Shangqing Dongzhen Nine Palaces Purple Chamber Diagram (Shangqing Dongzhen Jiugong Zifang Tu), author unknown.
Judging from the content and wording, it was likely written by a Taoist priest of the Shangqing School (Supreme Purity School) between the Tang and Song dynasties.
It consists of one scroll and is included in the Lingtu Lei (Spiritual Diagrams Category) of the Daozang (Taoist Canon), under the Dongzhen Bu (True Grotto Section).
The first half of the scripture contains immortal images, including 5 large portraits and over 40 small ones. Some of these images depict palaces and pavilions. Following the images is the text Jiugong Zifang Sandantian Jue (The Secret of the Three Cinnabar Fields in the Nine Palaces and Purple Chamber).
The secret text states: There are nine palaces in a person’s head, namely the Mingtang Palace (Hall of Light), Dongfang Palace (Bridal Chamber Palace), Dantian Palace (Cinnabar Field Palace), Liuzhu Palace (Flowing Pearl Palace), Yudi Palace (Jade Emperor Palace), Tianting Palace (Heavenly Court Palace), Jizhen Palace (Ultimate Truth Palace), Xuandan Palace (Black Cinnabar Palace), and Taihuang Palace (Great Yellow Emperor Palace).
In addition to the nine palaces (such as the Upper Dantian) in the head, the human body also contains the Middle Dantian Palace and Lower Dantian Palace. Each palace is inhabited and guarded by a divine true being (Shenzhen).
The images and secret text recorded in this work are related to the Shangqing School’s practice of contemplating the body’s deities (cunsi shen). The so-called "Nine Palaces and Purple Chamber" refers to the dwelling places of the divine true beings within the human body.
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