Xingming Guizhi (The Compendium of Nature and Destiny) is divided into four parts:
Yuan, Heng, Li, and Zhen. It is traditionally said to be written by a distinguished disciple of Immortal Yin. Prefaced with
The Origin of Carving Xingming Guizhi written by Yu Yongning, styled Xin'an Zhenchuzi, in the 43rd year of the Wanli era of the
Ming Dynasty (1615), it states: "There was a man named Wu Siming in the village, who obtained
Xingming Guizhi from the home of Tang Taishi in Xin'an. It is said to be compiled by a distinguished disciple of Immortal Yin." The author of
Xingming Guizhi remains unknown.
The entire book, with illustrations accompanying the text, expounds on the theories and practices of internal cultivation, drawing extensively from the doctrines of various schools. It begins with the "Three Sages Diagram," incorporating ideas from
Confucianism and Buddhism, displaying an obvious syncretic tendency of the three teachings (Confucianism, Buddhism, and
Taoism) while ultimately returning to Taoism. For example, the "Yuan Collection" includes
The Diagram of the Supreme Ultimate by Zhou Dunyi, a Confucian scholar of the Song Dynasty, and
The Diagram of Avalokitesvara's Secret Mantra from Buddhism, eventually culminating in Taoism's
The Diagram of Ascension. It serves as a reference for studying the theories and methods of internal cultivation in Taoism during the Yuan and Ming dynasties and is included in the seventh volume of
Daozang Jinghua Lu (Essentials of the Taoist Canon).
The book summarizes various principles and methods related to inner alchemy, explains the terminology and basic ideas of different inner alchemy practices, and details the entire process of inner alchemy: "laying the foundation and refining oneself, refining essence into qi, refining qi into spirit, refining spirit to return to emptiness, and refining emptiness to unite with the Dao." The practices are divided into nine stages, presented with both illustrations and texts, along with mnemonic verses.
This book strives to popularize inner alchemy practices, making them accessible to ordinary people, and claims that "future aspirants of the Dao will no longer be confused by alchemical scriptures."
Part of the Series
This article is part of our comprehensive guide covering all core Taoist philosophies, concepts, and practices — curated from the classic Encyclopedia of Taoism.
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