The Marrow of Change of the Three Heavens 三天易髓
Paul PengThe Marrow of Change of the Three Heavens
Composed by Li Daochun in the early Yuan Dynasty, and revised by Wang Daoyuan, titled Hunranzi.
It consists of one scroll and is included in the Methods Category of The Dongzhen Section within The Daozang.
The Marrow of Change of the Three Heavens
The book is divided into four parts: the first is Confucian Taiji, which interprets the fire talismans of Internal Alchemy with the hexagram principles of the I Ching; the second is The Clear Diagram of the Golden Elixir, containing nine five-character jue poems that eulogize the alchemical cultivation methods; the third is Buddhist Perfect Enlightenment, which interprets the Buddhist Heart Sutra of Prajna with the mental methods of internal alchemy; the fourth is Direct Instructions on the Book of Hidden Talisman, which annotates the Book of Hidden Talisman with alchemical doctrines.
All parts advocate the unity of the three teachings, proclaiming: "Buddhism calls it the Mysterious Pearl, Confucianism the Taiji, and Taoism the Golden Elixir—they differ in name but are one in essence." Its doctrines aim to "verify the Dao with the principles of Confucianism and Buddhism, enabling learners to understand that the teachings are originally one and not to hold dichotomous views".
