《元始高上玉检大箓》

The Yuanshi Gaoshang Yujian Dalu records that in the first year of Qingxu, a Gengyin year, on the ninth day of the ninth month (an upper Jia day coinciding with Chen), the Primordial Heavenly King observed a purification fast in the Shangqing Palace and formed an oath of alliance with the realms of the unsurpassed and without peak, the colorless and without shadow, the formless and nameless, and the without ancestor and without limit. These realms thoroughly penetrate the Gaoshang natural Dao (the Way) and persist constantly through countless kalpas.

The Primordial Heavenly King transmitted the Sanyuan Yujian Wen to the Jade Youths of the Three Heavens and then commanded them to deliver it to later generations of those studying the Dao. All who possess a mysterious name and are destined to become Shangqing Perfected Ones must have their names registered on the Jade Registers of the Golden Treasury of the Cinnabar Terrace and the Purple Script Jade Tablets. At that time they will welcome the Sage Lord, enabling their flight-ascent to the Shangqing Palace, and will be granted the official title of Dongqing Natural so that they may serve as attendants guarding the Higher Perfected. They will also obtain the authority to inspect Heaven, Earth, and the human realm, to summon immortals, to subdue demonic hosts, to command spirits, and to call forth cloud chariots to receive those who accept the transmission. The entire transmission ritual is conducted according to the covenant documents of the Jiuzhen Xuanke.

The unsurpassed Dongqing chaotic natural Left Numinous Flying Immortals comprise nine thousand Void Attendant Gentlemen; the unsurpassed Dongqing chaotic natural Right Numinous Flying Immortals likewise comprise nine thousand Void Attendant Gentlemen. The Fulu (talismans and registers) are all written in azure script.

The honorific titles and taboo names of the various Gaoshang Dao Lords are as follows: Gaoshang Kongxuan Yuanshi Zhangren Daojun (taboo name Hun); Gaoshang Jiuxuan Yuanshi Tianwang Daojun (taboo name Dong); Gaoshang Taikong Jiutian Zhangren Daojun (taboo name Kai); Gaoshang Xuanxu Jiutian Zhenwang Daojun (taboo name Yu); Gaoshang Kongdong Hun [the title in the original text is incomplete here] (taboo name Dong); Gaoshang Taikong Jiutian Zhangren Daojun (taboo name Kai); Gaoshang Xuanxu Jiutian Zhenwang Daojun (taboo name Yu); Gaoshang Kongdong Hundun Jiutian Yuanfu Daojun (taboo name Dao); Gaoshang Kongxu Ziran Jiutian Zhenmu Daojun (taboo name Dun); Gaoshang Yubao Jiuxiao Tianzhen Zhangren Daojun (taboo name Kui); Gaoshang Zixu Ying Jiuxiao Taikong Yuhuang Daojun (taboo name Chuan); Gaoshang Yuxu Wanshi Xiansheng Daojun (taboo name Langlan); and Yudan Wuliang Tianwang Daojun (taboo name Junluo).

Here “xuanming” refers to the name of a Daoist cultivator in the name registers of the divine Perfected; “hui” is the taboo name of a spirit. Expressions such as “inspecting Heaven, inspecting Earth, inspecting humans” describe the divine offices and powers obtained after receiving the transmission.

This passage of scripture lists in succession the honorific titles and taboo names (specialized designations used in Daoist ritual) of various Heavenly Kings and Daojun. For example, the Shangshang Chanshan Wuliangshou Tianwang Daojun has the taboo name “Yang Junle,” the Fanjian Tianwang Daojun has the taboo name “Shitou Yuanque,” and the Doushu Tianwang Daojun has the taboo name “Zu Guiqing.” It then lists the Bujiaole Tian Daojun, Huayingsheng Tianwang Daojun, Fanbao Tianwang Daojun, Fanmojiayi Tianwang Daojun, Bolidahe Tianwang Daojun and others, whose taboo names are respectively “Te,” “Hanyue,” “Wuzi,” “Ninghong,” and “Lingyuan.”

