Volume One

Page 7

This page is dominated by a central woodblock illustration depicting the Three Pure Ones The "Sanqing," the three highest manifestations of the Tao (the Way) and the supreme deities of the Taoist pantheon.. They are the celestial source of all Taoist teachings.

In the illustration, the three deities are shown seated in a row behind a formal ritual altar. Upon the altar rests a tripod incense burner—symbolizing the communication between the human and divine realms—and vases holding floral offerings. This imagery serves to establish the divine authority and antiquity of the Taoist tradition.