《洞真太微金虎真符》

The Golden Tiger True Talisman of the Taiwei Heavenly Emperor Lord is treasured in the Supreme Primordial Scenery Jade Palace. Within the talisman lies a power capable of poisoning and slaying at a distance of ten thousand xun, sufficient to drive back demonic hosts and to protect the scriptures. Seven thousand spirit tigers guard the Jade Pass, three hundred Jade Maidens of Western Floriate scatter fragrance through the courtyards of the cloudy heavens, the Five Elders oversee the canonical writings, and the Golden Dawn attendants serve the Perfected Ones. Those whose names are not entered in the Jade Registers and Jade Names, and whose names are not inscribed in the registers of the Three Pure Ones (Sanqing), cannot obtain the Inner Talisman of the Golden Tiger, nor may they hear the Jade Chapters transmitted by the Supreme.

This talisman is inscribed in the “Chapter of Wisdom” of the Shangqing Jade Slips. The entire chapter comprises seventy thousand characters; the numinous sounds it employs are mysterious and its purport profound, making it difficult to set forth in complete detail. Some passages conceal the true names of the heavenly demons, some record the inner names of the various deities, and some use jade tones to interpret obscure metaphors and difficult secret instructions. Lord Wang of Xiaoyou excerpted this talisman together with the methods for employing the inner writings of the awesome spirits, in order to control the host of spirits throughout heaven and earth; the excerpted material consists of only one hundred characters. This incantation is of the utmost secrecy and is entitled The Tiger Book of the Three Heavens, Upper Register of the Great Origin.

Those who receive this method must first observe a purification fast for seventy days and prepare a Golden Tiger Jade Bell together with thirty chi of white brocade silk and thirty chi of black gauze silk, as a covenant with the Golden Perfected. They must also swear an oath to heaven and earth, pledging never to disclose the teaching. In accordance with the Illuminated Statutes of the Four Extremes (Siji Mingke, the Daoist precepts and norms of transmission), this method may be transmitted to only three persons every seven hundred years.

The Golden Tiger Jade Essence True Talisman of the Taiwei Heavenly Emperor Lord constitutes the inner sounds (secretly transmitted sacred phonetic texts) of the Natural Golden Chapters of the Supreme Scenery of the Great Origin. It can command Golden Immortals and is used in ritual operations such as sealing mountains and summoning. At the same time, the oath of secrecy to heaven and earth described above must be observed, and transmission must follow the Illuminated Statutes of the Four Extremes: it may be given to only three persons every seven hundred years.

This “Golden Tiger Jade Essence True Talisman of the Taiwei Heavenly Emperor Lord” is a sacred talismanic script from the Natural Golden Chapter of the Supreme Scene of Taiyuan. It can command and issue orders to Golden Immortals, used to seal mountains and peaks, summon spirits and deities, and with its awesome power intimidate the Six Heavens and slay the evil ones among the gods. The Most High regularly dispatches the Western Spirit Taijia to lead an army of seven hundred thousand troops to guard this talisman in the Jade Palace of Taiwei.

Those who wear this talisman, according to the Jing (scripture), can awe Heaven and Earth, rebuke the assembled spirits, ride the luminous dragon, and rank among the high immortals. When divine majesty issues from the talisman, Jade Flower deities stand in attendance at one’s side and Golden True spirit soldiers guard left and right; demons and evils lose their sight, ghosts and sprites dissipate, the Nine Demons are routed, and the Six Heavens collapse. The wearer thereby attains a refined and marvelous realm of Dao methods, receiving the protection of the Five Spirits, summoning the Mysterious Youth on the left and drawing in the Golden Dawn on the right. The scripture praises it as the majestic true talisman of the Great Emperor; its function is not only to drive out poisons, avert disasters, and extinguish demons, but even more it is an important method for seeking immortality and attaining the Dao.

The scripture is guarded by forty-seven Jade Youths and forty-seven Jade Maidens, who protect those who possess it. If the holder of the talisman observes the rules of transmission, they may ascend to the Three Pure Ones (Sanqing), the highest heavenly realm in Daoism. If one treats the heavenly scriptures with disrespect or transmits the talisman to an unsuitable person, one will suffer the calamity of wind and fire; one’s ancestors of seven generations will also be subjected to prolonged interrogation by the Water Official.

