The Taishang Dongxuan Lingbao Chishu Yujue Miaojing 太上洞玄灵宝赤书玉诀妙经
Paul PengShare
Taishang Dongxuan Lingbao Chishu Yujue Miaojing (The Wonderful Scripture of the Jade Commentaries on the Red Book of the Numinous Treasure of the Cave Mysterious of the Supreme Oneness)
One of the ancient Taoist Lingbao Scriptures, compiled approximately between the late Eastern Jin Dynasty and the early Southern Dynasties.
It was already recorded in Lu Xiujing’s Catalogue of Lingbao Scriptures.
The original text consisted of one scroll, later divided into two scrolls, and included in the Original Text Category of the Dongxuan Section of the Daozang (Taoist Canon).
Additionally, there is one fragmentary Dunhuang manuscript (catalogue number DX556) surviving. The main content of this text is an interpretation of the "Genuine Text of the Red Book of the Five Ancient Elders of the Primordial Beginning" (i.e., Yuanshi Wulao Chishu Yupian Zhenwen Tianshu Jing, preserved in the Original Text Category of the Dongzhen (Genuine Grotto) Section of the Daozang).
Since the "Genuine Text of the Red Book" recorded in that scripture was mostly written in talismanic script, which was unintelligible to ordinary people, this text transliterates the talismanic characters into Chinese characters and explains the essential principles for practicing its teachings.
The term "Jade Commentaries" (Yujue) refers to the profound explanations and secret formulas annotating the celestial jade-character genuine text. The scripture states that transmitting and practicing the five genuine texts, the Ten Precepts of the Numinous Treasure, and the Twelve Wonderful Formulas—while expounding the profound meanings of the Dao—can universally deliver all beings.
It records various Taoist magical arts, such as contemplating deities and cultivating qi, wearing talismans and reciting mantras, the method of ingesting the Five Vitals (Wuya Fa), the method of spiritual ascension via corpse liberation with a divine staff (Shijie Shenzhang Fa), and the method of submitting memorials to eliminate sins (Toujian Songming Chuzui Fa), among others.
Practicing these great Numinous Treasure rituals enables communication with divine spirits, summoning the descent of deities, dispelling disasters and subduing demons, erasing sin records, ascending to immortality directly, or achieving immortality through corpse liberation.
This text was quoted over a hundred times in Wushang Miyao (The Supreme Secret Essentials) and Taoist texts of the Tang and Song Dynasties, demonstrating its significant influence.
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.
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