The Marvelous Words of the Supreme Jade Emperor (Kao-shang yu-huang pen-hsing chi-ching), c. 1500, 12 1/2 x 2 5/8 x 5 3/8 in. (31.8 x 6.7 x 13.7 cm), Ink on white paper, China, 15th-16th century, These three royal edition volumes are from the discourse of the Supreme Jade Emperor on the essence of the universe, a fundamental Taoist text from the 'insight of truth' (tung-ch'en) section of the Daoist Tripitaka. During the time of its printing around 1500, Taoist scriptures typically followed the format of Buddhist Sutras. There is, for instance, a large frontispiece followed by an inscribed stele and a portrait of a guardian deity at the end.