《玉景九天金霄威神王祝太元上经》

Those whose fate has ordained an affinity such that they ought to receive this scripture must first perform an oath-taking ritual, cutting blood to form a covenant and swearing an oath to the Nine Heavens before transmission is allowed. According to the regulations of the Most High Western Numen (Taishang Xiling), it may be transmitted to only three persons every two thousand two hundred years.

The “Jade Radiance Upper Origin Great Tiger Talisman” is the emblem of the inner numinous power of the Mighty Spirit King of the Golden Empyrean of the Nine Heavens, as well as a precious talisman formed by the intermingling radiance of the two luminaries of sun and moon. It contains extremely profound mysteries of the Dao, capable of blending primordial Qi (vital energy), and is a treasure secretly stored by the Jade Emperor and honored by all the emperors. Those who wear it can command the essences of the sun and moon, ascend into the Nine Heavens, annihilate ghosts and demons, and govern the myriad spirits. Anyone who sees this talisman possesses the qualifications to become a true immortal and can also bring blessings and good fortune to seven generations of descendants.

If one is fortunate enough to encounter a master who transmits this method, one must afterwards observe a summer purification fast, dwell in quiet seclusion, and refrain from contact with the secular world. Only then may one wear the “Huoluo Divine Talisman” (a Daoist Fulu for protection and exorcism), recite invocations to the inner numen of the Mighty Spirit King so that its radiance pervades the Great Void, thereby achieving spiritual communion and ascending into the realm of the Three Pure Ones (Sanqing).

At that time all immortals will submit and pay homage, and perilous trials will vanish. The practitioner’s lifespan will be extended, yet cultivation must be conducted with caution and in secrecy; inspectors will examine one’s deeds and record merits and faults. The Most High constantly dispatches seventy million Western Numinous Great Armored warriors and seven thousand Divine Tigers to protect the King of Radiant Essence and commands them to attend upon the scripture at the Western Jasper Terrace of the Great Origin.

Around the King of Radiant Essence there are constantly the seventy million Western Numinous Great Armored warriors and seven thousand Divine Tigers sent by the Most High, who serve this scripture at the Western Jasper Terrace of the Great Origin.

"Jingjing Zhongwang" is the inner name of the Supreme Golden Empyrean Mighty Spirit King. Knowing the name of this Mighty Spirit King enables one to command ghosts and spirits so that they all obey one's orders without exception. This Spirit King is a numinous deity above the Jade Essence Heavenly Origin, and also the fierce true spirit of the Divine Tiger Golden Empyrean. Therefore, wearing his talismanic writings causes the mighty numina of the Six Heavens to descend; holding his Fulu (talismans and registers) causes the Three Officials (the Heavenly Official, Earthly Official, and Water Official of Daoism) to come and submit; worshipping in his divine chamber causes the Jade Flower spirit to arrive swiftly; reciting his invocatory texts causes the Divine Tiger to open a passageway. His power pervades the eight directions, his numinous response penetrates the Nine Heavens; he can slay hosts of demons and subdue great villains, making mountains gather their Jing (essence) and rivers and seas conceal their sources. A single roar shakes the ten directions, he can command immortals, making a person's lifespan as lasting as the sun, moon, and stars, with mighty light illuminating the Great Origin. This is truly a precious Jing (scripture) of the Shangqing school, and a chapter that manifests the power of Jingjing.

Whenever this divine text is transmitted, the recipient must be carefully selected. Only those who have a karmic affinity from past lives with this method, who are in hidden accord, and who truly have the destiny of becoming immortals may be given the transmission. Afterward, one must still request the Grand Master to personally confer the mandate, have a ritual master make a recommendation, have a Jing Master announce the covenant, and seek the descent of talismanic responses from the spirits, attuning to the mysterious Qi (vital energy), and carefully observing the signs to determine if the time is ripe. These are all important junctures in transmission.

If one has not received the Grand Master's command and has not obtained a ritual master's recommendation, yet arbitrarily transmits the text and causes others to establish a covenant, even if the other party is a person of immortal affinity, a jade-named youth, or even the seven ancestors of the recipient, they will still be examined according to the laws of the netherworld. From this it is evident that transmitting without establishing a covenant results in the Jing Master being put to death, the hun and po souls being commanded by the Water Official, and the disciple suffering punishment by heavenly fire; establishing a covenant but failing to keep it results in the Jing Master sinking into the path of suffering and the disciple being harassed by ghosts and demons. Therefore, one must respect the covenant and faithfully keep the oath, and must never leak the Jing (scripture) lightly.

