Canon of True Origin for Immortal Transcendence 上方天尊说真元通仙道经

The original work bears no author’s name.

According to textual research, it was written by Shi Yong of the Jin Dynasty or his disciple "Ziming". Consisting of one volume, it is included in the Original Text category of the Dongzhen Section of The Daozang.

Canon of True Origin for Immortal Transcendence

The scripture proclaims that the Upper Heaven Lord resides in the Heaven of Unified Qi Transformation and the Nation of the Nine Clear Natural Realms, preaching the scripture to all immortals and perfected beings, in three sections.

The Upper Chapter: Supreme Ultimate Bestowing Virtue states that the Supreme Ultimate embraces heaven and earth, producing existence from emptiness; the Perfect One Primordial Qi generates all things, which is forcibly named "the Dao"; the Dao descends to become virtue, namely the Superior Virtue. The Middle Chapter: Virtue Returning to Simplicity and Non‑Being declares that the teaching of the sage values virtue above all. Therefore, those cultivating the Dao should first cultivate virtue, then refine their form, essence and spirit, so as to ascend to immortality. It cites examples of Immortal Lords of the Ten Directions who cultivated virtue and attained immortality as evidence. The Lower Chapter: Perfect Qi Communicating with Immortality proclaims that heaven secretly stores the "Cloud Script Perfect Writings", which the Upper Heaven Lord transmitted to the Perfected Purple Emptiness, commanding him to teach heaven and humanity and save the evils of the age. The "Perfect Writings" contain three sections, all four‑character hymns, using many rare and strange characters.

After the three sections of scripture, there is an attached text: "Lord Taiqing Shi (Shi Yong of the Jin Dynasty) instructs Ziming", which includes ten honorific titles of the Upper Heaven Lord and twelve talismans of "Upper Heaven Perfect Qi Cloud Script". It says that those who recite the honorific titles and wear the cloud scripts can protect their body and spirit, receive blessings and avert calamities.

This book is important historical material for studying the classic doctrines of the Shangfang Zhenyuan Sect during the Song and Jin dynasties.