Ci Yi Wulao Baojing: Shangqing Scripture of the Three Goddesses

Precious Scripture of the Five Elders with Jade Inscriptions on the True Female Principle of the Great Cavern, from the Supreme Lord on High of the Great Cavern Realm

As an important early classic of the Shangqing (Supreme Pure) School of Taoism, it is known as one of the "Three Rare Precious Texts" of the Shangqing tradition.

It was probably compiled during the Eastern Jin Dynasty and the Southern Dynasties (317–589 CE). Taoist texts such as the Wushang Miyao (Supreme Secret Essentials) and Sandong Zhunang (Pearl Satchel of the Three Caverns) all quote excerpts from this scripture. The scripture consists of one scroll and is included in the Zhengyi Bu (Orthodox Unity Section) of the Daozang (Taoist Canon).

The entire text records more than ten types of essential Taoist practice methods, mainly including:

The Jade Scripture Essentials compiled by the Yellow Old Lord of the Center;
The Supreme Method of Great Return to the Origin and Five Penetrations by the Supreme Oneness Heavenly Emperor;
The Internal Scripture Method of the Great Elixir and Advanced Bridal Chamber by the Yellow Old Lord of the Center;
The Scripture Method of Hidden Audience, Ritual Vows, and Worship of Transcendents by the True Person of the Great Simplicity;
The Method for Beginners to Ward Off Nightmares, Taught by the True Person of the Great Simplicity;
The Precious Scripture Method of the True Female Principle and the Five Elders for the Jade Dawn Bright Mirror and Golden Splendor Bridal Chamber;
The Method of Retaining the Five Spirits from the True Mysterious Scripture of the Great Cavern by the Supreme Heavenly Emperor;
The Way of Summoning the Sun and Moon by the Imperial Lord of the True Female Principle of the Great Cavern;
The Way of Transforming the Male and Female Principles by the Imperial Lord of the True Female Principle of the Great Cavern;
The Transcendent Method of Resolving the Deadly Knots of the Fetal Embryo by the True Female Principle and the Five Elders;
The Transcendent Method of Nourishing the Supreme Oneness and the Hundred Spirits by the Imperial Lord of the True Female Principle of the Great Cavern;
The Upper Scripture Method of Stabilizing Life and Nourishing the Five Viscera by the Supreme Oneness Imperial Lord of the True Female Principle of the Great Cavern;
The Talisman for Commanding the Nine Souls and Summoning the Five Spirits by the Imperial Lord from the Supreme Record of the Great Cavern True Scripture;
The Golden Elixir Method of the Immortal Mother of the Western Splendor Jade Hall of the Great Cavern.

All the above Taoist methods are practices of the early Shangqing School, whose core essence lies in reciting the Shangqing Dadong Zhenjing (Supreme Pure Great Cavern True Scripture), ingesting talismans, chanting incantations, and contemplating, paying homage to, and worshipping various immortals and revered lords.

The primary spirit to be contemplated is the "Three Pure Primordial Ladies" (Sansu Yuanjun), who reside in the "Golden Splendor Bridal Chamber Palace of the True Female Principle" (also known as the "Precious Palace of the Three Origins and Five Elders") within the human body. Hence, the scripture is named the "Precious Scripture of the True Female Principle and the Five Elders" (Ciyi Wulao Baojing).