Subsequently the scripture enumerates numerous Daojun in the Yuqing (Jade Clarity) and Zixu (Purple Void) heavens together with their taboo names, such as the Yuqing Santian Zhangren Daojun named “Dingmei,” the Yuqing Santian Yutong Daojun named “Zhenglan,” the Yuqing Gaoshang Xuhuang Daojun named “Zao,” the Yuqing Zixu Gaoshang Yuanhuang Daojun named “Ji,” and the Yuqing Shanghuang Yuxu Daojun named “Xin.” The text continues by listing further exalted deities including the Yuqing Dongxu Sanyuan Tailang Shanghuang Daojun, the Yuqing Huangshang Yudi Daojun, and the Yuqing Taisu Gaoxu Shangji Zihuang Daojun, recording the taboo name of each.

The latter half mainly lists the Daojun of Zixu, including the Zixu Yuhuang Xiansheng Zichen Daojun, Zixu Sanyuan Zijing Daojun, Zixu Zhenyang Yuanlao Xuanyi Daojun, Zixu Huangshang Dadi Daojun, Zixu Huanglao Shangdi Daojun, Zixu Qingling Yangan Zhaiyuan Daojun, Zixu Huangqing Dongzhen Daojun, and Zixu Yuanling Gaoshang Taisu Daojun; the taboo names recorded for them in order are “Qi,” “Hui,” “Yan,” “Gu,” “Ying,” “Fa,” “Zong,” and “Tong.”

The entire section constitutes a catalog of Daoist divine names and taboo names whose principal function is to identify the deities being venerated and their specialized designations. The scripture itself offers no further narration of the deeds or teachings of these deities.

The Purple Void Northern Mystery High Supreme Void Emperor Dao Lord (Daojun) is named Tong. The Purple Void Southern Vermilion High Supreme Void Emperor Dao Lord is named Jing. The Purple Clarity Western Florescence High Supreme Void Emperor Dao Lord is named Ban. The Purple Void Sovereign Clarity Dongzhen Dao Lord is named Zong. The Purple Void Primordial Numen High Supreme Grand Simplicity Dao Lord is named Tong.

The Purple Void Northern Mystery High Supreme Void Emperor Dao Lord is named Tong. The Purple Void Southern Vermilion High Supreme Void Emperor Dao Lord is named Jing. The Purple Clarity Western Florescence High Supreme Void Emperor Dao Lord is named Ban.

The Purple Clarity Eastern Brightness High Supreme Void Emperor Dao Lord is named Chang. The Purple Clarity Central Origin Containing Numen Void Emperor Dao Lord is named Cheng. The Purple Clarity Five Numina Seven Illuminations Mixed Birth High Supreme Void Emperor Dao Lord is named Zhu. The Purple Void Three Origins Unsurpassed Mysterious Elder Void Emperor Primordial Dawn Dao Lord is named Ying. The Purple Clarity Mysterious Silence Nine Origins Unsurpassed Void Emperor Dao Lord is named Shi. The Purple Clarity Great Brightness Numinous Glory Central True Unsurpassed Dao Lord is named Qing.

The High Clarity Three Origins Four Poles Mysterious Origin Void Emperor Cloud Dao Lord is named Weng. The High Clarity Three Origins Dawn Central Yellow Radiance Void Emperor Primordial Terrace Dao Lord is named Jing.

The High Clarity Three Origins Four Poles Mysterious Origin Void Emperor Cloud Dao Lord is named Weng. The High Clarity Three Origins Dawn Central Yellow Radiance Void Emperor Primordial Terrace Dao Lord is named Jing.

In the Profound Clarity of Undifferentiated Chaos arising of itself (referring to the deep, empty, and clear realm in which heaven and earth have not yet been divided and which comes into being naturally), there are the Primordial Sovereign Great Perfected of the Eastern Azure Emperor, the Southern Red Emperor, the Western White Emperor, the Northern Black Emperor, and the Central Yellow Emperor, nine thousand of each; and the Left Spirit-leading Immortal Jade Gentleman Officials and the Right Spirit-leading Immortal Jade Gentleman Officials, nine thousand of each.

The Flying Dragon Merit Officers (Gongcao) and Flying Immortal Merit Officers belonging to the Nine Mysterious Upper Spirits, together with the Upper Origin, Middle Origin, and Lower Origin Merit Officers, number nine thousand each; the Nine Mysterious Highest Clarity (Shangqing) Jade Void Flying Immortal Envoys number nine thousand. The Highest Clarity Jade Void Flying Immortal Jade Gentlemen number nine thousand, and the Highest Clarity Jade Void Envoys number nine thousand each; the Highest Clarity Jade Void Envoys and the Great Immortal Envoys number nine thousand each. The Highest Clarity Jade Void Upper Origin, Middle Origin, and Lower Origin Envoys number nine thousand each.