Golden Tiger True Talisman of the Taiwei Heavenly Emperor Lord

This Golden Tiger True Talisman is said to have been transmitted by the Taiwei Heavenly Emperor Lord to the Golden Palace Emperor Lord. It should be written with cinnabar on white silk, placed in a purple brocade pouch and worn; when walking, place it on the head, and one can intimidate the spirits of Heaven and Earth, cause immortals and gods to revere and submit, and receive protections such as Jade Flowers holding the towel, heavenly soldiers guarding the body, and mountain and peak spirits bowing their heads. Combined with the “Incantation for Commanding Mighty Spirits” (a prayer to summon mighty spirits) and the Jade Clarity Chapter, one can slay the Nine Demons and cause a thousand demons to dissipate. This talisman belongs to the forbidden talismans of Shangqing (secretly transmitted Fulu of Shangqing Dao methods), not transmitted to ordinary people; the scripture states that those who obtain and wear it may fly and ascend to Shangqing.

Inner Incantation of the Golden True Mighty Spirit of the Most High Primordial Scene

This incantation is used to command and summon spirit soldiers and to slay evil ghosts. When performing it, one should enter a quiet chamber, burn incense, and knock the teeth thirty-six times; one may sit or lie down, then recite the incantation:

The recitation “Piqian Duwang, Zhenshi Luojing, the Eight Immortals grasping the yue (an ancient large axe), the Five Numina of Shangdi, Taixuan Luoqing, the seven spirits guarding the courtyard, Huangzhen’s talisman emitting light, the fire bells brightly flying and hurled, the divine tiger rising in might, and poisonous sharp blades appearing in succession…” is chanted repeatedly. It then continues: A purple divine-script ritual manifests, and the four-directional spirits raise their heads and cry out. The Nine Heavens, Six Heavens, and four directional heavenly realms all become bright and clear. Outwardly it is wrapped in mysterious Qi (xuanqi, the profound vital energy of Daoism); inwardly the troops and generals of the master’s lineage stand guard. On the left they display their power, on the right they patrol, attacking with wind and campaigning with fire. They rebuke and slay ten thousand demons, crush and capture a thousand kinds of sprites. Golden Truth opens its vibrating might, the nine demons have their forms seized, Beifeng (the northern netherworld) is destroyed, and all that are annihilated collapse in consequence. I wear the true talisman and command the myriad spirits. The Three Primes (Sanyuan, the Three Officials of Heaven, Earth, and Water) report the true Dao upward, in harmony with the sincere command of the Heavenly Emperor. This is the command of Taiwei Shangdi, enabling ascent to the Three Pure Ones (Sanqing).

This is the inner invocation method of Taiyuan Shangjing’s Mighty Spirit, a secretly transmitted scripture of the Shangqing school. “Pizha Duwang” is the inner name of the great ghosts of the Six Heavens; “Zhenshi Luojing” is the hidden name of the Northern Emperor’s Demon King; “Sitian Xiaojing” is the soul-name of Beifeng’s ghost minister. Knowing these three names of ghosts and spirits causes a thousand demons to flee and ten thousand ghosts to hide their forms, so the nine demons dare not rashly test, and a hundred kinds of evil cannot cause harm. One may follow this method whether alone in the mountain forests or in official temples and gathering places of gods and ghosts, without burning incense or entering a quiet room.

The Huoluo Great Talisman uses a cyan background written in yellow. The scripture proceeds to list colors and writing methods for several talismans: the Sun Origin talisman has a vermilion background written in cyan; the Moon Origin talisman has a cyan background written in vermilion; the Year Origin talisman has a white background written in yellow; the Yinghuo Origin talisman has a vermilion background written in yellow; the Taibai Origin talisman has a yellow background written in black; the Chen Origin talisman has a cyan background written in vermilion; the Zhen Origin talisman has a white background written in vermilion.

The Upper Talisman of Ascending Emptiness, Pacing the Void, and Protecting Immortality is also called the Fire Bell.

