Jiuhuang Yinwei Jing: Secret Names of the Nine Dipper Kings

Scripture on the Hidden True Names of the Nine Emperors of the Big Dipper (Beidou Jiuhuang Yinhui Jing), author unknown.

Judging from its content, it was likely written by Taoist priests of the Shangqing School during the Southern and Northern Dynasties or the Sui-Tang dynasties.

It consists of one scroll and is included in the Xu Daozang (Supplementary Taoist Canon).

This scripture describes the method of contemplating the Jade Emperor Divine Lords of the Nine Stars of the Big Dipper. It lists the Nine Stars of the Big Dipper along with their respective deities’ names, appearances, official titles, duties, and administrative residences.

The so-called Nine Stars are as follows:

The first star, 天枢 (Celestial Pivot), which is the essence of the soul of Yangming Star (Bright Yang Star);
The second star, 天璇 (Celestial Rotation), which is the spirit of the soul of Yinjing Star (Dark Essence Star);
The third star, Tianji (Celestial Axis), which is the essence of the ethereal soul of Zhenren Star (True Person Star);
The fourth star, Tianquan (Celestial Power), which is the essence of the ethereal soul of Xuanming Star (Profound Darkness Star);
The fifth star, Yuheng (Jade Sighting Bar), which is the spirit of the ethereal soul of Danyuan Star (Cinnabar Origin Star);
The sixth star, Kaiyang (Opening Yang), which is the spirit of the ethereal soul of Beiji Star (North Pole Star);
The seventh star, Yaoguang (Swaying Light), which is the essence of the soul and great radiance of Tianguan Star (Heavenly Gate Star);
The eighth star, Dongming (Cave Brightness), which is the essence of the ethereal soul and yang radiance of Fuxing (Assistant Star);
The ninth star, Yinyuan (Hidden Origin), which is the soul radiance, emptiness, and spirituality of Bixing (Supporting Star).

Each of the above Nine Stars has a presiding deity, namely the First to Ninth Jade Emperor Lords respectively. All these lords oversee the true immortals of the Nine Heavens at the upper level, govern the flying immortals of the Five Great Mountains at the middle level, and guide those who study to become immortals at the lower level.

Taoist practitioners who constantly recall the titles and appearances of these Nine Emperor Lords, and pray for fortune, emoluments, and longevity, as well as to subdue evil, rebellion, and disasters, will have their wishes fulfilled.

The Taoist method recorded in this text is similar to that in Shangqing Hetu Baolu (Shangqing River Chart Precious Record). See the entry for that text.