Shangqing Taishang Basu Zhenjing — The Most High's Hidden Writ on Racing to the Planets

This scripture belongs to the Shangqing ("Supreme Clarity") revelations, the visionary corpus that grew up around the fourth-century transmissions received by Yang Xi at Mount Mao and was expanded and copied for centuries afterward within the Daoist Canon. Its exact date of composition is not established here; it is preserved as an independent scripture in the Zhengtong Daozang, transmitted through the lineage of the Perfected of Great Emptiness and Lord Vermilion of the Southern Peak, and attributed within its own narrative to instructions handed down through the Latter-day Sage, Lord Li of the Golden Portal.

In form it is a prose revelation-treatise: an account of the cosmic office of the five planets, a ranked catalogue of the Shangqing scriptures and the ranks of Perfected they confer, and — at its center — five parallel sets of visualization instructions and invocations, one for each planet, by which the adept calls down its star-lord and consort and absorbs its light. It closes with instructions for the "Five Penetrations," auspicious days on which confession and petition can dissolve the transgressions of seven generations of ancestors.

A note on the title. "素" (sù) means plain, unadorned, or simple — the "eight simplicities" are eight scriptures of the Highest, Most High, Middle, and Lower Perfected ranks named in the text itself, the last three of which govern the racing rites to sun, moon, and the five planets. The scripture's own name for itself shifts between "Perfected Scripture" (真經) and "Hidden Writ" (隱書); both are kept here. Personal names and styles (諱, 字) of the individual star-lords and their consorts are transliterated rather than translated, since the text gives no gloss for them and invented English meanings would overreach the evidence.

Translated for the Good Works Library directly from the classical Chinese of the Daoist Canon, which is printed in full below the translation. To our knowledge, this is the scripture's first complete published English translation.

Translation

The Hidden Writ of the Most High, the Perfected Scripture of the Eight Simplicities, is the Dao of the Jade Emperor of Mysterious Clarity. The August Celestial Sovereign gave this scripture to the Celestial Sovereign Lord of Grand Subtlety, the Lord of the Dao, Purple Essence of the Three Primes, and the Elder Lord of True Yang. These lords received the scripture, and when its practice was accomplished and the Dao complete, they passed it to the Lord of the Dao Most High. The Lord of the Dao Most High transmitted it to Lord Li, the Latter-day Sage of the Golden Portal; Lord Li passed it to the Perfected of Great Emptiness and to Lord Vermilion of the Southern Peak, that they might transmit it below to those who study the Dao — those who from of old bear a golden name and jade characters, whose name is engraved in the High Pavilion, who are destined to become Perfected. This hidden text of the Most High is not transmitted to earthbound immortals; earthbound immortals of themselves cannot obtain it.

The Most High said: The five planets are the numinous roots of sun and moon, the five viscera of heaven's womb. Celestial essence gathers and coils to form the five planets; heaven and earth depend on them to weave their qi, and sun and moon strike against them to shine. When the qi of heaven is not nurtured, the Three Conjunctions wax and wane awry; when the qi of earth is not nurtured, the ten thousand things wither and stagnate; and when waxing and waning go awry, heaven quakes and earth shakes. When the ranked constellations do not hold their stations, sun and moon are eclipsed and dimmed, and when the five planets stray from their courses, the two great images lose their light. When heaven and earth are at peace the five planets shine clear; when celestial essence is in accord the five planets are bright. The numinous course of the stars answers above to the Great Mountain; their virtue-spirits, clear as jade, shine above upon Great Emptiness and illumine below the ten thousand multitudes. When the multitudes gain or lose the Dao, the five courses fall into disorder; when the multitudes are harmonious and auspicious, the stars flow in accordance with the Dao — reflecting and penetrating fortune and misfortune down to the finest thread, their mysterious light reaching the smallest particular, silently recording merit and fault.

The Five Emperors report upward to the True Sovereigns within the stars, and the True Sovereigns memorialize upward to the Jade Lord Most High; and so the stars turn their light to instruct the ten thousand lives, moving athwart their stations to announce calamity and blessing. On earth the Five Sacred Peaks are raised up, to image the stars of the five phases; in man the spirits of the five viscera are established, to correspond to the workings of the five phases. The three qi turn and converge, and so heaven and earth stand arrayed complete.

As essence, the stars communicate above with the host of essences and share below in the flowing radiance; in their inhaling and exhaling the Three Flowerings rinse and moisten the ten thousand numina, reaching athwart to the three sixes, and within nourish life — their working is penetrating and subtle to the utmost, their vessel vast and far-reaching. Immortals know only how to fly cinnabar and summon frost, to decoct cloud-vermilion and water-jade, to dissolve gold in the nine furnaces' blazing heaven — laboring to the limit in provision and toil, exhausting their watchful service — and even those who succeed rise no higher than to ascend bodily to heaven and leap beyond the Mysterious Continents. This is merely to be an immortal: one may roam far among the Nine Palaces, but one has not yet gained the gate of the Perfected.

I now hold one Dao, the method of the Highest Perfected, not merely of the Middle Perfected. Would you summon the five planets to yourself, ride the same carriage with them, mount upward on the Three Simplicities, sit upon the Eight Effulgences to roam and gaze, ascend the western wall of the Great Sovereign, give free rein to your form in the Great Void, and in broad day climb to the dawn heavens? I received this of old from the Jade Emperor, and have practiced it until now, four hundred sixty thousand years without ceasing, delighting in the marvel of this Dao and rejoicing in my meetings with the five planets. Having thus divided my form into a hundred million bodies, giving birth to cloud and nurturing moisture, roaming above in Jade Clarity and looking down below upon the Great Ultimate, I became at last a Perfected of the Most High, through gaining the essence of the five planets. This hidden and wondrous art I have stored away in the Cloud Pavilion, holding its numinous secret close, to roam together with those who receive it.

You should now be sealed as sovereign over the ten thousand lives, made emperor of the Ten Heavens, your mysterious name written in jade-green script and engraved early in the Jasper Pavilion. Let beginning students of the Perfected receive this secret text; have it transmitted and put into practice by you, and it must go to the right person. This scripture is the secret instruction of the Highest Perfected; it may not be transmitted to mere earthbound immortals.

At the start of its transmission, it must always come through mysterious response and awakened perception, its numen making itself known to the person; then there must be pure fasting and solemn pledge, an oath sworn to the Three Heavens. Within seven hundred years it may be transmitted three times; when that limit is reached it is stored away in the Five Sacred Peaks and may not again be brought out. To leak the hidden writ of the celestial pattern is already to have reported oneself to the Celestial Sovereign: he will put to death one's three generations of ancestors, and further hand the offender down to the Three Officials, who will cut off that person's life — in life beset by water and fire, in death made a lesser ghost.

All who study to become Perfected and receive this scripture already have their names marked by the Great Sovereign in the Western Flower Palace, their names inscribed on carnelian tablets and jade script in the Purple Palace; only one destined to be Perfected obtains this text. Five thousand years before you were even born, your mysterious name was already fixed in the register, that you should meet this scripture. Do not think, because you have only now first received this scripture, that it is not your fated portion.

When the Jade Emperor looks down and sees among the roaming lives one who has obtained this scripture, he at once reports it to the Most High, who sends thirty-six flying numinous jade lads to attend the place where the scripture is kept. He further reports to the Great Ultimate, which sends thirty-two jade maidens of the Southern Mound to guard the names of these five planet-lords and their consorts. Jade lads and jade maidens are also made to guard and protect the body of the one who holds the scripture. Wherever the scripture is kept, it must be enclosed in its own separate case; whenever it is opened and examined, one must first bow twice toward the scripture and burn incense to either side. The jade lads and jade maidens oversee and observe merit and fault, examining the sincerity of the person's intent; wherever there is transgression or good conduct, it is reported directly to the Most High — this must not be treated lightly.

Practicing this Dao, within five years the jade lads and jade maidens will manifest their forms and serve you. Practiced for fourteen years, the Dao is accomplished, and one gains the right to ride in the same carriage as the five planets, ascending to the Palace of Jade Clarity.

The Dao of the Highest Perfected has seven scriptures; the Dao of the Most High has three; the Dao of the Middle Perfected has six; the Dao of the Lower Perfected has eight.

The seven scriptures of the Highest Perfected are listed below: first, the Text of the Most High on Yuyi, Racing to the Sun; second, the Chapter of the Most High on Jielin, Racing to the Moon; third, the Hidden Writ of the Most High Eight Simplicities, Racing to the Planets; fourth, the Upper Scripture of the Sovereign Lord of Grand Subtlety on Flying to Heaven's Net; fifth, the Thirty-Nine Chapters of the Perfected Scripture of the Great Cavern, Most High; sixth, the Upper Scripture in Purple Script, the Numinous Writ of the Golden Portal; seventh, the Middle Scripture of the Nine Perfected, the Eight Paths of the Yellow Elder.

Practicing the above in its entirety, one becomes a Perfected of Supreme Clarity, granted three thousand jade lads and three thousand jade maidens, ranked among the Emperors of the Heavens. In procession one bears the tally of three colors, attended by a host of spirits and ten thousand Perfected; ahead the phoenix sings the way, behind the Mysterious Balance follows; the white tiger opens the road, flying dragons flank the carriage-shafts.

The three scriptures of the Most High are listed below: the Hidden Writ of Jade Clarity, the Great Talisman of the Divine Tiger, the Perfected Talisman of the Golden Tiger. Practicing the above in its entirety, one is accomplished in the Dao of the Most High, granted two thousand jade lads and two thousand jade maidens, ranked as a Lord of the Highest Perfected, Jade Emperor. In procession one bears the divine tally of five colors, attended by a thousand Perfected and a host of immortals; ahead the Heavenly Balance leads, behind the simurgh sings; three Perfected attend the shafts, soaring aloft through the Nine Heavens.

The six scriptures of the Middle Perfected are listed below: the Hidden Writ of the Great Cinnabar, Upper Scripture of Court Audience with the Perfected, the Divine Talisman of the Jade Sovereign; the Correct Law of the Three Heavens, the Phoenix-Perfected Text, the Text of the Nine Perfected Ascending to Mystery; the Scripture Spread by the Three Primes, the Chapter of the Four Perfected, the Golden Tally of the Most High; the Upper Scripture of Jade Script from the Chambers of Fangzhu, the Six Jia's Numinous Flight; the Secret Text of Numinous Treasure, the Inner Text of the Three Sovereigns, the Great Script of Celestial Patterns; the Purple Writings of Green Essentials, the Instructions of Melodious Simplicity, the Compliant Practice of the Three and Five. Practicing the above in its entirety, one becomes a Middle-Way Perfected of Supreme Clarity, granted one thousand jade lads and one thousand jade maidens, ranked as teacher to the Ministers Left and Right of Supreme Clarity. In procession one bears the purple-plumed tally, attended by a myriad spirits and a thousand Perfected; ahead the phoenix cries, behind the Heavenly Balance plays; the mysterious dragon opens the way, the Five Emperors escort the carriage, flying through the Great Void, roaming free in the crimson heavens.

The eight scriptures of the Lower Perfected are listed below: the Nine Transformations and Ten Changes of Supreme Clarity, the Threefold-Ninefold Sayings of Simplicity; the Cinnabar Radiance, the Essence of the Dao, the Eight Arts of Hiding in Earth; the Three Diagrams of Heaven's Pass, the Jade Writ of the Mysterious Sovereign; the Sevenfold Transformation and Sevenfold Turning Cavern Scripture of the Divine Continent; the Mother of Jade Horses and Stone Essence, the Purple Measure of the Central Quarter; the Crimson Register, the Yellow Course, the Jade Eye and the Dragon Writ of the Host of Texts; the Secret Talisman of the Five Phases, the Simple Memorial and Middle Chapter; the Five Books of the Upper Prime, Jade and Mystery, of the Five Emperors. Practicing the above in its entirety, one becomes a Perfected of the Lower Prime of Supreme Clarity, granted five hundred jade lads and jade maidens, ranked as officer, Grand Master Left or Right, of Supreme Clarity. In procession one bears the tally of five colors, attended by a host of spirits and jade maidens; ahead nine phoenixes call, behind eight simurghs sing; the white hornless dragon opens the way, the Great Ultimate escorts the carriage, flying through inverted shadow, roaming free in the purple chamber.