The Jade Clarity (Yuqing) Golden Dawn Jade Lads and the Jade Clarity Great Flower Jade Maidens number nine thousand each; there are also Envoys numbering nine thousand. The Highest Clarity Jade Void Lower Origin Envoys, the Jade Clarity Golden Dawn Jade Lads, the Jade Clarity Great Flower Jade Maidens, and the Jade Clarity Upper Perfected Assisting Immortals likewise number nine thousand each.

These names are the titles of Daoist deities and celestial offices; terms such as “Merit Officers” (Gongcao), “Envoys,” and “Jade Gentleman Officials” designate divine functionaries charged with transmission, assistance, or attendance. The original text lists names repeatedly in many places; the foregoing retains that repeated order in accordance with the original.

In the Gaoshang Dongqing Zixu Kongdong (the High Supreme Cavern of Clear Purple Emptiness, a pure immortal realm within the Daoist heavens), there naturally arises the Qi (vital energy) of the flying-empyrean jade immortals, overlapping in layer upon layer, ninety thousand in number; vapors like the flying clouds of the Three Primes, also ninety thousand layers; and flowing five-colored rosy mists, likewise ninety thousand layers.

The Green Emperor, Red Emperor, White Emperor, Black Emperor, and Yellow Emperor (who respectively preside over the eastern, southern, western, northern, and central heavens of the five directions) each drive flying wheels on which vapors circulate, every kind numbering ninety thousand layers; they each also ride flying-jade feathered canopies (ornate canopies adorned with precious jade), every kind of canopy numbering ninety thousand layers.

The Eastern Peak, Southern Peak, Western Peak, Northern Peak, and Central Peak (the Five Sacred Mountains) each have flying palanquins: the Eastern Peak rides green shafts, the Southern Peak rides cinnabar shafts, the Western Peak rides plain shafts, the Northern Peak rides dark shafts, and the Central Peak rides yellow shafts, each kind numbering ninety thousand layers.

The Jade True Qi of the Upper Yuan, Middle Yuan, and Lower Yuan each number ninety thousand layers; the Jade True Qi of the Sovereign of the Upper Yuan, the Sovereign of the Middle Yuan, and the Sovereign of the Lower Yuan also each number ninety thousand layers.

The flying cavalries of the Mysterious Origin of the Nine Heavens, the Great Void of Cavernous Emptiness and Natural Spontaneity (in Daoism, a designation for the lofty and mysterious heavenly realm of natural Wuwei, or non-action)—namely the Heaven-Inspecting Auxiliaries of the True, the Heaven-Inspecting Auxiliaries of the Spirit, the Heaven-Inspecting Auxiliaries of the Emperor, and the Heaven-Inspecting Auxiliaries of the Numinous—each number nine hundred million myriads.

The Azure Emperor, Vermilion Emperor, White Emperor, Black Emperor, and Yellow Emperor (the Heavenly Emperors of the five directions, representing East, South, West, North, and Center respectively) command cavalries that urge flying wheels through the void, each numbering nine hundred million myriads. The spirits of the Eastern Peak, Southern Peak, Western Peak, Northern Peak, and Central Peak likewise each lead cavalries soaring through the air, each numbering nine hundred million myriads.

In addition there are the flying-shaft cavalries that ride in green carriages with feather-ornamented canopies, and the dragon cavalries that soar through the heavens and hold sway over the earth, each numbering nine hundred million myriads. The jade maidens and clerks who summon true spirits and cause numinous zhi herbs to grow, the immortal officials of the divine Perfected, the spirit-essence cavalries whose streaming radiance flashes like lightning, the yin-essence cavalries that gather clouds and send down rain, the Cloud Gate cavalries who hold tallies and transmit the luminous brilliance of commands, and the Yang-brightness cavalries of blazing light that race like lightning, all likewise number nine hundred million myriads each.

The Supreme Lord Lao issued a decree, commanding that it be carried out immediately.