Hundred Inner Names: Shangqing Ritual for Dadong Practice

Scripture of the Shangqing Heavenly Emperors of the Nine Heavens: Prayers and Inner Names of the Hundred Spirits

It is one of the early classics of the Shangqing (Supreme Pure) School of Taoism, likely composed during the Northern and Southern Dynasties (420–589 CE).

Consisting of one scroll, it is included in the Zhengyi Bu (Orthodox Unity Section) of the Daozang (Taoist Canon). This scripture mainly expounds on the methods for practicing and reciting the Shangqing Dadong Zhenjing (Supreme Pure Great Cavern True Scripture), and is divided into three parts:

The first part is the Shangqing Jiutian Shangdi Zhu Baishen Neiming Jing itself, which contains a poem titled "Names of the Hundred Spirits." It states that after practitioners have completed the practices of "Huiyuan (Returning to the Origin), Wutong (Five Penetrations), Bajian (Eight Inquiries), and Shieryuan (Twelve Vows)," they should recite the "Names of the Hundred Spirits" once to follow up on the practices. Here, "Huiyuan, Wutong, Bajian, and Shieryuan" refer to the Taoist methods for reciting the Dadong Zhenjing, with "reciting the scripture and contemplating spirits" as the core essential for practicing the Dao.

The second part is the Taishang Shuo Zhihui Xiaomo Chang (The Supreme Lord’s Discourse on the Wisdom Chant for Dispelling Demons), which includes a poem called "Xiaomo Chang (Chant for Dispelling Demons)." It notes that "after reciting the Dadong Zhenjing ten times, practitioners should recite this 'Chant for Dispelling Demons' once to ward off the poisonous qi of the Nine Heavens and avert the trials brought by the Great Demon King of the Northern Emperor."

The third part is the Dadong Yu Jing Shi Xuangen Zhi Qi Fa (Method of Ingesting the Qi of the Mysterious Root from the Jade Scripture of the Great Cavern). It claims that practitioners, through contemplation, should swallow the "qi of the mysterious root on the 5th, 7th, and 9th days," chant incantations, and massage their faces. This practice can purify the body, enlighten the spirit, grant a jade-like luster to the face, spark divine light in the eyes, fill the teeth with purple qi, strengthen the intestines, nourish the internal organs, and achieve longevity with clear vision (immortal longevity).

The Taoist methods throughout the entire scripture focus primarily on reciting scriptures, contemplating spirits, chanting incantations, and ingesting qi (fuqi).