Water and fire are punishments inflicted by a different heaven, while the Nine Demons are fierce evils that bring suffering. The hun and po souls are punished, embryonic breathing is cut off, and one is long confined in the nether gloom. Even if one wanders through grotto palaces in all directions and prays to the imperial spirits, the guilt will not be thereby dissolved, wishes will not be heard, and the seven generations of ancestors will still suffer prolonged punishment in hell. Immortality is not something to be hoped for lightly; the punishments of the heavenly statutes have their clear proofs, and those who receive the transmission must be cautious.

If one wishes to drive away the ghostly spirits of the Six Heavens (a class of forces in Daoist thought that govern ghosts and spirits), to capture and punish the poisonous Qi (vital energy) of fierce evil, or to shatter and annihilate the talisman demons (evil spirits that cause harm through talismanic arts), one must secretly perform the Great Invocation of the Mighty Spirit King.

First knock the teeth thirty-six times, then visualize the King of Jingjing (one of the inner deities) emerging from one’s own Palace of the Six Harmonies Cavern Chamber (a divine chamber within the body), coming before one and stopping one inch in front of the nose. The King of Jingjing stands seven inches tall, wearing a plain dawn crown and dressed from head to toe in garments of plain brocade. From his mouth he exhales the Qi of Golden Truth, dense as white clouds. Let this cloud-like breath disperse in the four directions, encircling the body, and then advance forward.

Next visualize that within the white smoke there suddenly appears Zhu Jing (crimson Jing, or red-colored essence), its light flashing and flying, surging like shooting stars; in an instant it transforms into several hundred spirit tigers that leap vigorously ahead to open the path, destroying the ghostly thieves in pursuit.

When the visualization is complete, recite the invocation:

“Most High of Bright Majesty, Inner Truth of the Golden Empyrean; the King of Jingjing releases Qi to gather the Shen (spirits). Profound emptiness prepares the dwelling, the High God oversees the ministers. Scenic smoke streams with radiance, cavernously uniting the Nine Heavens. Mighty writings issue forth brightly, spirit tigers open the fords. Numinous clouds densely lush, Zhu Jing fans the void. The cultured ones of the seven transformations, the Nine Empyreans brandish the True. Those who dare oppose me, their evil bodies beheaded and torn; fierce trials submit, demonic treachery and poison crushed and extinguished. All demons perish at once, the twin scenes unite and garrison. Together with the Mighty King we ascend to the Imperial Dawn. The marvelous untrammeled of the Great Origin, protect my benefit and constancy.”

After reciting, knock the teeth thirty-six times again. Thereafter one may slay the talisman demons, subdue the myriad Shen, cause the breath to sweep away the cold spirits and capture and subdue the Six Heavens. In this way a thousand demons and ten thousand poisons will vanish of themselves even before the invocation is recited.

Here “cunxiang” (visualization) is the practice in Daoist cultivation of contemplating images of deities, lights, Qi and the like; “kouchi” (knocking the teeth) is a ritual method of striking the teeth together.

The invocation of the Mighty Spirit King is both mysteriously profound and exalted, treasured by the High Perfected Ones (those who have attained the Dao). The entire scripture is stored above the Jade Clarity of the Nine Heavens, on the Terrace of Western Numinosity of the Great Primordial. According to the prohibitions of this treasured esoteric method, it is not transmitted to ordinary people of the world. Only those whose names are listed in the Golden Registers and entered in the Feathered Registers (the Daoist books recording the names of immortals and Perfected Ones), and who cultivate according to the proper methods, are qualified to encounter this great Dharma; even those of profound mysterious blessing and good fortune may not necessarily behold it. Only those ranked as High Immortals, becoming ministers of Shangqing and guests of the Imperial Dawn, may wear this talisman.

