《北斗九皇隐讳经》

The Huanglao Jing (scripture) says: The first star of the Beidou, the Tianshu star, is the hun-Shen (spirit) of the Yangming star; the second star, the Tianyou star, is the hun-Shen of the Yinjing star; the third star, the Tianji star, is the po-Jing (essence) of the Zhenren star; the fourth star, the Tianquan star, is the po-Jing of the Xuanming star; the fifth star, the Yuheng star, is the po-Ling of the Danyuan star; the sixth star, the Yueyang star, is the po-Ling of the Beiji star; the seventh star, the Yaoguang star, is the hun of the Tianguan star, bright and vast; the eighth star, the Dongming star, is the hun-Jing of the Fu star, with luminous yang Qi (vital energy); the ninth star, the Yinyuan star, is the hun of the Bi star, clear, pure, and empty-spiritual.

The Yangming star is the Grand Commandant of Heaven, in charge of governmental affairs and judging right and wrong. Above, it governs the high Zhen of the Nine Heavens; in the middle, it inspects the flying immortals of the Five Sacred Mountains; below, it leads those who later cultivate the Dao (the Way) and attain perfection. The relative gravity of the merits and faults of the Shen of Heaven and Earth all fall under its jurisdiction.

The Yinjing star is the High Steward of Heaven, in charge of salaries and official positions. Above, it oversees the stellar lodges of Heaven; below, it governs the myriad Ling and those who study immortality. The fates and official ranks of cultivators of the Dao as well as all sentient beings fall under its jurisdiction.

The Zhenren star is the Minister of Works of Heaven, in charge of the affairs of Shen and immortals. Above, it governs the high Zhen of the Nine Heavens; in the middle, it inspects the Ling-immortals of the Five Sacred Mountains; below, it leads those who cultivate the Dao; the official positions of true immortals also fall under its jurisdiction.

The Xuanming star is the Guerrilla General of Heaven, in charge of punishing rebels. Above, it governs the ghosts and Shen of the Nine Heavens; in the middle, it leads the Three Officials of the Northern Emperor (the three chief deities of the northern divine system); below, it inspects all sentient beings; all matters of rebellion, disloyalty, chaos, and brutality fall under its jurisdiction.

The Danyuan star is the Lord of the Beidou, in charge of the registers that record fates. Above, it oversees the genealogical records of the Nine Heavens; in the middle, it manages the name registers of ghosts and Shen; below, it administers the fate registers of those who cultivate the Dao and of all sentient beings; the related registers of Heaven above and Earth below are all commanded by it.

The North Star is the star in the heavens that governs the principles of order, overseeing promotions and advancements. Above, it commands the Highest Perfected of the Nine Heavens (the Perfected of the celestial realm); in the middle, it administers the Flying Immortals of the Five Sacred Peaks; below, it manages the bodily lives of those engaged in study and cultivation. Practitioners, by diligently accumulating merit, can transform and rise step by step; the name registers and lifespans of the many cultivators are also under its charge. Nothing between heaven and earth falls outside its overall governance.

The North Star is the star in the heavens that governs the principles of order, overseeing promotions and advancements. Above, it commands the Highest Perfected of the Nine Heavens; in the middle, it administers the Flying Immortals of the Five Sacred Peaks; below, it manages the bodily lives of those engaged in study and cultivation. Practitioners, relying on merit and diligent practice, rise step by step; all of this is under its overall command.

The Heavenly Pass Star is the star of the Celestial Emperor in the heavens, overseeing the pivotal axis of the movements of heaven and earth. Matters such as the lengths of the four seasons, the adversity and prosperity of heaven and earth (times of obstruction and of unimpeded flow), and the transformations of kalpas and fortunes are all under its jurisdiction.

The Assistant Star is the star of the Heavenly Worthy Jade Emperor. “Constant” denotes Yang and oversees the Flying Immortals; above it commands the Nine Heavens, below it governs the Nine Earths, and the official ranks among the immortals of the Five Sacred Peaks and the Four Waterways (the four great rivers) are also under its administration.

The Supporting Star is the Tai Chang True Star. “Empty” denotes constantly empty and hidden, overseeing transformations without fixed form.

