Tài shàng Lǎo jūn jiè jīng 太上老君戒經
Precepts Scripture of the Most High Lord Lǎo
Anonymous; early Táng
The classical Daoist precepts-scripture attributed to Tài shàng Lǎo jūn. Early-Táng composition. Preserved in the Zhèngtǒng Dàozàng as DZ 784 / CT 784 (Dòngshén bù, Jiè lǜ lèi 洞神部戒律類) and in the Qīng Dàozàng jíyào as JY268. This entry opens the Kanripo catalog’s Jiè lǜ 戒律 (Precepts and Rules) subcategory, covering Daoist monastic-ethical literature.
About the work
The text contains the classical five precepts (wǔ jiè 五戒) and ten precepts (shí jiè 十戒) of the Daoist monastic-ethical tradition — parallel to but distinct from the Buddhist śīla precepts. Key items include:
- No killing of living beings.
- No stealing.
- No sexual misconduct.
- No false speech.
- No intoxicants.
Plus five further “ten-precept” prohibitions against various specific forms of moral-ritual impurity.
Dating
Catalog: early Táng (Táng chū qī 唐初期). Dynasty: 唐.
Translations and research
- Schipper, Kristofer, and Franciscus Verellen, eds. The Taoist Canon: A Historical Companion to the Daozang. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2004, DZ 784 entry.
- Kohn, Livia. Cosmos and Community: The Ethical Dimension of Daoism. Cambridge, MA: Three Pines Press, 2004.