The Supreme Three Heavens Orthodox Law Scripture 太上三天正法经

The Supreme Three Heavens Orthodox Law Scripture (Taishang Santian Zhengfa Jing), originally titled The Scripture of Dispelling the Six Heavens’ Texts and the Three Heavens’ Orthodox Law (Chuluo Liutian Zhi Wen Santian Zhengfa Jing), is one of the early classic texts of the Shangqing School (Supreme Clarity School), probably composed around the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317–420 CE).

In Volume Five of The True Declarations (Zhengao), it is stated: “The Dao encompasses the texts for dispelling the Six Heavens and the Orthodox Law of the Three Heavens”; The Catalogue of the Shangqing Great Cavern True Scripture (Shangqing Dadong Zhenjing Mu) records “One scroll of the Shangqing Scripture on Dispelling the Six Heavens’ Texts and the Three Heavens’ Orthodox Law”—both references refer to this very text.

The original work consisted of one scroll, but in the present Daozang (Taoist Canon), it is divided into two separate Taoist texts:

According to quotations in The Essential Secrets of the Supreme (Wushang Miyao), these two texts were originally part of a single work.

This constitutes the first half of the original text. Falsely attributed to be “revealed by the Supreme Great Dao Lord” (Taishang Dadao Jun) and “compiled by the Heavenly King of Xiao You” (Xiaoyou Tianwang), it mainly expounds on the origin of the “Three Heavens Orthodox Law” and the rituals and ceremonies for receiving its alliance (mengshou).

The text claims that the primordial void (taixu) and chaos first divided into nine qi (vital energies), which condensed to form the Nine Heavens. The Primordial Heavenly King (Yuanshi Tianwang) and the Nine True Heavenly Kings (Jiuzhen Tianwang)—along with other supreme sages of the heavens—were born from these nine qi. Initially, the Three Heavens (Qingwei Tian, Yuyu Tian, and Dachitian) were transformed and generated from the Three Primordial Qi (Xuanyuan Qi, Yuanshi Qi, and Shiyuan Qi), and three levels of true beings (Upper, Middle, and Lower Zhen) governed these Three Heavens respectively.

By the time of the Yellow Emperor (Huangdi), humanity multiplied, and the “rule of the Six Heavens” began to prevail. Later, due to the waxing and waning of the Three Dao, and the turbulence of the Six Heavens’ qi, the Nine True Heavenly Kings bestowed upon the Supreme Great Dao Lord the “True Talismans of All Scriptures” — the Three Heavens Orthodox Law — to subdue the evil qi of the Six Heavens, eliminate wickedness, and save the virtuous.

The scripture details the Supreme Great Dao Lord’s transmission of the “Three Heavens Orthodox Law and the Texts for Dispelling the Six Heavens,” as well as the key essentials for using true texts and ritual talismans, the ceremonies of alliance and reception, and ritual tokens. This section concludes its narrative here and does not include the true texts or talismanic symbols themselves.

This forms the second half of the original text, also falsely attributed to be “compiled by the Heavenly King of Xiao You.” It contains five types of true texts and talismanic symbols: The Supreme All True Talismans (Taishang Zhongzhen Lu), The General Binding All True Talismans (Zongdai Zhongzhen Lu), The Three Heavens Nine Subtleties Profound Capital Great True Yin-Yang Spiritual Talismans (Santian Jiuwei Xuandu Tazhen Yinyang Linglu), The Profound Wei Spiritual Capital Circling True Person’s Three Directions Texts (Taiwei Lingdu Wanzuan Zhenren Sanfang Wen), and The Nine Subtleties Eight Dao Talismans (Jiuwei Badao Fu). Collectively, these are named “the Shangqing Texts for Dispelling the Six Heavens and the Three Heavens Orthodox Law.”

Taoist practitioners, by following the rituals to receive the alliance of these texts and talismans and using them in accordance with the method, can capture all ghosts, subdue all evil forces, and ascend to the Shangqing (Supreme Clarity) realm.