The Three Primes' Graded Absolution 太上太玄女青三元品诫拔罪妙经

The author is unknown; the scripture was probably compiled in the late Northern and Southern Dynasties or the transitional period of the Sui and Tang dynasties.

It consists of two scrolls, and is incorporated into the Scripture Text Section under The Dongzhen Section of The Daozang.

This scripture is pseudonymously attributed to the Divine Immortal Heavenly Maiden Xuanqing, who expounds the imperial edicts of the Primordial Heavenly Venerable. Some passages of this text are identical to The Supreme Cavern Mystery Numinous Treasure Scripture of the Three Primes, the Precepts of Merit and Virtue, and the Weights of Good Deeds. The scripture is divided into three chapters dedicated to the Heavenly Official of the Upper Prime, the Earthly Official of the Middle Prime and the Water Official of the Lower Prime respectively, enumerating the names of the three Prime palaces, their divine lords and immortal officials.

It proclaims that the Heavenly, Earthly and Water Officials, together with the merit registrars and immortal officials under their ministries, examine the merits and transgressions of all mortal beings on the Three Primes Festivals each year (the 15th day of the first lunar month, the 15th day of the seventh lunar month, and the 15th day of the tenth lunar month), to determine mortal life and death, sin and blessing. Mortals who recite this scripture on the Three Primes Festivals shall eliminate calamities and expiate sins by themselves, and attain blessings and long life, embodying the core thought of karmic retribution and mutual correspondence between heaven and mortals in The Dao.