Zhang Guo's Commentary on the Yin Fu Jing 黄帝阴符经注 唐张果注

Annotated by Zhang Guo of the The Tang Dynasty.

Xin Tang Shu·Yi Wen Zhi (New Book of Tang·Treatise on Literature and Arts) already cataloged Zhang Guo’s Yinfu Jing Taiwu Zhuan (Supreme Emptiness Commentary on the Yinfu Jing) as a one-volume text.

Tongzhi·Yiwen Lue (Comprehensive Records of Literature and Arts) also recorded Yinfu Jing Taiwu Zhuan, with a note stating: "Obtained by Zhang Guo of the Tang Dynasty from The Daozang; the author is unknown."

Zhang Guo's Commentary on the Yin Fu Jing

The preface of this book, written by the author himself, reads: "By chance, I found Commentary on the Yinfu Jing in the Taoist scripture collection. I know not which era its compiler belonged to. Its diction and principles are profound and ethereal, in perfect harmony with nature. Therefore, I compiled it and appended my own annotations." This statement aligns with that in Tongzhi—apparently, this book was compiled by Zhang Guo, who took the anonymous Commentary on the Yinfu Jing from the Tang Dynasty Daozang, rearranged it, and added his own annotations.

The text frequently quotes and refutes the theories of Tai Gong, Zhuge Liang, and Li Quan, indicating it was composed after the Collected Annotations on the Yinfu Jing by Seven Masters.

The surviving one-volume version is included in the Yujue (Jade Secrets) category of The Dongzhen Section in the Daozang. The scripture text is based on the over-400-character version without chapter divisions.

The annotations state that the Yinfu Jing is "the mechanism through which sages embody heaven and utilize the Dao." If sages cultivate profound subtlety in their minds, they can perceive the inherent nature of nature; if they grasp opportunities and adapt to changes, they can align with the principles of nature. "Perceiving through the mind and aligning through opportunities—thus the meaning of the Yinfu Jing is fully revealed."

Zhang Guo’s interpretations effectively illuminate the original intent of the scripture, and his writing is concise and fluent. Since the Tang and Song dynasties, this book has been widely circulated. It is included in works such as Yunji Qiqian (Seven Slips of the Cloud Satchel), Daozang Jiyao (Essential Compilation of the Daozang), and Daozang Jinghua Lu (Essential Extracts of the Daozang). Tiyao to the Daozang Jinghua Lu (Preface to the Essential Extracts of the Daozang) praises it as "a rare and excellent version not easily seen before the Tang Dynasty."