyi.

Bai Shisheng was a fangshi who practiced "boiling stone," and he served as Left Immortal Minister of the Eastern Florescence.

Zhou Dabin and Jiang Shumao were both men of Qin and served as Left Ministers of Penglai.

Jia Baoan was a man of Zheng and served as Right Duke of Penglai.

Song Chensheng debated the concept of "emptiness" with Zhang Lijin and served as Left Duke of Penglai.

Li Baozu was a man of Min Mountain. He received the method of the "Blue Essence Rice Cakes" (qingjing ernfan) and served as Right Duke of Taiqing.

Wang Daoning was a man of Changshan. He governed the records of the West and was skilled at recommending people to study the Way through registers. He served as Left Attendant Officer to the True Man of Mount Bao.

Mao Jiwei practiced the Shangqing Xiazhen Pinjing (Scripture of the Upper Clarity and Lower Perfection). He also took the Supreme Ultimate Nine-Cycle Elixir (Taiji Jiuzhuan Dan) and received writings that made him an Upper Immortal of the Earthly Perfection. He served as Right Attendant Officer to the True Lord of Mount Ju'nu, who governed the registers.

Note for reading the original: "Taking elixirs," "fire-liberation," and "water-liberation" generally refer to internal alchemy (Neidan), external alchemy (Waidan), or symbolic liberation (shijie) that results in immortality. Titles such as "Left Minister," "Right Duke," "Attendant Officer," and "Registrar" are ranks and offices of celestial officials that appear in Daoist canonical registers (Daozang). They are given here only as honorific titles, and their relative rank need not be parsed word by word.

Shan Shiyuan, a figure of the Jin dynasty, is said to have transmitted the arts of prophecy and apocryphal writings (chenwei).

Wei Xianren was a Perfected of Daliang.

Yin Youzong was a Perfected of Mount Min.

Han Weiyuan received the Lingfei Liujia (Numinous Flight Six Jia) method from Song Dexuan. He was the Perfected of Mount Jiuyi.

Master Hongya was the Perfected of Qingcheng.

Master Fu was the Perfected of the Southern Marchmount.

Feng Yanshou was the Perfected of the Western Marchmount.

Meng Zizhuo was the Perfected of the Central Marchmount.

Song Dexuan, a figure of the Zhou dynasty, practiced the Way of Lingfei and was the Perfected of the Central Marchmount.

Gaoqiuzi was the Perfected of the Central Marchmount.

Yanmenzi was a Central Primal Immortal Minister.

Shudu, surnamed Hu and named Kang, presented himself to Master Chijun and served as the Officer in charge of the West Gate of the Five Marchmounts.

Deng Lizi was Master Chijun and the Lesser Glory Immortal King.

Li Yuanrong was Master Chijun and the Taiqing (Great Clarity) Immortal King.

Zhao Cheziz was the Taiqing Immortal King.

Mao Chucheng, also known as Benchu and the Lord of Destiny, was a Gaogong (High Officiant) Perfected. He studied under Master Guiguzi, entered Mount Hua to learn the Dao, and at last ascended to heaven in broad daylight, riding on clouds and driving a dragon.

Master Guiguzi was a figure of the Zhou dynasty who dwelt in the Guigu hollow of Mount Chengyang.

The Orthodox Unity Perfected and Celestial Master Zhang Daoling cultivated the Way until, on the first day of the fifth month of the Renwu year, the first year of the Han'an era (142 CE), immortal officials descended to Heming Mountain. They bestowed upon him the Zhengyi Mengwei teaching (Orthodox Unity Oath of Authority) and the methods for transforming and governing the people, and this teaching has been transmitted to the present day. He is called the "Celestial Master" (Tianshi).

His wife also attained the Dao and became a female master. His grandson Zhang Lu inherited the Daoist methods. Emperor Wu of Wei appointed him General Who Pacifies the South, and the title he received reads: "The one who attained release by night in General Zhang's Pacification of the South." This was the Xi Shi, the Third Celestial Master.

He had twenty-four disciples. Among his inner disciples were Wang Chang and Zhao Sheng, and the rest did not become famous.