The Hetu Baolu records: The first star is the Yangming Star, serving as the Grand Commandant of heaven, charged with inspecting orthodoxy and heterodoxy and distinguishing right from wrong. Above it commands the Perfected of the Nine Heavens, in the middle it inspects the Flying Immortals of the Five Sacred Peaks, below it governs later-learning Perfected, and it weighs the gravity of the merits and faults of the spirits of heaven and earth. Its stellar domain has a circumference of nine hundred twenty li. In the Jade Tower of Qingcheng dwells the Perfected Who Holds the Dipper, titled Lord of the Nine Dawns, surnamed Shangling, whose taboo name is Yaotianchui. He wears a Nine Dawns jade crown, dressed in green-feather flying robes, holding the Dipper Mystery Diagram, and is seated within the jade tower. Those who know its inner taboo name (the secretly transmitted name) receive the illumination of the Jade Dawn (a Daoist honored deity) and fly through the great void.

The second star is the Yinjing Star, serving as the Upper Steward of heaven, overseeing official ranks and emoluments; above it governs the constellations of heaven, below it governs the myriad spirits and those who cultivate immortality. Its stellar domain has a circumference of five hundred fifty-five li. In the five-colored jade tower dwells the Perfected Who Climbs the Kui, titled Lord of the Northern Upper Dawn, surnamed Yuying, whose taboo name is Jimingguang. He wears a Mysterious Essence jade crown, dressed in mysterious-feather flying robes, holding a five-colored feather staff. Those who know its inner taboo name receive the illumination of the Jade Dawn and fly through the great void.

The third star is the Zhenren Star. It functions as the Minister of Works of the heavenly realm and oversees the immortals. Above, it governs the High Zhenren of the Nine Heavens (the high-ranking celestial Perfected Ones); in the middle, it supervises the numinous immortals of the Five Sacred Peaks; and below, it administers those who cultivate the Dao (the Way). The domain of this star measures seven hundred and seventy li in extent. Within it resides a Zhenren of the Yellow Terrace and Jade Tower who treads the Dipper, known as the Divine Lord of Mastering Immortal Splendor, with the surname Guilín and the personal name Duzhòngjí. He wears a Flying Dawn Precious Crown and a cyan feathered robe, and he holds the cyan Fulu (talismans and registers) of the Dipper, which record the name registers of the immortal Zhenren.

The fourth star is the Xuanming Star. It functions as the roaming commander of the heavenly realm and oversees military campaigns against rebels. Above, it governs the ghosts and spirits of the Nine Heavens; in the middle, it commands the Three Officials of the Northern Emperor; and below, it inspects all things. The domain of this star measures eight hundred li in extent. Within it resides a Zhenren of the Vermilion Terrace and Jade Tower who steps the Dipper, known as the Mysterious Superior Flying Canopy Dawn Lord, with the surname Míngshū and the personal name Yáotiānzhù. He wears a Three Flowers Precious Dawn Crown and a red brocade flying robe, and he holds the scepter of the Nine Numina, a ritual emblem of authority.

The fifth star is the Danyuan Star. It functions as the Lord of the Northern Dipper of the heavenly realm and oversees the registers of fate and the name registers that record human lifespans, cultivation lineages, and related matters. Above, it has overall charge of all the registers of the Nine Heavens; in the middle, it administers the ledgers of ghosts and spirits; and below, it governs the fate registers of those who study the Perfected Path and cultivate the Dao, as well as those of all living beings. All the heavens and all the earths come under its unifying command. The domain of this star measures seven hundred and twenty li in extent. Within it resides a Zhenren of the Plain Terrace and Golden Tower who treads the Records, known as the Golden Chief of the Seven Dawns Lord, with the surname Shàngkāi and the personal name Biànwǔdào. He wears a Seven Treasures Flying Heaven Crown and a white brocade flying robe, and he holds the cyan origin registers.

The sixth star is the Beiji Star. It functions as the Grand Master of Ceremonies of the heavenly realm and oversees promotions and advancements in rank. Above, it governs the Superior Zhenren of the Nine Heavens; in the middle, it commands the flying immortals of the Five Sacred Peaks; and below, it manages the successive ranks of cultivation among those who practice the Dao. The domain of this star measures seven hundred and seventy li in extent. Within it resides a Zhenren of the Mysterious Terrace and Jade Tower who steps the Gang, known as the Northern Dawn Flying Splendor Lord, with the surname Mínglíng and the personal name Chāngshàngyuán. He wears a Flying Essence Splendor Crown and a purple brocade flying robe, and he holds the Nine Dipper Jade Register, a jade tablet that records the ranks of cultivation.

The seventh star is the Tianguan Star. It functions as the Supreme Deity of the heavenly realm and oversees the pivotal mechanisms governing the movements of heaven and earth, the lengths of the four seasons, the favorable or adverse course of temporal fortunes, and the cyclical periods of kalpic destiny. The domain of this star measures nine hundred li.