For the Highest Perfected of Supreme Clarity, the Middle-Way Perfected, and the Perfected of the Lower Prime, the scriptures to be practiced each have their own list of titles, divided into ranked sections, that they may be followed in sequence. One who practices the whole of a single rank must obtain the complete set of texts of that rank and practice them all together, and thereby becomes a Perfected of Supreme Clarity.

If the scriptures one obtains are not complete — whether one has gained only the upper scripture, or only the middle chapters, or only the lower text — then even devoted practice, lacking the rest, achieves no more than flying immortality: one may travel far to the Great Ultimate and roam below among the Five Sacred Peaks, but cannot become one of the Three Perfected of Supreme Clarity. You must therefore apply your heart diligently to heaven and earth, petition the mysterious spirits, travel far to the famous mountains, pray to the thousand numina, and seek out the precious texts, that the Dao and its virtue may be complete in you. Once one part is fully practiced and one ascends to Supreme Clarity, the jade lads and jade maidens granted number in the thousands and hundreds. If one obtains only a single scripture and not the whole set, then the jade lads and jade maidens are granted only according to the limit of the scripture received, and guard accordingly.

One who practices only the Text of the Most High on Yuyi, Racing to the Sun, the Chapter on Jielin, Racing to the Moon, and the Hidden Writ of the Eight Simplicities, Racing to the Planets, ascends to Supreme Clarity only as a Perfected of the Lower Prime, since he has not practiced the whole of the Highest Perfected's affairs. Beyond these, all the rest should be practiced together; when this joint practice is accomplished, one ascends to Supreme Clarity.

If one practices in full the scriptures of all Three Perfected, hears and beholds the Hidden Writ of Jade Clarity, and wears the Great Talisman of the Divine Tiger, one rises to become a Lord of the Jade Emperor, a Perfected of the Most High, granted thirty thousand jade lads and jade maidens, roaming the High Pinnacle at will, passing in and out of the Palace of Jade Clarity; and then even the Celestial Sovereign, the Lord of Grand Subtlety, comes to receive his charge from the Jade Emperor.

The Hidden Writ of Jade Clarity has four scrolls; it is the forbidden book that the High Jade Emperor once received of old from the Lord of the Dao, the Great Sovereign of Jade Mystery. It is the treasured wonder of the Lord Jade Emperor, entrusted to the Four Perfected of the Great Ultimate to keep and hide, permitted to be transmitted three times within five thousand years, given to Jade Perfected of Supreme Clarity. If more than three persons within a thousand years are worthy, this too is permitted. Once the limit of transmissions is reached, it may not again be transmitted. Among the people of the common world, one in a myriad myriads is destined to be given this scripture by the celestial Perfected — such a one already has a jade name in the Mysterious Terrace of the Most High, being destined to become one of the Highest Perfected. Whoever holds this scripture is granted, even while at home, three hundred jade lads and three hundred jade maidens, who morning and evening bring the host of true immortals and spirits, the numina of famous mountains, to his sleeping chamber to discourse on the Dao and expound virtue. This describes one who holds the scripture while still at home, living among the common world, not yet having left to study the Dao. Once he seeks the Perfected among the mountains and steeps himself in the numinous text, he holds authority over the Six Heavens, commands the mountain spirits, and the Five Sacred Peaks come to pay him court; jade lads and jade maidens manifest their forms and attend him, burning incense.

The Divine Tiger Talisman of the Most High was given by the Lord of the Dao, the Sovereign of Emptiness, to the Most High. The Lord of the Dao Most High entrusted it to the True Sovereigns of the Three Heavens, that it might be given to the various Perfected and the officials of the Celestial Sovereigns. Whoever has a true name in Supreme Clarity receives and wears it. But whoever has this talisman without the Hidden Writ of Jade Clarity cannot become a Perfected of Supreme Clarity, but only a Highest Perfected of the Great Ultimate.

The Golden Tiger Talisman of the Celestial Sovereign of Grand Subtlety was given by the Lord of the Dao, Jade Perfected who Preserves the Sovereign, to the Celestial Sovereign of Grand Subtlety, Most High. There are thirty-six Celestial Sovereigns, and among them the Sovereign of Grand Subtlety is most honored; all the other Celestial Sovereigns come to receive their charge from him. Whoever receives this talisman holds authority over the ten thousand spirits and commands a thousand numina; dragons and tigers escort him, he may ride the clouds of the Three Simplicities, ascend to the Great Ultimate and Supreme Clarity, and is installed as Lord of the Left.

The Hidden Writ of Jade Clarity is mysterious, distant, and utterly remote; the Lower Perfected and the ranks of flying immortals should simply set their hearts at rest, hoping without end. As for the Divine Tiger Talisman and the Golden Tiger Talisman, those among the flying immortals who seek them diligently and without ceasing may sometimes attain their principle. But those who lack a mysterious name in the numinous register, and who seek yet never meet with these texts, stand shoulder to shoulder with such seekers — how much more so with the Dao of Jade Clarity itself.

The Most High said: Of old it was said that Great Clarity cannot be ascended — how much less the Great Ultimate! And that Supreme Clarity cannot be heard of — how much less Jade Clarity! This makes clear that among the Perfected there is high and low, and within the mystery there are ranked stages. Beyond this point, it is not for further discussion.

A Lower Perfected of the Palace of Jade Clarity is equal to a Highest Perfected of the Palace of Supreme Clarity. A Highest Perfected of the Palace of the Great Ultimate is equal to a Lower Perfected of the Palace of Supreme Clarity. A Highest Perfected of the Palace of Great Clarity is equal to a Lower Perfected of the Palace of the Great Ultimate. Below this, in descending order, come the flying immortals of the Nine Palaces.

When the Hidden Writ of Jade Clarity is to be transmitted, the Four Perfected of the Great Ultimate each reverently hold one scroll and present it upward to the four Lords of the Dao — the August of the High, the High Above, the Jade Emperor, and Jade Mystery — who examine the golden register and jade names; only one destined to be a Highest Perfected, a Lord of Jade, is then permitted to have it brought forth and transmitted. Whoever holds this at once causes the host of true immortals to come to his chamber; and if he practices the utmost Dao, the Most High no longer tests his conduct — for he already, from of old, has a golden register and jade name, and must certainly become a Highest Perfected. The Hidden Writ of Jade Clarity is more wondrous in its Dao than the Text of Yuyi.

Whoever has the Text of the Most High on Yuyi, Racing to the Sun, the Chapter on Jielin, Racing to the Moon, and the Scripture of the Eight Simplicities, Racing to the Planets, and practices their methods, is no longer tested by the Perfected of the Great Ultimate.

Whoever holds the Perfected Scripture of the Great Cavern and practices its method causes the seven generations of ancestors and his own parents all to be released from the name of ghosts, pardoned from the investigation and banishment of the Three Officials, registered and delivered to the palace of the immortals, freed from entanglement and difficulty, and sent to the Palace of Vermilion Fire, Cinnabar Mound, to receive instruction in the way of immortality. When the way of immortality is accomplished for them, they are made to assist the Five Emperors and become immortals of the Nine Palaces. This describes one who possesses the Perfected Scripture of the Great Cavern in its entirety. This scripture, following the fixed method of the Four Ultimates, is especially able to win immortality for one's seven generations of ancestors, unlike other scriptures; it is a thing one absolutely must practice. But if, having practiced it, one is tested and found to have practiced only a part of the method, or to have rested midway, one will scarcely be able to save oneself, let alone bring immortality to seven generations. For ghosts can study to become immortals just as the living can study the Dao: when virtue is established through seven generations, the resulting blessing flows down to descendants and brings them to divine immortality. When a single person cultivates the Dao and masters this Cavern Scripture completely, the resulting fortune extends to seven generations of ancestors — for this reverses the very womb of one's being, and makes of it an immortal office. The Yellow Elder Lord of the Center, because of the wondrousness of this Cavern Scripture in winning blessing for seven generations, keeps it especially secret, stored in the same case as the Text of Yuyi. The host of Perfected of Supreme Clarity likewise prize this Dao, because its merit extends to seven generations of ancestors and its virtue rises to former ages.

The Latter-day Sage, Lord Li, reverently received the Perfected Scripture of the Eight Simplicities, the Hidden Writ of Racing to the Planets, and by putting its method into practice caused the Celestial Sovereign of Grand Subtlety himself to descend and welcome him; the five planets rode with him in the same carriage, mounted on the splendor of the Three Simplicities, and he ascended to Jade Clarity, receiving the scripture and becoming the Sovereign of the Golden Portal of Supreme Clarity.

The way of flying up to ascend the Wood Star. Jupiter, the Year Star, is a round mirror of wood-essence, luminous with the sunlit ridges of the Eastern Light. Within the star are nine gates, and from each gate nine spear-points of light shoot forth, their radiance falling nine million zhang; at every gate stands one Green Emperor, each guarding his gate in attendance upon the Central August Perfected Lord, the Green Sovereign. At the star's center is the Perfected Lord and Lord of the Dao, the Green Sovereign of Initial Yang, named Chenglan, styled Qingning; his consort is named Baorong, styled Feiyun. They govern within the Wood Star, guarding its nine gates, circulating green light and flowing spear-points of radiance, to illumine the Perfected above and below.

The method for flying up to it: constantly meditate upon and behold the Year Star. Rectify the heart and gaze upon the star, cup the heart with the right hand and bow to it, cover both eyes with the left hand, then hold the breath nine times, and knock the teeth together twenty-seven times, swallowing the saliva nine times, keeping the eyes closed beneath the hand; in the heart call three times the names of the True Sovereign of the Year Star and his consort. Then say: "May I ride together with the Green Sovereign Perfected of Initial Yang and his consort upon the same carriage of Eight Effulgences, and ascend to the Palace of the Most High." Having spoken, close the eyes beneath the hand, and facing the star softly intone:

Heaven and earth mingle in harmony, essence flows to the east;
I look up to the nine gates, flying mist scatters its spear-points.
On the jade terrace of Initial Yang stands the Green Sovereign,
green teeth casting radiance that illumines the nine directions.
His consort of gathered radiance is styled Feiyun,
together clad in numinous brocade, dragon cape and tiger skirt,
a phoenix talisman at the waist, a flowered crown on the head;
they go out into nothingness and enter the void, roam free in the Great Origin.
Ahead the Green Emperor leads the way, behind a thousand spirits follow;
may they come to welcome me, that I gain the name of a flying Perfected,
and ascend to Jade Clarity, to the chamber of the High Above.

Having intoned this, lower the hand, keep the eyes fixed on the star, and swallow its light twenty-seven times, visualizing the star's nine points of light all entering the throat. When this is done, knock the teeth together three times.

Practiced constantly for fourteen years, the Great Lord, the Green Sovereign within the Wood Star, will memorialize the High Above, the Palace of Jade Clarity; one's name will be engraved on a carnelian tablet of Grand Subtlety, fixed in the jade book, and one's rank will be Flying Perfected Above of Supreme Clarity.