When the Taiwei Celestial Emperor Lord (the Celestial Lord of the heavens) received the primordial Qi (vital energy) of the Origin, the mysterious and wondrous scenes of heaven and earth had just parted. He ascended the Terrace of Nine Mysteries of Vacuous Generation, while the divine officials of the Five Emperors stood stationed to guard the eight directions. Five Fulu (talismans and registers)—sacred written symbols of Daoist power—hovered faintly in the air, enveloping the Phoenix Terrace and the innermost depths of the palaces of agate and jade. Only after seven thousand years did the writings finally become manifest. Their radiance streamed across the Nine Heavens, their elegant patterns shining brilliantly in the realm of Jade Clarity (Yuqing), the celestial domain of which Daoism speaks.

The Celestial Lord cast them to the left, and the talismans transformed into flowing-gold fire bells; he shook them to the right, revealing the imposing majesty of the Crown that Opens and the Seven Primordials that Descend, able to subdue and command the demons of the utmost heavens, his awe-inspiring fame spreading throughout the Court of Nine Auroras. This is the supreme and most subtle method of the Dao, discerning the obscure and minute, its power without equal.

The Celestial Lord then observed a purifying fast in the Dongzhen Hall of the Agate Terrace in the Great Space. Within the hall were jade chambers and rooms of golden splendor, with numerous attendant maidens, Perfected Ones, and divine officials clad in five colors, along with billions of living beings. Flying beasts and venomous dragons stood watch on either side of the gate towers, while giant qiulong dragons a thousand xun in length encircled the palace walls. Phoenixes cried and dragons roared, all manner of sounds echoing through the halls, their majesty filling the vast courtyard. Lions roared at length as the assembly played music and sang the songs of the clouds, jade-like tones flowing through the ornate palace chambers. Divine consorts sang in chorus and performed, while jade maidens plucked the strings.

I then invited the Central Yellow Elder Lord and the Four Perfected of Taiji (Supreme Ultimate), setting out wine brewed from flowing rosy clouds, together with Huan’gang fruits, white seeds of the red tree, hidden zhi, and other immortal fruits and numinous fungi, and arrayed various fragrant offerings, continuing for ninety days.

Thereafter the Turtle Mother took up the brush, Taiyi wiped the seating mat, the Heavenly Consort tended the incense, and jade maidens compiled the talismanic writings: tablets were fashioned of white jade and inscribed with golden characters. The writings were first given to the Left Lord of the Immortal Capital, placed in a jade casket and a cloud-brocade pouch, then transmitted to the Central Yellow Elder Lord. The Yellow Elder Lord, in accordance with the sworn covenant, respectfully received the five Fulu, kowtowed, and withdrew. He then mounted the Nine Numina Flowing Radiance Cloud Carriage, accompanied by fifty thousand divine officials in five-colored robes, riding with flying azure kingfisher-feather dragon capes, and ascended to the Golden Towers of the Jade Clarity Palace.

If someone obtains the Golden Book of Donghua (the eastern immortal realm) and is able to read this Jing (scripture), it shows that the destiny accumulated in previous lives has already come to fulfillment, and that the person possesses the karmic opportunity to become an immortal. Walking while wearing the Fulu (talismans and registers), the myriad gods will all come to pay homage. One may enter and leave the void, travel to and from the Five Sacred Mountains, command the Five Stars, cause the body to generate the forces of water and fire, and undergo transformation throughout the worlds of the Ten Directions.

After the Fulu have been worn for nine years, one will, through spiritual correspondence, bring about the descent of green cakes, and will thereby be granted an audience with the Sanyuan (the Three Officials of Heaven, Earth, and Water spoken of in Daoism) and take a place among the ranks of Yuqing (a high celestial realm venerated in Daoism). This method of the Dao (the Way) is hidden and mysterious, and is not to be transmitted except to a person who is truly suitable. If the titles of the scripture are carelessly divulged, one will die and the body will be mutilated. According to the Xuanzhen Mingke (the transmission precepts of Daoism), it may be transmitted to only one person every seven thousand years. If one violates the covenant and betrays the oath, disaster will extend to the Qixuan (seven generations of kin, including ancestors and descendants), and both oneself and one’s former teacher will together fall among the lower ghosts and suffer the ten sufferings and eight difficulties.

