Huang Ting Nei Wai Jing Jing (黃庭內外景經) · Volume 3

使我逮煉獲飛仙。

so that I may complete the refining in due time and attain flying immortality.

仙人道士非有神，積精累氣以為真，黃童妙音難可聞，玉書繹簡赤舟文。

Immortals and Daoists do not have some other special power; by accumulating essence and piling up qi they become perfected; the wondrous sound of the Yellow Child is hard to hear, the jade book and threaded slips, the writing of the Red Boat.

字曰真人巾金巾，負甲持符開七門，火兵符圖備靈關，前昂後卑高下陳，

His style is called the Perfected One, his headcloth a golden cloth; on his back he carries a spirit-armor and holds a talisman, opening the seven gates, with fire soldiers and talisman charts, guarding the spirit pass; the front is raised and the back is low, arranged from high to low,

執劍百丈舞錦幡，十絕盤空扇紛紜，火鈴冠霄墜落煙，安在黃闕兩眉間，

holding a sword of a hundred zhang and waving a brocade banner, ten extremes coiling in the sky, fans stirring in profusion; the fire bell crowns the Milky Way, smoke falling from it, and he settles in the Yellow Tower, between the two eyebrows,

此非枝葉實是根。

this is not the branches, but truly the root.

紫清上皇大道君，太玄太和俠侍端，化生萬物使我仙，飛昇十天駕玉輪，

The Great Dao Lord, Supreme Sovereign of Purple Clarity, with Great Mystery and Great Harmony attending at his side, transforms all things and makes me an immortal, to fly up to the Ten Heavens, driving a jade wheel,

晝夜七日思勿眠，子能行此可長存，積功成煉非自然，是由精誠亦由專，

for seven days and nights visualize and do not sleep; if you can practice this, you can live long; by accumulating merit you complete the refining, which does not happen naturally without effort, but comes from sincerity and also from single-mindedness,

內守堅固真之真，虛中恬淡自致神。

guard within with firmness, and that is the truest of the true; with calm and plainness within the void, you naturally call forth the spirits.

百穀之實土地精，五味外美邪魔腥，臭亂神明胎氣零，那從返老得還嬰，

The fruits of the hundred grains are the essence of the earth, and the five flavors are pleasing to the mouth on the outside but carry the stench of demons; the stench disturbs the spirit-light, and the embryonic qi withers; how could one thereby return from old age and revert to infancy,

三魂忽忽魄糜傾，何不食氣太和精，故能不死大黃寧。

the three spirit-souls are flustered and the bodily soul rots and collapses; why not eat qi and eat the essence of Supreme Harmony, so that you can avoid death and rest in the Great Yellow Peace.

心典一體五藏王，動靜念之道德行，清潔善氣自明光，坐起吾俱共棟梁，

The heart is the standard of the whole body and the king of the five solid organs; whether in movement or stillness, think on it, and the Dao and virtue will move (virtue: the attainment of the Dao as realized in people and things, not "moral character" in the sense of moral preaching); clean and good qi is naturally bright, and sitting or rising, I share with it the work of the beam and pillar,

晝日曜景暮閉藏，通利華精調陰陽。

by day the sun shines its scene, by evening it is closed and stored; it opens and benefits the flowery essence and harmonizes yin and yang.

經歷六合隱卯酉，兩腎之神主延壽，轉降適鬥藏初九，知雄守雌可無老，

It passes through the six directions and hides in mao and you; the spirit of the two kidneys governs the extension of life, turns and descends to the Dipper, and is stored in the first yang line; know the male and keep to the female, and you can avoid aging,

知白見黑急坐守。

know the white and see the black, and you must quickly sit and guard.

肝氣都勃清且長，羅列六府生三光，心精意專內不傾，上合三焦下玉漿，

The qi of the liver is lush and thick, clear and long; it lines up the six hollow organs and gives rise to the three lights; with refined heart and focused intent, within it does not tilt, above it joins the Triple Burner, and below it becomes jade liquor,

玄液雲行去奧香，治蕩發齒煉正方，取津玄府大明堂，下溉喉嚨神明通，

the dark fluid moves like clouds, removing foulness and stench and bringing fragrance, washing the hair and teeth and refining them to rightness; draw the fluid from the Dark Gate and the Great Bright Hall, and irrigate downward into the throat, so that spirit-light connects,

坐待華蓋遊貴京，飄搖三帝席清涼，五色雲氣紛青蔥，閉日內眄自相望，

sit and wait for the Flowery Canopy, and roam in the Noble Capital, drifting at the banquet of the Three Emperors, cool and refreshed, with the five-colored cloud qi in lush green profusion; close your eyes and look within, so that you and yourself gaze at each other,

使心諸神還相崇，七玄英華開命門，通利天道存玄根，百二十年猶可還，

making the various spirits in the heart come back and honor one another; the seven mysterious blossoms open the Gate of Life, and the way of heaven flows freely; preserve and guard the dark root, and at one hundred and twenty years you can still return,

過此守道誠獨難，唯待九轉入瓊丹，要復精思存七元，日月之華救老殘，

beyond this, keeping the Way is truly hard to do alone; wait only for the nine turnings and enter the Jade Cinnabar, and you must further think with refinement, visualizing the Seven Primes, so that the flower of the sun and moon rescues the aged and decrepit,

肝氣周流終無端。

the qi of the liver circulates all around and in the end has no limit.