The Wood Star has nine gates, and within the gates nine Green Emperors, each one guarding a single gate in service to the Central Great Lord, the Green Sovereign Above. The Green Sovereign is the Highest Perfected of the East, the honored spirit of Initial Essence; he passes in and out of Jade Clarity, and is a friend to the High Above. The Green Emperors within his gates are variously titled Lord of Green Numen, Green Spirit, Green Essence, or Lord Green Emperor, and all serve under the Central Green Sovereign. Practicing the secret Dao of the Eight Simplicities causes the Green Sovereign to descend; practicing only the outer methods of the Five Numina causes merely a Green Spirit to come and transmit the text. Thus the Dao has its depths and shallows, and its attainments their high and low.

When heaven has no star showing, on a clouded evening, one may in one's sleeping chamber face east and hold this meditation and incantation; the way of the Dao is subtle and mysterious, its net finely woven, and it is not necessary to face the actual star to practice it. When the star can be seen, one may go out into the courtyard, sitting or standing as is comfortable. This is called the Dao of the Highest Perfected, the method of ascending to the Eastern Asterism; it is not transmitted to the ranks of earthbound immortals.

The way of flying up to ascend the Fire Star. Mars is a mysterious mirror of cinnabar-essence, reflecting upon the Southern Eaves. The star has three gates, and from each gate three spear-points of light shoot forth, their radiance falling three million zhang; within each gate stands one Red Emperor, three Red Emperors in all, each guarding his gate in attendance upon the True Sovereign August of the South. At the star's center is the Perfected Lord and Lord of the Dao, the Red Sovereign of Cinnabar Fire, Vermilion Yang, named Weiting, styled Sanrong; his consort is named Huaping, styled Xuanluo. They govern within the Fire Star, guarding its three gates, circulating red light and flying cloud, to illumine the Perfected of all under heaven.

The method for flying up to it: meditate upon and behold Mars. Rectify the heart and gaze upon the star, cup the heart with the left hand and bow to it, cover the mouth with the right hand, then hold the breath three times, and knock the teeth together twenty-seven times, swallowing the saliva nine times; close both eyes, and in the heart call three times the names of the True Sovereign of Mars and his consort. Then say: "May I ride together with the Red Sovereign of Cinnabar Fire and his consort upon the same carriage of Eight Effulgences, Vermilion, and ascend to the Palace of Jade Clarity." Having spoken, facing the star softly intone:

Mysterious images stream with radiance, cinnabar light in the southern dark;
I look up to the three gates, vermilion clouds and crimson battlements.
Within stands the Cinnabar Sovereign, whose name is Weiting;
his consort shines within, and is Huaping.
Together clad in cloud and frost, phoenix flower and dragon bell,
at the waist a tiger tally, on the head a flying blue crown;
they go out from the Origin and enter the Mystery, soaring over the five cities.
Ahead the Red Emperor leads, behind the Six Ding spirits follow;
may they come to summon me, that I gain the name of the Perfected,
ascend to the Mysterious Void, to the golden book of Jade Clarity.

Having intoned this, lower the hand — but do not again cover the mouth — keep the eyes fixed upon the star, and swallow its light twenty-seven times, visualizing the star's three points of light all entering the throat. When this is done, knock the teeth together three times.

Practiced constantly for fourteen years, the Highest Perfected Lord of the Dao, the Red Sovereign within Mars, will memorialize the Mysterious Palace Above of the Three Primes; one's name will be engraved on a jasper tablet of the Mysterious Garden, fixed in the golden book, and one's rank will be Flying Perfected Above of Supreme Clarity.

Mars has three gates, and within the gates three Red Emperors, each one guarding a single gate in service to the Central Red Sovereign Lord. The Red Sovereign is the Highest Perfected of the South, the honored spirit of the Cinnabar Palace; he passes in and out of Jade Clarity, and is a friend to the August Above of the Three Primes. The Red Emperors within the star are variously titled Lord of Red Numen, Red Spirit, Red Essence, or Red Emperor, and all serve under the Central Red Sovereign, the Highest Great Lord. Practicing the secret hidden writ of the Eight Simplicities causes the Red Sovereign to descend; practicing only the outer methods of the Five Numina causes a Red Spirit to come and transmit the text. Thus the Dao has its hidden and its outer aspects, its texts their secret and their manifest forms; in summoning the Perfected there is a difference of high and low, and in seeking the spirits an order of above and below.

When there is no star, on a clouded evening, one may in one's sleeping chamber face south and hold this meditation. When the star can be seen, one may go out into the courtyard, sitting or standing as one wishes. This is called the method of racing to the Southern Asterism; it is not transmitted to earthbound immortals, and to transmit it to them incurs the crime of leaking the secret.

Earthbound immortals have their own separate Scripture of the Eight Simplicities, which discusses the way of absorbing the sovereign qi through inhaling and exhaling. There is also a Scripture of the Nine Simplicities, which discusses summoning ghosts, dispatching essences to prepare the kitchen, and examining the hun and po souls — matters proper only to walking the earth, the famous mountains, and long life without death. After the Eight Simplicities scripture comes the Nine Chapters of the Heavenly Balance's Song of the Bent Sun; after the Nine Simplicities scripture comes the Eight Chapters of the Dark Song of the Phoenix's Cry and Dragon's Roar — these are the secret books of earthbound immortals. What is here called the Eight Simplicities of Racing to the Planets, Most High, and practicing the way of Supreme Clarity, is not the Eight Simplicities of earthbound immortals. The chants of earthbound immortals only wait upon the wandering and roaming of Supreme Clarity.

The way of flying up to ascend the Metal Star. Venus, the Great White Star, is a round mirror of metal-essence, blazing bright in the Western Asterism. Within the Great White Star are seven gates, and from each gate seven spear-points of light shoot forth, their radiance falling seven million zhang; within each gate stands one White Emperor, seven White Emperors in all, each guarding his gate in attendance upon the True Sovereign August of the West. At the star's center is the Great Perfected Lord and Lord of the Dao, White Sovereign of Grand Simplicity, Young Yang, named Liaoling, styled Zhenxun; his consort is named Biaoying, styled Ling'en. They govern within the Metal Star, guarding its seven gates, circulating white light and flying essence, to illumine the Perfected of the Upper Prime.

The method for flying up to it: meditate upon and behold Venus. Rectify the heart and gaze upon the star, cup the heart with the right hand and bow to it, cover both nostrils with the left hand, then hold the breath seven times, and knock the teeth together twenty-seven times, swallowing the saliva nine times; close both eyes, and in the heart hold the names of the True Sovereign of Venus and his consort, three times. Then say: "May I ride together with the Lord of Grand Simplicity, Young Yang, and his consort upon the same carriage of Eight Effulgences, white, and ascend to the Palace of Jade Clarity." Having spoken, again facing the star softly intone:

The seven qi blaze and fly, light shining on the west;
I look up to the seven gates, numinous towers strike with spear-points.
White radiance shines and reflects, its virtue marked in the metal lineage;
within is Young Yang, called the White Sovereign;
his consort Ling'en dwells in the jade chamber,
together clad in white brocade, ringing bells and tiger tallies,
on the head a hat of Rising Dawn, at the waist golden bells hang;
they go out from emptiness and enter the void, roaming the firmament of jade.
Ahead the White Emperor leads, behind the Six Geng spirits follow;
may they come down to welcome me, that I ascend north to the walled palace,
my name inscribed in Supreme Clarity, that I gain the name of true lord.

Having chanted this, lower the hand — but do not again cover the nostrils — keep both eyes fixed on the star, and swallow its light twenty-seven times, visualizing the seven points of light all entering the throat. When this is done, knock the teeth together three times.

Practiced constantly for fourteen years, the Young Yang White Sovereign, Highest Perfected within Venus, will memorialize the Palace of the Great Sovereign, Jade Emperor; one's name will be engraved in the golden pavilion of Supreme Clarity, fixed on a jade tablet, and one's rank will be True Lord of the Left of Supreme Clarity, ranking with the Great Ultimate.

Venus has seven gates, and within the gates seven White Emperors, each one guarding a single gate in service to the Central White Sovereign Lord of the Dao. The White Sovereign is the Highest Perfected of the West, the honored sovereign of Grand Simplicity; he passes in and out of Mysterious Clarity, and is a friend to the Lord of the Dao, First Sovereign. The White Emperor Lords within his gates are variously titled Lord of White Numen, White Spirit, White Essence, or Lord White Emperor, and all serve under the Central White Sovereign, the Highest Great Lord. Practicing the secret wonder of the Eight Simplicities causes the White Sovereign to descend; practicing only the outer way of the Five Numina causes a White Spirit to come and transmit the text. High and low stand apart in their mystery, and so the Dao has its deep stages.

When there is no star, on a clouded evening, one may in one's sleeping chamber face west and hold this meditation. When the star can be seen, one may go out into the courtyard, sitting or standing as one wishes. If a Daoist keeping quiet retreat, one may also, within one's chamber, hold the true forms of all five planets in their proper directions and practice them together. All of this is the Dao of the Highest Perfected, the method of racing to the Western Asterism; it is not transmitted to earthbound immortals.

In a single evening one absorbs all five planets, that the practice be constant and complete: in spring, absorb the starlight beginning from the east; in summer, beginning from the south; following the sovereign month, take the sovereign star first — this is the oral instruction. The lesser stars need not be taken in fixed direction; one simply follows wherever the star stands and practices toward it — this too is oral instruction.

When performing these practices, do not let others see what you do; you should conceal yourself and act in seclusion. This is the hidden Dao of the Most High, what is called a hidden writ. Hidden, and hidden again — one fears even that ghosts and spirits might steal a glance at its very chapter-titles; how much less should it be lightly transmitted to the vulgar and corrupt of the world, who hear even the mark of its name! One must not think the blind and the foolish, who claim to know nothing, may be shown even its heading — for such a person too has seven spirits within the body, and even they, seeing it, count as a leak; one cannot but be deeply cautious of this. Whoever practices the Dao of the hidden writ yet lets slip the name and chapter-titles of the hidden writ will surely be investigated by the Three Officials, and this alone is enough to bring down calamity. Whenever about to examine and open it, one must first dismiss all attendants and living creatures such as chickens and dogs, burn incense, bow twice, and only then look upon it.

The way of flying up to ascend the Water Star. Mercury is a round mirror of water-essence, its light piercing through to the Northern Dark. Within Mercury are five gates, and from each gate five spear-points of light shoot forth, their radiance falling five million zhang; within each gate stands one Black Emperor, five Black Emperors in all, each guarding his gate in attendance upon the True August of the North. At the star's center is the Lord of the Dao, Black Sovereign of Mysterious Yin, Great Mystery, named Qixuan, styled Jingchun; his consort is named Xuanhua, styled Long'e. They govern within the Water Star, guarding the center of its five gates, circulating the qi of mysterious light and flowing brightness, to illumine the court of the Northern Origin for those destined to be Perfected.

The method for flying up to it: meditate upon and behold the Water Star. Rectify the heart and gaze upon the star, cup the heart with both hands. Having cupped the heart, raise both hands to cover both ears, then hold the breath five times, and knock the teeth together twenty-seven times, swallowing the saliva nine times; close both eyes, and in the heart call the names of the True Sovereign and his consort, three times. Then say: "May I ride together with the Lord and his consort upon the same carriage of Eight Effulgences, blue-green, and ascend to the Upper Prime Palace of Supreme Clarity." Having spoken, again facing the star softly intone:

The five qi fly in mystery, light streaming to the north;
I look up to the five gates, the blue-green tower thick with cloud.
Radiance strikes and beholds, numinous light reflected in scenes;
within is the Black Sovereign, whose name is Jingyuan;
Long'e, gathered and abundant, together they order the Mysterious Pass,
clad together in blue-green capes, purple brocade and crimson skirt,
at the waist a tiger talisman, on the head a lotus crown;
they go out beyond the Nine Voids and enter the resounding jade ford.
Ahead the Black Emperor leads, behind the Six Ren spirits follow;
may they come down to welcome me, that I ascend to the purple chamber,
my name inscribed with the Most High, that I gain the name of a jade Perfected.

