辯偽錄 1.21

1.21

第九化云。太上老君以中皇元年三月一日。於玉清天金闕上官。撰集靈篇以為寶經三百卷。符圖七千章。玉訣九千篇。老君於上三皇時出。為萬天法師。又號玄中法師。當龍漢元年。授上三皇洞真經一十二部。以無極之道下教人間。其時人壽九萬歲。於中三皇時號有古先生當赤明元年。授中三皇洞玄經一十二部。行無上正真之道以化於人。其時人壽六萬歲。於下三皇時出為師。號金闕帝君。當開皇元年。授下三皇洞神經一十二部。以太平之道化人。其時人壽一萬八千歲。夫洞真洞玄洞神各一十二部。合為三十六部尊經也。

The ninth transformation says: On the first day of the third month in the first year of the Zhonghuang era, the Grand Supreme Laojun compiled and gathered numinous texts in the Upper Palace of the Golden Gate in the Jade Clarity Heaven, making the precious scriptures in three hundred fascicles, talismans and diagrams in seven thousand sections, and jade instructions in nine thousand pieces. Laojun appeared during the era of the Upper Three Sovereigns as the Dharma Master of the Ten Thousand Heavens, also styled Master of the Mysterious Middle. In the first year of the Longhan era, he transmitted the twelve divisions of the *Dongzhen* scriptures to the Upper Three Sovereigns, teaching humanity with the Way of the Limitless; at that time, human lifespan was ninety thousand years. In the era of the Middle Three Sovereigns, he was styled Master Yougu; in the first year of the Chiming era, he transmitted the twelve divisions of the *Dongxuan* scriptures to the Middle Three Sovereigns, practicing the unsurpassed, correct, and true Way to convert humans; at that time, human lifespan was sixty thousand years. In the era of the Lower Three Sovereigns, he appeared as a teacher styled Lord of the Golden Gate; in the first year of the Kaihuang era, he transmitted the twelve divisions of the *Dongshen* scriptures to the Lower Three Sovereigns, converting humans with the Way of Great Peace; at that time, human lifespan was eighteen thousand years. The *Dongzhen*, *Dongxuan*, and *Dongshen*, each having twelve divisions, together constitute the thirty-six divisions of venerable scriptures.