The Jade Purity's Esoteric Commentary

The Jade Purity's Esoteric Commentary 玉清无极总真文昌大洞仙经注

Paul Peng

The Jade Purity's Esoteric Commentary FULL NAME IS

Annotations on the Jade Pure Supreme Infinite Universal True Wenchang Great Cavern Immortal Scripture

Annotated by Wei Qi, a Taoist priest of the Yuan Dynasty.

The book was completed in the 3rd year of the Zhida reign period of Emperor Wuzong of the Yuan Dynasty (1311).

It consists of ten scrolls and is included in the Yujuelei (Commentary Category) of the Dongzhenbu (True Grotto Section) in the Daozang (Taoist Canon).

The first two scrolls of the book are discourses, while the latter eight are composed of the scripture text and annotations. When putting forward his arguments and annotating the scripture, the author discarded the original tenet of exhorting people to do good and redeeming all beings. Instead, he extensively drew on the doctrines of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism, adhering to the principle of "basing itself on Taoist theories of nature and principle, and incorporating alchemical formulas and Chan insights", with a focus on expounding the theories of inner alchemy and I Ching learning. The annotations state that: "Wenchang is the whole Book of Changes"; "the Great Cavern is the Taiji of the I Ching". It holds that the fundamental tenet of the Great Cavern Immortal Scripture is "the very way of one’s own golden elixir".

This interpretation is in stark contradiction to the original meaning of the scripture.
Paul Peng — Zhengyi Taoist Priest, Longhu Mountain

About the Author

Paul Peng

Paul Peng is a Zhengyi Taoist priest from Longhu Mountain, Jiangxi — the ancestral home of the Celestial Masters' tradition. Ordained at 25 after a dream from the Celestial Master, he has practiced for 25 years under Master Zeng Guangliang. He is one of the curators of this store, which is officially authorized by Tianshi Fu. All items are consecrated at the temple by the resident priest team.

Read his full story →
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