Scripture of Cultivating the Primal Mystery

Written by Liu Yuanrui, a Taoist priest of the Southern Song Dynasty.

Consisting of one volume, it is included in the Ben Wen (Original Text) category of The Dongzhen Section in The Daozang.

Falsely attributed to being imparted by the leader of the Arctic Thunder Peak Sect, the scripture is divided into twenty-four chapters. The first eight chapters outline the principle that the Dao generates all things in the universe. It holds that the Dao is originally empty and non-existent, yet contains the subtle unity within itself; this unity differentiates into the three Qi, which further transform into the three realms of heaven, earth and humanity, as well as all creatures. Therefore, humans, heaven, earth, all things, yin-yang and the Five Elements all originate from the single Qi. Chapters nine to nineteen expound the way of cultivating nature and life. It holds that when a human is still in the mother’s womb, it is a fusion of the Qi of heaven, earth, yin-yang and the Five Elements, without consciousness or knowledge, only retaining a single breath—this is known as fetal breathing. After birth, influenced by the external world, one gradually deviates from the true nature and fails to preserve and uphold fetal breathing. Thus, those who cultivate the Dao should conserve their breath to nourish the true self, enable the spirit and Qi to form an inner fetus, and return to the wonderful state of fetal breathing. The book elaborates on cultivation methods such as nourishing the heart, nurturing the spirit, refining Qi, and upholding unity. The last five chapters discuss the relationship between morality and the cultivation of nature and life. It states that "the Dao arises from virtue; only those who possess virtue can understand the Dao"; if one can practice the dual cultivation of nature-life and morality, and attain both meritorious deeds and virtue, one can then comprehend the Three Realms, penetrate the Five Elements, transcend the nine generations of ancestors, and transform all beings. At the end of the book, there is an epilogue written by Dong Zhengguan in the Xinyou year of the Jingding reign period (1261), briefly describing the origin and publication process of this book.