The eighty-five figures above are the true immortals within the realm of Taiqing. Those whose names and deeds can be roughly traced should now advance and ascend into the realm of Taiji (Supreme Ultimate).

Register of Daoists of the Taiji Realm

Zhuang Zhou, the Lord of the Leather-Bound Book, received the subtle words of Lord Changsang. He wrote the Inner Chapters and the Outer Chapters, lived in seclusion on Mount Baogu, took the fire elixir, and ascended to heaven in broad daylight.

Lord Changsang was the teacher of Zhuang Zhou and once taught the formula by which Bian Que could raise the dead. Both men were true immortals.

Beiyi was the teacher of Wang Ni.

Wang Ni was the teacher of Nie Que.

Nie Que was the teacher of Xu You.

Chaofu was the teacher of the one who washed his ears.

Zhili once questioned Liu Sheng.

Puyi: Zhuangzi said, "It is still Beiyi," which refers to this person.

Note: This passage is a register of Daoist immortals, arranged in tiers by realm. It first lists eighty-five true immortals of the Taiqing realm, then the Daoists of the Taiji realm. Each entry usually records a name, lineage of teachers, cultivation deeds, and the title bestowed, making it an important literary source for the genealogy of Daoist immortals.

Lord Lao of the Cloud Realm, surnamed Li and personal name Boyang, is the Lord Lao of the Taiqing (Great Clarity) line, the lowest of the heavens in the Daoist Three Pure Ones (Sanqing), which comprise Shangqing (Highest Clarity), Yuqing (Jade Clarity), and Taiqing.

Yin Xi was the Warden of the Hangu Pass during the Zhou dynasty. Xu You was a man who refused to accept the realm when Yao offered to pass it on to him. Bian Sui was a man who drowned himself in the water. Huafeng was a man who offered birthday blessings to Yao. Zizhou, Shanjuan, Shihu, Beiren, and Ma Huang, who was able to cure dragon sickness, are also listed here.

Anggong, whose surname was Tao, rode a red dragon. Da Xiang and Xiangtuo, or possibly a type of ancient worthy named Xiangtuo. Qin Yi was the man who came to mourn when Lao Dan, that is, Laozi, passed away. Jie Yu ascended Mount Emei and called himself Lu Tong. Bo Hun was a man who drew his bow and shot when he was in danger. Geng Sang was a man skilled at teaching and guiding others. Xiao Shi was a man skilled at playing the xiao (vertical flute). Nongyu was the daughter of Duke Mu of Qin, who eloped with Xiao Shi. The Two Maidens were two women who were once seen by Da Yu at the Baishui Yang. Zhang Jun of Handan was a man from the end of the Western Han dynasty. Liu Jing was a disciple of Zhang Jun.

These twenty-seven people all received the Way of Flying Steps (the immortal methods of flying and walking). Not all of them belonged to the Taiji (Supreme Ultimate) rank of immortals, and many still belonged to the Taiqing line.

Su Lin, courtesy name Zixuan, was a man from Quqiu in Puyang. He studied under Juanzi and cultivated the Dao, receiving the Sanyuan Zhenyi (the True One of the Three Primes), a key method of visualization and guarding the One. After wandering among humans for several hundred years, he was summoned by envoys from Xuanzhou (an island realm of the immortals), who came with a cloud chariot, feathered canopy, and dragon and tiger steeds. He was granted the title Chancellor of Xuanzhou and was given the office of Grand Attendant of the Taiji Central Waiting Post.

Juanzi, whose name is not well known, was a disciple of Qingtong (a youthful immortal) and the teacher of Lord Su. In his youth he practiced the arts of consuming herbs and nurturing life, and he was thoroughly skilled in the Way of Guarding the One and the Mysterious Elixir. He held the office of Grand Officer of the Four Central Yellow Offices and was given the title Duke of the North Sea.

Guo Youdu, the Perfected of Luhun, served as Supervisor of Taiji. Fan Bohua, from the Bin region, was the Perfected of Rong Mountain and the Right Duke of Immortals. Chunyu Taixuan, from Shicheng, was the Perfected of Yangluo and presided over the Western Return Transmission.

