The Supreme Superior’s Jade Canon on the External view of the Yellow Court
I have read that the External Yellow Court Scripture is considered to be the first internal alchemy text, and that almost all Taoist internal alchemy texts have been modelled on it. I have access to three different translations, one by Jane Huang (actually her father’s translation) in The Primordial Breath: An Ancient Chinese Way of Prolonging Life through Breath Control Volume 2, one by Imios Archangelis and Miaoyu Lanying in Jade Writing, available online Here and one by Stuart Alve Olson in Yellow Court: The Exalted One’s External Illumination Scripture - Attributed to Lao Zi -.
The external Yellow Court scripture is assumed to be written by a scholar, as it uses strictly seven words per line, no mean feat apparently in Chinese. It is divided into three chapters, I will follow Huang’s paragraphs.
Chapter 1.1
太上黃庭外景玉經上
太上閑居作七言，
解說身形及諸神，
上有黃庭下關元，
後有幽闕前命門。
呼吸廬間入丹田，
玉池清水灌靈根，
審能修之 可長存。
The Exalted One’s Scripture on the External Illumination of the Yellow Court
Upper Chapter of the Scripture, Part One.
Above there is the Yellow Court and below the Pass of Origination.
Behind there is the Secret Watchtower and in front the Gate of Life.
Breathe in the spaces of the Thatched Hut so to enter into the Elixir field.
The pure water of the Jade Pool pours onto the Spiritual Root.
If you are able to examine and cultivate this you can be long preserved. - Olson
T’ai Shang, the Supreme Superior [Lao Tzu , N.T.], in leisure living, composed the [following] seven-word verses to explain the body and the spirits. Up above, there is the Yellow Court and down below there is Kuan Yuan, the Primordial Pass.
In the rear is You Ch’ueh, the Dark Mysterious Gate Towers [the kidneys, N.T.], and in the front, there is Ming Men, the Gate of Life. Inhalations and exhalations are done through the Hut and enter into Tan T’ien, the Elixir Field.
The clean and clear water of Yu Ch’ih, the Jade pond, is to irrigate Ling Ken, the Miraculous Root.
Whoever can carefully nourish that may enjoy long life. - Huang High Sovereign, residing in peace, wrote a seven-word scripture, to tell the secrets how to enhance the individual form and spirit.
Yellow Court is located above, Original Pass is located below.
Quiet Watchtower is behind, Life Gate is at the front. Let your breath precipitate between three joined Dan Tian, and clear waters of Jade Pool irrigate Spirit Root. Practice constantly, to achieve longevity. - Archangelis and Lanying
Breathe in the spaces of the Thatched Hut so to enter into the Elixir field.
The pure water of the Jade Pool pours onto the Spiritual Root.
If you are able to examine and cultivate this you can be long preserved. - Olson
T’ai Shang, the Supreme Superior [Lao Tzu , N.T.], in leisure living, composed the [following] seven-word verses to explain the body and the spirits. Up above, there is the Yellow Court and down below there is Kuan Yuan, the Primordial Pass.
In the rear is You Ch’ueh, the Dark Mysterious Gate Towers [the kidneys, N.T.], and in the front, there is Ming Men, the Gate of Life. Inhalations and exhalations are done through the Hut and enter into Tan T’ien, the Elixir Field.
The clean and clear water of Yu Ch’ih, the Jade pond, is to irrigate Ling Ken, the Miraculous Root.
Whoever can carefully nourish that may enjoy long life. - Huang High Sovereign, residing in peace, wrote a seven-word scripture, to tell the secrets how to enhance the individual form and spirit.
Yellow Court is located above, Original Pass is located below.
Quiet Watchtower is behind, Life Gate is at the front. Let your breath precipitate between three joined Dan Tian, and clear waters of Jade Pool irrigate Spirit Root. Practice constantly, to achieve longevity. - Archangelis and Lanying