The Supreme Talisman of the Green Emperor’s Jade-Aurora Flowing Bells for Ascending Emptiness and Pacing the Void. The Green Emperor of the East, Yuandong Yuanming Yuanyao Yanling Yaoyuan Jun, has nine thousand subordinate officials. Ninety Jade Youths of Qingyang stand in attendance on the left of the talisman writing; two thousand four hundred immortal officials of Mount Tai and ninety Jade Maidens of Qingyao stand in attendance on the right of the talisman writing. They guard the wearer of the Fulu and cause that person’s body to transform into a splendid immortal body.

The Supreme Talisman of the Red Emperor’s Cinnabar-Thunder Flowing Bells for Ascending Emptiness and Pacing the Void. The Red Emperor of the South, Dadong Yuansheng Dalingji Huangjun, has eight thousand subordinate officials. Eighty Jade Youths of the Crimson Palace stand in attendance on the left of the talisman writing; two thousand four hundred immortal officials of Mount Heng and eighty Jade Maidens of the Great Cinnabar Red Gui stand in attendance on the right of the talisman writing. They guard the wearer of the talismanic insignia and cause that person’s body to transform into a splendid immortal body.

The Supreme Talisman of the White Emperor’s Plain-Aurora Flowing Bells for Ascending Emptiness and Pacing the Void. The White Emperor of the West, Jincheng Yaoyuan Yuandao Taixian Jun, has six thousand subordinate officials. Sixty Jade Youths of Yaoling Yuanhua stand in attendance on the left of the talisman writing; two thousand four hundred immortal officials of Mount Hua and sixty Jade Maidens of Taisu stand in attendance on the right of the talisman writing. They guard the wearer of the Fulu and cause that person’s body to transform into a splendid immortal body.

The Supreme Talisman of the Black Emperor’s Green-Aurora Flowing Bells for Ascending Emptiness and Pacing the Void. The Black Emperor of the North… sixty Jade Maidens of Taisu stand in attendance on the right of the talisman writing, guarding the wearer of the Fulu and causing that person’s body to transform into a splendid immortal body.

The original text of the Black Emperor section is incomplete: it lists only “the Black Emperor” together with the Jade Maidens and related material, and does not specify the number of subordinate officials or the figures who stand in attendance on the left. At the end of the scripture the title “Supreme Talisman of the Black Emperor’s Green-Aurora Flowing Bells for Ascending Emptiness and Pacing the Void” is repeated once more.

The Northern Black Emperor (the divine sovereign who presides over the north), Xuandong Yuanyin Wuyao Yanling Yuanhua Yudan Jun, commands a retinue of five thousand attendants. Fifty Jade Youths of the Imperial Mechanism Taiji stand in attendance on the left, while two thousand four hundred immortal officials of the Northern Peak Hengshan and fifty Jade Maidens of the Great Mystery stand in attendance on the right. Together they protect those who wear the Fulu (talismans and registers) and whose bodies are filled with the Qi (vital energy) of immortal splendor.

This is the Yellow Emperor’s Cangxia Liuling Dengkong Buxu Upper Talisman (a high-level talisman of the Yellow Emperor named “Cangxia Liuling Dengkong Buxu”).

The Central Yellow Emperor, Zhongyao Wuyang Wuyin Zhonghuang Dongji Gaohuang Jun, commands one thousand two hundred attendants. Twelve Jade Youths of the Imperial Mechanism Holding Loyalty stand in attendance on the left, while two thousand four hundred immortal officials of the Central Peak Songgao Mountain and twelve Jade Maidens of Yellow Silk stand in attendance on the right. Together they protect those who wear the Fulu and whose bodies possess the Qi of immortal splendor. Men write the talisman in cinnabar on a green background and wear it on the left; women write it in yellow on a white background and wear it on the right.

Five-colored brocade silks, fifty chi of each color, are prepared in order to invoke the immortal officials of the Five Emperors. Five liang of purple gold serve as the token that opens passage through the Imperial Avenue, the gateway to the Heavenly Emperor’s residence. Five jin of agarwood are offered so that the petition may reach the Palaces of the Three Origins, the upper, middle, and lower heavenly palaces of Daoist cosmology. One jin of genuine cinnabar is used as the vermilion of the sworn alliance. A writing knife is employed to sever the path of death-qi. Seven golden pearls are presented to invite the essences of the Seven Origins of the Northern Dipper. Seventy chi of crimson patterned brocade serve as the token that grants access to the realm of Flame Light, the divine domain of brilliance.

