The Taizhen Yudi Siji Mingke Jing 太真玉帝四极明科经
Paul PengShare
Taizhen Yudi Siji Mingke Jing (The Scripture of the Four Poles' Bright Precepts of the Supreme True Jade Emperor), abbreviated as Siji Mingke (The Bright Precepts of the Four Poles).
An early classic of the Shangqing School, compiled approximately during the Eastern Jin and Southern Dynasties (317–589 CE).
It was already cited in Lu Xiujing’s Taishang Dongxuan Lingbao Shoudu Yi (The Ritual of Bestowing and Transmitting the Numinous Treasure of the Cave Mysterious of the Supreme Oneness). Consisting of five scrolls, it is included in the Precepts Category of the Dongzhen Section of the Daozang (Taoist Canon).
Falsely attributed to the Supreme Dao Lord (Taishang Daojun) revealing it to the Supreme True Jade Emperor (Taizhen Yudi), the text details the rituals and precepts for receiving, transmitting, reciting, upholding, and wearing the scriptures, formulas, and talismans of the Taoist Shangqing School.
The entire work is divided into five parts:
- Taixuan Shanggong Nüqing Lüwen (The Green Script Precepts of the Upper Palace of the Great Mystery);
- Taixuan Xiagong Nüqing Lüwen (The Green Script Precepts of the Lower Palace of the Great Mystery);
- Taixuan Du Zuogong Nüqing Lüwen (The Green Script Precepts of the Left Palace of the Great Mystery Capital);
- Taixuan Yougong Nüqing Lüwen (The Green Script Precepts of the Right Palace of the Great Mystery Capital);
- Taixuan Du Zhonggong Nüqing Lüwen (The Green Script Precepts of the Central Palace of the Great Mystery Capital).
Each part contains more than twenty precepts, totaling 120 precepts.
Before the precepts in each part, the text respectively lists the personal names, costumes, attendants, and official duties of the Jade Ruler of the Green Emperor (Qingdi Yusi Jun), the Jade Ruler of the White Emperor (Baidi Yusi Jun), the Jade Ruler of the Red Emperor (Chidi Yusi Jun), the Jade Ruler of the Black Emperor (Heidi Yusi Jun), and the Jade Ruler of the Yellow Emperor (Huangdi Yusi Jun), followed by the specific precepts.
The precepts in the first four parts mainly enumerate the names, origins, contents, and functions of the transmitted scriptures, formulas, and talismans, as well as the punishments that Taoists should receive for violating the precepts—such as arbitrarily transmitting or leaking the classics and talismans.
The fifth part outlines the rituals for receiving, upholding, reciting the scriptures, and wearing the talismans.
The text records more than 100 names of classics and talismans, focusing on early Shangqing scriptures, with additional references to Lingbao, Three Sovereigns (Sanhuan) and other Taoist scriptures.
It is an important source for the study of Taoist classics in the Six Dynasties (220–589 CE).
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 →
