Tao Te Ching, also known as Tao Te Ching, Laozi's Five Thousand Articles or Laozi, was written by Laozi in the Zhou Dynasty. Laozi was originally a Tibetan historian in Zhou Dynasty, and Tao Te Ching is a masterpiece of Taoist thought. Later, Laozi was revered as the ancestor of Taoism, and Tao Te Ching became the highest classic of Taoism. The Tao Te Ching has only more than 5,000 words. When Zhang Daoling founded Pentecostalism, it was designated as 5,000 words for believers to recite, so it was called "5,000 words". The contents of Tao Te Ching mainly discuss the meanings of the two nouns "Tao" and "Virtue", emphasizing that "everything respects Tao and values virtue", thus exploring the philosophical thoughts of Taoism. The "Tao" described by Laozi illustrates his world outlook and outlook on life from the perspective of ontology, and contains the principles of Taoist cultivation methods. All the teachings of Taoism come from this and are packaged by religious ceremonies. In particular, the cultivation theory of Taoism is directly related to this sutra. In addition, because Laozi's theory originated from historians, he expounded a lot of ways to govern the country, which was regarded as a treasure house by rulers in all previous dynasties, and four feudal emperors in China personally made notes on it.
The South China True Classic, or Zhuangzi, was written by Zhuang Zhou in the Warring States Period. "Zhuangzi" inherits and develops Lao Zi's philosophy of "Tao". In particular, Lao Zi's theory of "long life and long knowledge" is extended to concrete immortal thoughts and cultivation methods, so that "Tao" and "immortal" are organically combined and used by Taoism, thus completing the transformation from Taoist thoughts to immortal beliefs. In the Tang Dynasty, Taoism was regarded as the state religion, and Zhuangzi was named "South China True Man", and his book was called "South China True Classics". Therefore, the position of the South China True Classics in Taoism has always been regarded as the main classic after the moral true Classics. It is stipulated in the jungle of Taoist Quanzhen School in Qing Dynasty that every May Day, classics such as Tao Te Ching, Nanhua Ching and Huang Ting Ching must be taught.
Yin Fu Jing, also known as Xuanyuan Huangdi Yin Fu Jing or Huangdi Yin Fu Jing, also known as Huangdi Tianji Jing, is said to have originated from Xuanyuan Huangdi. Taoism is regarded as one of the main classics because it takes the Yellow Emperor as its ancestor. Yin Fu Jing was not famous in the world before the Tang Dynasty. It is said that a Taoist named Li Zhi found it in the stone chamber of Songshan Mountain, and it gradually spread. Because Li Zhi found that this book had been eroded, only 300 words were copied and circulated, and another book with more than 400 words was circulated in parallel with this book. The content of Yin Fu Jing is mainly about the way of talking about heaven, earth, people and me. There are two explanations in history: military tactics and Taoist practice, which especially regards it as the ancestral scriptures. All previous dynasties attached importance to this sutra and often juxtaposed it with Laozi and Zhuangzi. Wu Zhenqing, the founder of Zhang Ziyang, said: "There are more than 300 precious words and 5,000 moral spiritual texts in Yin Fu. There are countless gods in ancient times, all of which are explained here. "
Taiping Jing, also known as Taiping Qing Ling Shu, is said to have been handed down by Yu Ji in the Eastern Han Dynasty. In the early days, it was served as the main sutra by Taiping Taoism, and was later preserved by Taoism. According to the textual research of Chen Yingning, the former president of the Chinese Taoist Association, it is believed that this book was born out of the Taiping Jing written by Bao Liyuan, a heavenly official in the Western Han Dynasty, and that the Tai Ping Dong Ji Jing, a religious belief of Wudoumi, is related to the Tai Ping Jing, and Taoist priests before the Song and Yuan Dynasties still have the tradition of giving lectures. The content of his book combines the thoughts of ancient Taoism, Fang and Huang, which is the product of the transformation of these academic thoughts into religious beliefs and the declaration of the initial brewing and formation of Taoist order. Therefore, it is an important classic to study early Taoist thought.
Du, the full name of Tai Shang Huang Lingbao Unlimited Knight Top Classic or Lingbao Unlimited Knight Top Classic, also known as Yuan Dynasty Unlimited Knight Top Classic. This scripture is included in the head of Taoist Collection, which also shows its important position in Taoist classics. Du Renjing expounds the aims of "immortal Taoism attaches importance to life" and "immortal Taoism attaches importance to reality", which is a clear embodiment of Taoist teachings. It has been declared that Taoism is an "infinite person" and cultivating immortals is a necessary condition. Moreover, it emphasizes that the economy is all-encompassing, regardless of mortals and immortals, rich and poor, rich and poor, the underworld and the world. This classic and its annotations are very important for studying the development history of Taoist thought.
