The Taishang Mingjian Zhenjing 太上明鉴真经

The author of The Supreme Scripture of the Bright Mirror is unknown. It seems to have been compiled during the Southern and Northern Dynasties, or the Sui and Tang dynasties.

It is a one-volume work and included in the "Zhengyi Section" of the Taoist Canon (Daozang).

The scripture falsely claims to record teachings told by Laozi, and its content can be divided into three parts.

First, it discusses the Dao of bright mirrors, also known as "the Dao of the Four Rules". The method involves hanging four bright mirrors in front, behind, left, and right, respectively illuminating the four directions of east, west, south, and north. Through this, one can see divine beings such as the Queen Mother of the West and the Heavenly Emperor Lord. When asking them about the essential way to attain longevity, the gods will tell it. It also states that the Dao of bright mirrors enables shape-shifting, instantly reaching places a thousand li away, treading on clouds and walking on water, and entering and exiting without obstacles. It can make heavenly gods, earthly spirits, evil ghosts, and old goblins all reveal their forms, allowing one to foresee the future. This method is presumably derived from The Scripture of the Four Rules and The Scripture of the Bright Mirror, which are recorded in the "Xialan Chapter" of Baopuzi.

Second, it describes the method of preparing divine medicines. It claims that abstaining from grains (bigu) can lead to immortality and eternal youth. There is a divine medicine in heaven called "Jiuheng", which grows in moist places. By harvesting and processing it according to the method, mixing it with honey to make pills, and taking them, one can avoid hunger, become an immortal, and eliminate the "Three Corpses" (a Taoist concept referring to evil spirits that reside in the human body and cause illness and death).

Finally, it talks about the method of meditating on the Three Gods. It states that for humans, no sin is greater than lust, no disaster is greater than greed, and no fault is greater than desire. If one can purify their mind through fasting and meditate on Lord Lingzhu, Lord Lingming, and Lord Linghuang, they can eliminate disasters and prolong their lifespan.