Inner Scripture of the Yellow Court
黄庭内景玉经
Seven-character verse imagines the body as an inner world of chambers and divine presences. It gives the Shangqing tradition a vocabulary and a landscape beyond the names in a lineage.
Complete Chinese text · 36 chaptersHow to approach this work
The Yellow Court tradition includes distinct inner and outer scriptures. This page contains only the thirty-six chapters of the Inner Scripture. The connection with Wei Huacun is traditional transmission, not a verified claim that she wrote it.
Chinese primary texts and reading guides are presented separately.
The Highest Clarity
上清章第一
The opening locates the scripture in a sacred Shangqing setting and names its seven-character inner verses.
上清紫霞虛皇前,太上大道玉晨君,閑居蘂珠作七言,散化五形變萬神,是為《黃庭》作內篇。琴心三疊舞胎僊,九氣映明出霄間,神蓋童子生紫煙,是曰玉書可精研。詠之萬遍昇三天,千災以消百病痊,不憚虎狼之兇殘,亦以卻老年永延。
Above and below
上有章第二
Above, below, left, right, sun and moon begin an inner geography.
上有魂靈下關元,左為少陽右太陰,後有密戶前生門,出日入月呼吸存。元炁所合列宿分,紫煙上下三素雲。灌溉五華植靈根,七液洞流衝盧間,迴紫抱黃入丹田,幽室內明照陽門。
The mouth as Jade Pool
口為章第三
The Jade Pool turns a bodily feature into a sacred place, a recurring mode of imagery.
口為玉池太和宮,漱咽靈液災不干,體生光華氣香蘭,卻滅百邪玉煉顏。審能修之登廣寒,晝夜不寐乃成真,雷鳴電激神泯泯。
The Yellow Court
黃庭章第四
Robes, colours, gates and the three fields shape the imagery of the inner person.
雷鳴電激神泯泯,黃庭內人服錦衣,紫華飛裙雲氣羅,丹青綠條翠靈柯,七蕤玉籥閉兩扉,重掩金關密樞機。玄泉幽闕高崔巍,三田之中精氣微,嬌女窈窕翳霄暉,重堂煥煥揚八威,天庭地關列斧斤,靈台盤固永不衰。
The central pool
中池章第五
This short chapter concentrates on a divinity’s clothing and dwelling.
中池內神服赤珠,丹錦雲袍帶虎符,橫津三寸靈所居,隱芝翳鬱自相扶。
The central heaven
天中章第六
Mountains and sacred dwellings are interwoven with features of the body.
天中之嶽精謹修,靈宅既清玉帝遊,通利道路無終休。眉號華蓋覆明珠,九幽日月洞虛元,宅中有真常衣丹,審能見之無疾患。赤珠靈裙華蒨粲,舌下玄膺生死岸。出青入玄二炁煥,子若遇之昇天漢。
The highest Dao
至道章第七
Names and courtesy names identify bodily divinities; Niwan is a key location in this religious body.
至道不煩訣存真,泥丸百節皆有神,髮神蒼華字太元,腦神精根字泥丸,眼神明上字英玄,鼻神玉壟字靈堅,耳神空閑字幽田,舌神通命字正倫,齒神崿鋒字羅千。一面之神宗泥丸,泥丸九真皆有房,方圓一寸處此中,同服紫衣飛羅裳。但思一部壽無窮,非各別住居腦中,列位次坐向外方,所存在心自相當。
Divinities of the organs
心神章第八
Named divinities of the organs form an index to the chapters that follow.
心神丹元字守靈,肺神皓華字虛成,肝神龍煙字含明,翳鬱導煙主濁清,腎神玄冥字育嬰,脾神常在字魂停,膽神龍曜字威明。六腑五臟神體精,皆在心內運天經,晝夜存之自長生。
The lung region
肺部章第九
A canopy, jade gate and pale brocade give the lung palace its imagery.
肺部之宮似華蓋,下有童子坐玉闕,七元之子主調氣,外應中嶽鼻齊位。素錦衣裳黃雲帶,喘息呼吸體不快,急存白元和六氣,神僊久視無災害,用之不已形不滯。
The heart region
心部章第十
Lotus imagery, red brocade and golden bells distinguish the heart palace.
