The basic idea of the inner chapter is that Taoists can get through God by "keeping the truth" and gain "immortal power". It is emphasized that internal strength and external training are the most important skills of Taoism, but internal strength is the most important. In the relationship between Confucianism and Taoism, it is advocated that "Taoism is the end of Confucianism" and "Taoism is higher than Confucianism", and that Confucianism and Taoism are mutually useful and complementary. The external chapter discusses "the gains and losses of the world are obscure", clarifies the author's social and political views, and embodies his basic position of being an immortal outside Confucianism.
The value of baopuzi
Bao Puzi, centering on the health preservation of immortals, systematizes and theorizes Taoist beliefs and combines them with Confucian classics. It holds that Taoism should be based on Confucian faith, propriety and righteousness, and emphasizes that Taoism is superior to Confucianism and Taoism, thus developing Taoist thought and theory. This book criticized the metaphysical fashion since Wei and Jin Dynasties, which had a certain influence on the development of China's ideological history, and also made some contributions to Chinese medicine, chemistry and ancient Qigong.
Tao Hongjing's Notes on Bao Puzi, with 20 volumes, has been lost. Today, Wang Ming has "Collation of Bao Puzi's Internal Articles". Part of the book is collected in volumes 868-870 of orthodox collected Taoist scriptures, and the other part is collected in volumes 87 1-873.