The Shangqing Supreme Scripture of the Eight Essences 上清太上八素真经

The Shangqing Supreme Scripture of the Eight Essences 上清太上八素真经

Paul Peng

The Shangqing Supreme Scripture of the Eight Essences

As an early classic of the Shangqing School (a major school of Taoism), it was presumably compiled during the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317-420 CE).

Originally, it was a part of The Scripture of the Eight Essences (Ba Su Zhen Jing), and later extracted to form an independent scroll. It is included in the "Yujue Category" (a section of the Taoist Canon dedicated to commentaries and expositions on Taoist scriptures) under the "Dongxuan Division" of the Daozang (Taoist Canon).

The scripture begins by expounding on techniques for cultivating immortality. It argues that the practice of Shangqing scriptures and methods should be divided into four grades, namely the "Supreme Dao" (Tai Shang Zhi Dao), the "Upper True Dao" (Shang Zhen Zhi Dao), the "Middle True Dao" (Zhong Zhen Zhi Dao), and the "Lower True Dao" (Xia Zhen Zhi Dao). The text lists the titles of scriptures and works that practitioners need to study and practice for each grade.

The Scripture of the Eight Essences falls under the category of the "Upper True Dao". It mainly elaborates on the cultivation methods for "flying toward the sun, moon, and stars" and "roaming freely in the vast cosmos", with "visualizing deities and summoning true divinity" (cun shen zhao zhen) regarded as the core key to practicing the Dao.

However, this scroll only mentions the method of cunsi (focused visualization) for flying and ascending to the Five Directions and the Five Planets (Venus, Jupiter, Mercury, Mars, and Saturn). It does not cover the cunsi techniques for flying and ascending to the sun, moon, and the Nine Stars of the Big Dipper. Therefore, it is not a complete version of the original text.
Paul Peng — Zhengyi Taoist Priest, Longhu Mountain

About the Author

Paul Peng

Paul Peng is a Zhengyi Taoist priest from Longhu Mountain, Jiangxi — the ancestral home of the Celestial Masters' tradition. Ordained at 25 after a dream from the Celestial Master, he has practiced for 25 years under Master Zeng Guangliang. He is one of the curators of this store, which is officially authorized by Tianshi Fu. All items are consecrated at the temple by the resident priest team.

Read his full story →
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