心部之宮蓮含華,下有童子丹元家,主適寒熱榮衛和,丹錦飛裳披玉羅,金鈴朱帶坐婆娑。調血理命身不枯,外應口舌吐玉華,臨絕呼之亦登蘇,久久行之飛太霞。
The liver region
肝部章第十一
A green-clad youth, jade bells, sun and moon describe the liver region.
肝部之宮翠重裏,下有青童神公子,主諸關鏡聰明始,青錦披裳佩玉鈴,和制魂魄津液平,外應眼目日月精。百疴所鐘存無英,同用七日自充盈,垂絕念神死復生,攝魂還魄永無傾。
The kidney region
腎部章第十二
A dark gate, cloud robes and dragon banners describe a deep inner chamber.
腎部之宮玄關圓,中有童子冥上玄,主諸六腑九液源,外應兩耳百液津,蒼錦雲衣舞龍幡。上致明霞日月煙,百病千災急當存,兩部水王對生門,使人長生昇九天。
The spleen region
脾部章第十三
A great granary, golden terrace and yellow robes connect grain with the central chamber.
脾部之宮屬戊己,中有明童黃裳裏,消榖散氣攝牙齒,是為太倉兩明童,坐在金臺城九重,方圓一寸命門中。主調百穀五味香,辟卻虛羸無病傷,外應尺宅氣色芳,光華所生以表明,黃錦玉衣帶虎章,注念三老子輕翔,長生高僊遠死殃。
The gallbladder region
膽部章第十四
Standards, fiery bells and a commanding divinity evoke a ceremonial procession.
膽部之宮六腑精,中有童子曜威明,雷電八振揚玉旌,龍旗橫天擲火鈴。主諸氣力攝虎兵,外應眼童鼻柱間,腦髮相扶亦俱鮮,九色錦衣綠華裙,佩金帶玉龍虎文,能存威明乘慶雲,役使萬神朝三元。
The long spleen
脾長章第十五
This longer chapter brings together the Three Elders, the Hall of Light and visualization.
脾長一尺掩太倉,中部老君治明堂,厥字靈元名混康,治人百病消榖糧,黃衣紫帶龍虎章,長精益命賴君王。三呼我名神自通,三老同坐各有朋,或精或胎別執方,桃孩合延生華芒。男女徊九有桃康,道父道母對相望,師父師母丹玄鄉,可用存思登虛空,殊途一會歸要終。閉塞三關握固停,含漱金醴吞玉英,遂至不飢三蟲亡,心意常和致欣昌。五嶽之雲氣彭亨,保灌玉盧以自償,五形完堅無災殃。
Looking upward
上睹章第十六
The Three Origins, linked pearls and an inward-guarded soul connect celestial and bodily imagery.
上睹三元如連珠,落落明景照九隅,五靈夜燭煥八區。子存內皇與我遊,身披鳳衣銜虎符,一至不久昇虛無。方寸之中念深藏,不方不圓閉牖窗,三神還精老方壯,魂魄內守不爭競。神生腹中銜玉璫,靈注幽闕那得喪,琳條萬尋可蔭仗,三魂自寧帝書命。
The spiritual terrace
靈臺章第十七
A question about location connects the spiritual terrace, sun and moon with the brow.
靈臺鬱藹望黃野,三寸異室有上下,間關營衛高玄受,洞房紫極靈門戶。是昔太上告我者,左神公子發神語,右有白元併立處,明堂金匱玉房間,上清真人當吾前。黃裳子丹氣頻煩,借問何在兩眉端?內俠日月列宿陳,七曜九元冠生門。
The three gates
三關章第十八
Mouth, feet and hands become gates of heaven, earth and humanity.
三關之中精氣深,九微之內幽且陰,口為天關精神機,足為地關生命扉,手為人關把盛衰。
The three palaces
若得章第十九
Layered halls and perfected beings turn the body into a sacred space to traverse.
