The Shàng Qīng Wài Guó Fàng Pǐn Qīng Tóng Nèi Wén 上清外国放品青童内文

As one of the early classic texts of the Shangqing School (Supreme Clarity School), The Supreme Clarity Scripture of the Foreign Realms’ Radiant Works and the Green Youth’s Inner Text (Shangqing Waiguo Fangpin Qingtong Neiwen) was likely composed during the Eastern Jin Dynasty and Southern Dynasties (317–589 CE).

The Catalogue of the Supreme Clarity Great Cavern True Scripture (Shangqing Dadong Zhenjing Mu) records “Two scrolls of The Supreme Clarity Scripture of the Foreign Realms’ Radiant Works and the Green Youth’s Inner Text”; texts such as The Essential Secrets of the Supreme (Wushang Miyao) quote from The True Grotto Scripture of the Foreign Realms’ Radiant Works (Dongzhen Waiguo Fangpin Jing)—both references refer to this very scripture.

The present version consists of two scrolls and is included in the Zhengyi Bu (Orthodox Unity Section) of the Daozang (Taoist Canon).

The scripture is falsely attributed to be “transmitted by the Highest Jade Emperor (Gaoshang Yudi) to the Supreme Minister Green Youth Lord (Shangxiang Qingtong Jun)” and expounds on the methods of reciting sacred sounds and wearing talismans.

Titled The Highest Inner Text of Entering Realms and Concealing the Primordial (Gaoshang Ruguo Yinyuan Neiwen), the first scroll states that there are divine realms in each of the six directions—east, west, south, north, upper, and lower. Each realm has “six phonetic inscriptions” (six seal-script texts with attached pronunciation notes), totaling 36 inscriptions across the six realms. It claims that anyone who understands the inner sounds of these inscriptions will enjoy a lifespan as long as heaven.

The scroll also records the “Hidden Texts for Entering the Six Realms” (six sets of talismanic symbols, totaling 180 pieces). It is said that wearing these talismans allows one to travel to famous mountains, visit the Five Great Mountains (Wuyue), enter the six divine realms, summon groups of immortals, subdue demons, and control troops. As stated in the text: “Wear them for six years, and you will be able to converse with the immortal officials of the six realms, and naturally understand the sounds of the 36 realms.”

Titled The Highest Nine Mysteries, Thirty-Six Heavens, Nine Layers, Thirty-Six Lands, and the Inner Sounds of the Foreign Realms’ Radiant Works (Gaoshang Jiuxuan Sanshiliu Tian Jiulei Sanshiliu Di Waiguo Fangpin Neiyin), the second scroll claims that there are “Nine Mysteries and Thirty-Six Heavens” above and “Nine Layers and Thirty-Six Lands” below, and each heaven and land has its own “inner sounds.”

The so-called “inner sounds” refer to 72 talismans representing the hidden names of the 36 Heavenly Kings (Sanshiliu Tianwang) and 36 Earth Emperors (Sanshiliu Dihuang). Taoist practitioners who receive these “inner sounds” in accordance with the method and recite the true names will have their names recorded in the Eastern Glory (Donghua, a celestial realm associated with immortality), annihilate the Corpse Earth Emperors (Shitu Huang, evil earthly entities), travel through the six realms, and subdue demons and control troops.

The scroll also records the “Highest Correct Sounds of the Six Categories of Foreign Realms” (six seal-script texts with attached pronunciation guides), whose functions are identical to those of the “inscriptions of the six realms” recorded in the first scroll.