The Supreme Clarity Scripture of the Three Yuan Jade Inscriptions and the Three Yuan Deployment
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 Three Yuan Deployment Scripture and the Diagram of Dao’s Truth”; The Catalogue of the Supreme Clarity Great Cavern True Scripture (Shangqing Dadong Zhenjing Mu) records “One scroll of the Supreme Clarity Scripture of the Three Yuan Jade Inscriptions and the Three Yuan Deployment”—both references denote this very scripture.
The present version in the Daozang (Taoist Canon) is included in the “Original Texts Category” (Benwen Lei) of the Dongxuan Bu (Mysterious Grotto Section). The text is also frequently quoted in The Essential Secrets of the Supreme (Wushang Miyao).
The scripture contains three types of talismanic true texts, namely:
- The Upper Yuan Jade Inscription: The Heavenly Record Examination,
- The Lower Yuan Jade Inscription: The Earthly Jade Text Examination,
- The Middle Yuan Jade Inscription: The Immortal Truth Book Examination.
It is claimed that these Three Yuan Jade Inscription texts “originated before the Nine Mysteries and the Void, and were formed from the condensation of natural qi (vital energy) into jade texts.” Those who obtain these texts can travel freely through the Nine Heavens, attain long life, and become immortals.
To practice the Dao of the Three Yuan, practitioners must inscribe talismans and wear them on their bodies in accordance with the method, while simultaneously practicing cunsi (visualization meditation) to summon divine beings. The main deities visualized are the Profound Mother of the Nine Heavens (Jiutian Xuanmu) and the Profound Father (Xuanfu).
The Profound Mother of the Nine Heavens is also known as the Great Primeval Yuan Lord (Taisu Yuanjun), who gave birth to three daughters: the eldest is the Purple Primeval Yuan Lord (Zisu Yuanjun), the second is the Yellow Primeval Yuan Lord (Huangsu Yuanjun), and the youngest is the White Primeval Yuan Lord (Baisu Yuanjun).
It is said that Taoist practitioners who can see the White Primeval Yuan Lord will live up to a thousand years; those who see the Yellow Primeval Yuan Lord will live up to ten thousand years; those who see the Purple Primeval Yuan Lord will live up to thirty thousand years; and those who can see the Great Primeval Yuan Lord will live as long as heaven and earth.
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