Having intoned this, lower the hand — but do not again cover the ears — keep the eyes fixed on the star, and swallow its light twenty-seven times, visualizing the five points of light all entering the throat. When this is done, knock the teeth together three times.

Practiced constantly for fourteen years, the Highest Sovereign Perfected Lord of Great Mystery within Mercury will memorialize the High Above Palace; one's name will be engraved on a jasper tablet in the Chamber of Chimes, fixed in the purple script of Jade Clarity, and one's rank will be True Lord of Supreme Clarity.

Mercury has five gates, and within the gates five Black Emperors, each one guarding a single gate in service to the Central Mysterious Sovereign Lord. The Mysterious Sovereign is the Highest Perfected of the North, the honored lord of Great Mystery; he passes in and out of the High Void, and is a friend to the Lord of the Dao, Purple Essence. The Black Emperors within his gates are variously titled Lord of Black Numen, Black Spirit, Black Essence, or Lord Black Emperor, and all serve under the Central Great Mystery, the Black True Highest Sovereign Lord. Practicing the secret hidden Dao of the Eight Simplicities causes the Northern Sovereign to descend; practicing only the outer methods of the Five Numina causes a Lord Black Emperor to come and transmit the text. High and low stand in ranked order, and so the Dao has its hidden and its manifest.

On a clouded evening, or at any time when the star cannot be seen, one may practice this constantly within one's sleeping chamber. This is the secret Dao of the High Above, the method of racing to ascend the Northern Asterism; it is not something that earthbound immortals who merely walk the earth may hear of.

The Nine Palaces of Jade Clarity, Supreme Clarity, the Great Ultimate, and Great Clarity each have their own officials — dukes and ministers, grand masters, marquises and earls — their offices established alike, governing one another in turn and serving those above them. The order of their palaces and towers resembles one another closely, but the Dao among them differs in honor and rank, and their merit and virtue rise and fall.

The way of flying up to ascend the Earth Star. Saturn, the Restraining Star, is a round mirror of earth-essence, pressing down upon the Yellow Course. Within the Restraining Star are four gates, and from each gate four spear-points of light shoot forth, their radiance falling four million zhang; within each gate stands one Yellow Emperor, four Yellow Emperors in all, each guarding his gate in attendance upon the Restraining Sovereign, the Yellow True Lord. At the star's center is the Central Yellow Perfected Sovereign, Lord of the Dao, named Cangmu, styled Danyan; his consort is named Kongyao, styled Feixian. They govern within the Restraining Star, watching over its four gates, circulating a yellow robe of flowing qi, illumining the Central Prime, and shining upon students of the Perfected.

The method for flying up to it: meditate upon and behold Saturn. Rectify the heart and gaze upon the star, cup the heart with both hands. Having cupped the heart, raise the left hand to cover the Cavern Chamber above, then hold the breath four times, and knock the teeth together twenty-seven times, swallowing the saliva nine times; close both eyes, and in the heart call the names of the True Lord of Saturn and his consort, three times. Then say: "May I ride together with the Lord of the Dao, Great August of the Center, and his consort upon the same carriage of Eight Effulgences, golden, and ascend to the Palace of Supreme Clarity." Having spoken, again facing the star softly intone:

The four qi wander and turn, converging to pour into the Central Prime;
I look up to the Nine Ultimates, gazing sidelong at the four gates.
Yellow terrace, purple chamber, riding spear-points and scattering light,
numinous radiance gathers and disperses, heaven's blossoms fall like rain;
within is the Yellow Sovereign, whose style is Danyan;
his consort of hidden virtue is Feixian;
they order and harmonize the mandate-qi, guiding the mystery and irrigating the origin,
together clad in yellow cloud, dragon brocade and tiger skirt,
at the waist a golden talisman, on the head a purple crown;
they go out beyond the mysterious void, unfolding radiance at the golden gate.
Ahead the Yellow Emperor leads, the Six Ji spirits escort the carriage;
may they come down to welcome me, that I ascend to the celestial tower,
my name in golden script with the Most High, engraved on a carnelian tablet,
flying through the Great Void, that I gain the name of jade minister.

Having intoned this, lower the hand — but do not again cover the Cavern Chamber above — keep both eyes fixed upon the star, and absorb its light twenty-seven times, visualizing the four points of light all entering the throat. When this is done, knock the teeth together three times.

Practiced constantly for fourteen years, the Highest Perfected Sovereign, the Yellow Lord within Saturn, will memorialize the Palace of the Most High; one's name will be engraved on a jasper tablet of the Empyrean Terrace, fixed in the ninefold mysterious cinnabar script, and one's rank will be True Lord of Supreme Clarity, a friend below to the Highest Perfected of the Four Ultimates.

Saturn has four gates, and within the gates four Yellow Emperors, each one guarding a single gate in service to the Central Yellow Perfected Sovereign Lord. The Central Yellow Highest Sovereign is the exalted honored one of the Central Ultimate; he passes in and out of Grand Subtlety, and is a friend to the Lord of the Dao, First Sovereign. The Yellow Emperors who guard his gates are variously titled Lord of Yellow Numen, Yellow Spirit, Yellow Essence, or Lord Yellow Emperor, and all serve under the Central Yellow Highest Perfected Lord. Practicing the secret Dao of the Eight Simplicities causes the Yellow Perfected Lord of the Dao to come and welcome; practicing only the outer methods of the Five Numina causes a Yellow Emperor to come and transmit the text.

On clouded evenings when no star can be seen, all this should be practiced in the sleeping chamber, holding the true forms of the five directions together. The Perfected have said: to hold the star in visualization within one's chamber is no different from beholding it directly. Do not say that because the star cannot be seen the practice should be abandoned. This is the hidden Dao of the Most High, the secret method of ascending to the asterisms.

When swallowing and absorbing the radiance of a star, one should always visualize the star's True Sovereign and his consort riding down within the light, entering the mouth as one swallows, so that with closed eyes one seems dimly to behold their very forms. This is the oral instruction of Lord Li.

One who constantly practices this hidden method of the Most High, summoning and visualizing the Sovereigns Above of the five planets, will within five years dimly begin to see their forms; within seven years see them fully, and travel about together with them; within fourteen years, the five Sovereigns will together descend as one, and one will ride with them upon the carriage of Mysterious Splendor, amid purple clouds of the Three Simplicities — the Five Emperors leading ahead, ten thousand Perfected following behind — the five Sovereigns bringing one along in the same carriage, ascending in broad daylight to the asterisms, going up to court at Jade Clarity, receiving the scripture and becoming a Highest Perfected of Supreme Clarity.

The days of the Five Penetrations, on which the Sovereigns Above and Perfected of the Five Emperors are named, in the Hidden Writ of the Most High, are kept secret by the Most High and not disclosed to the immortals and Perfected of the Nine Palaces. Only one who holds the jade book of Great Mystery, whose name is engraved in the Golden Pavilion, comes to know these days when the moment arrives. The Five Penetrations are the days when celestial essence opens wide, when the Highest Perfected hold their joyous assembly, and the host of numina and ten thousand immortals rejoice together. The first day of the first month at midday, the first day of the second month in the afternoon hours, the seventh day of the third month at midnight, the ninth day of the fourth month at mealtime, the fifteenth day of the fifth month at midnight, the third day of the sixth month at noon, the seventh day of the seventh month at midnight, the fourth day of the eighth month at noon, the twentieth day of the ninth month at dawn, the first day of the tenth month at dawn, the sixth day of the eleventh month at midnight, the twelfth day of the twelfth month at midnight — on these twelve days each month, the Sovereigns Above and True Lords of the Dao within the five planets all ascend together to Supreme Clarity and Jade Clarity, to behold the Lord of the Dao, Most High of the Nine Mysteries. And a thousand Perfected and the thirty-six Celestial Sovereigns, down to the flying immortals of Great Clarity and above, all gather in joyous assembly at the Upper Palace of the Great Ultimate. They also discuss the diligence or negligence of those in the world who seek the Perfected, recording the names of those who study to become Perfected, to be engraved in the Golden Pavilion and fixed in carnelian-tablet script, weighing the merit and fault of seven generations of ancestors of those who seek the Perfected, the depth of their transgressions and banishments, reckoning the number and grade of their offenses. If for seven generations there has been no transgression, and the person himself is diligent and devoted, all this is recorded on carnelian tablets and engraved in jasper script, and his rank becomes True Lord of the Left of Supreme Clarity. If through seven generations there has been much transgression, though the person himself is diligent, he remains only a Lower Perfected. If former generations accumulated transgression, and the person himself has many faults, then even without diligence he becomes merely a Lower Immortal. Transgressions established beforehand are not dissolved by later merit; faults deep and grave are not removed by mere diligence. The Five Penetrations are the joyous assembly for dissolving transgression and removing fault; if you know these days, then there is hope. For when the five Perfected hold court above, this is called the Five Penetrations — penetrating and reaching far, hearing even to the finest particular, illumining all.

Would you, then, on these very days, petition and beg for the transgressions of your seven generations of ancestors and the faults accumulated in your own person? I will then instruct the Three Officials, begging the remission of their punishment and banishment, reporting directly to the Celestial Sovereign, striking their names of offense from the register, pardoning their labor and dispersing their record of hardship, that your seven generations of ancestors may be released to wander free and happy of themselves; and when you yourself attain the Perfected, may not those of former generations too receive blessing? Now, if by a single person's bowed forehead, blessing may extend to seven generations of the deceased — this indeed is the essential Dao. But if you should recklessly disclose that this day is one of the Five Penetrations, your offense is increased fourfold more, and though you repent a thousand or ten thousand times, it will avail nothing. The Perfected, keeping their mouths closed, write this down themselves, and hold it even in an empty place fearing that the hundred insects might glance sidelong upon the text and thereby commit the crime of disclosure — can one not be deeply cautious of this, can one not be deeply cautious of this.

Lord Li said: When that day arrives, enter a quiet chamber in seclusion and burn incense; face north and bow twice five times; in the heart call the names of the Sovereigns Above and True Lords of the five planets and their consorts, three times. Having done so, knock the teeth together five times. Then, loosening the head-cloth, kneel at length and reverently address, before the presence of the Sovereigns Above and Highest True Lords of the Dao of the five planets and sun and moon, and their consorts, and the Most High Sovereign of Jade Clarity and Supreme Clarity, the Sage Lord of the Great Dao. Set forth of yourself, from seven generations of ancestors and parents down to your own single person, the thousand transgressions and ten thousand faults, and from former generations onward, beg to be released and freed; may the Three Officials report below to the Celestial Sovereign, that the names of these offenses be separated and released, struck from the black tablets. Beg that you may go together with the Perfected of the five planets, all racing together at the flowering dawn, ascending to Supreme Clarity, passing together through the Jade Gate. You should recall the roots of the faults you have committed, listing in full the number and nature of your offenses, setting them forth as you see fit, your words as sincere and thorough as you can make them, holding nothing back.

On this day, confession of fault is reported directly to the Most High; it is the joyous assembly of the Most High, the day of celebration for the Sovereigns Above among the celestial immortals. The host of Perfected and Sovereigns present dragon robes, phoenix capes, tiger belts, and flying garments to the Sovereigns Above on this day, for it is treasured and honored as the day of release from the register of punishment. Whoever does not know these days of the Five Penetrations cannot be counted among those who receive release from transgression. Students of the Perfected should constantly practice this, and should also keep these days secret, letting no one know of them.

