Jingyao Sanjing Jue: Celestial Breath for Immortality

Dongzhen Taishang Basu Zhenjing: Miaojue of the Radiant Essences of the Three Lights

It is an early classic of the Shangqing School, presumably compiled during the Eastern Jin and Southern Dynasties (c. 317–589 CE).

As a scroll dedicated to the "miaojue" (marvelous instructions/esoteric secrets) for practicing the Basu Zhenjing (Scripture of the Eight Essences), it is included in the "Zhengyi Section" (the core section of the Taoist Canon focusing on orthodox rituals and doctrines) of the Daozang (Taoist Canon).

This text expounds on the method of "fushi xingqi" (ingesting the vital energy of stars) to pursue longevity. It first presents diagrams of the "Beidou Jiuxing" (Nine Stars of the Big Dipper) and the "Wufang Wuxing" (Five Planets of the Five Directions—east, south, west, north, and center), then separately describes the specific method of ingesting star qi.

The method prescribes that, on specified months, days, and hours, practitioners should burn incense, concentrate their thoughts intently ("jingsi"), hold their breath, tap their teeth (a ritual gesture in Taoism to harmonize internal energy), visualize the gods of the Nine Stars of the Big Dipper and the Five Planets of the Five Directions, and ingest the vital energy exhaled by these divine beings—thus expelling stagnant, impure energy from the body and absorbing fresh, nourishing star qi.

It is claimed that by ingesting the vital energy of the Nine Stars of the Big Dipper for nine years, one can achieve "changsheng busi" (eternal life without death); and by ingesting the vital energy of the Five Planets for five years, one will permanently become a "zhenren" (True Person—a title for accomplished Taoist practitioners who have transcended mortal limitations and attained spiritual perfection).

Key Terminology Notes

Shangqing School: A major Taoist school founded in the 4th century CE, emphasizing esoteric meditation, visualization of deities/celestial bodies, and inner cultivation centered on absorbing cosmic energy (qi), distinct from the ritual-focused practices of earlier Taoist schools.
Daozang (Taoist Canon): The comprehensive collection of Taoist scriptures, commentaries, and ritual texts compiled over millennia, serving as the primary repository of Taoist religious, philosophical, and practical teachings.
Qi (vital energy): A core concept in Taoism and traditional Chinese culture, referring to the invisible, universal life force that permeates all things. In Taoist cultivation, absorbing pure qi (from stars, sun, moon, or nature) is believed to nourish the body and spirit, leading to longevity or immortality.
Zhenren (True Person): A revered title in Taoism, denoting a practitioner who has mastered the Dao, achieved spiritual enlightenment, and freed themselves from the cycle of birth and death—often regarded as an intermediate stage toward full immortality.