Through a comprehensive analysis of the editions, origin, and Fu Dongzhen’s 傅洞真 commentary on the Beidou jing, as well as a comparison of the work with the Scripture of the Southern Dipper (Nandou jing 南斗經), the Wondrous Scripture of the Northern Dipper for Prolonging Life (Beidou changsheng miaojing 北斗長生妙經), and the Heart Scripture of the Mother of the Dipper (Doumu xinjing 斗姆心經), this paper confirms that the Beidou jing is a work by an Orthodox Unity (Zhengyi 正一) Daoist transmitting Xuanling methods in the Tang or Song dynasties. Regardless of its scriptural directives, teachings, or methods of cultivation and practice, all are intimately related to ideas of Xuanling methods; moreover, Fu Dongzhen was an important transmitter of these methods. After a Xuanling Daoist composed the Beidou jing, the composition of the Beidou changsheng miaojing and the Doumu xinjing followed. Through further amendments, the essential meanings of the Beidou jing and Xuanling methods developed. Consequently, a complete understanding of the Beidou jing and those additional scriptures listed above cannot be separated from Xuanling methods. Furthermore, these scriptures must be consulted together for interpretation. On the basis of such knowledge, this paper attempts to reconstruct the main principles of Xuanling methods, their teachings, and the conditions of their external development. Through this, the paper reexamines and reflects on questions of the evolution of Beidou jing editions, the implications of its scriptural directives, its understanding and interpretations, the period of its appearance, its school affiliation, and the origin of its thought, arriving at some perspectives that diverge from previous scholarship.