Supreme Scripture of Solar-Lunar Primordial Chaos 太上日月混元经

The original text bears no attribution to an author.

It was probably compiled in the Tang Dynasty.

Both the General Catalog of the Chongwen Library of the Northern Song Dynasty and the Bibliographic Treatise of the History of the Song Dynasty catalog it as The Scripture of the Primordial Fusion of the Sun and Moon by Master Xuanxuan, in one scroll; the Comprehensive Records of Literature·Bibliographic Survey also lists the work, attributing it to Yuanguang.

Supreme Scripture of Solar-Lunar Primordial Chaos

The existing version, in one scroll, is included in the Benwen (Text) category of The Dongshen Section in The Daozang.

This scripture expounds the methods and secrets of elixir refining. It first discusses the gathering of medicinal ingredients, stating: "Heaven and Earth, Kan and Li, the firm and the soft are combined; these four are enfolded within one another, called the bellows. They converge in the cauldron, and fire refines them into the medicine." It then elaborates on the fire control for elixir refining, proclaiming: "First white, then yellow; red and black form the exterior and interior. The hue transforms and finally turns purple, blazing with radiance. After nine cycles of refinement, it attains pure Yang, and the five Qi are fully embodied. It returns to the thick earth and becomes the Reverted Elixir, which shapes metal and stone, with the refining fire sustained for a full year." The alchemical method described herein is undoubtedly that of External Alchemy.