The Ziwen Xingshi Jue 紫文行事诀
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The Secret of Practicing the Purple Text (Ziwen Xingshi Jue), an early classic of the Shangqing School, was probably compiled during the Southern and Northern Dynasties or around the transition between the Sui and Tang dynasties.
The number of scrolls in the original version is unknown. Currently, only three fragmentary Dunhuang manuscripts (S4314 + S6193 + P2751) survive. The beginning of these manuscripts is incomplete, while the end remains intact, with the title inscribed as "The Secret of Practicing the Purple Text" (Ziwen Xingshi Jue).
Judging from the fragments, the original text should have consisted of seven sections; the surviving parts only include the sixth and seventh sections of the original work.
The sixth section (its original title is missing) should be The Secret of Practicing the Purple Text (Ziwen Xingshi Jue). Its content is an excerpt from The Supreme Scripture of the Spiritual Book with Purple Text by the Shangqing Jade Tower Emperor Lord (Shangqing Jinque Dijun Lingshu Ziwen Shangjing), which is included in the "Original Text Category" (Benwen Lei) of the "Divine Grotto Section" (Dongshen Bu) of the Daozang (Taoist Canon). It presents 12 essential cultivation techniques, such as contemplating deities and swallowing talismans, as well as restraining the soul (hun) and controlling the terrestrial soul (po).
The seventh section is titled The Secret of Practicing the Nine Trues and Eight Dao (Jiuzhen Badao Xingshi Jue). Its content is an excerpt from the first scroll of The Middle Scripture of the Nine Trues by the Supreme Heavenly Lord of Shangqing (Shangqing Taishang Dijun Jiuzhen Zhongjing), which is included in the "Orthodox Oneness Section" (Zhengyi Bu) of the Daozang. It outlines 21 secret techniques—11 techniques of the Nine Trues and 10 techniques of the Eight Dao—including contemplating the Nine Trues and Five Deities within the human body, as well as contemplating, worshipping, and paying respect to divine beings such as the Three Yuans and Eight Emperors.
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.
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