Originally attributed to "Dongfang Shuo", it actually dates back to the period between the late
Han Dynasty and the Wei-Jin dynasties.
In
Baopuzi·Chapter of Distant Views by Ge Hong, it is already stated: "If a family possesses
The True Form Diagrams of the Five Great Mountains, it can ward off military disasters and rebellions; those who attempt to harm the family will instead bring misfortune upon themselves."
There were numerous versions of this text circulating in later generations. The present version in the
Taoist Canon consists of one scroll and is included in the category of "Numinous Diagrams" in the
Cave Mysterium Division.
Additionally, a version is preserved in Volume 79 of The Seven Bamboo Tablets of the Cloudy Satchel.
The text is divided into three parts.
It provides an overview of the true forms and spiritual sites of the Five Great Mountains and Four Sacred Hills (namely
Mount Tai,
Mount Heng (southern),
Mount Song,
Mount Hua, Mount Heng (northern),
Mount Qingcheng, Mount Lu, Mount Huo, and Mount Qian). It claims that the "true form diagrams" of these mountains and hills were drawn based on the winding and irregular shapes of mountains and rivers, originating from the era of Shennong and the
Yellow Emperor. Mortals who possess these diagrams will not get lost in mountains and can ward off military disasters and poisons. It also states that each of the Five Great Mountains and Four Sacred Hills is inhabited by divine spirits, and enumerates the mountain lord of each mountain as well as the number of immortals and jade maidens under their command.
It first contains one "True Form Script of the Five Great Mountains" and six "Longevity Talismans of the Three Heavens Supreme Lord of the Great
Dao". Next, it lists nine true form diagrams of the Five Great Mountains and Four Sacred Hills, with one talisman preceding each diagram. After each talisman and diagram, there are texts briefly describing the methods of writing and wearing the talismans and diagrams.
The
talismans, diagrams, and texts in this part are roughly the same as those in the ancient version, but the strokes of the talismanic scripts are finer, and there are small annotations inside and outside each true form diagram. It is suspected that this part is a separate edition of
The True Form Diagrams of the Five Great Mountains handed down from the Song Dynasty.