The Latter-day Sage, Lord Li, said: On these days one should hold auspicious matters in mind, with the heart set on flying immortality, free of the hundred cares, lest the essence-spirit be grieved and dispirited; one should establish virtue, extend kindness, relieve and rescue the poor and needy, do good works and spread benefit, and refrain from acts of harsh punishment — for these are the auspicious days of the Most High. On these days the Most High sends jade lads and jade maidens to secretly observe the sincerity of those who study the Dao. Before you have even spoken your intention, whether your heart holds good or ill, all is already known, and reported up to the Sovereign Above. On that very day, keep pure fast and do good — these words matter greatly.

The Latter-day Sage, Lord Li, having received the mysterious teaching in full and, through practice, brought the Dao to completion, then rode the carriage of Eight Effulgences and ascended to the Palace of Supreme Clarity, receiving the scripture and becoming the Sovereign of the Golden Portal. On the day of his departure, he wrote out by his own hand the names of the Sovereigns Above and True Lords of the five planets and their consorts, together with the auspicious days of the Five Penetrations of the Most High, on tablets of white jade, written in cinnabar and jade in a single copy, sealed in a case of cloud-carnelian, stamped with the seal of the Three Lights, and entrusted it within a stone case on Mount Huayin, the Western Sacred Peak — and further had engraved upon the case an inscription reading: "The treasure of heaven and earth, the ultimate hoard of the famous mountains."

He wrote a further copy, on a tablet of mysterious jade, written in yellow jade, sealed in a case of phoenix jade, stamped with the seal of Court Audience with the Perfected, and entrusted it within a green stone case on Mount Tai, the Eastern Sacred Peak, and further had engraved upon the case an inscription reading: "The profound chapter of the Ten Heavens, the hidden cave of the High Numina."

He wrote a further copy, on a tablet of mystery jade, written in jasper jade, sealed in a case of splendid firmness, stamped with the seal of Great Mystery, and entrusted it within a yellow stone case on Mount Heng of the South, and further had engraved upon the case an inscription reading: "The high treasure of the Eight Mysteries, the numinous park of the Highest Perfected."

He wrote a further copy, on a tablet of yellow gold, written in green jade, sealed in a case of vermilion carnelian, stamped with the seal of the High Sovereign, and entrusted it within a white stone case on Mount Heng of the North, and further had engraved upon the case an inscription reading: "The highest Dao of the Seven Numina, the singular palace of Grand Perfection."

He wrote a further copy, on a tablet of jasper jade, written in gold, sealed in a case of patterned agate, stamped with the seal of the Central Yellow, and entrusted it within a mysterious stone case on Mount Song, the Central Sacred Peak, and further had engraved upon the case an inscription reading: "The separate hoard of the Nine Heavens, the treasury of the Five Sacred Peaks."

A further copy was written for each, and entrusted to the Five Sacred Peaks, that the Lords of the Five Peaks might keep and guard them. When the auspicious meeting of the renchen year arrives, the Sage Lord will descend and command that the Five Peaks be summoned, that these cased writings be brought forth and entrusted to the Assistants and Ministers of the Four Quarters, that they may instruct those of talent destined for the Highest Perfected.

He wrote yet a further copy, on white silk patterned in eightfold color, written with his own brush; ranking and ordering the incantations for attaining the Perfected, the method of inhaling and exhaling, advancing and withdrawing, in seeking to ascend to the five asterisms, dividing the writing into the Five Penetrations, the days for releasing transgression, and titled it: "The Perfected Scripture of the Eight Simplicities, the Hidden Writ of the Most High." He entrusted it to the Perfected of Great Emptiness and Lord Vermilion of the Southern Peak, that they might transmit it below to students of the Dao — to one who from of old bears a true golden name and jade characters, engraved in the Golden Pavilion, destined to become Perfected — and it must not be transmitted beyond this, to earthbound immortals.

Whoever obtains the Hidden Writ of the Eight Simplicities, Most High, has his name already recorded in the mysterious register of the Purple Palace, his jade name published in Supreme Clarity, destined to receive the mandate of Perfected — and this is why he obtains it. Among the people of the vulgar world, one in a myriad myriads is mistakenly granted this scripture by the celestial spirits; and even one who obtains it but does not practice it has done so only through the causation and relay that serves the messengers of the Highest Perfected. Have no doubt of this: even one who receives it without practicing it will become an immortal by release of the corpse, only unable to become a flying immortal, a Perfected. After release of the corpse, such a one will of himself gradually be led onto the lofty and wondrous path, and the confused net of his heart will be dispelled. It only takes years — this is, in the shorter span, to turn back to the real and transcend the traces of the mundane world. Strive at this, and keep it hidden.

The Perfected of Great Emptiness, having received this teaching, descended and proclaimed: This is the numinous text of the Most High, the wondrous Dao of ascending to the dawn heavens. Within seven hundred years, three transmissions are permitted. The Chief Minister, Lord Wang, said: within a hundred years, two persons may be given it; and if there is one who attains a response of true numinous feeling, he too may be given it — provided that within seven hundred years, no more than three transmissions in all are permitted. In every case one must keep pure fast for seven days before this scripture is entrusted, and the recipient likewise. There must also be a sworn compact and proclaimed oath, to open the heart to it. For one who receives and practices the way of summoning the Highest Perfected through the five planets, the one who already holds the scripture as teacher must offer forty feet of white silk and two pairs of silver rings. For one who receives and practices the affair of the Five Penetrations, the one who already holds the scripture as teacher must offer thirty-two feet of blue cloth, as a lifelong pledge of blood, sealed and unleaking, a covenant of trust never disclosed. Thereupon the Three Officials report directly to the Celestial Sovereign, and the Celestial Sovereign petitions above for jade maidens, to be granted to the one who receives the scripture; and reports directly to Supreme Clarity, and Supreme Clarity petitions above for jade lads, to be granted in attendance upon the numinous text of the Eight Simplicities — thirty-two of each — who moreover oversee the faults of the one who holds the scripture and record his merits, however fine as autumn down, and report them at once to the Palace Above. Whoever transmits it to an unworthy person, or exceeds the limit in transmitting it, or discloses the hidden writ, or reveals the auspicious days, or fails to honor the sworn oath, or does not trust the secret words, commits the crime of disclosure under the Bright Statutes of the Four Ultimates: his three generations of ancestors and his parents will be investigated by the Three Officials, his body made a lesser ghost, whipped upon the stone of Meng Mountain, and further sent to all Five Sacred Peaks, drawing water from the dark sea to pour into the Four Rivers, his body without hope of immortality, and for seven reckonings condemned to the underworld. At the moment of transmission and in the time of practice, you must be deeply careful and reverent, treasuring and keeping it secret always. That the Most High instructed Lord Li so earnestly was from fear that he might lose the Dao. And this scripture besides holds the true names of the Sovereigns Above and Perfected Lords of the five planets and their consorts, and the days of the Five Penetrations — it is not fitting that living beings should know these, for this would add greatly to the burden of secrecy.

The Latter-day Sage, Lord Li, said: If you dwell still among the vulgar world, at home, not yet practicing the utmost Dao, and fear that the hundred evils of the world, the thousand and myriad demons, may assault your spirit and qi — then at midnight, facing the five directions, first hold the breath five times, and in each direction silently recite three times the text I engraved upon the stone cases of the Five Sacred Peaks, beginning with the Western Peak's tablet of white jade, and for the remaining four peaks likewise reciting one copy each — but not extending to the chapter written on white silk — reciting it three times in each direction. When the threefold recitation is complete in all directions, knock the teeth together thirty-six times: this dispels the hundred evils, gathers in the three hun-souls, and governs the seven po-souls. This incantation is not among the scriptures of the outer lodges of the Dao that speak of such things — these words have no chapter and verse of their own kind, yet even the hundred evils, the three hun, and the seven po do not dare defy them. For the wondrous secret of the Dao, its true mystery beyond all others, its outer title alone can already govern the hundred evils and check the hun and po souls — how much more so what is treasured within the stone cases themselves! The hundred ghosts and ten thousand essences, the thousand evils and host of demons, all wander the famous mountains, driven about in service to the various numina, and all have seen the inscribed text upon the stone cases of Lord Li at the Five Sacred Peaks — they merely do not know what scripture of the Dao lies hidden within the case. Daoists should constantly recite this engraved text; the various ghosts, supposing that a person is thereby practicing the scripture within the case, are struck with dread and dare not draw near.

The Instructions of the Perfected of Great Emptiness

The Perfected of Great Emptiness said: My former teacher instructed me thus. On a day of the Five Penetrations, when the sun has risen some three or four zhang, stand upright, face the sun directly with your heart, and visualize the three hun-spirits entering the heart together with the sunlight; after a long while, hold the breath for three breaths, and swallow the saliva three times, softly intoning:

The sun scatters its radiance, its light falling purple and blue;
may it enter my hun-souls, illumine my five forms,
drive back ghosts and test the heart, making the heart level and correct;
within, it penetrates the nine qi; without, it communicates with the fated womb;
flying as an immortal to Supreme Clarity, my jade register already fixed.

Having intoned this, wipe the eyes with the hand twice seven times, and knock the teeth together twice seven times; this completed.

This method causes a person's three hun-souls to become clear and bright, the cinnabar heart to be made square and upright, the hundred evils to conceal their arts, and the heart, though tested, does not waver — it is truly the essential Dao, and you should practice it constantly. On days of the Five Penetrations, further, face the sun and try to sneeze; if unable to sneeze, use a soft object toward the sun to draw a sneeze through the nose — this too will bring a sneeze. As you sneeze, intone:

Heavenly light advances, the six wombs opened above;
the three hun-souls guard the spirit, the seven po-souls are not lost;
receiving the sun's ring and cry, sharing its light with the sun;
flying as an immortal to Supreme Clarity, my rank made a True Lord.

Having intoned this, wipe the eyes twenty-seven times. This is the inner essence rising to meet the sun's light, the three hun-souls illumined within, causing the heart to open and the spirit to be released, the hundred essences to circulate within the inner treasury. If it is not a day of the Five Penetrations, this need not be done.

Also, on the yimao day of spring, the bingwu day of summer, the gengshen day of autumn, and the renzi day of winter, when lying down in the dark, first pound cinnabar, realgar, and orpiment, three substances, dividing them equally and finely pounding them, wrap them in silk floss to the size of a jujube. When about to lie down, stop them in both ears — this is the way to dissolve the three corpse-worms and refine the seven po-souls, a secret method; let no one know of it. The next day at noon, bathe in water flowing eastward; when done, freshly arrange the bed and mat, change into washed clothing, put on fresh footwear and bathe again, and further sweep beneath the bed where you sleep, so that the whole chamber where you dwell is made thoroughly clean. Then arrange the pillow, lie facing upward, hold the breath and clasp the hands firmly, and after a long while softly intone:

The way of heaven has its constancy, changing the old for the new;
on the Sovereign's auspicious day, bathe to become Perfected;
the three qi dissolve the corpse-worms, cinnabar and realgar settle the hun-souls,
treasuring and refining the seven po-souls, that they draw close to me.

Having intoned this — this is the highest method for dissolving and refining the filth of the corpse-worms, the essential instruction for changing into a new form. Of the four seasons, only one day each is to be used for this.

When the scripture is transmitted and bestowed [...], one should always have the essence-bearing jade lads and jade maidens examine and observe the place where it is given and kept, scrutinizing to its root whether the heart's resolve is thorough or not thorough. You should recognize the intent of this. The one who receives [...] must be careful never to disperse it privately for the sake of relieving hunger or cold. Whoever transgresses this will have his body sink to the Three Officials, becoming a base and turbid ghost, and the Three Officials will further add this offense as a charge against his three generations of ancestors. This is the sworn oath of the Most High, the precious covenant sealed in blood. When one's body enters the famous mountains, on the day one is to become immortal, the writings should all be cast into the streams, forests, ravines, and chambers of the peaks, or distributed to those who dwell in the mountains. If one dies while the writings are still held, then, at the moment of departure, if there has been no numinous sign or response to indicate where they should be entrusted, one should hold them close and take them along. So too with a scripture one has received: at such a time there will surely also come a sign in dreams within the mystery, the jade lads of the Highest Perfected making known their trust through forms and words — one should then decide and dispose of the matter according to what is fitting.

