Scripture of the Primal Mystery 太上洞玄宝元上经

It was probably compiled during the Eastern Jin and Southern Dynasties.

Volume 105 of Yunji Qiqian (Seven Slips of the Cloud Satchel), in the "Biography of Perfected Qingling Pei", records that the White Emperor bestowed upon Perfected Qingling Pei "three volumes of the Taisu Yulu Baoxuan Jing", which refers to this scripture.

Today, only one incomplete volume survives in the Daozang, included in the Benwen (Scripture Text) category of the Dongxuan Section.

Scripture of the Primal Mystery

Numerous lost passages of this scripture are also preserved in Taoist works such as Daojiao Yishu (Pivotal Meaning of Taoist Doctrines), Sandong Zhunang (Pouch of Pearls from the Three Caverns) and Yunji Qiqian (Seven Slips of the Cloud Satchel). The scripture follows the teachings of Laozi and elaborates on the principles of cosmic generation and evolution. It regards the Dao as the origin of heaven, earth and all things: the Dao generates One (primordial qi), One generates Two (yin and yang, heaven and earth), Two generates Three (the three qi of Mystery, Origin and Beginning), and Three generates all things. Thus, the principle of cosmic generation is naturally rooted in One, and manifests as Three in response to all things. It also correlates the Three Powers (heaven, earth and human) with the Upper, Middle and Lower Three Epochs, as well as the three qi of Mystery, Origin and Beginning. Analyzed separately, there is the One of heaven, the One of earth and the One of human; viewed as a whole, these three all originate from One—different in name but identical in essence, which is called the Three Ones. The essence of cultivation lies in visualizing the Three and upholding the One, observing celestial phenomena above, examining geographical features below, and introspecting the true spirit within oneself, so as to thoroughly comprehend the principle that "the Three Ones are unified with the Dao in truth". The scripture further proclaims: "Those who understand the Dao of heaven shall rely on my Upper Scripture; those who understand the Dao of earth shall rely on my Lower Scripture; those who understand the Dao of human shall rely on my Middle Scripture". Here, the Upper and Lower Scriptures refer to Laozi’s Daode Jing (Classic of the Way and Virtue), and the Middle Scripture refers to the Laozi Zhongjing (Middle Scripture of Laozi). The scripture provides explanations on the main tenets and successive order of the chapters of these three classics.

Its doctrines exerted a significant influence on the Chongxuan philosophy of Taoism during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, Sui and Tang dynasties.