Shangqing Nine Perfected Central Scripture 上清九真中经内诀

The author is unknown.

Judging from its content, it should have been written during the Northern and Southern Dynasties.

It consists of one volume and is included in the Methods category of the Dongshen Section of The Daozang.

The original text is falsely attributed to the immortal Chisongzi and divided into five sections. The first section is the method of ingesting cinnabar elixir, derived from Baopuzi: Chapter on Immortality Medicines. This method involves decocting cinnabar, pure lacquer and high-quality vinegar together to make pills, which are claimed to cure all diseases and eliminate the Three Corpses (a trio of evil spirits believed to inhabit the human body). The second section details the ritual of offering sacrifices to Taiyi (the Supreme Unity) when taking the elixir. The third section covers the talisman methods for sacrificing to the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird and Black Tortoise. The fourth section is about the method of steaming sesame seeds, and the fifth section focuses on the method of steaming flax seeds. The texts of these two sections are incomplete, only preserving the incantations and the key formulas for swallowing qi. The content of this book is inconsistent with the Inner Instructions of the Shangqing Nine True Essentials Scripture quoted in works such as Precious Bag of the Three Caverns and Cloudy Satchel of Seven Slips. The ritual and elixir-related content of this scripture is an integral part of Taoism practices, and the compatibility of its medicinal ingredients conforms to the theoretical system of the five elements in traditional Chinese philosophy.