Colophon

This Good Works Translation was prepared for the Shangqing Scriptures shelf of the Good Works Library. The English was translated independently from the classical Chinese text printed below. The scripture's prose was rendered as prose; its five parallel invocations to the star-lords of the five planets, each opening with a five- or six-line rhymed hymn in the original, are kept here as verse, with line breaks preserved; the single subheading occurring in the source text, marking Lord Li's own oral instructions and those of the Perfected of Great Emptiness, is kept as a bolded line rather than promoted to a numbered heading, since the source itself does not divide the scripture into titled sections beyond this.

Before the claim below was written, a genuine translation-status check was performed: the local bibliographies of Daoist texts in Western-language translation (Komjathy's Daoist Texts in Translation and the 2023 Purple Cloud survey) were searched for this scripture's Chinese title, its component title "八素" (Basu), and any catalogue number, and neither bibliography records a translation of it or lists it by name. Two web searches were then run, for the Chinese title and for the pinyin and English gloss of "Basu jing." These searches found the Chinese Wikisource and Chinese Text Project transcriptions of the source, and found that the phrase "Perfected Scripture of the Eight Simplicities" appears in passing in secondary Western scholarship describing the Shangqing textual corpus and its ritual uses (methods of astral absorption, loosening the embryonic knots of fate, and the like), but no published complete English translation of the scripture itself. To our knowledge, this is the first complete published English translation of the Shangqing Taishang Basu Zhenjing. We state this as the limit of our knowledge, not as a certainty.

A note on names and marks. The personal names (諱) and courtesy names (字) given for each planet's star-lord and consort are transliterated as pinyin rather than translated, since the text supplies no gloss and any English rendering of their sense would be this translator's guess rather than the text's own meaning. The source contains two occurrences of the unencodable-character mark ▢, both in the final section concerning the transmission of the scripture; both are rendered "[…]" in the translation and kept as ▢ in the Chinese below, following the transcription. A number of proper names in the source — mountain names, star-lord titles, and the names of minor attendant spirits — are approximate best renderings of technical Shangqing vocabulary that exceeds any general dictionary; a reader working from the source alongside this translation should expect some variance in these particulars.

Prepared for the Good Work Library by the Tianmu Anglican Church with AI-assisted translation and editorial work.

🌲

Source Text: 上清太上八素真經

Classical Chinese text of the Daoist Canon, in the Chinese Wikisource transcription. Presented complete for reference, study, and verification alongside the English translation above.

《太上隱書八素真經》者，乃玄清玉皇之道也。上皇天帝以此書授太微天帝君、三元紫精道君、真陽元老君。此君受書，施行道成後，以付太上道君。太上道君以傳金闕後聖李君，李君以付太虛真人、南嶽赤君，使下授學道，宿有金名玉字，高閣刻名，當為真人者。太上之隱文，不傳於地仙，地仙亦自不得獲之矣。

　　太上曰：夫五星者，是日月之靈根，天胎之五藏也。是以天精結纏，以成五星，天地賴以綜氣，日月擊之而明。若夫天氣不育，則三合虧盈，地氣不育，則萬物枯滯，虧盈則天震地動。若夫列宿不守，則日月薄蝕，五星亂度，則二象失光。天地泰則五星映清，天精合則五星光明。星之靈道，太山上應，德神玉清，上照太虛，下朗萬兆。兆有得失，則五度錯逆，兆有和吉，則流行順道，映洞禍福，毫縷畢彰，玄照纖末，幽存功過者也。五帝上言於星中真皇，真皇上奏於太上玉君，是以辰光轉燭以示萬生，傍行越位以告灾祥也。地建五嶽之山，以象五行之星；人立五臟之神，以擬五行之用。三氣迴合，是以天地列備矣。星之為精，上通衆精，下共光津，吐納則三華漱澤萬靈，傍達三六，中含養生，其事洞而微極，其器浩而長攬也。仙人唯知飛丹召霜，煎鍊雲朱水玉，解金九爐炎霄，勤苦極於營贍，司候足於劬勞，就有成者，不過昇身上天，超躍玄洲耳。此故仙人而已，遠可遊於九宮之間矣，則未有得真人之門戶也。吾今有一道，乃為上真之法，不但中真而已。子乃欲招致五星，與同輦駕三素以上騰，坐八景以遊盼，登太帝之西墉，縱形太空，白日登晨乎。吾昔受之於玉皇，行之迄今，四十六萬年而不休者，翫此道之奇妙，樂五星之接遇也。既得分形億兆，生雲育澤，上遊玉清，下看太極矣，遂為太上之真人者，致五星之精也。隱祕妙術，藏之雲閣，蘊抱靈訣，與之俱遊者矣。子當下封萬生，為十天之帝，玄名碧書，早刻瓊閣，宜令初學真人，受此祕章，令子傳付施行，必當得人。此書是上真之訣，不得傳地仙之夫也。出傳之始，皆當須玄應感悟，靈告其人，乃當清齋委約，誓盟三天，七百年中得三傳，限盡藏之五嶽，不復得出也。泄漏天文隱書，已告天帝，誅其三祖，又下三官，絕其身命，生被水火，死為下鬼矣。諸學真之人而受此書，皆有太帝目名西華宮，有琅簡蘂書於紫宮，當為真人者，乃得此文也。乃是子未生之前五千歲，已有玄名定錄，當遇此經也。子勿以始受此書，而謂非宿命之分矣。玉皇下盼遊生，見有得此書者，即告太上，使遣飛靈玉童三十六人，侍此書之所在處也。又告太極遣南陵玉女三十二人，衛此五星真君、君夫人之名字也。又並使玉童、玉女，衛護有書之身。有書皆盛以別笈，開發省按，皆向書再拜，燒香左右。玉童、玉女司視功過，察人誠向，有違有善，徑聞太上，不可不慎。

　　修行此道，五年之中，玉童、玉女見形，為子使役。行之十四年，道成，得與五星同輿，上詣玉清宮。

　　夫上真之道有七，太上之道有三，中真之道有六，下真之道有八。

　　上真之道有七，列篇目于左：

第一曰太上鬱儀奔日文，第二曰太上結璘奔月章，第三曰太上八素奔辰隱書，第四曰太微帝君飛天綱上經，第五曰高上大洞真經三十九章，第六曰金闕靈書紫文上經，第七曰黃老八道九真中經。

右上真之道，總而行之，為上清真人，給玉童、玉女各三千人，位為諸天帝之位。行則三色之節，從羣神萬真，前導鳳歌，後從玄鈞，白虎啟路，飛龍翼轅。

　　太上之道有三，列篇目于左：

玉清隱書，神虎大符，金虎真符。

右太上之道，總而行之，為太上之道，給玉童、玉女各二千人，位為上真玉皇之君。行則五色神節，從千真羣仙，前導天鈞，後從鸞歌，三真侍轅，騰翥九天。

中真之道有六，列篇目于左：太丹隱書朝真上經玉帝神符，三天正法鳳真之文九真升玄文，三元布經四真之章太上金策，方諸洞房玉字上經六甲靈飛，靈寶祕文三皇內文天文大字，青要紫書曲素訣辭三五順行。

右中真之道，總而行之，則為上清中道真人，給玉童、玉女各一千人，位為上清左右卿相之師。行則紫毛之節，從萬神千真，前吹鳳嗚，後奏天鈞，玄龍啟道，五帝驗軒，飛行太空，遨戲丹霄。

　　下真之道有八，列篇目于左：

上清九化十變三九素語，丹景道精隱地八術，天關三圖玄皇玉書，神州七變七轉洞經，紫度中方石精玉馬之母，絳錄黃道玉目龍書眾文，素奏中章五行祕符，五帝玉玄上元五書。

右下真之道，總而行之，則為上清下元真人，給玉童玉女五百人，位為上清左右大夫之官。行則五色之節，從眾神玉女，前嘯九鳳，後吹八鸞，白虬啟道，太極驗軒，飛行倒景，遨遊紫房。

　　上清上真、中道真人、下元真人，所應施修道經，各有篇目，分別為部第，令相隨也。若總修一真之事者，當盡得一真之部書，兼而行之，則為上清真人。

　　若所得書不備具，或得上經，或得中篇，或得下文，雖專修行而闕其餘者，但可飛仙而已。遠詣太極，下遊五嶽，自不得為上清三真也。子當勤心天地，啟告神玄，遠遊名山，祝願千靈，尋求寶文，令道德備焉。既修行一部，上登上清，所給玉童、玉女，便有千數百矣。若偏得一書，而不都具，則玉童、玉女，故自依所受書限，而給衛之耳。

　　唯修《太上鬱儀奔日文》、《結璘奔月章》、《八素奔辰隱書》，便登上清為下元真人，以不盡修上真之事故也。過其餘者，皆應兼修，兼修道成，乃昇上清。

　　若都總修三真之道經，聞見玉清之隱書，佩神虎之大符，便上為玉皇之君太上之真，給玉童、玉女三萬人，遨遊高上之闕，出入玉清之宮，於是天帝太微君，來受事於玉皇焉。

　　《玉清隱書》有四卷，乃高上玉皇昔受之於玉玄太皇道君禁書也。玉皇君所寶妙者也，以付太極四真人，使掌祕藏之，五千年內聽三授，授於上清之玉真人也。若一千年中過三人，亦聽之也。授限訖，不得復傳。世俗之中，千萬之人，時有一人當為天真所授，以得此書者，太上玄臺已有玉名，當為上真故也。有書者在家給玉童三百人，玉女三百人，旦夕當致眾真仙神、名山之靈，詣其寢房，論道講德矣。此謂有書者在家處俗，未去學道時也。山尋真，研味靈文，則威制六天，役使山神，五嶽來朝，玉童玉女形見，侍真燒香。

　　《太上神虎符》，太上虛皇道君以授於太上也。太上道君以付三天真皇，使授諸真人及天帝眾官也。此符有真名於上清者，皆受佩之也。但有此符而無《玉清隱書》者，皆不得為上清之真，但太極之上真耳。

　　《太微天帝金虎符》，太上玉真保皇道君以授於太上太微天帝君也。天帝有三十六，其太微天帝最尊貴，諸天帝皆詣受事矣。受此符皆威制萬神，使役千靈，龍虎衛從，得乘三素之雲，上昇太極上清，拜為左公。

　　《玉清隱書》玄遠絕邈，下真及飛仙之徒，便當息心於無窮之冀耳。《神虎符》、《金虎符》，飛仙輩勤求不已，或有得理矣。自無玄名靈籙，復求不與此文相遇者，比肩也、况玉清之道乎。

　　太上曰：昔謂太清不可登，而况於太極乎。乃謂上清不可聞，而況於玉清乎。明真中有高卑，玄中有階次也。過此以前，非所復議。

　　玉清宮之下真人，乃上清宮之上真人。太極宮之上真人，乃上清宮之下真人。太清宮之上真人，乃太極宮之下真人。從此以下，次得九宮之飛仙也。

　　《玉清隱書》當傳之時，太極四真人各奉執一卷，以上呈上皇、高上、玉皇、玉玄四道君，探按金格玉名，當為上真玉君者，然後乃出傳之耳。有此者立致眾真仙人，來詣其房寢，若修至道，太上不復試其情狀也。是宿有金格玉名，必當為上真故也。《玉清隱書》，道妙於《鬱儀文》矣。

