Supreme Venerable Sovereigns Book of Commandments for Chanting

Laojun Yinsong Jiejing (Supreme Venerable Sovereign's Book of Commandments for Chanting) was written by the famous Taoist Kou Qianzhi in the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534).

The book has more than 30 articles. At the beginning of every article, there is the written word of Laojunyue (Lao Jun says) or Junyin Songjie Yue (Supreme Venerable Sovereign says) to show the inviolability of the canon. The main contents of the canon are as follows: Laozi, the founder of Taoism, was unsatisfied with various shortcomings of Tianshi Dao (Celestial Masters Sect) at that time, so he ordered Kou Qianzhi to make some great reforms on relevant aspects of Taoism.

The canon showed that Lao Jun (Laozi) advocated granting positions to talented people. He specially granted Kou Qianzhi the title of Celestial Master, and then ordered him to help the country, frequently care for Taoism, teach common people and select talents from them. The canon condemns insurrection, abolishes he primary rice-money tax system of the Celestial Masters Sect, and requires decreasing the properties paid when someone becomes a Taoist. The canon indicates that reciting commandments but not taking medicines can make a person become an immortal. In addition, the canon opposes the ways of advocated by Ge Hong in his Baopuzi (Master Embracing Simplicity). The canon requires Taoists to respect slaves and maids and asks Taoist disciples to first read Daode Jing (Classic of the Way and its Power), etc