Those who receive Fulu (talismans and registers) and Jing (scriptures) should go to their master bearing tokens of faith. They must first observe a three-day fast, then bathe and burn incense. After the master has written the talismans and scriptures, these are placed upon a high altar and offered in the open air overnight. At dawn the next morning, master and disciple together ascend the altar, report to the Northern Emperor (the deity of the north), perform the rites of sworn alliance and transmission, and then deliver the talismans and scriptures to the disciple. Those who have not ascended the altar to make this report and sworn the covenant may not open the chapters of the scriptures on their own.

If a master leaks the scriptures in a careless manner, he will suffer trials as though wind-blades were striking his body. If a disciple examines the scripture scrolls without having received formal transmission, calamity will extend to seven generations of ancestors, and the person himself will become disabled and blind. The precepts of the Four Extremes (the heavenly realms of the four directions) forbid the scriptures from being leaked lightly; the laws of Tai Zhen prohibit those without oath and token from coming into contact with the scriptures. Unless one’s name is entered in the Golden Names and Jade Registers (the registers of immortals), one may neither hear nor view them.

If a cultivator of immortality does not wear the Five Talismans upon the person, the immortal officials of the Five Peaks will not protect the physical form, nor will the person be removed from the death registers in the ghost records of the Three Officials. Dwelling in the mountains, one will be defeated by the Demon Kings of the Nine Heavens; coming and going among ordinary people, one will not escape calamities from official authorities and the perils of weapons. Those who wear these talismans can ascend to heaven and enter the abyss, their movements unrestricted, coming and going as they please; they visualize the true Shen (spirits) so that these return to their original palaces. The Five Zhi (the numinous mushrooms of which the immortals speak) grow of themselves, the body reflects a jade radiance, immortal officials provide protection, and the Three Primes (the Three Officials of Heaven, Earth, and Water) come to the dwelling; thereafter one can ride the clouds and drive the void, ascending into Jade Purity (Yuqing, one of the highest heavens in Daoism).

After one hundred days have passed since receiving the talismans, five paulownia-wood boards, each five cun in length, should be prepared, with one talisman written on each board; five name-slips should also be written, recording the year and month, the new-moon day and hour, as well as the commandery, township, village, honorific title, name, and age of the person, and stating to which Emperor and which Peak one belongs. The name-slips are buried together with the talismans at the Five Peaks. Immediately before burying the talismans, one knocks the teeth thirty-six times and recites the incantation.

The wording of the incantation that follows in the original text appears to contain omissions or to have suffered from misplaced slips: it first repeats the phrases concerning name, age, and affiliation, after which there appears “Shangqi Sanyuan Yuhuang Dizun” (presenting a memorial to report to the Honored Jade Emperor of the Three Primes).

First report upward to the Venerable Jade Emperor of the Three Origins (the honored deity who governs the Three Realms), then inform downward the five-colored immortal officials of the Five Sacred Mountains. Having received the true words of the Flowing Bells Five Talismans (Fulu), I burn five kinds of incense amid quiet purification and fasting, record the names of famous mountains and great rivers, and pray that the true immortals come forth to protect my body. The five-colored lingzhi circulate, revealing the five colors of yellow, black, white, red, and cyan; water and fire intermingle within the body as the fire bells blaze with radiant flames. I ride the dragon reins toward my dwelling and ascend the jade court. In this manner the immortal officials of the five directions will guard your body and transmit to you the Dao (the Way) of the divine true ones, enabling you to roam the mountains and seas of the Five Sacred Mountains, while spirits of every kind come forth to pay homage.

With the fire bells one stirs up majestic power and visualizes within the heart the Great Divine Wisdom Blessing (the sacred protective force). Wearing the Flowing Gold Fire Bells, whether traveling near or far, entering or leaving, passing through hazardous terrain, among bandits or illness, or under any calamity, one must visualize the true light protecting the self and opening roads that stretch ten thousand li.

