In comparison to many other Taoist texts, the origins of the Baopuzi are well documented. Ge completed the book during the era of Jianwu (), 317–318, when Emperor Yuan of Jin founded the Eastern Jin dynasty. Ge Hongu subsequently revised  revised Baopuzi during the era of Xianhe (), 326–334.
Ge Hongs autobiography (Outer Chapter 50) records writing the Baopuzi'.
Compare the more literal translation of Davis and Ch'en, "I left off writing for ten and odd years, for I was constantly on the road, until the era Chien-wu  (317-318 A.D.) when I got it ready."
Ges autobiography mentions his military service fighting rebels against the Jin dynasty, and successfully defending his hometown of Jurong (), in modern Zhenjiang, Jiangsu. In 330 Emperor Cheng of Jin granted Ge the fief of "Marquis of Guanzhong" with income from 200 Jurong households. Scholars believe Ge revised the Baopuzi' during this period, sometime around 330 or 332.
The Baopuzi consists of 70 pian () "chapters; books" divided between the 20 "Inner Chapters" and 50 "Outer Chapters" (which can be compared with the Zhuangzi textual division). Nathan Sivin described it as "not one book but two, considerably different in theme". The Neipian and Waipian "led entirely separate physical existences; they were not combined under a single title until a millennium after Ko's time".
The (1444–1445) Ming dynasty Daozang "Taoist canon" first printed the two Baopuzi parts together. This Zhengtong Daozang (), or "Taoist Canon of the Zhengtong Era (1436-1450)", bibliographically categorized the Baopuzi under the Taiqing  "Supreme Clarity" section for alchemical texts. Daozang editions encompass six juan ( "scrolls; fascicles; volumes"), three each for the Inner and Outer Chapters. Most received versions of Baopuzi descend from this Ming Daozang text.