肺之為氣三焦起，視聽幽冥候童子，調理五華精發齒，三十六咽玉池裡，

The qi formed by the lungs rises from the Triple Burner; one sees and hears the dim and dark, waits for the children, regulates the five flowers, and refines the hair and teeth; thirty-six times swallow the fluid in the Jade Pool,

開通百脈血液始，顏色生光金玉澤，齒堅發黑不知白，存此真神勿落落，

opening the hundred vessels, and the blood begins to flow, the complexion gives off light and has the moisture of gold and jade, the teeth are firm and the hair black, not knowing what white is; visualize this true spirit and do not let it scatter and drift apart,

當憶此官有座席，眾神合會轉相索。

you should remember that this office has a seat, where the spirits assemble, searching for one another in turn.

隱藏羽蓋看天舍，朝拜太陽樂相呼，明神八威正辟邪，脾神還歸是胃家，

Hiding the feathered canopy, looking toward the heavenly lodge, paying homage to the sun, delighting in calling to one another; the Eight Awes of the Bright Spirit are warding off evil; the spleen spirit returns, and this is the home of the stomach,

耽養靈根不復枯，閉塞命門保玉都，萬神方胙壽有餘，是謂脾建在中官，

concentrate on nourishing the spirit root so it no longer withers; seal the Gate of Life and preserve the Jade Capital; when the myriad spirits receive the sacrificial meat, life has surplus; this is called the spleen established in the central office,

五臟六腑神明王，上合天門大明堂，守雌存雄頂三光，外方內圓神在中，

the five solid and six hollow organs have the spirit-light as their king; above they join the Heavenly Gate and the Great Bright Hall, guarding the female while preserving the male, bearing the three lights on the head, square outside and round within, with the spirit in the middle,

通利血脈五臟豐，骨青筋赤髓如霜，脾救七竅去不祥，日月列布設陰陰，

opening and benefiting the blood vessels, the five organs full and abundant, the bones green and the sinews red, the marrow like frost; the spleen rescues and protects the seven apertures, removes the inauspicious, lays out the sun and moon, and arranges yin and yang,

兩神相會化玉漿，淡然無味天人糧，子丹進饌餚正黃，乃曰琅膏及玉霜，

the two spirits meet and become jade liquor, bland and tasteless, the food of heavenly people; Zi Dan offers up the meal, and the dishes are yellow, and so are called Lang Gao (jade-gem paste) and Jade Frost,

太上隱環太素瓊，溉益八液腎受精，伏於太陰見我形，揚風三玄出始青，

the Supreme One's hidden ring and the jade of Great Plainness irrigate and benefit the eight fluids; the kidneys receive the essence and lie hidden in the Great Yin, seeing my form and raising the wind; the Three Mysteries come forth at the start of green,

恍惚之間至清靈，坐於飈臺見赤生，逸域熙真養華榮，內盼沉默煉五形，

in a trance you arrive at Clear Numinosity, sit upon the Whirlwind Terrace, and see Chi Sheng; in the Yi Yu realm, Xi Zhen nourishes and protects the flowering glory; look within, and in silence refine the five forms,

三氣徘徊得神明，隱龍遁芝雲琅英，可以充飢使萬靈，上蓋玄玄下虎章。，

the three qi pace to and fro and you attain the spirit-light; hide the dragon and escape with the lingzhi, the lang-gem flowers in the clouds can relieve hunger and command the myriad spirits; above it covers the Mystery of Mysteries, below it has the tiger emblem.

沐浴盛潔棄肥燻，入室東向誦玉篇，約得萬遍義自鮮，散發無慾以長存，

Bathe and be thoroughly clean, put aside the greasy, rich, strong-smelling and rank foods, enter a room and face east, and recite the Jade Chapters, about ten thousand times, and the meaning will naturally become clear; let your hair hang loose and be without desire, so as to live long,

五未皆至正氣還，夷心寂悶匆煩冤，過數已華體神精，黃華玉女告子情，

the five flavors all arrive (the source text has a variant character for flavors, which should read flavors) and the right qi returns; settle the mind, be calm and silent, and do not be vexed or aggrieved (the source text has a variant character, which should read "do not"); when the number of recitations has been exceeded, it is already splendid, body and spirit are both pure, and the Yellow Flower Jade Maiden will tell you the true facts.

