The Middle Scripture of the Supreme Old Lord 太上老君中经
Paul PengThe Middle Scripture of the Supreme Old Lord
Also known as Pearl Palace Jade Calendar, its author is unknown and it was probably compiled during the Wei and Jin dynasties.
Recorded in Sandong Fengdao Kejie as "The Middle Scripture of Laozi, one volume", the text is now preserved in two volumes in The Daozang (Taiqing Section) and fully included in Yunji Qiqian.
The Middle Scripture of the Supreme Old Lord
Divided into fifty-five chapters, it focuses on Internal Alchemy practices like internal visualization and contemplating inner spirits. It details the names, forms, and attire of deities in the human body—more comprehensively than the Huangting Jing—and covers methods such as bigu (grain abstinence), qi absorption, and mantra recitation.
It promotes loyalty, filial piety, and karmic retribution, exerting a profound influence on Taoist texts of the Shangqing School in the Eastern Jin and Southern Dynasties. Notably, it regards Laozi’s Dao De Jing as the Upper and Lower Chapters, positioning itself as the Middle Chapter.
