Annotations on the Awakening to Truth of Ziyang Zhenren 紫阳真人悟真篇注疏

Originally attributed to "Weng Baoguang (Annotator), styled Wumingzi of Xiangchuan; Transmitted by Chen Daling of Wuyi; Commentated by Dai Qizong, styled Kongxuanzi of Jiqing", the work was completed during the Yuan Dynasty.

The original text consists of three scrolls, with an appended scroll Direct and Detailed Explanations. Surviving versions include those in the Complete Library of Four Treasuries and the Complete Collection of Taoist Books.

Annotations on the Awakening to Truth of Ziyang Zhenren

Additionally, it is included in the Jade Commentaries Category of the The Dongzhen Section within the Taoist Canon (The Daozang), divided into eight scrolls.

According to the preface at the beginning, the annotator Weng Baoguang was the second-generation disciple of Zhang Boduan. Distressed by the errors in surviving versions of the Wu Zhen Pian and the annotations that violated the original meaning, he "interpreted the true text" based on the authentic family-transmitted version of the Wu Zhen Pian owned by Lu Sicheng. Following the chapter division principle of the Yinfu Jing (Scripture of Hidden Contracts), Weng divided the alchemical method of the Wu Zhen Pian into three scrolls: "The first scroll regards refining the Golden Elixir as a technique for strengthening the army and achieving victory; the middle scroll regards cultivating the Fire and Golden Fluid Elixir as a method for enriching the country and benefiting the people; the third scroll regards the Nine Cycles Great Return Elixir as the path for immortals to uphold the Unity. These are called the Three Vehicles Great Dharma, corresponding to the true meaning of the Yinfu Jing."

His annotations belong to the Yin-Yang school of alchemical methods in the Southern School, exerting considerable influence on later generations. During the Yuan Dynasty, Dai Qizong further wrote commentaries on Weng’s annotations to elaborate on the unfinished meanings of Weng’s work. He also composed Images and Symbols of the Golden Elixir to explain relevant Internal Alchemy (Neidan) terms, and wrote articles to distinguish the forgery of the widely circulated "Annotations by Xue Daoguang".

Appended at the end of the book are several Internal Alchemy poems and prose works composed by Taoist priests of the Song and Yuan dynasties.