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
Outer Yellow Court Canon
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。黃庭中人衣朱衣，關門壯籥合兩扉，幽闕俠之高巍巍，丹田之中精黑微。玉池清水上生肥，靈根堅固老不衰。中池有士衣赤衣，田下三寸神所居。中外相距 重閉之，神廬之中當修理。玄膺黑管受精符，急固子精以自持。宅中有士常衣絳，子能見之可不病，橫立長尺約其上，子能守之可無恙。呼嗡廬問以自償，保守完堅 身受慶。方寸之中謹蓋藏，精神還歸老復壯。俠以幽闕流下竟，養子玉樹令可壯。至道不煩無旁午，靈臺通天臨中野，方寸之中至關下，玉房之中神門戶，皆是公子 教我者。明堂四達法海源，真人子丹當吾前，三關之中精氣深，子欲不死修崑崙。絳官重樓十二級，官室之中五黑集，赤城之子中池立，下有長城玄谷色。長生要妙 房中急，棄捐淫欲專守精，寸田尺宅可理生，繫系子長留心安寧。觀志遊神三奇靈，閑暇無事心太平。常存玉房神明達，時念太倉不飢渴，役使六丁神女謁，閉子精 路可長活。正室之中神所居，洗身自理無敢污。歷觀五臟視節度，六腑修治潔如素，虛無自然道之故。物有自然事不煩，垂拱無為身體安，虛無之居在幃問，寂寞曠 然口不言，恬淡無欲游德園，清爭香潔玉女存，修德明達道之門。
太上黃庭外景玉經上
太上黃庭外景玉經中
作道優游深獨居，扶養性命守虛無，恬淡無為向#1思慮，羽翼已成正扶疏，長生久視乃飛去。五行參差同根節，三五合氣要本一，誰與共之斗日月，抱玉懷珠和子室。子能知之萬事畢，子自有之持勿失，即得不死入金室。出日入月是吾道，天七地三#2迴 相守，昇降進退合乃久，玉石珞珞是吾寶，子自有之何不守。心曉根基養華釆，服天順地合藏精，九原之山何亭亭，中住真人可使令。內陽三神可長生，七日之五迴 相合。崑崙之山不迷誤，蔽以紫宮丹城樓，俠以日月如連珠，萬歲昭昭非有期。外本三陽神自來，內養三陰可長生，魂欲上天魄入泉，還魂返魄道自然。
太上黃庭外景玉經中
#1向：疑當作『何』。
#2三：原作『二』，據文義改。
太上黃庭外景玉經下
遊璣懸珠環無端，迅牝金籥常完堅，載地懸天周乾坤，象以四時赤如丹，前仰後卑各異門，送以還丹與玄泉，象龜引黑 至靈根。中有真人巾金巾，負甲持符開七門，此非枝葉實是根，晝夜思之可長存。倦人道士非有神，積精所致為專年，人皆食穀與五味，獨食太和陰陽黑，故能不死 天相既。試說五臟各有方，心為國主五臟主，意中動靜黑得行，道自持我神明光。晝日昭昭夜自守，渴自飲漿飢得飽，經歷六腑藏卯酉，轉陽之陰藏於九，常能行之 不知老。肝之為黑修而長，羅列五臟生三光，上合三焦道飲漿，精候天地長生道，我神魂魄在中央。精液流泉去鼻香，立於玄膺含明堂，通我華精調陰陽。伏於玄門 候天道，近在我身還自守，清今無為神留止，精氣上下關分理。七孔已通不知老，還坐天門候陰陽，下於喉嚨通神明，過華蓋下清且凍。入清虛淵見吾形，期成還丹 可長生，還過華池動腎精，望於明堂臨丹田，將使諸神開命門，通利天道藏靈根。陰陽列布如流星，肝氣似環終無端，肺之為黑三焦起，伏於天門候故道。清液醴泉 通六府，隨鼻上下開二耳，窺視天地存童子，調和精華理髮齒。顏色光澤老不白，下於喉嚨何落落，諸神皆會相求索，下入絳宮紫華色。隱藏華蓋通神廬，專守心神 傳相呼。觀我諸神辟除邪，脾神還歸依大家，藏養靈根不復枯，至於胃管通虛無，閉塞命門似玉都，壽傳萬歲將有餘。脾中之神遊中宮，朝會五神和三光，上合天黑 及明堂，通利六府調五行。金木水火土為王，通利血脈汗為漿，二神相得下玉英，上稟元氣年益長。循護七竅去不祥，日月列布張陰陽，伏於太陰成其形，五臟之主 腎為精。出入二黑入黃庭，呼吸虛無見吾形，強我筋骨血脈成。恍惚不見過清靈，坐於廬下觀小童，日一夕存在神明光，出於無門入無戶。恬淡無欲養華根，服食玄 黑可遂生。還返七門飲太淵，通我喉嚨過清靈，問於仙道與奇功，服食靈芝與玉英。頭戴白素足丹田，沐浴華池灌靈根，三府相得開命門，五味皆至善黑還。大道蕩 蕩心勿煩，被髮行之可長存，吾言畢矣勿妄傳。
太上黃庭外景玉經下
常存玉房神明達，時念太倉不飢渴，役使六丁神女謁，閉子精 路可長活。正室之中神所居，洗身自理無敢污。
Eternally preserve the Spiritual Illumination penetrating the Jade Chamber.
When meditating on the Great Granary (the stomach) there will be no more hunger and thirst.
When this is accomplished there will be a visitation from all Six Jade Maidens. Close off the Child at the Essence Gate to acquire the medicine for longevity In front of the Foremost Chamber Hall is where the spirits reside.