When the practitioner begins to carry out the Great Invocation (an important ritual of prayer), the High Primordial spirits array their chariots in procession, the Supreme Deity dances in the cloudy heavens, the Golden Perfected Ones rush swiftly to attend, and the Luminous Essence takes command of the subordinate officials. The Mysterious Dragon exhales a fierce Qi (vital energy), while the Spirit Tiger issues orders from the right. Ten thousand demons are destroyed, a thousand monsters are cut down, the Six Heavens (the six kinds of yin-evil Qi or evil spirits in Daoist lore) therefore crumble and fall, and the mountains open wide. Jade Floras come to their resting place, the Purple Youth turns the floral canopy, the Heavenly Sovereign comes to lend his might, making the Nine Empyreans peaceful and expansive. Malevolent toxins and harms dissipate, floods are overcome, fires are quelled, a hundred billion hills and mounds sweep away calamities and anomalies, and the void of the eight directions suddenly becomes open and bright. Thereupon the Shen (spirit) is settled and the breath attuned, with no invasion by external evils and no obstruction or stagnation. Golden auspicious light unites with the dawn radiance, numinous immortals mutually attune, jointly upholding my spirit talisman, so that mysterious blessings extend through ten thousand ages.

(The passage “Jade Scenery Nine Heavens Golden Empyrean Mighty Spirit King Great Primordial Upper Scripture Great Void Surging Open” in the original text appears to be a repeated transcription.) The “Great Tiger Talisman” is the name of the Fulu (talismans and registers) contained in this scripture.

If the practitioner finds themselves in a crisis or predicament, or is startled with inner agitation, they may secretly call the name of the King of the Luminous Essence three times, while visualizing in the mind that the deity is as if standing guard on their left and right. In this way they receive aid, so that various disasters recede, evil trials and fierce harms are pacified, and demonic toxins vanish. Before sleeping, one may also click the teeth fourteen times (“two sevens” meaning fourteen) while reciting the invocation and silently repeating the deity’s name, in order to stabilize the hun and po souls, block the corpse-ghosts, and drive away nightmares and inauspicious omens.

When this Jing (scripture) is transmitted, the transmitting master and the disciple must together observe a purification fast and swear an oath for twenty-one days. Only after the period has elapsed may the scripture be conferred. For the oath one must prepare thirty-seven chi of plain silk gauze and thirty-seven chi of green gauze, together with a pair of golden fish each weighing one liang. These are the tokens of fidelity required by the prohibitions of the Most High Western Lingbao. All such tokens must be delivered to the grand master and the transmitting master to serve as communal offerings to the deities. Should anyone privately withhold them, use them for personal sustenance, or greedily seek profit, thereby violating the heavenly ordinances and betraying the sworn oath, the master’s ancestors of seven generations will suffer punishment in the prison of the Northern Darkness and will never attain the fruit of immortality.

The method of wearing this talisman is to inscribe it in cinnabar on white silk three chi in length, enclose it in a pouch of purple brocade, and wear it upon the chest. Whenever one prepares to perform a divine invocation—praying to the spirits and conducting ritual—one should wear this talisman.

By wearing this talisman one may subdue the ghosts and spirits of heaven and earth, expel and campaign against the cold numina of the Six Heavens, crush and annihilate the vicious qi of the Nine Demons, attain a lifespan coeval with heaven and earth, and take a place among the high immortals in Taiji (Supreme Ultimate). Wearing the numinous talisman upon the person, one carries out the great method of the Mighty King. Divine officials will come forth to pay homage and golden troops will stand guard; calamities of water and fire may all be passed through unharmed. The scripture states that the potency of this method may thereby be perceived. For this reason the Three Officials (the deities who govern the three realms of heaven, earth, and water) and the Northern Emperor (the deity of the north who rules the underworld and commands ghosts to expel evil) dare not exploit any vacancy to encroach.

Once the disciple has received the divine text, they must treasure the Jing and registers, performing worship morning and evening, and must not immediately wear it in the human world. Should one recklessly disclose the precious scripture or publicly proclaim the name of the Mighty King, the Most High will impose severe punishment: the transmitter’s ancestors of seven generations will be tortured and swallowed by the divine tiger; the disciple’s hun-soul will be confined in hell, and both body and life will suffer the penalties of water and fire. After seven hundred years they will be reborn in a body afflicted with sores and warts, and their nine generations of kin will be stricken with malignant leprosy. If the master carelessly transmits the scripture to an unfit person, or if the disciple presumptuously receives it, the same punishment applies.