　　有《太上鬱儀奔日文》、《結璘奔月章》、《八素奔辰經》，修行其法，太極真人不復下試。

　　有《大洞真經》者，修行其法，七祖、父母皆離脫鬼名，原貸三官考謫，度錄仙府，解釋艱羅，使詣朱火丹陵宮，受學仙道。仙道成，使翼佐五帝，為九宮之仙也。謂其人備《大洞真經》者也。此書依四極定法，偏為其七祖獲仙，不同於他經矣，甚不可不修行也。若既修之而被試，不過或偏行一道，或中路而息者，自救不暇，亦不能為其七世致仙也。夫鬼可以學仙，如人可以學道，七世立德，故慶流子孫，令致神仙也。一身修道，備明洞經者，則祚及七祖，故當反此胎形，以為仙官耳。中央黃老君以此洞經之妙，而為七世獲福，尤深祕之，與《鬱儀文》同笈。上清眾真亦貴此道，以其功加於七祖，德昇於上世故也。

　　後聖李君奉受《八素真經奔辰隱書》，施行其法，乃致太微天帝下迎，五星同輿，乘華三素，上登玉清，受書為上清金闕帝君。

　　登飛木星之道：歲星圓鏡木精，玄朗東陽之陔，星中有九門，門中出九鋒芒，鋒芒光垂九百萬丈，一門輒有一青帝，備門奉衛於中央青皇真君也。中央有始陽上真青皇道君，諱澄瀾，字清凝；夫人諱寶容，字飛雲，治在木星之內，鎮守九門，運青光流鋒，以照上下之真。欲飛登之法，常思見歲星，當正心視星，以右手拊心而禮之，左手掩兩目，乃九閉氣，又叩齒二十七通，咽液九過，使目閉於手下，心呼歲星中真皇之君、君夫人名諱字三過，畢曰：願得與始陽青皇真君、君夫人，共乘八景碧輿，上登太上宮。言畢，乃臨閉目於手下，向星微祝曰：

　　天地交和，精流東方，仰望九門，飛霞散鋒，始陽碧臺，中有青皇，青牙垂暉，映照九方，鬱察夫人，字曰飛雲，齊服靈錦，龍帔虎裙，腰帶鳳符，首巾華冠，出無入虛，遨遊太元，前策青帝，後從千神，來見迎接，得為飛真，上登玉清，高上之房。祝畢，去手，臨目對星，服星之光二十七吞，存視星九芒，使盡來入喉中也。都畢，又叩齒三通。

　　常行之十四年，木星中青皇大君，奏聞高上玉清宮，刻太微蘂簡，定名玉書，位為上清上飛真人。

　　木星有九門，門內有九青帝，其一帝輒備一門，以奉承於中央青皇上真大君也。青皇者，東方之上真，始精之尊神也，出入玉清，與高上為友也。其門內青帝，或號青靈之公，或號青神，或號青精，或號青帝之君，並受事於中央青皇也。行八素之祕道，則致青皇來降。已行五靈之外法者，則致青神來授書。是故道有深淺，致有尊卑。

　　天無星之時，天陰之夕，可於寢室中向東存修而祝也。天道微妙，玄綱毫分，不必對星而行之也。有星時可出庭中，坐立適意。所謂上真之道，登東辰之法，不傳地仙輩也。

　　飛登火星之道：火星玄鏡丹精，映觀南軒，星有三門，門中出三鋒芒，光垂三百萬文，一門內輒有一赤帝，凡三赤帝，備門奉衛於南真上皇真君。星中央有丹火朱陽赤皇上道真君，諱維渟，字散融；夫人諱華瓶，字玄羅，治在火星內，鎮守三門，運赤光飛雲，以朗天下之真人也。欲飛登之法，思見熒惑星，正心視星，以左手拊心而禮之，右手掩口，乃三閉氣，又叩齒二十七通，咽液九過，臨閉兩目，心呼熒惑真皇君、熒惑夫人諱字三過，畢曰：願得與丹火赤皇君、君夫人，共乘八景丹輿，上登玉清宮。畢，乃向星微祝曰：

　　玄象流映，丹光南冥，仰望三門，朱雲絳城，中有丹皇，名曰維渟，夫人內照，是為華瓶，齊服雲霜，鳳華龍鈴，腰帶虎書，首巾飛青，出元入玄，翱翔五城，首導赤帝，後從六丁，來見招延，得真之名，上登玄虛，金書玉清。祝畢，去手勿復掩口，故臨目視星，服星之光二十七吞，存令星三芒盡來入喉中。都畢，又叩齒三通。

　　常行之十四年，熒惑星中赤皇上真道君，奏聞三元玄上宮，刻玄圃瓊簡，定名金書，位為上清上飛真人。

　　熒惑星有三門，門內有三赤帝，其一帝輒備一門，以奉屬於中央赤皇君也。赤皇者，南方之上真，丹宮之貴神，出入玉清，與三元上皇為友也。其星中赤帝君者，或號赤靈之公，或號赤神，或號赤精，或號赤帝，並受事於中央赤皇上真大君。子行八素之隱書，則致赤皇來降。已行五靈之外法，則致赤神來授書。是以道有隱外，文有祕顯，爾乃招真有尊卑之差，求神有上下之序。

　　若無星之時，天陰之夕，可於寢室南向存之。有星可出中庭，坐立任意。此所謂奔南辰之法，不傳地仙，傳之犯泄漏之罪。

　　地仙自復有八素經，論服王氣吐納之道也。又有九素經，論召鬼使精行廚檢魂魄之事，正陸行名山長生不死而已。八素經後有天鈞上曲陽歌九章，九素經後有鳳吹龍嘯陰歌八章，此是地仙之祕書也。今所謂太上奔辰八素，行上清之道，非地仙之八素也。地仙之嘯歌，以待上清之行遊耳。

　　飛登金星之道：太白星圓鏡金精，煥耀西辰，太白星中有七門，門中有七鋒芒，鋒芒光垂七百萬丈，一門內各有一白帝，凡有七白帝，備門奉衛於西真上皇道君。星中央有大素少陽白皇上真道君，諱寥凌，字振尋；夫人諱飇英，字靈恩，治在金星之內，鎮守七門，運白光飛精，以映上元真人。欲飛登之法，思見太白星，當正心視星，以右手拊心而禮之，左手掩兩鼻孔，乃七閉氣，又叩齒二十七通，咽液九過，臨閉兩目，心存太白真皇君、君夫人諱字三過。畢曰：願得與大素少陽君、君夫人，共乘八景素輦，上登玉清宮。畢，又向星微祝曰：

　　七氣豔飛，光照西方，仰望七門，靈闕激鋒，素暉燭映，德標金宗，中有少陽，號曰白皇，夫人靈恩，治在玉房，齊服皓錦，流鈴虎章，首巾扶晨，腰佩金鐺，出空入虛，遊步玉剛，前導白帝，後從六庚，來下見迎，北登墉宮，名書上清，得為真公。呪畢，去手勿復掩鼻，故臨兩目視星，服星之光芒二十七吞，存令七芒盡來入喉中。都畢，乃又叩齒三通。

　　常行之十四年，太白星中少陽白真上皇君，奏聞太帝玉皇宮，刻上清金閣，定名玉簡，位為上清左真公，以綜太極。

　　太白星有七門，門內有七白帝，其一帝輒備一門，以奉屬於中央白皇道君也。白皇者，西方之上真，太素之尊皇，出入玄清，與皇初道君為友也。其門內白帝君，或號白靈之公，或號白神，或號白精，或號白帝之君，並受事於中央白皇上真大君也。行八素之祕妙，則致白皇來降。已行五靈之外道，則致白神來授書。尊卑玄盻，故道有淵階矣。

　　若無星之時，天陰之夕，可於寢室中西向存之。有星可出庭中，坐立任意。若靜齋道士，亦可通於室中存五星之真方面，而並修之也。皆上真之道，奔西辰之法，不傳地仙。

　　一夕服五星，令常周遍，春服星光以東方為始，夏服星光以南方為始，隨王月以王星為先，口訣也。么星行不必在方面，亦一隨星所在，一向而修行口訣也。

　　行事時，不欲令人見其所為，當隱僻而為之也。此是太上之隱道，所謂隱書者也。隱而復隱，猶恐鬼神竊看其篇題，何可令世之臭取輕傳授者，聞此標迹者乎。不可以盲瞽愚人，云無所知，而令見其首題，其人身中亦有七神，見之亦為泄漏，不可不深慎也。修隱書之道，而發泄隱書之名目者，既當受考三官，又適足以作禍也。每欲省按，皆先屏左右人，及雞犬之生物，燒香再拜，乃視之也。

　　飛登水星之道：辰星圓鏡水精，洞映北冥，辰星中有五門，門中出五鋒芒，鋒芒光垂五百萬丈，一門各有一黑帝，凡五黑帝，並備門奉衛於北真上皇。星中央有太玄陰元黑皇道君，諱啟喧，字精淳；夫人諱玄華，字龍娥，治在水星之內，鏡守五門之中，運玄光流明之氣，以朗耀北元之庭當為真人者。欲飛登之法，思見水星，正心視星，以兩手拊心。拊心畢。舉兩手以掩兩耳，乃五閉氣，又叩齒二十七通，咽液九過，臨閉兩目，心呼辰星真皇君、君夫人名字三過。畢曰：願得與君、君夫人，共乘八景蒼輿，上登上清上元宮。畢，又向星微祝曰：

　　五氣玄飛，光流北方、仰望五門，蒼闕鬱繁，激芒達觀，靈映景雲，中有黑皇，厥字精源，龍娥紛藹，俱理玄關，

齊服蒼帔，紫錦緋裙，腰佩虎符，首巾蓮冠，出凌九虛，入響玉津，前導黑帝，後從六壬，來下見迎，上登紫房，名書太上，得為玉真。祝畢，去手勿復掩耳，故臨目視星，服星之光芒二十七過，存令五芒盡來入喉中。都畢，又三叩齒。

　　常行之十四年，辰星中太玄上皇真君，奏聞高上宮，刻琳房玉札，定玉清紫文，位為上清真公。

　　辰星有五門，門內有五黑帝，其一帝輒備一門，以奉屬於中央玄皇君也。玄皇者，北方之上真，太玄之尊君，出入上虛，與紫精道君為友也。其備門黑帝，或號為黑靈之公，或號黑神，或號黑精一或號黑帝君、並受事於中央太玄黑真上皇君。行八素之隱道，則致北皇來降。已行五靈之外法，則致黑帝君來授書。尊卑差序，故道有隱顯焉。

　　若天陰夕，及無星見之時，可於室中寢處常修之。此高上之祕道，奔登北辰之法也，非地仙陸行所得聞者也么

　　玉清、上清、太極、太清九宮，並各有官僚，公卿、大夫、侯伯，置署如一，更相管統，奉屬於上。宮闕次第，類相似，但道有尊貴，德業有昇降。

　　飛登土星之道：鎮星圓鏡土精，鎮癮黃道，鎮星中有四門，門中有四鋒芒，鋒芒光垂四百萬丈，一門各有一黃帝，凡四黃帝，備門奉衛於鎮元黃真君也。星中央有中黃真皇道君，諱藏睦，字耽延；夫人諱空瑤，字非賢，治在鎮星之內，鎮鑒四門，運黃裳流氣，朗映中元，照盼學真者。欲飛登之法，思見鎮星，正心視星，以兩手拊心。村心畢，舉左手以掩洞房上，乃四閉氣，又叩齒二十七通，咽液九過，臨閉兩目，心呼鎮星真君、君夫人諱字三過。畢曰：願得與中央太皇道君、君夫人，共乘八景金輿，上登上清宮。畢，又向星微祝曰：

　　四氣徘徊，合注中元，仰望九極，傍觀四門，黃臺紫房，乘鋒散芒，靈光鬱散，天華落瓫，中有黃皇，厥字耽延，夫人潛德，是為非賢，理和命氣，導玄灌元，齊服黃雲，龍錦虎裙，腰佩金符，首巾紫冠，出凌玄空，展光金門，前導黃帝，六己衛軒，來下見迎，上登天闕，金書太上，琅簡刻名，飛行太空，得為玉卿。祝畢，去手勿復掩洞房上，故臨兩目，服星之光二十七遍，存令四芒盡來入喉中。都畢，又三叩齒。

