Spiritual Sword Cultivation Manual 灵剑子

Originally attributed to "Narrated by Perfect Lord Xu of Jingyang".

Textual research indicates it is a work falsely ascribed to him by Taoist priests of the Pure Brightness Sect in the Northern Song Dynasty or the early Southern Song Dynasty. TongZhi·YiWen Lue (General Records·Bibliographical Survey), Secret Catalogue and Song Shi·YiWen zhi (History of the Song Dynasty·Bibliographical Treatise) all record one scroll of The Spirit Sword Manual by Xu Xun.

Spiritual Sword Cultivation Manual

The existing version is included in the Alchemy and Arts category of the Dongxuan Section of the Daozang.

The book is divided into eight chapters, among which Record of Pine and Sand recounts the deeds of Perfect Lord Xu slaying demons and eliminating evils, relieving the world and doing good deeds with the Spirit Sword, hence the title The Spirit Sword Manual. Other chapters include Preface, Learning and Inquiry, Qi Ingestion, Parable of the Dao Sea, Annotations on the Hidden Inscription, Dao Precepts and Daoyin Postures, all expounding the way of cultivating immortality. It states that those who seek immortality must first do good deeds and accumulate virtue, relieve the poor and rescue the distressed, purify their heart and conduct, harmonize their spirit and replenish their qi. Only then can they practice fetal breathing and qi ingestion, daoyin and spirit concentration, as well as arts such as sexual cultivation and massage to nourish the body and spirit, enrich essence and qi, regulate the muscles, bones, blood and vessels, and cultivate the Mysterious Pearl Elixir to attain immortality. Its doctrines blend Confucian ethics of filial piety and loyalty with Taoist cultivation and nourishing arts, forming a unique school of thought.