On the day of ascending to immortality, one should wear the Huoluo Shenwen (Huoluo Divine Script, a Daoist talismanic writing) and proceed to the Upper Palace to pay homage. The script is written in cinnabar on white silk seven chi in length, then folded and trimmed into a long strip five cun wide, shaped like a sash. A yellow lined garment is then made from white luo or green silk fabric one zhang and four chi in length, and the Huoluo Shenwen is worn around the waist in the manner of Fulu (talismans and registers). This is known as the “Phoenix Script Tiger Sash of the Huoluo Seven Origins.” Those who have long practiced fasting and cultivation should wear it on every day of homage and ritual.

Huoluo Talisman

Golden Tiger True Talisman of the Taiwei Celestial Sovereign (the Golden Tiger Fulu transmitted by the Taiwei Celestial Sovereign)

The Golden Tiger True Talisman of the Taiwei Celestial Sovereign is stored in the Qiong Palace of Upper Scenery in Taiyuan. There, poisonous beasts ten thousand xun in height can drive back demonic hosts and protect the jing (scriptures) and methods; seven thousand divine tigers guard the Jade Towers (the gate towers of the heavenly palace); three hundred Jade Maidens of Western Florescence scatter fragrance through the courtyards of the cloudy heavens; the Five Elders oversee the canons, and the Golden Dawn attendants serve the Perfected Ones. Those whose names are not entered in the Qiong Registers and Jade Names, and who have not registered their names with the Three Pure Ones (Sanqing), cannot obtain the Inner Golden Tiger Talisman, nor hear the Jade Chapters of the Most High.

This talisman was originally inscribed in the Shangqing Jade Slips of Wisdom. The entire chapter comprises seven hundred thousand characters; its numinous phonetic meanings and profound purport are difficult to set forth in full. Some passages record the secret names of heavenly demons, some indicate the inner names of the myriad spirits, and some employ qiong-sounds to elucidate obscure, hidden, and puzzling contents. Lord Wang of Xiaoyou copied this talisman from it, together with the methods for employing the Inner Script of the Awesome Spirits, in order to subdue the various spirits of heaven and earth; the excerpt consists of only one hundred characters.

This invocation is extremely secret and is named the “Tiger Script of the Three Heavens, Upper Register of Taiyuan.” Those who receive the transmission must first fast for seventy days and present a Golden Tiger Jade Bell together with thirty chi each of white brocade and black luo as a vow to the Golden Perfected, while also swearing an oath to Heaven and Earth that they will not violate the covenant. According to the Illustrious Code of the Four Poles (the regulations governing the transmission of Daoist precepts), it may be transmitted to only three persons within seven hundred years.

The Golden Tiger Jade Essence True Talisman of the Taiwei Heavenly Emperor Lord is a wondrous talismanic writing concealed within the Taiyuan Shangjing Natural Golden Chapter. It can command and order Golden Immortals, seal off mountains, summon clouds and Qi (vital energy), awe the Six Heavens (the celestial realms spoken of in Daoism), and slay heterodox and strange beings among the Shen (spirits). The Most High often commands the seven hundred thousand troops led by Xiling Taijia to guard this talisman in the Taiwei Jade Palace.

Those who wear this talisman can awe Heaven and Earth, rebuke the assembled spirits, ride the luminous dragons, and join the ranks of the high immortals. When the jade tones sound, Jade Flowers appear at one's side; Golden True guards protect left and right, a thousand demons lose their supernatural powers, ten thousand ghosts dissipate their forms, the Nine Demons bow their heads, and the Six Heavens collapse. Practitioners thereby reach the realm of subtle and utmost truth, with Shen gathering the numinous Qi of the Five Directions; on the left they summon the Dark Youth, on the right they seize the Golden Dawn. This precious Jing (scripture/classic) manifests the awesome De (Virtue/Power) and true methods of the Great Emperor; its functions far exceed avoiding poisons, warding off disasters, and expelling demons—it is moreover a wondrous method and important credential for seeking immortality and cultivating the true.