The seventh star is the Heavenly Pass Star, honored as the Heavenly Sovereign, who oversees the movements of heaven and earth, the lengths of the four seasons, and the favorable or adverse turns of worldly destiny together with the cycling of kalpas. It has a circumference of nine hundred li. Its star palace contains nine-storied jade towers inhabited by dragon-riding Zhenren (Perfected Ones) titled the Zongling Jiuyuan Beigai Chenjun, surnamed Xuanshu, taboo name Kaitiantu. He wears a nine-origins treasure crown and nine-colored brocade robes and holds the Seal of Shining Spirit.

The eighth is the Assistant Star, star of the Heavenly Worthy Jade Emperor and called “Constant Daily Yang,” which governs flying ascension to immortality. It rules the Nine Heavens above and the Nine Earths below, as well as the immortal officials of the Five Marchmounts and Four Waterways. Its circumference is nine hundred ninety li. Its star palace has jade towers wreathed in purple qi, inhabited by Zhenren who travel the Three Realms, titled the Dizun Jiuchenjun, surnamed Jingchang, taboo name Kongshangkaizhengyan. He wears a flying-essence jade crown and nine-colored phoenix robes and holds a fire bell.

The ninth is the Supporting Star, star of the Great Emperor Zhenren and also called “Empty Concealment,” which governs transformations without fixed methods. Its circumference is nine hundred ninety li. Its star palace contains jade towers and purple lodges inhabited by Zhenren who wander the Three Yangs, titled the Dizhen Yuanchenjun, surnamed Youkong, taboo name Mingyanghuiyouliao. He wears a flying-heaven jade crown and Nine Heavens dragon robes and holds the Imperial Chapter.

A practitioner (referred to as “zhao,” that is, one who walks the Dao (the Way) and offers prayers) who wishes to accuse others of wrongdoing while explaining their own position, to check others’ malice while affirming their own virtue, and to examine themselves without blaming others, may in keeping with the facts pray for protection, the wiping away of offenses, and the growth of good fortune, making the request of the Heavenly Grand Commandant, first of the Jade Emperor Lords. One who wishes to master Yin-Yang techniques and gain official salary and rank petitions the Heavenly Grand Steward, the second Jade Emperor Lord. One who wishes to study the Dao in search of immortality and to reach the spirits and holy realms petitions the Heavenly Minister of Works, the third Jade Emperor Lord. One who wishes to control ghosts, spirits, and violent rebels and to suppress wicked powers both below and in the world of the living petitions the Heavenly Mobile Commander, the fourth Jade Emperor Lord. One who wishes to found meritorious achievements, store up De (Virtue/Power), add to the count of years and extend longevity petitions the Heavenly Dipper Lord, the fifth Jade Emperor Lord.

If you encounter hardship, illness, and calamity and hope to obtain redress and deliverance, you may pray to Tai Chang, the Sixth Jade Sovereign in Heaven. If Yin-Yang between Heaven and Earth are obstructed and in conflict, causing climatic disorder, you may pray to Shangdi, the Seventh Jade Sovereign Lord in Heaven. If you wish to eliminate all manner of disasters, to ascend flying into Heaven and to walk upon the earth, you may pray to Zun Yudi, the Eighth Jade Sovereign Lord in Heaven. If you wish to obtain inexhaustible powers of transformation and to respond to circumstances so as to succor all beings, you may pray to Taidi, the Ninth Jade Sovereign Lord in Heaven.

The inner surnames and hidden names (the secretly transmitted surnames and personal names) of these nine Jade Sovereign Lords and nine Ladies, once known, can extend life by a thousand years. One should frequently visualize them at night, imagining the forms and majestic radiance of the Jade Sovereign Lords and Ladies, remembering their surnames and names, and concentrating one’s visualization upon them in the heart. In this way one can behold the eighth and ninth stars and thereby obtain inexhaustible longevity.

Here “gaoqing” means to pray to the deities; “guanxiang” is the Daoist cultivation method of concentrating on the images and names of the deities, known as cunsi (visualization).

The Scripture of the Hidden Names of the Nine Sovereigns of the Northern Dipper (Beidou Jiuhuang Yinwei Jing) ends.

The collational notes at the end of the scripture indicate that characters in the main text such as “bei” (north), “lü dou” (treading the Dipper), “guan” (crown), “lian” (sickle), and “you” (possess), as well as the writing of “yu guan yi” (jade crown and robes), have been supplemented and corrected on the basis of other scriptures or the surrounding context.