Shangqing · Early Shangqing scriptureMAOSHAN

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 chapters

How 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.

01 / 36

The Highest Clarity

上清章第一

READING GUIDE

The opening locates the scripture in a sacred Shangqing setting and names its seven-character inner verses.

CHINESE PRIMARY TEXT

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。

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02 / 36

Above and below

上有章第二

READING GUIDE

Above, below, left, right, sun and moon begin an inner geography.

CHINESE PRIMARY TEXT

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。

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03 / 36

The mouth as Jade Pool

口為章第三

READING GUIDE

The Jade Pool turns a bodily feature into a sacred place, a recurring mode of imagery.

CHINESE PRIMARY TEXT

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。

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04 / 36

The Yellow Court

黃庭章第四

READING GUIDE

Robes, colours, gates and the three fields shape the imagery of the inner person.

CHINESE PRIMARY TEXT

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。

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05 / 36

The central pool

中池章第五

READING GUIDE

This short chapter concentrates on a divinity’s clothing and dwelling.

CHINESE PRIMARY TEXT

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。

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06 / 36

The central heaven

天中章第六

READING GUIDE

Mountains and sacred dwellings are interwoven with features of the body.

CHINESE PRIMARY TEXT

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。

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07 / 36

The highest Dao

至道章第七

READING GUIDE

Names and courtesy names identify bodily divinities; Niwan is a key location in this religious body.

CHINESE PRIMARY TEXT

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。

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08 / 36

Divinities of the organs

心神章第八

READING GUIDE

Named divinities of the organs form an index to the chapters that follow.

CHINESE PRIMARY TEXT

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。

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09 / 36

The lung region

肺部章第九

READING GUIDE

A canopy, jade gate and pale brocade give the lung palace its imagery.

CHINESE PRIMARY TEXT

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。

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10 / 36

The heart region

心部章第十

READING GUIDE

Lotus imagery, red brocade and golden bells distinguish the heart palace.

CHINESE PRIMARY TEXT

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。

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11 / 36

The liver region

肝部章第十一

READING GUIDE

A green-clad youth, jade bells, sun and moon describe the liver region.

CHINESE PRIMARY TEXT

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。

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The kidney region

腎部章第十二

READING GUIDE

A dark gate, cloud robes and dragon banners describe a deep inner chamber.

CHINESE PRIMARY TEXT

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。

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The spleen region

脾部章第十三

READING GUIDE

A great granary, golden terrace and yellow robes connect grain with the central chamber.

CHINESE PRIMARY TEXT

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。

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The gallbladder region

膽部章第十四

READING GUIDE

Standards, fiery bells and a commanding divinity evoke a ceremonial procession.

CHINESE PRIMARY TEXT

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。

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The long spleen

脾長章第十五

READING GUIDE

This longer chapter brings together the Three Elders, the Hall of Light and visualization.

CHINESE PRIMARY TEXT

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。

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Looking upward

上睹章第十六

READING GUIDE

The Three Origins, linked pearls and an inward-guarded soul connect celestial and bodily imagery.

CHINESE PRIMARY TEXT

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。

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The spiritual terrace

靈臺章第十七

READING GUIDE

A question about location connects the spiritual terrace, sun and moon with the brow.

CHINESE PRIMARY TEXT

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。

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The three gates

三關章第十八

READING GUIDE

Mouth, feet and hands become gates of heaven, earth and humanity.

CHINESE PRIMARY TEXT

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。

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The three palaces

若得章第十九

READING GUIDE

Layered halls and perfected beings turn the body into a sacred space to traverse.

CHINESE PRIMARY TEXT

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。

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Breath

呼吸章第二十

READING GUIDE

Breathing is placed within a religious account of qi, divinities and longevity.

CHINESE PRIMARY TEXT

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。

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The jasper chamber

瓊室章第二十一

READING GUIDE

Chambers and bodily fluids are interwoven in the source language, retained here as text rather than instructions.

CHINESE PRIMARY TEXT

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。

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Constant remembrance

常念章第二十二

READING GUIDE

Remembrance and visualization emphasize sustained inner attention.

CHINESE PRIMARY TEXT

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。

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Cultivating life

治生章第二十三

READING GUIDE

The perfected being is sought within, giving a pointed direction to the chapter’s search.

CHINESE PRIMARY TEXT

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。

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Concealing the radiance

隱景章第二十四

READING GUIDE

Mountains, retreat, feathered robes and dawn clouds join cultivation to withdrawal.

CHINESE PRIMARY TEXT

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。

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The five phases

五行章第二十五

READING GUIDE

The phases and recurring number patterns organize connections between cosmos and body.

CHINESE PRIMARY TEXT

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。

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Rising to sun and moon

高奔章第二十六

READING GUIDE

Sun, moon, stars and ritual ornaments shape the imagery of ascent.

CHINESE PRIMARY TEXT

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。

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The primordial One

玄元章第二十七

READING GUIDE

The One, souls and the root of spirit can be read beside the earlier multiplicity of divinities and chambers.

CHINESE PRIMARY TEXT

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。

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Immortals and Daoists

僊人章第二十八

READING GUIDE

Talismans, heavenly guards and swords give the inner landscape a protective character.

CHINESE PRIMARY TEXT

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。

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Purple Clarity

紫清章第二十九

READING GUIDE

Accumulated effort, sincerity and dedication give the verse a language of persistence.

CHINESE PRIMARY TEXT

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。

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The hundred grains

百榖章第三十

READING GUIDE

The contrast of grain and qi belongs to an ancient religious body model, not dietary advice.

CHINESE PRIMARY TEXT

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。

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The heart governs

心典章第三十一

READING GUIDE

The heart is a governing presence, connecting stillness and movement with Dao and virtue.

CHINESE PRIMARY TEXT

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。

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Traversing the six directions

經歷章第三十二

READING GUIDE

Knowing the masculine and white while guarding the feminine and black recalls language in the Laozi.

CHINESE PRIMARY TEXT

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。

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The qi of the liver

肝氣章第三十三

READING GUIDE

Qi, fluids, clouds and light repeatedly overlap bodily and celestial landscapes.

CHINESE PRIMARY TEXT

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。

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The qi of the lungs

肺之章第三十四

READING GUIDE

The Jade Pool, Purple Palace and gathering divinities continue the architectural imagery.

CHINESE PRIMARY TEXT

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。

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Hidden radiance

隱藏章第三十五

READING GUIDE

A longer chapter brings organs, sun and moon, yin and yang and celestial nourishment together.

CHINESE PRIMARY TEXT

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。

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Purification and transmission

沐浴章第三十六

READING GUIDE

The ending turns to recitation, teachers, recipients and pledges: a scripture also lives in relationships of transmission.

CHINESE PRIMARY TEXT

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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Edition & sources

Follows the Wikisource full-view transcription and its thirty-six chapters. Source wording, including repeated lines between chapters, is retained. Variant tooltips are omitted; the prefaces and commentary are linked separately.

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