若得三宮存玄丹,太一流珠安崑崙,重中樓閣十二環,自高自下皆真人。玉堂絳宇盡玄宮,璇璣玉衡色蘭玕,瞻望童子坐盤桓,問誰家子在我身?此人何去入泥丸,千千百百自相連,一一十十似重山。雲儀玉華俠耳門,赤帝黃老與我魂,三真扶骨共房津,五斗煥明是七元,日月飛行六合間,帝鄉天中地戶端,面部魂神皆相存。
Breath
呼吸章第二十
Breathing is placed within a religious account of qi, divinities and longevity.
呼吸元氣以求僊,僊公公子似在前,朱鳥吐縮白石源,結精育胞化生身,留胎止精可長生。三氣右徊九道明,正一含華乃充盈,遙望一心如羅星,金室之下可不傾,延我白首反孩嬰。
The jasper chamber
瓊室章第二十一
Chambers and bodily fluids are interwoven in the source language, retained here as text rather than instructions.
瓊室之中八素集,泥丸夫人當中立,長谷玄鄉繞郊邑,六龍散飛難分別。長生至慎房中急,何為死作令神泣?忽之禍鄉三靈歿。但當吸氣錄子精,寸田尺宅可治生,若當決海百瀆傾,葉去樹枯失青青,氣亡液漏非己形。專閉御景乃長寧,保我泥丸三奇靈,恬淡閑視內自明,物物不干泰而平,愨矣匪事老復丁,思詠玉書入上清。
Constant remembrance
常念章第二十二
Remembrance and visualization emphasize sustained inner attention.
常念三房相通達,洞視得見無內外,存漱五芽不飢渴,神華執巾六丁謁。急守精室勿妄泄,閉而寶之可長活。起自形中初不闊,三官近在易隱括。虛無寂寂空中素,使形如是不當污。九室正虛神明舍,存思百念視節度,六腑修治勿令故,行自翱翔入雲路。
Cultivating life
治生章第二十三
The perfected being is sought within, giving a pointed direction to the chapter’s search.
治生之道了不煩,但修洞玄與玉篇,兼行形中八景神,二十四真出自然,高拱無為魂魄安,清淨神見與我言,安在紫房幃幕間,立坐室外三五玄。燒香接手玉華前,共入太室璇璣門,高研恬淡道之園,內視密盼盡見真,真人在己莫問鄰,何處遠索求因緣。
Concealing the radiance
隱景章第二十四
Mountains, retreat, feathered robes and dawn clouds join cultivation to withdrawal.
隱景藏形與世殊,含氣養精口如朱,帶執性命守虛無,名入上清死録除,三神之樂由隱居。倏歘遊遨無遺憂,羽服一整八風驅,控駕三素乘晨霞,金輦正位從玉輿,何不登山誦我書。鬱鬱窈窈真人墟,入山何難故躊躇,人間紛紛臭如帑。
The five phases
五行章第二十五
The phases and recurring number patterns organize connections between cosmos and body.
五行相推反歸一,三五合氣九九節,可用隱地回八術,伏牛幽闕羅品列。三名出於生死際,洞房靈象斗日月,父曰泥丸母雌一,三光煥照入子室。能存玄真萬事畢,一身精神不可失。
Rising to sun and moon
高奔章第二十六
Sun, moon, stars and ritual ornaments shape the imagery of ascent.
高奔日月吾上道,鬱儀結璘善相保,乃見玉清虛無老,可以回顏填血腦。口銜靈芝攜五星,腰帶虎籙佩金璫,駕歘接生宴東蒙。
The primordial One
玄元章第二十七
The One, souls and the root of spirit can be read beside the earlier multiplicity of divinities and chambers.
玄元上一魂魄煉,一之為物叵卒見,須得至真乃顧眄,至忌死氣諸穢賤,六神合集虛中宴。結珠固精養神根,玉𥫽金籥常完堅,閉口屈舌食胎津,使我遂煉獲飛僊。
Immortals and Daoists
僊人章第二十八
Talismans, heavenly guards and swords give the inner landscape a protective character.