The above Golden Tiger True Talisman was transmitted by the Taiwei Heavenly Emperor Lord to the Golden Palace Emperor Lord. Written with cinnabar on white silk, placed in a purple brocade pouch, and worn upon the head when traveling, it can command the assembled Shen of Heaven and Earth, causing immortals and gods to revere and submit; Jade Flowers drape at one's side, heavenly troops protect the body, and mountain spirits and troops also obey. Combined with reciting the Awesome Shen Incantation and using the Jade Essence Chapter, one can slay evil influences, subdue the Nine Demons, and annihilate the forms of a thousand demons. This is a forbidden talisman of Shangqing (the exalted celestial realm in the Daoist immortal hierarchy); it is not transmitted in the human world. Those who obtain and wear it can fly-ascend to Shangqing.

The Taiyuan Shangjing Golden True Awesome Shen Inner Incantation is an incantation used to command the divine troops of the right and slay evil souls. When practicing, one should enter a quiet chamber, burn incense, and knock the teeth thirty-six times; sitting or lying down are both acceptable, then recite the following incantation:

This is an incantation for commanding the myriad spirits and slaying demons. The scripture states: the divine names of Piqian Duwang, Zhenshi Luojing and others appear; the Eight Immortals hold yue battle-axes (ancient weapons), while the Five Numina of the Supreme Lord stand guard. The light of the Great Mystery descends, and the Seven Dawn Stars protect the courtyard. The Yellow True Talisman shines with radiance; fire-bells burst forth; the divine tiger displays its might; sharp blades issue forth together. Purple majesty appears, and the spirits cry out long toward heaven. The Nine Heavens, Six Heavens, and Four Heavens become bright and clear; outside, mysterious Qi (vital energy) encircles them, while within, the master’s troops stand guard. Power and majesty appear on left and right; wind and fire campaign in conquest, commanding the slaying of ten thousand demons and the capture of a thousand spirits, causing the majesty of Golden Heaven to tremble. The nine demons have their forms seized and are delivered to Beifeng (the Daoist underworld) for judgment; all evil influences are destroyed. When I wear the true talisman, I can command the myriad spirits. The Three Primes (the Three Officials of Heaven, Earth, and Water in Daoism) convey the announcement to the divine bird so that it accords with the will of the Supreme Lord; Taiwei transmits the highest command, and one ultimately ascends into the Three Pure Ones (Sanqing, the highest Daoist divine realm). The latter half repeats this incantation.

The method of the inner incantation of the awesome spirits of Supreme Radiance of the Great Primordial belongs to the restricted scriptures (secretly transmitted ritual classics) of the Shangqing school. The so-called “Piqian Duwang” is an inner name among the great ghosts of the Six Heavens; “Zhenshi Luojing” is the hidden heart-name of the Demon King of the Northern Emperor; “Sitian Xiaojing” is the soul-name of the ghost ministers of Beifeng. The scripture holds that knowing these three names of ghosts and spirits will cause a thousand demons to flee and ten thousand ghosts to conceal their forms; the nine demons will be unable to cause disorder, and those who try to spy upon it will neither see nor be able to speak of it. Whether a person is alone in the mountain forests or finds himself among talisman shrines and amid spirits and ghosts, he may act according to this method without needing to burn incense or enter a chamber.

Separately, take orpiment and write upon azure silk, making it three chi long and one chi two cun wide; it may also be made into a square with sides of one chi two cun, or a circle with a diameter of one chi two cun. Draw a vermilion border around all four sides, then decorate it inside and out with cinnabar-colored brocade, and tie it at the right side of the waist. When observing a fast and entering the chamber, paying homage to the Eight Primes (Daoist deities), subduing demons and evil, summoning spirits, or commanding the divine Perfected Ones, one must wear it in order to perform the rites. Never let it come into contact with corpses or filthy things, or one will incur guilt; if this method is leaked, it is said that even the ancestors of seven generations (the seven mysterious ancestors) will suffer punishment in hell.

The Jade Scene Nine Heavens Golden Empyrean Mighty Spirit is suited to entering the chamber for cultivation, to paying homage and hosting banquets for the Eight Origins (the eight deities of primordial Qi), and to rituals for subduing demonic evils, summoning spirits, and commanding immortals. When performing these rites, this talisman should be worn on the person. Extreme caution is required: it must not be worn when coming into contact with corpses or filthy things, otherwise one will incur guilt. If the scripture is leaked, seven generations of ancestors will likewise be implicated and subjected to torture and punishment in hell.

The Upper Scripture of the Jade Scene Nine Heavens Golden Empyrean Mighty Spirit King Invoking the Supreme Origin ends.