Yǎng xìng yán mìng lù 養性延命錄
Record of Nourishing Nature and Extending Life
attributed to 陶弘景 (Táo Hóngjǐng, 456–536) — the great Southern-Dynasties Daoist patriarch
A foundational Southern-Dynasties life-nourishing manual attributed to Táo Hóngjǐng 陶弘景 (456–536) — the great NánQí 南齊 / Liáng 梁 Daoist patriarch, alchemist, and founder of the Máo shān 茅山 Shàng qīng 上清 scriptural tradition. Preserved as DZ 838 / CT 838 in 2 juàn.
About the work
Táo Hóngjǐng
Táo Hóngjǐng 陶弘景 (456–536) was one of the most influential Daoist figures in Chinese history — the ninth Shàng qīng patriarch, compiler of the Zhēn gào 真誥 (the foundational Shàng qīng revelations collected from the Yáng Xī 楊羲 revelations), and a seminal figure in the Daoist-alchemical tradition. He was also a major medical-pharmacological scholar (author of the Běn cǎo jí zhù 本草集注 of the Táng).
Contents
The Yǎng xìng yán mìng lù provides systematic life-nourishing instructions — breathing, diet, sexual regulation, sleep, physical exercise (dǎo yǐn), meditation. Considered one of the foundational texts of the Daoist yǎng shēng tradition.
Attribution
The attribution to Táo Hóngjǐng is traditional but not entirely secure. Modern scholarship considers the text substantially representative of Táo’s teachings but possibly compiled by his disciples or later editors.
Dating. Within or shortly after Táo Hóngjǐng’s lifetime (456–536). Dynasty: 南朝.
Translations and research
- Mugitani Kunio 麥谷邦夫. Yōsei enmei roku kunchū 養性延命錄訓注. Tokyo: Kyūko shoin, 1987. Standard Japanese edition.
Links
- Kanseki Repository KR5c0235
- Author: 陶弘景.
- ctext.org: 養性延命錄