Li Yi, courtesy name Zhongfu, from Jingzhao, studied together with Mao Siming under Lord Wang. Zuo Yuanfang studied under the Lord of the West Peak and succeeded to the position of Siming. He separately governed the Western Registers, the records of life and death. Wang Zhong was the Jade Gentleman of the Upper Mystery of Zhengyi (Orthodox Unity). Bao Qiu was an official of the Taiji Palace and the Jade Maiden of Nanling.

Sima Jizhu, a man of the Han dynasty, received from Xiling Zidu the method of sword-liberation (jianjie zhi dao), a technique of attaining immortality by leaving behind a simulated body through the use of a sword. He lodged his form in his pillow and mat, while his true body remained in the Palace of Great Possession on Mount Weiyu. He consumed the flowers of the bright elixir and drank in the radiance of the rising dawn. According to the true transmission, this method resembles the sword-liberation of weapons, and one who practices weapon-liberation cannot again dwell in the rank of Taiji. He had four disciples.

The first, Bao Yang, from Guangning, practiced sword-liberation and left his body behind in a mountain ravine. The second, Wang Yangbo, from Taiyuan, gathered medicinal herbs together with Zhang Liang and never returned.

(This section consists mainly of Daoist genealogies, immortal titles, and brief biographies. The original is largely a list of parallel names, so the translation keeps the proper names and official titles to make comparison with the source easier.)

A Vernacular Reading of the Wushang Miyao (Secret Essentials of the Supreme)

Liu Wei

Liu Wei, a native of Yingchuan, was the son of Liu Feng, who served as Gongche Sima under Emperor Jing of the Han. He attained immortality through shijie (corpse liberation). He left his staff and sandals beneath a mulberry tree and departed by tuoxing (leaving a substitute form behind).

Duan Jizheng

Duan Jizheng, a native of Daijun, was originally a recluse. He practiced tuoxing and shijie, crossed to Nanzheng, and was said to have drowned in the Qinchuan. In fact, this was a trace of shijie.

Taixuan Immortal Maiden Xiling

Taixuan Immortal Maiden Xiling was the teacher of Zidu Jizhu.

The Eight Venerable Masters

Their names are not recorded. They should be the Eight Elders of Huainan. Some of them are also said to dwell in the Taiqing realm.

The Seven Perfected of Dongtai Qingxu

Their names are not recorded. They reside together in the Wangwu Mountain palace, and some of them are also said to be within the bounds of Shangqing.

Jiang Wenqi

Jiang Wenqi of the Xuanzhou Immortal Capital descended to Yangluo Mountain to meet the Southern Perfected. He is probably of the same class as Gongzi and Taiji Gaoxian Boyan.

Zhang Feng

Zhang Feng, courtesy name Gongxian, was a native of Henei. He once served as Marquis of Prohibited Protection and Director of Destiny for the Northern River of Donghua.

Ji Zi

Ji Zi has long dwelt in the Donghua Palace and has already been appointed by Taiji. He also holds the posts of Secretary of the Nine Palaces and Marquis of the Taiji Immortals.

Huang Guanzi

Huang Guanzi studied the Dao, took jindan (Golden Elixir), and read the Dongjing (Cavern Scripture), through which he attained the Way. He became Left Minister of Taiji.

Fan Mingqi

Fan Mingqi received the Xiliang erfan (ingestion regimen) and became Right Perfected of Ziyang. Ziyang has both a left and a right position. Zhou Jun holds the Left Perfected post, which ranks higher, and he has already entered Shangqing.

Qingjing Xiansheng and Dawan Beigu Zi

These two received the Xiliang erfan and attained the Way.

Zhuhuo Danling Palace's Gong Zhongyang and Gong Youyang

These two brothers received the Qingtong Jun's Xianji Zhenji (True Record of Immortal Taboos) and attained the Way.