When departing, first face the intended direction, knock the left teeth fourteen times, and swallow the Qi (vital energy) thirty-six times. Then clearly visualize in the mind the scene of the destination: mountain forests and vegetation, common folk and animals, as well as the spirits, all appearing vividly, and all coming to pay homage to oneself. Next visualize the seven stars of the Northern Dipper covering the crown of the head; regard the left eye as a swiftly flying meteor and the right eye as fierce thunder and lightning. Let the radiance shoot forth ninety thousand li, illuminating the road ahead and opening the pathway along with the light. Cause the mountain forests and plants, houses of the people, soldiers, bandits, and ghostly Qi to dissipate completely, rendering the roads in all four directions clear and unobstructed. Thereupon recite the invocatory words:

First open the front and close the back so that Heaven is level and Earth is raised high. The Divine Lord sets out on his travels and the roads of the four directions unfold. Let Heaven and Earth raise a bridge for me so that front and back, left and right all open through to the eight directions. I cast a shooting star from my left hand while my right hand flashes as swift as lightning; Jing (essence) and Qi (vital energy) spread for ten thousand li—what demonic evil would dare to block the way? Taiyi (the Supreme One, a venerated Daoist deity) will escort me and the myriad Shen (spirits) come to welcome me. Wherever I go and in whichever direction I travel there is nothing inauspicious. I ride the clouds and harness the void, ascending into the vast emptiness of space.

After the ritual is completed, draw the Jing of both eyes so that each returns into the eyes. Ingest seven mouthfuls of Qi on the left and seven mouthfuls of Qi on the right, then swallow them down. In this way one may venture through dangers and cross difficulties, attack ghosts and campaign against soldiers; whatever is sought will unfailingly come to pass and all evil influences are completely swept away. This method is extremely mysterious and profound; it cannot be transmitted in writing but only by word of mouth. After the ritual is completed, draw the Jing of both eyes so that each returns into the eyes. Ingest seven mouthfuls of Qi on the left and seven mouthfuls of Qi on the right, then swallow them. In this way one may venture through dangers and cross difficulties, attack ghosts and campaign against soldiers; whatever is sought will unfailingly come to pass and all evil influences are completely swept away. This method is extremely mysterious and profound; it cannot be transmitted in writing but only by oral transmission from mouth to ear, and one must understand it clearly and treat it with caution. According to the Mysterious Regulations (Xuanke, the Daoist disciplinary and transmission rules), it may be transmitted only once every seven hundred years.

The Five Emperors’ Flowing Bells and Five Fulu (talismans) possess the power to awe the demons of the utmost heavens and can summon and subdue the Shen of the five directions. Above they correspond to the Five Stars and combine with the Seven Origins (the seven stars of the Northern Dipper); below they correspond to the human body. They extend throughout the entire circuit of Heaven and the great earth, communicating with the ten thousand things. They can probe even secluded and hidden places and perceive even the most minute objects. When one visualizes the talisman its light appears; when one casts the talisman it can shake the Shen. If you wear it you must receive the oral transmission from your master.

If in the human world one encounters a place where evil ghosts appear, one should perform the “Great Incantation of Arousing Majesty” (a prayer ritual to stir up imposing power): Face north, hold the breath for twelve respirations, and visualize the Qi of the five directions covering the entire body so that inside and outside become dim and indistinct, while receiving the oral transmission from the master. If in the human world one encounters a place where evil ghosts appear, one should perform the “Great Incantation of Arousing Majesty”: Face north, hold the breath for twelve respirations, and visualize the Qi of the five directions covering the entire body so that inside and outside are dim and nothing can be seen. Then click the teeth on the left side thirty-six times, swallow the Qi of the five directions, swallowing the Qi of each direction three times until all the Qi has been ingested and has fully entered the self. Next visualize the boy-spirits dwelling in one’s two eyes (the Shen that reside within the eyes according to Daoist visualization practices), their gaze shining as brightly as shooting stars, illuminating and descending upon the five directions, and then recite the incantation saying:

The seven Jing-Qi (essence and vital energy) of Tianyuan and the flowing bells of the Five Emperors shine with a radiance like lightning and rush like flying meteors. Their brilliance illuminates the ten directions, revealing the true forms of ghosts and sprites. What petty demons or evils dare to block the Gate of Life before me? The Great Emperor has already issued the command that in the slaughter no distinction of kinship is to be made: livers are split and bellies gouged, ghostly Jing extinguished, so that thousands upon thousands of demons and evils are destroyed and overthrown. Divine majesty issues the invocatory decree, seizing whatever falls under the jurisdiction of the Fulu (talismans and registers) without a moment’s pause. One then swallows Qi thirty-six times and may cease. Invoking thus once, the spirit officials of the five directions conscript the Jia-ming soldiers; all the numinous spirit soldiers under the Fulu’s jurisdiction bind the demons and evils and escort them before the court. Invoking three times, the Qi of ghosts and evils is completely cut off.