　　常行之十四年，鎮星中黃上真皇君，奏聞太上宮，刻霄臺碧簡，定九玄丹文，位為上清真公，下友四極上真人。

　　鎮星中有四門，門內有四黃帝，其一帝輒備一門，以奉屬於中央黃真皇君也。中央黃真上皇者，中極之高尊，出入太微，與皇初道君為友也。其黃帝守門，或號曰黃靈之公，或號黃神，或號黃精，或號黃帝君，並受事於中黃上真之君也。行八素之祕道，則致黃真道君來迎。已行五靈之外法，則致黃帝來授書矣。

　　天陰無星之時，皆於寢室施行，同存五方也。真人云：在室內存星，亦不異於見星也。勿謂不見星，而當廢之也。此太上之隱道，登辰之祕法矣。

　　吞服星光芒時，當悉存星真上皇、皇夫人，乘光中來下，入口咽之，臨目髣髴如有其形也。此李君口訣。

　　恆修太上隱法，招存五星之上皇者，五年之中，髣髴形見。七年都見，與之周行。十四年，五皇一合來下，共乘玄華之輿，三素紫雲，前導五帝，後從萬真，五皇携之共載，白日登辰，上朝玉清，授書為上清上真人。

　　太上隱書五皇上真五通之日，太上祕此日，不以告九宮中仙人、真人。唯有太玄玉書，金閣刻名者，當其遇逢，乃知其日耳。夫五通者，天精開暢，上真吉會，羣靈萬仙相慶之日也。正月六日日中、二月一日哺時、三月七日夜半、四月九日食時、五月十五日夜半、六月三日中時、七月七日夜半、八月四日中時、九月二十日平旦、十月一日平旦、十一月六日夜半、十二月十二日夜半，此十二月，五星中上皇太真道君，俱登上清、玉清，見九玄太上道君。又千真、三十六天帝，下逮太清飛仙以上，並慶會太極上宮。又論世上求真之勤懈，紀書學真者之主名，當刻之金閣，定書蘂簡文，論求真者七祖之功過，罪謫之深淺，校罪多少使真有數品。若七世無罪，身又精勤，皆當書以蘂簡，刻以瓊文，位為上清左真公。若七世多罪，身雖精勤，故為下真耳。若先世積罪，己又多罪雖末精勤，乃成下仙也。罪之先著，非功所消，過之深重，非勤可除。夫五通者，消罪除過之吉會，子知其日，則有冀也。蓋五真上朝，是為五通，通達遠聽，毫末皆照也。子乃欲以其日，請乞七祖之罪咎，己身之宿過乎。吾當旨告三官，乞除刑謫，徑告天帝，削除罪錄，原其徒役，散其厄書，使汝七祖縱任，優游自樂，子既得真，上世獲福，當可乎。今使汝一身啟顙，而慶及於七考，乃要道也。若汝妄泄及此日為五通日者，方更增罪四等，雖謝過千萬，無益於為有也。真人閉口而自書，執之於空地，猶恐百蟲濫眄其文，犯泄露之禁，可不深慎，可不深慎。

　　李君曰：至其日，入靜室密處燒香，北向五再拜，心呼五星上真皇君、君夫人名字三過，畢，叩齒五通，畢，解巾長跪，謹啟五星、日月上皇高真道君、道君夫人，玉清太上上清上皇上帝、大道聖君几前。因自陳七祖、父母以下，下及一身千罪萬過，上世以來，乞得解脫，三官告下天帝，使罪名離釋，削除黑簡。乞願得與五星之真，俱奔華晨，上登上清，交行玉門。當憶所犯之過根，具列罪狀之多少，任意自陳，辭誠若至，唯使殫盡。

　　此日謝過，徑聞太上，是太上之吉會，天仙之慶上皇日也。群真上帝，以此日並獻龍衣鳳帔、虎帶飛裳於上皇，是為寶重其日，解脫刑名也。不知此五通日者，不得從解罪之例也。夫學真者，當恒行之，又當隱忌其日，勿令有知者。後聖李君曰：當以其日思存吉事，心願飛仙，勿有百憂，使精魂悲慘，立德惠施，賑救窮匱，行功布恩，勿行威罰，此太上之吉日也。太上以其日，遣玉童、玉女，密察學道者之，誠。子未言之意，意有善惡之心，皆已知，當刺聞於上皇。當其日也，清齋為善，要言矣。

　　後聖李君具受玄教，施行道成，時乘八景之輿，上登上清宮，受書為金闕帝君。臨去之日，及手書五星中皇上真道君、君夫人諱字，及太上五通吉日，以白玉為簡，丹玉書之一通，封以雲蘂之函，印以三光之章，以付西嶽華陰山素石笥之內，又刻題笥上？其文曰：天地之寶珍，名山之絕藏。

　　又書一通，以青玉為簡，黃玉書之，封以鳳玉之函，印以朝真之章，以付東嶽泰山青石笥之內，又刻題笥上，其文曰：十天之奧章，上靈之幽窟。

　　又書一通，以玄玉為簡，碧玉書之，封以瓊剛之函，印以太玄之章，以付南嶽衡山黃石笥之內，又刻題筍上，其文曰：八玄之高寶，上真之靈囿。

　　又書一通，以黃金為簡，青玉書之，封以朱琳之函，印以高皇之章，以付北嶽恆山白石笥之內，又刻題笥上，其文曰：七靈之上道，太真之殊宮。

　　又書一通，以碧玉為簡，黃金書之，封以文琅之函，印以中黃之章，以付中嶽嵩高山玄石笥之內，又刻題笥上，其文曰：九天之別藏，五嶽之府淵。

　　又書一通，各付五嶽，使五嶽君領守之焉。須壬辰吉會，聖君來下，當命召五嶽，出此笥書，以付上相四輔，使教上真之才也。

　　又書一通，以白素之紋，八色之綵，筆自而書之。差次祝說為致真之法，吐納進退求登五辰之道，分書五通，使解罪咎之日，題之曰：八素真經太上之隱書也。以付太虛真人南嶽赤君，使下授學道，宿有真金玉字，刻在金閣，當為真人者，不得越傳於地仙也。

　　有得太上八素隱書者，皆玄錄著於紫宮，玉名刊于上清，當受命為真人，故得之也。俗世之人，千萬之中誤有一人為天神所授，以得此經，或得而不行者，皆因緣傳驛為上真之使耳。子無疑焉，雖受而不行，故當為尸解之仙，但當不得作飛仙真人耳。尸解之後，自復漸令涉高妙之塗，悟其迷網之心也。但用年歲，是為小久而反真超迹矣。子其勗哉，子其隱哉。

　　太虛真人受教而下告曰：此太上之靈文，登晨之妙道也。七百年聽三傳。上宰王君曰：百年之內，有二人可授，及得真靈之感應者，亦授之，要在七百年內，唯聽三傳而已。皆清齋七日，乃付此經，受者亦然。又當敵盟告誓，以啟其心。其受行五星致上真之道者，脆有經之師，白絹四十尺，銀環二雙。受修五通之事者，脆有經之師，青布三十二尺，為終身切血不泄之約，不漏之信。於是三官徑奏天帝，天帝上請玉女，給受書者；徑奏上清，上清上請玉童，給侍八素之靈文也。各三十二人，並司有書者之過，記有書者之功，勤纖芥毫釐，輒刺上宮。其非人而授，限過而出，露言隱書，宣泄吉日，不奉盟誓，不信祕言，皆犯《四極明科》泄閉之罪，三祖、父母，獲考三官，身為下鬼，撻濛山之石，副諸五嶽，汲冥海之水，灌諸四瀆，身無仙冀，而七考地獄。子於傳授之際，修行之時，深當精慎，每為寶祕。太上告李君殷勤者，恐其失道故也。又此經上有五皇上真道君、君夫人之諱字，及五通之日，不宜令含生者知之，增為祕隱之煩重也。

　　後聖李君曰：子處俗在家，未修至道者，恐世上百邪、千妖百魔犯子神炁者，但以夜半時，向五方先閉氣五過，各陰祝吾刻五嶽石笥上文三過，從西嶽白玉為簡，餘四嶽又以書一通，始不得及白素之篇也，祝之三過。三過祝畢，叩齒三十六下，除百邪，拘三魂，制七魄也。此之祝說，非外舍之道經云云，此語無章句也，百邪、三魂、七魄亦不畏此矣。夫道之妙祕，真玄絕眾，外題猶能制百邪，檢魂魄，况其石笥中所寶上者乎。百鬼萬精，千邪眾妖，皆行走名山，為諸靈驅使，皆見一五嶽李君石笥上刻題之文，但為不知笥內是何道之經文耳。道士宜恆祝此刻文，諸鬼輩謂人當修筍內之經，故致畏懼，而不敢近也。

太虛真人口訣

　　太虛真人曰：先師見教，以五通日，日出三四丈許，正立，以心對日，存三魂神與日光俱入心中，良久，閉氣三息，咽液三過，微祝曰：

　　太陽散輝，垂光紫青，來入我魂，照我五形，卻鬼試心，使心平正，內徹九氣，外通胎命，飛仙上清，玉籙已定。祝畢，以手拭目二七，叩齒二七，都畢。此法使人三魂凝明，丹心方正，萬邪藏術，心試不行，真要道也，子當常行之。諸以五通日，向日趣令嚏，若不得嚏，以軟物向日引導鼻中，亦即嚏也，嚏即祝曰：

　　天光來進，六胎上通，三魂守神，七魄不亡，承日嗚嚏，與日同光，飛仙上清，位為真公。祝畢，拭目二十七。是內精上交日光，三魂發明於內，使人心開神解，百精流轉於內府也。若非五通日，可不須爾也。

　　又春乙卯日、夏丙午日、秋庚申日、冬壬子日，冥臥時，先擣朱砂、雄黃、雌黃三物，分等細擣之，以綿裹之，使如棗大。臨臥時，以塞兩耳中，此消三尸、鍊七魄之道，祕法也。勿令有知者矣。明日日中時，以東流水洗浴，畢，更飾床席，易著衣服浣故者，更著履而洗澡之，卻又灑掃於所寢床下，通令所住一室盛潔也。更安枕，臥向上，閉氣握固，良久，而微祝曰：

　　天道有常，改易故新，上帝吉日，沐浴為真，三氣消尸，朱黃安魂，寶鍊七魄，與我相親。祝畢。此道是消鍊尸穢之上法，改易新形之要訣也。四時唯各取一日為之耳。受經布▢，每令精上玉童、玉女，皆察看取與處所，審心訣之根，盡與不盡也。子當識此處意旨矣。受▢者慎無私散，以營饑寒。犯之者身沒三官，為下濁之鬼，三官又當以此之罪，加咎於三祖。此太上之盟誓，裂血之寶約矣。身入名山，當仙之日，皆當投之川林岫室之間，或賑散山栖之夫矣。若歿經太陰者，臨去若無靈告感應，使有所付，皆當抱以自隨。受書亦然，其時玄中亦必致夢想之驗，上真玉童照以形言之信，自當處分，審其所宜矣。

Source Colophon

The Chinese text follows the Chinese Wikisource transcription of the Daoist Canon edition of this scripture (article 上清太上八素真經, revision of 18 September 2021), inspected from a witness copy captured on 8 August 2026. Chinese Wikisource transcriptions are published under CC BY-SA 4.0 and the GFDL; the scripture itself is ancient and in the public domain. The wiki header and license templates have been removed; the text is otherwise complete and unaltered.

🌲