The Pivot of Daoist Doctrine 道教义枢

Originally titled "Compiled by Taoist Priest Meng Anpai of Qingxi".

Meng Anpai lived during the reigns of Emperor Gaozong and Empress Wu Zetian of the Tang Dynasty; this book was compiled in the early years of Emperor Gaozong’s reign.

Originally consisting of ten volumes, it is included in the Taiping Section of The Daozang.

As an important treatise expounding Taoist doctrines, the book follows the structural model of Xuanmen Dayi (Great Meanings of the Mysterious Gate). The author presents thirty-seven key Taoist doctrinal terms and concepts: first, he summarizes their profound essentials in parallel prose, labeled as "Yi (Meaning)"; then extensively quotes Taoist scriptures from the Six Dynasties and theories of various Taoist masters to provide detailed analysis and interpretation.

The thirty-seven "Yi" include: Meaning of Taoism, Meaning of Dharma Body, Meaning of the Three Jewels, Meaning of Positions and Karma, Meaning of the Three Caverns, Meaning of the Seven Sections, Meaning of the Ten Sections, Meaning of the Two Halves, Meaning of Dao and Meaning, Meaning of the Ten Good Deeds, Meaning of Cause and Effect, Meaning of the Five Palaces, Meaning of the Six Emotions, Meaning of the Three Karmas, Meaning of the Ten Evils, Meaning of the Three Ones, Meaning of the Two Contemplations, [Meaning of the Three Vehicles, Meaning of the Six Spiritual Powers, Meaning of the Four Penetrations, Meaning of the Six Perfections, Meaning of the Four Immeasurables, ] Meaning of the Three Realms, Meaning of the Five Daos, Meaning of the Primordial Chaos, Meaning of Principle and Teaching, Meaning of Realm and Wisdom, Meaning of Nature, Meaning of The Dao -Nature, Meaning of Merit Fields, Meaning of Pure Land, Meaning of the Three Lives, Meaning of the Five Turbidities, Meaning of Motion and Stillness, Meaning of Response and Connection, Meaning of Existence and Non-Existence, Meaning of Illusion and Reality. (Note: The five entries from "Meaning of the Three Vehicles" to "Meaning of the Four Immeasurables" are missing in the original text.) The Pivot of Daoist Doctrine

In interpreting each doctrinal term, the author not only extensively adopts Buddhist terminology and philosophy but also emulates the analytical method of the Buddhist Sanlun School—systematically dissecting concepts, rejecting all four logical extremes, and upholding the middle way. This reflects how the Taoist Chongxuan (Twofold Mystery) School of the Sui and Tang dynasties evolved by absorbing Buddhist theories.

The book quotes nearly 160 Taoist texts and theories of various masters from the Six Dynasties, Sui, and Tang dynasties, making it a valuable reference for researchers.