Ancient-Text Concordance - Collected Annotations 古本周易参同契集注

As a pivotal annotated work of Taoism classics, this book was compiled and annotated by Qiu Zhao’ao in the Qing Dynasty. Its interpretative framework is deeply rooted in the five elements theory that underpins the core ideas of the Zhouyi Cantong Qi, and both its source text and collated annotations are included in The Daozang.

The work consists of two main volumes and one supplementary volume, with Illustrated Notes attached at the end as an appendix to the Cantong Qi. It was completed in the forty-third year of the Kangxi reign period (1704). Qiu Zhao’ao, styled Cangzhu and art-named Zhijizi, was a native of Yin County in Zhejiang Province. He passed the imperial examination and obtained the Jinshi degree in the twenty-fourth year of the Kangxi reign period, and successively held official posts until he was promoted to the position of Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. Endowed with extensive knowledge and profound scholarship, he also engaged in practical inner alchemy cultivation.

The text adopted in this annotation is the so-called “ancient text” version revised by Du Yicheng in the Ming Dynasty and endorsed by scholars such as Yang Shen. The annotations compiled herein are sourced from sixteen authorities, including Peng Xiao, Zhu Xi, Chen Xianwei, Yu Yan, Chen Zhixu, Du Yicheng, Xu Wei, Lu Xixing, Jiang Yibiao, Peng Haogu and Tao Susi. Additionally, the theories of Huang Baijia are included as an appendix. Qiu Zhao’ao also wrote Supplementary Annotations to elaborate on his own viewpoints. At the beginning of the book, there are twenty articles of Notes on Principles that recount the textual origin and evolution of the original work as well as its core content.

There have long been divergent opinions on whether the alchemy method expounded in the Cantong Qi focuses on inner alchemy or outer alchemy; among those who advocate the inner alchemy theory, there are further divisions between the Qingxiu (pure cultivation) school and the Shuangxiu (dual cultivation) school. Qiu Zhao’ao stated: “Quanyangzi’s interpretation leans toward pure cultivation, which is overly focused on internal refinement alone; only Shangyangzi has clarified the true essence of the alchemy method and revealed its authentic meaning.” This is because Shangyangzi Chen Zhixu was a proponent of the dual cultivation theory, and Qiu Zhao’ao actually followed in his footsteps. As an important annotated version of the Cantong Qi, this book exerted considerable influence in the academic and alchemical circles. A facsimile edition was published by Shanghai Ancient Books Publishing House in February 1989.