Scripture of Laozi’s Western Journey 老子西升经

The Scripture of Laozi's Ascension to the West is an important classic of Taoism during the Wei and Jin dynasties. Attributed to Guan Ling Yin Xi, who recorded the words of Laozi preaching while traveling westward, it initially circulated in the form of "notes" and was later systematically compiled into a book. Academic circles generally believe that it was compiled in the Western Jin Dynasty. The existing version is mainly included in the The Dongshen Section of the The Daozang Zhengtong Edition. The oldest surviving annotated version was written by Wei Jie of the Northern Zhou Dynasty, but the most influential complete annotated version is the imperial annotation by Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty.

Scripture of Laozi’s Western Journey

Set against the narrative background of Laozi traveling west to enlighten the barbarians, the scripture expounds cultivation principles such as "My destiny is in my own hands, not subject to heaven and earth" and "The Dao values non-action above all else" through the question-and-answer form between Laozi and Yin Xi. It inherits and develops the core thought of "purity, tranquility, and non-action" from the Dao De Jing. The scripture contains philosophical discourses on cosmology and the relationship between form and spirit, whose connotation is closely linked to the Taiji origin theory in Taoist philosophy. Among them, the "Chapter on the Generation of Spirit" puts forward the view of form and spirit that "Spirit generates form, and form gives shape to spirit", making it an important classic of the Supreme Mystery system of early Taoism. The scripture was already recorded in Ge Hong's Biographies of Immortals in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, revered as an important classic by Taoists of the Louguan School, and played a key theoretical role in the debates between Buddhism and Taoism in the medieval period, being used to interpret the philosophical contradictions of Laozi's physical body. Its thought of "My destiny is in my own hands, not subject to heaven and earth" still echoes in contemporary culture, and it also lays a theoretical foundation for the later Internal Alchemy practice system.

Unfolding in the form of dialogues between Laozi and Yin Xi, the scripture consists of thirty-nine chapters, systematically expounding Laozi's ideological propositions of purity, tranquility, and non-action.

In terms of cosmology, it puts forward "Emptiness generates Nature, and Nature generates the Dao", which is in the same vein as the Dao De Jing and contains the implication of Yin and Yang mutual transformation. In terms of life philosophy, it emphasizes "My destiny is in my own hands, not subject to heaven and earth". In terms of the relationship between body and mind, it advocates that "Form and spirit are united, generating and complementing each other", and promotes nourishing the spirit over nurturing the form, which requires practitioners to regulate the circulation of Qi in the body. In terms of governing the country, it embodies the concepts of "The country is based on its people" and "Governing with non-action and non-interference". The Scripture of Laozi's Ascension to the West occupies a unique position in the history of Taoist thought, exerting a profound influence on later Taoism, especially the Louguan School, and is regarded as an important development of the Dao De Jing.

The entire scripture is composed of thirty-nine chapters, with chapter titles in sequence as follows: Chapter 1: Ascension to the West, Chapter 2: Profundity of the Dao, Chapter 3: Being Good at Practice, Chapter 4: Caution in Conduct, Chapter 5: Images of the Dao, Chapter 6: Generating the Dao, Chapter 7: Evil and Righteousness, Chapter 8: Heaven and Earth, Chapter 9: Practicing the Dao, Chapter 10: Repeated Admonitions, Chapter 11: Words of the Sage, Chapter 12: Observing All Things, Chapter 13: Scriptures and Precepts, Chapter 14: Profound Mystery, Chapter 15: Emptiness, Chapter 16: Vagueness, Chapter 17: Generation and Establishment, Chapter 18: Cultivating the Dao, Chapter 19: Physical Body, Chapter 20: Emptiness of the Dao, Chapter 21: Compassion for All Beings, Chapter 22: Generation of Spirit, Chapter 23: Eternal Peace, Chapter 24: Body and Mind, Chapter 25: Non-Thinking, Chapter 26: My Destiny, Chapter 27: Weapons, Chapter 28: Gentleness and Weakness, Chapter 29: The People, Chapter 30: Under Heaven, Chapter 31: Subtle Intent, Chapter 32: Abiding in the Dao, Chapter 33: Governing a State, Chapter 34: All Possess, Chapter 35: Cultivating the Body, Chapter 36: Dao and Virtue, Chapter 37: Good and Evil, Chapter 38: Silence, Chapter 39: Admonitions and Instructions.

The core chapters expound cultivation principles such as "My destiny is in my own hands, not subject to heaven and earth" and "The Dao values non-action above all else" through the question-and-answer form between Laozi and Yin Xi. Among them, the "Chapter on the Generation of Spirit" puts forward the view of form and spirit that "Spirit generates form, and form gives shape to spirit", emphasizing the realization of the unity of form and spirit through "purifying defilements and stopping thoughts"—a key method in Taoist health preservation related to the Five Elements mutual generation theory.

For example, the opening of the scripture, "Chapter 1: Ascension to the West", describes the scene of Laozi ascending westward to open the way and Yin Xi seeking the Dao: "The Supreme Lord ascended westward, opening the way to Zhuqian; he was titled the Ancient Sage, excelling in entering the state of non-action; without beginning or end, he exists eternally and continuously. Thus, he ascended and passed through the pass along the path of the Dao. Yin Xi, the governor of the pass, perceived his qi, practiced fasting to receive the guest, and the Supreme Lord expounded the Dao and Virtue, compiling them into two chapters." The concluding chapter, "Chapter 39: Admonitions and Instructions", is Laozi's final warning to Yin Xi: "The Supreme Lord said: Xi, I solemnly tell you again: the Ancient Sage is my very self. Now I shall return my spirit to the nameless origin. I shall transcend the body and annihilate existence, yet abide continuously and eternally. Today I depart, returning to the primal unity."