Page 330 - The Encyclopedia of Taoism v1_A-L

D
DaJin Xuandu baozang

Precious Canon of the Mysterious Metropolis of the GreatJin

The compilation of the DaJin Xuandu baozang was completed in II92, merely
two years after the Jurchen ruler Zhangzong (r. II90- I208) provided authori-
zation for material and editorial assistance. It evolved as an expansion of the
*Zhenghe Wanshou daozang (Taoist Canon of the Ten-Thousand-Fold Longevity
of the Zhenghe Reign Period), printed during Huizong's reign (r. IIOG-I12S).
The story of how it came into being is told in an undated stele inscription
recorded in the Gongguan beizhi '§ Ill. ~ ~ (Epigraphic Memorials of Palaces
and Abbeys; CT 972, 2Ib- 26a), an anonymous anthology compiled no earlier
than 1264.
The undated epigraphic history of the Da Jin Xuandu baozang is authored
by Wei Boxiao ~~l!f of Darning 7c15 (Hebei), identified as a Junior Com-
piler in the Historiography Institute affiliated with the Hanlin Academy. Wei
presents his account as the personal narrative of Sun Mingdao Iff,. ~ :i!!, Su-
perintendent of the Tianchang guan :7(-& Ill. (Abbey of Celestial Perpetuity).
The site of this temple compound is now home to the *Baiyun guan (Abbey
of the White Clouds) of Beijing. The clergy occupying the temple during the
Jurchen regime were long hampered by the lack of a complete copy of the
Taoist Canon.
In II88, Zhangzong's grandfather Shizong (r. II6I--90) commanded the trans-
fer of the blocks for the Song Canon held in the Southern Capital (i.e., Kaifeng)
to the Tianchang guan in the Central Capital (i.e., Beijing). Scriptures from
the Yuxu guan JS.Jili1 Ill. (Abbey of the Jade Void) in the Central Capital were
also shifted to the Tianchang guan for purposes of collation. Zhangzong had
the storage facility for the blocks of the Canon restored in II90 and bestowed
a grant of land, enlarging the temple compound of the Tianchang guano Two
unidentified Civil Officials (wench en X E2), moreover, arrived at the abbey by
imperial command to assist Superintendent Sun in restoring lacunae so that
a complete Canon could be issued in print.
Sun sent members of the abbey out on a nationwide search for scriptures.
He also turned his attention to recruiting block-cutters as well as gathering the
necessary raw materials. A colleague named Zhao Daozhen Mi:i!!Ji vowed
to come up with the funds for the timber by soliciting alms throughout the
country. Within two years, everything was in place. Altogether 1,074 juan
of additional scriptures were brought together. With the cutting of 21,800

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