Shenzhou Qizhuan Jing: Recitation & Shape-Shifting to Ascend

The True Grotto: The Supreme Clarity Scripture of the Divine Continent’s Seven Circulations, Seven Transformations, and Dancing in the Heavens

As one of the early classic texts of the Shangqing School (Supreme Clarity School), it was probably compiled during the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317–420 CE).

In Volume Five of The True Declarations (Zhengao), it is stated: “The Immortal Dao includes the Divine Method of Seven Transformations and the Scripture of Seven Circulations”; The Catalogue of the Supreme Clarity Great Cavern True Scripture (Shangqing Dadong Zhenjing Mu) records “One scroll of the Supreme Clarity Scripture of the Divine Continent’s Seven Circulations, Seven Transformations, and Dancing in the Heavens”—both references refer to this very text.

The present version is included in the Zhengyi Bu (Orthodox Unity Section) of the Daozang (Taoist Canon).

The entire text comprises three chapters, detailed as follows:

The Supreme Scripture of Lord Zichen, the Senior of the Supreme Emperor

This chapter narrates the mythological story of the Supreme Emperor’s (Shanghuang) cultivation of the Dao.
The Supreme Scripture of the Divine Continent’s Seven Circulations

It contains fourteen “Jade Verses of the Divine Continent” (Shenzhou Yuzhang), all of which are four-character or five-character recitational verses that implicitly contain the inner names of a hundred deities. Practitioners are required to recite them using the method of “Seven Circulations and Eight Latitudes” (Qizhuan Bawei):

First, recite Chapters 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 2, and 1—this is called “Seven Circulations” (Qizhuan);
Next, recite Chapters 3, 4, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, and then recite Chapter 5 again—this is called “Eight Latitudes” (Bawei).

It is claimed that reciting the verses ten thousand times in this manner allows one to ascend to heaven in broad daylight.

The Scripture of the Divine Continent’s Seven Transformations and Dancing in the Heavens

This chapter expounds on the method of “preserving qi (vital energy) and contemplating deities” (cunqi cunshen). During the visualization meditation (cunsi), practitioners are instructed to imagine their own divine qi transforming into clouds and mist, light, fire essence, water, and dragons. Further transformations include dissolving one’s physical form to escape and change, emerging from existence and entering non-existence, letting the body merge with the void, entwining with the Seven Stars (of the Big Dipper), summoning winds and bringing down clouds, and commanding legions of spiritual beings with shouts. This is a Taoist magical practice that combines scripture recitation, deity contemplation, transformation, and form division.