The Imperial Exegesis on the True Classic of Simplicity 冲虚至德真经义解

Composed by Zhao Ji, Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty, it was roughly completed in the Wuxu year of the Zhenghe reign period (1118).

The Imperial Exegesis on the True Classic of Simplicity

The book preserves four chapters, namely Tianrui (Heavenly Omens), Huangdi (The Yellow Emperor), Zhoumuwang (King Mu of Zhou) and Zhongni (Confucius). Each of the Huangdi and Zhongni chapters is divided into two volumes, thus forming four chapters in six volumes. It is included in the Yujue (Jade Commentary) category of the Dongshen Section of the Daozang (Daoist Canon). Originally, this work was structured into eight volumes corresponding to the chapters of the Liezi. During the reign of Emperor Shizong of the Jin Dynasty, Gao Shouyuan compiled the Chongxu Zhide Zhenjing Sijie (Four Commentaries on The True Scripture of Simplicity and Supreme Virtue), which fully incorporated Emperor Huizong’s Yijie and can be used for cross-collation.