Xuanwei Miao Jing: Three-Ones & Five-Dipper Paths to Immortality

The Profound and Subtle Scripture Preached by the Primordial Heavenly Lord (Yuanshi Tianzun Shuo Xuanwei Miao Jing), author unknown. It was probably compiled between the Tang and Song dynasties.

Both the Secret Catalog (Mi Mu) of the Southern Song Dynasty and the Tongzhi · Yiwen Lue, Comprehensive Records of Arts and Literature record the title "Lingbao Profound and Subtle Scripture, one scroll" (Lingbao Xuanwei Miao Jing Yi Juan), which is believed to refer to this very text.

The existing version is included in the Benwen Lei (Original Text Category) of the Dongzhen Bu (True Grotto Section) of the Daozang (Taoist Canon).

This scripture falsely claims to be a transmission from the Jade Tower Posterior Sage Emperor Lord (Jinque Housheng Dijun) of Shangqing, and focuses on the method of contemplating the bright essence in the Big Dipper and swallowing the purple qi (vital energy).

Its core practice methods are divided into two types.

The method from The Scripture of the True Unity of the Three Yuans (Sanyuan Zhenyi Jing): On the Spring Equinox, Autumn Equinox, Winter Solstice, and either the 1st or 15th day of the sixth lunar month, at midnight, face east, south, west, north, and southwest respectively. Close your eyes and contemplate the Sanyi (Three Unities) and Sanqing (Three Ministers) deities within your body ascending with you to the five stars of the Big Dipper—Yangming (Bright Yang), Danyuan (Cinnabar Origin), Yinjing (Dark Essence), Beiji (North Pole), and Tianguan (Heavenly Gate). Swallow the purple qi or the qi of four colors; after a long period of practice, a deity will bestow upon you the true light and the crimson-written precious text.
The method from The Scripture of the True Unity of the Five Dippers (Wudou Zhenyi Jing): According to specified dates and times, contemplate the Sanyi deities within your body traveling out into the void and flying to the Big Dipper. Then, ascend to the North Pole Star on the purple qi yourself, while swallowing saliva, exhaling qi, and reciting incantations. With long-term practice, one can become an immortal.

The above two methods originate from the early Shangqing School.

Volume 49 of Yunji Qiqian (Seven Lots of the Cloud Satchel) records The Oral Instructions of the Jade Tower Emperor Lord on the Scripture of the True Unity of the Five Dippers and Three Yuans (Jinque Dijun Wudou Sanyuan Zhenyi Jing Koujue) and The Oral Instructions on Upholding the Scripture of the True Unity of the Five Dippers (Shou Wudou Zhenyi Jing Koujue), whose content is roughly the same as that of this text.