When entering the Five Sacred Mountains, traveling through mountains and rivers, or climbing precipitous places, one should, while still a hundred paces from the destination, knock the left teeth thirty-six times. If proceeding to the Eastern Peak, visualize the nine thousand subordinate officials commanded by the Azure Emperor (Eastern Emperor) Xilinzhu Official arriving to guard in front and behind and to left and right, covering the entire body with cyan cloud-mist Qi. If proceeding to the Southern Peak, visualize the eight thousand subordinate officials commanded by the Red Emperor (Southern Emperor) Danxuanzi Official coming to protect, covering the entire body with deep crimson cloud Qi. If proceeding to the Western Peak, visualize the six thousand subordinate officials commanded by the White Emperor (Western Emperor) Shaohao Ling Official coming to protect, covering the entire body with white cloud-mist Qi. If proceeding to the Northern Peak, visualize the five thousand subordinate officials commanded by the Black Emperor (Northern Emperor) Xuanming Official coming to protect, covering the entire body with black cloud Qi. If proceeding to the Central Peak, visualize the twelve thousand subordinate officials commanded by the Yellow Emperor (Central Emperor) Zhizhongyuan Official coming to protect, covering the entire body with yellow Qi. Once this is completed, recite the incantation:

The radiance of Qian Heaven, the Seven Chen (the mysterious Jing-Qi of the seven stars), and the Huagai Qi (vital energy) of the Five Dippers encircle my body. Five-colored clouds fly and swirl, blending and merging into one another. I wear the Seven Yuan (the numinous power of the seven stars of the Northern Dipper) upon my person; golden light and the radiance of fire bells circulate throughout my body, shining northward to the edge of heaven while all around remains profound and obscure. The divine officers of the Five Emperors, leading heavenly troops, halt here and subdue for me the thousand ghosts and myriad spirits of mountains, rivers, and earth, causing them all to bow their heads and bind their hands, revealing their true forms of their own accord; they are slain before and behind, allowing none of those captured to escape.

When the prayer is finished, reciting it in this manner even once will cause heavenly demons to vanish and the myriad gods to come and pay homage. Practitioners journeying through the Five Sacred Mountains or traveling among mountains and rivers will no longer encounter trials or disturbances from evil influences; the immortal officials of the Five Sacred Mountains will personally come, presenting the Five Zhi and Jade Essence (the numinous lingzhi of the immortals and their jade-quality essence) to nourish the practitioner.

If one finds oneself amid warfare, bandits, and robbers, or facing official pursuit, threats of blades, and other perils, one should click the teeth on the right side twelve times while visualizing the seven stars of the Northern Dipper covering the entire body, their mysterious radiance illuminating the surroundings so that the whole person is enveloped in light. Then visualize the liver transforming into the Year Star (Jupiter) on the left; the lungs into the Great White Star (Venus) on the right; the heart into the Sparkling Delusion Star (Mars) in front; the kidneys into the Chronogram Star (Mercury) behind; and the spleen into the Guardian Star (Saturn) above the chest. Let the Jing-Qi of these five stars twine around the body before and behind, with oneself situated within the bowl of the Northern Dipper and beneath the five stars. Next visualize the divine officers of the Five Emperors standing guard at one’s side, then recite:

“Heaven is my dwelling, Earth is my couch, the Five Sacred Mountains and rivers are my bridges; the primordial Jing of the Mysterious Dipper is my garment. I conceal myself within the Seven Yuan, in the land of flowing fire. He who leads me through peril is Taiyi Wuyou; he who escorts me through danger is Baiyuan Wuying. Calamity cannot invade me, weapons cannot harm me. May my body ascend and proceed to the Golden Palace of the Nine Elders’ capital.”

The recitation complete. By this method, even when trapped in hardship with life hanging in the balance, one can still obtain deliverance.