Cleanse the mind to self-heal rather than wither from impurity. - Olson By always thinking and guarding the Jade Chamber, one’s bright spirits [Shen Ming] will arrive.
By always thinking of T’ai Ts’ang, the Great Warehouse, one will be free from hunger and thirst.
By commanding the six Tings, the goddesses will come to pay respect.
By blocking off the routes for the essence, one will live long. The main chamber is where the spirits reside.
One should bathe and groom oneself and be careful not to get dirty. - Huang
Frequently store the attained bright light to the jade room.
Meditate periodically on the stomach area (Great Granary) to eliminate hunger and thirst.
Once Qi starts flowing, all six Jade girls will be also present.
Close your essence gate to achieve longevity.
Straighten the room in the middle so spirit would live within.
Cleanse the heart-mind [Xin] so it would be inclined to self-healing rather than self-intoxicating.
- Archangelis and Lanying
Eternally preserve the Spiritual Illumination penetrating the Jade Chamber.
When meditating on the Great Granary (the stomach) there will be no more hunger and thirst.
When this is accomplished there will be a visitation from all Six Jade Maidens. Close off the Child at the Essence Gate to acquire the medicine for longevity In front of the Foremost Chamber Hall is where the spirits reside.
Cleanse the mind to self-heal rather than wither from impurity. - Olson By always thinking and guarding the Jade Chamber, one’s bright spirits [Shen Ming] will arrive.
By always thinking of T’ai Ts’ang, the Great Warehouse, one will be free from hunger and thirst.
By commanding the six Tings, the goddesses will come to pay respect.
By blocking off the routes for the essence, one will live long. The main chamber is where the spirits reside.
One should bathe and groom oneself and be careful not to get dirty. - Huang
Frequently store the attained bright light to the jade room.
Meditate periodically on the stomach area (Great Granary) to eliminate hunger and thirst.
Once Qi starts flowing, all six Jade girls will be also present.
Close your essence gate to achieve longevity.
Straighten the room in the middle so spirit would live within.
Cleanse the heart-mind [Xin] so it would be inclined to self-healing rather than self-intoxicating.
- Archangelis and Lanying