Yindi Bashi Jing: Eight Arts of Invisibility & Ascension

The Supreme Clarity Scripture of the Elixir Radiance, Dao Essence, and Eight Arts of Concealment in the Earth

As one of the early classic texts of the Shangqing School (Supreme Clarity School), it likely originated during the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317–420 CE).

In Volume Five of The True Declarations (Zhengao), it is stated: “The Dao encompasses the Elixir Radiance, Dao Essence, and Eight Arts of Concealment in the Earth”; The Catalogue of the Supreme Clarity Great Cavern True Scripture (Shangqing Dadong Zhenjing Mu) records “Two scrolls (upper and lower) of the Supreme Clarity Scripture of the Elixir Radiance, Dao Essence, and Eight Arts of Concealment in the Earth”—both references denote this very text.

The present version is included in the Zhengyi Bu (Orthodox Unity Section) of the Daozang (Taoist Canon), and excerpts of its content are also found in Volume 53 of The Seven Slips of the Clouds’ Satchel (Yunji Qiqian).

The upper scroll of the scripture contains The Purple Clarity Flying Spirit Eight Transformations Jade Talisman and expounds on the “Eight Mysterious True Arts of Concealment and Transformation in the Earth.” These refer to eight esoteric arts of concealment and ascension, namely:

Hiding one’s radiance and concealing one’s form,
Riding the void to enter the sky,
Concealing one’s presence to soar through the clouds,
Emerging from existence and entering non-existence,
Flying as a spirit to the eight directions,
Dissolving one’s form to escape and transform,
Turning back the dawn and shifting the mysterious (cosmic forces),
Concealing oneself in the earth and dancing in the heavens.

To practice these eight arts, practitioners must all wear the “Flying Spirit Jade Talisman” on their persons, while simultaneously engaging in cunshen (visualization meditation on deities) and reciting incantations.

The lower scroll contains The Secret Scripture and Sealed Sounds of the Eight Arts and expounds on the “Eight Arts of Concealment in the Earth”—esoteric arts for hiding and escaping disasters from the eight directions. The core of this method also lies in inscribing talismans and reciting incantations.

It is claimed that if one practices these arts for eight years, they will be able to hide their radiance and conceal their form, and ascend to the celestial dawn in broad daylight.