Prefatory Golden Writings of Lord Lao 太上老君金书内序
Paul PengPrefatory Golden Writings of Lord Lao
The original text bears no author attribution.
It was probably compiled in the Northern Song Dynasty.
This one-volume work was recorded in both the Secret Catalogue of the Southern Song Dynasty and the History of the Song Dynasty · Bibliographical Treatise. The existing version is included in the Genealogy and Record Category of the The Dongshen Section within the The Daozang.
Prefatory Golden Writings of Lord Lao
Based on relevant historical materials, this text narrates the origin of the Supreme Lord Laozi and his incarnations and manifestations in accordance with the ages. It states that Laozi originated in the Primordial Era and experienced countless kalpas. In the Zhou Dynasty, he became a royal tutor, was born from his mother's left armpit, once bestowed scriptures upon Yin Xi, transformed the barbarians in the Western Regions, discussed rituals with Confucius, and expounded the way of hegemony and kingship to Duke Xiao of Qin.
A postscript by the "Mysterious Master" is attached at the end of the text, in which the author claims to have extensively read Taoist records and researched historical sources outside, thus compiling this work and titling it The Inner Preface to the Laozi's Golden Scripture. According to this, the text should be the work of the Mysterious Master.