The Morning and Evening Altar Classics, also known as Taishang Xuanmen's Daily Morning and Evening Classes, is the main classic recited by Taoists every day. Among them, the selected classics are basically from the Taoist scriptures. It is divided into morning altar homework and evening altar homework. The morning altar homework is recited in the morning (5:00-7:00 am), which is used to distinguish the seriousness, prolong life and ensure health; The Evening Tanjing is read in the evening (5: 00 to 7: 00 p.m.), and its function is to save yin and condense qi, so as to achieve super life. "Collection of Taoist Scriptures" has Liu's "Preface to Doumen Homework" saying: "Scholars also study hard. Those who teach themselves merits and virtues practice their own Tao; The way of self-cultivation depends on the code of sages. Recite the sacred books of gold and jade, and know your true nature and sincerity. Non-science and education can not carry forward the avenue; If you don't attend class, you can't maintain Yuanhe. "
"The old gentleman in Taishang is called Chang Jing", also known as "Jing Jing". This classic is not about promising cultivation methods, but requires people to start from the heart, be quiet and clear-minded, Ming Dow. Classics give full play to the wonderful use of the word "Jing" and briefly describe the basic principles of Taoist cultivation. Think: "The wife is so clear, uneasy, and calm to send it." Teach people to "express their desires and calm their hearts, clear their hearts and understand their intentions." So as to achieve "inner view of its heart, the heart has no heart; The appearance has its shape, and it has its shape without its shape; Seen from a distance, there is nothing in it. From this, it enters the realm of "true response, true nature, constant quietness, constant quietness". This sutra is a masterpiece of Taoist inner alchemy, which has always been valued by Taoist practitioners.
Shang Gao Jade Emperor's Heart Seal is also called Heart Seal. This is a four-character poem with 50 sentences and 200 words. It is very necessary to describe the methods and theories of Taoist cultivation. The scripture first points out: "medicine, spirit and qi are three kinds of essence." Explain that the medicine for cultivating Inner alchemy is essence, qi and spirit, and then discuss the process and realm of cultivating Inner alchemy, that is, "wandering in the dark in a trance". Those who fix the truth take "being but not being" as the secret, the innate medicine "stands in an instant", and then the method of "mixing back the qi" can achieve the great elixir in a hundred days. Finally, the scripture reveals: "Recite it 10,000 times, and the mystery is self-evident." It is emphasized not only to recite this sutra, but also to practice. This classic, which is in harmony with Neijing, is the masterpiece of Taoist inner alchemy.
The Zhouyi Shentongqi, also known as Shentongqi, was written by Wei Boyang in the Eastern Han Dynasty. Wei Boyang was an ancient alchemist, and Tong Canqi was an early alchemist's work in China, and was praised as "the king of alchemy through the ages" by Zhang Ziyang, an alchemist in the Southern Song Dynasty. Its classic combines the image theory of Zhouyi, the theory of Huang Lao and the fire of Dan Fa with each other, so it is named "Shentongqi". The content of this passage has existed since ancient times. Later generations thought it was about Inner Dan, while others thought it was about Outer Dan, but there were more Inner Dan sects. Wei Boyang pointed out in his book that his alchemy inherited the ancient immortal truth, and thought that the cultivation of alchemy was the same as the creation of heaven and earth, so he explained the cultivation process of alchemy with the change of heaven and earth. This book is recognized by the international scientific community as the oldest existing alchemy book in the world, and it is also the first classic that systematically and comprehensively discusses Taoist alchemy. Later Taoist priests regarded it as the originator of alchemy.
Induction on Mount Tai is a famous Taoist book. The book *** 1274 words, preaching in the tone of the old gentleman, expounds the unity of heaven and man, suppresses evil and promotes good. According to justice, there is no door to misfortune, but people call it themselves, and the report of good and evil goes hand in hand. There are gods in heaven and earth, fighting gods in the three north, three corpse gods, kitchen gods and so on to record people's good and evil, and take people away according to the severity of their crimes. He also said that those who accumulate good deeds can become immortals. This paper lists the good and evil articles in detail, including 26 good deeds and 170 evil deeds. This book exhorts people to do good, organically combines Taoist thought with secular life, and is more suitable for the needs of ordinary people. Especially after the Southern Song Dynasty, it was personally advocated by feudal rulers, which had a certain impact on China society.
Bao Puzi, including Bao Puzi's Inner Chapter and Bao Puzi's Outer Chapter, was written by Ge Hong (283-343 or 363) in the Eastern Jin Dynasty. Ge Hong's "Self-narration" said: "The inner chapter says that the fairy formula, the ghost change, the health preservation and longevity, and the disaster is a disaster, which belongs to Taoism; "Waipian" discusses the gains and losses in the world, whether the world is hidden or not, and belongs to Confucianism. " This book integrates metaphysics and Taoism, theology and Taoism, Confucianism and immortals, alchemy and alchemy, and alchemy and fortune, thus establishing the theoretical system of Taoist immortals.