Scripture of Primordial Truth 太上开明天地本真经

Originally attributed to "Master Renshou of Meishan, the Communicator of the Three Teachings of Mysticism".

It was presumably compiled between the Song and Yuan dynasties. Consisting of one volume, it is included in the Ben Wen (Original Text) category of The Dongzhen Section in The Daozang.

Scripture of Primordial Truth

This scripture mainly expounds the thought of returning to the origin and attaining truth. It holds that the Dao is the true origin of heaven, earth and all things. In ancient times, when heaven and earth were opened up, all things were nurtured, and people were simple, honest and long-lived—all because they did not stray from the true origin. In later generations, various worldly wisdoms gradually emerged, confusing people about the true origin, thus leading to the decline of humanity and shortening of lifespans. The supreme sages descended into the world, enlightened and delivered all beings, and then established the Three Teachings, all with the tenet of returning to the origin and attaining truth. "Confucianism focuses on the origin to avoid excesses, conforming to the virtues of heaven and earth; Taoism upholds the origin and takes nurturing as its merit, embodying the transformations of heaven and earth; Buddhism returns to the origin, achieves enlightenment and attains truth, transcending the realm of heaven and earth." Therefore, followers of Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism as well as laypeople should all understand the principle of "the origin merging into one truth", so that they can transcend the mortal and enter the sagehood, thoroughly comprehend the past and present, instead of haggling over "the distinctions between self, others and the Three Teachings".