真人既至使六丁，即授隱芝大洞經，十讀四拜朝太上，先謁太帝后北向，

When the Perfected Ones have arrived, they command the Six Ding spirits and at once transmit the Hidden Fungus and the Great Cavern Scripture; read them ten times and bow four times, then have audience with the Supreme One, first paying respects to the Supreme Emperor, and then turn to the north,

黃庭內經玉書暢，授者曰師受者盟，雲錦風羅金鈕纏，以代割發肌膚金，

The Inner Scripture of the Yellow Court, a jade text that flows without obstruction. The one who transmits is called the master, and the one who receives swears an oath, with cloud brocade and wind gauze, wound round with golden knots, used in place of cutting the hair or piercing the skin to offer gold,

攜手登山敵液丹，金書王景乃可宣，傳得可授告三官，勿令七祖受冥患，

Go hand in hand up the mountain and take the cinnabar of liquid together; the golden writings and jade scenery may then be revealed. Transmit to the right person, who may transmit again; you must report to the Three Officials, so that the seven generations of ancestors do not suffer in the underworld,

太上微言致神仙，不死之道此真文。

The subtle words of the Supreme One can bring a person to immortality; the Way of deathlessness is this very true text.

外景經

The Outer Scenery Scripture.

老君閒居作七言，解說身形及諸神，上有黃庭下關元，後有幽闕前命門，

Laozi, at leisure, composed this in seven-character lines, explaining the body and its spirits. Above is the Yellow Court, below is Guanyuan, behind is Youque, in front is Mingmen,

呼吸廬間入丹田，玉池清水灌靈根，審能修之可長存，黃庭中人衣朱衣，

Breath enters the Dantian through the hut, and the clear water of the Jade Pool irrigates the Spirit Root. If one can truly practice this, one may live long. The person in the Yellow Court wears a vermilion robe,

關元茂龠闔兩靡，幽闕俠之高巍巍，丹田之中精氣微，玉池清水上生肥，

At Guanyuan the lush gate closes its two leaves (the base text's "mi" should read "fei"), flanked by Youque, high and lofty. In the Dantian essence and qi are fine and subtle, and the clear water of the Jade Pool rises to produce richness,

靈根堅固老不衰，中池有士服赤衣，橫下三寸神所居，中外相距重閉之，

The Spirit Root is firm, and one grows old without declining. In the Middle Pool there is a scholar in a red robe, three inches below the crossbar, where the spirit dwells. Inside and outside are separated, closed off layer upon layer,

神廬之中當修治，玄府氣管受精府，急固子精以自持，宅中有士常衣繹，

Within the Spirit Hut one should cultivate; the windpipe of the Dark Mansion receives the mansion of essence, so hurry to guard your essence and hold it yourself. In the dwelling there is a scholar who often wears a crimson robe,

子能見之可不病，橫立長尺約其上，子能守之或無惹，呼吸廬間以自償，

If you can see him, you will be free of illness; across above it, about a foot long, stands a figure, and if you can keep hold of him, you may be free of misfortune (the base text's "re" should probably read "yang"). Breathing within the hut, you make up for yourself,

子保完堅身受慶，方寸之中謹蓋藏，精神還歸老復壯，心結幽厥流下競，

You keep yourself whole, firm and solid, and the body receives blessing. Within the square inch, guard and store carefully; when essence and spirit return, the old become strong again. The heart is bound to Youque and flows down in a rush (the base text's "jue" should read "que"),

養子玉樹令可壯，至道不煩無旁午，靈臺通天臨中野，方寸之中間關下，

Nurture your jade tree so that it may grow robust. The Supreme Way is not fussy and has no crisscrossing tangles. The Spirit Terrace reaches up to Heaven and looks down upon the central plain; within the square inch, beneath the Gate-Pass,

玉房之中神門戶，既是公子教我者，明堂四達法海源，真人子丹當吾前，

Within the Jade Chamber is the gateway of the spirit; this is just what the Young Lord taught me. The Bright Hall opens in all four directions, modeled on the source of the sea, and the Perfected Person Zidan stands before me,

三關之中精氣深，子欲不死修崑崙，繹官重樓十二環，瓊室之中五色集，

Within the Three Passes essence and qi lie deep; if you wish not to die, cultivate Kunlun. The Crimson Palace has stacked stories, twelve rings (the base text's "yi" should read "jiang"), and within the Jade Chamber the five colors gather,

赤神之子中池立，下有長城玄谷邑，長生要慎房中急，棄捐淫慾專子精，

The child of the Red Spirit stands in the Middle Pool, and below are the Great Wall and the town of the Dark Valley. For long life, what is urgent is to be careful in matters of the bedchamber; cast off lust and desire, and concentrate on guarding your essence,

寸田尺宅可治生，系子長留心安寧，推志遊神三奇靈，行間無事心太平，

The inch-wide field and foot-wide house can be used to govern life; keep yourself bound and lasting there, and the heart is at peace. Extend your aspiration and let the spirit roam among the numinous powers of the Three Wonders; with no incidents in your conduct, the heart is at peace,