The Five Directional Old Men

The Old Man of the Eastern Pole, Fuyang Gongzi; the Old Man of the Western Pole, Yuan Lingzi Qi; the Old Man of the Southern Pole, Danling Shangzhen; the Old Man of the Northern Pole, Xuanshang Xianhuang; and the Old Man of the Central Yuan, Zhongyang Shangxuanzi. These five cultivated the wuchen (five stellar periods) and became the Five Directional Old Men.

The Four Polar Perfected

Lingyang Ziming of the Eastern Pole and Anqi Sheng of the Northern Pole. These two long accompanied the Red Lord, and Lord Wang is called the Perfected of the Four Poles.

The Lineage of Baicheng Zigao

Wenshi Xiansheng, Xigui Zi, and Banche Tongzi. These three were all teachers and companions of Baicheng Zigao. Baicheng Zigao practiced the bugang (step pattern) Dao, and the true transmission states that Baicheng took in qi until his intestines and stomach decayed three times. This seems to be a trace of jiehua (transformation through liberation).

Feng Hou

Feng Hou was the teacher of the Yellow Emperor.

Note: The terms shijie, tuoxing, erfan, bugang, and wuchen are technical terms of Daoist cultivation and immortality. Donghua, Taiji, Shangqing, and Taiqing are celestial names from the Daoist canon. Personal and place names are largely retained from the original.

King Mu of Zhou, named Ji, was the great-grandson of King Cheng of Zhou. He traveled throughout the realm, attended feasts at the Jade Pool of the Queen Mother of the West (Xiwangmu), and held audience with her.

Yu the Great, surnamed Si and named Wenming, succeeded Shun as ruler. At Mount Zhong, he encountered the True Lord (Zhengong) and obtained two scriptures: the Lingbao Nine Practices and the Mysterious Truth Method, ultimately achieving Dao through cultivation.

Emperor Shun, surnamed Yao and named Chonghua, attained the Dao by ingesting the Thousand-Refined Purple Frost Elixir presented by the northern Rong tribes.

Prince (referring to the Yellow Emperor's great-grandson) acquired the Lingbao Five Talismans, then traveled to Mount Zhong to study the Scripture of Nine Transformations and Ten Metamorphoses, mastering the "sword liberation" (Jianjie) method of concealing the sun and moon while roaming among the stars.

The Mysterious Emperor Zhuanxu, grandson of the Yellow Emperor, journeyed across the four seas. After burying a precious cauldron in Mount Dong, he obtained the Lingbao Five Talismans and achieved Dao.

The Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan, surnamed Gongsun, cultivated the "stepping on the celestial net" (Bugang) method and sword liberation techniques. Dwelling in seclusion at Qiaoling, he could harness divine dragons to roam the Mystic Garden (Xuanpu) and ride clouds between the Langfeng immortal mountains.

The Eight Perfected including the Left Lord of the Supreme Ultimate (Taiji), Master Beiluo, along with the Five Elderly Perfected Immortals and the Left Lord of the Upper Realm, were all immortals who composed the Purple Text Spiritual Writings.

The Mysterious Harmony Sovereign of Yinling is the celestial ruler of the Central Heaven within the Supreme Ultimate, as is the Heavenly Emperor Lord of Qinghe Palace.

The first is the Central Yellow Elder Lord (Huanglaojun), positioned at the highest left seat, who has already ascended to the Shangqing (Highest Clarity) realm. The second is the Left Immortal Duke Ziyang, Master Shi Luxu of Zhonghua. The third is Master Xiliang Ziwen, who transmitted the "Green Essence Rice" (Qingjingfan) and "Cloud Teeth Immortal Formula" to Wang Qingxu. The fourth is Andu Ming, who first descended in Xiuwu County to deliver the Southern Perfected (Nanzhen). These four constitute the Four Imperial Lords of the Golden Portal of the Supreme Ultimate. The Later Sage Lord Li occupies the highest left seat, having ascended to the Shangqing realm, while the remaining three are Heavenly Emperors of the Supreme Ultimate.

The ninety-three individuals recorded above are all Perfected Immortals of the Supreme Ultimate, some of whom have already been promoted to the Shangqing realm.

(Note: The Supreme Secret Essentials (Wushang Miyao) concludes its 84th chapter here, with chapters 85-86 originally missing.)