僊人道士非有神,積精累氣以為真。黃童妙音難可聞,玉書絳簡赤丹文。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。持劍百丈舞錦蟠,十絕盤空扇紛紜,火鈴冠霄墜落煙,安在黃闕兩眉間,此非枝葉實是根。
Purple Clarity
紫清章第二十九
Accumulated effort, sincerity and dedication give the verse a language of persistence.
紫清上皇大道君,太玄太和俠侍端,化生萬物使我僊,飛昇十天駕玉輪。晝夜七日思勿眠,子能修之可長存。積功成煉非自然,是由精誠亦由專,內守堅固真之真,虛中恬淡自致神。
The hundred grains
百榖章第三十
The contrast of grain and qi belongs to an ancient religious body model, not dietary advice.
百穀之實土地精,五味外美邪魔腥,臭亂神明胎氣零,那從反老得還嬰?三魂忽忽魄糜傾!何不食氣太和精,故能不死入黃寧。
The heart governs
心典章第三十一
The heart is a governing presence, connecting stillness and movement with Dao and virtue.
心典一體五臟王,動靜念之道德行,清潔善氣自明光,坐起吾俱共棟樑,晝日曜景暮閉藏,通達華精調陰陽。
Traversing the six directions
經歷章第三十二
Knowing the masculine and white while guarding the feminine and black recalls language in the Laozi.
經歷六合隱卯酉,兩腎之神主延壽,轉降適斗藏初九,知雄守雌可無老,知白守黑急坐守。
The qi of the liver
肝氣章第三十三
Qi, fluids, clouds and light repeatedly overlap bodily and celestial landscapes.
肝氣鬱勃清且長,羅列六腑生三光。心精意專內不傾,上合三焦下玉漿。玄液雲行去臭香,治蕩髮齒煉五方。取津玄膺入明堂,下溉喉嚨神明通。坐侍華蓋遊貴京,飄飄三清席清涼,五色雲氣紛青蔥,閉目內眄自相望,使諸心神還自崇,七玄英華開命門,通利天道存玄根。百二十年猶可還,過此守道誠甚難,唯待九轉八瓊丹,要復精思存七元,日月之華救老殘,肝氣周流終無端。
The qi of the lungs
肺之章第三十四
The Jade Pool, Purple Palace and gathering divinities continue the architectural imagery.
肺之為氣三焦起,視聽幽冥候童子,調理五華精髮齒,三十六咽玉池裏,開通百脈血液始。顏色生光金玉澤,齒堅髮黑不知白,存此真神勿落落,當憶紫宮有座席,衆神合會轉相索。
Hidden radiance
隱藏章第三十五
A longer chapter brings organs, sun and moon, yin and yang and celestial nourishment together.
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。耽養靈根不復枯,閉塞命門保玉都,萬神方胙壽有餘,是謂脾建在中宮。五臟六腑神明主,上合天門入明堂,守雌存雄頂三光,外方內圓神在中。通利血脈五臟豐,骨青筋赤髓如霜,脾救七竅去不祥,日月列布設陰陽。兩神相會化玉英,淡然無味天人糧,子丹進饌肴正黃,乃曰琅膏及玉霜。太上隱環八素瓊,溉益八液腎受精,伏於太陰見我形,揚風三玄出始青。恍惚之間至清靈,戲於飆臺見赤生,逸域熙真養華榮,內盼沉默煉五形。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。
Purification and transmission
沐浴章第三十六
The ending turns to recitation, teachers, recipients and pledges: a scripture also lives in relationships of transmission.
沐浴盛潔棄肥薰,入室東向誦玉篇,約得萬遍義自鮮,散髮無欲以長存。五味皆至正氣還,夷心寂悶勿煩冤。過數已畢體神精,黃華玉女告子情,真人既至使六丁,即授隱芝大洞經。十讀四拜朝太上,先謁太帝後北向,黃庭內經玉書暢。授者曰師受者盟,雲錦鳳羅金鈕纏,以代割髮肌膚全,攜手登山歃液丹,金書玉景乃可宣。傳得審授告三官,勿令七祖受冥患,太上微言致神僊,不死之道此真文。
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