Concealed Instructions for Ascent to Perfection
登真隐诀
Alongside transmitted instructions, this work preserves an editor’s questions: is a formula reliable, and does it agree with its cited scripture? Its annotations reveal Tao Hongjing as a critical reader.
Guide · two short extractsHow to approach this work
Historical catalogues record differing lengths; the Zhengtong Daozang preserves three juan. These should not be presented as the complete original work. The discussion of the Yellow Court scripture in the third juan invites comparison with that scripture.
Chinese primary texts and reading guides are presented separately.
Why annotate?
卷上选段：为何加注
The introductory note explains an editorial purpose: difficult, fragmented passages call for commentary to clarify them.
〈傳中有守一，曲碎洞穿，經中有飛步經，略斷絕。皆學者之所難，故各加詳注，以驅疑蔽也。〉
Testing a transmitted text
卷下选段：考辨传本
Tao challenges a transmitted passage and invites comparison with an authentic copy. Read beside the identification of handwriting in Zhen’gao to see criticism operating within the tradition.
聊各書錄，以旌真偽。併而論之，前篇禮祝，猶為小勝，此存神之文，牽引冗雜庸陋已甚，疑誤後學，其弊不淺。若以吾所據為非，想諸君可覓真本見示，若必其有者，則吾緘口結舌，終身不復敢言學道也。
Edition & sources
Two extracts focus on annotation and textual criticism, one from the first juan and one from the third. Links provide the received three-juan text and a bibliographic account.
Guides are written for this site. Read divine beings, bodily imagery and longevity in their religious setting.